Biffy Clyro

Kristen’s Wedding Mix ’12- A Selection

Posted on by Kristen

I have a friend who is getting married at the end of this month so obviously, I am making her a lovely wedding/marriage themed mixed CD. In the process of combing through my music library to select the perfect songs, I’ve realized that many of the songs that one might classify as “love songs” aren’t really that at all. Well, there are a lot of songs about love, but I feel that they are mostly about love lost, a yearning for love, or what might more appropriately be labeled “lust” songs.

Another challenge is keeping the ratio of slow songs to more upbeat numbers reasonable. Ballads are great, but there can be rock songs about love and marriage, right? right??

Overall this has been a fun little exercise as it’s encouraged me to take a closer listen to some of my favorite songs. I thought I’d share some of my selections, so here are my top five cuts from my first wedding mix:

1)      “Mountains” – Biffy Clyro

I firmly believe this to be the most romantic song ever written. I think for full impact, one must read the book Only Revolutions which inspired the song and the album it is on. I selected the acoustic version for the mix

 

2)      “Nothing Without You” – Carney

I am also including the obvious “Think of You” but I wanted to rock the mix up a bit.

 

3)      “Car Door (Dancing In the Aisles)” – Joe Firstman

All the complexities of marriage boiled down to a single line: “I’ll open up your car door every time as long as you’ll reach over and unlock mine”

 

4)      “On Top Of The World” – Matthew Perryman Jones

the beauty of this song is paralyzing

 

5)      “May I Suggest” – Red Molly

an affirmative song that should be played every day, but might be particularly relevant on a day like your wedding day

 

I also have on deck, songs from Ed Sheeran, Ben Rector, NEEDTOBREATHE, A Fine Frenzy, Tony Lucca, and more!

However, suggestions are welcomed…

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/28-6/3

Posted on by Kristen

I’m not a huge fan of music videos or recorded concerts. I like my music in live form. But I must say, the musical highlight of my week was getting in the mail my new Biffy Clyro Live at Wembley CD/DVD made during their Revolutions tour. I popped in the DVD while composing this week’s show list and within one song, I was bouncing around my room in my Mon the Biff t-shirt with that stupid giddy smile plastered across my face. I spent entirely too much money importing this special package, but the unadulterated happiness it has provided is priceless. Now I have to decide where to put my new Biffy Clyro poster…maybe I should obtain a frame…

Aside from multiple watching of my new prized possession, here’s what else I’m up to this week:

Monday: The Mowgli’s and Voxhaul Broadcast at The Viper Room (8,11)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Samantha Ronson, The Miracals, and secret guest headliner (9pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Hilary Hahn and Hauschka at The El Rey (7pm)

 

Tuesday: Rocco Deluca at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Y Luv, Act as If, and Midnight Hour at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Wintersleep at The Echo (10pm)

 

Weds: Tyler Hilton at Saint Rocke (10:30)
ALSO: Songwriter Round at Room 5 featuring Adrianne, Garrison Starr, and Maia Sharp (8:30)
ALSO: Safety Suit and Daughtry at Nokia Theater LA Live (7:30)
ALSO: Barcelona, Terraplane Sun, and Churchill at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Jack White at The Wiltern (7:30)

 

Thursday: Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…first night of Mariah’s Thursday night residency at The Hotel Cafe
ALSO: Finish Ticket and The Gallery at Amplyfi (8pm)
ALSO: Greg Laswell and Elizabeth Ziman at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Jack White at The Wiltern (7:30)

 

Friday: The Shakers at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: Orlando Napier at WitZend (10pm)

 

Saturday: The Ruby Friedman Orchestra at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: Deas Vail at Chain Reaction (7pm)
ALSO: Mind The Gap at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)…part of Mind the Gap’s Saturday night residency
ALSO: Hesher Street Fair http://www.hesterstreetfair.com/hollywood/information/

 

Sunday: The Duke Spirit at The Echoplex (7pm)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton at The Key Club (7:30)
ALSO: Franklin Village Festival at the 5900 block of Franklin Ave. featuring The Cordovas, The Dirges, Clare Means, etc. FREE (12-8pm) http://www.facebook.com/events/296990293718065/

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 5th and 6th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7th: Dinner and a Suit at The Roxy
June 7-10th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 15th: Joe Firstman at WitZend
June 16th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 16th: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium
June 20th: Glen Hansard at The Wiltern
June 21st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 22nd: The Avett Brothers at Nokia LA Live
June 23rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 14th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 3rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 13th: The Kills at The El Rey

 

~ Kristen

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

Posted on by Kristen

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

Twin Atlantic: new single, contest, and US tour dates!

Posted on by Kristen

This morning I was casually listening to a live internet chat with two of the members from Scottish alt rock band, Twin Atlantic. Sam (vocals) and Ross (bass) spend some time answering random questions from fans and then played a couple of tunes from their record, Free. One of the songs played was “Make a Beast of Myself” which, incidentally, is one of my favorites from the album and their newest single.  The band just released a video for this song. What’s more is that if you watch this video and can find and click on the hidden link, you’re entered into a contest to win a guitar that was used by Sam in the “Time For You To Stand Up” music video.

I think this idea for a contest is genius! Even if you don’t win the guitar, you can still get a free song download.

Here’s the video. The hint for the contest is that Sam likes to paint…

 

Even more exciting than the potential to win a guitar, is the guarantee to see these gents live during their upcoming US tour with AWOLNATION (another band that made my SXSW ’11 mix).  They come to LA in a little over a month! November 3rd at The Music Box.

 

 

Finally, in case you were wondering, my favorite question asked during the chat session: “What is your favorite Biffy Clyro song?”

Answer: Ross: “Bubbles” (off Only Revolutions)
Sam: “Eradicate The Doubt” (off  The Vertigo of Bliss)

There is no such thing as too much Biffy in one’s life…:)

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/18-4/24

Posted on by Kristen

Still singing and dancing to music from last night’s adventure at The Troubadour. Ben Rector and Matt Wertz were both fantastic, bringing me back to my days of Tyler Hilton, Gavin Degraw, and that ilk. I spent a lot of time in 2004-5 this week between last night and Weds night’s venture to The Hotel Cafe to see Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump busting beats with his new solo tunes. The highlight of last week, however, was Biffy Clyro down at The Belly Up. I cannot be effusive enough in the written word to describe the experience, so I won’t even try.

Let’s just say this week has a lot to live up to. If I could pick just one show it would be Thursday night at Molly Malone’s. Zane Carney (of my very first LA band love, Carney) is in town from NYC where he, as well as the rest of the band, have been very busy with the new Spiderman musical. Zane’s playing three sets; the first with a jazz band, the second with his sister Paris Carney, and the third with Stephen Hovsepian as a duo, Great Work. I am excited about the music (Zane is a master of the guitar and always a pleasure to watch), but I’m also excited about catching up with my Carney family, the first group of people I met when I moved out to LA, the majority of whom I have not seen since Carney departed.

But that’s not all that’s going on this week. It’ll be a busy one:

 

Monday: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Lauryn Hill at Club Nokia (7pm)

 

Tuesday: Dead Sara at The Viper Room…opening for Duff McKagan’s new band, Loaded (8:30)
ALSO: Eliza Doolittle and Plan B at The El Rey (7pm)
ALSO: The Material at Whiskey a Go Go (8pm)
ALSO: Armada and Infantree at Saint Rocke (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Paul Simon at The Music Box (7pm)

 

Weds: Ellie Goulding at The Music Box (7pm)
ALSO: Amie Miriello and Ruby Friedman Orchestra at The Hotel Cafe (7,9)

 

Thursday: An evening with Zane Carney at Molly Malone’s (8: Zane Carney, John Daversa, and Sam Gendel play jazz; 9: Zane and Paris Carney; 10: The Zane and Stephan Show)
ALSO: Deep Dark Robot at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: The Pretty Reckless FREE at Hard Rock Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Kurt Vile and The Violators at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (8:30)

 

Friday: Purple Melon at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Hugo at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Lakes at The Hotel Cafe (midnight)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Pi (part of a songwriters in the round session, starts at 9pm)
ALSO: Eastern Conference Champions at The Echo (10pm)

 

Saturday: I do have a friend who will be dressing up like a crab and singing “Under The Sea” at The Troubadour…that might be interesting…

 

Sunday: Justin Hopkins Songwriter in the Round Series and Hugo at Saint Rocke (8,10)
ALSO: Viza at The El Rey (7:30)

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
April 25th: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour
April 27th: Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
April 29th: Joe Purdy with The Milk Carton Kids at Saint Rocke
April 30th: Joe Purdy with The Milk Carton Kids at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Xavier Rudd at The El Rey
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 9th: KT Tunstall at The El Rey
May 14th: The Other Side of Morning CD Release
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 20th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe
May 21st: Saint Motel at The Roxy
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
May 27th-29th: Sasquatch Music Festival (Washington)
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 7th: Death Cab for Cutie and The Lonely Forest at The El Rey
June 9-12: Bonnaroo (TN)
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
June 15th: Augustana at The House of Blues Sunset
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)

~ Kristen

 

Amanda’s SD Show Calendar 4/11-4/17

Posted on by Amanda

I don’t know about you, but I had a lovely week/end of music this week. Between discovering The Tilt at the Belly Up and dancing so hard to Parade of Lights, I’m a happy girl (even if I still have a charlie horse in my calf).

Coachella is looming this weekend and for those of you going; stay cool, have fun, be safe.

For the rest of us, we have some music to keep us company this week 🙂

 

Monday: Vanity Theft @ Soda Bar @9 $5

Tuesday: Silent Lune @ Soda Bar @9 $5
AND: Local Brews Local Grooves @ House of Blues SD @7

Wednesday: Wendy Bailey and The True Stories with The Midwinters @ Tin Can Alehouse @930 $5
AND: Mike Wojniak @ Soda Bar @9 $5
AND: Moon Duo @ Casbah @9 $8 adv/$10 day of

Thursday: Biffy Clyro @ Belly Up @9 $6
AND: Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
AND: The Bloodflowers and Skyline Union @ Bar Pink @10
AND: Brandon Flowers and Nervous Wreckords @ House of Blues SD @730 $22.50 adv/$25 day of

Friday: Yuck @ Casbah @9 $10 adv/$12 day of
AND: Steve Poltz @ Lestats @9
AND: Tapedeck Mountain @ Soda Bar @9 $6

Saturday: Ellie Goulding and the Knocks @ Casbah- SOLD OUT!
AND: Kevin Martin @ Lestats @9
AND: Weatherbox @ Soda Bar @ 9 $5

Sunday: Matt Wertz and Ben Rector @ Anthology @930 $10-25

 

Keep in Mind:

April 24th- The Head and the Heart @ Casbah $12
April 27th- Wendy Bailey and Echo Revolution @ Bar Pink @10
April 28th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
April 28th- Greg Laswell @ Anthology @930 $10-28
April 29th- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Anthology
May 2nd- TV on the Radio @ 4th & B
May 3rd- James Blunt @ Humphreys
May 6th- Ghostland Observatory @ 4th & B
May 6th- Chris Cornell @ Humphreys
May 6th- Fleet Foxes @ Spreckles Theater
May 7th- The Raveonettes @ Belly Up
May 11th- Bayside and Silverstein @ Soma @6 $18
May 12th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
May 13th- Pinback @ Belly Up
May 16th- Black Angels @ Belly Up
May 21st- System of a Down @ Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre
June 1st- Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra @ Soma @ 630 $20
June 8th- Adele @ Humphrey’s
June 11th- Airborne Toxic Event @ House of Blues
June 17th- Switchfoot @ Del Mar Fair
June 19th- Panic! at the Disco @ House of Blues
June 22nd- Neon Trees @ Del Mar Fair
July 5th- Eddie Vedder @ Copley Symphony Hall
July 27th- Indigo Girls @ Humphrey’s
August 9th- Vans Warped Tour