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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Valentine’s Day Playlist: The Cycles of Love: Puppy Love

Puppy love always evokes that naive sense of new young love that’s really no deeper than be heavily infatuated with someone.  The second thing it evokes a sort of do wop, pop, smiley dreams and rainbows while we hold hands and skip down the street.
Puppy Love

Local Music: Starstruck- Parade of Lights

I realize this song has been posted on LMN before but it’s a favorite of mine and frankly, being ‘starstruck’ by someone makes me think of puppy love. It’s the beginning of something new, it’s cute, and all your friends hate hearing you talk about it.

Top 40: Wouldn’t it Be Nice – The Beach Boys

Everything about The Beach Boys seems to be a little viewed through rose tinted  glasses, this song, even though it’s one of their more well known tracks actually has a bit of depth to it.  There is actually obstacles that prevent our heroes from living out this perfect love, it may be even a little realistic in a sense, but all the while remains so optimistic.

Alternative Radio: Follow You Down- Gin Blossoms

I miss the 90’s. I miss the computer games, the carefree life, the less complicated times, and the music. I don’t miss the fashion though. Anyways, Follow You Down from the Gin Blossoms was one of those happy songs from happy times. What says puppy love more than, “anywhere you go, I’ll follow you down.”

Soundtrack: Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals

Like most people I first encountered this song while watching Goodfellas and fell in love with it.  It depicts that somewhat nervous feeling you get when you first go out with someone new.  The lyrics tell a boy meets girl, is nice to girl, boy and girl get married, oh and there is some kissing.  Just pure cotton candy goodness.

Misc.: We Owned The Night- Lady Antebellum 

This song evokes images of the beginnings of a new romance with someone you are so enamoured with. Everything this person does is enchanting and amazing and you’re happy just to be a part of their world. You both own the night after all.

Having a hard time keeping it in your pants? We know you got sprung!

Valentine’s Day Playlist: The Cycles of Love : Sexy Times!

She’s driven you crazy with all the teasing and flirting and you’re ready to burst both literally and figuratively.  So seal the deal! Put some groovy tunes on to seduce the hell out of her!  As the Silver Jews once said, “How Can I Love You, If You Won’t Lie Down?”
Sexy Times
Local Music –  Love Me, Chase Me – Carney

Not only is Reeve Carney’s voice sexy (singer for Carney) but this video is sexy too. With a title like Love Me, Chase Me the only image I can’t help but conjure up is the beginning of sexy times where the boy chases the girl (or vice versa depending on how you like to roll) and he catches her at which point they fall into the leaves and begin making out.

Top 40 – Kiss – Prince

Prince is the King of sexy. He could seduce the pants off pretty much any girl and the song “Kiss” works alright with me.  If you can sing as high as Prince, then you deserve whatever tail you can rustle up, but leave the sexy times to that purple high heel wearing, tiny little man that is Prince. (Sorry About the Glee Video, Prince Doesn’t Authorize His Music On Youtube)

Alternative Radio – Closer – Nine Inch Nails

So the first song that came into my head for the sexy category was “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails.  I mean the song says, “I want to fuck you like an animal”, NIN isn’t pulling any punches.   I forewarn you that the video is equally raunchy and disgusting.

Soundtrack – Need You Tonight – INXS

I don’t know anything sexier than a song about needing someone tonight. As in right now. I remember this playing in the background of Coyote Ugly when Violet is trying to sell off Kevin to the highest bidder to make the money she owed Lil. Nothng says sexy like ‘I’m selling you off to pay for my debt.’

Misc – You Shook Me All Night Long – ACDC

A classic ACDC riff and a classic line about thighs, no wonder strippers like it.  So strut in, strip off your jean cut offs and let them know you mean business.

 

Now that business is all done, are those stars in your eyes or is it Puppy Love?

Valentine’s Day Playlist: The Cycles of Love- Feeling Frisky

Alright, we’re now done feeling sorry for ourselves and feel like it’s time to stick our toes back in the dating/romance pool. The problem is, well, we just don’t feel up for it. You’re girlfriends (or boyfriends) have been trying to get you out and on the prowl, right? I know, it’s annoying. Maybe we feel sexy (or maybe not), but the main goal of the night is to have fun and use the powers of seduction on helpless pawns for an ego boost. No worries. We got you covered (and we don’t judge either)!

Feeling Frisky
Local Music: So So Fresh – Nico Vega

The one thing I can say about Nico Vega (other than the fact that they are amazing) is they know how to get into the core of your being and make you feel it. If you want some extra sass in your step, might I suggest this song?

Top 40: Does Your Mother Know – ABBA

ABBA were the biggest pop stars of the 70’s. I mean they had white satin jump suits and Swedish accents, what’s not to love? This song is kind of a rarity with the boys taking the lead on vocals.  The obvious reference to young girls is kind of risqué, but ultra frisky.

Alternative Radio: No You Girls – Franz Ferdinand

Girls, Girls, Girls…they are such teases. They make us crazy, shaking their asses and fluttering their eyelashes! Franz Ferdinand is pissed about this, stop messing with their heads, because no you girls never know how you make a boy feel…



Soundtrack: Sugar Daddy – Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hedwig, our hero, wait heroine, writes a song about her American Soldier Sugar Daddy who brought her, or at this time him, Gummi Bears the first time they met.  Hansel became Hedwig to be this sugar daddy’s lady and we can only imagine what kind of flirting got him, no her, across the Berlin Wall.

Misc: Drive Me Insane- Billy Boy On Poison

I first heard this lovely little ditty as part of a promo for my favorite TV show Castle. This song was used to vocalize the um…. tension between the two leads (and it did the job quite well). As the song suggests, the poor guy gets driven insane by the minx we don’t know. It’s enough to make any woman want to be her.

Need some more sexyness? Don’t worry, it’s up next.

Valentine’s Day Playlist- The Cycles of Love: Loneliness

I honor of the upcoming holiday I have tried to boycott and have never seemed to enjoy, I thought it fitting to create a playlist for Valentines Day. There is a catch however. In true Amanda style, I’ve decided to arrange the playlist according to the cycles of love that every person experiences and will be realeasing a new one up to V-Day. On top of that, is a song for each category of listener; local music, top 40, alternative radio, soundtrack, and miscellaneous. I’m throughly happy to be doing this V-Day playlist with newbie LMN author Marissa Mortati. If it wasn’t for her help and contributions, this list would not be possible.

Now, if you’re anything like me (which you probably aren’t) or any other human, the cycle of love tends to start with loneliness. If we are never alone we can never truly appreciate the love we will have in our life. But with loneliness comes the bitter taste of self-loathing, depression, and an all around not feeling good about one’s self. Bummer dude. Hopefully these songs will help you to feel not alone in your loneliness! Cheers mate.

 

Woe Is Me

Local Music: Boston- Augustana 

It’s not often that a local band you are familiar with has their lyrics sung by the lead in a tv show like The Big Bang Theory as a demonstration of raw emotional emoness. However, that lucky commendation goes to the song Boston by Augustana. I love Augustana. I love the piano coupled with his melancholy vocals.  I love them more when I’m feeling upset, unloved, misunderstood, and beyond repair. Cheery, right?

Top 40: Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls 
Funnily enough, I saw Augustana open for Goo Goo Dolls back in the day so this is a lovely double whammy of memories for me. Anyways, the thing about this song is while it talks about being down, it also discusses a wasted life of a young man. The song may deceive you, making you think you’re about to partake in a happy pop rock song, but Broadway is about a young man without a place in world.  He feels like he’s got no one on his side and self destructs because of it.

 

Alternative Radio: Creep -Radiohead 

If you’ve ever felt like a sniveling little, well, creep you’ve probably blasted this song on your car stereo many times.   The Radiohead anthem is one of those anti hero songs that you can’t help relate to because hey, we all want perfect bodies. It’s dark and brooding and makes us all feel a little more badass.

 

Soundtrack: Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid

You think you’re an outsider? Imagine how a Mermaid feels? That’s right, that’s pretty rough.  Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid expresses just how much one can feel like an outsider looking in this song.  Come on guys! She just wants to fit in!

 

Misc: Somebody to Love – Queen

Freddie Mercury speaks to the romantic in all of us.  Somebody to Love is the perfect depiction of a desire to love someone.  With amazing harmonies and that rock opera style that defines Queen you find yourself singing along happily with a song that is actually quite sad.

 

 

Feeling Frisky? Stay tuned.

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