Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/19-7/25

Posted on by Kristen

Sometimes I feel that there is a correlation between how much I’m enjoying the music and how much money I spend on music-related items. This past week could go down as one of the best of the year music-wise. With two helpings of The Silent Comedy, a much anticipated Nico Vega experience, finally seeing Alex Band, being introduced to a fantastic new group (Imagine Dragons), and capping it all off by being serenaded with a couple of my favorite singer-songwriters (Joe Firstman and Jay Nash)…well, it will be a difficult week to top.
This week will also go down as one in which I spent a LOT of money for the music. I do go to quite a few shows in a given year, but I really don’t go to very many major ones. I see venues like The Hollywood Palladium and The Wiltern only a handful of times a year and places like the Staples Center and the Hollywood Bowl, I may not even see at all. But in the past week I purchased tickets to four major upcoming shows (The Dead Weather, The Black Crowes/Truth & Salvage Co., and Brandi Carlile/The Avett Brothers, Frightened Rabbit). I really feel that my inspiration to secure my place at these events stemmed from the state of complete musical bliss that kept me in somewhat of a drug-induced trance all week long. And let’s not even get into the merch purchases, Best Buy runs, and upcoming concert festival preparations that also contributed to my numerous trips to the ATM.

But I must admit that the thrill of seeing my inbox full of order confirmations really only adds to the general giddiness that has permeated the week and I honestly wouldn’t mind every week being so hard on my wallet as long as it is equally uplifting for my heart.

Will this next week measure up? Here’s the blueprint:

Monday: Victoria Clemmons, Abbot Kinney, Hellen Stellar at Molly Malone’s (7:30, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Christopher Dallman and Brooke White at The Hotel Cafe (8, 10)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round featuring Jay Nash and Amber Rubarth at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Mississippi Man FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Train at The Grammy Museum (8pm) 

Tuesday: Charlie Mars and Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Run Devil Run at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Ben Taylor and Katie Herzig at Largo at Coronet (8pm) 

Weds: Dead Weather at The Hollywood Palladium (7:30)
ALSO: Gaslight Anthem at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: The Guggenheim Grotto at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Visqueen at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Edie Carey at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Keane at The Greek Theater (7pm) 

Thursday: The Other Side of Morning at The Cat Club (10pm)
ALSO: Garrison Star, Jake Newton, Lelia Broussard, and Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale at The Hotel Cafe (8-midnight) 

Friday: Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Tony Lucca Album Release at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: Vienne at Room 5 (11pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Robyn FREE at Amoeba (7pm) 

Saturday: Pat McGee at The Mint (10:30)
ALSO: Pinback at El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Miniature Tigers at Spaceland (10pm) 

Sunday:  Terra Naomi and Dead Sara at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Pat McGee at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Bang the Gong Tour featuring Neon Trees, Paper Tongues, and Civil Twilight (SD) 

To Keep in Mind:
July 29th: Queen Caveat EP Release at The Viper Room
July 29th: Civil Twlight at The Hotel Cafe
July 30th: Dirty Sweet at The Viper Room  
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 6th: Endoxi CD release at Epicentre (SD)
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/26-8/1

Posted on by Kristen

Still struggling with coherency issues so I’m going to keep this short. This week, like last, is jam packed with musical goodness. I’m especially excited about the return of a couple of my favorite bands to LA. Truth & Salvage Co. on Friday at The House of Blues and The Kin on Sunday at Zanzibar in Santa Monica. But really, that’s just the beginning of all the awesomeness going on next week…check it out:
Monday: Soul Puppet at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Aiden Moore and Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10,11)…last chance to catch Aiden before he goes off to NYC
ALSO: Mississippi Man FREE at The Echoplex (10pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9) 

Tuesday: National Rifle at El Cid (?)…Philly band alert!
ALSO: Moving Picture Show FREE at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Adam Lambert at Pacific Amphitheater (7:30) 

Weds: Bang the Gong Tour featuring Civil Twilight, Paper Tongues, and Neon Trees at The Glass House in Pomona (7pm)
ALSO: Adam Lambert at Pacific Amphitheater (8pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon and Meiko at Pershing Square (8pm)
ALSO: Guggenheim Grotto at The Hotel Café (8pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers Society at Crane’s 

Thursday: Queen Caveat EP Release and Transfer at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Garrison Starr and Civil Twilight at The Hotel Cafe (8,9) 

Friday: Truth & Salvage Co. at The House of Blues-Sunset (9pm)
ALSO: Dirty Sweet at The Viper Room (10:40)
ALSO: Army of Me and Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe (7,9)
ALSO: Morcheeba at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30) 

Saturday: The Nervous Wreckhords at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11pm)
ALSO: Morcheeba at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30) 

Sunday: Amber Rubarth and The Kin at Zanzibar in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
August 6th: Endoxi CD release at Epicentre (SD)
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Warped Tour Pomona

Posted on by Kristen

About a week ago, Amanda and I ventured to Pomona for Warped Tour #2. I’m so glad I went, mostly because it was another excuse to rock out with After Midnight Project, who, by the way, are coming home to LA to play the Key Club September 4th (get your tickets now!).
One of the best parts of Warped Tour Pomona, was the fact that After Midnight Project was able to do an acoustic set. The following video isn’t from Pomona, but AMP have been doing several acoustic sets, including one at the KIA tent that was captured and showcased here. I love it when rock bands break it down acoustically, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a band do it as well as After Midnight Project…

Other highlights for me included actually being able to see Mayday Parade, hearing some of You Me At Six’s  new songs, and being able to sample several new bands. Amanda was a big fan of Dicso Curtis who gave me a new appreciation for Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and certainly put forth the happiest performance of the day (seriously, try to watch the band play and not smile).

Personally, I was enraptured by the Arkansas-based Deas Vail, whose soaring vocals, subtle harmonies, and piano base drew me in like a moth to a flame. I was literally walking past their stage to go elsewhere when I heard the music and HAD to stop. I kept trying to leave, but I just couldn’t…it was too beautiful to look away.

I recognized the name of the band, not because they were openers for the Owl City/Lights tour that I really wanted to see, but because I had at one point told myself NOT to like the band as they won a competition to get their video on MTVU, beating my beloved Carney. Funny how these things work sometimes…

Here’s that video:

And here’s the song that hooked me: Birds

~ Kristen

p.s. pictures to come…

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

Amanda’s (very late) Show Calendar

Posted on by Amanda

I’m sure I could give you a slew of reasons for my late calendar (yet again) and give you a battery of apologies (which I really do!) but let’s get to the calendar before I waste any more time. (For the record, I really am sorry about this very late calendar!)
P.S.- The SDMAs were super fun! Expect a post about that soon.

Wednesday: Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers @ The Belly Up @7:30 $16
AND: The Sea of Cortez @ The Casbah @10:30 $6
AND: Benjamin Winter @ Lestats @9 $?

Thursday: Jessica Heine @ Lestats @9 $?

Friday: Dirty Sweet @ Bar Pink @9 $5
AND: Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattingale @ Lestats @9 $?
AND: Menoma @ The Casbah @11 $15

Saturday: Hanson @ House of Blues SD @7 $prices vary
AND: Paramore @ Viejas Areana @6 $prices vary
AND: Get Back Loretta @ Soda Bar @9 $?
AND: Booty Basement Djs @ The Casbah @9 $5

Sunday: Local Natives @ The Belly Up @9 (sold out but you can probably score tix at the door)

Keep In Mind:

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
November 5th- Ghostland Observatory @ 4th and B
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

A Nico Vega Halloween!

Posted on by Kristen

What are your plans for the holiday? Might I suggest:

Can you imagine a better line-up? Nico Vega, Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat!! October 29th at The Roxy…I’ll see you there!

To put you in the mood, Nico Vega recently released a video for one of my favorite songs, Million Years.

For the rest of Nico Vega’s headlining fall tour, go here.

~ Kristen

Tonight! George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe

Posted on by Kristen

After a day like today, I’m really going to need a cathartic sing-along. Fortunately another Philly transplant, George Stanford has a gig at The Hotel Cafe. With songs like “Big Drop” and “Nikole” one can’t help but sing and sway all your troubles away. George’s plesant voice and mellow vibe is sure to relax me before I gear up for another work weekend. If you also need a dose of TGIF, for whatever reason, come join me tonight, Friday October 15th 11pm at The Hotel Cafe!

Come early for a little Sahara Smith (7pm), Laura Martin with Arrica Rose (8pm), Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven (9pm), and Parlor Hawk (10pm) and stay for Johnny Moezzi at midnight.

Let’s hear it for a lovely evening of  music at the end of a challenging week!

~ Kristen