Random Musings

My Ideal Birthday Concert

Posted on by Amanda

It’s my birthday!  What I’d really like to be doing to celebrate is watch all the fantastic bands that are playing SXSW today (including faves The Crash Kings and Carney). Then I thought, as long as I’m wishing for the impossible, I might as well go all out.  The best way to celebrate my birthday would be by watching the following three bands (one of which no longer plays) at the now defunct Grape Street outside Philadelphia, PA. That’s how I’d really like to celebrate my birthday…yes…
You can give to me a birthday gift by checking these bands out !

1. Pepper’s Ghost– “Everything and Anything” at The Trocadero

2. Pawnshop Roses– “Let It Roll” at The Grape Street 

3. Jealousy Curve – “Black Widow” at The Grape Street

BONUS: Pepper’s Ghost – “You”

~ Kristen

My Ideal Birthday Concert

Posted on by Amanda

It’s my birthday!  What I’d really like to be doing to celebrate is watch all the fantastic bands that are playing SXSW today (including faves The Crash Kings and Carney). Then I thought, as long as I’m wishing for the impossible, I might as well go all out.  The best way to celebrate my birthday would be by watching the following three bands (one of which no longer plays) at the now defunct Grape Street outside Philadelphia, PA. That’s how I’d really like to celebrate my birthday…yes…

You can give to me a birthday gift by checking these bands out !

1. Pepper’s Ghost– “Everything and Anything” at The Trocadero

2. Pawnshop Roses– “Let It Roll” at The Grape Street 

3. Jealousy Curve – “Black Widow” at The Grape Street

BONUS: Pepper’s Ghost – “You”

~ Kristen

I’ve Been Searching My Soul Tonight

Posted on by Amanda

The other day I ran across season 1 of Ally McBeal at Target and I bought it. I’ve since watched season 1  and half of season 2 (I’m waiting to finish it after April 6th when it officially comes out on DVD).  I used to watch this show back when it aired and re-watching it, I remember why I loved it so much…bells, frogs, anything that went down in that unisex bathroom, and yes, dancing babies…it’s quirky fantasticness! It’s also interesting being a tad older (nearing the same age as Ally in season 1!), the perspective I have on the issues and the characters has changed (quite a bit in some cases). But one thing that has remained is how much I LOVE how this show uses its music.  The presence of songstress Vonda Shepard in just about every episode as the herald of Ally’s thoughts and emotion is simply genus. Not to mention how the characters themselves relate to song (Ally’s theme songs, the use of Barry White). White’s “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” became one of my favorite songs after this show…I can still do parts of John’s bathroom dance. Just about any song from this show has emotional significance to me and it’s because the songs are incorporated into the storylines so well. This is the perfect example of how to effectively use music in a television show. The songs aren’t simply laid on top of some montage like another layer in the editing room. Instead, they are integrally woven into the very fabric of the show. They cannot simply be taken out or interchanged as the music IS the show.  And that’s why I love it!

Now, I feel we should all take a moment here and contemplate the brilliance of Ally McBeal and its music (*puts hand over nose*).

~ Kristen

Random Musings- Venue Trends

Posted on by Amanda

http://www.mollymalonesla.com/

I’ve been going to Molly Malone’s lately…quite a bit it seems. I was just there last night to see the fantastic Vienne (http://www.myspace.com/vienne ). And incidentally also discovered a compelling new band called Clockwork (http://www.myspace.com/ilikeclockwork ) that will definitely be added to my watch list. I’ll be back at MM’s next Friday for another round of Bleaker Street artists including Matthew Jordan and the amazing Paris Carney.

What’s odd is that before this slew of MM’s shows, it had been a good six months or so since I’d set foot in that bar and a good year since I’d been there on a regular basis (think: Carney residency).

But that’s how things seem to go. Before this Molly Malone’s trend, it seemed as if I was at The Viper Room all the time…although it had taken me about a year before I even entered the doors of that legendary venue.

Aside from The Hotel Cafe where I try to go about once a week, other venues seem to come and go from my life like waves…anyone else ever notice this?

~ Kristen

To Do Today: Dead Sara, Ten out of Tenn, High Voltage Magazine, The Silent Comedy, etc.

Posted on by Kristen

I love to do lists! Here are a few items I would highly recommend adding to your list of things to do today:
 

WATCH Dead Sara’s new video for “Weatherman”: Dead Sara is my newest favorite band. Get to know them as they have the talent to take over the world.

 

DOWNLOAD Ten out of Tenn’s new CD, Volume 4, at Noisetrade.com. This is a fantastic collection of songs from an amazing collection of Nashville-based artists. You can download it for FREE or leave a tip of your choosing. I’ve had this CD for a couple weeks now and I LOVE it!

 

 

PLEDGE to High Voltage Magazine’s campaign to raise funds to release new print issues! $10 gets you an awesome music compilation full of  b-sides and rarities from the likes of Hurricane Bells (featuring Justin of Blue October), Shawn Christensen (Stellastarr) and Kevin McAdams (Elephante), Robbers On High Street and more to be announced. You can also pledge to receive a signed and framed poster from Neon Trees, tickets to a show of your choice in select cities, and more!

 

 

WATCH The Silent Comedy’s live performance at SofarSounds in Los Angeles. They play stripped down versions of “The Prince” and “Footnotes”

 

 

DOWNLOAD this week’s Daytrotter Sessions featuring the likes of Kina Grannis, William Elliot Whitmore, and The Dandy Warhols.

 

this just in! DOWNLOAD a live version of Scars on 45‘s song, “Heart on Fire” that will be featured on the next Grey’s Anatomy Soundtrack.

 

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 8.16.11: The Milk Carton Kids, Bird by Bird, The War on Drugs, Ten Out of Tenn, and more!

Posted on by Kristen

Another Tuesday, another barrage of new music. There are a few I’m looking forward to getting my hands on this week so I thought I’d share.
 

The Milk Carton Kids– Prolouge  

This is one of the BEST CDs currently in my player. I’ve said it before, but Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale (AKA The Milk Carton Kids) are the second coming of Simon & Garfunkel…if Simon & Garfunkel could make you both laugh to the point of crying. There is no excuse for anyone not to get this CD as it is being offered for free on The Milk Carton Kids website. Pay close attention to the tour dates because this show is one you don’t want to miss.

“Michigan” is the first song off the album. It was days before I could move on to track to because I just had this one on repeat.

 

 

Bird by Bird– While You Sleep

Bay area rockers, Bird by Bird, were in town on Saturday playing On the Rox. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this duo of Jonathan Devoto and Ross Traver, but of course Saturday was the day of a million shows and I couldn’t make it. Guess I’ll have to go the download route (http://birdbybird.bandcamp.com/) on this one as the only shows the band have scheduled are up in Nor Cal. Even though I’ll have to wait a bit longer to see them live, at least now I have something new for the ears.

You can listen to a stream of the album on AOL’s Music Page: http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/13

 

 

 

The War on Drugs– Slave Ambient  

My Philadelphia brethren, The War on Drugs, have a new album. I’ve only heard bits of it, but some of my favorite musicians are associated with this band, so you’d better bet I’m going to go out and get it! Their 2008 album, Wagonwheel Blues, boasted tunes like “Taking The Farm” and “Arms Like Boulders” which still find their way onto my playlists. The War on Drugs is coming to The Satellite October 22nd.

Listen here to The War on Drugs live on NPR!

And an interview with Filter Magazine

Buy Slave Ambient here

 

 

 

Ten Out of Tenn– Volume 4 

Ten Out of Tenn is a collective of artists based in Nashville, TN. Individually they are all amazing singer-songwriters, Butterfly Boucher, Andrew Belle, Trent Dabbs, Katie Herzig, etc. Together, the ten (or so) artists travel around the country together playing their music and combining their skills to form a sort of super group. Their albums, including today’s release, Volume 4, come across as compilation CDs, giving the listener a taste of each individual voice. I love this concept! Ten Out of Tenn is currently out on tour. I wouldn’t miss it…

Tour: http://www.10outoftenn.com/home#/tour

 

Itunes link

Because I just saw him last Friday, here is Ten Out of Tenn featuring Andrew Belle’s “The Ladder”

 

 

Other CDs coming out today:

  • Blue October has a new one out today called Any Man in America. I am a huge fan of this band’s debut album and am looking forward to see what they sound like these days. Their album today is only $3.99 on Amazon.com…this does not sound like a bad deal to me…
  • Fool’s Gold is a band based in LA I keep meaning to check out. Maybe having their new album, Leave No Trace, will encourage me to do so. They are playing at The Amoeba in Hollywood tomorrow, August 17th, at 7pm
  • The Parson Red Heads is another LA based band. I saw them open for Truth & Salvage Co. and I recall enjoying their performance. I’m hoping their CD, Yearling,  is equally enjoyable!

 

Happy New Music Day!

 

~ Kristen