Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/11-3/17

A teensy bit overwhelmed by everything I still have to do for SXSW. We’re leaving tomorrow. I’ve got my incredibly overwhelming schedule, my extra pair of comfy shoes, and my camera so I should be good, right? Oh, did I mention I got sick last week and lost my voice? Still recovering from that so…yay. Tonight is The Silent Comedy at The Casbah down in San Diego. I’m sad The Silent Comedy boys won’t be at SXSW this year, but I couldn’t be more grateful for an SD show conveniently booked the night before I need to catch a plane from SD…also, I have plenty of other artists to track down in Austin (my top picks list should be coming out tomorrow).

If you’re staying in LA this week, you have a lot to look forward to as well. There are some really good residencies this month. Sad Robot Tuesdays at Hemmingway’s, David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe Weds nights, and Sonia Rao and Elliot Yamin at WitZend every Thursday. Don’t let the month pass you by without seeing all of these great acts.

Here are the rest of my musical suggestions:

Monday: Lucy Rose at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring MO and Mikhael Paskalev (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 featuring Scott Mellis, Erin Willett, Jackie Does Joel and MORE (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Sad Robot and The Ten Thousands at Hemmingways (9pm)
ALSO: Madi Diaz and Robert Francis at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: MO and CHVRCHES at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Broken Anchor at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays FREE at The Piano Bar (8pm)

 

Weds: Meiko and David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe (8, 10)
ALSO: Frightened Rabbit at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)

 

Thursday: Belmont Lights at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Sonia Rao and Elliot Yamin at WitZend (9, 10)
ALSO: Rocco DeLuca at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Friday: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Chris Stills at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: The Ten Thousand with The Vim Dicta at Bootleg Bar (9pm)…EP Preview Party
ALSO: Northern Youth at Casey’s (10pm)
ALSO: Maroon 5 with Neon Trees and Owl City at Staples Center (8pm)

 

Saturday: Katrina Parker at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

 

Sunday: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 19th: Foxes at Bootleg Bar
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 21st: The Rubens and Finish Ticket at The Hotel Cafe
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
March 25th: Dinner and a Suit at The Hotel Cafe
March 27th: Mika at The El Rey
March 27th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
April 3rd: William Beckett at The Hotel Café
April 4th: NO at The Troubadour
April 9th: Andrew Ripp at The Hotel Café
April 16th: The Neighbourhood at The El Rey
April 17th: Lelia Broussard at The Hotel Cafe
April 18th: Little Green Cars at The Troubadour
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
April 26th: Chappo at The Satellite
May 2nd: Lights at The El Rey
May 2nd: Crash Kings at Saint Rocke
May 4th: The Brobecks at Amplyfi
May 7th: Tom Odell at The Troubadour
May 8th/9th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
May 22nd: Youngblood Hawke at Avalon
May 29th/30th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
June 6th: Capital Cities at The El Rey
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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New Music Tuesday 3/5/13 Featuring Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Semi Precious Weapons, and k.s. Rhoads

There aren’t too many new releases I’m excited about today, that doesn’t mean I don’t have some new music to share!

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald – Firecracker EP

Firstly, I do love the Firecracker EP released today by Canadian Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. I saw Michael play the Hotel Cafe a month or so ago and was compelled not just by his performance, but by the songwriting showcased so well on this teaser of an EP.

you can stream the EP on Spotify here: http://open.spotify.com/album/2LByR1fHgu1GFIEfTX0nye

Here’s an acoustic take on the EP title track, “Firecracker”:

I also have a couple videos that came out most recently and hint and some excellent music to come:

Semi Precious Weapons – “Aviation High”

Semi Precious Weapons have been a bit MIA lately, but it looks like they’ve been busy gearing up for a massive re-launch, hinted at by this video for their new single, “Aviation High”. If you’re in Los Angeles tonight, the boys take the stage at the exclusive Sayers Club for their first public performance in quite a while. Don’t miss it!

k.s. Rhoads– “Orphaned”

Multi-talented Nashville-based artist, k.s. Rhoads has a new album coming out later this month aptly titled The Wilderness. Here is a cool video for his new song “Orphaned” where he explore the wilderness of Nashville in a space suit.

Listen! Learn! Love!

 

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 3/4-3/10

This somewhat delayed calendar post is due to the fact that I’ve been out late the past two nights in a row. In fact, I just got home. What was I doing? Ok, I’ll tell you… I’ve been at Disneyland and California Adventure. Yesterday was spent hanging with a friend from AZ I hadn’t seen in awhile and wouldn’t see for awhile. Tonight, was all about Mad T Party for me. Either way, I’m a little sore from all the walking and dancing. This week doesn’t promise to slow down starting with Free Energy Monday at Soda Bar and ending with The Silent Comedy on Sunday. After that, we will be off to SXSW!

 

Monday: Free Energy, Barbarian @ Soda Bar at 830
AND: Marcus Foster, Ruston Kelly, Josh Damigo @ Casbah at 9pm

Tuesday: Gold Fields, A Silent Film, Royal Teeth @ Casbah at 9pm
AND: North Beach, Trouble in The Wind, Mrs. Henry @ Belly Up at 8pm

Wednesday: The Stone Foxes, Family Wagon, The Paragraphs @ Casbah at 9pm
AND: twenty one pilots, New Politics @ Irenic at 7pm

Thursday: Toad and the Wet Sprocket @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: Hey Marseilles! @ Casbah
AND: Flogging Molly @ House of Blues at 8pm

Friday: Megan Combs @ Lestats at 830pm

Saturday: Blackout Party, Hit Dog Hollar @ Soda Bar at 830pm
AND: Deadly Birds @ Griffin at 845pm
AND: Bad Religion, Against Me! @ Soma

Sunday: The Silent Comedy, The Heavy Guilt @ Casbah at 9pm
AND: Joshua James, Noah Gundersen @ Soda Bar at 6pm

 

Keep in Mind:
March 12th- Frightened Rabbit @ Belly Up
March 12th-17th- SXSW
March 18th- Imagine Dragons, Nico Vega, and Atlas Genius @ House of Blues
March 18th- Josh Ritter @ Belly Up
March 19th- Matt Costa @ Casbah
March 19th- The Joy Formidable @ Belly Up
March 22nd- Pennywise @ House of Blues
March 26th- Mika @ Belly Up
March 28th- Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds @ Griffin
March 30th- The Airborne Toxic Event @ House of Blues
April 4th- Soul Asylum @ Belly Up
April 5th- Kopeckey Family Band @ Soda Bar
April 6th- William Beckett @ House of Blues Side Stage
April 11th- Ben Howard @ Belly Up
April 12th-14th- Coachella
April 16th- Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds @ Balboa Theater
April 17th- Alex Clare @ House of Blues
April 19th-21st- Coachella
April 22nd- The Gaslight Anthem @ Belly Up
April 23rd- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ House of Blues
April 24th- Chappo @ Soda Bar
April 26th- Transfer, Dead Feather Moon, Grand Tarantula @ Belly Up
April 26th- Alkaline Trio @ House of Blues
May 4th- Crash Kings, Chris Wilson and Planet Earth @ Griffin
May 10th/11th- Mayday Parade, You Me At Six @ Soma
May 12th- The Milk Carton Kids @ Belly Up
May 25th- Cold War Kids @ Belly Up
May 27th- Cold War Kids @ Belly Up
May 29th- !!! @ Casbah
June 1st- Imagine Dragons @ SDSU Open Air Theater
June 16th- They Might Be Giants @ Belly Up
June 21st- She and Him @ SDSU Open Air Theater
September 6th- Dave Matthews Band @ Cricket Wireless

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/3-3/11

I’m putting my calendar together from a wonderful little cafe in Santa Monica. It’s a very calming place that has comfy chairs, pink ginger lemonade and good music. What more do I need?

With SXSW music week just around the corner, LA is getting some great out of country acts stopping in this week on their way to Austin. By way of Germany we have Fetsum and indie pop darlings Boy playing Bardot and The Troubadour.  Australia’s Jack Carty, The Trouble With Templeton, and Emma Louise all have at least one show this week. If you want to rock out, try Canada’s Mother Mother at The Viper Room or New Zealand’s Six60 at Los Globos. Also from Canada, Said The Whale and Wake Owl will be at The Hotel Cafe. Finally, the UK has a couple outstanding troubadours in town with Marcus Foster and Frank Turner. You won’t get many chances to see any of these artists, so if you dig ‘em, be sure to go see ‘em!

For more details and more music recommendations, keep reading!

Monday: Deadly Birds at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Fetsum (9pm)
ALSO: Drive He Said FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)…a sampling of local singer-songwriters

 

Tuesday: Mother Mother and Lolove at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Armada and Sad Robot and at Hemmingway’s (9,10)…Sad Robot residency!
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at Sayer’s Club (10pm)
ALSO: Chi McClean at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Marcus Foster with Sean Rowe and Ruston Kelly at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Robert Francis and Broken Anchor at The Hotel Cafe (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays FREE at Piano Bar featuring The Filthy Souls (12am)

 

Weds: Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Hey Marsilles at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Beware of Darkness at The Central SAPC (10pm)
ALSO: Gayle Skidmore, Sweet Talk Radio, and David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)

 

Thursday: Frank Turner, Noah Gundersen, Wake Owl, and Said The Whale at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8, 9:30, 11:30)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s and Youngblood Hawke at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: Sonia Rao and Elliot Yamin at WitZend (9, 10)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Friday: Boy at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Emma Louise and Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (7,8)
ALSO: Joshua James at Bootleg Theatre (10:30)
ALSO: Jack Carty at WitZend (10pm)
ALSO: Badwater at El Cid (10:15)
ALSO: Erin McKeown at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Saturday: Andy Clockwise and Irontom at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Nightlands at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Zookeeper’s Palace at Good Hurt (9pm)
ALSO: Jack Carty at Talking Stick Lounge
ALSO: The Trouble With Templeton at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Sunday: Aussie BBQ at The Echo featuring Jack Carty, Trouble With Templeton, and more (event starts at noon)
ALSO: Six60 and Mind The Gap at Los Globos (7pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 11th: Lucy Rose at The Hotel Cafe
March 12th: CHVRCHES at The Echo
March 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Music Box
March 14th: Belmont Lights at The Roxy
March 15th: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 19th: Foxes at Bootleg Bar
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 21st: The Rubens and Finish Ticket at The Hotel Cafe
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
March 25th: Dinner and a Suit at The Hotel Cafe
March 27th: Mika at The El Rey
March 27th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
April 3rd: William Beckett at The Hotel Café
April 4th: NO at The Troubadour
April 9th: Andrew Ripp at The Hotel Café
April 16th: The Neighbourhood at The El Rey
April 18th: Little Green Cars at The Troubadour
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
April 26th: Chappo at The Satellite
May 8th/9th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
May 22nd: Youngblood Hawke at Avalon
May 29th/30th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
June 6th: Capital Cities at The El Rey
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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The Bard Chronicles: Dear Boy at The Troubadour 2/13/12

There’s this wonderful thing called life that sometimes gets in the way of other endeavors. I apologize that this took so long to post. I blame life. But let’s flash back to February 20th, 2013 when this post began….

Last Wednesday I took a jaunt up to LA to see the debut of Dear Boy. In case you somehow missed the new band alert Kristen posted about them, they are a reincarnation of Scarlet Grey. I was very much a fan of Scarlet Grey and was sad to hear when they broke up but happy to hear when singer Ben Grey and drummer Keith Cooper got together with some new guys to form Dear Boy.

I had inconveniently caught a cold the day before the show, but I wasn’t going to let that keep me from attending. Traffic was a breeze and I made it to LA relatively quickly for a Wednesday afternoon but the drive left me tired (thank you cold). So, Kristen and I spent our pre-show time hanging out at her place and ordering in because… well, because we could. And I love ordering in. You can’t do that where I am in San Diego. But I digress…

It was obvious when we got there that this was a show with a band people were here to see. Thankfully luck was on our side and after scoring a sweet parking spot, we found a prime spot up on the balcony to observe the show. The first two bands were ok but as soon as the second one finished, people started pouring in for Dear Boy. The Grey family is a loyal one.

Ben came out with a shiny new hairdo but minus his awesome stickered guitar from the days of Scarlet Grey. I guess I can let that slide. Dear Boy had only released a somewhat cryptic music video as a hint of what the sound was like and it wasn’t enough. The show was great and it’s clear Ben is excited to be moving in a different direction. The sound has more depth than Scarlet Grey did and I think it gives the band an opportunity to expand, experiment, and create. There was even a song specifically for the Grey family about his change of direction but how he is still the same person. I thought that was a very sweet sentiment. Their set seemed all to short but for us who were sick, it was actually just right I’m sad to say. We hung around for a little bit after, hoping to say some hellos but it seemed like everyone was hanging out to say hellos. We said goodbye to our friends after waiting for about 20 minutes when I saw Jade Puget standing around. I wanted to say hello but nerves and tiredness got the better of me and we retired to Kristen’s place. All in all, it was a fun night out, and I’m glad I was there to witness it. It gives me some indie cred 😉

Here are some pictures Kristen shot of the show. I hope you enjoy. And don’t forget to check out Dear Boy if you haven’t already.

P1390590 Ben GreyP1390593P1390591P1390594

 

New Music Tuesday 2/26/13 featuring Boy, Finish Ticket, Escondido

Looking for new music? Here are some recommendations from music coming out today…

BoyMutual Friends

This German duo was an instant music love for me. Their debut album, Mutual Friends is one of my favorite albums to be released this year. Their dreamy pop vocals almost betray a layered and more complex depth to their songs which just get better and better upon each listen. Get your tickets now for their show at The Troubadour March 8th.

 

Finish TicketTears You Apart

San Francisco’s indie rock group Finish Ticket has been tickling my ear buds with singles like “Doctor” and “Tranquilize” for weeks now in anticipate of the release of their first full length album, Tears You Apart. This is the album I’ve been listening to all day. On repeat. Check out the album stream and buy the album on itunes. The band will be in LA at The Hotel Cafe March 21st.

Here’s one of my favorites, “Tranquilize”:

 

EscondidoThe Ghost of Escondido

Tyler James and Jessica Maros are two Nashville-based artists who have gotten together to record a beautiful record. I got a taste with the duo’s EP released last year and I’m looking forward to hearing more with The Ghost of Escondido.

 

Other albums to check out:

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/25-3/3

Happy Oscar Day! Are you watching? Do you have any favorites? My favorite movie of the year (although not nominated) is Perks of Being a Wallflower so in honor of a day where we celebrate the movies of the past year, I’m watching Perks. I’m watching it with commentary from the author/director which I find both informative and inspiring.

Also on the Oscar note, I had the pleasure of meeting a hobbit last night in the form of Billy Boyd who fronts a great band called Beecake.

The other notable show I saw last week was twenty one pilots at The Troubadour. I live for those moments of seeing my new favorite band for the first time and last week, I got one. It was life-affirming.

As for this week, It’s the last week in February, so it’s your last chance to see all the great residencies this month. Don’t miss out!

Here are my musical suggestions:

 

Monday: Wires in the Walls with Sandbox, Tall Tales and the Silver Linings, The Ross Sea Party and Owls FREE at Silverlake Lounge (8:30)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s with The Diamond Light, Zak Waters, and Lisa Donnelly FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: A House for Lions with Max and The Moon, The Peach Kings, and The Cery Brothers FREE at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Skye (of Morcheeba) with Madi Diaz at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Mind the Gap FREE at Central SAPC (9pm)
ALSO: The Art at House of Blues Sunset (9:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night FREE at Bardot featuring Warships and Angela McCluskey (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 featuring Jessie Payo, David and Devine, Jackie Does Joel, and more! (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Skye (of Morcheeba) with Javier Dunn at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Anberlin with Paper Route at House of Blues Sunset (7pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays FREE at The Piano Bar (8pm)

 

Weds: Sir Sly FREE at The Echo (11pm)
ALSO: The Gallery at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)…record release show
ALSO: Deluka and The Royalty at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Willy Moon at Bootleg Bar (8pm)
ALSO: Barnaby Saints at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: The Brian Buckley Band at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Thursday: Jukebox the Ghost with Matt Pond and The Lighthouse & The Whaler at The Echoplex (7pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Royal Teeth, A Silent Film, and Gold Fields at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:20, 10:25)
ALSO: Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Amie Miriello at WItZend (9pm)

 

Friday: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Free Energy at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Irontom at O’Brien’s (9pm)
ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

 

Saturday: The Ranch Party music festival (2pm) http://theranchparty.com/index.cfm
ALSO: Kitten at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Korey Dane at Room 5 (8pm)

 

Sunday: Morgan Karr at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 5th: Marcus Foster at The Troubadour
March 5th: Mother Mother at The Viper Room
March 7th: Youngblood Hawke at The Troubadour
March 7th: Said The Whale and Frank Turner at The Hotel Cafe
March 7,8,9: Buckcherry at The Viper Room
March 8th: Boy at The Troubadour
March 9th: Nightlands at The Echo
March 9th: Andy Clockwise and Irontom at The Satellite
March 11th: Lucy Rose at The Hotel Cafe
March 12th: CHVRCHES at The Echo
March 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Music Box
March 14th: Belmont Lights at The Roxy
March 15th: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 19th: Foxes at Bootleg Bar
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
March 25th: Dinner and a Suit at The Hotel Cafe
March 27th: Mika at The El Rey
March 27th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
April 3rd: William Beckett at The Hotel Café
April 4th: NO at The Troubadour
April 9th: Andrew Ripp at The Hotel Cafe
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
May 8th/9th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
May 29th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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