Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/21-2/27

Posted on by Kristen

Just got back from a crazy evening of awesomeness and feeling grateful for so many things: My friends for kicking me out the door and keeping me company all night, The Viper Room simply for being there, Duke’s for having some fairly amazing cuisine, my new friends for sharing some fun stories and being crazy cool, and most importantly, Dead Sara, my new band love that blew my MIND. At this very moment I am grateful for simply existing. See…this is how I get when I’m on a music high. I need to go to bed!

But first, this week’s choice music selections:

Monday: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Tony Lucca at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Automatique at The Viper Room (10:15)
ALSO: Everest at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Dead Sara and Sick of Sarah at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Satellite and Jonathan Clark at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Shawn Hlookoff at The Central in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Tom Petty Tribute night at Room 5 featuring Chris Pierce, Joel Eckels, John Elliot, Justine Bennett, Shane Alexander, Brother Sal, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at Bootleg (9:45)

Weds: Semi Precious Weapons at On The Rox (10pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Armada at The Viper Room (8:50)
ALSO: Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Linkin Park at The Staples Center (7pm)
ALSO: Satellite at The Central (9pm)

Thursday: Purple Melon at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Best Coast at The Music Box (8pm)

Friday:  The 88 and Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (9:30,10:30)
ALSO: Warner Drive at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at The Good Hurt (midnight)

Saturday: We Barbarians, Kitten, and Young the Giant at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Alexi Murdoch at The Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Stone Temple Pilots at Fox Theater (7pm)
ALSO: Local Natives at Walt Disney Music Hall (8pm)
ALSO: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box (8pm)

Sunday: Jordan Cook at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Briens (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 1st: Queen Caveat and The Silent Comedy at Saint Rocke
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Echo
March 8th: Vertical Horizon at The Roxy
March 8th: Queen Caveat at The Mint
March 9th: Jay Nash at Saint Rocke
March 17th: Alkaline Trio and Dead Country at The Mayan
March 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
March 26th: Lady Danville at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen

Download This: Acoustic “The Captain”

Posted on by Kristen

Coming out of my drug-induced slumber to tell you all about the acoustic version of the Biffy Clyro song, “The Captain” available for download here: http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2011/02/15/mp3-at-3pm-biffy-clyro/

It certainly brightens my day…hope it can do the same for you.

Biffy Clyro’s north american tour is underway. Their LA date at The Troubadour on March 1st is already sold out. Their special sit down with Mark Z. Danielewski to discuss the influence of his book “Only Revolutions” on their CD of the same name still has tickets available as far as I can tell. March 2nd at The Bootleg.

Enjoy!

~Kristen

Amanda’s SD Show Calendar 2/14-2/20

Posted on by Amanda

I suppose I could start this post with a Happy Valentines Day sentiment but I’m not much for this holiday. To those of you that do celebrate it, couples and singles alike, I hope it’s everything you want it to be and filled with lots of awesomeness.

For the rest of us, it’s just another Monday which means a fresh new week full of new shows. I haven’t been able to get out and about lately as I’ve been going to be early (lame, I know) but I know there is always something worthwhile…

Monday: Ana Tijoux @ Casbah @9 $10

Tuesday: Everest @ Casbah @9 $8

Wednesday: Christa Black @ Lestats @9
AND: Killola @ Bar Pink @9

Thursday: The Bloodflowers @ Soda Bar @9 $5
AND: The Expendables @ Belly Up @8 $18 adv/$20 day of

Friday: Hunter Valentine, Vanity Theft and The Lyon Crowns @ Soda Bar @9 $7
AND: The Tommy Castro Band @ Belly Up @9 $17 adv/$19 day of
AND: International Pop Overthrow @ O”Connell’s @8 $10
AND: River City and Owl Eyes @ Ruby Room @9

Saturday: Steve Poltz @ Belly Up @9 $20 adv/$22 day of
AND: Man or Astroman? @ Casbah @9 $16
AND: International Pop Overthrow @ O”Connell’s @8 $10

Sunday: Echo Revolution @ Ruby Room @9
AND: Linkin Park @ Viejas Arena
AND: International Pop Overthrow @ O”Connell’s @8 $10

Keep in Mind:

February 22nd- Everest @ Casbah
February 23rd- Inspired Flight @ Belly Up
March 1st- Everest @ Casbah
March 2nd- Crystal Castles @ House of Blues SD
March 3rd- The Silent Comedy @ The Casbah
March 3rd- Circa Survive and Thrice @ Soma @7 $20March 8th- Everest @ Casbah
March 12th- San Diego IndieFest
March 13th- San Diego IndieFest
April 3rd- A Rocket to the Moon, Valencia, and Anarbor @ Soma @630 $13 adv.
April 8th- Rise Against w/Bad Religion @ RIMAC Arena- UCSD
April 9th- Pete Yorn @ House of Blues
May 6th- Chris Cornell @ Humphreys
May 6th- Fleet Foxes @ Spreckles Theater

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/14-2/20

Posted on by Kristen

I should be writing to you now about what an amazing time I had this weekend both at Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom and at the Semi Precious Weapons Grammy after party. Instead, all I really have to report from this weekend is the fact that I am really looking forward to new episodes of Mr. Sunshine (Allison Janney throwing children at ax wielding clowns?!? I’m in!).  I suppose I overdid it a wee bit last week between movie premieres, secret Foo Fighters shows, and an assortment of other amazing concerts. Doesn’t really surprise me that I ended up getting sick.

Anyhoo, let’s hope I feel better soon! In the meantime, here’s what I suggest all you able-bodied folk invest your time in this week:

Monday: It’s a School Night at Bardot FREE with RSVP featuring Lucinda Williams and Augustana
ALSO: Greenroots Valentine’s Day featuring Austin Hartley-Leonard, Jenni Alpert, Keaton Simons, and many many more at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Everest and Red Cortez FREE at The Satellite (10pm)

Tuesday: Mother Mother at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Mountain Men at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Madi Diaz and Joseph Arthur at The Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Weds: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Nicole Atkins and The Sea at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Indians at Bordello (10pm)
ALSO: Satellite at Club Central (9:30)

Thursday: Boyce Avenue at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Whiskey a Go Go (8pm)
ALSO: Moderne Man at The Troubadour (9:15)

Friday: My Own Machine at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Prohibition Rose at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Matt Jordan at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: Carl Broemel (of My Morning Jacket) at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

Saturday: 100 Monkeys at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Eli’s Creepshow at The Hotel Cafe featuring Ferras, The Canyons, etc. (9:30)

Sunday: Jordan Cook and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10, 12)
ALSO: Beth Hart at The Echoplex (6pm)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 22nd: Sick of Sarah at The Roxy
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
Feb 26th: Young the Giant at The Roxy
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 1st: Queen Caveat and The Silent Comedy at Saint Rocke
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 8th: Vertical Horizon at The Roxy
March 9th: Jay Nash at Saint Rocke
March 17th: Alkaline Trio and Dead Country at The Mayan
March 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
March 26th: Lady Danville at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen

Watch This! New videos from Lovers Drugs, Empires, and Infantree

Posted on by Kristen

Three new videos from three great bands. Check them out!

I just saw Lovers Drugs Thursday night at The Bootleg opening for new band loves Maniac and Atomic Tom. They are doing something really cool with their EP by making a series of connecting videos for all of the songs. Their most recent video for the song, “Jackie Says” was just released last week!

Empires is one of my favorite bands out of Chicago. They just released a new video for their song, “Hello Lover”

Finally, local band Infantree puts out the COOLEST videos. Here’s their most recent for the song “Feet of Clay”

~ Kristen

New Band Loves: Maniac and Atomic Tom

Posted on by Kristen

I can’t believe I almost didn’t go out last night. I was tired and still recovering from the whole Foo Fighters shindig on Tuesday. I had been meaning to see the band Maniac while they were playing LA, so I forced myself out the door. I had heard good things from various sources about Maniac, a group fronted by Shawn Harris (The Matches) and Jake Grigg (Something with Numbers) and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Maniac is a band that needs to be seen live. Their energy combined with their unique stage presence and catchy tunes will draw you in. The love they have for one another and for the music emanates from the stage and before you know it you realize that you feel better just for standing in front of them for a little while. Plus, they are just so much fun!!

To listen to songs off their Extended Play EP: http://maniacmania.com/extendedplay/

After Maniac’s set, I was convinced it couldn’t get any better, but I decided to stick around anyway to check out Atomic Tom, a band I’d never heard of from New York City. They started playing and I was immediately captivated. By the end of their second song I was in love. They had me dancing, singing, swaying, and drifting closer and closer to the stage with each opportunity.  They remind me a bit of Franz Ferdinand…if FF also rocked the ballads.

By the time they did their encore of “This Is How We Like to End”, I was smiling uncontrollably from ear to ear. These guys recently signed to a label and are getting more attention (deservedly so) so go see them now while you have a change to get them in a more intimate venue. They are also really nice gentleman, eager to meet and talk to every one of their fans.

Tour dates: http://www.facebook.com/atomictomband?v=app_10442206389

I’m seriously considering dropping my current plans and heading down to San Diego Saturday to catch them and Maniac again at The House of Blues. This is how I know I am hooked.

Have a listen and be sure to go catch them live if they come to a town near you!

You know the night is good when even the opener is a solid act. Playing before Maniac and Atomic Tom were LA locals, LoversDrugs. I’ve seen these guys before and they always put on a good show and I’d be remiss not to mention the role they played in my fantastic evening. LoversDrugs released an EP and are making a series of music videos for each of the songs. Here’s my favorite:

~ Kristen

Don’t Miss It: Biffy Clyro tour and special LA event!!

Posted on by Kristen

Biffy Clyro’s North American tour starts today in Washington DC at The Rock N Roll Hotel. Tomorrow they are in Philly at North Star! All my east coast friends best be checking out one of my top bands of 2010. They reside overseas so opportunities to see them are rare. Don’t miss out!

http://www.myspace.com/biffyclyro

Adding to my excitement is the fact that they just added a special LA date at The Bootleg on March 2nd. This is no ordinary show but an event where the band sits down along with author Mark Z. Danielewski to discuss his book Only Revolutions and the impact it had on Biffy Clyro’s CD of the same name. I just got my ticket and I suggest you do the same if you want in on this unique event.

This event,  in combination with Biffy Clyro’s show at The Troubadour on March 1st, has me shaking with anticipation. I put Only Revolutions back in my car player this morning where it will stay for the remainder of the month.

For a taste:

~ Kristen