You all know I am completely in love with this band. I’ve seen Queen Caveat twice in the last two weeks and I’m already ready to have another go. Tuesday night at The Viper Room, the place just about exploded when they did this cover of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name”. Someone caught it on video. Thought I’d share…
Mark your calendars for March 1st when they team up with SD fave’s The Silent Comedy to destroy the stage at Saint Rocke!
~ Kristen
Despite the fact that it meant I’d be awake for 24+ hours in a row, I still ventured to Saint Rocke last night to see the amazing Anna Nalick. I’d always been a fan of Ms. Nalick…since Wreck of the Day, an album that I believe to be pure brilliance. Everyone knows her for her hit song “Breathe (2am)”, but that tune is barely in my top five from that album. She has been playing residencies at The Hotel Cafe more recently and I finally got out to one of her sets a couple of weeks ago. Let’s just say, the performance was not what I expected…it was more than some musicians up on stage playing some songs, it was a show!
Anna has her stage set up around a plush chair that bears slight resemblance to a throne. Next to the chair is a stand holding a fancy book and a table…with a flower. She takes the stage, a tiny figure, unassuming save for the wide eyes and fiery red hair. She’ll play a song showcasing her sweet yet powerful vocals, emoting through to her fingertips. After the song, she’ll make the announcement that she isn’t very good with on stage banter so instead, in between songs, she’ll read some poetry she wrote just for the occasion.
Her poems, as well as her engaging banter (she lied when she said it was no good), quickly bring you into her world more so than I think I’ve seen with any other musician on stage. Not only is the forth wall smashed to smithereens, but the audience is transported not just onto the stage but into the mind of Anna Nalick. She complains about every crack in her voice (even redoing bits of songs to prove that she can do it), freely informs you that she suffers from depression, may have multiple voices in her head, and is unashamed to announce that her songs are brilliant.
For last night’s performance at Saint Rocke, she wrote one long poem that she broke up into smaller segments. She claimed it was the answer to the questions she always gets about where she’s been since her smash hit was released. It was a story of kings and castles, of a brave knight and a little girl who wrote songs…a thinly veiled tale of how a record label can mess with an artist, but definitely the most entertaining way I’ve ever heard the storytold!
I suppose the bottom line, and most exciting part, of last night’s tale was that the little girl is still writing brilliant songs. And those songs are soon to be released!!
One of my favorites of the new tunes:
In the meantime, I know that I will try to catch as many Anna Nalick performances as I can. Each one is a unique experience, guaranteed to enrapture and entertain, giving you insight into the mind of an artist who is fast becoming one of my favorite lyricists as well as performers.
Anna Nalick’s final two Hotel Cafe Residency dates are Feb. 2nd and Feb. 9th. Don’t miss it!
Weds night was a much needed evening at one of my favorite venues, Saint Rocke. I sometimes forget about this venue down in Hermosa Beach because it’s a bit off the beaten path, but really it doesn’t take me any longer to get there than a club in Hollywood. And this place has comfy seats you don’t have to pay for, delicious food, and I always manage to have a perfect view of whatever musician or band I’ve come to see…while sitting down. As I’m getting older, the sitting thing has become an increasingly important draw.
Anyway, I ventured down to Saint Rocke Weds night because I wanted to see The Nervous Wreckords. Last time I saw them play was at the SDMAs and that was just a teaser so I’d been craving. The Nervous Wreckords did not disappoint! As much as I’ve been enjoying their CD, Valuminium, this is definitely a band I prefer live. Live, you get a better feel for the entire band and the songs become more alive and meaningful as each member gets their chance to shine. Despite the pedigree of lead singer, Brian Karscig, this band really does seem to just be “Doing it to Do It” and enjoying the ride. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s all join in!
I stuck around after The Nervous Wreckords to check out Moving Picture Show. I really didn’t know what to expect when the band took the stage. Three members dressed in paint splattered attire banging on garbage cans…for a second I recalled Miss Congeniality and wondered if I was safe in the front row. The threesome quickly drew me in however with their catchy tunes and their fourth member, a video screen. I’ll admit, it was this forth member that captured most of my attention. Displaying cute stories about rescuing lost dogs that had been blown away, mesmerizing special effects, well-timed animation, and the rock band style cues for one of the trio’s songs, it was easy to fall in love with what I was hearing. I immediately went home and downloaded the group’s latest album, Studies Have Shown…, and have been listening ever since!
If you go to the Moving Picture Show Myspace and sign up for their mailing list, you can get a free mp3 of my fave MPS song, “By Now”. Seriously, listen to the lyrics…or even better go to the band’s next show at The Echo this Monday (Jan. 10) and see the lyrics for yourself displayed on the big screen (such a genius ploy, really…and so well done!)
~ Kristen
Last week marked the first Friday of the Camp Freddy December residency at The Roxy. Honestly I didn’t know who Camp Freddy was. I just went because Queen Caveat was opening. I am SO glad I stuck around however, because seeing premiere rock musicians just obliterate such a tiny stage was quite the surreal experience.
For those of you who also don’t know who Camp Freddy is, they are a core group of top notch musicians (Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Donovan Leitch, Jr., Chris Chaney) who are joined by a series of unannounced guest musicians in playing a set of covers of amazing rock songs. Last week’s guest vocalists included Nikka Costa, Franky Perez, Richard Patrick (Filter), Sully Erna (Godsmack), Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Glen Hughes (Deep Purple), etc. It was such a treat!
I don’t know what this says about me, but I think my favorite moments were Richard Patrick fronting “Hey Man, Nice Shot” (LOVE that song), the guy who played the guitar…with a bow, and anything done by Billy Morrison (he was 5 feet in front of me…I was mesmerized).
Unfortunately, all the residency dates are sold out. BUT there might still be tickets for Camp Freddy’s New Years Eve celebration. Can you imagine who might show up there? If only I had the money…
This video someone took from last week’s Camp Freddy show. I would like to dedicate it to all my students in the class I’m TAing who take their final exam today…
~ Kristen
This week has definitely been a good week for music. One of my favorite shows was Queen Caveat at The Viper Room. Tuesday night, after catching The Lonely Forest at Spaceland, I sprinted to the Viper Room to see one of my very fave LA bands, Queen Caveat. I got to the venue in time to see the last 2-3 songs of Har Mar Superstar. For those of you who know nothing of Har Mar Superstar, I’d highly recommend you check the spectacle out. As for my thoughts…well I’m still processing. I’m not fully sure I’ve registered all that I saw up there on that stage.
But most of that was forgotten as soon as the Queen Caveat set began. It only took the first few notes of “In My Bed” to have me whisked away to that happy place I tend to find myself in when listening to my favorite music performed live. I stayed in said happy place for the remainder of the set, which included several of my fave QC songs including a newer song called “Bullet” that I’ve had in my head ever since it was performed at Nico Vega’s Witch Hunt. They also brought the house down with a brilliant cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” which you really just have to see.
The night ended, as they so often do, standing around outside The Viper Room. I managed to snag a Queen Caveat set list and got the band to sign it so that one day I’ll be able to say “I knew them when”.
If you want to get to know them too, as you should, check out their EP “Emptor” on ITunes and keep up with my concert calendar as I try not to miss a Queen Caveat show.
~ Kristen
as for a clip from the Har Mar Superstar set that night…before the pants came off…
If you recall The Lonely Forest made my SXSW ’10 mix. Tuesday night, however, marked the first time I had the opportunity to see them perform. I must say, I loved them before based solely on their tune “We Sing in Time.” But now, they are verging on new favorite band territory. Their live show was an unexpectedly rockin’ treat full of energy and even more songs that are going straight on my monthly music mix. The Lonely Forest hails from Anacortes, Washington. According to their song “I Don’t Want to Live There,” they won’t be moving to LA anytime soon, but they say they’ll be back come February. In preparation for their return, I’ll be listening to The Lonely Forest EP on repeat. You should check it out!
~ Kristen
Taking a wee break from grading exams, I ventured to The Hotel Cafe to check out Allen Stone. This guy has quite the impressive voice, teeming with a lot more soul than expected from a guy from Seattle. It was the perfect hand clapping, head bobbing, feeting tapping time and I will definately keep Allen on my list of artists to go see…I’d suggest you do the same!
For a taste, check out some songs on his myspace (including a terrific cover of “Bare Necessities”)
Here’s an amusing video of the song he ended his set with
Also playing at The Hotel Cafe was Lenka. If you don’t know the name, I’m sure you’d recognize a song or two. The Austrialian artist has an array of catchy tunes that become even cuter as she performs them on a stage with her band in front of colorful cardboard shapes. I really like some of her new tunes and am looking forward to her forthcoming album…but the hightlight of her set for me was when she brought out a trumpet and, along with another member of the band, engaged in some lovely harmonizing trumpet action.
Can’t find any videos of new tunes, but here’s an old one you may recognize…
~ Kristen
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