Local Music Nation

Penny & Sparrow at The Hotel Cafe 6/8/14

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Kristen

Austin duo, Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke (AKA Penny & Sparrow) played their first show in Los Angeles Sunday night at The Hotel Cafe. As it was their first LA show, they were unaware of the Angeleno propensity to arrive “fashionably late” to any event and somewhat nervously joked that they were preparing to play a show for four people; their wives, the bartender, and the sound guy. The concern proved unnecessary as by the time they finished their first song, the rousing “Bread and Bleeding”, the room was filling out with fans and music lovers eager to get their fix.

For the uninitiated, Penny & Sparrow craft slow and beautiful folk tunes, proving that sometimes less is definitely more. Andy takes lead with a compelling voice that becomes haunting especially in its lower registers on songs like “Honest Wage”. Kyle supports with guitar and vocals, threading harmonies in and out of songs adding that elevating emotional punch.

The pleasant surprise of the night was not the beauty of the songs (that’s evident by listening to the record), but the humor and the warmth that filled the room as the duo played. From the heart-stopping a capella “Fantine” to their “one foot-stomping tune”, “Brothers”, the two singers transformed the energy of the bar to something more akin to a living room hang out. You knew they had the room when they prefaced their song “Stoic” with a comment about how the song contained everything you don’t want to say in an argument with your wife and as they sang the melancholy tune, the audience chuckled as they soaked up the lyrics in that context.

They closed the night with a captivating cover of “Come Thou Font of Every Blessing”, a hymn perfect for a reflective Sunday evening.

For more on Penny & Sparrow, check out their webpage: http://www.pennyandsparrow.com/

And definitely check out their recent album, Struggle Pretty, which has been a constant on my playlist lately.

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 6/10/14 f. Jack White, Passenger, Blacklist Royals

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Kristen

Well, here’s what I’ve been listening to…

Jack White – Lazaretto

Jack White is one of the innovators of contemporary music. Although I can’t say I’m a fan of everything he does, I’m always keen on tuning in. I found myself really enjoying Lazaretto. It has a fun mix of quirky humor, skilful musicianship, and serious beat busters. I think my favorite tune might be the title track, a funky rocker that gets me moving with its playful beats.

Passenger – Whispers

Whispers is a series of lyrical gems encased in gorgeous melodies delivered by a unique voice that is instantly compelling. It’s the kind of record that goes straight to the heart. I’ve been listening to closing track, “Scare Away The Dark” on repeat. The whit and relevance of the tune, which seems to be about the saving power of music, make me smile with every listen. This album is deep, so dig in.

Blacklist Royals – Die Young With Me

I first heard “Righteous Child” doing my SXSW research, and I was hooked. It was both catchy and edgy, with a feel of a Gaslight Anthem or Against Me! song. I haven’t heard Die Young With Me in its entirety, but the rest of the songs seem to follow suit and I would recommend checking it out if you’re into this genre.

Also On my “to listen” list:

Anathema – Distant Satellites
First Aid Kit – Stay Gold
Imogen Heap – Sparks
Chrissie Hynde – Stockholm
O.A.R. – The Rockville LP
Umphrey’s Mcgee – Similar Skin
Say Anything – Hebrews
This Wild Life – Clouded

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/9-6/15

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Kristen

I’m about to head out the door to get to The Hotel Cafe to check out acoustic duo, Penny & Sparrow. I’ve been listening to their album, Struggle Pretty, and I’ve high hopes for this live experience. There are several artists in town this week whose records I’ve been obsessed with, but who I’ve never seen live. On the top of that list is British singer-songwriter, James Bay playing twice this week at Bardot and The Hotel Cafe. We also have Seattle’s HARPS and Levi Weaver whose album, Your Ghost Keeps Finding Me is one of my favorite releases this year.

And that’s just the beginning! This is truly a great week for music discovery so get out there and fall in love with something new. Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring James Bay
ALSO: Lime Cordiale at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Maudlin Strangers, Wild Ones, Until The Ribbon Breaks, MYPET FREE at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: French Style Furs FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Zero 1 at Dragonfly (8pm)

Tuesday: James Bay at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Scott Kinnebrew (Truth & Salvage Co) and Patrick Park at The Fold (9, 10)
ALSO: Jack White with Cold War Kids at The Fonda (8:30)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: George Stanford FREE at The Piano Bar (10pm)

Weds: The Rocketboys FREE at Fifty Seven (10pm)
ALSO: Broken Arrow, Ben Lee at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Jack White with Cold War Kids at The Mayan (7pm)
ALSO: Bob Schneider and Hayes Carll at The Troubadour (9pm)

Thursday: HARPS at Silverlake Lounge (11:30)

ALSO: Memoir FREE at The Spare Room at The Roosevelt Hotel (10pm)
ALSO: Old Man Canyon at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Scarlett Rabe and Songwriters in the Round f. Clare Means, Joy Autumn, Stephen Lowll at Room 5 (7, 9)
ALSO: Hayes Carll and Bob Schneider at The Troubadour (9pm)

Friday: Irontom at The Roxy (8:15)
ALSO: Patrick Joseph and Cassi Nichols at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: 8MM, Kiven at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Judith Owen at The Mint (8pm)

Saturday: Levi Weaver at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Nightmare & The Cat and Neon Trees at The Wiltern
ALSO: The Both at El Rey Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Ages and Ages with Phoebe Bridgers at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: Fire in The Hamptons at El Cid (11pm)
ALSO: The Fray with Oh Honey and Barcelona at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

Sunday:

To Keep in Mind:
June 16^th: Ed Sheeran at The Hollywood Bowl
June 17^th: Crash Kings at Bootleg HiFi
June 18^th: Matt Nathanson at Greek Theatre
June 18^th: High Voltage show at The Silverlake Lounge
June 19^th: Dan Wilson at Largo
June 21^st: The Milk Carton Kids at Japan America Theatre
July 10^th: Prides at The Troubadour
July 22^nd: OK Go at The Troubadour
July 23^rd: OK Go at The Echo
July 24^th: The Neighbourhood at Greek Theatre
July 31^st: Foxy Shazam at The El Rey
August 1^st: The Griswolds at The Echo
August 2^nd: Saint Motel at The Troubadour
August 2^nd: Red Wanting Blue at Bootleg Theater
August 5^th: Emerson Hart and Tony Lucca at The Hotel Cafe
August 10^th: Iron and Wine and Glen Hansard at Hollywood Bowl
August 13^th: Reignwolf at The Troubadour
August 23^rd-24^th: FYF
August 23^rd: Lake Street Dive at The Wiltern
August 25^th: Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at Hollywood Bowl
August 26^th: Youngblood Hawke at Greek Theatre
September 30^th: Sam Smith at Greek Theatre
October 2^nd: The War on Drugs at Fonda Theatre
October 3^rd: Ben Kweller at The Roxy
October 6^th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 8^th: twenty one pilots at Hollywood Palladium
October 10^th: The Pretty Reckless at The Wiltern
October 16^th: Hozier with James Bay at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian
October 18^th: Kodaline at The Fonda Theatre
October 27^th: Rachael Yamagata at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/2-6/8

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Kristen

I’ve been doing a lot of “career” work this week, bulking up the Linkedin, going on job sites to see what’s available, making lists of my skills, etc. I go back and forth between being excited and panicked, thinking I’ve accomplished a lot and wondering what I’ve done with my life. I actually got a headache this week which is a rare thing for me…it’s hard to stare into the future when it’s so fuzzy!

At least I have my short term music plan worked out. This week brings some exciting shows at The Hotel Cafe (Max Collins, Curtis Peoples, Penny & Sparrow, etc.). I’m also looking forward to seeing Chicago rockers Empires Monday night at Bardot.

Here are the rest of my musical selections:

Monday: French Style Furs FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Until The Ribbon Breaks FREE at Bootleg HiFi (10:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot f. Empires and The Preatures (8:30)
ALSO: Sean Watkins w/ Erin McLaughlin and Tournament of Hearts at The Hotel Cafe (7, 11)
ALSO: Hugh Laurie at The Fonda Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Hunnypot Radio Live FREE at The Mint (7pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)

Tuesday: Johnnyswim at The El Rey (8pm)

Weds: Max Collins at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: American Pyramids at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: MO at The Troubadour (10pm)

Thursday: MAX with Alexz Johnson at The Troubadour (7pm)

ALSO: OneRepublic and The Script at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)
ALSO: Brothers Zmed and LA River Bend at The Hotel Cafe (10, 11)
ALSO: Xander Smith and Run Run Run at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: tUnE-yArDs at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Hunnypot Summer Party at Bardot (8pm)

Friday: Queen Caveat at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright and Joe Purdy at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)
ALSO: The Echo and The Sound at Los Globos (8pm)
ALSO: Little Hurricane at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Aoife O’Donovan at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: A Prairie Home Companion at The Greek Theater f. Heart (7:30)

Saturday: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Black Hi-Lighter at El Cid (11pm)
ALSO: James Taylor at The Hollywood Bowl (8pm)
ALSO: Make Music Pasadena FREE downtown Pasadena f. Tennis, Saint Motel, Sylvan Esso, Finish Ticket, Moses Sumney, Run River North, The Record Company, Max and The Moon, etc. (noon)

Sunday: Penny & Sparrow at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Grand Ole Echo at The Echo FREE featuring Ivory DeVille, All Sports to Black (6pm)
ALSO: James Taylor at The Hollywood Bowl (7:30)

To Keep in Mind:
June 10^th: James Bay at The Hotel Cafe
June 10^th: Jack White at The Fonda Theatre
June 11^th: Jack White at The Mayan
June 14^th: The Both at El Rey Theatre
June 14^th: Levi Weaver at The Hotel Cafe
June 16^th: Ed Sheeran at The Hollywood Bowl
June 17^th: Crash Kings at Bootleg HiFi
June 18^th: Matt Nathanson at Greek Theatre
June 18^th: High Voltage show at The Silverlake Lounge
June 19^th: Dan Wilson at Largo
June 21^st: The Milk Carton Kids at Japan America Theatre
July 10^th: Prides at The Troubadour
July 22^nd: OK Go at The Troubadour
July 23^rd: OK Go at The Echo
July 24^th: The Neighbourhood at Greek Theatre
July 31^st: Foxy Shazam at The El Rey
August 1^st: The Griswolds at The Echo
August 2^nd: Saint Motel at The Troubadour
August 2^nd: Red Wanting Blue at Bootleg Theater
August 5^th: Emerson Hart and Tony Lucca at The Hotel Cafe
August 10^th: Iron and Wine and Glen Hansard at Hollywood Bowl
August 13^th: Reignwolf at The Troubadour
August 23^rd-24^th: FYF
August 23^rd: Lake Street Dive at The Wiltern
August 25^th: Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at Hollywood Bowl
August 26^th: Youngblood Hawke at Greek Theatre
September 30^th: Sam Smith at Greek Theatre
October 2^nd: The War on Drugs at Fonda Theatre
October 3^rd: Ben Kweller at The Roxy
October 6^th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 8^th: twenty one pilots at Hollywood Palladium
October 10^th: The Pretty Reckless at The Wiltern
October 16^th: Hozier with James Bay at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian
October 18^th: Kodaline at The Fonda Theatre
October 27^th: Rachael Yamagata at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/26-6/1

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Kristen

Music and memories often go hand in hand. I have certain artists that I associate with particular traumas in my life because they were playing at the time of the incident. For example, Sheryl Crow goes with that time I got run off the highway in rural PA and Fall Out Boy is paired with the time someone smashed into my car in South Carolina (completely his fault, but of course my car was totaled). I added a new one to the list this week. James Blunt will now forever be associated with that time I fainted at a show. Before anyone asks, I am okay. At least I feel okay now. It’s just kind of sad that I’ll never be able to listen to Back to Bedlam again without feeling a little woozy.

So, last week didn’t go exactly as anticipated, but here’s to hoping this week doesn’t have any similar surprises. There are several great show options this week, especially on Wednesday, but show pick of the week must go to Irontom who are playing along with The Janks Tuesday night at Townhouse & The Del Monte in Venice.

Here are the rest of my picks. Happy Memorial Day!

Monday: In the Valley Below with Omniflux and Will Love FREE at The Echo (9pm)

Tuesday: The Janks and Irontom at Townhouse & The Del Monte in Venice (9,10)
ALSO: Brian Marquis at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Billy Joel at The Hollywood Bowl (8pm)
ALSO: George Stanford FREE at The Piano Bar (10pm)

Weds: Max Collins and Sad Robot FREE at Hemingway’s (10pm)
ALSO: Mosco Rosco and The New Electric Sound FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Bolts at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Thomas Dybdahl and Broken Arrow at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Elbow at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: First Aid Kit at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Grammy Museum (8pm)

Thursday: Kris Orlowski, The Wind + The Wave, Jamestown Revival at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: The Wellspring at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi and Our Lady J at WitZend (7, 10)

Friday: Priscilla Ahn at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)
ALSO: The Record Company (acoustic) at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Brody Dalle at The Troubadour (9pm)

Saturday: Ron Pope at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Caught a Ghost at Bootleg HiFi (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (9pm)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s at Hollister House in Santa Monica (7pm)…FREE with RSVP
ALSO: Chris Pierce at Genghis Cohen (10pm)
ALSO: KROQ Weenie Roast at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater f. Beck, Fall Out Boy, The Neighbourhood, Bastille, Fitz & The Tantrums, The 1975, Phantogram, American Authors, Bleachers, etc.

Sunday: Madi Diaz FREE at Bootleg HiFi (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
June 5^th: OneRepublic and The Script at Hollywood Bowl
June 7^th: Make Music Pasadena
June 8^th: Penny & Sparrow at The Hotel Cafe
June 10^th: James Bay at The Hotel Cafe
June 10^th: Jack White at The Fonda Theatre
June 11^th: Jack White at The Mayan
June 14^th: The Both at El Rey Theatre
June 14^th: Levi Weaver at The Hotel Cafe
June 16^th: Ed Sheeran at The Hollywood Bowl
June 17^th: Crash Kings at Bootleg HiFi
June 18^th: Matt Nathanson at Greek Theatre
June 18^th: High Voltage show at The Silverlake Lounge
June 19^th: Dan Wilson at Largo
June 21^st: The Milk Carton Kids at Japan America Theatre
July 10^th: Prides at The Troubadour
July 22^nd: OK Go at The Troubadour
July 23^rd: OK Go at The Echo
July 24^th: The Neighbourhood at Greek Theatre
July 31^st: Foxy Shazam at The El Rey
August 1^st: The Griswolds at The Echo
August 2^nd: Saint Motel at The Troubadour
August 2^nd: Red Wanting Blue at Bootleg Theater
August 5^th: Emerson Hart and Tony Lucca at The Hotel Cafe
August 10^th: Iron and Wine and Glen Hansard at Hollywood Bowl
August 13^th: Reignwolf at The Troubadour
August 23^rd: Lake Street Dive at The Wiltern
August 25^th: Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at Hollywood Bowl
August 26^th: Youngblood Hawke at Greek Theatre
October 2^nd: The War on Drugs at Fonda Theatre
October 3^rd: Ben Kweller at The Roxy
October 6^th: Carbon Leaf at The Roxy
October 8^th: twenty one pilots at Hollywood Palladium
October 10^th: The Pretty Reckless at The Wiltern
October 16^th: Hozier with James Bay at Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian
October 18^th: Kodaline at The Fonda Theatre
October 27^th: Rachael Yamagata at The Troubadour

~ Kristen