All-American Rejects

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/5-3/11

Posted on by Kristen

Last week, my evenings were largely devoted to SXSW prep. I’d like to say the same for this week, but there are just too many good shows. Dan Wilson (my fave songwriter) is playing three shows at The Hotel Cafe along with Rachel Yamagata, Queen Caveat has their EP release show Thursday, and Friday night The Strip delivers the powerful one, two punch of Twin Atlantic at The Viper Room and Nico Vega with Street Drum Corps at The Roxy. And honestly, that’s just the beginning of the great shows this week in LA. Here are the rest of my suggestions:

Monday: Dan Wilson and Rachel Yamagata at The Hotel Cafe (two shows 7 & 10:30)
ALSO: Ivan and Alyosha and NO FREE at The Echo (9pm)…start of a March residency for NO
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Madi Diaz, Robert Francis, Peach Kings (9pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Scars on 45 at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Maniac FREE at Harvard & Stone (10:30)
ALSO: The Janks FREE at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Silent Comedy and Daniel Bedingfield at The Hard Rock Cafe (8:30)…SXSW kickoff party
ALSO: Dan Wilson and Rachel Yamagata at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)

 

Weds: Leah Siegel of Firehorse, Adrianne (record release show), and Infantree at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)

 

Thursday: The Dollyrots and Queen Caveat (EP release) at The Viper Room (9, 11)
ALSO: The Active Set, Bethpage Black, Crash Kings at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Harper Blynn, Rocco Deluca (record release), and The Gallery at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10, 11)
ALSO: Chris Wilson and Filligar at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: So & So at WitZend (9pm)

 

Friday: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubaour (10pm)
ALSO: Vanaprasta at The Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Harris Grade at Amplyfi
ALSO: Javier Dunn at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins at WitZend (10pm)

 

Saturday: Twin Atlantic at The Viper Room (9:30)
ALSO: Nico Vega and Street Drum Corps at The Roxy (10:30)
ALSO: The Material at Amplyfi (10:30)
ALSO: Rosie and Me at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Punch Brothers at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Aussie BBQ at The Echo featuring Austrailian music and free BBQ (12:30pm)… http://www.attheecho.com/2012/02/02/sunday-03-11-12-aussie-bbq-echo/

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 14th: The Pretty Reckless at The HOB Sunset
March 16th: Guster at Largo
March 18th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 20th: Needtobreathe and Ben Rector at Club Nokia
March 20th: War on Drugs at Avalon
March 21st: Boyce Avenue and Tournament of Hearts at Avalon
March 22nd: The Lumineers at The Hotel Café
March 23rd: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24th and 25th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour
March 30th: All American Rejects at The Troubadour
March 31st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 1st: Charlotte Martin at The Bootleg Bar
April 10th: Neon Trees at The Troubadour
April 11th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 19th: Foxy Shazam at The Roxy
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
June 3rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16th: Thrice at Club Nokia

 

~ Kristen

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Valentine’s Day: Cycles of Love: Post Break Up

Posted on by MarissaMortati

I think if someone complied all the songs ever written and categorized them by topic, an overwhelming number of them would be written about the wake that follows after a tragic break up.  This is why Amanda and myself had to separate our lists just to accommodate the number of songs written on topic.  Just lean on our shoulders and cry a while why you listen to these bummer numbers or if you’re the angry type, we will help you destroy all their things too.

 

Post Break Up

Amanda’s Picks:

Local Music – Breakin The Chains of Love- Fitz and The Tantrums

Love can be a drag. It can wear you down and make you forget about who you were because you were too busy trying to be who the other person thought you should be (not healthy, by the way). It’s time to break those chains and move on. Sing it Fitz!

Top 40 – Raise Your Glass- Pink

This song isn’t really about break ups per say but the message is still clear, ‘no matter our flaws, faults, and otherwise messed up selves, we still rock.’ If that isn’t an anthem for picking yourself up and getting a move on from that stupid person who dumped you or the stupid person you got involved with, I don’t know what is. This song may be pop but it makes you get up and dance (and feel empowered) which is really what you need after a break up.

Alternative Radio – Gives You Hell- The All American Rejects

I’m fairly certain we all need some kind of retaliation against the one who hurt us. Or at least the knowledge that we are doing better than they are after the break up. The All American Rejects know what I’m talking about. I hope you see me and realize what an idiot you are and how much better I’m doing with out you. I hope you suffer! Muah ha ha ha.

Soundtrack – Breaking Up Is Hard To Do- Neil Sedaka

The name says it all. Breaking up is hard to do. It’s shitty and it sucks but at least you know you are not alone.

Misc – The Test- The Academy Is…

This song was on standby after my breakup when I just wanted the knowledge that the other person didn’t care and that I was losing it. Sometimes the best feeling in the world is surrendering to the loss and acknowledge being broken. It really takes the pressure off. Perhaps my favorite line is the chorus (which gave me my validation or maybe vindication) is, ‘if this is a test, I’m losing my shit would it kill you to care as much as I did?’ Honestly, would it kill them to care?

Marissa’s Picks:

Local Music – Shifty Eyes – The Howls

A Howl: to utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry. The Howls do exactly that as John Cooper sings about the woman who ripped his heart apart.  A cry of both anger and sadness, it was my first pick for a post break up song.

Top 40 – Fuck You – Cee Lo Green

Sometimes you just got get real and just say “Fuck You.”

Alternative Radio – Hate It Here – Wilco

Being in love is like being addicted to a person.  They invade every part of your life and when they leave there is this massive dis-function that is left behind.  You have to relearn how to live and Jeff Tweedy, an addict of many things, knows that sometimes mowing the lawn is all that keep you afloat without the one you love.

Soundtrack – Both Sides Now – Love Actually

Joni Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now” paints a bleak picture of love, but none so bleak as paired with Emma Thompson’s beautiful performance in the movie Love Actually after she finds out her husband may be unfaithful.

Misc – You Turn Clear In The Sun – Telekinesis

Michael Benjamin Lerner is Telekinesis and I think he has one or two bad girlfriends in his past.  “I never loved you, I’ve never love anyone.” It’s his want of erasing the memories, the bad, the good, the everything that pings home with me.  Needless to say, if MBL ever needs consoling, I’m his girl.

Still trying to get over it? Me too, but tomorrow is another day…

Warped Tour Ventura- Kristen’s Take

Posted on by Kristen

Warped Tour always makes me feel old. All these carefree teenagers running amok, jumping up and down for bands I’ve never heard of whose members look like they are barely out of high school. There’s nothing wrong with any of this…it just makes me feel old. I didn’t even go last year.

But I love concert festivals and this year’s line-up drew me back into the sea of mohawks, bad tattoos, and fist-pumping adolescents. Okay, not the line-up in its entirety as much as one band in particular, After Midnight Project. My new fave band from Bamboozled is on the entire tour this year and I needed a reminder of why their CD, Let’s Build Something to Break, was playing in my car stereo for weeks.

And reminded I was as once again the gentlemen of After Midnight Project lifted my spirits and blew me away with their amazingly catchy brand of head banding/hand swaying rock music and their perfectly crafted bridges (a good bridge in a song will make me go week in the knees every time).  In addition, since I knew all the songs this time, I was able to sing along…well I wasn’t technically able to emit anything via my vocal chords as I’m currently suffering from laryngitis…but I was able to mouth all the words and could at least properly time all my dance moves.

AMP was one of the first bands to play that day and we got there just in time to make our way to their stage before the opening chords of their set. I was a little concerned after their set was over that the day could not get any better…especially seeing as we had already missed both Lovers Drug and You Me at Six (seriously, why were there bands playing at 11:30 when the ticket said starts at noon?).

We saw many more bands as the day progressed. Some I loved (Mayday Parade), some had promise (The Cab, Emorosa, Automatic Loveletter), some I had quite a strong distaste for (shall remain nameless), and some I have simply forgotten. There were a couple of bands I saw this year that I really love listening to but whose performances were somewhat disappointing. Both The Pretty Reckless and Never Shout Never have some amazing tunes, but the lead singers of both groups kind of made me want to strangle them (or their parents) for some of the remarks they made in between songs…again making me feel quite the old fogey.

My entire day, however, was righted by three bands: Alkaline Trio, Sum 41, and All-American Rejects. All three are bands from my own high school days and as they played those tunes I’ve always loved, I lost myself in the music, forgetting where I was, both time and place. I was reminded why events like this are completely worth my time and my money. Ironically, by the end of the day, Warped Tour had done something totally unexpected…it made me feel like a young teenager again! Ah, the rejuvenating power of music…

~ Kristen

Enjoy some random pics:

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 9/3-9/9

Posted on by Kristen

Happy Labor Day Weekend (whatever that means to you)! I hope you are all able to get out and enjoy the weekend. As for me, I haven’t seen much of the sun in the last couple of days. I’m trying to get some work done in order to clear my schedule for important events happening over the next few weeks.  Fortunately, my writing companion is Biffy Clyro’s Revolutions: Live at Wembley DVD which helps keep me focused…sometimes.
I did see the blue moon Friday night and I celebrated by going to The Hotel Cafe see one of my favorite bands, Truth & Salvage Co. play a secret show under their former name, The Denim Family Band. This filled me with nostalgia as it was the year I moved to LA that I discovered this band and saw them at The Hotel Cafe numerous times. Ah, memories…

More potential musical memories up for grabs this week at the following shows. Obviously, my pick of the week is The Silent Comedy who open for The Heavy at The El Rey on Friday, but here are all my musical recommendations:

Monday: Kitten FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: The Lonely Wild FREE at The Satellite (11pm)

 

Tuesday: Voxhaul Broadcast at The Viper Room (9:15)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (10pm)
ALSO: My Satellite FREE at Hemingways
ALSO: post-labor day carousal at The Piano Bar featuring Lowlight, Dave Green, Jesse Cole, and Foster Timms (9pm)
ALSO: Gaby Moreno at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Gotye at The Greek Theatre (7pm)

 

Weds: David & Devine and Armada at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)…Armada’s Record Release Show
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers at WitZend (8pm)

 

Thursday: NO FREE at The Santa Monica Pier (7pm)
ALSO: The Material at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…Record Release Show
ALSO: The Dollyrots at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: John C Reilly & Friends at Largo (9pm)

 

Friday: The Silent Comedy and The Heavy at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Belmont Lights and SO & SO at The House of Blues (8pm)…Belmont Lights Record Release
ALSO: Holly Conlan, The Young Romans, Madi Diaz at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)
ALSO: Crosby, Stills & Nash at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

 

Saturday: Garrison Starr, Adrianne, Maia Sharp at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Honda Civic Tour at The Home Depot Center featuring MUTEMATH, Incubus, and Linkin Park (5:30)

 

Sunday: The Ataris at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Pink Martini at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
September 12th: Allen Stone at Hollywood Bowl
September 14th: Teitur at The Hotel Cafe
September 14th: The Hives at The Wiltern
September 19th: Band of Skulls at The Fonda Theatre
September 20th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22nd: Epicenter at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
September 22nd: Sondre Lerche at The Troubadour
September 27th: Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sara Watkins at Club Nokia
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 1st: Safety Suit at The Roxy
October 2nd: Garbage at The Hollywood Palladium
October 2nd: The Lumineers at The Fonda Theatre
October 4th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
October 4th-7th: Culture Collide Festival
October 6th: Ben Howard at The Fonda Theatre
October 9th: The Wallflowers and Everest at The Fonda Theatre
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 13th: Marcus Foster at The Roxy
October 16th: First Aid Kit at The Fonda Theatre
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
October 19th: Frightened Rabbit at The Troubadour
October 19th: Allen Stone at The Music Box
October 20th: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Saint Rocke
October 23rd: Shiny Toy Guns at The Echoplex
October 24th: The Darkness at Club Nokia
October 25th: Bayside at Club Nokia
October 27th: Queen Caveat at The Roxy
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 8th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 16th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 20th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey

~ Kristen

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