Author: Kristen

Looking fowards to The Wrens

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Someone posted my favorite song by The Wrens and I was inspired check in on these New Jersey rockers. They put on one hell of a show and I’ve been looking forward to seeing them again ever since…well, I saw them the first time about 5 years ago.

Their webpage posted the following message:

“With our apologies, we finally, actually, really started writing & recording the new album in July (no, this July, July 2010). So no shows scheduled at the moment.
But we’ll be back, dragging our bulging carcasses in suburban mall clothing to a stage near you all too soon.”

This excites me…and I wanted to share!

~ Kristen

She Sends Kisses

Fifteen Albums…

Posted on by Kristen

Someone posted this on facebook. I like doing these little quiz-type things, but I rarely post them. This one really got me thinking so I thought I’d go the extra mile. Here are the directions:

Rules: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen albums you’ve heard that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.Tag fifteen friends, including me because I’m interested in seeing what albums my friends choose. To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, click “Write a note”, paste title and rules in…

And after the appropriate 15 minutes, here was what I came up with:

  1. Joe Firstman- War of Women   01 Introduction to _The War Of Women
  2. Sarah McLachlan – Mirrorball Building a Mystery
  3. Dido- No Angel All You Want
  4. Andrew Lloyd Webber- The Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack The Phantom of the Opera
  5. Jewel- Spirit Jupiter
  6. Carole King- Tapestry So Far Away
  7. Love Actually Soundtrack God Only Knows
  8. Alanis Morrisette- MTV Unplugged Head Over Feet
  9. Veronica Mars Soundtrack We Used To Be Friends- The Dandy Warhols
  10. Granian- On My Own Two Feet Contagious
  11. Carly Simon – Coming Around Again As Time Goes By
  12. Maroon 5- Songs About Jane The Sun
  13. Teitur – Poetry & Airplanes Rough Around the Edges
  14. Moulin Rouge Soundtrack Elephant Love Medley
  15. Ally McBeal: For Once In My Life featuring Vonda Shepard You’re the First, the Last, My Everything

Honestly, I surprised myself with some of the answers. I was thinking of entire albums and not just favorite songs or favorite bands (most of which didn’t even make the list!). Also, the thing all fifteen of my choices have in common is that the entire album is strongly linked to something in my life…a place, a time, an event, etc. As a result, most of them are from my past…when I actually listened to entire albums obsessively and before the majority of my music came in its live form.

I’ll never forget, for example, listening to The Veronica Mars Soundtrack in my car quite heavily the last few months of college…or having Sarah McLachlan’s “Surfacing” on repeat while getting lost in Washington DC on a Girl Scout trip…or listening to Jewel’s “Spirit” while playing Pokemon on my Gameboy. Then, of course, there is the album I listen to whenever I am deeply upset because it can be the only thing that makes me feel okay (that would be Joe Firstman’s “War of Women”, also strongly connected to what I still consider to be the best day of my life).

I could go on, but all of these albums make me feel something above and beyond the music itself. I’m sure it’s that nostalgic link that will keep these albums firmly implanted in my brain for years to come.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/31-9/5

Posted on by Kristen

Well all I can say is what a weekend! Hotel Carolina really was any music fan’s dream vacation and I am so grateful I was able to go. I really hope to give the weekend a proper write-up at some point, but you will have to be patient. I’m always so impressed with those people who get their pictures up right away…when do they sleep?

Speaking of sleep, I am in desperate need. I’m looking forward to getting back to Los Angeles and hearing everyone’s stories about Sunset Junction, The Sunset Strip Music Festival, and all the other great shows I missed out on while I was away. Let’s catch up this week! Here’s my plan:

Tuesday: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Saint Rocke (9:30)
ALSO: Mississippi Man at The Troubadour (8:45)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr at Silverlake Lounge (11pm) 

Weds: Helen Stellar at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Alex Lambert at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Amber Rubarth at The Hotel Café (9pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s 

Thursday:  Brian Wright and Greg Laswell at Saint Rocke (9,10)
ALSO: Hear NoHo (music festival in North Hollywood) featuring Jessie Payo (8pm)… http://www.hearnoho.com/ 

Friday: Run Run Run at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard and Rocco Deluca at The Hotel Cafe (7,10) 

Saturday: AFTER MIDNIGHT PROJECT at The Key Club (8pm) 

Sunday: The Elizabeth Kill at The Mint (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
September 7th: Todd Carey at The Mint
September 9th: Curtis Peoples at The Mint
September 18th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
September 30th: BIFFY CLYRO at The Bootleg Theater
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

p.s. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

After Midnight Project @ The Key Club!

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I just love this picture After Midnight Project recently posted on their facebook page! I thought this would be an opportune moment to once again mention their upcoming show September 4th at The Key Club. The boys are threatening a sell out, so be sure to get your tickets if you plan on going (and this is something you should definately do). 

Make my most recent band obsession your own!

~ Kristen

Almost Time for Hotel Carolina!

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Just about to start the road trip from Maryland down to Isle of Palms, SC for a weekend of music on the beach. I’ve never been to Hotel Carolina but I’ve only heard good things and I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of nothing but beaches and music for an entire weekend. So many of my favorites are going to be there: Joe Firstman, Tony Lucca, Keaton Simons, Curtis Peoples, etc. etc. etc.

If you too are headed to Isle of Palms this weekend (or even if you’re not), here are some videos to get you all pumped up:

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/23-8/30

Posted on by Kristen

I write to you now from a bench outside one of my favorite dining establishments down the street from where I went to college in Bryn Mawr, PA. I’m waiting for my college roommate and her sister to come pick me up and carry me through the next leg of my east coast journey. I flew in yesterday to Philadelphia in time to see one of my favorite local Philly bands, Alright Junior, at The North Star Bar. It had been a year since I’d seen them and words are hard to conjure to appropriately explain how incredibly happy I was to be in their presence again . It’s one thing to listen to a CD over and over again, but nothing can really replace the live experience and last night was just a validation as to why Alright Junior is one of my favorite bands.  

A week from now I will be writing to you a tad on the late side…I will be a beach house in South Carolina enjoying the singer songwriter extravaganza, Hotel Carolina. I will unfortunately not have internet access so I apologize in advance for next week’s delayed concert list.

For me this week is going to be somewhat dry as far as concerts are concerned. I’ll be in the Washington DC area if anyone knows of a good band playing in those parts please let me know. I’ll definitely be envious of all of you back in LA enjoying all the amazing shows, such as:

Monday:  Hellen Stellar at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Café (6pm)
ALSO: The Outline and Heavy Young Heathens FREE at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9pm) 

Tuesday: Monster Eats the Pilot , Diamond Light FREE at The Viper Room (11,12)
ALSO: Thriving Ivory at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: The Maine at House of Blues (7:30)
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums FREE at Amoeba Records (7pm) 

Weds: The White Buffalo at The Mint (10:30) 

Thursday: Filter at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Shakers and Purple Melon at The Viper Room (9:30,10:30)
ALSO: Rick Cornette at The Cat Club (8pm)
ALSO: Flight from Above at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: The Beth Hart Band at Whiskey A Go-Go (7pm) 

Friday: Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring:
               * The Silent Comedy  (9pm) and Run Devil Run (10pm) at The Viper Room
               * Nico Vega (10pm) and Unwritten Law (11pm) at The Roxy
               * The Other Side of Morning at The Cat Club (9pm)
ALSO: Denim Family Band Reunion Concert at The Hotel Café (11pm)
ALSO: John Williams at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30) 

Saturday: Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring:
             * Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (9:30)
             * Transfer at The Key Club 
             * Street stage with Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, The Smashing Pumpkins, etc.
ALSO: Something Corporate at Club Nokia (7:30) 

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Travis Warren at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: Green River Ordinance, Switchfoot, and Goo Goo Dolls at The Greek Theater (7pm) 

…and because I might be late and don’t want you to miss out…

Monday (August 30th): Haim and Whispertown 2000 FREE at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Venus Infers and 8mm at Saint Rocke (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 18th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
September 30th: BIFFY CLYRO at The Bootleg Theater
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Truth & Salvage Co. on Kimmel

Posted on by Kristen

Last night, one of my favorite LA bands, Truth & Salvage Co. performed a couple of songs on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I’m only slightly bitter about the fact that I was supposed to be there, but the seminar I was speaking at went long…Anyway, the boys did a smashing job regardless. I have really enjoyed watching this band rise over the last couple of years. This is just another step in their ascent. Enjoy!

For a special treat, an early incarnation of Truth & Salvage Co., The Denim Family Band, will be doing a special reunion show at The Hotel Cafe August 27th. Don’t miss it!

~ Kristen