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Kristen’s Christmas Song Mini Mix

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Kristen

It’s after Thanksgiving which means, time to put in the Christmas music! I was excited to uncheck all my tunes in my Christmas playlist, but here a few of the tunes I was most looking forward to hearing once again:

River- Joni Mitchell …this is my favorite Christmas song. Of all time. I have many versions but no one does it quite like Joni.

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Merry Ex-mas – Lelia Broussard and Jake Newton…a couple top notch singer-songerwriters got together and wrote a killer x-mas tune. Fast becoming one of my favorites. Sometimes I cheat and listen to it out of season…

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“Christmas Day” – Dido…my junior year in college I started every single day during the holiday season with this Christmas song sung by one of my favorite voices. I still think it’s the best way to start a wintery morning.

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“Christmas Is All Around” – Billy Mack… Love Actually is my favorite holiday movie. Actually it’s one of only two Christmastime films I really enjoy (the other being A Muppet Christmas Carol)

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“Maybe This Christmas” – Ron Sexsmith…say what you will about The OC, but that show put out some great music including a Christmas soundtrack which has become one of my go to holiday albums. This song is one of the many gems from that album.

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“Bittersweet Eve” – Belasana…you can tell I love the happy holiday songs… honestly, these songs make me happy. I swear!

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“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Judy Garland…classic!

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~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 11/28-12/4

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Amanda

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! Kristen came down to my place and we feasted on way too much food. It was a wonderful dinner and we still have tons of leftovers. On another note, can you believe it’s almost December?! I mean, where did the time go? I realize I say that a lot but it must really get away from me. I swear it was just summer.

Speaking of it being almost December, holiday shows start rolling around and the first one is this week! First we have the KPRI Holiday Soiree on Wednesday. Next is the Holiday Hootenany from 94/9. If neither of those tickle your fancy, we have a great week of shows to get out and see!

Monday: Skyline Union @ Soda Bar @830 $5
AND: Chad Cavanaugh @ Ruby Room @8 $4
AND: Timothy B. Schmit @ Belly Up @8 $25

Tuesday: Russian Circles @ Casbah @9 $12
AND: Freezepop @ Soda Bar @830 $8/$10

Wednesday: KPRI Holiday Soiree w/Fitz and the Tantrums, The Head and The Heart, and Mayer Hawthorne @ Balboa Theater @8 $40
AND: Lindy Crandall, Scott Allen Knost, and Sterling Witt @ Lestats @8
AND: The Entrance Band @ Soda Bar @830 $8/$10
AND: Low Volts @ Casbah @9 $20

Thursday: Nick Waterhouse and The Tarots @ Soda Bar @830 $8/$10
AND: The Dollyrots @ Bar Pink @9
AND: Italian Japanese @ El Dorado @9
AND: Cass McCombs Band and The Donkeys @ Casbah @9 $12

Friday: The Deep Dark Woods, The Howls and Jesse LaMonaca and The Dime Novels @ Soda Bar @830 $8
AND: The Black Heart Procession @ Casbah @9 $12/$14
AND: Josh Damigo @ The Irenic @8 $10/$15
AND: Kevin Martin @ Museum of Making Music @7 $10
AND: Jane Lui, AJ Rafel, and Jesse Barrera @ Lestats @8

Saturday: Little Hurricane and The Heavy Guilt @ Casbah @9 $14
AND: Holiday Hootenanny w/My Morning Jacket, Two Door Cinema Club, Matt & Kim, Delta Spirit, and The Blackout Party @ USD
AND: Hurricane Bells @ Bar Pink @9
AND: Burning of Rome @ Tin Can Alehouse @9 $5

Sunday: Girl in a Coma and Fences @ Casbah @9 $10

Keep in Mind:
December 6th- Peter Murphy and She Wants Revenge @ Belly Up
December 6th- Patrick Norton @ El Dorado @9
December 10th- The Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Belly Up
December 10th- Mattson 2 @ Lestats
December 10th- Wrex the Halls w/Florence and The Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, Cage the Elephant, The Airborne Toxic Event, and The Naked and Famous @ Valley View Casino Center (formerly Sports Arena) @8
December 11th- Wrex the Halls w/Blink 182, Social Distortion, Pennywise, DMC, Switchfoot, Everlast, and Mutemath @ Valley View Casino Center (formerly Sports Arena) @8
December 12th- Jingle Ball w/Christina Perri, Parachute, and Scars on 45 @ Anthology $20-$295
December 19th- Pinback @ Belly Up
December 31st- The Silent Comedy and Transfer w/The Creepy Creeps, The Heavy Guilt, Low Volts, and more! @ Mississippi Room $25-$40
January 11th- Milk Carton Kids @ Anthology
January 22nd- Wilco and With Denim @ House of Blues
February 3rd- Mute Math @ 4th & B
February 10th- Young the Giant @ Soma
February 23rd- Ra Ra Riot @ Belly Up @8 $18

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/28-12/4

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Kristen

Well, I had a delightful Thanksgiving full of adventures down in San Diego. It actually felt like a holiday which is a rare thing for me. I’m not really looking forward to facing my massive to do list tomorrow, but I am quite excited about this week’s show schedule. My beloved LA rockers, After Midnight Project, are doing their first show in what seems like years Monday night in North Hollywood at The Federal Bar. Another highlight is Tuesday when songstress Rachel Yamagata comes to The Troubadour to regale us with tunes from her fantastic new record, Chesapeake. For my complete list of shows I’d recommend, just keep reading:

Monday: After Midnight Project FREE at The Federal Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Bathgate at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings, Vanaprasta, Voxhual Broadcast FREE at The Satellite (9pm)…last night of Vanaprasta’s residency (you read our interview, right?)
ALSO: Rhett Miller at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Driftwood Singers and Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: Sting at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Milo Greene and Incan Abraham FREE with RSVP (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Garrison Starr, Adrianna, Dawn Thomas, and Maia Sharp (9pm)

Tuesday: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls, The Californian FREE at On the Rox (9pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: SONOS at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Races and Kiev at The Central (10,11)
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at Molly Malone’s (11:15)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at Piano Bar featuring Johnny Moezzi at midnight (8pm)

Weds: Empire at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

Thursday: Hurricane Bells with Shadow Shadow Shade at The Satellite (9pm)

Friday: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at WitZend in Venice (9:30)
ALSO: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Fences at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at Origami Vinyl (8pm)

Saturday: KCRW’s Holiday Show at The Orpheum Theater featuring Brett Dennn, Iron and Wine, Belle Brigade, White Denim, etc. (7:45)
ALSO: The Ataris acoustic performance at The Airliner (9pm)
ALSO: Beverly McClellan at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: David and Devine at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Beady Eye at The Wiltern (8pm)

Sunday: Maniac acoustic set at Bellejar Vintage (8pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Satellite (10pm)

To Keep in Mind:
December 6^th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9^th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 9^th: Stephen Kellogg and Jon McLaughlin at The Key Club
December 9^th: Camp Fredd at The Roxy
December 9^th: The Belle Brigade at McCabe’s
December 12^th: High Voltage Holiday Party at On the Rox
December 14^th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16^th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16^th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16^th: Chris Cornell at The Orpheum Theater
December 16^th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17^th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 17^th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 18^th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 23^rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
January 12^th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 31^st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2^nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9^th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13^th-18^th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 24^th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

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http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

LMN Band Exam: Vanaprasta

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Amanda

If you have yet to see LA indie rockers, Vanaprasta, dominate the stage at The Satellite during their November residency, you have two more opportunities (tonight/11.21 and next Monday/11.28). Don’t miss out! Over the last year or so, I’ve watched this band really come into their own and with the recent release of their album, Healthy Geometry, they have become one of the most buzzed about bands on the local scene. What amazes me about this band is the depth and energy of their tunes and the visceral impact they can have on an entire audience (we can call it the Vanaprasta effect). Witness for yourself. Monday nights in November. 11pm.

We wanted to get to know the band a bit better, so we had them take our Band Exam. Here are the responses we got from Steven (Vocals/Keys), Collin (Guitar/Vocals/Keys), Taylor (Bass/Vocals/Keys), Cam (Guitar) and Smiley (Drums)

Multiple Choice:

Favorite superhero: superman, batman, spiderman

Smiley: Batman for sure.

Favorite subject in school: math, science, history, recess

Steven: SCIENCE

Vacation destination: beach, mountains, moon

Steven: MOON

No-shave November: I’m in!, nooo way, what?

Cam: I’m in!

Fill in the Blank:

If I were a character from The Wizard of Oz, I would be__Toto (Taylor)___.

My karaoke song is The Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil” (Collin) .

One weird talent/skill no one would expect from me is I’m a helluva driver (Steven) .

Two words to describe Vanaprasta’s November residency at The Satellite Chick Central (Cam) .

Essay/Short Answer:

If you weren’t rockin’ out as a musician, what would be your ideal job?

Smiley: I guess if I wasn’t the multi-millionaire mega rock star that I am…I’d want to be Walker Texas Ranger. He’s s real American hero in my book. Not a fan of Chuck Norris but Walker Texas Ranger, now that’s a guy with his priorities straight. I guess I would want to be a (walker) Texas ranger.

What does Vanaprasta mean to you?

Taylor: To me, it means “a moderately sized moat surrounding a cottage or shack.”

Tell us a story about one of the songs off Healthy Geometry

Collin: G- is a special song for me personally because it was a song I wrote on acoustic guitar about 2 or 3 years before VANAPRASTA even existed. When I first got a chance to hang with the guys and we were just kind of jamming songs that we had written I started playing G-. Cam and I had done very little guitar playing together at the time but as soon as he started jamming to it I was like “shit, that’s it!”. I must have played that song with a million different people and lots of people had cool takes on the song but for some reason Cam’s parts struck a chord in the song I didn’t really ever see. This song also helped Steven’s voice develop into more of a rock singer. Overall I think the song taught us something about our sound and what we were capable of which I try to never forget.

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~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 11/21-11/27

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Amanda

Well, I spent my weekend home sick battling a cold. I think I’m at the tail end of it, finally. Hopefully I’m fresh and ready for Thanksgiving on Thursday! I’m thankful for a fantastic year of music, friends both old and new, and everything I’ve been lucky enough to experience. What about you?

Oh, I’m also thankful for this week of music!

Monday: Wendy Bailey @ Ruby Room @8 $4
AND: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings @ House of Blues SD @830 $27.50

Tuesday: Scott H. Biram @ Casbah @9 $10/$12
AND: Morrissey @ Escondido Center for the Arts @7
AND: Lyon Crowns @ El Dorado @9

Wednesday: Dead Feather Moon and Mattson 2 @ Mossy Scion @5 $3 cans of food
AND: Chairs Missing and Scruffles @ Soda Bar @830
AND: Zakk Boyd and Happy Ron Hill @ Lestats @8

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday: The Loons and The New Kinetics @ Tin Can Alehouse @930 $6
AND: A Scribe Amidst The Lions @ Eleven @9 $7
AND: Low Volts and Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys @ Casbah @9 $15
AND: Silent Lune @ Ruby Room @9 $5

Saturday: Andy Clockwise @ Tin Can Alehouse @930 $7
AND Crooked Fingers, Strands of Oaks, and Little White Teeth @ Casbah @9 $12

Sunday: Rachel Yamagata and Mike Viola @ Casbah @ 9 $18/$20

Keep in Mind:

December 3rd- Little Hurricane @ Casbah $14
December 3rd- Holiday Hootenanny w/My Morning Jacket, Two Door Cinema Club, Matt & Kim, Delta Spirit, and The Blackout Party @ USD
December 10th- The Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Belly Up
December 10th- Wrex the Halls w/Florence and The Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, Cage the Elephant, The Airborne Toxic Event, and The Naked and Famous @ Valley View Casino Center (formerly Sports Arena) @8
December 11th- Wrex the Halls w/Blink 182, Social Distortion, Pennywise, DMC, Switchfoot, Everlast, and Mutemath @ Valley View Casino Center (formerly Sports Arena) @8
December 19th- Pinback @ Belly Up
December 31st- The Silent Comedy and Transfer w/The Creepy Creeps, The Heavy Guilt, Low Volts, and more! @ Mississippi Room $25-$40
January 22nd- Wilco and With Denim @ House of Blues
February 3rd- Mute Math @ 4th & B

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 11/21-11/27

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Kristen

Since I got back from my east coast trip, I feel like I have been running full speed ahead non-stop. I can’t believe it’s already Sunday eve and despite working most of the weekend, my to do list barely has a scratch. I didn’t get out to too many shows last week, but the ones I saw were phenomenal. The Hours and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Royce Hall and Milo Greene and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern were both top notch musical experiences. And let’s not forget LMN’s show tonight featuring Wires in the Walls, Holy Rolling Empire, and Sunken Ships…an excellent night of music!

Despite it being a holiday week, there are still a few promising shows. I’m basically going to have to take it on an hour by hour basis, but those of you fortunate enough to be able to plan ahead, here’s what I’d recommend:

Monday: Vanaprasta FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Rachel Cantu, The Janks, Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (8:30, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: The Maine at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: The Mowglis and Maniac at Three of Clubs (9, midnight)
ALSO: Golden State and Kemble Walters and the Blank Faces at The Viper Room (10,12)
ALSO: Ari Shine, Kevin Martin, Just an Animal at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

Weds: Korey Dane at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground at Bootleg Bar (11pm)

Thursday: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday: Trapt at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Central (8:30)

Saturday/Sunday: everyone will probably be out of town, but maybe something will come up by the weekend…

To Keep in Mind:
November 29^th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2^nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
December 2^nd: Allen Stone at The Echo
December 2^nd: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey
December 2^nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 6^th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9^th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 14^th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16^th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16^th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16^th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17^th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 23^rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
Feb. 2^nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9^th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13^th-18^th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://www.localmusicnation.net

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

New Band Alert: Wires in the Walls

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Amanda

I’m not sure how many of you have heard of the band Wires in the Walls but if you haven’t, you definitely need to look them up.

As their bio states, this LA-based quintet explores a textured space between Americana, anthemic indie rock, austere post-punk, and pop. Since the band’s formation in 2009, they have played many of LA’s top venues and toured the east and west coasts, with their well-received 2010 EP “Call Signs” receiving local and national college radio play. Wires in the Walls takes a hands-on DIY attitude to their promotion, including the screen printing of all of their own merchandise.

Wires in the Walls spent 2011 writing and recording their debut full-length album New Symmetry, which was released on October 25. New Symmetry expands on the traditional Americana trappings of their previous recordings, and is the first to feature the two newest members of Wires in the Walls. The first single from the record, The Ringer, debuted April 2011 alongside the B-side Soft Shirt.

Wires in the Walls is: Warren Sroka (vocals/guitar – NYC), Nick Tracz (bass/vocals – upstate NY), Bryan King (drums/horns – Virginia), Dave Irelan (guitar/vocals – Oregon), & Dave Sicher (everything – Illinois).

I should also add that LMN is presenting their show THIS SUNDAY ( Nov. 20th) at Lot 1 with Holy Rolling Empire and Sunken Ships. Be sure to get out there and check them out. Oh, and you can come say hi to us too!

Here’s what you need to like, follow, and generally keep track of important goings-on:

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