After Midnight Project

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/31-2/6

Posted on by Kristen

It’s been quite the week for music! Sorry I’ve been so quiet, but I’ve been busy enjoying great shows every night and I haven’t had the time to write. Some of the highlights from last week include seeing one of my fave songwriters and storytellers, Anna Nalick, watching Keaton Simons blow the roof off of The Roxy with his amazing new tunes, hanging with friends and falling in love with new bands like Armada at The Mint, getting what I hope continues to be my weekly fix of new band love Queen Caveat, and, of course, being reminded of why Nico Vega is one of the greatest bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching perform.

Also, this week I had the extreme pleasure of talking with one of the most exciting new bands coming out of the Philadelphia music scene, SINAI. More on my interview with them PLUS footage from the last weekend’s Philly adventure still to come…

In the meantime, amazing live musical opportunities continue to present themselves here in Los Angeles…here’s what’s on my “not to be missed” list for this week:

Monday: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a school night at Bardot featuring Tristen, Alex Luke,  and  Peter, Bjorn, and John (9pm)

Tuesday: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Satellite at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Maniac at Crazy Girls (11:15)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton and Satellite at Club Central in Santa Monica (9,10)
ALSO: Shawn Hlookoff and Jenni Alpert at Genghis Cohen (9pm)

Thursday: Garrison Starr, Lelia Broussard, Curtis Peoples, and The Canyons at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10,11)
ALSO: Great Northern at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: War Tapes at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Soraria at The Whiskey (10pm)
ALSO: We Barbarians at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

Friday: The Wood Brothers with Carsie Blanton at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The Echo (7:30)
ALSO: Tennis at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: First Friday at The Natural History Museum featuring Wild Nothing and Abe Vigoda (8pm)

Saturday: The Silent Comedy at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Tony Lucca at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Forgetters at The Echo (8pm)

Sunday: Jordan Cook and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10,11)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb. 12th: Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom
Feb. 15th: Mother Mother at The Satellite
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
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 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
May: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/24-1/30

Posted on by Kristen

Amanda and I are in New York City at the moment. Just came back from seeing the boys of Carney rock Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark (again). They made some changes in the second half that I loved. As you know, we ventured to the east coast because my first favorite band, Pepper’s Ghost, had a reunion show at The Grape Room, Saturday in Philadelphia (their first show since 2007…). There are no words to describe how I felt about seeing this band play again. The whole day, really, spent with some of my favorite people and seeing a couple of my top bands (we also went to Northstar to catch a bit of Alright, Junior’s set) is bound to go down as one of the best days of my year…hopefully I’ll find some time to put up some pictures and, fingers crossed, video (!) soon.

But, in the meantime, we’ve got lots of great shows to look forward to this week in LA! Can’t wait to get back (and not just because I’m freezing my fingers off over here)! Here’s what I’d like to do:

Monday: Cold War Kids at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at Whiskey a Go Go (9pm)
ALSO: The Script at Jimmy Kimmel (6:45…with reservation from 1iota.com)
ALSO: Iron & Wine FREE at Amoeba (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Royal Bangs and Gary Clark Jr. (10:30)

Tuesday: Cold War Kids at Amoeba (6pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at Saint Rocke (10:30)
ALSO: WPA featuring Glen Phillips and Sean Watkins at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Vaccines at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Iron & Wine at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Olin & The Moon FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: 8mm at The Good Hurt (11pm)

Weds: Red Circle Underground at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Iron & Wine at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Bryan Greenberg at Saint Rocke (10pm)

Thursday: High Voltage Presents at The Mint featuring Armada, 8mm, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Amos Lee at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Graydon at Silverlake Louge (9:30)
ALSO: Steel Train at The Troubadour (8:45)

Friday: Queen Caveat and Nico Vega at Saint Rocke (9,11)
ALSO: The Postelles and Free Energy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Honeyhoney at Bootleg (9:45)
ALSO: Parade of Lights at Club Cohiba in Long Beach (7:30)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig at The Sante Fe Seven (11:45)
ALSO: Rocco Deluca and Daniel Lanois at The El Rey (8:30)

Saturday: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Oh Darling at the Santa Monica Pier (5:30)

Sunday: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe
ALSO: Against Me! at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Briens

To Keep in Mind:

Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café
Feb. 1st: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

Mark Your Calendars: After Midnight Project- LIVE

Posted on by Kristen

Mark your calendars for Feb. 22nd! On that date, LMN favorite After Midnight Project will be releasing a live album. I’ve always contended that this band puts on one of my favorite live performances so I cannot wait to hear this album. Will there be new songs on it? Anything acoustic? Will they celebrate the release of the album with another show in LA???

SO many questions! Can’t wait to get them all answered…

One of the things I’d like to see on it; an acoustic version of this song (I enjoy the paradox of an acoustic song about screaming…):

~ Kristen

Amanda’s Top 10 Discoveries of ’10- Part 1

Posted on by Amanda

It’s now 2011. Which means, it’s time to reflect on all the things that happened in 2010 and all the things we want to accomplish in 2011. I for one, had a wonderful time discovering and rediscovering music that I love. This particular post is part one of a list I made of my top 10 favorite musical discoveries of 2010!

10. Assemble the Skyline-

Here’s the thing about Assemble the Skyline… they picked up Kristen and I on the Sunset Strip after a Scarlet Grey show. Normally, I don’t pay much mind to bands throwing cds at me but they did more than just plug the show and give us a free cd. They took the time to engage us about our night and were so darn adorable that it was hard for us to walk away. Once we played their song and heard the phrase, “you’re such a bitch and it thrills me” we were definitely curious and decided to go to the show.

While they aren’t the typical kind of music I like, they are so fun to see that its hard not to make space in your heart for them. Actually, they are a band that would be fantastic on Warped Tour. I’d love to see that and I will keep enjoying my guilty pleasure band.

9. The Howls-

I first saw The Howls open for my favorite San Diego band, The Silent Comedy. I wasn’t really sure what to think at first but I was intrigued. The more I’ve seen them play, the better they seem to get. They are currently in the middle of recording a new record but I can’t wait to hear what they come up with. You can download some tunes like the one below for free at their website. Do it!

The Howls- Revival

8. Mumford and Sons-

If you aren’t familiar with Mumford and Sons, you must be living under a rock. It’s ok though. There is still time to discover how amazing they are. Mumford hails from West London and “have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously.” I never thought I would be afforded the opportunity to see them as they sell out venues so fast. However, I got lucky when aforementioned band, The Silent Comedy, opened for them at The Belly Up! I wasn’t overly familiar with their music but fell head over heels for them. When I was able to see them once again in LA, my love was cemented.

7. Landon Pigg-

Landon brings back such great memories! I was familiar with him insofar as I knew his song from the mobile carrier commercials but I wasn’t really familiar with his music as a whole. Kristen on the other hand, was familiar and one day, saw a post about his upcoming west coast tour and a need for fans to merch. Kristen, knowing my deep seeded desire to merch for bands and hit the road told me about this wonderful opportunity. I replied to the request and we were able to work the show in San Juan Capistrano! The venue was great, the music was great, and the people were awesome. We made some serious buck for Landon and we hope to do it again soon.

By the way, this video totally melts me.

6. Fierce Creatures

Fierce Creatures came out of nowhere and hit me upside the head like a bag of bricks when I saw them (in the best way possible). You can check out a previous post I did on them here but I have to say, I was not prepared at all for their hurricane-like force. There was this crazy supernatural energy they emitted. Maybe it was all the banging on cans or the dancing in the crowd but I’m seriously hooked. They lived up to all the hype I heard and while I’m bummed they are up north, I can’t wait to see them play again!

Stay tuned for my top 5 discoveries!

Amanda’s Top 10 Discoveries of ’10- Part 1

Posted on by Amanda

It’s now 2011. Which means, it’s time to reflect on all the things that happened in 2010 and all the things we want to accomplish in 2011. I for one, had a wonderful time discovering and rediscovering music that I love. This particular post is part one of a list I made of my top 10 favorite musical discoveries of 2010!

10. Assemble the Skyline-

Here’s the thing about Assemble the Skyline… they picked up Kristen and I on the Sunset Strip after a Scarlet Grey show. Normally, I don’t pay much mind to bands throwing cds at me but they did more than just plug the show and give us a free cd. They took the time to engage us about our night and were so darn adorable that it was hard for us to walk away. Once we played their song and heard the phrase, “you’re such a bitch and it thrills me” we were definitely curious and decided to go to the show.

While they aren’t the typical kind of music I like, they are so fun to see that its hard not to make space in your heart for them. Actually, they are a band that would be fantastic on Warped Tour. I’d love to see that and I will keep enjoying my guilty pleasure band.

9. The Howls-

I first saw The Howls open for my favorite San Diego band, The Silent Comedy. I wasn’t really sure what to think at first but I was intrigued. The more I’ve seen them play, the better they seem to get. They are currently in the middle of recording a new record but I can’t wait to hear what they come up with. You can download some tunes like the one below for free at their website. Do it!

The Howls- Revival

8. Mumford and Sons-

If you aren’t familiar with Mumford and Sons, you must be living under a rock. It’s ok though. There is still time to discover how amazing they are. Mumford hails from West London and “have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously.” I never thought I would be afforded the opportunity to see them as they sell out venues so fast. However, I got lucky when aforementioned band, The Silent Comedy, opened for them at The Belly Up! I wasn’t overly familiar with their music but fell head over heels for them. When I was able to see them once again in LA, my love was cemented.

7. Landon Pigg-

Landon brings back such great memories! I was familiar with him insofar as I knew his song from the mobile carrier commercials but I wasn’t really familiar with his music as a whole. Kristen on the other hand, was familiar and one day, saw a post about his upcoming west coast tour and a need for fans to merch. Kristen, knowing my deep seeded desire to merch for bands and hit the road told me about this wonderful opportunity. I replied to the request and we were able to work the show in San Juan Capistrano! The venue was great, the music was great, and the people were awesome. We made some serious buck for Landon and we hope to do it again soon.

By the way, this video totally melts me.

6. Fierce Creatures

Fierce Creatures came out of nowhere and hit me upside the head like a bag of bricks when I saw them (in the best way possible). You can check out a previous post I did on them here but I have to say, I was not prepared at all for their hurricane-like force. There was this crazy supernatural energy they emitted. Maybe it was all the banging on cans or the dancing in the crowd but I’m seriously hooked. They lived up to all the hype I heard and while I’m bummed they are up north, I can’t wait to see them play again!

Stay tuned for my top 5 discoveries!

Kristen’s ’10 Mix- Track 7 – Deas Vail

Posted on by Kristen

7. “Balance” – Deas Vail

I was wandering around Warped Tour Pomona, waiting for After Midnight Project’s acoustic set, when I first heard Deas Vail. Their music literally made me stop in my tracks, turn my head, and go towards their stage. I kept trying to leave the stage (I didn’t want to be late for the other set), but I couldn’t. I kept walking back. The music was so beautiful and uplifting and SO out of place at Warped Tour. As soon as I could, I found their tent, bought every single album they had (an EP and an LP) and have been listening somewhat obsessively ever since. “Balance”, off their White Lights EP,  is one of those songs that moves me every time I hear it.

http://deasvail.com/

 More Deas Vail:

~ Kristen

track 6: Mumford & Sons
track 8: Endoxi

Kristen’s ’10 Music Mix- Track 2 – After Midnight Project

Posted on by Kristen

2. “The Becoming” – After Midnight Project

listen to the song here

An acoustic version:

After Midnight Project (AMP) is my great local band discovery of 2010. Something inspired me to check them out at Bamboozled…and from the very first song, they had me under their spell. At that same show, I was able to sneak into the VIP section to see AMP play an acoustic set. It is a mark of a truly great rock band if they can still blow you away playing acoustically…AMP takes top marks here. We ended up going to two different stops on the Warped Tour solely to see these guys play again. Then, the year culminated in an AMP headlining show at The Key Club…they brought out all the stops (new songs, a piano, members of Papa Roach and SOTY, confetti!) and cemented a spot on the list of my favorite bands. AMP’s album, Let’s Build Something to Break, is one of the best purchases I made all year.

http://www.myspace.com/aftermidnightproject

a small assortment of my 2010 AMP shots:

 ~ Kristen

track 1: Joey Ryan   
track 3: Biffy Clyro