New Music Tuesday 5/1 featuring Carina Round, Greylag, and The Spring Standards

Carina Round- Tigermending http://www.carinaround.com/

I very much enjoy the unexpected blend of sweet and sour on Carina Round’s newest CD.  Tigermending is one of the more refreshing albums I’ve heard in a while.  Carina Round is playing tonight at The Casbah in San Diego and tomorrow (May 2nd) at The Satellite in LA.

 

Greylag- The Only Way to Kill You http://www.greylagmusic.com/

This debut EP from a lovely folk band based out of Portland is getting me through my afternoon. The soft voices and delicate instrumentation come together for a series of wistful tunes that fit my mood perfectly. Greylag is opening for Augustana at The El Rey on May 12th. It’s going to be a great show!

 

The Spring Standards- yellow/gold http://thespringstandards.com/index.php

I haven’t yet listened to the double EP, yellow/gold from NYC-based The Spring Standards, but just watched the video below and I’m a fan of the band, so I’m intrigued…thought you might be too! Check them out!

 

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 4/30-5/6

Thwarted by a rather long Monday morning meeting. Apologies for getting this up so late. But can you believe May is already upon us? So is summer and more festivals. Ah, good times. Anyways, we’ve got some fun shows this week that should tickle your fancy.

Monday: George Sarah @ Soda Bar @830 $6
AND: Ivan and Aloysha @ The Loft @ UCSD @9
AND: Cage the Elephant @ Barleymash

Tuesday: Rita Wilson @730 $10-$44
AND: Kelsea Rae Little @ Casbah @9 $8

Wednesday: Say Anything @ House of Blues @7 $16.50-$30
AND: Sara Watkins @ Anthology @7 $10-$33
AND: Father John Misty @ Casbah @9 $12

Thursday: Middle Class Rut with Grand Tarantula @ House of Blues @730 $15/$17
AND: Italian Japanese and The Filthy Violets @ El Dorado @9 $5
AND: Tennis @ Casbah @9 $12/$14

Friday:  The Heavy Guilt and The New Kinetics @ Griffin @9 $6/$8
AND: Thrice @ House of Blues @7 Sold Out
AND:  Deer Tick @ Casbah @9 $18/$20

Saturday: Portugal. The Man, The Lonely Forest, Hyena @ 4th and B @8
AND: Transfer, The Howls, Balck Hondo @ Casbah @9 $15
AND: Lee Coulter @ Lestats @830
AND: Adventure Gallery and Hills Like Elephants @ Soda Bar @9 $5

Sunday: Lovedrug and Lakes @ Soda Bar @830 $10
AND: Allo Darlin’ and Red Pony Clock @ Casbah @9 $8
Keep in Mind:
May 8th- Jay Nash @ Anthology/
May 11th- Augustana @ House of Blues @730
May 12th- Delta Spirit @ Belly Up
May 13th- Delta Spirit @ Belly Up
May 13th-Rufus Wainwright @ Humphrey’s
May 15th- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus @ Soma @630
May 18th- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Casbah
May 19th- Milo Greene @ Casbah
May 22nd- Hugh Laurie @ Belly Up
May 24th- Toad and the Wet Sprocket @ Anthology
May 25th- The Cult with Against Me! @ Humphreys
May 25th- The Beach Boys with Foster the People @ Cricket Wireless
May 30th- Horse Feathers @ Casbah @9 $12/$14
May 30th- Gillian Welch @ Humphrey’s
June 3rd- Mogwai @ Belly Up
June 3rd- X-Fest feat. Jane’s Addiction, Garbage, Angels and Airwaves, P.O.D., Neon Trees, Grouplove, Eve 6, Of Monsters and Men
June 9th- Wayward Sons @ Belly Up
June 11th- Pinback @ Casbah
June 13th- The Temper Trap wtih The Crocodiles @ House of Blues
June 14th- Motion City Soundtrack and The Henry Clay People @ Casbah
June 27th- Warped Tour @ Cricket Wireless
July 29th- Tenacious D @ SDSU Open Air Theater

New Music Tuesday 4/3/12 Featuring The Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, Ben Howard

Today has been quite chaotic. There is simply more to do than time to do it in. But I’m determined to get the word on on a few new CDs that come out today. So here it is. word.

The LumineersThe Lumineers  

The Lumineers have been a LMN Band Love for a little while now. I’ve been anxiously awaiting this album. It has been the soundtrack of my day. You should take a listen.

Buy it here.

 

Of Monsters and MenMy Head is An Animal

These guys made my SXSW ’12 mix with their song “Little Talks”. I am very much looking forward to checking the rest of the album out. Here’s a taste.

Amazon link

 

Ben HowardEvery Kingdom

Another artist from my SXSW ’12 mix has a CD coming out today. I already have a ticket to see Ben at The Troubadour in June. He’s playing two nights (5th and 6th). I think there are still tickets available for the second night.

Cd can be found here.

I’m not generally a fan of music videos, but this one really grabs me.

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s SXSW ’12 Mix – Part 2

One of the things I love most about SXSW is the opportunity it provides every year to discover great new artists. The following mix reflects some of the bands and musicians I’ve added to my “watch list” as a result of SXSW 2012. Enjoy!

 

5. The Dunwells- “If I Could Be King”

There is no band I’m more upset about missing at SXSW than The Dunwells (Yes, I also missed Jack White, Eminem, and Bruce Springsteen). To add to the so close yet so far theme, these Brits have several CA dates on the books, but none of them in Los Angeles.

 

6. Lonsdale Boys Club – “Sista Shake”

For those of you that have guilty pleasures, this song might fall under that category. As for me, I feel no shame in blasting this song full volume and dancing around the room. “we’re burning up the disco…”

 

7. Chappo– “Come Home”

“…badadadadada…badadadadadada…” you know you love it…

 

8. The Kingston Springs – “Weight of This World”

This band from Nashville, was one of the many bands that hit up LA post SXSW…unfortunately right when I befell my SXSW-induced illness so sadly they remain on my “one day I will see” list…

 

Listen! Learn! Love!

 

~ Kristen

Listen to This! Shawn Hook, Imagine Dragons, Youngblood Hawke

Good morning! Today was one of those days where I woke up dancing. This was most likely due to some of the songs swimming around in my head lately. I thought I’d share:

“Every Red Light”- Shawn Hook

I saw Shaw Hook (formally Shawn Hlookoff…took me a minute to figure out this was the same guy) at The Roxy Tuesday night. I had seen Shawn several times before, but he was always guy with guitar and great voice. Tuesday night he had a full band and it was rockin! This song in particular really stuck in my head and got my body moving…

“Radioactive” – Imagine Dragons

I finally got around to listening to this today. I pressed play on the first song, “Radioactive”, and it immediately gave me that jolt of energy I needed to start the day. The rest of the EP seems to be following in kind. The Imagine Dragons show at The Viper Room next Weds. (Feb. 22nd) is going to be quite cathartic.

 

“Rootless” – Youngblood Hawke

Youngblood Hawke is one of the first bands I think of when I want some good jump around the room and let off some steam music. They are playing tonight at The Central in Santa Monica. I’m currently polishing my dancing shoes…

 

You feel like dancing yet?

 

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 2/6-2/12

Well…that was certainly an eventful weekend. Friday night I had a very ominous feeling before going to the El Rey to join a friend for Adam Gontier (of Three Days Grace) and Martin Sexton. At the end of the evening, I ended up in fascinating company at my fave late night eatery and I thought my gut must have been waaay off. Three hours later, sleepless and in the ER with a friend, my earlier instincts were justified.

Saturday, I cancelled my plans to participate in Tyrone Well’s music video shoot in Venice for sleep’s sake. Then it was an evening at The Rainbow Room and The Hotel Cafe with great food, friends, and music (the three essentials of any successful evening).

Today I had to cut myself off from the world and lock myself in lab as I had entered the weekend woefully behind on an important deadline at work and that I have two big presentation to give in the next seven days. This week is going to be rough…thankfully there are a few choice shows to pull me through. Here are my options:

Monday: Youngblood Hawke, Lady Danville, Useless Keys FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Kyler England, Sweet Talk Radio, Shane Alexander, and Joel Eckels (8,9)

 

Tuesday: Queen Caveat at Hemingways (11pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Skinny’s Lounge in NOHO (9pm)
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers and friends Acoustic Nights at WitZend (9pm)
ALSO: Marcus Very Ordinary at The Central (8pm)

 

Weds: Millow, Marketa Irglova, Jake Newton and Garrison Starr at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars and Red Circle Underground at Bootleg Bar (9,10)
ALSO: Aunt Martha and Meiko at Saint Rocke (8pm)

 

Thursday: Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Ben Kweller FREE at Amoeba (7pm)
ALSO: Kris Allen at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Oh Darling and Y Luv at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Joss Stone at The Troubadour (8pm)

 

Friday: Teitur and Aunt Martha at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Graham Colton and Abandoned Pools at The Viper Room (9,10)
ALSO: Javier Dunn, Parker Ainsworth, Rocco Deluca, and Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Dr. Dog at The Orpheum (9pm)

 

Saturday: White Denim at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: The Fray at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Ari Shine at The Mint (9:30)
ALSO: Judy Collins at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Swell Season at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (7pm)
ALSO: Jonah Matranga at The Hotel Cafe (8:30)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
Feb. 17th: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Bowl
Feb. 18th: Mayday Parade at The El Rey
Feb. 19th: The Darkness at House of Blues Sunset
Feb. 20th: Milo Greene at The Satellite
Feb. 22nd: Will Dailey and Mariah McManus at The Hotel Café
Feb. 22nd: Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room
Feb. 27th: Dead Sara at The Viper Room
March 5th: Scars on 45 at The Troubadour
March 5th-6th: Dan Wilson and Rachel Yamagata at The Hotel Cafe
March 8th: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 10th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 14th: The Pretty Reckless at The HOB Sunset
March 18th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 20th: Needtobreathe and Ben Rector at Club Nokia
March 22nd: The Lumineers at The Hotel Cafe
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24th and 25th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour
March 31st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 1st: Charlotte Martin at The Bootleg Bar
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour

 

~ Kristen

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Watch This!: Snow Patrol, Hotel Carolina, Graffiti6

Snow Patrol – “Called Out In the Dark”

This is quite possibly one of the greatest music videos of all time (at least in my book). I’ve been a fan of Snow Patrol for some time now and I enjoy the song, but what puts it over the edge is the inclusion of Steve (umm…I mean Jack Davenport). To understand my love of Jack, you have to understand that my favorite comedy of all time is the British version of Coupling. I’m not a huge video person, but this one definitely deserves a viewing or two. I’m also really looking forward to the upcoming Snow Patrol tour…

 

Hotel Carolina artists- “Tiny Dancer”

I was so sad to miss Hotel Carolina in Philadelphia a weekend or two ago. Some of my favorite artists at one of my favorite venues…sigh…but I can watch the videos and pretend I was there. Here’s the amazing Matt Duke leading the Hotel Carolina crew in the finale of “Tiny Dancer”.

 

Graffiti6– “Stare Into The Sun”

Currently listening to a livestream performance of Graffiti6. I’ve really been enjoying this band since I saw them a couple week’s ago at The El Rey. Their CD Colours sounds better each time I listen. According to the band, their song “Free” is still available for free download on ITunes. Definitely check that out! Since I’m listening to them play acoustically (love it!), here’s an acoustic version of their song “Stare Into the Sun”

Kh7CMDh9720

 

~ Kristen