Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 11/21-11/27

Since I got back from my east coast trip, I feel like I have been running full speed ahead non-stop. I can’t believe it’s already Sunday eve and despite working most of the weekend, my to do list barely has a scratch. I didn’t get out to too many shows last week, but the ones I saw were phenomenal. The Hours and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Royce Hall and Milo Greene and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern were both top notch musical experiences. And let’s not forget LMN’s show tonight featuring Wires in the Walls, Holy Rolling Empire, and Sunken Ships…an excellent night of music!

Despite it being a holiday week, there are still a few promising shows. I’m basically going to have to take it on an hour by hour basis, but those of you fortunate enough to be able to plan ahead, here’s what I’d recommend:

 

Monday: Vanaprasta FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Rachel Cantu, The Janks, Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (8:30, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: The Maine at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Mowglis and Maniac at Three of Clubs (9, midnight)
ALSO: Golden State and Kemble Walters and the Blank Faces at The Viper Room (10,12)
ALSO: Ari Shine, Kevin Martin, Just an Animal at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Weds: Korey Dane at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground at Bootleg Bar (11pm)

 

Thursday: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

Friday: Trapt at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Central (8:30)

 

Saturday/Sunday: everyone will probably be out of town, but maybe something will come up by the weekend…

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Allen Stone at The Echo
December 2nd: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey
December 2nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 6th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 14th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

 

 

 

 

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 9/12-9/18

Currently sitting in the back of a conference room listening to a panel on music marketing at The San Diego Music Thing. I love this conference, both for the informative day-time panels and the nights jam packed with fantastic local bands. I just have to say that my brain is a bit mushy right now because Friday night I saw two of my very favorite bands, Nico Vega and The Silent Comedy, in the same evening and I’m pretty sure my mind was so completely blown that it is no longer fully functional. If I have time, I’ll do a more complete post about this fantastic event.

There are several shows I’m particularly looking forward to this week. Songwriter extraordinaire, Dan Wilson, is in town for it’s a school night at Bardot Monday night and mind-melters, The Silent Comedy, are doing a free show Thursday at Villian’s Tavern downtown. I also don’t want to miss SXSW find Tailor Made Fable from Montreal (Tuesday, Viper Room) and last week’s new music recommendation The Horrible Crowes (Weds, Troubadour).

But there are tons of great shows. Here’s what I’d suggest:

 

 

Monday: Big Black Delta FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Gaby Moreno and Dan Wilson (10:30)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Red Circle Underground and Fat City Reprise FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10,11)
ALSO: Kopecky Family Band and GIVERS at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: New Liberty at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: We Are Augustines at The Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Tailor Made Fable at The Viper Room (7:30)
ALSO: The Shakers at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins at Café Boogaloo in Hermonsa Beach (6:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers Night at The Piano Bar (8:30)…FREE music all night

 

Weds: The Horrible Crowes at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at The Bootleg (9:30)
ALSO: Cracker at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Some Hear Explosions and Nightmare the Cat at Club Moscow (9pm)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Edie Carey at Genghis Cohen (7pm)
ALSO: Fleet Foxes at The Greek Theater (7:30)

 

Thursday: The Silent Comedy FREE at Villian’s Tavern (8pm)
ALSO: Curtis Peoples and Boyce Avenue at The Music Box (7pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Robbers on High Street at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Lex Land at The Echo (7pm)
ALSO: Lady Antebellum at The Troubadour (8pm)…need to win tickets through a radio station (Country 105FM), but this would be an awesome show!

 

Friday: Lobster Fest featuring Andy Clockwise (9:15)… http://lobsterfest.com/music/
ALSO: Kyle Nicolaides, Jason Diaz, and Muddy Reds and at The Bootleg (9,10,11)
ALSO: Viza at The Key Club (10pm)
ALSO: Michael Johns at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Saturday: We Barbarians at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Lobster Fest featuring Eastern Conference Champions, Shadow Shadow Shade, He’s My Brothers, She’s My Sister, and more! (1pm)

 

Sunday: Nightmare & The Cat at Hemmingway’s Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Of Verona and White Lights at The Viper Room (9,10)

 

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
September 20th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Dead Sara and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room
September 22nd: Andy Clockwise and Queen Caveat at The Roxy
September 23rd: Inara George at Bootleg Bar
September 23rd/24th: Lee Dewyze at The Hotel Cafe
September 24th: The Script at Hollywood Palladium
September 24th and 25th: William Elliot Whitmore at Bootleg Theater
September 25th: The Lonely Forest at The Wiltern
September 28th: Puddle of Mudd at The Viper Room
October 11th: Rival Sons and Evanescence at Hollywood Palladium
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
October 17th: Youngblood Hawke and Imagine Dragons at The Satellite
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://www.localmusicnation.net/

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/22-8-28

SSMF 2011 might be officially over, but pictures, recaps, new band love announcements, videos, etc. are all being processed so the experience will be extended for a good week or so. Today has been difficult because as much as I need to recover from the totally insanity of the last few days, there is still so much to be done! Tomorrow is a big day at work and a big night out on the town. And let’s not forget that Sunset Junction is next weekend! I’m still not quite sure how it’s all going to go down, but here is my general blueprint for the week:

 

Monday: Ben Rector at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Scarlet Grey with The Dead & Departed and Dead Country at The Troubadour (8pm, SG at 9:45)…this will be the last local Scarlet Grey show for awhile, so if you’re a fan, you’d best make it out
ALSO: Some Hear Explosions at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: Chappo FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Jenny O, Robert Francis, and The Constellations FREE at Bootleg (10,11,12)
ALSO: The Lexingtons FREE at Silverlake Lounge (12am)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Kyler England, Joel Eckels, Stephen Wrabel, and John Schmidt (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Brett Hite FREE at the W Hotel (7:15pm)
ALSO: The Trews at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Chris Thile at The Largo (9pm)
ALSO: David and Devine at The Dragonfly in Santa Monica (8pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers Night at Piano Bar: and evening of FREE great local music starting at 8pm

 

Weds: Anna Nalick and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (10,11)
ALSO: Fiona Apple at The Largo (8pm)
ALSO: The Lookout Kids at The Viper Room (8:50)

 

Thursday: The Veronicas at The Viper Room (9pm)
ASO: Abbot Kinney FREE at The Hard Rock Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Madi Diaz at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground at O’Briens in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: 100 Monkeys at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Friday: Patrick Park at The Echo (8pm)
ALSO: Will Hutchinson at Room 5 (10pm)

 

Saturday: Sunset Junction featuring KD Lang, Chasing Kings, Milo Greene, Brian Wright, Cary Brothers, Butch Walker, Lovers Drugs and SO MUCH MORE (noon)…for the complete schedule go here: http://www.sunsetjunction.org/index.php/street-fair/performance-schedule
ALSO: Golden State, Brendan Hines, and Sunset Junction after party at the Hotel Cafe (10, 11pm)
ALSO: The Goo Goo Dolls at The Greek Theater (7pm)

 

Sunday: Sunset Junction featuring Hanson, Rooney, The Belle Brigade, Lady Danville, The Rescues, Honeyhoney, Jim Bianco, David and Devine, and SO MANY MORE (noon)…see above link for schedule
ALSO: Holly Miranda and Uh Huh Her at Bootleg Bar (9,10)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 29th: Carbon Leaf at Saint Rocke
August 30th: Fiction Family at Bootleg Bar
September 1st: Fierce Creatures at The Hotel Cafe
September 3rd: FYF
September 8th Dead Sara at The Viper Room
September 9-10: San Diego Music Thing
September 16th: Lobster Fest with Andy Clockwise and more
September 17th: We Barbarians at The Satllite
September 20th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room
September 23rd: Inara George at Bootleg Bar
September 23rd/24th: Lee Dewyze at The Hotel Cafe
September 24th: The Script at Hollywood Palladium
September 24th and 25th: William Elliot Whitmore at Bootleg Theater
September 25th: The Lonely Forest at The Wiltern
September 28th: Puddle of Mudd at The Viper Room
October 11th: Rival Sons and Evanescence at Hollywood Palladium
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/1-8/7

Enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon catching up with friends via email or phone and listening to George Stanford from the comfort of my home. Maybe this live stream thing isn’t such a bad thing after all. Join George next Sunday 3pm PST (http://www.livestream.com/georgestanford) and listen to him sing (yes he takes requests) and ramble on about…anything. It’s cool because there are people from all over the country gathering together listening to music…I wish we could do this kind of thing more often.

 

But for those of you in Los Angeles, so many live shows you can go to this week. Here are my suggestion:

 

Monday: It’s a school night at Bardot featuring Cary Brothers and The Damnwells (10pm)…FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)
ALSO: The Belle Brigade at The Grammy Museum (7:30)
ALSO: The Californian at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke and Robert Francis FREE at Bootleg Bar (9,11)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Justin Jones, Raining Jane, Bushwalla at The Hotel Cafe (7,9,10)…Raining Jane record release
ALSO: Toy FREE at Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood (9pm)
ALSO: Youngblood Hawke at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: The Naked & Famous at The Music Box

 

Weds: The Alternate Routes at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Moderne Man at The Viper Room (10:50)

 

Thursday: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi at The Hotel Cafe as part of YouTube Songwriters in the Round (8pm)

 

Friday: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)…beginning of the Keaton residency
ALSO: Abandoned Pools at The Viper Room (10:45)
ALSO: Harris Grade at Amplyfi (10:15)

 

Saturday: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at O’Briens (10pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at Saint Rocke (9pm)

 

Sunday: something always comes up by Sunday…

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 10th: Sia at The Wiltern
August 11th: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair
August 11th: Ellie Goulding at The Wiltern
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 12th: Andrew Belle at The Mint
August 13th: Milk Carton Kids CD Release at McCabe’s
August 13th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
August 16th: Mutemath at The Troubadour
August 18th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TDIF at The Hotel Cafe
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 22nd: Ben Rector at The Hotel Cafe
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room
September 24th: William Elliot Whitmore at Bootleg Theater
September 25th: The Lonely Forest at The Wiltern
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
March 13-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/11-7/17

This past week has been incredibly rough. From all the problems resulting from the new apartment to my car breaking down and work stuff just not…working, I haven’t been in the best of spirits. I am very grateful to have friends who made the effort to drive me to/from a couple shows, without which I would descend into madness. I at least made it to two of the four The Silent Comedy shows. Those boys never fail to deliver a good time. Their show at the LACMA with Saint Motel was particularly enjoyable as it included a tour of the Tim Burton exhibit AND it got done early enough for us to catch a little “Weatherman” from Dead Sara at The Viper Room.

My favorite show last week, however, was Truth & Salvage Co. with Brian Wright Monday night at The Hotel Cafe. I discovered Truth & Salvage Co. at this venue over two years ago and seeing them play my favorite stage once again was like a homecoming. This band has the ability to transform the energy of an entire room making it impossible to not feel a strong sense of communal love, happiness, and an overwhelming desire to dance. And let’s not forget about the Brian Wright icing on the Truth & Salvage cake! That man is a marvel…and is incidentally playing a last minute gig tonight (Sunday) at Piano Bar at 10:30 (told you something would come up)

This week I start an intensive two week training course so my evening adventures will again be diminished. Nothing will stop me, however, from Parade of Lights Thursday night at The Viper Room. I’ve mentioned these boys before and am incredibly excited to have them back in Los Angeles. If you can make it, I’d love to see you there.

Here’s what else is going on (it’s quite a healthy week for music):

 

Monday: Andy Clockwise and Lemon Sun FREE at The Satellite (10pm)…the first of a month long residence from Mr. Clockwise
ALSO: Races FREE at Bootleg Theater (10:30)…another start of a must-see residency
ALSO: Thao and Mirah at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Eli James FREE at Hemingway’s Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Matthew Mayfield and Johnny Marnell at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry at The Roxy (7:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Night at Piano Bar featuring Dave Green and Jesse Cole (8pm)

 

Weds: Jay Nash and Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Lookout Kids at The Viper Room (10:30)

 

Thursday: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: The Bangles FREE at The Santa Monica Pier (7pm)
ALSO: The Soft Pack and Hanni El Khatib FREE at The Hammer Museum (7pm)
ALSO: The Californian FREE at Pershing Square (7:30)…part of the Spaceland under the stars summer concert series

 

Friday: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: Nikki Monninger (silversun pickups), Brian Aubert, The Janks, Sabrosa Purr, and Vicky Cryer at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Beatnik Jr. at The Good Hurt (10:30)
ALSO: Sarah McLaughlin at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30
ALSO: Music in the Zoo featuring Mini Mansions, Hands, Honeyhoney, Kitten, and more (6pm)…an excuse to get into the zoo after-hours!! http://lazoo.org/mitz/index.html

 

Saturday: Maniac at The Bootleg Theater (10:30)
ALSO: Sarah McLaughlin at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)
ALSO: Trapt at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: OSLO at The Satellite (11pm)

 

Sunday: Black Baptista at The Viper Room (11pm)

 

NOTE: Saturday and Sunday is LA’s Carmageddon, so I’d only venture out if you don’t have to go too far…or anywhere near the 405.

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 21st: Missy Higgins at The Santa Monica Pier
July 22nd: Langhorne Slim at The Echo
July 22nd: Indians CD release at The Viper Room
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: Ben Sollee at Bootleg Theater
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 11th: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 16th: Mutemath at The Troubadour
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TDIF at The Hotel Cafe
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 7/4-7/10

This week has been kinda painful. Let’s just say I hate moving. My mom was in town from Pennsylvania to help with the move. She accompanied me Weds night to the El Rey to see Nightlands and Sondre Lerche THEN she came with me to On the Rox to rock out to Semi Precious Weapons’ last Empire gig…completely with late night dining at The Rainbow Room. We didn’t get home ‘til the wee hours. I just have to say that my mom totally rocks and I am quite lucky to have her.

Because of the move, my last week was a bit light on shows. Hopefully this week I’ll be able to turn it all around. This may be slightly problematic as my car currently doesn’t function properly…but The Silent Comedy is starting a West Coast tour with Saint Motel, hitting up The Casbah (San Diego) on Tuesday, Detroit Bar (Costa Mesa) Weds, LACMA (LA) Thursday, and Velvet Jones (Santa Barbara) on Saturday so…we shall just have to make something work, now won’t we!

Also happening this week:

 

Monday: Truth & Salvage Co. with Brian Wright and Erin McLaughlin at The Hotel Cafe (7:30)

 

Tuesday: Anya Marina and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8,9:30)
ALSO: Alice Wallace at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night at Piano Bar (8pm)…this event is always free!

 

Weds: Lovers Drugs at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Thursday: The Silent Comedy and Saint Motel at LACMA
ALSO: Golden State and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (9,10)
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: The Northstar Session at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings and Infantree at Bootleg Bar (10:30, 11:30)

 

Friday: Queen Caveat at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Graham Colton at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Singer-Songwriter Night FREE at Pi on Sunset (9pm)…a songwriters in the round format featuring Alina Smith and friends

 

Saturday: Moderne Man at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Sunday: I’m sure something will present itself before Sunday

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 14th: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room
July 15th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 21st: Missy Higgins at The Santa Monica Pier
July 22nd: Langhorne Slim at The Echo
July 22nd: Indians CD release at The Viper Room
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: Ben Sollee at Bootleg Theater
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 11th: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TDIF at The Hotel Cafe
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room

~ Kristen

 

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

 

Local Music Nation Goes to Nashville

After Bonnaroo, we were covered with dirt and grime. Unshowered and not having slept, the last thing we wanted to do was immediately get on an airplane for 4 hours. Instead we decided to hit up the nearest Steak N Shake, find a hotel with a pool, and spend a little time in Nashville…it is, after all, the music city. We explored the Country Music Museum learning about the history and nuances of country music as well as a lot more about Hank Williams and his family than I really cared to know. There were some fun artifacts including horse lover Webb Pierce’s tricked out car, Elvis’ golden piano, and most excitedly (for me), Carl Perkins’ actual blue suede shoes! In association with the museum, we also toured RCA Studio B where hits from the likes of Elvis, Dolly Parton, and The Everly Brothers were recorded. I picked up a t-shirt with the museum’s slogan, “Honor Thy Music”

My favorite part of our Nashville adventures, was the evening we spent at local bar, 3rd & Lindsley. I wanted to get a taste for the local scene (as well as some fried pickles) and I was overly pleased when I noticed that 3rd & Lindsley was having an evening jam-packed with Nashville-based artists! The evening began with a group from Winston-Salem, NC (a town I incidentally spent a summer living in back in ‘05). Katelyn Marks and her two guitarists got the evening off to a great start, even playing a cover of Nashville natives, The Civil Wars’ hit “Barton Hollow”.

The second act was a songwriters in the round featuring three Nashville-based musicians; Jaron Boyer, Jared Crump, and Neal Carpenter. I enjoyed each of these artists for different reasons. Jaron Boyer was the country boy with fun, smartly-crafted tunes that would flow seamlessly on the local radio. Jared Crump was the sensitive singer-songwriter with the heartfelt love songs that can make you feel all mushy inside. But it was something about the way Neal Carpenter sang his tunes that made me stop and put down my fried pickles every time he picked up his guitar. I was dismayed to find only one tune available on itunes. Give a listen to “Don’t Give Up”…this guy is definitely going on my watch list. Can’t wait ‘til he comes to LA!


 

The ‘Round was fantastic, but the evening was really just beginning. The final portion of the night was reserved for The Podunk Sessions, a family of Nashville-based musicians who like to get together and play music with each other. Each artist would get on stage and play a mini-set of 3-5 tunes…perfect for sampling. The evening began with Dave Pahanish, a guy whose name you might not know, but whose songs have been sung by the likes of Toby Keith, Keith Urban, and Tim McGraw. My favorite part of Dave’s set was when his wife, Kristin Lee joined him for a tune or two adding her soulful voice to his country twang.

The night continued with an impressive line-up. From the too cute for words Rachel Loy and the up-and-coming country star Eric Paslay to Brain Wright’s Nashville doppelganger Hugh Mitchell and self-proclaimed “downer” of the group, Brad Tursi, there was seemingly no end to the talent that took the stage. My favorite of the evening was probably the still nervous when she sings but will knock your socks off with her stunning vocals Bonnie Bishop. There were also a string of guests whose names I just didn’t get who were equally impressive and most likely great artists in their own right.

Individually, all the artists were such a treat to listen to, but the true magic of the evening lied in their collaborations. As the evening continued, musicians seemed to be coming out of the woodwork. I began to wonder if there was anyone in the place who wouldn’t at one point get on stage to sing, pick up a guitar, or at the very least lend some enthusiastic background clapping. The event left me with the most favorable impression of the local scene as a talented and collaborative community of singers and songwriters.

We left the party early (a bit after midnight) because we had one more aspect of Nashville to explore: the late night dining experience. We ended up at Cafe Coco which had a comfortable indie vibe, plenty of interesting artifacts on the walls, and an impressive array of food options. We each tried a couple of different things and it was all quite scrumptious. I was especially pleased with the turtle cheesecake…

All in all, I’d say LMN’s first trip to Nashville was a smashing success…plenty of music to investigate and new artists to keep tabs on. We got to visit some historic sites and got a tiny glimpse of the local scene. I found myself wishing I could live in Nashville for awhile. As much as we saw, there are so many more music venues to explore and artists to discover! Maybe someday…

 

Want to learn more about all these great artists coming out of Nashville? Here are some links to the music and pages of the musicians we came across on our trip:

Neal Carpenter
Jared Crump
Jaron Boyer
Katelyn Marks
Dave Pahanish
Kristin Lee
Rachel Loy
Eric Paslay
Hugh Mitchell
Brad Tursi
Bonnie Bishop

and if you’re ever in Nashville:

3rd & Lindsley
The Country Music Museum
Cafe Coco
Jack’s BBQ