Author: Amanda

Friday Night

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Last night was Nico Vega at the El Ray and there really aren’t enough words to some up what an amazing experience it was. It was the last show of the tour (edit: I stand corrected. They are off to SF next which is the last spot of the tour) so of course it was extra special and extra fun. The only problem I have with seeing Nico Vega is that they never seem to play long enough. It was a great show with old songs and new as well as some great intros into our favorite tunes.

I think on of the highlights of the night was a closing song done with The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Nico Vega ended up on stage playing maracas and tambourines as rowdy and as loud as possible with Aja and Rich ending up on the floor a few times. I’d love to post some pictures but as Kristen already posted pictures from the other show and my camera battery is dead, such exploits will have to wait for Kristen to go through her photos from the night.

For all you SD folks, I wish I know of some shows going on down there. Offhand, I know that Moving Units is playing at the Casbah and I have yet to see a bad show there. If all else, check the Reader and Citybeat for some cues as to what to see. I promise next week to have something better for you.

~Amanda

“…your voice is echoing again through catacombs inside my mind…” – Breathless by Dan Wilson

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Dan Wilson just blows my mind every time. The man is a genius.  Tonight at The Hotel Café he mostly played new songs which is great on the one hand because I was able to hear new brilliance for the first time, but on the other hand, so much goes unplayed.  He did manage to squeeze in my two faves “Breathless” and “Free Life” plus a good one from his Semisonic days (“Singing in my Sleep”) so I was left feeling completely satisfied.

The entire evening was full of amazing music. Jim Bianco is always such a treat to watch. He has this new song from his forthcoming CD that I think takes his music to a whole new level. But, of course, he sings that one right before a song that calls for strippers…

Joey Ryan is one of my new faves and deserves a blurb all to himself (forthcoming).

And my intuition about Scars on 45 was spot on! I have a very good feeling about this group that was just signed to Chop Shop Records and are working on recording their debut album…next stop for them: SXSW. Definitely keep your eyes and ears open for these guys…

Next up: Nico Vega at El Rey…NOT to be missed!

~ Kristen

I am being drawn to this band

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  http://www.myspace.com/scarson45

They are called Scars on 45. I just heard them for the very first time a couple of hours ago. I am feeling inexplicably drawn to thier music…which is great because they are playing at The Hotel Cafe TONIGHT which was where I was planning on going anyway…now I just have to try to make it there by 6pm which is when This group goes on. Preliminary research suggests they are from The United Kingdom so come out tonight before they disappear across the pond!

Also playing tonight, a couple of my local faves Joey Ryan and Jim Bianco, as well as Dan Wilson who, in my opinion, writes some of the best lyrics ever to be put to song…NOT to be missed!

 ~ Kristen

Nico Vega at The Casbah – Kristen's Take

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Yeah, so I drove down to San Diego with my friend Trina to see Nico Vega last night. This morning was tremendously painful, but it was definitely worth it. Nico Vega always puts on such a stellar show in San Diego. The audience was amazing, the other bands (The Loons, Soundtrack of Our Lives) were fun, and who doesn’t LOVE The Casbah?!? The set included a mix of the band’s newer songs (“Taxi Cab”, “Fe Fi Fo”) as well as some older fare (“So So Fresh”, “Blood Machine”, “Underground”), but regrettably left off a couple of my personal favorites (“Million Years”, “Protest ..?”). But of course they played “Gravity” and ended with what has to be one of the best closings songs ever, “Beast” (tied with Carney’s “Testify” of course!). The set was SO good that the audience continued singing well after the band was offstage, a plea for an encore that, unfortunately, never came.  Trina said knowing this band was kind of like being in a cult, and I tend to agree. Once you are introduced to them you can’t turn away. Your life is forever changed and your soul will forever belong to the power trio that is Nico Vega.

~ Kristen

Nico Vega

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So tonight is a really fantastic show at The Casbah and while I can’t go, you should go and enjoy it for me! My other music half is driving down from LA just for the night for this show!! Nico Vega always puts on an impressive show (I remember Kristen telling me that after the show was done, Rich the guitarist threw an amp on his guitar!) and Aja has a beautiful voice to boot. Now, while you think I might just be saying that, let me remind you that I was an extra in the music video shoot for Gravity and we got a free show of sorts and her voice is better live than on the recording. If you have no idea what video I’m talking about go here.

When you fall in love with them like I have you can find them on their official website that has all sorts of goodies and will connect you to their Facebook and Myspace pages (or you can just click the links I gave you). Go and enjoy the show for me and I’ll pretend that I’m not stuck here at school until 10:30 tonight.

Aiden Moore Ep Release

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A MUCH needed break from life lead me to Molly Malone’s tonight for my friend Aiden Moore’s EP release.  It was soul-affirming music…the kind that I grew up listening to. He even covered one of my fave Simon & Garfunkel tune’s “Kathy’s Song”. I would advise everyone to check out Mr. Moore (http://www.myspace.com/songsbyjohndavid) and the Good As New ep. I was also more than pleasantly surprised by the openers, Kris Karlsson (http://www.myspace.com/kriskarlsson ) and Abbot Kinney (http://www.myspace.com/abbotkinneymusic). I spoke to Jason Swanson, of Abbot Kinney, after the show and apparently their sound is usually quite different (more rock and less acoustic). I can’t imagine anything better than what I heard tonight, but I look forward to being able to hear their electric set as well as their forthcoming debut album which I’m told is in the works.  So many fantastic new artists to keep our eyes and ears open for…this is exciting!

~ Kristen

Alrighty then

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First, I would like to apologize for the delay in my post to you folks today. I have this sometimes evil mistress called school who likes to get in my way. But that aside, let’s talk about tonight!

Tonight is Tim Graves, Patrick Norton and Golden Red at Tin Can Alehouseand is a whopping $3. If you don’t go for the music, just go get a drink.

I am so bummed that I will be missing out on this show! Tim Graves is a friend of mine with a beautiful voice and knows how to write his music. He is currently a member of The Silent Comedy (who you will get an introduction to soon enough) and isn’t just the cookie cutter singer/song writer/guitarist. He also plays harmonica and has a very nice folky quality to his tunes with some smart lyrics. I haven’t had the chance to seem him play by himself but I have heard nothing but good things.

Patrick Norton is another friend and while I haven’t had the chance to see him play live either, I know he puts on a great show just from reviews I’ve heard (and the music I’ve listened to). If you want to check out a sampling of Mr. Norton you can go here. Should that fail, go check out his Facebook.

Oh and if there was any confusion I just wanted to clear something up. This blog is a joint venture between Kristen (who posted her introduction earlier) and myself. She is the LA to my SD. If you want to know where to go for a show in LA be sure to look for the #Sunday Email tag or #LA Shows tag. Conversely, if you want something in SD just look for the #SD Shows tag.

As always, if anyone has any other shows/bands they know about and would like us to post about feel free to leave us a comment or email us @ localmusicnation@gmail.com

Until tomorrow (and Nico Vega!)

~Amanda