Local Music Nation

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/9-7/15

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Kristen

I’ve been doing a lot of writing this weekend. I can’t write without listening to music, so I’ve been doing a lot of that as well. After seeing Joe Firstman Friday at WitZend play one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while (from anyone), I’ve got his entire catalog on repeat. I’m also mixing in The Young Roman’s Tiger Child and the live EP Twin Atlantic gave out last week which has a particularly compelling acoustic version of “Make A Beast Of Myself”. Finally, last night, while at The Satellite to see Queen Caveat, I discovered a new band from Portland called Rags & Ribbons so I’m absorbing and slightly obsessing over their album The Glass Masses.

Soon, however, I’ll have to switch over to The Silent Comedy to pump myself up for their show tonight at The Echoplex. I can’t imagine a better way to end the weekend than a TSC dance-party.

Next week starts off strong with a show from Tony Lucca at Room 5. We’ll see how much Tony’s popularity has increased since his showing on The Voice. My other pick of the week might have to be Saint Motel’s record release at The El Rey on Saturday. I’m so proud of these LA locals, rising in popularity to headlining status at The El Rey! There are also several great shows at The Hotel Cafe this week including one by LMN Band Love Tournament of Hearts.

Here’s my full calendar of recommendations:

Monday: Tony Lucca at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Lost Lander and Terraplane Sun FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Miracle Parade at R Bar (?)…be sure to check the R Bar website for the current password to get in

Tuesday: Monsters Calling Home at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

Weds: Connie Lim and Sonia Rao at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars at Los Globos (10pm)
ALSO: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at King King Hollywood (8pm)

Thursday: Sara Watkins & Tom Brosseau at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Naia Kete and The O’s at The Hotel Cafe (9, 11)
ALSO: London Cries at The Viper Room (11pm)

Friday: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down at California Plaza Downtown (12pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins and Orlando Napier at Harvelle’s (9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines and Golden State at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Javier Dunn, Jesse Thomas, and The Young Romans at Room 5 (8,9,10)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra and Warner Drive at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: David and Devine at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Ryan Cabrera at The Key Club (10pm)

Saturday: Tournament of Hearts and Dawn McCoy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Saint Motel with Princeton and Chasing Kings at The El Rey (8pm)…Saint Motel Record Release
ALSO: Carina Round at The Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Finish Ticket at Amplyfi (9pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon and Berlin FREE at Pershing Square (7:30)

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke (8:05)

To Keep in Mind:
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^thand 11^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14^th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6^th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/24-7/1

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Kristen

Currently listening to all the bands on the Warped Tour line-up…trying to decide if I want to go to Ventura’s date. I’m leaning towards yes, mostly because I want to see Dead Sara, but sadly I feel there are more bands on my “to avoid” list than my “to check out” list (yes, I have made lists). Regardless, I’m putting together my calendar a day early just in case…

Plenty of good shows this week. I’m most excited about seeing some local bands I haven’t seen in a while (Lovers Drugs, The Active Set, Sabrosa Purr, NO, Standing Shadows, etc.). If you want to experience some great LA rock bands, it’s a good week to get out!

Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring ZZ Ward and DWNTWN (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Beachwood Rockers Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring The Cordovas (9pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Del Monte Speakeasy (9pm)
ALSO: Infantree record release FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Lisa Marie Presley at The Roxy (8:30)

Weds: Jessie Payo and Joel Eckels at Room 5 (8,9)

Thursday: Lovers Drugs and The Active Set at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Josh Groban at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm)

Friday: Golden State, Kill the Complex and Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (9,10,11)
ALSO: NO at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Sophie B. Hawkins and Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Connie Lim and Nina Storey at WIZend (9,10)
ALSO: Adam Bones at The Redwood Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Keane at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

Saturday: Standing Shadows at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Buddy and Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)

Sunday: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines at The Bootleg (8pm)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)
ALSO: Laura Marling Ford Amphitheatre (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
July 7^th: Queen Caveat at The Satellite
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The EL Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/30-5/6

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Kristen

This week has been all about paper reading/writing…not a lot of music listening…although there has been some Veronica Mars watching and that show has an excellent soundtrack. Also, I did make it out to The Wiltern Friday night for Ingrid Michaelson. I am a big fan of her latest album, Human Again and, as I anticipated, the new songs translated quite well to an exciting live show. Plus, LMN faves Harper Blynn opened and they are always a treat.

Speaking of the NYC-based band, Harper Blynn are playing a show at The Hotel Cafe Tuesday night that will be part of a live recording. I imagine this will be a particularly good one. That’s just the start of all the great shows happening in LA this week. Here are my recommendations:

Monday: Youngblood Hawke, The Chevin FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: LP at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Yukon Blonde FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/)
ALSO: Eve 6 at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Jack White at The Mayan Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Harper Blynn (live recording residency) and Vassy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Andrew Belle and Katie Herzig at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:45)
ALSO: Toy Bombs FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Pierces, Metronomy, and Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)

Weds: Carina Round at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Sophie Barker and The Janks at Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan (8pm)
ALSO: The Pierces, Metronomy, and Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)

Thursday: Honeyhoney and James Morrison at The Avalon (7pm)
ALSO: Forrest Day at Harvelle’s (8pm)
ALSO: Moderne Man at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: 3^rd Annual LA Bluegrass Situation: The Watkins Family Hour & Very Special Guests at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Everest and BRAD at The Troubadour (9:15, 10)

Friday: 3^rd Annual LA Bluegrass Situation: Punch Brothers and Very Special Guests (10:30)
ALSO: The Pierces, Metronomy, and Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)
ALSO: Curt Smith at McCabe’s (8pm)

Saturday: Lovers Drugs and The Lexingtons at The Parlor (9pm)
ALSO: Armada and The Other Side of Morning at Amplyfi (8:15, 9:45)
ALSO: KROQ Weenie Roast featuring Coldplay, Incubus, The Offspring, Silversun Pickups, Garbage, Awolnation, etc. (1pm)

Sunday: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour (10:10)
ALSO: Nicole Eva Emery, Jesca Hoop, and Butterfly Boucher at The Hotel Cafe (7,8,10)
ALSO: Mike Viola and The Young Romans at Saint Rocke (7pm)

To Keep in Mind:
May 8^th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10^th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11^th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12^th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 18^th: Chappo at Bootleg Bar
May 18^th: Gaslight Anthem at The Roxy
May 19^th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 19^th: Zane Carney at Molly Malone’s
May 30^th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31^st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3^rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5^th and 6^th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6^th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7-10^th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 16^th: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium
June 21^st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29^th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday Featuring Harper Blynn, Butterfly Boucher, Neon Trees, and William Beckett

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Kristen

Another Tuesday, more great new music for your ears. Here’s what we recommend:

Harper Blynn– Busy Hands

Harper Blynn is a NYC-based band, but they have been spending a lot of time in LA this year…probably working on this record. Basically taking up residence at The Hotel Cafe, I had the pleasure of seeing the band play quite a few times. In addition, they played one of my top SXSW 2012 sets. This LMN Band Love is offering their new CD, Busy Hands, for free on their website so no excuse really. Go get it!

Butterfly Boucher– Butterfly Boucher

One of my favorite Ten out of Tenn artists, Australian native, Butterfly Boucher has been on my playlist since I first heard her song “Life is Short” off her debut album Flutterby (2003). She did a show recently in LA at Room 5 and I got to hear some of the new songs off her newest, self-titled album. I’m sold!

Get the album here.

Neon Trees– Picture Show

Neon Trees is my newest addiction and I’m so happy to have a follow up to their debut album Habits (2010). According to singer Tyler Glenn, Picture Show was written “as if it were a soundtrack” and encourages people to “listen this album as a piece or choose the songs that fit your moment.” It’s available on Amazon for only $7.99 to boot!

William Beckett– Walk The Talk EP

A new day has dawned for singer of now defunct band The Academy Is… William Beckett. He is newly liberated and flowing with musical juices (so he says). Today marks the release of his first of three eps. If you want to catch up with Mr. Beckett, you can catch him on Stage It or on tour. The ep is just $4 and available from Amazon in mp3 form or in a physical form here.

Also coming out today:

Jason Mraz – Love is a Four Letter Wordi
Dar Williams – In the Time of Gods
Our Lady Peace – Curve
Eric Hutchinson – Moving Up Living Down

~ Kristen and Amanda

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/13-2/19

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Kristen

If you haven’t noticed, Amanda’s been a busy bee making some changes to the look and function of our site. I hope you like it. I think there might be more to come. I hope you’ve also noticed the Valentine’s Cycle of Love posts put together for Local Music Nation by Amanda and Marissa. I must say, great song choices ladies!

Speaking of choices, there are way too many difficult ones to be made in LA this week. I might need some help, especially for Monday night so please let me know if you’re planning on any of these shows. Here are my options:

Monday: Milo Greene and Maniac FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Walk the Moon, Lady Danville, Liam Bailey, and Butterfly Boucher…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Nightmare and the Cat and Incan Abraham FREE at Bootleg (10:30, 11:30)
ALSO: Butterfly Boucher, Paris Carney, and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (7pm)
ALSO: Haim FREE at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Some Hear Explosions at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: NO at Origami Vinyl (7pm)…Vinyl release party

Tuesday: We are The Ocean, Twin Atlantic, The Swellers, and You Me at Six at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at The Belasco Theater (9pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground and Audra Mae FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Valentine Party featuring George Stanford, Truth & Salvage Co., and so many more at The Piano Bar (8pm)
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers at WitZend (9pm)
ALSO: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at The Echoplex (10pm)

Weds: The Other Side of Morning Record Release with Shawn Hook and Toy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton at the Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Millow and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)

Thursday: Erin McLaughlin, Harper Blynn, Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (7,9,10)
ALSO: Queen Caveat at Andaz (8pm)
ALSO: Howlin’ Rain at The Echo (10pm)

Friday: Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes and Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Cafe (10,11)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at On the Rox (10pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11:30)
ALSO: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Bowl

Saturday: Youngblood Hawke, Eastern Conference Champions, Finish Ticket, and Jesse Kivel at The Central (9pm)
ALSO: The Fling at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Mayday Parade at The El Rey (7pm)

Sunday: Foxy Shazam and The Darkness at The House of Blues Sunset (7:30)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 20^th: Milo Greene at The Satellite
Feb. 22^nd: Will Dailey and Mariah McManus at The Hotel Café
Feb. 22^nd: Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room
Feb. 27^th: Dead Sara at The Viper Room
March 5^th: Scars on 45 at The Troubadour
March 5^th-6^th: Dan Wilson and Rachel Yamagata at The Hotel Cafe
March 8^th: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
March 9^th: Vanaprasta at The Bootleg Bar
March 9^th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 10^th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
March 13^th-18^th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 14^th: The Pretty Reckless at The HOB Sunset
March 18^th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 20^th: Needtobreathe and Ben Rector at Club Nokia
March 20^th: War on Drugs at Avalon
March 22^nd: The Lumineers at The Hotel Café
March 23^rd: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
March 24^th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24^th and 25^th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour
March 31^st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 1^st: Charlotte Martin at The Bootleg Bar
April 11^th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12^th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 13^th-15^th AND 20^th– 22^nd: Coachella
April 25^th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 27^th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 8^th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour

~ Kristen