Not only do I love this band, but I love their taste in music. Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, The National, etc. Check out The Lonely Forest’s mixtape on Baeblemusic.com.
http://www.baeblemusic.com/featuredarticle/tgi-mixtape-101-curated-by-the-lonely-forest.html
And if you haven’t already, pick up a copy of their CD, Arrows, which includes songs like this one:
[youtube QHGY48EZjAo]
~ Kristen
Some excellent tunage currently spinning on my IPod (and helping me through the this particularly difficult work day). If you’re looking for some new music to check out, here’s what I’d recommend:
Matt Duke– One Day Die
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Duke/14795879411
One of my favorite Philly (as well as Hotel Carolina) artists, I’ve been looking forward to this release for awhile. I just purchased it today so time will tell how it stacks up against his last CD which I consider to be a masterpiece. Looking forward to getting to know One Day Die a little better and to seeing Matt again (hopefully he’ll come out to LA sometime soon).
Matt is ready, are you?
[youtube 1jkLVUAYZEg]
[youtube IYQcqQnU_S4]
The Lonely Forest– Arrows
http://www.thelonelyforest.com/
I’ve been in love with this band from Anacortes, Washington since SXSW ’10. “We Sing In Time” struck me from note one. Their first full length album came out last week. It features that song as well as many other gems. Seriously, I really like every single song on this album…
[youtube 1KjNfJSeJcQ]
Wakey!Wakey!- Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You…
Wakey!Wakey! has been on my radar for awhile now, but since seeing Mike Grubbs perform live, this CD has taken permanent residence in my best of playlist. My fave tune right now? Anything heavy with the violin…like “Almost Everything” or “Light Outside”
[youtube FiQo6DoXknY]
BONUS:
Biffy Clyro– Only Revolutions
You all know I’ve been obsessed with this CD since I first saw these Scottsmen open for Manchester Orchestra, but this week, the CD has finally been released in stores in the US. SO, what are you waiting for? GO OUT AND GET IT! This is hands down my favorite CD released in the last couple of years. Now if only I could get a copy of Lonely Revolutions (B-sides for this CD)…
Happy Listening!
~ Kristen
I realize this is coming at you much later than it should be. Although, I suppose I could have just forgotten all together. Point being, I had a very busy weekend and I forgot that I wasn’t going to have time yesterday to put out my calendar like usual. Sunday was my day of rest and it kind of just bit me in the ass. Ha ha. I’m hoping you all just looked at the Keep in Mind section from last week…
Thankfully (maybe only for me) this is a rather light week of music. Although Saturday looks to be rather busy…
Tuesday: Fitz and the Tantrums @ Belly Up -SOLD OUT but maybe you can get lucky
Wednesday: Maren Parusel and The Baseball Project @ Casbah $13 adv/$15 day of
Thursday: Uh Huh Her @ Belly Up @9 $16 adv/$18 day of
AND: Trevor Davis CD Release @ Anthology @7 $10-21
Friday: Pretty Too Bad CD Release @ Casbah @ 8 $8
AND: Orgone @ Belly Up @9 $12 adv/$14 day of
AND: Modern Rifles @ Soda Bar @9 $5
Saturday: Black Heart Procession @ Casbah @5 $10 adv/$12 day of
AND: Little Hurricane and Get Back Loretta @ Casbah @ 9
AND: She Wants Revenge @ Belly Up @930 $20 adv/$22 day of
AND: The Donkeys @ Soda Bar @9 $8 adv/$10 day of
Sunday: A Rocket to the Moon, Valencia, and Anarbor @ Soma @630 $13 adv.
AND: Wendy Bailey and Echo Revolution @ Soda Bar @9 $5
Keep in Mind:
April 4th- The Sounds and White Apple Tree @ Belly Up
April 8th- Rise Against w/Bad Religion @ RIMAC Arena- UCSD
April 9th- Pete Yorn @ House of Blues
April 14th- Billy Clyro @ Belly Up
April 14th- Brandon Flowers @ House of Blues SD
April 14th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
April 16th- Ellie Goulding and the Knocks @ Casbah
April 28th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
May 2nd- TV on the Radio @ 4th & B
May 3rd- James Blunt @ Humphreys
May 6th- Ghostland Observatory @ 4th & B
May 6th- Chris Cornell @ Humphreys
May 6th- Fleet Foxes @ Spreckles Theater
May 11th- Bayside and Silverstein @ Soma @6 $18
May 12th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
May 13th- Pinback @ Belly Up
May 16th- Black Angels @ Belly Up
June 1st- Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra @ Soma @ 630 $20
June 11th- Airborne Toxic Event @ House of Blues
Just got back from Saint Rocke where we experienced a most excellent evening of music. Justin Hopkins lead a mildly chaotic yet thoroughly enjoyable songwriters in the round featuring several artists (whose names I’ve sadly mostly forgotten). Justin himself played only a few songs, although I wish he could have done more. At one point, he brought up a 10-year-old girl who was an incredibly talented guitar player and songwriter. Keaton Simons also made an appearance and took part in several impromptu jam sessions after singing a few of his own tunes including a brand new one he claimed he just wrote yesterday.
The headliner of the evening was the incredibly entertaining Wakey!Wakey! Between the fun tunes and the funny banter, my cheeks still hurt from all the smiling and laughing. Seriously, if you’ve never been in a “conversation” with Wakey!Wakey! frontman, Mike Grubbs, you cannot fully appreciate the full spectrum of his talent. And speaking of talent, I should mention the violinist whose accompaniment elevated each song to a level of mesmerizing despite the fact that she had a cut on her finger.
It was a fantastic way to begin the week. Hopefully the rest of my schedule this week will be equally or more enjoyable. Check out my list:
Monday: Honeyhoney at Bootleg Theater (10:30)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (10:15)
ALSO: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
Tuesday: Brian Wright at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…record release show…and after what I heard at SXSW this would be my top pick of the week!
ALSO: The Canyons and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry at Room 5 (9pm)
Weds: Queen Caveat and Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room (8,9)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at On the Rox (10pm)…the last of their Empire residency shows before they head off to re-join Lady Gaga
ALSO: Laura Jansen at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
Thursday: Ringside at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
Friday: Bird by Bird at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11:30)
ALSO: Brendan James and Matt White at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: J. Scott Bergman at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
Saturday: Tyler Hilton at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Northstar Session at Molly Malone’s (10pm)…album release
Sunday: day of rest…until something inevitably comes along…
To Keep in Mind:
April 6th: Andy Clockwise and The Silent Comedy at The Troubadour
April 10th: Milk Carton Kids at The Hotel Cafe
April 11th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
April 15th: Scarlet Grey at The Roxy
April 16th: Matt Wertz and Ben Rector at The Troubadour
April 20th: Ellie Goulding at The Music Box
April 22nd: Purple Melon at The Roxy
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
April 25th: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 9-12: Bonnaroo!!!
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
~ Kristen
Fierce Creatures is back and fiercer than ever. Not that they ever really left us, but the fact that this 7 piece band lives up in Fresno makes it all the harder to see them play.
I was delighted to hear from the band in mid-February that not only were they going to be at SXSW, they would be playing a show in San Diego with Kevin Martin the week after. Excitement? I think that’s obvious.
While I don’t have any pictures of them from SXSW (I was too busy dancing) it was a lovely and memorable experience. The guys from The Silent Comedy hopped on stage for their closing song, Satan is a Vampire, and rocked out! If you don’t have Satan is an Vampire and/or you are (*gasp*), unfamiliar with who they are, you should check out this older post I did of them.
Even better news is that the band is recording some “b-side” singles to be released for our delight…
“Our idea is to release a new single with a B-side every few months. We’re hoping that at the end of this year we’ll have about 8 or 10 tracks total, at that point we’ll release a deluxe digital version on iTunes featuring all of the tracks and some extras. The BIG plan is to release all the singles and B-sides on 7″ Vinyl in a box set, made to order essentially.”
How cool would that be? To wet your appetite even more, I happen to have a link to stream their first release, Ships to Shore which is available for download from their Soundcloud website. If you just feel like a listen, check this.
Ships to Shore by fiercecreaturesband
Also, if you haven’t been to their website yet, go check out their cool little creature. I promise he will make you smile.
The thing you have to know about SXSW, like any other event, is that it has an official start and an official end. By the time we reached Sunday, SXSW had officially ended and it was time to pack up and go home. Which is exactly what we did. After some jumbling of arrangements, Kristen and I ended up driving back with our new friend and room mate Giulian.
We started our day getting provisions at what was the largest (and coolest) Whole Foods I have ever seen. Apparently, we were at the company headquarters! Next was a “must do” trip to Waterloo Records. Think of Amoeba but on a smaller scale with marginally cheaper prices. Kristen managed to walk out with 3 or 4 cds while I, on the other hand, walked out with necklaces. Apparently, I was all musiced out. And yes, I made up that awesome word.
Next, we had breakfast right next door at 24 Diner. Can I just say that I have never had such amazing food from a “diner”? Everything was fresh made with local produce. They even make their own sausage (even veggie) with all sorts of tasty good for you stuff. They even had frittatas. When was the last time you saw a frittata on a menu? Hmmm? Anyway, this place was magic. There is no other word for it.
Now with our stomachs full and provisions in hand, we began our trek back to LA. The drive started out easy enough. We decided that 3 hour shifts would be the best use of our time/energy for our journey. It also gave us a chance to sample some of the new music we acquired at SXSW. Next thing I knew we were playing a game of, “better or worse?” As in, is this track better or worse than the last one we listened to? It was quite entertaining and sparked a bit of chatter about the musical landscape. Needless to say, there were a few duds but there were far more gems.
After going though 3 cds and a shift change was still looming, the ipod came out. Now, if you know anything at all about Kristen, you know she has a vast music library. I mean, anyone who goes through it would be surprised to see some of these artists on the same device. But I digress…
Our new traveling partner and co-pilot, had taken command of the ipod and the next thing we knew the sounds of ABBA filled our ears and we were singing along to Waterloo (among others).
[youtube Sj_9CiNkkn4]
Perhaps the most disturbing thing was after the second shift change (my turn!). We came upon a guy from Oklahoma with a F-250 pulling a trailer, no tailgate on his truck, and his unchained cattle dog riding on the toolbox in his truck bed. This guy went speeds of 75-90 mph with his scared dog out in the open. It bothered us so much that each of us called 911 hoping to watch this guy get pulled over. Alas, we had to pull off for gas and we lost him. I’ve been hoping that he was pulled off somewhere and we just missed it.
Now it was dark and with the thoughts of the scared dog ebbing from our minds, we started the dance party yet again. Our trip continued on in a similar manner and I was very sad I was unable to video the dance party going on in the car…
We made it to New Mexico and Arizona in what seemed like no time at all. Perhaps that’s because I was the only one (trying) to get some sleep in the car. I remember dozing off in New Mexico and waking up in Arizona. Funny how that works.
We had been hearing reports from friends in LA of some major rain and wind that was back there and we found that we were not exempt from that terrible weather. While rolling though Arizona, the winds had picked up and were blowing the car around. A little while later, it started to rain. I’m not talking the “rain” everyone gets worked up about which is a basic drizzle. I’m talking about a solid downpour. I’m not going to lie, I was a little scared. But we made it through the storm just fine and somehow made our way back to California. None of us really got much sleep during the drive. I think I got the most of the three of us. Giulian would doze off then wake up with a jump. Kristen pseudo fell asleep when she was in the backseat but didn’t really sleep. We drove straight through from Austin to Los Angeles in 21 hours, where we hit another storm. I was asleep for this but apparently there was thunder and lightening in LA from the storm. Crazy weather. Even crazier for us considering we just came from a hot dry desert.
Finally, we arrived at our destination in LA, weather clear, smelly, running on fumes (us, not the car) at a glorious 7 something in the morning. And that my dear friends, was the aftermath of SXSW.
Can it be that the US is finally catching on? My favorite Scottish band, Biffy Clyro, made their late night TV debut Weds night on Last Call with Carson Daly. The performances were actually from the show I attended on the 1st at The Troubadour. Thankfully, you can’t see me in any of the shots, but it’s great to have these videos as a reminder.
To see Biffy Clyro performing “Many of Horror” and a bit of “Who’s Got a Match?” go here: http://theaudioperv.com/2011/03/24/biffy-clyro-many-of-horror-whos-got-a-match-323-last-call/
And if you haven’t heard, Biffy Clyro will be opening for The Foo Fighters on select dates of their tour. They are also doing tours supporting Alkaline Trio and Cage the Elephant. The closest they seem to be coming to LA right now is Solana Beach at The Belly Up where they are doing a headlining set on April 14th. Tickets are super cheap, so SD and LA peeps, get them before they are gone!!
For their tour dates: http://theaudioperv.com/2011/03/24/biffy-clyro-many-of-horror-whos-got-a-match-323-last-call/
For tickets to their Belly Up show (seriously folks, $6!): http://www.bellyup.com/show/detail/40464
~ Kristen
