Local Music Nation

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/17-11/23

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Kristen

This weekend I’m in the middle of an intense conference in Washington DC. I love conferences! I love the energy, the scheduling, the free food, exploring other cities, and seeing old friends. Plus, the exhaustion that comes with being around people for 12-15 hrs/day is so extreme is nearly erases all of life’s other problems.

Friday night, I was able to take some time to explore a part of the city that seems to have quite a few notable music venues. I found Black Cat and the 9:30 Club before settling in at U Street Music Hall where Lewis Watson was playing. I could write an essay comparing the vibe of the DC vs LA music scene, but I suppose I need more than a single data point on the DC end before I draw any real conclusions. Let’s just say, I quite miss LA.

I’ll be back next week just in time for a very crowded Thursday evening of musical options, but if I were in town all week, I wouldn’t miss Parade of Lights Tuesday night opening for X-Ambassadors at The Troubadour.

Here are the rest of my selections:

Monday: Zane Carney at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Forebear FREE at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: The Diamond Light FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Dorothy w/ Rainbow Jackson and Wake Up Lucid FREE at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot f. Brooke Fraser (8:30)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Hunnypot Radio Live FREE at The Mint (7pm)
Tuesday: X-Ambassadors w/ Parade of Lights at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Grace and Tony at Bootleg HiFi (8:15)
ALSO: Paris Carney, Zella Day at No Vacancy (8pm)
ALSO: Nightmare Boy at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Tegan and Sara at Hollywood Palladium (6:30)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Piano Bar (10pm)

Weds: Mark Salling, Kevin Earnest at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Badass Bands Blog Presents at The Silverlake Lounge f. Town in the City, LA River Bend, Wake Up Lucid (8:30)
ALSO: We Are Twin at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: The 1975 at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

Thursday: Patrick Droney, Jared & The Mill, Alexz Johnson at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: Clockwise at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Rhett Miller, The Cordovas at The Hotel Cafe (8:30, 10)
ALSO: Katy Rose at Los Globos (9pm)
ALSO: The Alarm Science at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi, Chris Ayer at Room 5 (9, 10)
ALSO: James Vincent McMorrow at The Theatre at Ace Hotel (8pm)
ALSO: Colin Hay at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: The 1975 at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Cold War Kids at The Regent Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Bastille at Shrine Expo Hall (7:30)

Friday: The Matches at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: FKA Twigs at The Regent Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Gun Hill Royals at American Legion Post 43 (8pm)

Saturday: Will Daily at El Cid (10pm)
ALSO: Oak & Gorski, Charles McDonald at The Hotel Cafe (11, 12)
ALSO: The Matches at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: FKA Twigs at The Regent Theater (8pm)
ALSO: The Head and The Heart at The Theatre at Ace Hotel (8pm)

Sunday:

To Keep in Mind:
November 28th: Vance Joy at The Fonda Theatre
December 3^rd: Caught a Ghost at The Troubadour
December 5th: Tyler Hilton at Bootleg HiFi
December 8^th: Mosco Rosco at The Troubadour
December 9^th: Dear Boy at Bootleg HiFi
December 9^th: Augustana at The Fonda Theatre
December 10^th: High Voltage Holiday Party
December 10^th: Howie Day at Saint Rocke
December 11^th: Saints of Valory and Phillip Phillips at Club Nokia
December 13^th: Howie Day at The Hotel Café
January 29^th: Brooke Fraser at The Fonda
January 31^st: Jukebox The Ghost at The Roxy
Feb. 6^th: Hozier at The Fonda
Feb. 19^th: Milo Greene at The El Rey
March 13^th: Sir Sly at The Wiltern
March 27^th: Echosmith at The Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/10-11/16

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Kristen

This past week was just a blur. This could have something to do with the 16 bands I ended up seeing (most of which were new to me). Or perhaps I’ll attribute it to my intense week at work preparing for a big conference I’m going to next week. The mental fog that I’m currently sitting in, however, is most likely due to lack of sleep and the sheer exhaustion brought about by the previous two activities in combination.

As for next week, I’ll largely be out of town, but there are plenty of great shows for you! My show pick is Neulore at The Hotel Cafe on Tuesday. I met this Nashville-based band at SXSW, and have wanted to see them play ever since. Listen to their song, “Shadow of a Man” and you’ll hear why.

Here are the rest of my picks:

Monday: David Ryan Harris, Zane Carney, Cast Iron Stake at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9, 10:15)
ALSO: The Diamond Light and The Black and The White FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Dorothy and Vanaprasta FREE at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Jamie Scott at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Shakey Graves w/ Rayland Baxter & Esme Patterson at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 f. Patrick Joseph, Casey Abrams, Clare Means, Michael Doman, etc. (8pm)

Tuesday: Neulore at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot f. Irontom (8:30)
ALSO: George Stanford FREE at The Piano Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Jamie Scott at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Shakey Graves w/ Rayland Baxter & Esme Patterson at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Lights w/ Wild Party at Fonda Theatre (8pm)

Weds: Reignwolf at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: The All-American Rejects, The Gallery (acoustic) at The Hotel Cafe (9:30, 11)
ALSO: The New Electric Sound at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Clockwise at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Relient K at The House of Blues (6:30)
ALSO: First Aid Kit at The Wiltern (7pm)

Thursday: The Stone Foxes w/ The Janks at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Old Man Canyon and The Peach Kings at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Decoded, Dekades at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Tom Brousseau and Field Report at The Satellite (9pm)

Friday: The Contenders f. Jay Nash and Josh Day, Mia Dyson at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Oh Hellos at The Troubadour (9:45)

Saturday: The Shakers at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke Band at El Cid (11pm)
ALSO: Chris Pierce at Genghis Cohen (9:30)
ALSO: TR3 f. Tim Reynolds at The Mint (8:15)
ALSO: Yellowcard at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Hot Water Music at The Troubadour (9:45)
ALSO: Boyce Avenue w/ Kris Allen and Curtis Peoples at The Wiltern (6:30)
ALSO: Bob Schneider w/ The Wind + The Wave at The Roxy (8pm)

Sunday: The Oh Hellos at The Troubadour (9:45)
ALSO: Daniel Lanois at The El Rey (8pm)

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/3-11/9

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Kristen

I am particularly grateful for Daylight Savings this year. Last night’s epic Dead Sara show at The Viper room left me completely spent, emotionally and physically. It took me a bit this morning to even begin to emerge from the post show haze. That extra hour of sleep was necessary!

Next week holds a treasure trove of musical talent. Fantastic residencies, 2014 discovers Penny & Sparrow, and The Lewis Watson rescheduled show to name a few. Show pick of the week, however, goes to The Kin who are coming to The Bootleg Friday night. This is a can’t miss!

Here’s what else I’d recommend:

Monday: Zane Carney and David Ryan Harris at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10:15)
ALSO: The Diamond Light w/ Great White Buffalo, Down And Outlaws FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Dorothy w/ Wove and LA Font FREE at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Timmy Sean & The Celebrities FREE at Harvelle’s (9:30)
ALSO: The Echo and The Sound FREE at The Silverlake Lounge (11:15)
ALSO: Hunnypot Radio Live FREE at The Mint (7pm)
ALSO: The Trews and Fictionist at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Scott Weiland & The Wildabouts at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 (8pm)

Tuesday: Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors w/ Penny & Sparrow at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Courtney Barnett & San Femin at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Mikhael Paskatev w/ Honeymoons at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Flyleaf at The House of Blues Sunset (6:30)

Weds: The All-American Rejects at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Clockwise w/ SWIMM and more at The Satellite (9pm)…video premiere party
ALSO: Jake Bugg at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Bleachers w/ Wild Cub at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Hunnypot Party at The Avalon/Bardot f. Wild Party (8pm)

Thursday: Fever Fever at The Silverlake Lounge (6:30)
ALSO: The Stone Foxes at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Ana Gasteyer at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: The Features w/ Chappo at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Bushwalla at The Satellite (9pm)

Friday: The Kin at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Mosco Rosco at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: The Rebel Light at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Chris Stills at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Shovels & Rope at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: We Were Promised Jetpacks w/ The Twilight Sad at Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Manchester Orchestra at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)

Saturday: Bear’s Den at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: Mirah at The Echo (6pm)
ALSO: Warner Drive at The Viper Room (8pm)…CD release!
ALSO: Manchester Orchestra w/ Chris Staples at The Troubadour (8pm)

Sunday: Lewis Watson w/ Patrick Park and Romeo Testa at The Troubadour (7pm)

To Keep in Mind:
November 10^th/11^th: Jamie Scott at The Troubadour
November 11^th: Lights at Fonda Theatre
November 11^th: Neulore at The Hotel Cafe
November 12^th: The All-American Rejects at The Hotel Cafe
November 14th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Café
November 18^th: Parade of Lights at The Troubadour
November 18^th: Tegan and Sara at Hollywood Palladium
November 20th: Bastille at Shrine Expo Hall
November 21st/22nd: The Matches at The Troubadour
November 22^nd: Will Dailey at El Cid
November 28th: Vance Joy at The Fonda Theatre
December 3^rd: Caught a Ghost at The Troubadour
December 5th: Tyler Hilton at Bootleg HiFi
December 9^th: Dear Boy at Bootleg HiFi
December 9^th: Augustana at The Fonda Theatre
December 10^th: Howie Day at Saint Rocke
December 11^th: Saints of Valory at Club Nokia
December 13^th: Howie Day at The Hotel Café
January 31^st: Jukebox The Ghost at The Roxy
Feb. 6^th: Hozier at The Fonda
Feb. 19^th: Milo Greene at The El Rey

~ Kristen

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

10 Fun Facts about We Met Tomorrow

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Kristen

During the Culture Collide Festival, I was able to sit down with one of my favorite bands from Sweden, We Met Tomorrow. This trio makes an instant impression with their unique stage set-up, dynamic songs, and signature blend of blues, rock, and country genres. Rickard (vocals, guitar, percussion), Carl (guitar), and Emil (bass, percussion) have only been creating music with each other for about 4 years, but they have built an impressive collection of songs, suggesting an innovative spirit and undeniable talent. They may be soft spoken, but I was able to glean some interesting tidbits from this promising up and coming band. Here are 10 Fun Facts about We Met Tomorrow:

The band met at a school for music in South East Sweden, an area of the country they describe as “cold”, “bland”, and “calm”. They were inspired by a need for something different.

“In our hometown there was a lot of the same music. On the radio as well. We got bored of it and wanted to play something else, wanted to hear something else.”

The trio breaks down elements of a drum kit so they can all be played using foot pedals while the guys are using their hands to play guitars. The reason for the band’s unique percussion set-up is simpler than you might imagine. They just couldn’t find a drummer!

“We didn’t know any good drummers that wanted to play with us so we had to sort it out ourselves”

We Met Tomorrow at Culture Collide

The band is greatly influenced by the blues, but Emil also mentions contemporary rockers, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as one of his favorites.

The mulit-instrumentalist, Rickard, is currently working on another instrument to add to his repertoire, the clarinet!

The band’s songs are built around what they can do with their instruments in a live setting.

Rickard says, “[having to play percussion, guitar, and sing] limits what I can do, but I have to write songs that I can play. Sometimes I write half a song and realize that I can’t play this and I have to stop and write something else”

For example, “Strong Enough” came about once they added a snare drum to their setup.

“That’s basically one of the first songs we did when we got a snare. It was just easier to do the ‘du du cah, du du cah’ and I wrote around that and it became a rock, gospel feel.”

Rickard has spent 15 years playing soccer but briefly went through a weird phase where he lost his ability to run.

The guys have a talent for videos games, mentioning FIFA Soccer and the role playing, dragon-centric, Skyrim series as particular favorites

We Met Tomorrow songs are influenced by band jam sessions, but many come from Rickard spending time in his basement with his music. The band’s newest song, “Down Down Down”, came from “a poppy part” of Rickard’s brain

While the band was in Los Angeles, they particularly enjoyed a trip to the Observatory in Griffith Park

The band doesn’t have a twitter account (gasp!).

“We started one but realized that we’re not fun enough. We don’t have anything to say. We’re not the kind of people who just talk. We’ll have to work on that. I guess someday we’ll have it, but not quite yet.

Sidenote: The band does keep up with a facebook account and have a pretty impressive website where you can listen to all of their songs

Bonus Fact: The guys listen to a lot of older music. Rickard mentioned Willie Johnson as a current favorite.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/27-11/2

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Kristen

Friday night I went to a friend’s place to watch the movie 10 Things I Hate About You. What a nostalgia trip! Julia Stiles’ love of “angry chick rock”, Heath Ledger singing, Joseph Gordon Levitt’s perfect wounded puppy face…I’m still humming along to those Letters to Cleo songs…

It’s our last week of Rocktober so I hope you make the most of it! There are certainly some great options. Zane Carney’s Monday night Hotel Cafe residency has an extra draw in the form of a bonus set from his sister Paris. We also have The Stone Foxes Thursday residency at The Bootleg getting head start.

Monday: Zane Carney and Paris Carney at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Ben Howard at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Guster at The Grammy Museum (8pm)
ALSO: Rachael Yamagata w/ The Dove & The Wolf and Hemming at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot f. Circa Waves, Seinabo Sey, Saskwatch (8:30)

Tuesday: Rachael Yamagata w/ The Dove and The Wolf at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)

ALSO: Circa Waves and Wild Party at The Echo (8pm)
ALSO: Paper Route at Bootleg HiFi (10pm)
ALSO: Mark Ballas & Friends at Room 5 (8, 9, 10)
ALSO: Leighton Meester w/ Dana Williams at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Delta Spirit at The Satellite (9:30)
ALSO: Shawn Mullins at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Bear Hands w/ Fences at The Roxy (8pm)

Weds: The Wild Feathers w/ The Apache Relay and Desert Noises at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: The All-American Rejects at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Betty Who at The House of Blues (7pm)
ALSO: OK Go at The Grammy Museum (8pm)
ALSO: The Rural Alberta Advantage w/ July Talk at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Delta Spirit w/ Sacco at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: The Soft White Sixties at Bootleg HiFi (10pm)
ALSO: Jeff Garlin in Conversation with Ryan Adams at Largo (8:30)

Thursday: Stone Foxes at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: Gun Hill Royals at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Tyler, Leslie Stevens, Roses’s Pawn Shop at El Cid (8pm)
ALSO: Delta Spirit at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Citizen Cope at House of Blues (8pm)
ALSO: The Airborne Toxic Event w/ Twin Shadow at Greek Theatre (7pm)
ALSO: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Fonda (8pm)

Friday: The Eeries and Sir Sly FREE at Lucky Strike Hollywood (8pm)…need to RSVP
ALSO: Elvis H. Christ & The Suicidal Kings at TRiP (11pm)
ALSO: Fire In The Hamptons at Silverlake Lounge (8pm)

Saturday: Dead Sara at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: honeyhoney at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: New Politics at The Fonda Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Lissie w/ George Stanford at The Paramount Ballroom
ALSO: The Bangles at The Troubadour (9pm)
Sunday: My Name is You, Jake Newton, Javier Dunn at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Jimmy Eat World at Club Nokia (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
November 4^th: Penny and Sparrow at The Troubadour
November 5^th: The All-American Rejects at The Hotel Café
November 7^th: The Kin at Bootleg HiFi
November 8^th: Bear’s Den at Bootleg HiFi
November 9^th: Lewis Watson and Patrick Park at The Troubadour
November 10^th/11^th: Jamie Scott at The Troubadour
November 11^th: Lights at Fonda Theatre
November 11^th: Neulore at The Hotel Cafe
November 12^th: The All-American Rejects at The Hotel Cafe
November 14th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Café
November 18^th: Parade of Lights at The Troubadour
November 20th: Bastille at Shrine Expo Hall
November 21st/22nd: The Matches at The Troubadour
November 22^nd: Will Dailey at El Cid
November 28th: Vance Joy at The Fonda Theatre
December 3^rd: Caught a Ghost at The Troubadour
December 5th: Tyler Hilton at Bootleg HiFi
December 9^th: Dear Boy at Bootleg HiFi
December 9^th: Augustana at The Fonda Theatre
December 10^th: Howie Day at Saint Rocke
December 11^th: Saints of Valory at Club Nokia
December 13^th: Howie Day at The Hotel Café
January 31^st: Jukebox The Ghost at The Roxy
Feb. 6^th: Hozier at The Fonda
Feb. 19^th: Milo Greene at The El Rey

~ Kristen