2011 Mix

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 5 – Twin Atlantic

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5. “Make A Beast of Myself” – Twin Atlantic 

 

 

2011 marked the first year I attended SXSW in Austin, TX. This was a life changing experience. SXSW is heavenly; a week of live music featuring “local bands” from around the world. Highlights from this event are endless, but finally seeing Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic would be near the top of my list. Later in the year, after their CD Free was released, I really became obsessed. The entire album is genius, but “Make a Beast of Myself” gets the prize for my most played song of 2011. I started listening to Twin Atlantic web chats and I even posted on their message boards (shhh!).  I saw the band again in November open for AWOLNATION and my love was cemented. I already have a ticket to spend my Valentine’s Day with them and You Me at Six at The Troubadour and have asked the band to be my valentine (still waiting for a response…)

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 4 – Dead Sara

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4. “Weatherman” – Dead Sara 

Dead Sara is my #1 band discovery of 2011. I’ve seen this band perhaps more than any other this year. Between shows at SXSW, their Viper Residency, a couple Roxy gigs, and late night sets at Hemingway’s, so many amazing memories of my 2011 surround this band. One of my favorite parts of 2011 were the two weeks I took part in a Neuroimaging Training Program or “Brain Camp” where I got to meet and work with some amazing people from around the world. I had the opportunity to take some of my new friends out and share my other world, including a night at Hemingway’s with Dead Sara. There is very little I enjoy more than introducing my favorite bands to new ears and there has been no band I’ve been more excited to share this year than Dead Sara.

 

For more Dead Sara and a sneak peak and the songs off their upcoming album (and a couple cameos by yours truly), check out this video:

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 3 – Biffy Clyro

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3. “The Captain” (acoustic) – Biffy Clyro

Another year has gone by and I’m still obsessed with Biffy Clyro.  My fave shirtless Scottsmen spent a lot of time in the US this year (YAY!). Some of my Biffy highlights include seeing them headline at The Troubadour and The Belly Up, selling the band’s merch, sneaking backstage to say hi, interviewing drummer Ben Johnston, filling out my Biffy collection (including imports), and meeting the band as well as some fellow Biffy lovers. But the Biffiest experience of  all was when the band partnered up with author Mark Danielewski to do an evening of music and readings surrounding Mark’s book “Only Revolutions” and Biffy Clyro’s CD of the same name. Mark’s book is amazing. I’d never experienced experimental literature before and found it incredibly rewarding. This event also marked the first time I was able to hear the usually raucous hard rockers break it down and do acoustic versions of their tunes. I loved the acoustic version of “The Captain” so much, I went home and learned it on my guitar. MON THE BIFF!

Here’s “The Captain” prefaced by Mark Danielewski reading from his book:

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 2- Pepper’s Ghost

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2. “Rosalina” – Pepper’s Ghost 

Everyone who knows me knows that Pepper’s Ghost is my favorite band. When the band went on “an indefinite hiatus” in 2007, I was devastated. I moved to LA the next year. When I found out that in January of 2011 they were to play a reunion show, I bought my plane tickets faster than you can say “Friday Night in Philadelphia”. That night at The Grape Room was the best night of my year. That whole weekend brought together so many of my best friends and fellow music lovers to celebrate the reunion. Pepper’s Ghost played two sets and in between I snuck over to Northstar Bar to catch a bit of another Philly fave, Alright Junior. I love living in Los Angeles, but Philadelphia and its music will always be very close to my heart.

 

 

Here’s the setlist from their show in January. I’ve been carrying it around on my teaching binder all quarter…

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 1 – The Milk Carton Kids

Posted on by Kristen

The New Year is almost here. The season of year end mixes is upon us! My mix is a reflection of MY 2011, containing the tracks and artists that had an impact on me, regardless of when a song was released. For those who want to know about how my year went, I have accompanying stories of why each track was chosen. For those of you just trolling for inspiring new music, I’m sure you can find that too!

Enjoy!!

1. “Michigan” – The Milk Carton Kids

 

I believe that Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale are the most inspired pairing since Paul Simon met Art Garfunkel. This year, my favorite duo made it official and christened themselves a “band” with the name The Milk Carton Kids. Along with the christening, they released an album, Prolouge. “Michigan” is the first track on the album and it took me a solid week to listen to the rest of the CD because I couldn’t move past this song! This year, I saw The Milk Carton Kids at every opportunity. Their unique combination of sad, yet beautiful tunes with gut-busting banter and deadpan humor makes for a show experience unlike any other.

 

 

~ Kristen