Alright, Junior at North Star Bar

Posted on by Kristen

It wouldn’t be a trip to Philadelphia without getting to see one of my favorite local Philly bands. I was so thrilled that I could arrange my trip to include a stop at North Star Bar to see Alright, Junior. One thing I prize in my live acts is good energy and these guys will rock the windows out every time…even if it’s a tiny bar playing to a handful of people. Their debut CD, Eudaemonic, still gets frequent play in my car…especially when I want my music loud and my head banging.

Alright, Junior recently did a couple of songs live on Philly’s Radio 104.5. Go here to check them out. I’m really loving the acoustic take on their new song, “Burn”! Also, please listen to their cover of REM’s “The One I Love”…it kinda took my breath away…

If you’re too lazy to click on the links, someone filmed “Burn” and put it on youtube!

For more info on the band, including tour dates, head to their website…

Some pictures:

~ Kristen

Tour Alert!: Anberlin, Civil Twilight, Crash Kings

Posted on by Kristen

That Civil Twilight certainly knows how to book fantastic tours. First with Paper Tongues and Neon Trees and now with Anberlin and Crash Kings. Can I just join that band now please?

Anyway, three bands, all worth checking out on the same tour. No hestitation there.  I just got my ticket for the LA date. Let’s do this!

Tour dates can be found here. The party comes to The House of Blues on Sunset October 8th.

The tour is to support the release of Anberlin’s new CD Dark is the Way Light is the Place which comes out September 7th. The band’s been giving away a new song to promote the album. Check it out:  Anberlin — Pray Tell

~ Kristen

Looking fowards to The Wrens

Posted on by Kristen

Someone posted my favorite song by The Wrens and I was inspired check in on these New Jersey rockers. They put on one hell of a show and I’ve been looking forward to seeing them again ever since…well, I saw them the first time about 5 years ago.

Their webpage posted the following message:

“With our apologies, we finally, actually, really started writing & recording the new album in July (no, this July, July 2010). So no shows scheduled at the moment.
But we’ll be back, dragging our bulging carcasses in suburban mall clothing to a stage near you all too soon.”

This excites me…and I wanted to share!

~ Kristen

She Sends Kisses

Fifteen Albums…

Posted on by Kristen

Someone posted this on facebook. I like doing these little quiz-type things, but I rarely post them. This one really got me thinking so I thought I’d go the extra mile. Here are the directions:

Rules: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen albums you’ve heard that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.Tag fifteen friends, including me because I’m interested in seeing what albums my friends choose. To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, click “Write a note”, paste title and rules in…

And after the appropriate 15 minutes, here was what I came up with:

  1. Joe Firstman- War of Women   01 Introduction to _The War Of Women
  2. Sarah McLachlan – Mirrorball Building a Mystery
  3. Dido- No Angel All You Want
  4. Andrew Lloyd Webber- The Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack The Phantom of the Opera
  5. Jewel- Spirit Jupiter
  6. Carole King- Tapestry So Far Away
  7. Love Actually Soundtrack God Only Knows
  8. Alanis Morrisette- MTV Unplugged Head Over Feet
  9. Veronica Mars Soundtrack We Used To Be Friends- The Dandy Warhols
  10. Granian- On My Own Two Feet Contagious
  11. Carly Simon – Coming Around Again As Time Goes By
  12. Maroon 5- Songs About Jane The Sun
  13. Teitur – Poetry & Airplanes Rough Around the Edges
  14. Moulin Rouge Soundtrack Elephant Love Medley
  15. Ally McBeal: For Once In My Life featuring Vonda Shepard You’re the First, the Last, My Everything

Honestly, I surprised myself with some of the answers. I was thinking of entire albums and not just favorite songs or favorite bands (most of which didn’t even make the list!). Also, the thing all fifteen of my choices have in common is that the entire album is strongly linked to something in my life…a place, a time, an event, etc. As a result, most of them are from my past…when I actually listened to entire albums obsessively and before the majority of my music came in its live form.

I’ll never forget, for example, listening to The Veronica Mars Soundtrack in my car quite heavily the last few months of college…or having Sarah McLachlan’s “Surfacing” on repeat while getting lost in Washington DC on a Girl Scout trip…or listening to Jewel’s “Spirit” while playing Pokemon on my Gameboy. Then, of course, there is the album I listen to whenever I am deeply upset because it can be the only thing that makes me feel okay (that would be Joe Firstman’s “War of Women”, also strongly connected to what I still consider to be the best day of my life).

I could go on, but all of these albums make me feel something above and beyond the music itself. I’m sure it’s that nostalgic link that will keep these albums firmly implanted in my brain for years to come.

~ Kristen

Amanda’s Show Calendar 8/31-9/5

Posted on by Amanda

And as promised, here is the full listing (sans Monday) of shows this week in San Diego.

Tuesday: Tape Deck Mountain @ Tin Can Alehouse @9:30 $5
AND: Jamuel Saxon @ The Casbah @9:30 $10
AND: Brothers Young @ Bar Pink @9 $ Free!

Wednesday: Stealing Love Jones @ The Office @9:30 $?

Thursday: Delorean @ The Casbah @9:30 $12 adv/$14 day of
AND: AFI @ Cricket Wireless @7 $-prices vary. check Ticketmaster

Friday: Loomis and Lust @ Lestats @9 $?
AND: Fever Sleeves @ The Casbah @ 9:30 $15

Saturday: Cash’d Out @ The Belly Up @9 $15 adv/$17 day of
AND: Mimes of Wine @ Lestats @9 $?

Sunday: Modern English @ Anthology @7:30 $25
AND: Free Energy @ The Belly Up @8 $8

Keep in Mind:

September 18th- Hanson @ House of Blues San Diego
September 21st- Phoenix @ SDSU Open Air Theater
September 22nd- Muse @ Viejas Arena
September 25th- The Black Keys @ Soma
September 25/26- Epicenter @ Fontana
October 1st- O.A.R. @ SDSU Open Air Theater
October 1st- Spoon @ Soma @7 $28
October 14th- Frightened Rabbit @ House of Blues San Diego
October 14th- Motion City Soundtrack @ Soma @6 $20
October 16th- One Republic @ Viejas
October 21st- Interpol @Soma @7 $25
October 22nd- Flyleaf @ House of Blues San Diego
October 29th- Portugal. The Man @ House of Blues San Diego
November 14th-Blonde Redhead- House of Blues San Diego
November 16th- Mayday Parade @ House of Blues SD
December 2nd-The Dead Kennedys- House of Blues San Diego

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/31-9/5

Posted on by Kristen

Well all I can say is what a weekend! Hotel Carolina really was any music fan’s dream vacation and I am so grateful I was able to go. I really hope to give the weekend a proper write-up at some point, but you will have to be patient. I’m always so impressed with those people who get their pictures up right away…when do they sleep?

Speaking of sleep, I am in desperate need. I’m looking forward to getting back to Los Angeles and hearing everyone’s stories about Sunset Junction, The Sunset Strip Music Festival, and all the other great shows I missed out on while I was away. Let’s catch up this week! Here’s my plan:

Tuesday: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Saint Rocke (9:30)
ALSO: Mississippi Man at The Troubadour (8:45)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr at Silverlake Lounge (11pm) 

Weds: Helen Stellar at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Alex Lambert at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Amber Rubarth at The Hotel Café (9pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s 

Thursday:  Brian Wright and Greg Laswell at Saint Rocke (9,10)
ALSO: Hear NoHo (music festival in North Hollywood) featuring Jessie Payo (8pm)… http://www.hearnoho.com/ 

Friday: Run Run Run at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard and Rocco Deluca at The Hotel Cafe (7,10) 

Saturday: AFTER MIDNIGHT PROJECT at The Key Club (8pm) 

Sunday: The Elizabeth Kill at The Mint (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
September 7th: Todd Carey at The Mint
September 9th: Curtis Peoples at The Mint
September 18th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
September 30th: BIFFY CLYRO at The Bootleg Theater
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

p.s. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Whew…

Posted on by Amanda

Well after that crazy weekend, there isn’t much to be said for any shows tonight. The only thing this girl’s radar has picked up is Echo Revolution at the Tin Can tonight. It’s only $5 and if you are still alive and kicking after last night’s 94.9 Independence Jam, I suggest you cruise out (and also bow down to you for being able to get out of the house).

As for me, I have some things to work on but I’ll be back tomorrow with the full schedule. You can also check out our little calendar for upcoming shows. We are trying to keep that as updated as we can.

Bon nuit mes amis!