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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 3/29-4/4

Posted on by Amanda

It’s been more years than I care to think since I last saw them, but Something Corporate is back and I still love them. I’m still not entirely back down to Earth as I write this. I also don’t know how I’m going to get any sleep tonight…I’m way too excited. Between San Diego Indie Music Fest and Bamboozled, we saw over 20 bands this weekend, most of them for the first time…I’m a bit overwhelmed with new music. Clear standouts (for me) were Far, After Midnight Project, and, of course, Something Corporate. I’m sure I’ll be detailing more of this at some point in the blog (links below), so keep checking ;).  Amanda will have her take too!
As a result of my jam-packed schedule this weekend, this week’s list might not be all inclusive. But it’s still got some amazing shows. If you can only make one this week, please please PLEASE come out to The Bootleg on Weds to check out The Silent Comedy. It will be a lovely way to break up your week!

Here’s what I’ve got going on this week:

Monday: Paris Carney at Room 5, followed by Songwriters in the Round featuring Joel Eckles, Dawn Thomas, Jay Nash, and Laura Meyer (8pm)…my new favorite way to spend Monday evenings…!!

ALSO: Warpaint at Spaceland (8:30)

Tuesday: Haiti Benefit Show featuring Jonah Matranga of Far and Gratitude (10pm)

ALSO: Northstar Session at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)…EP Release Show

Weds: The Silent Comedy at The Bootleg (9:30)

ALSO: Brooke White, Nina Storey, and Tommy King at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10) 

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Jonathan Taylor and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room (11pm)

ALSO: Justin Nozuka and HoneyHoney at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)

ALSO: Puddle of Mudd at Grove of Anaheim (8pm)

ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (10:45)

Friday: Alkaline Trio and Cursive at The House of Blues (9pm)

ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Echoplex (8:30)

ALSO: Mozella at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

ALSO: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah in San Diego (copies of their new CD will be available at this show!)

Saturday: Amie Miriello and the so and sos at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Nonpoint and Cold at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: Bad Religion at The House of Blues (8:30)

ALSO: JR Richards at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

Sunday: HAPPY EASTER!!

To Keep in Mind:

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 9th: Cary Brothers CD Release with Joey Ryan AND Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Cafe

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   

May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater

May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah (in SD)

June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)

June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)

~ Kristen

Most Exciting News!

Posted on by Amanda

It’s official. One of my favorite venues…ever…is re-opening. The Grape Room (formally Grape Street Pub) is back in its original location on Grape Street in Manayunk, PA (outside Philadelphia). I’ve been hearing about this for awhile now, but it was just officially announced today on local Philly radio station, WMMR 93.3, by Jaxon and one of my very fave local Philly bands, Automatic Fire.

Grape Street was my favorite venue to see all my local bands when I lived around Philly.  Every Thursday, Jaxon used to host his Local Shots, an evening of fantastic local music. This is also the place where I discovered so many amazing bands including The Kin, Alright Junior, Mr. North, and Ludo

Too many amazing memories to even begin to recount!

I believe the place opens up April 1st, but the inaugural show on April 6th is NOT to be missed and features three of the best bands this town has every produced; IKE, Automatic Fire, and Jealousy Curve. If you’re anywhere near the area, you need to go and please report back.

And if you’re ever passing through Philadelphia on your travels, stop by The Grape Room and see some amazing music.

Sorry…no time for links and such (just google it)…busy weekend of music…I’m just so excited I needed to get this out immediately! Such a great thing for local music!!

~ Kristen

Today's Listen: Jamie Cullum

Posted on by Amanda

Today, I started listening to Jamie Cullum’s new CD, The Pursuit. Every since his song “Twentysomething” spoke to my very soul, I’ve been a fan. Plus, you really can’t go wrong in my book with piano-based songs.  I was a little concerned because people were saying this was Jamie’s attempt to get away from his jazzy piano style that made him so popular. One look at the cover (a piano that is being blown to smithereens) would also indicate this was his intent. Fortunately, for me, this is not true. Granted he gives us songs like “Music is Through” that sound more like…well everything else that I don’t really listen to…but even through the maze of synthesized beats, he still can’t resist busting out the snazzy piano solo.

People seem to like his cover of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” which is great, and gives me a whole new appreciation of that song.  But as far as covers go, I tend to gravitate more towards his version of “Not While I’m Around”…a classic from my childhood which means a lot more to me than Rihanna’s booty shaker. Listening to this new CD actually made me crave one of Jamie’s older offerings, Pointless Nostalgic, which also showed us his great diversity of tastes as he covers several of my fave tunes including Gershwins’ “Ain’t Necessarily So” and Radiohead’s “High and Dry.”  

All in all, I feel it is another great addition to the Jamie Cullum library, meant to be pulled out on rainy days and lazy afternoons.

http://www.jamiecullum.com/

Enjoy Cullum’s take on “High and Dry”!

~ Kristen

p.s. Jamie Cullum is playing The Avalon this Thursday, but unfortunately, it’s sold out. If you still want to see some piano playing genius, go to Cafe Was that night at 9:30 to check out Matthew Jordan…do it!

Today’s Listen: Jamie Cullum

Posted on by Amanda

Today, I started listening to Jamie Cullum’s new CD, The Pursuit. Every since his song “Twentysomething” spoke to my very soul, I’ve been a fan. Plus, you really can’t go wrong in my book with piano-based songs.  I was a little concerned because people were saying this was Jamie’s attempt to get away from his jazzy piano style that made him so popular. One look at the cover (a piano that is being blown to smithereens) would also indicate this was his intent. Fortunately, for me, this is not true. Granted he gives us songs like “Music is Through” that sound more like…well everything else that I don’t really listen to…but even through the maze of synthesized beats, he still can’t resist busting out the snazzy piano solo.
People seem to like his cover of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” which is great, and gives me a whole new appreciation of that song.  But as far as covers go, I tend to gravitate more towards his version of “Not While I’m Around”…a classic from my childhood which means a lot more to me than Rihanna’s booty shaker. Listening to this new CD actually made me crave one of Jamie’s older offerings, Pointless Nostalgic, which also showed us his great diversity of tastes as he covers several of my fave tunes including Gershwins’ “Ain’t Necessarily So” and Radiohead’s “High and Dry.”  

All in all, I feel it is another great addition to the Jamie Cullum library, meant to be pulled out on rainy days and lazy afternoons.

http://www.jamiecullum.com/

Enjoy Cullum’s take on “High and Dry”!

~ Kristen

p.s. Jamie Cullum is playing The Avalon this Thursday, but unfortunately, it’s sold out. If you still want to see some piano playing genius, go to Cafe Was that night at 9:30 to check out Matthew Jordan…do it!

Get Back Loretta @ Soma

Posted on by Amanda

Happy Sunday!

I hope you all had a restful day after this crazy week we had! We had some awesome shows didn’t we? I know I needed to lay low after all that.

While I don’t yet have a list of shows for this upcoming week I do have a review of the Get Back Loretta show at Soma. I thought I’d share it with you fine folks…

Arguably everyone who came to the show Friday night was there for them. I saw quite a few people (myself included) lazing around the hallways waiting for the clock to turn 9:55 p.m. which was the magic Get Back time.

We got to see glimpses of them on stage but they weren’t really doing a sound check as others were doing it for them. I wondered what was up, then the lights went off on stage and no one was to be found. Next thing we know, the intro for Dreams Got Scattered starts up but it is a disembodied sound since we can’t see anyone. The lights go on, everyone comes on stage, and Chris Wilson (one of the new guitarists) comes out from behind the giant monitor as they explode into the song full swing.

It’s exactly that electric energy and antics that Get Back Loretta played with for their entire set. They played old favorites from Over The Wall as well as new ones from Where Did You Go? They also played an older song I was not familiar with but I enjoyed. We also got the pleasure of being the debut audience for a brand new song! It was glorious with a nice hook that kept us going. =D

I don’t think it is really fair to talk about Get Back and not mention their new guitarists. Joey Bradford is the younger brother of Steven Bradford whom you all know as the bass man and the singer of Get Back. Joey has his own band, Thieves and Liars who are currently on hiatus but despite that, Joey has talent for keeping the rhythm going and complementing the other guitar (as well as other instruments). The other new guitarist is Chris Wilson who also has his own band called Endoxi. I don’t think I have ever seen fingers move as fast as Wilson’s do on a guitar (live anyways). He brings a “harder” feel to the band but I think the energy it gives them helps lift everything up. There are some snazzy guitar solos in there that are hard to miss. It’s a win situation all around. They both add such a nice spice and flavor to the mix. It’s like adding a few extra spices to the Chex mix, if you get what I mean. It makes a good thing better!

Get Back Loretta has another show coming up April 16th so mark your calendars! You won’t want to miss out!

Until next time!
~Amanda