Author: Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/8-6/14

Posted on by Kristen

Yesterday’s Make Music Pasadena was a much needed day full of music and friends. I was particularly excited about discovering a new band, Iceland’s Kaleo, who drew me in with a dreamy falsetto but kept me engaged with a surprising turn into the bluesy/rock world. I’ve also been enjoying some fabulous new albums. After seeing AWOLANTION last week, I’ve fallen for Run. Just listening to the title track gives me chills. I’ve also been obsessing over the new Dawes album, in particular the song “All Your Favorite Bands” which has a line that really speaks to me (just listen, you’ll know).

As for next week, my show pick would have to be Friday night at The Viper Room with The Filthy Souls, Badflower, and Ceasefire. I’m also looking forward to seeing Laney Jones and The Spirits on Saturday at The Hotel Cafe. This will be the first trip to LA for the Florida songstress.

The rest of my picks:

 

Monday: Crash Kings w/ Rebel Light FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Dustin Kensrue w/ The Rocketboys and Olin & the Moon at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Sheppard at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot f. Scavenger Hunt, Taylor Locke (8:30)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 f. Michael Doman, Josiah Leming (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Broken Arrow, Jillette Johnson at The Hotel Cafe (9,11)
ALSO: The Weepies w/ The Silent War at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur w/ Jill Sobule at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Seinabo Sey at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Parade of Lights, KOMOX FREE at The Slidebar in Fullerton (8pm)

 

Weds: Emmy The Great w/ Javier Dunn at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Cerny Brothers FREE at Harvard & Stone (10pm)
ALSO: HOLYCHILD w/ Decorator at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Joni Mitchell Tribute at Bootleg HiFi (7pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)

 

Thursday: King Washington and The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Ivan & Alyosha w/ Kris Orlowski at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Black English at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Neon Trees w/ Alex Winston at The Fonda Theatre (8:30)
ALSO: Ingrid Michaelson w/ Jukebox the Ghost and Greg Holden at The Greek Theatre (7:30)
ALSO: Komox FREE at Lucky Strike Hollywood (11pm)

 

Friday: The Filthy Soul, Badflower, Ceasefire at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: The Shakers FREE at O’Brien’s (10pm)
ALSO: The Two Tens at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: State To State & Anomaly at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Great Lake Swimmers at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: San Cisco at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers at Largo (8:30)

 

Saturday: Laney Jones at The Spirits at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: DMAs at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The Damnwells at The Roxy (9pm)

 

Sunday: Johnnyswim at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Ari Hest at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Grand Ole Echo FREE at The Echo f. Rose’s Pawn Shop (4pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 15th: Lenka at The Troubadour
June 16th: The Lone Bellow at The El Rey
June 16th, 17th, 19th: Butch Walker at The Masonic Lodge
June 20th: Irontom at Bootleg HiFi
June 22nd: Until The Ribbon Breaks at The Roxy
June 24th/25th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Bowl
June 29th: The Veronicas at The Troubadour
June 30th: The Griswolds at The Troubadour
July 1st: Elle King at The Troubadour
July 2nd: William Beckett at The Roxy
July 11th: Lissie at The Troubadour
July 12th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Greek Theatre
July 13th: Young Rising Sons at The Roxy
July 23rd: Red Wanting Blue at The Hotel Cafe
July 25th: Irontom at The Echo
August 1st: AWOLNATION at Hollywood Palladium
August 5th: First Aid Kit at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
August 8th: 98.7 Summer Camp at Santa Monica Pier f. Saint Motel
August 11th: Langhorne Slim and the Law at The Troubadour
August 14th: George Ezra at The Wiltern
August 17th: Lights at The Greek Theatre
August 17th: Mumford and Sons at The Forum
August 22nd: FYF
September 12th: Passenger at The Wiltern
September 16th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
September 19th: Brandi Carlile at The Wiltern
September 26th: Brandon Flowers at The Wiltern
October 7th: Ben Howard at The Greek Theatre
October 13th: Hozier at Nokia Theatre LA Live
October 15th: twenty one pilots w/ Echosmith at The Greek Theatre
October 16th: The War on Drugs at The Greek Theatre
October 16th/17th: Father John Misty at The Wiltern

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/1-6/7

Posted on by Kristen

Welcome to June! Now that summer is here, we are entering festival season.  Hooray! This weekend is Make Music Pasadena which is becoming one of my favorites. This year, I’m particularly excited about two things. The first being favorite bands like Sir Sly and Dark Waves. The second being the weather forecast which suggests it will not be too hot next weekend (my least favorite thing about summer festivals is the uncomfortable heat).

Another exciting feature of June is the Crash King residency at The Satellite. This is a can’t miss!

Here are the rest of my week’s picks (good luck making a choice on Tuesday):

 

Monday: Crash Kings FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Hunnypot Radio Live FREE at The Mint f. Ruby Friedman Orchestra (7pm)
ALSO: Jack Garratt at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Sunset Sons FREE at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Delta Spirit and friends at Telegram Ballroom (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot f. Max and the Moon and Aurora (8:30)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Badflower at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Mother Mother w/ Battle Tapes at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Andrew St James and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9)
ALSO: Aurora at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Ryley Walker at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Walk Off The Earth at El Rey Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Ron Sexsmith at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Dawes at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (8pm)
ALSO: Embrace and Starsailor at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: The Script at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters at Greek Theatre (7:30)

 

Weds: Zella Day w/ Hidden Charms at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at Mayan Theater (7pm)
ALSO: Beth Hart at The Grammy Museum (8pm)

 

Thursday: David Ramirez, War & Pierce, King Washington at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8, 9)
ALSO: Dustin Kensrue w/ David Ramirez and The Rocketboys at The Troubadour (7:30)
ALSO: Tall Tales and the Silver Lining at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Sufjan Stevens at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (7pm)

 

Friday: Hidden Charm at The Lyric Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Villagers w/ Tall Tales and the Silver Lining at The Echo (6:30)
ALSO: Maimi Horror at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Badass Bands Blog Presents at Silverlake Lounge f. LA River Bend, The Zmed Brothers, Mars and The Massacre (8pm)
ALSO: Avid Dancer and Hanni El Khatib at The National History Museum (7:30)
ALSO: Kiven at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Sleeping with Sirens w/ The Summer Set and Nick Santino at The Troubadour (6:30)
ALSO: John Reilly and Friends at Bootleg HiFi (9:30)

 

Saturday: Make Music Pasadena FREE at downtown Pasadena f. Sir Sly, Dark Waves, The Moth & The Flame, etc. (noon)
ALSO: Jim Bianco presents: Forniquette at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: July Talk w/ My Goodness and LA Font at The Echo (5:30)
ALSO: Kitten at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts at El Rey Theatre (9pm)

 

Sunday: Sunday Serenades with Fancy at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 11th: Neon Trees at The Fonda Theater
June 11th: Black English at The Echo
June 11th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Greek Theatre
June 11th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Roxy
June 15th: Lenka at The Troubadour
June 16th, 17th, 19th: Butch Walker at The Masonic Lodge
June 22nd: Until The Ribbon Breaks at The Roxy
June 24th/25th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Bowl
June 29th: The Veronicas at The Troubadour
June 30th: The Griswolds at The Troubadour
July 1st: Elle King at The Troubadour
July 2nd: William Beckett at The Roxy
July 11th: Lissie at The Troubadour
July 12th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Greek Theatre
July 13th: Young Rising Sons at The Roxy
July 25th: Irontom at The Echo
August 1st: AWOLNATION at Hollywood Palladium
August 5th: First Aid Kit at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
August 11th: Langhorne Slim and the Law at The Troubadour
August 14th: George Ezra at The Wiltern
August 17th: Lights at The Greek Theatre
August 17th: Mumford and Sons at The Forum
August 22nd: FYF
September 16th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 7th: Ben Howard at The Greek Theatre
October 13th: Hozier at Nokia Theatre LA Live
October 15th: twenty one pilots w/ Echosmith at The Greek Theatre
October 16th: The War on Drugs at The Greek Theatre

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/25-5/31

Posted on by Kristen

This week’s email comes to you from rural MD. In the past week I went from Philadelphia, to upstate NY, to this little town in MD where I am helping my college roommate demo her Jane Austen-esque house (a spontaneous purchase).  Between the travel and more computer and internet issues I care to go into, this has been far from a typical week. I have been put to work babysitting, dog-walking, landscaping, pulling nails from wooden planks, etc. On the plus side, there has been a lot of amazing food and a couple trips to my favorite ice cream shop which almost make up for the manual labor…

I am very happy to report that I come home this week. I can’t wait to get back to LA and my nightly routine of going to concerts.

Here are the shows I am contemplating:

 

Monday: The Moth & The Flame and Freedom Fry with The New Electric Sound and Fictionist FREE at The Echo
ALSO: Cillie Barnes, Whispertown FREE at The Satellite (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Kopecky w/ Desert Noises and Armors at The Echo (9pm)

 

Weds: Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Knox Hamilton at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)

 

Thursday: Deluka FREE at Mrs Fish (8pm)
ALSO: Bad Veins at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: William Elliott Whitmore at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: King Washington at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Mae w/ All Get Out and Mike Mains & The Branches at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Tori Kelly at The Wiltern (7pm)

 

Friday: The Elizabeth Kill at Los Globos (6pm)
ALSO: Kristen Toedtman, State To State & The Palace Ballroom at The Hotel Cafe (10, 11)
ALSO: Bad Wolf at Amplyfi (9pm)
ALSO: Tom Morello at Genghis Cohen (7:30)
ALSO: Gun Hill Royals at American Legion Post 43 (9pm)
ALSO: Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Bangles at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Smallpools at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga at Hollywood Bowl (7:30)

 

Saturday: The Silent War, Melissa Polinar at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Bangles at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Xavier Rudd & The United Nation at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Spoon at The Wiltern (7:30)
ALSO: Courtney Barnett at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga at Hollywood Bowl (7:30)

 

Sunday: The Old 97’s w/ Dustbowl Revival and Tyler Hilton at Terranea Resort (noon)
ALSO: Kopecky at Saint Rocke (7pm)
ALSO: Jack Garratt at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Courtney Barnett at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Spoon at Telegram Ballroom (9pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
June1st: Jack Garratt at The Troubadour
June 1st: Delta Spirit at Telegram Ballroom
June 2nd: Mother Mother at The Troubadour
June 2nd: The Script at The Wiltern
June 2nd: Starsailor at The Fonda Theatre
June 4th: Dustin Kensrue at The Troubadour
June 5th: Villagers at The Echo
June 6th: Make Music Pasadena
June 11th: Neon Trees at The Fonda Theater
June 11th: Black English at The Echo
June 11th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Greek Theatre
June 11th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Roxy
June 15th: Lenka at The Troubadour
June 16th, 17th, 19th: Butch Walker at The Masonic Lodge
June 22nd: Until The Ribbon Breaks at The Roxy
June 24th/25th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Bowl
June 29th: The Veronicas at The Troubadour
June 30th: The Griswolds at The Troubadour
July 11th: Lissie at The Troubadour
July 12th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Greek Theatre
July 13th: Young Rising Sons at The Roxy
July 25th: Irontom at The Echo
August 1st: AWOLNATION at Hollywood Palladium
August 5th: First Aid Kit at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
August 14th: George Ezra at The Wiltern
August 17th: Lights at The Greek Theatre
August 17th: Mumford and Sons at The Forum
September 16th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 7th: Ben Howard at The Greek Theatre
October 13th: Hozier at Nokia Theatre LA Live
October 15th: twenty one pilots w/ Echosmith at The Greek Theatre
October 16th: The War on Drugs at The Greek Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/11-5/17

Posted on by Kristen

I was watching a baseball game today through a Pittsburg channel and was absolutely thrilled when before the game came back they would cut to a brief music video clip of an artist coming to town to play. There were some larger bands, but also some smaller ones that I had not heard of.  Along with the song there would be a note about where and when the band was playing. What a brilliant way to advertise for your local music scene!

This week, I’m traveling once again. My adventures will take me to Washington DC where I will visit the NIH and present some research at a conference. I’m also making a list of potential shows (obviously) and I’m excited to visit another DC venue.

I’m looking forward to catching a couple of my favorite LA bands before I go. Irontom is opening up the evening at The Echo Monday night and Dead Sara has three shows this week. If you don’t have a ticket for one of the sold out Troubadour shows, be sure to find your way to Amoeba Records Monday night.

Here is my full list of recommendations:

 

Monday: Irontom, Freedom Fry,  The Moth and The Flame FREE at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Dead Sara FREE at Amoeba Records (6pm)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot f. Lapsley and Tei Shi (8:30)
ALSO: Cillie Barnes FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: The Rebel Light FREE at Bootleg HiFi (8:30)
ALSO: The Bird & The Bee at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 f. Marcus Eaton, Jessie Payo, Clare Means, Jessie Thomas, Michael Doman, Joel Eckels, and more (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Dead Sara w/ Walker Lukens at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Spurs at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Nick Mulvey at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: Sad Robot and Sick of Sarah at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Afternoons at El Cid (9pm)
ALSO: Life in Film w/ The Wombats at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Mia Dyson and Thirdstory at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9:30)
ALSO: The Bird & The Bee at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)

 

Weds: Dead Sara w/ The Wans at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Honey County at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Jam Night FREE at Lucky Strike Hollywood (8pm)

 

Thursday: James Bay w/ Elle King at The Fonda Theatre (8:30)
ALSO: Gringo Star and Lemon Sun at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The New Peter Gabrielz at The Mint (10:20)

 

Friday: State To State & Sleep Machine at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Lenny Kravitz at The Fonda Theatre (9:30)
ALSO: The Shakers at Way 2 Much Entertainment (7:30)
ALSO: Tall Tales and the Silver Lining at Ham & Eggs Tavern (9pm)
ALSO: Muse at The Mayan (6:30)

 

Saturday: The Silent War at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Cathedrals FREE at The Getty Center (6pm)
ALSO: Vegan Beer & Food Festival at The Rose Bowl f. Jamestown Revival, The White Buffalo, and more (noon)
ALSO: Two Gallants at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: : The Shakers at Way 2 Much Entertainment (7:30)
ALSO: Warner Drive and Winchester Rebels at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Lydia and The Early November at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Lord Huron w/ Family of the Year at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Nellie McKay at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Little Dragon at The Greek Theatre (7:30)
ALSO: Omniflux and Pr0files at The Handbag Factory (8pm)
ALSO: KROQ Weenie Roast at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre f. AWOLNATION, Death Cab for Cutie, James Bay, Muse, etc. (noon)

 

Sunday: Black Pistol Fire at The Satellite (9pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
May 18th: Bootstraps at The Troubadour
May 18th: Wolf Alice at The Roxy
May 19th: Prides at The Echo
May 19th: Joy Williams at The El Rey
May 19th: Dead Sara at The Grammy Museum
May 20th: Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds at The Orpheum
May 20th: Shakey Graves at The Fonda
May 20th: Rocco Deluca at The Troubadour
May 22nd: Against Me! at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
May 28th: Mae at The El Rey
May 29th/30th: The Bangles at The Troubadour
May 31st: Kopecky at Saint Rocke
May 31st/June1st: Jack Garratt at The Troubadour
June 1st: Delta Spirit at Telegram Ballroom
June 2nd: Mother Mother at The Troubadour
June 2nd: The Script at The Wiltern
June 2nd: Starsailor at The Fonda Theatre
June 4th: Dustin Kensrue at The Troubadour
June 5th: Villagers at The Echo
June 6th: Make Music Pasadena
June 11th: Neon Trees at The Fonda Theater
June 11th: Black English at The Echo
June 11th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Greek Theatre
June 11th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Roxy
June 15th: Lenka at The Troubadour
June 16th, 17th, 19th: Butch Walker at The Masonic Lodge
June 22nd: Until The Ribbon Breaks at The Roxy
June 24th/25th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Bowl
June 30th: The Griswolds at The Troubadour
July 11th: Lissie at The Troubadour
July 12th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Greek Theatre
August 1st: AWOLNATION at Hollywood Palladium
August 5th: First Aid Kit at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
August 14th: George Ezra at The Wiltern
August 17th: Lights at The Greek Theatre
August 17th: Mumford and Sons at The Forum
September 16th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 7th: Ben Howard at The Greek Theatre
October 13th: Hozier at Nokia Theatre LA Live
October 15th: twenty one pilots w/ Echosmith at The Greek Theatre
October 16th: The War on Drugs at The Greek Theatre

 

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/4-5/10

Posted on by Kristen

I’m taking off in a few short hours to fly to South Carolina for a wedding which, despite being held on May the 4th, will not be Star Wars themed. A missed opportunity if you ask me! I was also saddened to note that the Columbia/Charleston area is not exactly musically boppin’ on a Monday or Tuesday night. Thankfully, this is not the case in Los Angeles where those early week nights are actually my preferred nights for live music. This week certainly doesn’t disappoint with an assortment of excellent (and mostly free) shows Monday night as well as the can’t miss Dark Waves residency Tuesday night at Dirty Laundry. Enjoy for me why don’t you!

Here are the rest of my week’s picks:

 

Monday: Cillie Barnes w/ Sun Drug (formally Vanaprasta) FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Kevin Garrett w/ Javier Dunn, Sleeping Wolf, and Evan Ross at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)
ALSO: The Moth & The Flame FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Golden Coasts w/ Act As If and Armors FREE at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Hunnypot Radio Live FREE at The Mint (7pm)

 

Tuesday: Dark Waves FREE at Dirty Laundry (11pm)
ALSO: Kodaline w/ Gavin James at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Ms Mr at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (7pm)

 

Weds: Max and The Moon at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Kevin Earnest at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Mika at The Balasco Theatre
ALSO: Jam Night FREE at Lucky Strike Live (8pm)

 

Thursday: Miles Tackett & the 3 Times at The Mint (9:30)

 

Friday: Jessie Baylin w/ Jim & Sam at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Dan Bern at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s w/ The Black and The White at The Regent Theatre (7pm)
ALSO: The Shakers playing w/ Shapeshifter Circus at Way 2 Much Entertainment (8pm)

 

Saturday: Raquel Rodriguez at The Mint (9:10)
ALSO: Nina Storey at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Tei Shi at The Lyric Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: The Shakers playing w/ Shapeshifter Circus at Way 2 Much Entertainment (8pm)

 

Sunday: Grant-Lee Phillips and Steve Poltz at McCabe’s (8pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
May 11th/12th: The Bird & The Bee at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
May 11th: Dead Sara at Amoeba Music
May 12th/13th: Dead Sara at The Troubadour
May 14th: James Bay at The Fonda Theatre
May 15th: Muse at The Mayan
May 16th: Two Gallants at The Roxy
May 16th: Lydia at The Troubadour
May 18th: Bootstraps at The Troubadour
May 19th: Prides at The Echo
May 19th: Dead Sara at The Grammy Museum
May 20th: Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds at The Orpheum
May 20th: Shakey Graves at The Fonda
May 20th: Rocco Deluca at The Troubadour
May 22nd: Against Me! at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
May 28th: Mae at The El Rey
May 29th/30th: The Bangles at The Troubadour
May 31st: Kopecky at Saint Rocke
May 31st/June1st: Jack Garratt at The Troubadour
June 1st: Delta Spirit at Telegram Ballroom
June 2nd: Mother Mother at The Troubadour
June 2nd: The Script at The Wiltern
June 4th: Dustin Kensrue at The Troubadour
June 5th: Villagers at The Echo
June 6th: Make Music Pasadena
June 11th: Neon Trees at The Fonda Theater
June 11th: Black English at The Echo
June 11th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Greek Theatre
June 11th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Roxy
June 15th: Lenka at The Troubadour
June 16th, 17th, 19th: Butch Walker at The Masonic Lodge
June 24th/25th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Bowl
June 30th: The Griswolds at The Troubadour
July 12th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Greek Theatre
August 1st: AWOLNATION at Hollywood Palladium
August 5th: First Aid Kit at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
August 14th: George Ezra at The Wiltern
August 17th: Lights at The Greek Theatre
August 17th: Mumford and Sons at The Forum
September 16th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 7th: Ben Howard at The Greek Theatre
October 13th: Hozier at Nokia Theatre LA Live
October 15th: twenty one pilots w/ Echosmith at The Greek Theatre
October 16th: The War on Drugs at The Greek Theatre

 

~ Kristen

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New Band Alert: SPURS

Posted on by Kristen

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Adam Arcuragi is certainly not new to the music scene. His richly textured voice has been mesmerizing the masses since his debut album was released in 2006. Adam has toured extensively in the US and abroad, living in Georgia, Philly, NYC, and now Los Angeles. His last album, 2012’s Like A Fire That Consumes All Before It…, was met with excellent reviews (LMN included). This guy has even been deemed the founder of an entire musical genre (Death Gospel). Although “Adam Arcuragi” has taken different formers over the years (at one point there was an eight person woman’s choir involved), the music has always been under that name.  Then a year or so ago, Adam went to Joshua Tree to work on new music and he emerged with a new musical moniker, SPURS. Curious about this new project, I sat down with Adam over gelato where he pontificated on his new outlook, new team, and what is on the horizon for SPURS.

Here is what I learned:

SPURS was inspired by ghosts, a personal hero, and teenage Adam

After taking some time to go home and be with family, Adam came to a realization: “Life’s too short so why not do the things you want to do. Part of that was just wanting to expand. I was driving just outside of St. Louis and it just washed over me. You’re done. You’ve scratched every itch you’ve wanted to scratch. I made all the records I wanted to make in that style and in that way. I was hungry to learn something new.  So when I came out here [to Los Angeles] it was a combination of the desert (places like Santa Fe and the high desert out there in New Mexico)…I don’t know a better way to put it than they have ghosts. I know it sounds kooky but it made be believe. Any good scientist is going to tell you it’s never knowing, it’s only failure to disprove, but I was of the mind that pretty much everything has been failed to disprove at this point. It opened me back up on a weird way.

I think this set me up personally to meet a songwriting hero of mine [Jeff Barry, co-writer of 60s hits like “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Be My Baby”]. At first it was just kind of hanging out and talking about the process and what not. Then we worked together and he said he’ll actually master and the dude made it look like nothing. Remember the piano playing Muppet who would pound his head against the piano? I always thought that real genius was that. Sitting in a dark room somewhere just feeling it. It overcomes you. And for him it was not that at all. He had his method. He had his insight. And he just went through it.

It was that combination that really let it loose. It was a feeling of sort of letting 16 year old Adam out of the box.”

 

More than a new sound, the new name represents a new freedom (freedom to use reverb).

From Adam’s perspective: “When you are trying to do anything creative, there is a certain idea of challenging yourself. You put up these rules or restrictions. For me, I love reverb, I love tremolo. I love organs and Mellotron, and lots of vocals, but I always sort of held back on all of that, especially reverb because in my mind, it was the easy path and as an artist I wanted to challenge and grow. I think I just got to that point that I’ve proved to myself that I can do it well holding back all those things, the sort of teenage impulses. This project is about that [exploring those impulses]. If little Adam wants reverb, there is reverb. There is reverb all over this record. Like bonkers proportions. Physical reverbs, different kinds of processed digital reverbs, things like that. There’s a whole bunch of tremolo. There’s a whole bunch of piling on voices in such a way that it sounds less and less like a human voice. Yeah, it was that kind of freedom.”

 

The songs are more decoded, translatable

From his time in the desert and his brief apprenticeship with Jeff Barry, Adam learned a different way to approach his lyric-writing.

“He [Jeff Barry] always gave me a hard time. He said all of my lyrics are coded. He said some people are going to have the key to decipher it and some are not, how you fix that is you don’t make it a code. I said to him, Jeff isn’t that a matter of taste, a matter of that’s how it comes out and he said that is absolute shit. If you’re trying to tell somebody something, you need to tell them in a way that they are going to understand. My lyrics didn’t go from dense mess that they are into Da Doo Run Run, but I feel like I found a nice middle ground.

And in terms of performance, and how that translates, I just shook off that part of it that is thinking that everyone could see the same color haze that I saw and instead of relying on the idea that everyone could see the same haze that I saw, just breaking through it and saying so, there’s this haze, there’s a difference in terms of intention. It has a huge different in how you come across. “

 

Who exactly is SPURS?

SPURS is still basically Adam Arcuargi. The way he puts it is “it’s sort of putting that closet of clothes away and getting new clothes. It’s still you in the clothes. It’s just a new way of looking at things. “

The majority of SPURS’ debut album was conceived and recorded out in Joshua Tree where Adam recruited friends David Hartley (Nightlands, The War on Drugs) and Fabian Simon, two guys that Adam claims really got it and helped him achieve the sound that was in his head. The recordings were then mixed by Andy Brohard.

For the live incarnation of the music, Adam has recruited a local LA band that consists of drums, keyboard, guitar, bass, and a couple backup vocalists. The use of multiple voices helps to capture a bit of the lush sound of the record.

Beyond those in the recording booth and on stage, Adam has recruited a new team (manager, lawyer, etc), who all have had an impact on the new project with their ideas and support.

 

 

SPURS live: from The Hotel Cafe residency to house shows

SPURS has been doing a residency at The Hotel Cafe. The final show is Tuesday April 28th at 9pm. On these shows, Adam says, “All three of these shows have gotten successively better. I think the band is finally hearing what they want to hear in terms of everything coming together. We’ve got some nice things to come out for.”

After The Hotel Cafe, SPURS has a few more LA gigs in the works. Adam also hopes to head back to Europe where he has had several successful tours in the past. One notion he loves in Europe that wants to do more of is the house show.

“The thing we’re really getting into is house shows. In Europe, it’s a whole thing. A group of people get together, pool their money, and put it towards the artist they want to host and that is the entertainment over there. It’s fulfilling in a way that playing a show in a theater or club is not. It’s different, looking at people when they are in a more intimate setting. It’s not always in a living room. It can be on a porch or in a beautiful manicured garden, or a larger space like a church. The idea is that it’s a community of people that get together to curate this thing for themselves.”

 

SPURS recordings: 7” vinyl and the eventual record.

Adam is excited about the upcoming release of a promotional 7” to “test the waters”. Encouraged by his vinyl junkie manager, these limited runs will be done in small batches of colors like pink and white. Then when they sell out, they will be gone.

The full length record is basically done and should come out in the US, Europe, Australia and maybe Japan by the end of the year. To answer the question of why it has taken so long for the album to come out, Adam points to another thing that’s changed with the name, “We had everything in place for one model and then when the new team came on, they wanted to see what they could do and make it a little more there’s. If you’re gonna change the name. If you’re going to slightly change the sound and the focus why not change the way you go about it? I’m looking forward to it. “

 

To keep track of SPURS, bookmark/follow/like/friend/etc at the links below

http://www.spursmusic.com 

http://www.facebook.com/spursmusic

http://www.twitter.com/spursmusic

http://www.instagram.com/spursband

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/27-5/3

Posted on by Kristen

Feeling a tad overwhelmed, so I’m just going to cut to the chase. We’ve got some pretty great show opportunities this week, starting with Monday night at The Troubadour featuring Zane Carney. I’m particularly excited as this marks a reunion for 3/4th of one of my all-time favorite bands, Carney. I have a feeling this will be one for the books. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1425604091077516/

Tuesday night, I recommend heading to Hollywood where you can catch the last residency date from SPURS at The Hotel Cafe then head to The Study (formally Hemingway’s), The Piano Bar, and/or Dirty Laundry…all hosting great music for the very reasonable price of free.

Here’s what else I’d suggest:

 

Monday: Zane Carney w/ The Neverending (f. Debby Ryan) and Taylor Locke at The Troubadour (6:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot f. Nothing But Thieves (8:30)
ALSO: Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Dorothy w/ Dekades and Wake Up Lucid FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 (8pm)

 

Tuesday: SPURS w/ Adam Arcuragi, Jo Harris at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Dark Waves FREE at Dirty Laundry (11pm)
ALSO: The Filthy Souls FREE at The Study (10pm)
ALSO: Clockwise at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: George Stanford FREE at The Piano Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Matt & Kim w/ Waters at The Fonda (9pm)
ALSO: John Reilly & Friends at Largo (8:30)

 

Weds: Milo Greene at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Bad Romantics at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Distant Cousins at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Shelters, Robert Francis at The Lyric Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Matt & Kim w Waters at The Fonda (9pm)
ALSO: Susanna Hoffs & Friends at Largo (8:30)

 

Thursday: Kiven, Armors and more at The Lyric Theatre (8:30)
ALSO: 8MM at Dragonfly (8pm)
ALSO: Forebear FREE at Villains Tavern (9pm)
ALSO: The Moth & The Flame at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: Honky Tonk Hacienda f. Alice Wallace, Shane Alexander & The Great Favorites and more at El Cid (7pm)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at Saint Rocke (8pm)
ALSO: Sleater-Kinney at Hollywood Palladium (8pm)

 

Friday: Tony Lucca and Keaton Simons w/ Anna Rose and Casey Buckley at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Dark Waves at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke Band at The Virgil (8pm)
ALSO: Hoobastank at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Nightwish at The Greek Theatre (7:15)
ALSO: Sleater-Kinney at Hollywood Palladium (8pm)
ALSO: They Might Be Giants at The Regent Theater (8pm)

 

Saturday: OK Go at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: The Decemberists at The Greek Theatre (7:30)
ALSO: No Small Children at El Cid (11pm)
ALSO: Dustbowl Revival w/ Jessica Childress at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Ari Herstand, The Eckels Brothers at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Manic Street Preachers w/ Dark Waves at The Fonda (9pm)

 

Sunday: Jenni Alpert at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…record release show
ALSO: Tonight Alive at The Palladium (5pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
May 5th: Kodaline at The Wiltern
May 5th: Ms Mr at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
May 6th: Mika at Belasco Theatre
May 8th: Jessie Baylin at The Troubadour
May 8th: The Mowgli’s at The Regent Theatre
May 11th/12th: The Bird & The Bee at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
May 12th/13th: Dead Sara at The Troubadour
May 14th: James Bay at The Fonda Theatre
May 15th: Muse at The Mayan
May 16th: Two Gallants at The Roxy
May 16th: Lydia at The Troubadour
May 18th: Bootstraps at The Troubadour
May 19th: Prides at The Echo
May 19th: Dead Sara at The Grammy Museum
May 20th: Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds at The Orpheum
May 20th: Shakey Graves at The Fonda
May 20th: Rocco Deluca at The Troubadour
May 22nd: Against Me! at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
May 28th: Mae at The El Rey
May 29th/30th: The Bangles at The Troubadour
May 31st: Kopecky at Saint Rocke
May 31st/June1st: Jack Garratt at The Troubadour
June 1st: Delta Spirit at Telegram Ballroom
June 2nd: Mother Mother at The Troubadour
June 2nd: The Script at The Wiltern
June 4th: Dustin Kensrue at The Troubadour
June 5th: Villagers at The Echo
June 6th: Make Music Pasadena
June 11th: Neon Trees at The Fonda Theater
June 11th: Black English at The Echo
June 11th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Greek Theatre
June 11th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Roxy
June 15th: Lenka at The Troubadour
June 16th, 17th, 19th: Butch Walker at The Masonic Lodge
June 24th/25th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Bowl
June 30th: The Griswolds at The Troubadour
July 12th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Greek Theatre
August 1st: AWOLNATION at Hollywood Palladium
August 5th: First Aid Kit at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
August 14th: George Ezra at The Wiltern
August 17th: Lights at The Greek Theatre
August 17th: Mumford and Sons at The Forum
September 16th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 7th: Ben Howard at The Greek Theatre
October 13th: Hozier at Nokia Theatre LA Live
October 15th: twenty one pilots w/ Echosmith at The Greek Theatre
October 16th: The War on Drugs at The Greek Theatre

 

~ Kristen

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