The Silent Comedy: New Music! New Shows! New Pictures!

Posted on by Amanda

Amanda told you about The Silent Comedy’s upcoming show at The Casbah (April 2nd) where you can get an advanced copy of their new CD, Common Faults. But if you are not fortunate enough to be in the San Diego area, you can now pre-order the record online and it will ship out the beginning of April. Go here to place your order!

If you’re in LA, then you’re in luck! The band is coming up on March 31st, playing Bootleg along with LA natives Links and Doll the Kicks (from England).  It will be a fantastic show…bring your dancing shoes!

Also, the boys have a mailing list, so sign up and be the first to know when they are coming to play in a town near you. This, trust me, is an opportunity not to be missed. The Silent Comedy put on one of my favorite live performances.

Finally, some pictures from the last The Silent Comedy/Transfer show at The Casbah, and a lovely video done by 91X capturing the essence of the evening: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=_9AgLA8cq68

Go here to sign up for the mailing list:

~ Kristen

My New Monday: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5

Posted on by Amanda

 My Monday evenings will never be the same! I went to Room 5 to see Paris Carney. Unfortunately I was only able to catch the tail end of her set. BUT I stayed to see what was next and was in for SUCH a treat! Turns out Monday’s at Room 5 is Songwriters in the Round. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, it’s where several singer-songwriters (in this case four) will all sit up on stage and take turns singing their songs. What always blows me away in these situations is when one of the singers will be debuting a brand new song but by the end the rest of the musicians on stage will have filled in harmonies, piano, bass, drums, harmonica, etc. despite the fact they’d never heard it before. Reminds me of one of the reasons why I love music so much…it’s just so dynamic and so accessible.

Anyway, this particular Monday, the round consisted of a couple of my fave LA crooners, Lelia Broussard and Chris Pierce, as well as a newcomer to Room 5, Medi, and the guy who throws this whole shin dig every week Joel Eckels. They were all quite good, especially when they played with each other. I especially enjoyed hearing some new songs from Lelia and anything done by Chris Pierce, whom I think I appreciate a lot more when he plays in this format.

 I also must comment on the venue itself as it was my first time there. The chairs rank as some of the most comfortable I’ve experienced at a music venue (next to that couch at Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville, PA and those big chairs at Milkboy Coffee  in Ardmore). Not only were they comfortable, they were fairly plentiful for most of the evening. For Paris’ set it was a bit crowded and this venue is not as pleasant when you don’t have a seat as there isn’t much excess room to stand.

Room 5 sits atop a restaurant (Amalfi Ristorante) and therefore has a full and delicious-looking menu. I was able to taste their caprese sandwich and it reminded me of Cosi (to the uninitiated, this is a very good thing). Their desserts also looked quite tasty and will definitely be my target for next time (they have crème brulee!!).

All in all, a perfect way to spend a Monday evening. Hopefully this was the first of many Monday Songwriters in the Round to come!!

 ~ Kristen

Hooray for Upcoming Events

Posted on by Amanda

There is nothing better than having events to look forward to on the weekend to make the week go by fast. At least, I’m hoping that is how this week goes. I’ll get to the weekend in a minute but first, shows for the week!

Tonight: Ape Machine @ Soda Bar $4
AND: Acid Mothers Temple @ The Casbah $10
AND: Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ U-31

Tuesday: Boomsnake @ Che Cafe $6
AND: Cymbals Eat Guitars @  The Casbah $8

Wednesday: The Paper Raincoats @ Lestats
AND: Rockstar Energy Presents: AP TOUR w/The Cab, The Summer Set, Hey Monday, and Never Shout Never @ House of Blues San Diego $15
AND: Brenda Xu @ The Whistlestop
AND: Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ Henry’s Pub

Thursday: Weatherbox @ Bar Pink $FREE
AND: The Paper Chase @  The Casbah $8

Friday: Gregory Page and Joey Ryan @ Lestats

Saturday: Indie Fest Feat: Metric, Nappy Roots, Far, Gregory Page, Endoxi, and White Apple Tree $25 ($22 if you are a student!)
AND: An Evening with Tainted Love @ The Belly Up $15 adv. or $17 day of show
AND: Bamboozle feat. AFI, Say Anything, Circa Survive, and Chiodos (and many others!)

Sunday: Consider it a day of rest! Ha ha.
OR: Bamboolze feat. Something Corporate, The Ready Set, The Summer Set, Far, Never Shout Never, and The Maine $45

That’s it for now loves!

Until Next Time,
~Amanda

Today’s Listen: Jamie Cullum

Posted on by Amanda

Today, I started listening to Jamie Cullum’s new CD, The Pursuit. Every since his song “Twentysomething” spoke to my very soul, I’ve been a fan. Plus, you really can’t go wrong in my book with piano-based songs.  I was a little concerned because people were saying this was Jamie’s attempt to get away from his jazzy piano style that made him so popular. One look at the cover (a piano that is being blown to smithereens) would also indicate this was his intent. Fortunately, for me, this is not true. Granted he gives us songs like “Music is Through” that sound more like…well everything else that I don’t really listen to…but even through the maze of synthesized beats, he still can’t resist busting out the snazzy piano solo.
People seem to like his cover of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” which is great, and gives me a whole new appreciation of that song.  But as far as covers go, I tend to gravitate more towards his version of “Not While I’m Around”…a classic from my childhood which means a lot more to me than Rihanna’s booty shaker. Listening to this new CD actually made me crave one of Jamie’s older offerings, Pointless Nostalgic, which also showed us his great diversity of tastes as he covers several of my fave tunes including Gershwins’ “Ain’t Necessarily So” and Radiohead’s “High and Dry.”  

All in all, I feel it is another great addition to the Jamie Cullum library, meant to be pulled out on rainy days and lazy afternoons.

http://www.jamiecullum.com/

Enjoy Cullum’s take on “High and Dry”!

~ Kristen

p.s. Jamie Cullum is playing The Avalon this Thursday, but unfortunately, it’s sold out. If you still want to see some piano playing genius, go to Cafe Was that night at 9:30 to check out Matthew Jordan…do it!

Today's Listen: Jamie Cullum

Posted on by Amanda

Today, I started listening to Jamie Cullum’s new CD, The Pursuit. Every since his song “Twentysomething” spoke to my very soul, I’ve been a fan. Plus, you really can’t go wrong in my book with piano-based songs.  I was a little concerned because people were saying this was Jamie’s attempt to get away from his jazzy piano style that made him so popular. One look at the cover (a piano that is being blown to smithereens) would also indicate this was his intent. Fortunately, for me, this is not true. Granted he gives us songs like “Music is Through” that sound more like…well everything else that I don’t really listen to…but even through the maze of synthesized beats, he still can’t resist busting out the snazzy piano solo.

People seem to like his cover of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” which is great, and gives me a whole new appreciation of that song.  But as far as covers go, I tend to gravitate more towards his version of “Not While I’m Around”…a classic from my childhood which means a lot more to me than Rihanna’s booty shaker. Listening to this new CD actually made me crave one of Jamie’s older offerings, Pointless Nostalgic, which also showed us his great diversity of tastes as he covers several of my fave tunes including Gershwins’ “Ain’t Necessarily So” and Radiohead’s “High and Dry.”  

All in all, I feel it is another great addition to the Jamie Cullum library, meant to be pulled out on rainy days and lazy afternoons.

http://www.jamiecullum.com/

Enjoy Cullum’s take on “High and Dry”!

~ Kristen

p.s. Jamie Cullum is playing The Avalon this Thursday, but unfortunately, it’s sold out. If you still want to see some piano playing genius, go to Cafe Was that night at 9:30 to check out Matthew Jordan…do it!

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 3/22-3/28

Posted on by Amanda

As everyone is recovering from their trip to Texas, the shows are coming back to LA. So, many options this week including one of the bands I discovered listening to all the SXSW acts, The Paper Raincoat, who are playing with Joey Ryan Thursday at The Hotel Cafe! More amazing SXSW discoveries to come in the upcoming weeks…and someday, my official list.
In the meantime, here are my personal selections for this week:

Monday: Paris Carney and Lelia Broussard at Room 5 (8,9)

ALSO: Ernie Halter at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Tuesday: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

ALSO: Taylor Locke at the Roughs (album release) at Bordello (11pm)

ALSO: Honeyhoney at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO:  Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears) at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Christopher Dallman at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at The Echo (8:30)

Weds: The Low Anthem at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Smile Empty Soul at The Key Club (10pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: The Paper Raincoat and Joey Ryan at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)

ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Cafe Was (9:30)

ALSO: The Low Anthem at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Jamie Cullum at The Avalon (8pm)

ALSO: She & Him at The El Rey (8pm)

ALSO: The Miniature Tigers at The Troubadour (8pm)

Friday: Nico Vega and Metric at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

ALSO: Greg Holden at Room 5 (9pm)

Saturday: The Like at The Smell (9pm)

ALSO: San Diego Indie Music Fest in Northpark, San Diego (noon)

ALSO: Bamboozled Left featuring AFI at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (2pm)

ALSO: The Gin Blossoms at The Coach House in SJC (8pm)

Sunday: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (1pm)

ALSO: Nelly McKay at Alex Theater in Glendale (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 31st: The Silent Comedy at Bootleg

April 2nd: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   

May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater

May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah

June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~Kristen

Want more? For up-to-date concert information, show recaps, pictures, new tunes, and other musical musings, keeping checking this blog I’m maintaining with my friend Amanda!

http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

Kristen's LA Concert Calendar 3/22-3/28

Posted on by Amanda

As everyone is recovering from their trip to Texas, the shows are coming back to LA. So, many options this week including one of the bands I discovered listening to all the SXSW acts, The Paper Raincoat, who are playing with Joey Ryan Thursday at The Hotel Cafe! More amazing SXSW discoveries to come in the upcoming weeks…and someday, my official list.

In the meantime, here are my personal selections for this week:

Monday: Paris Carney and Lelia Broussard at Room 5 (8,9)

ALSO: Ernie Halter at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Tuesday: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

ALSO: Taylor Locke at the Roughs (album release) at Bordello (11pm)

ALSO: Honeyhoney at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO:  Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears) at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Christopher Dallman at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at The Echo (8:30)

Weds: The Low Anthem at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Smile Empty Soul at The Key Club (10pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: The Paper Raincoat and Joey Ryan at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)

ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Cafe Was (9:30)

ALSO: The Low Anthem at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Jamie Cullum at The Avalon (8pm)

ALSO: She & Him at The El Rey (8pm)

ALSO: The Miniature Tigers at The Troubadour (8pm)

Friday: Nico Vega and Metric at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

ALSO: Greg Holden at Room 5 (9pm)

Saturday: The Like at The Smell (9pm)

ALSO: San Diego Indie Music Fest in Northpark, San Diego (noon)

ALSO: Bamboozled Left featuring AFI at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (2pm)

ALSO: The Gin Blossoms at The Coach House in SJC (8pm)

Sunday: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (1pm)

ALSO: Nelly McKay at Alex Theater in Glendale (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 31st: The Silent Comedy at Bootleg

April 2nd: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   

May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater

May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah

June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~Kristen

Want more? For up-to-date concert information, show recaps, pictures, new tunes, and other musical musings, keeping checking this blog I’m maintaining with my friend Amanda!

http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/