Kristen’s SXSW ’11 Mix: Part 2

Posted on by Kristen

This year’s SXSW experience was a little different than in years past (ie I actually got to GO instead of my usual just listening to all of the artists). Still, I wanted to maintain the spirit of my annual SXSW Mix being a list of artists that are mostly new to me that I somehow discovered or was inspired to write about due to my SXSW experience.  I am so excited about every one of these artists/groups. I can’t wait for them to come through LA and play!

Here’s part 2 of my mix (part 1 can be found here):

5. “Weatherman” – Dead Sara

I fell in love with this band before SXSW. They will surely be featured in a “Band Love” post in the near future, but I couldn’t leave them off this list. This band blows me away every time I see them. Singer Emily looks so unassuming, but by the end of the set you find yourself headbanging to “Weatherman” and realize that she (and the rest of the band) have put you under some sort of spell

 

6. “Big Enough” – Taddy Porter

This Oklahoma based band caught my attention when I was listening to the list of SXSW artists. Apparently they caught the attention of Kid Rock as well as they played his showcase in Austin. Check out their album, Long Slow Drag and be sure to see them when they roll through a town near you!

 

7. “Alive” – Makeshift Prodigy

Bandcamp did a really cool thing this year for SXSW. They made a mix of all of the artists registered to their site that were going to SXSW. It listened to this mix in the background for days. Makeshift Prodigy was one of the artists that made me stop and pay attention. I immediately fell in love with this song, “Alive”, that you can download for FREE on their website.  Just one more Chicago band to add to my growing list of reasons to go back to the windy city.

 

8. “Life is Strange” – The Gallery

The Gallery had been brought to my attention in the Rolling Stone cover artist competition and I promptly added them to my SXSW schedule. I was so happy to be able to catch the band’s set at Rusty Spurs. They did not disappoint!

 

part 3 next up…

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s SXSW ’11 Mix: Part 1

Posted on by Kristen

This year’s SXSW experience was a little different than in years past (ie I actually got to GO instead of my usual just listening to all of the artists). Still, I wanted to maintain the spirit of my annual SXSW Mix being a list of artists that are mostly new to me that I somehow discovered or was inspired to write about due to my SXSW experience.  I am so excited about every one of these artists/groups. I can’t wait for them to come through LA and play!

I’ve broken the mix down into several parts which will be revealed over the next several days…enjoy!

 

  1. “Something In the Water” – Brooke Fraser

She may have been quite popular for several years, but only just before SXSW this year did Brooke Fraser hit my radar. This New Zealand native played several showcases in Austin including one sponsored by my favorite venue, The Hotel Cafe. Check out her third ablum, Flags, for this tune as well as my other favorite BF song, “Who Are We Fooling” featuring Aqualung.

 

2. “Coming Down That Road” – The Deaf

Came across this song while cruising the SXSW artist pages. Instantly it caught my attention, putting this band from the Netherlands on my need to see list.

 

3. “Run Back Home” – The Blue Pages

The Blue Pages was one of many acts that I discovered form the All Together Now Showcase. These Brooklyn boys put on a captivating show. If you’re in the NYC area, go check them out at Bowery Electric June 23rd!

 

4. “Sail” – AWOLNation

One of the best crowds I was in at SXSW this year was for AWOLNATION’s set at Rusty Spurs. They made my list of top SXSW sets…I really can’t wait to see these guys again. Come back to LA already!

 

more to come…

 

~ Kristen

New Band Alert: Toy

Posted on by Kristen

Alana Grace + 3/4 of After Midnight Project = Toy. That’s enough to sell me. I still remember being impressed with Alana Grace back in 2008 when I first saw her at Bonnaroo. Her song “Domino” was stuck in my head for days. And, of course, After Midnight Project is one of my favorite LA bands of more recent years. Their CD, Let’s Build Something to Break, still gets play time in my car stereo. I can’t say I’d put this combo together, but I’m excited to see where it will go.

According to their bio, Alana wanted to go a little heavier with the rock and add an electronic edge. She called upon Spencer Bastian, Christian Meadows, and Ryan Folden, friends from Warped Tour, to work with her on creating this sound. They’ve already been booked on a major nation-wide tour opening for  Styx and Yes. They have a song up on facebook called “Get Out of My Head.” Like their page and have a listen.

If you like what you hear (as I did), go vote for Toy for the Summerfest emerging artist series. They are competing with some of my favorite up and coming artists like Makeshift Prodigy, The Republic of Letters, Atomic Tom, and Tailor Made Fable among others.

And, there you go! Another great band to discover and follow. You’re welcome!

 

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Show Calendar 5/23-5/29

Posted on by Amanda

I don’t know where you are right now, but where I am, the weather is pretty glum. Granted, I could be living back east and it could be exceptionally worse but the weather here just can’t seem to make up it’s mind. Last week was hot on Monday and got progressively cooler throughout the week. Now, it’s windy, cold, and looks like it could rain.

But enough about the weather. I’m not a meteorologist, I’m a concert going gal. Let’s see what this week has in store…

 

Monday: Recover from your weekend

Tuesday: Josh Damigo @ Soda Bar @9 $10
AND: White Denim and White Arrows @ Casbah @9 $10 adv/ $12 day of

Wednesday: John Helix @ Lestats @ 9
AND: Sam Bradley @ Casbah @9 $12 adv/$14 day of

Thursday: Kevin Martin and Illuminauts @ Fleetwood @630 $Guestlist Here
AND: Austin Hartley Leonard @ Lestats @9
AND: A Scribe Amidst the Lions @ Ruby Room @9 $5

Friday: Transfer, Black Hondo, and Little Hurricane @ Casbah @9 $15 adv/$17 day of
AND: Twilight Singers @ Belly Up @9 $18 adv/$20 day of
AND: Weatherbox @ Epicentre @7 $10
AND: The New Kinetics and Gun Runner @ Soda Bar @9 $8 adv/$10 day of
AND: Josiah Leming @ Lestats @9

Saturday: Nothing on Saturday?! Go party somewhere else!!
(Might I suggest LA for Kevin Martin @ On the Rox)

Sunday: Cashd Out @ Belly Up @9 $16 adv/$18 day of

 

Keep in Mind:

June 1st- Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra @ Soma @ 630 $20
June 3rd- Inspired Flight and Illuminauts @ Casbah $12 adv/$14 day of
June 4th- The Howls and Get Back Loretta @ Soda Bar
June 5th- 94/9 Independence Jam w/Cold War Kids, Peter Bjorn and John, Lykki Li, The Soft Pack, The Silent Comedy, Crocodiles, Band of Skulls, Everest, Low Volts, Surfer Blood, and Heavy Hawaii
June 8th- Adele @ Humphrey’s
June 11th- Airborne Toxic Event @ House of Blues
June 11th- Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae @ Del Mar Fair
June 17th- Switchfoot @ Del Mar Fair
June 19th- Panic! at the Disco @ House of Blues
June 19th- Hellogoodbye @ Soma @7 $15 adv
June 22nd- Neon Trees @ Del Mar Fair
July 5th- Eddie Vedder @ Copley Symphony Hall
July 6th- Foster the People @ House of Blues $17.50
July 26th- Cold Cave and Austra @ Casbah $12 adv/$14 day of
July 27th- Indigo Girls @ Humphrey’s
July 29th- Yuck @ Casbah
August 9th- Vans Warped Tour

 

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/23-5/29

Posted on by Kristen

It’s a bad sign when you’re purposefully consuming caffeine at 10pm on a Sunday night when you know you need to be up early in the morning. But, it’s been that kind of a day. I’ve nothing insightful to say unless you want to talk satiety hormones or the nucleus tractus solitaries, so I’m just going to get straight to my weekly list of distractions. Starting with Nico Vega Monday night and ending in a weekend of Lakes, The Silent Comedy, and Dead Sara…I can’t really complain about anything, now can I?

Here’s what I’ve got on my radar:

 

Monday: Nico Vega and She Wants Revenge at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Milk Carton Kids at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke and The Roughs and Youngblood Hawke FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11, 12)
ALSO: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Alberta Cross at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Scott Weiland at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Jacqueline Epcar at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

 

Weds: Kevin Devine and Ten out of Tenn at The Hotel Cafe (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: High Voltage night at The Mint featuring The Film Noir, The Orange Effect, Adam Bones, and The Violet Lights (8pm)
ALSO: The Makepeace Brothers at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Indians FREE at Three Clubs (10pm)
ALSO: Boyce Avenue and Jack’s Mannequin at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at On the Rox (10pm)…free with RSVP (rsvp@semipreciousweapons.com)

 

Thursday: Stevie Nicks at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground (10pm)

 

Friday: Lakes at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: The Script at Club Nokia (7pm)
ALSO: My Chemical Romance at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Glee Live in Concert at The Honda Center in Anaheim (7:30)
ALSO: Prince at The Forum (7:30)

 

Saturday: The Silent Comedy at The Echoplex (noon)
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (11:30)
ALSO: Kevin Martin at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Prince at The Forum (7:30)
ALSO: Glee! Live in Concert at The Staples Center (3pm)

 

Sunday: Dead Sara at Bardot (10:30)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at El Cid (9pm)
ALSO: Prince at The Forum (7:30)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 1st: Parade of Lights at Silverlake Lounge
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 6th and 7th: Band of Skulls at Bootleg Theater
June 7th: Death Cab for Cutie and The Lonely Forest at The El Rey
June 9th: Adele at Hollywood Palladium
June 9-12: Bonnaroo (TN)
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
June 15th: Augustana at The House of Blues Sunset
June 17th: Nico Vega at The House of Blues Anaheim
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)

~ Kristen

 

Free Music Download: Fair to Midland

Posted on by Kristen

New music from Fair to Midland! They finally have a new CD coming out!!! If you’re a fan of the band, you will know how exciting this is. We’ve been waiting years for a follow up to 2007’s brilliant Fables from a Mayfly.

Arrows & Anchors is officially released on July 12. You can buy the first single, “Musical Chairs”, on Itunes, but Fair to Midland is offering a free download on their website of the song “Armadillo Sleeps on My Pillow”.

http://www.ftmband.com/

 

One of my favorite Fair to Midland songs (featured on my best of ’07 mix):

~ Kristen