Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/2-4/8

I’ve mostly been avoiding the internet today. I am not a fan of this whole April Fool’s business. I do not need to hear about another band breaking up even if it is a joke… There are, however, some good deals going around in celebration of the day. High Voltage Magazine is offering an April 1st deal of 50% off a yearly subscription (http://www.iamhighvoltage.com/subscribe.html). Please check it out. I’m conducting an exciting interview tomorrow for my On the Rise piece for the Spring issue. The only place you can read it will be in the magazine, so here’s your chance to get it for ½ price!

In other news, some great shows this week. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the lead singer of Augustana, Dan Layus, perform at The Hotel Cafe. His band’s last show at The El Rey will probably go down as one of my favorite shows of the year. Last I checked, there were still tickets available for the Hotel Cafe shows on both Weds and Thursday.

Here’s what else I’ve got for you:

Monday: Lemon Sun FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Lelia Broussard and U.S. Royalty (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Makepeace Brothers at The Mint (9:30)
ALSO: Queen Caveat at the 98.7FM Penthouse (5pm)…limited space so RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/events/426085190739950/

 

Weds: The Barr Brothers and Dan Layus (of Augustana) at The Hotel Cafe (8,9:30)
ALSO: Jane Carrey Band at The Mint (8pm)

 

Thursday: Dan Layus (of Augustana) at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: He’s My Brother She’s My Sister and The Pierces at The Troubadour (9:15, 10)
ALSO: Terra Naomi at WitZend (8pm)
ALSO: Brett Detar at The Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Prom for Hope at Club Nokia featuring Semi Precious Weapons (8pm)

 

Friday: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: The Nervous Wreckords and Transfer at The Viper Room (10, 11)
ALSO: The Gallery at On the Rox (10pm)

 

Saturday: Anais Mitchell and John Elliot at The Broad Stage (Edye Theater) (8pm)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars at The Redwood Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Rodrigo y Gabriela at Hollywood Palladium (8pm)

 

Sunday: HAPPY EASTER!

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 10th: Neon Trees at The Troubadour
April 11th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 12th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Café
April 13th: Kill the Alarm at Room 5
April 16th: Band of Skulls, We Are Augustines, The Sheepdogs at The El Rey
April 18th: Dar Williams at The Largo
April 19th: Foxy Shazam at The Roxy
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 24th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 25th: Dead Sara at Club Nokia
April 26th: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy
April 26th: Zoe Keating at The Largo
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 6th: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 19th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5th and 6th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 7-10th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16th: Thrice at Club Nokia

 

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/26-4/1

Last week my body finally retaliated for all the stress I’ve been putting it through. I completely lost my voice and have a nasty head cold. I’m bummed because it forced me to missed some stellar shows. Tonight I’m heading out to The Avalon for Belle Brigade/The Good Old War. Hopefully I won’t regret it tomorrow. Here’s what else I hope to be well enough to do this week:

Monday: Infantree, Vanaprasta, and Voxhaul Broadcast FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: NO FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Patrick Park at Bootleg Theater (7:30)
ALSO: The Janks FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: Ari Shine, Adam Bones, and Jack Littman at Redwood Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Laura Stevenson & The Cans at The Troubadour (8:45)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Stone Foxes at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Used FREE at The Troubadour (8pm)…playing songs from their new album, no lineups before 4

 

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

 

Thursday: Shane Alexander, Chris Pierce, Brother Sal at WitZend (8,9,10)

 

Friday: Lady Sinatra and Indians at The Viper Room (10:30, 11:30)
ALSO: Nightmare & The Cat and Lovers Drugs FREE at Dim Mak Studios (AKA Cinespace) (11:15, 1)
ALSO: Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (11:30)
ALSO: Justin Levinson at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins at WitZend (10pm)
ALSO: All American Rejects at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: The Silent Comedy at House of Blues Anaheim

 

Saturday: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at Witzend (11pm)

 

Sunday: Mariah McManus and Charlotte Martin at Bootleg Bar (9,10)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill FREE at The Other Door (9pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 4th/5th: Dan Layus (of Augustana) at The Hotel Cafe
April 10th: Neon Trees at The Troubadour
April 11th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 12th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Café
April 13th: Kill the Alarm at Room 5
April 16th: Band of Skulls, We Are Augustines, The Sheepdogs at The El Rey
April 18th: Dar Williams at The Largo
April 19th: Foxy Shazam at The Roxy
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 24th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 25th: Dead Sara at Club Nokia
April 26th: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy
April 26th: Zoe Keating at The Largo
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 6th: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 19th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5th and 6th: 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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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/20-3/25

Just got back from the long drive from Austin, TX where we spent a glorious week immersed in the musical insanity that is SXSW. Check out our site for some recaps of our experience (http://www.localmusicnation.net/). Also, I did some coverage for High Voltage Magazine, so check that out as well (http://www.iamhighvoltage.com/festivals/). Due to overwhelming exhaustion, I have little sense of space and time but I made a to do list and at the top is “put out this week’s calendar” so here we go! (p.s. I am writing this wearing a bunny ears and a tiara…leftovers from some birthday shenanigans).

Some people may be all showed out after a week of non-stop concerts, but honestly, I’m already feeling some withdrawal. Fortunately this week is full of amazing musical opportunities, including some new SXSW finds like fiN, Morning Parade, and Marcus Foster. Here are my picks:

Tuesday: Ben Rector and NEEDTOBREATHE at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Of Monsters and Men at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The War on Drugs and Sharon Van Etten at The Avalon (8pm)
ALSO: The Driftwood Singers at The Satellite (9pm)

 

Weds: Tournament of Hearts, Satellite, Boyce Avenue at The Avalon (7pm)
ALSO: Paul McDonald at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Of Monsters and Men at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Wicker at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: The Naked and Famous at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: The Ting Tings at The El Rey (9pm)

 

Thursday: The Lumineers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Morning Parade, The Other Side of Morning, Zero1, Oedipus at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Eddie Cohn at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: The Ting Tings at The El Rey (9pm)

Friday: Brian Wright and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour (9, 10)…this is last Truth & Salvage show in LA before the band moves to Nashville
ALSO: Marcus Foster, The Lumineers and Whispertown Record Release Show with Buddy, Haim, Jonathan Rice, etc. (7, 9, 11)
ALSO: Juke Kartel and fIN at The Viper Room (11, 12)
ALSO: The Nervous Wreckords and Robert Schwartzman at The Satellite (9pm)

 

Saturday: Marcus Foster and Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9)
ALSO: Run Run Run at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Troubadour (10:15)

 

Sunday: Allen Stone at The Troubadour (10:15)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 30th: All American Rejects at The Troubadour
March 31st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 1st: Charlotte Martin at The Bootleg Bar
April 4th/5th: Dan Layus (of Augustana) at The Hotel Cafe
April 10th: Neon Trees at The Troubadour
April 11th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 18th: Dar Williams at The Largo
April 19th: Foxy Shazam at The Roxy
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 24th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 26th: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy
April 26th: Zoe Keating at The Largo
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 19th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30th: Eve 6 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

http://www.localmusicnation.net/

http://twitter.com/#%21/_localmusicnat

Valentine’s Day Playlist- The Cycles of Love: Loneliness

I honor of the upcoming holiday I have tried to boycott and have never seemed to enjoy, I thought it fitting to create a playlist for Valentines Day. There is a catch however. In true Amanda style, I’ve decided to arrange the playlist according to the cycles of love that every person experiences and will be realeasing a new one up to V-Day. On top of that, is a song for each category of listener; local music, top 40, alternative radio, soundtrack, and miscellaneous. I’m throughly happy to be doing this V-Day playlist with newbie LMN author Marissa Mortati. If it wasn’t for her help and contributions, this list would not be possible.

Now, if you’re anything like me (which you probably aren’t) or any other human, the cycle of love tends to start with loneliness. If we are never alone we can never truly appreciate the love we will have in our life. But with loneliness comes the bitter taste of self-loathing, depression, and an all around not feeling good about one’s self. Bummer dude. Hopefully these songs will help you to feel not alone in your loneliness! Cheers mate.

 

Woe Is Me

Local Music: Boston- Augustana 

It’s not often that a local band you are familiar with has their lyrics sung by the lead in a tv show like The Big Bang Theory as a demonstration of raw emotional emoness. However, that lucky commendation goes to the song Boston by Augustana. I love Augustana. I love the piano coupled with his melancholy vocals.  I love them more when I’m feeling upset, unloved, misunderstood, and beyond repair. Cheery, right?

Top 40: Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls 
Funnily enough, I saw Augustana open for Goo Goo Dolls back in the day so this is a lovely double whammy of memories for me. Anyways, the thing about this song is while it talks about being down, it also discusses a wasted life of a young man. The song may deceive you, making you think you’re about to partake in a happy pop rock song, but Broadway is about a young man without a place in world.  He feels like he’s got no one on his side and self destructs because of it.

 

Alternative Radio: Creep -Radiohead 

If you’ve ever felt like a sniveling little, well, creep you’ve probably blasted this song on your car stereo many times.   The Radiohead anthem is one of those anti hero songs that you can’t help relate to because hey, we all want perfect bodies. It’s dark and brooding and makes us all feel a little more badass.

 

Soundtrack: Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid

You think you’re an outsider? Imagine how a Mermaid feels? That’s right, that’s pretty rough.  Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid expresses just how much one can feel like an outsider looking in this song.  Come on guys! She just wants to fit in!

 

Misc: Somebody to Love – Queen

Freddie Mercury speaks to the romantic in all of us.  Somebody to Love is the perfect depiction of a desire to love someone.  With amazing harmonies and that rock opera style that defines Queen you find yourself singing along happily with a song that is actually quite sad.

 

 

Feeling Frisky? Stay tuned.

New Music Tuesday 1/24 Featuring Ingrid Michaelson, Foxy Shazam, Graffiti6, etc.

I know it’s been awhile since I was able to do one of these, but there are so many wonderful CDs coming out today and I felt it necessary to invest some time into pointing them out. I hope you, in turn, will invest some time into listening! Click on the artist’s name for more info on them and how to get their new CD.

Human AgainIngrid Michaelson

I first heard this CD about a month ago and I have been counting down the days for its release. I’m a huge fan of Ingrid Michaelson and she takes this record to darker places both musically and lyrically and I love it! My full review of the album will be printed in the winter issue of High Voltage Magazine, but suffice it to say, fan or not, I think you should check out this record.

 

The Church of Rock and RollFoxy Shazam

When I first heard this group (sight unseen) I thought they were being led by a powerful black woman. Imagine my surprise when I found out their lead singer was a diminutive white guy. The surprises are never ending with Foxy Shazam and their newest record, The Church of Rock and Roll, definitely pushes the boundaries of what is expected from a rock band from Ohio. Check them out if you want something refreshing for your ears. And when they come to your town, do NOT miss the opportunity to see them live.

 

ColoursGraffiti6

I had the pleasure of discovering these Brits at The El Rey last week when they opened for Augustana. They play the kind of music that makes it easy to smile and sway along. I got the CD that night and have been listening to it on repeat. My favorite song is “Free”. I hope it can make you smile as well…

 

Others I hope to look into:

 

Listen, Learn, Love!

~ Kristen

Amanda’s Top Ten Musical Experiences (cont.)

I bet you thought I forgot all about this! Well, the truth of the matter is… I haven’t been home to write and when I am home, I’m sleeping. I’ve been out making new musical experiences for 2012! As such I’m giving you three more of my top musical experiences and I promise the top 2 won’t be far behind.

 

5.SXSW- I don’t really know how to describe SXSW to anyone other than calling it a musical orgy of sorts. There is so much to see and do whilst in Austin, Texas that it’s hard to keep your head on straight. Last year was my first year and I hope to be going every year after. The cool thing about SXSW is you really only need money for a place to stay and some food. We never went to any official shows (which is what badges are required for) and we had a hard time keeping up with all the musical options out there. During our time at SXSW we saw; Fierce Creatures, Viva City, Purple Melon, AWOLNATION, Neon Trees, The Head and The Heart, The Kin, Dead Sara, Fitz and The Tantrums, Tailor Made Fable, Keaton Simons, Liam Finn, Atomic Tom, Ivan and Alyosha, Queen Caveat, The Gallery, Sabrosa Purr,  The Greenhornes, The Silent Comedy, Mother Mother, Agnes Obel, Brian Wright, Brooke Fraser, Cary Brothers, Holly Conlan, Jim Bianco, Joey Ryan, Kenneth Pattengale, Laura Jansen, Little Red Radio, OK, The Milk Carton Kids, Deluka, Hugo, Meriwether, My Cousin The Emperor, Sinai, Taylor Locke & The Roughs, The Good Natured, Augustana, Doll and The Kicks, Empires, Lenka, Twin Atlantic, and The Stone Foxes. Well, you get the idea…

 

4. Blink-182- I was never a huge fan of Blink. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t change the radio station when their music came on or anything but nothing about them made me have a burning desire to see them live. In 2011, I saw them not once but twice and they will always have a warm spot in my heart. The first time I saw them was for the Honda Civic Tour. I was working with Kevin and Rebecca Joelson and doing some shooting of the event which means I was in the pit for the first few songs and was able to be side stage for the rest of their set. I was surprised at just how many Blink-182 songs I knew and Rebecca and I sang along from the sidelines. What really blew my brain was when they ‘finished’ their set and this giant rig comes down from the batons where all the lights are. I had been staring at it all night trying to figure out what it was. Well, it was a giant arm with a drum set attached! Travis got on this rig and was taken out over the audience while he played a solo for a few minutes. The rig would tilt down, back up and move around. It was mind blowing!!!! Needless to say, I was a fan after that.

 

3. Bonnaroo- In 2011, Bonnaroo was what Coachella should have been lineup wise. If you’ve ever been to or know about Coachella, think of Bonnaroo as the cooler sister who is both hippie and hip. Bonnarro is also held in a giant field and while it lacks the artistic attractions like the wandering robot and the giant hand that can kill a car, it has yoga and it’s own post office. Bonnaroo also has this giant fountain which I’ve been told gets painted different colors every year but it’s a great way to stay cool in the heat. Coachella doesn’t have that. Granted Coachella is easier to get to, but flying out gave us the chance to hang out in Tennessee and check out Nashville for a day or two. Our highlights from Bonnaroo were already posted on this site but we had a blast watching Eminem, The Head and The Heart, Portugal. The Man, Neon Trees, Kopeckey Family Band, Mumford and Sons, Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons, Alberta Cross, The Black Angels, and The Decemberists. Bonnaroo is a new tradition in my book and I can’t wait to see the lineup for 2012!

 

See you soon for my top 2!

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/16-1/22

Currently watching The Golden Globes and I have come to the conclusion that I really don’t know much about contemporary popular culture. I’m incredibly frustrated because all the commercials for interesting new TV shows give their premiere date based on something called “the super bowl”. Okay, I know what The Super Bowl is (unfortunately), but I have no clue when it is. Can you please give me an actual date associated with these shows? Not that I’ll time to watch them…

Listening to all the nominees for the best films and TV shows of the year, I realize how out of tune I am with these things. I think I’ve seen all of two movies that were mentioned the entire evening and I had no clue Matt LeBlanc or Kelsey Grammar were doing TV again.  Also, when did my favorite movie stars like Julianne Moore and Kate Winslet get so old?

Sorry for the extracurricular rant. I might know more about these things if I didn’t spend my every spare moment going to shows, listening to music, writing about music, and hanging out with people talking about music, etc. But honestly, I love my life and wouldn’t have it any other way…

And now that I’ve brought us back around to the point of this email, here are my musical recommendations in LA this week. (I’d especially take note of The Silent Comedy’s return to LA on Tuesday):

 

Monday: The Elizabeth Kill at The Viper Room (12:15)
ALSO: Chasing Kings FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: NO, Zane Carney, and The Pierces at Bardot (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Kevin Earnest at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Races, Taylor Locke and The Roughs, and The Silent Comedy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Finish Ticket at The Viper Room (9:30)
ALSO: Olin & The Moon and Maxim Ludwig FREE at The Echo (9pm)

 

Weds: Adam Arguarci at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Augustana at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Marcus Very Ordinary and Forrest Day at Molly Malone’s (9,10)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Thursday: Zane Carney at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Forrest Day at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Civil Twilight at Bootleg Bar (8pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi and La Vie at WitZend (9, 10)

 

Friday: The Good Natured at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan, Rob Giles and All New People, and Rocco Deluca at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9, 11)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls at O’Briens in Santa Monica (10pm)
ALSO: PK at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Shane Alexander and Chris Pierce at WitZend (10,11)

 

Saturday: Finish Ticket at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Sunday: rest…yay!

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
January 26th: Endoxi at The Roxy
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 2nd: Dead Sara at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 8th: Marketa Irglova at The Hotel Café
Feb. 9th: Joss Stone at The Troubadour
Feb. 9th: Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
Feb. 17th: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Bowl
Feb. 19th: The Darkness at House of Blues Sunset
Feb. 20th: Milo Greene at The Satellite
Feb. 21st: Scars on 45 at The Troubadour
Feb. 22nd: Will Dailey and Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 18th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 20th: Needtobreathe and Ben Rector at Club Nokia
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24th and 25th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour
March 31st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium

 

~ Kristen

 

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