Author: Kristen

Warped Tour Pomona

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About a week ago, Amanda and I ventured to Pomona for Warped Tour #2. I’m so glad I went, mostly because it was another excuse to rock out with After Midnight Project, who, by the way, are coming home to LA to play the Key Club September 4th (get your tickets now!).

One of the best parts of Warped Tour Pomona, was the fact that After Midnight Project was able to do an acoustic set. The following video isn’t from Pomona, but AMP have been doing several acoustic sets, including one at the KIA tent that was captured and showcased here. I love it when rock bands break it down acoustically, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a band do it as well as After Midnight Project…

Other highlights for me included actually being able to see Mayday Parade, hearing some of You Me At Six’s  new songs, and being able to sample several new bands. Amanda was a big fan of Dicso Curtis who gave me a new appreciation for Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and certainly put forth the happiest performance of the day (seriously, try to watch the band play and not smile).

Personally, I was enraptured by the Arkansas-based Deas Vail, whose soaring vocals, subtle harmonies, and piano base drew me in like a moth to a flame. I was literally walking past their stage to go elsewhere when I heard the music and HAD to stop. I kept trying to leave, but I just couldn’t…it was too beautiful to look away.

I recognized the name of the band, not because they were openers for the Owl City/Lights tour that I really wanted to see, but because I had at one point told myself NOT to like the band as they won a competition to get their video on MTVU, beating my beloved Carney. Funny how these things work sometimes…

Here’s that video:

And here’s the song that hooked me: Birds

~ Kristen

p.s. pictures to come…

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 8/16-8/22

Posted on by Kristen

I’m still flying high over all the glorious weekend I had in San Diego at The North Park Music Thing…either that or this feeling is caused by the combination of acute sleep deprivation and abnormally high levels of caffeine necessary to accomplish everything that needs to be done for Monday.

Anyway, North Park Music Thing (NPMT) is like a mini SXSW that takes place in San Diego every year. During the day it’s a conference with booths, demo listening sessions, and panels on topics ranging from music licensing and touring on a budget to the current state of radio and music and technology. At night it’s a veritable smorgasbord of music with all the local clubs and bars playing host to a variety of showcases featuring mostly local music acts. I love conferences as places for learning and inspiration and I love concert festivals for the discovery and enjoyment factors. The combination of the two was quite heavenly.

Briefly, some highlights of my weekend included a highly entertaining keynote speech by Kim Fowley, seeing Endoxi again, the near mosh-pit that took place at The Silent Comedy set, and meeting and talking to some new music-loving friends. Also, the absolute MAGIC that occurred Saturday night as we venue hopped, listening to and discovering band after amazing band. This included several LA-based bands; faves like Lady Danville and The Rescues as well as some new fantastic groups like The Makepeace Brothers and Shaimus. Seriously, I was floating…

And in my attempt to remain up in the air, there is plenty of good stuff I’m looking forward to this week. And the list goes as follows:

Monday: Truth & Salvage Co. at Jimmy Kimmel (6pm)…it’s sold out but if you keep checking at 1iota.com, you could probably score a discarded ticket
ALSO: Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Alice Russell at Bootleg Theater(10:30)
ALSO: Amos Lee at Largo at the Coronet (7:30, 9:30)
ALSO: The Diamond Light at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Crocodiles at The Echo (9pm)…just because I’m curious as to what the hype is all about
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring John Elliot (9pm) 

Tuesday: Rachel Yamagata at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: Brandon Flowers at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Café Was (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Adam Haworth Stephens (of Two Gallants) at Spaceland (9pm) 

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

Thursday: Jonah Matranga at The Hotel Café (7pm)
ALSO: Mat Kearney at Saint Rocke (10pm) 

Friday: Graydon at The Hotel Café (11pm)
ALSO: Rufus Wainwright at The Greek Theater (7:30) 

Saturday: Sunset Junction featuring Andy Clockwise, Everest, White Apple Tree, Saint Motel, Chris Pierce, Dawes, etc.
ALSO: Cary Brothers at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Killola at The Roxy 

Sunday: Sunset Junction featuring The Janks, Gringo Star, Fitz & The Tantrums, etc.
ALSO: Haim at The Troubadour
ALSO: Agent Ribbons at Bootleg Theater (11pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard at The Foundry on Melrose 

To Keep in Mind:
August 26th-28th Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring The Silent Comedy, Nico Vega, Queen Caveat, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon trees,  etc.
August 28th: Something Corporate at Club Nokia
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
October 18th: Mumford & Sons at Hollywood Palladium
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/9-8/15

Posted on by Kristen

I must say, there are a LOT of festivals going on this week. Thursday is the Sunset Strip Block Party celebrating the fact that there will no longer be construction holding up traffic along the strip (YAY!). Saturday is the Venice Beach music festival featuring Keaton Simons . Then both Saturday and Sunday at the Echoplex is the Free for All music festival sponsored by When You Awake and featuring Langhorne Silm on Sunday.  And let’s not forget about Warped Tour  on Weds in Pomona featuring many fantastic bands including my new favorite, After Midnight Project. We could also throw in the North Park Music Thing down in San Diego which I’ll be attending over the weekend.

But really these festivals are just prepping everyone for next week’s Sunset Junction  and the, of course, Sunset Strip Music Festival at the end of the month.

As for what else is going on:

Monday: Of Verona and Soul Puppet FREE at The Troubadour (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Saint Rocke (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Weds: Keaton Simons at Cinespace (8pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour in Pomona
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at The Staples Center (8pm) 

Thursday: Soraia at Good Hurt (11:30)…Philly band alert!
ALSO: The Shakers at The Cat Club (10pm)…part of Sunset Strip Block Party (http://thesunsetstrip.com/blockparty)
ALSO: Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal at Club Nokia (9pm)
ALSO: My Morning Jacket and Avi Buffalo at The Greek Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at The Staples Center (8pm)
ALSO: Wartapes at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Northstar Session at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Freelance Whales at El Rey opening for Tokyo Police Club (8:30) 

Friday: Natalie Merchant at Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Soraia at Canter’s Kibitz Room (10pm)
ALSO: American Idols 2010 Live at The Staples Center (7:30) 

Saturday: Venice Beach Music Fest f. Keaton Simons (1:30pm)
ALSO: Rasputina at The Troubadour (10:15) 

Sunday: Langhorne Slim at The Echoplex (4pm)
ALSO: Mississippi Man at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: Levon Helm and Jenny Lewis at The Greek Theater (8pm) 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
August 27-28th: Sunset Strip Music Festival
August 28th: Something Corporate at Club Nokia
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
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

Songwriters in the Round Scores Again!

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Last Monday night’s Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 was a bit of a fantasy event featuring my very favorite west coast duo of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan and my very fave east coast duo, Isaac and Thorry Koren (AKA The Kin-currently based in NYC although originally from Australia). Although I have known both sets of artists (with The Kin, it’s been years), they had not known each other. It was fun watching them all fall in love with one another, as everyone had genuine appreciation for the art and the artist on the stage. After Joey and Kenneth did a couple of tunes, Isaac made a comment about how great they were. Then, after The Kin’s first song, Joey, with his typical deadpan humor, informed the audience that he knew after Isaac’s complement, they were just setting them up to blow them away.  And it just continued from there…

The two pairs, along with the always fabulous Joel Eckels, put on one of the best shows I have seen at that venue. Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 always seems to bring out the best in the artists and the spontaneous collaborations born from that kind of set-up are unique opportunities to see these musicians at their finest, pushing everyone on stage to become even better and giving Kenneth Pattengale multiple reasons to prove that he is one of the most talented musicians you will ever meet (he plays on neary every song…even if he’s never heard it before). This Monday night in particular, was truely something special to behold. The emotional intensity bursting forth from the stage Monday night quite simply left me melted in a puddle on the floor.

Fortunately, I was able to hold it together long enough to take a couple pictures, and more importantly, capture a song by The Kin called “The Boy Who Turned to Stone.” This song was one of the most memorable from the very first time I saw The Kin play. I haven’t heard it for years now and that they choose to bring it back out at this moment just adds to the memorable nature of the evening.

Enjoy a taste from that most amazing set and please please please do yourself a favor and go to Room 5 some Monday night (any Monday night really) and catch the Songwriters in the Round. It’s the best place to be on a Monday night in Los Angeles!

The Kin- The Boy Who Turned To Stone

~ Kristen

Biffy Clyro US mini tour

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Very jealous of certain cities on the east coast (and Chicago) right now! For a week in September my newest band obsession, Biffy Clyro, will be in the US for a brief tour. Dates as follows:

September 13th: Allston, MA at Great Scott
September 15th: Washington, DC at DC9  
September 16th: New York, NY at Brooklyn Bowl 
September 17th: Philadelphia, PA at North Star Bar 
September 18th: New York City, NY at Studio at The Webster
September 20th: Chicago, IL at Lincoln Hall  

 

 If you live in or near one of these cities, I’d highly recommend you go check them out! You can go here to watch all the band’s amazing videos including the newest for their single, “God & Satan”

Here’s an acoustic take on that song:

And here is my fave Biffy Clyro song:

And…I’ve just looked into plane tickets…I think I need help…

~ Kristen

Discovering New Artists: Ben Rector

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Ben Rector was one of the artists featured on my SXSW ’10 mix. I fell in love with his song, “World Moving Backwards”. The other day I stumbled across this website called noisetrade.com. It allows you to sample and download tunes from up and coming artists in exchange for promoting them to your friends on facebook or twitter…or even just sending out some emails. You can leave a monetary “tip” as well if you’re so inclined (you know you want to!).

I downloaded a few additional tunes from Ben Rector’s summer sampler and am very pleased to say that “World Moving Backwards” is not the only song of his I enjoy. I really wish this singer-songwriter from Tennessee would venture out to LA and play for us… As of now, no tour dates have been posted, but I will definitely be on the look-out.

In the meantime, if you want to investigate this artist further, check out his website, buy his newest CD, Summer Candy, download his free summer sampler, and watch some videos (he has some really cool ones, including the one below for his cover of one of my favorite songs “Free Fallin’”)  

~ Kristen

Queen Caveat EP released!!

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Last Thursday night, The Viper Room played host to Queen Caveat’s EP release party.  Finally, we have some music to listen to from one of my new favorite bands! I have been overindulging all weekend. The EP, entitled Emptor, is available on ITunes…I would highly recommend one checking it out… 

To preview, go to the Queen Caveat Myspace page and listen! And while you’re there, download one of the tracks for FREE!

Also note their upcoming LA shows:

August 25th at King Kong
September 11th at Spaceland

my current fave track: In My Bed – Queen Caveat

Listen! Learn! LOVE!

~ Kristen