Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 16 – Keaton Simons

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16. “Beautiful Pain” – Keaton Simons

 

There are quite a few songs that impacted me this year that aren’t on the list simply because they haven’t been released. I was very excited when Keaton Simons leaked a few of his newer songs in honor of Hotel Carolina, including my favorite, “Beautiful Pain”. I had several meetings with Keaton over the year, but the one that is most memorable (perhaps because it was most recent) was at The Hotel Café Christmas show. This evening ties with the evening of the Pepper’s Ghost show as the best musical event of my year. It was so full of amazing artists (Cary Brothers, Butch Walker, Joe Purdy, Chris Pierce), new discovers (Sweet Talk Radio, Javier Dunn) and surprise guests (Joey Ryan, Sara Barellies, Pink!!), by the end I was overwhelmed to tears. When Keaton came out, he played this song. It was a perfect moment.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 15 – Semi Precious Weapons

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15. “Semi Precious Weapons” – Semi Precious Weapons

 

In 2011, Semi Precious Weapons moved to LA. Their weekly Empire parties at On the Rox were a huge part of my year. Every Wednesday night for months, I stayed up late to get molested by burlesque girls, party with fashionistas and rockstars, and rock out with friends as we were treated to debuts of songs potentially on the next Semi Precious Weapons album. I wish the album had come out this year so I could share with you some of their amazing new tunes, but we will have to settle for a classic SPW song that rings particularly true to me. These rockers may epitomize dirty glam, but they are also really nice guys. I started running into them at their shows, out on The Strip, at Duke’s, etc. and they are now part of my family here in LA.

a few pictures from Empire parties:

 

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 14 – Plan B

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14. “Stay Too Long” – Plan B

 

There is so much I love about Plan B’s album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. It’s one of those albums that should be listened to in its entirety from front to back. That’s the best way to get the complete story of a man who is wrongfully incarcerated. Plan B is UK born Ben Drew who uses not just his vocal abilities, but his skills as an artist and director to make Strickland Banks come to life in a series of songs and music videos. Known more for his rapping, I love how this album showcases his soulful singing voice. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make the shows Plan B did in LA this year. But I keep coming back to this CD, and I think “Stay Too Long” does a great job showcasing the range on the album, so here it is!

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 1/2-1/8

Posted on by Amanda

Happy New Years!! It’s a brand spanking new year full of promises, hopes, dreams, and of course shows! I hop everyone had a lovely New Years Eve. Mine was glorious and probably the best dang New Years Even I’ve ever had. I’m still recovering from the lack of sleep but that doesn’t mean I can’t be productive (and get out to see some shows)!

 

Monday: Erik Spencer @ Ruby Room @8

Tuesday: Be productive!

Wednesday: Olin and The Moon, Maxim Ludwig and The Santa Fe Seven, Jesse LaMonaca and The Dime Novels @ Casbah @9 $8
AND: Ninja Love @ Soda Bar @830 $5
AND: Chad Taggart and Jessica Hull @ Lestats @8

Thursday: The Henry Clay People, The Bloody Hollies, The New Kinetics @ Casbah @9 $8
AND: The Spells, Family Wagon, and Tall Ships @ Belly Up @8 $9

Friday: The Nervous Wreckords, Blackout Party, Grand Tarantula, and The Heavy Guilt @ Casbah $8/$10
AND: Heavy Hawaii @ Soda Bar @9 $5
AND: Chris Carpenter and Folding Mr. Lincoln @ Lestats @8

Saturday: A Scribe Amidst the Lions and The Flowerthief @ Casbah $8/$10

Sunday: Little Lo @ Soda Bar @830 $5

 

Keep in Mind:

January 10th- Mattson 2 @ El Dorado
January 11th- Milk Carton Kids @ Anthology
January 12th- Zane Carney @ Lestats @8 $10
January 12th- Sister Hazel @ Belly Up @9 $18
January 13th- Fierce Creatures @ Tin Can Alehouse @930
January 13th- Everest and Midnight Rivals @ Casbah $13/$15
January 15th- Transfer, The Silent Comedy and Hyena @ Casbah @9 $15
January 16th- The Silent Comedy, Transfer, and Dead Feather Moon @ Casbah @9 $15
January 18th- Olin and the Moon @ The Casbah @9 $8
January 20th- Dashboard Confessional @ House of Blues
January 22nd- Wilco and With Denim @ House of Blues
January 26th- Nico Vega and The Filthy Violets @ Casbah @9 $8/$10
January 27th- Jesse LaMonaca & The Dime Novels, and Family Wagon @ Casbah @9
February 2nd- The Burning of Rome @ Soda Bar
February 3rd- Mute Math @ 4th & B
February 4th- Where’s the Band Tour @ House of Blues
February 7th- Dr. Dog w/Purling Hiss @Belly Up @9 $18/$20
February 10th- Young the Giant @ Soma
February 11th- You Me At Six @ Soma @6 $12
February 19th- Craig Finn @ Casbah @9 $12
February 23rd- Ra Ra Riot @ Belly Up @8 $18
February 23rd- Hot Chelle Rae w/Electric Touch @ House of Blues
February 23rd- Scars on 45 @ Anthology @730
February 24th- The Soft Pack @ Casbah @9
February 25h- Mat Kearney @ House of Blues
February 26th- Cursive @ Casbah @9
February 29th- Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Valley View Casino Center
March 3rd- Jackie Greene @ Belly Up @9
March 6th- Flogging Molly @ House of Blues
March 8th- William Fitzsimmons @ Anthology @7
March 9th- The Stone Foxes @ Casbah @9
March 21st- Cults @ Belly Up @9
April 15th- Rise Against @ Viejas Arena

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 13 – Vanaprasta

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13. “Nine Equals Nine” – Vanaprasta

The best night to go out in Los Angeles is Monday night. So many great shows and most of them are free. Venues like The Satellite (formally Spaceland) and Silverlake Lounge had some pretty choice Monday night residencies this year. Taylor Locke and The Roughs, Youngblood Hawke, Big Black Delta, Indians, etc. Vanaprasta at The Satellite was one of the residencies I enjoyed the most. It centered around the release of their album, Healthy Geometry, which has been getting quite a bit of play in my stereo. LMN also started doing a feature this year called The Band Exam and Vanaprasta was one of our willing participants.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/2-1/8

Posted on by Kristen

Happy 2012! I hope you all have been enjoying my end of year posts. I had a rockin’ New Year’s Eve last night at The Roxy with Semi Precious Weapons and friends. I’m very much looking forward to what the new year will bring. What life-changing shows will be attended. What new musical acts will be discovered. What fantastic journeys we will take. Maybe this will be the year I will follow one of my favorite bands around Europe…

But for now, let’s stick to bands I enjoy playing LA this week. Here’s my list:

 

Monday: Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: Brendan Hines, Toy Bombs, and Chasing Kings FREE at The Satellite (9pm)…thus begins another great month-long residency at The Satellite with Chasing Kings
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Lovers Drugs at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven and Olin and the Moon at The Echo (10pm)

 

Weds: ?

 

Thursday: Tom Freund, George Stanford and friends at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)

 

Friday: The Lumineers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Marcus Very Ordinary and Hanni El Khatib at Bootleg Bar (9,11)
ALSO: Dylan Chambers, Ernie Halter, and Kelley James at The Troubadour (8pm)

 

Saturday: Whispering Pines FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Key Club (11pm)

 

Sunday: The Mowgli’s at Bootleg Bar (10pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
January 10th: Dead Sara at The Troubadour
January 11th: Zane Carney at Molly Malone’s
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 17th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
January 18th: Augustana at The El Rey
January 19th: Civil Twilight at Bootleg Bar
January 19th: Zane Carney at The Hotel Café
January 26th: Endoxi at The Roxy
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 8th: Marketa Irglova at The Hotel Café
Feb. 9th: Joss Stone at The Troubadour
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
Feb. 17th: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Bowl
Feb. 19th: The Darkness at House of Blues Sunset
Feb. 21st: Scars on 45 at The Troubadour
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 18th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

 

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Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 12 – Mariah McManus

Posted on by Kristen

12. “Anyway” – Mariah McManus

 

I first saw Mariah McManus front her rock band Glare of Rockets several years ago…I think they might have opened for Carney at The Troubadour. I recall enjoying the band, but never heard from them again. Now Mariah is back with a solo album, Nice to Meet You, which is one of my favorite albums that came out this year. I love her unique voice and she is quite the talented songwriter. She also put out a Christmas album that spent the holiday season in my car player on repeat.  I anticipate big things from Mariah McManus. You should check her out.

~ Kristen