Can I move to Texas for a week?

The thing I love most in life is discovering amazing new bands. Close behind that on my list of loves would be when these amazing bands discover each other…especially when this leads to them playing together. This is why I am uber excited about an upcoming May tour which includes one of my newest discoveries, After Midnight Project, and one of my very favorite LA bands, Nico Vega. Unfortunately for me, this tour will take place in Texas. So, if you happen to be in Texas or know anyone who is, pass this info on…I will be jealous

The headliner for this tour is actually Chevelle who also puts on a fantastic live performance.

Here are the dates

May 7th: Scout Bar – San Antonio, Texas
May 8th: Lonestar Amphitheatre (also with Puddle of Mudd and Adelita’s Way)- Lubbock, Texas
May 9th: Midnight Rodeo & Piranha – Amarillo, Texas
May 11th: Toom Dos Amigos (also with Papa Roach and 12 Stones) – Odessa, Texas
May 12th: Stubb’s – Austin, Texas
May 14th: Las Palmas Race Park – Mission, Texas
May 15th: Concrete Street – Corpus Christi, Texas 

Texas will Rock!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 4/12-4/18

“Emergency “ in lab = one stressed out and mentally exhausted Kristen. But even if I don’t have much time this week for extraneous shows, doesn’t mean I can’t make the time to tell you about all the fantastic things I’d like to be doing.  By the end of the week we can all gather at Coachella and celebrate. Three days of nothing but music = one happy Kristen.

Here’s the run down:

Monday: Butch Walker and the Black Widows at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale (8,9)…this is Paris’ last show for awhile
ALSO: The Postelles at Spaceland (8:30)…saw this band at Bonnaroo ’08…from NYC 

Tuesday: Tony Lucca and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)…the last T&S Co. show before they depart for another tour…don’t miss out!
ALSO: Serena Ryder at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Links and Purple Melon at Saint Rocke(8pm)
ALSO: White Buffalo at The Mint (7:30) 

Weds: Them Crooked Vultures at Club Nokia (8:30)
ALSO: Matt Morris at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Kingsize at The Troubadour (9:15) 

Thursday: Rocco Deluca, and Dirty Diamond at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: The Daylights and Pawnshop Kings at The Troubadour (10pm) 

Friday: George Stanford, Andy Clockwise, and Vienne at The Hotel Cafe (9)…George’s Record Release…please someone go and pick up a copy for me…SO terribly sad I’ll miss it
ALSO: Arlo Guthrie at Royce Hall (8:30)
COACHELLA featuring: Alana Grace, Iglu & Hartly, Imogen Heap, Kate Miller-Heidke, She & Him, The Avett Brothers, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend

 Saturday: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Smashing Pumpkins at Space 15 Twenty (4pm)
COACHELLA featuring: Band of Skulls, Camera Obscura, Corinne Bailey Rae, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT, Muse, Porcupine Tree, Sia, Steel Train, The Dead Weather 

Sunday: Meiko at Saint Rocke (7pm)
COACHELLA featuring: Local Natives, MUTEMATH, Phoenix, Spoon, The Big Pink, Thom Yorke 

To Keep in Mind:

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson
April 21st: Nico Vega and Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
May 4th: Greg Laswell at The Troubadour
May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   
May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater
May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah (in SD)
May 28th: The Silent Comedy and Dirty Sweet at North Park Theater (in SD)
June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)
June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)
July 10th: Lilith Fair

 ~ Kristen

Cary Brothers CD Release at the Hotel Cafe

09 Something About You

I don’t have much time to share all the details of the fantastic night of music I experienced last Friday. The line-up at The Hotel Cafe included Joey Ryan (with Kenneth Pattengale, of course), Cary Brothers, and Truth & Salvage Co. (one of their last LA shows before hitting the road once again).

The whole night, however, was really about the release of Cary Brothers’ new CD, “Under Control”. I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed his set (yes he also played old standards like “Blue Eyes” and “Honestly”) or how I’m loving the new CD (current faves include “Ghost Town”, and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”), but I’ll just leave you with the track I find myself humming as I write this. “Something About You” is Cary’s take on the 80’s classic and is sung with the very talented Laura Jansen. Listen. Love. Go out and get Cary Brothers’ newest CD!

~ Kristen

Pepper’s Ghost Countdown: 1 Week!!!

Only one week before I take off in a jet plane and fly across the country to see one of my all time favorite bands, Pepper’s Ghost, reunite for a special show at The Grape Room in Philadelphia. I’m starting to get nervous actually. I wonder what songs they will play. Will they have any new songs? Play any covers? Old stuff/new stuff? Will they play my favorites? I’m also wondering who will be there. The place is tiny…I hope we can all get in! I’m even wondering what they will wear. And this is when I know I’m over thinking things…

One week from now all these questions will be answered. I.cannot.wait.

For my final Pepper’s Ghost Countdown post, I will leave you with their music video for “4 Letter Friend”. Enjoy and I hope to see you next Saturday!

~ Kristen

Hanson’s 12 hour SXSW4Japan Benefit: Album now Available!

So many things were going on in Austin the week of SXSW that it’s impossible to do/see/even know about it all. One thing I was tangentially aware of was Hanson’s efforts to raise money for those in Japan suffering from the tsunami fallout. Apparently the brothers put together a fundraiser in less than 24 hours that brought in over $100,000 worth of donations for the Red Cross.  The fundraiser was in the form of a telethon that took place on the last Saturday of SXSW and featured so many wonderful artists coming in and giving exclusive performances that were then streamed live.
Sxsw4japan.org is re-streaming the performances RIGHT NOW!: http://sxsw4japan.org/

Even more exciting, ITunes and Amazon.com are now selling a digital album called SXSW4Japan featuring nearly 50 tracks from the artists that participated. All proceeds are going to the Red Cross.

So, what are you waiting for? GO and get it!

http://www.amazon.com/Sxsw4japan/dp/B004UY1TSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302031272&sr=8-1

Some of my favorite artists featured include: Hanson, The Lonely Forest, Cary Brothers, The Boxer Rebellion, Laura Jansen, Alpha Rev, Jenny O, Keaton Simons, Anna Nalick, The Parlotones, Kina Grannis, Michelle Branch, and Rooney…but there are SOOOOOO many more!

Charlie Mars at the SXSW4Japan benefit:

Hanson covers “Lean on Me”

~ Kristen

Watch live streaming video from sxsw4japan at livestream.com

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 11/21-11/27

Since I got back from my east coast trip, I feel like I have been running full speed ahead non-stop. I can’t believe it’s already Sunday eve and despite working most of the weekend, my to do list barely has a scratch. I didn’t get out to too many shows last week, but the ones I saw were phenomenal. The Hours and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Royce Hall and Milo Greene and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern were both top notch musical experiences. And let’s not forget LMN’s show tonight featuring Wires in the Walls, Holy Rolling Empire, and Sunken Ships…an excellent night of music!
Despite it being a holiday week, there are still a few promising shows. I’m basically going to have to take it on an hour by hour basis, but those of you fortunate enough to be able to plan ahead, here’s what I’d recommend:

 

Monday: Vanaprasta FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Rachel Cantu, The Janks, Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (8:30, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: The Maine at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Mowglis and Maniac at Three of Clubs (9, midnight)
ALSO: Golden State and Kemble Walters and the Blank Faces at The Viper Room (10,12)
ALSO: Ari Shine, Kevin Martin, Just an Animal at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Weds: Korey Dane at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground at Bootleg Bar (11pm)

 

Thursday: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

Friday: Trapt at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Central (8:30)

 

Saturday/Sunday: everyone will probably be out of town, but maybe something will come up by the weekend…

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Allen Stone at The Echo
December 2nd: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey
December 2nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 6th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 14th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

 

 

 

 

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