Fitz and the Tantrums

Amanda’s Top Ten Musical Experiences (cont.)

Posted on by Amanda

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!

Local Musicians Giving Back to the Community

Posted on by Kristen

Holidays are a time of year where there is a huge emphasis on giving to the less fortunate. You don’t always put together local music and giving to the local community. At least I didn’t.  Well, about a dozen local SoCal bands did just that.  Hi.  My name is Ashley and Kristen and Amanda are letting me hijack their blog for this one post.  I work for a nonprofit agency called Child and Family Guidance Center in Palmdale.  We give all of our clients and their siblings (low income at risk youth) gifts for the holidays.  I got the bright idea to ask local bands to donate their merchandise and music to the teens as a unique and totally awesome gift.  I got so many more positive responses than I was expecting.  I was able to collect enough items to give 60 totally awesome gifts to the clients.  I was so moved that I asked Kristen if I could post a big THANK YOU (!) to all the bands.  It made my heart swell with happiness and warmth to know that they cared enough to donate their hard work.  Plus the clients really enjoyed getting the special gifts.

As an added bonus-Oh No Not Stereo gave me money to be able to run a music group for the teens.  Talk about my heart filling with even more gushy happiness.

Here is a list of the bands and their websites.  Check them out cause they rock.

Oh No Not Stereo: http://ohnonotstereo.com/blog/

Andy Frasco and the UN: http://andyfrasco.com/

Virtual Boy: http://wearevirtualboy.com/

Oedipus: http://oedipusband.com/

Blonde Summer: http://www.facebook.com/blondesummer

Saint Motel : http://saintmotel.com/

Dead Country: http://deadcountry.net/

Runner Runner: http://www.runnerrunnermusic.com/

Taylor Locke and The Roughs: http://www.tlatr.com/

Maniac: http://maniacmania.com/sonsofsummer.html

Some Hear Explosions: http://www.somehearexplosions.com/

The Silent Comedy: http://www.thesilentcomedy.com/

Fitz and the Tantrums: http://fitzandthetantrums.com/

 

~ Ashley (awebb@childguidance.org)

Kristen’s Top 5 Reasons To Attend Coachella 2012

Posted on by Kristen

Yesterday the Coachella line-up was announced. I want to go. Especially on Saturday. If you haven’t heard, Coachella is two weekends this year, April 13-15 and April 20-22 with the same lineup each weekend. For the entire list of performers, tickets, and other like information, go to the website.

I don’t know all the performers announced, but after a quick scan of the list, here are the ones that give me most reason to buy that ticket:

 

1. St. Vincent

I’ve been a St. Vincent fan for several years now, but last year I got the unexpected opportunity to see the explosive Annie Clark live and she vaulted to another level in my estimation. Strange Mercy is one of my favorite albums that came out in 2011 and I cannot WAIT to see her again.

 

2. The Big Pink

After recently reviewing the forthcoming album, Future This, I am very much looking forward to the return of The Big Pink to the States. With new offerings like the catchy fist pumping “Hit The Ground (Superman)”, I am more than ready to party it up in The Big Pink tent!

 

3. The Head and The Heart 

I’ve seen them at just about every major festival I’ve attended in the past year and they always put on one of the most enjoyable sets of the event. I expect The Head and The Heart at Coachella to be no different. They are the perfect festival band.

 

4. Laura Marling/We Are Augustines

Festivals are great for checking out all those bands that you’ve been enjoying but just haven’t gotten around to seeing live. Laura Marling and We Are Augustines are both at the top of that list for me. Thank you Coachella for giving me this opportunity to see them!

[vimeo 29334190]

5. Radiohead

umm…I believe this one is self-explanatory.

 

And 5 more for good measure:

  • The Shins – another one I’d love to see but just never have
  • Gotye– that song is just so damned catchy…must.see.live
  • Fitz and The Tantrums– they put on the best dance party in town and Coachella is all about the dance parties
  • Band of Skulls– their face-melting new record will be out by then. I’m always down for a good face-melting
  • Arctic Monkeys – so I can dance electro-pop like a robot from 1984!

 

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 11/28-12/4

Posted on by Amanda

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! Kristen came down to my place and we feasted on way too much food. It was a wonderful dinner and we still have tons of leftovers. On another note, can you believe it’s almost December?! I mean, where did the time go? I realize I say that a lot but it must really get away from me. I swear it was just summer.

Speaking of it being almost December, holiday shows start rolling around and the first one is this week! First we have the KPRI Holiday Soiree on Wednesday. Next is the Holiday Hootenany from 94/9. If neither of those tickle your fancy, we have a great week of shows to get out and see!

 

Monday: Skyline Union @ Soda Bar @830 $5
AND: Chad Cavanaugh @ Ruby Room @8 $4
AND: Timothy B. Schmit @ Belly Up @8 $25

Tuesday: Russian Circles @ Casbah @9 $12
AND: Freezepop @ Soda Bar @830 $8/$10

Wednesday: KPRI Holiday Soiree w/Fitz and the Tantrums, The Head and The Heart, and Mayer Hawthorne @ Balboa Theater @8 $40
AND: Lindy Crandall, Scott Allen Knost, and Sterling Witt @ Lestats @8
AND: The Entrance Band @ Soda Bar @830 $8/$10
AND: Low Volts @ Casbah @9 $20

Thursday: Nick Waterhouse and The Tarots @ Soda Bar @830 $8/$10
AND: The Dollyrots @ Bar Pink @9
AND: Italian Japanese @ El Dorado @9
AND: Cass McCombs Band and The Donkeys @ Casbah @9 $12

Friday: The Deep Dark Woods, The Howls and Jesse LaMonaca and The Dime Novels @ Soda Bar @830 $8
AND: The Black Heart Procession @ Casbah @9 $12/$14
AND: Josh Damigo @ The Irenic @8 $10/$15
AND: Kevin Martin @ Museum of Making Music @7 $10
AND: Jane Lui, AJ Rafel, and Jesse Barrera @ Lestats @8

Saturday: Little Hurricane and The Heavy Guilt @ Casbah @9 $14
AND: Holiday Hootenanny w/My Morning Jacket, Two Door Cinema Club, Matt & Kim, Delta Spirit, and The Blackout Party @ USD
AND: Hurricane Bells @ Bar Pink @9
AND: Burning of Rome @ Tin Can Alehouse @9 $5

Sunday: Girl in a Coma and Fences @ Casbah @9 $10

 

Keep in Mind:
December 6th- Peter Murphy and She Wants Revenge @ Belly Up
December 6th- Patrick Norton @ El Dorado @9
December 10th- The Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Belly Up
December 10th- Mattson 2 @ Lestats
December 10th- Wrex the Halls w/Florence and The Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, Cage the Elephant, The Airborne Toxic Event, and The Naked and Famous @ Valley View Casino Center (formerly Sports Arena) @8
December 11th- Wrex the Halls w/Blink 182, Social Distortion, Pennywise, DMC, Switchfoot, Everlast, and Mutemath @ Valley View Casino Center (formerly Sports Arena) @8
December 12th- Jingle Ball w/Christina Perri, Parachute, and Scars on 45 @ Anthology $20-$295
December 19th- Pinback @ Belly Up
December 31st- The Silent Comedy and Transfer w/The Creepy Creeps, The Heavy Guilt, Low Volts, and more! @ Mississippi Room $25-$40
January 11th- Milk Carton Kids @ Anthology
January 22nd- Wilco and With Denim @ House of Blues
February 3rd- Mute Math @ 4th & B
February 10th- Young the Giant @ Soma
February 23rd- Ra Ra Riot @ Belly Up @8 $18

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 9/5-9/11

Posted on by Kristen

Looks to be another busy week ahead…and an especially good one for The Viper Room. I’m more than a little excited to finally see Our Lady Peace perform live…and on such a tiny stage (insert squeals of delight).

I’m also really looking forward to next Friday/Saturday as it is The San Diego Music Thing. It’s basically a mini SXSW in San Diego. Panels on music related topics then evenings crowded with shows, many of them at venues in walking distance from one another. Friday night we have the likes of Queen Caveat, Kevin Martin, Purple Melon, Andy Clockwise, Nico Vega, The  Silent Comedy, Endoxi, and Eli James…whew!  It’s gonna get a tad crazy…

But enough San Diego talk (that’s Amanda’s job)! Here’s what’s happening in Los Angeles next week that gets my stamp of approval:

 

Monday: Big Black Delta FREE at The Satellite (11pm)…starting their Monday night September residency
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: It’s a school night at Bardot featuring Nightmare the Cat and Carina Round (10:30)…FREE with RSVP

 

Tuesday: The Canyons FREE at The W Hotel in Hollywood (9pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs FREE at The Central (9pm)
ALSO: Eli James at Hemingways (10pm)
ALSO: Johnny Moezzi at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: Ari Shrine at Saint Rocke (6pm)

 

Weds: Gabe Dixon at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: So & So at The Viper Room (9:40)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (11pm)
ALSO: AWOLNATION on Jimmy Kimmel…if this is the only LA date they’re going to play then by golly I’m going to be there!
ALSO: Heart at Gibson Ampitheatre (7:15)

 

Thursday: Sabrosa Purr and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10,11:15)…part of Dead Sara’s September Residency!!!
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: BethPage Black at The Mint (9:50)
ALSO: Colin Hay at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Band of Horses at The Wiltern (8pm)

 

Friday: Taylor Locke at The Central in Santa Monica (10pm)
ALSO: Last American Buffalo and War Tapes at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Hello Vegas at Bootleg Theater (10:05)
ALSO: Harris Grade at Amplyfi (?)
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums at The Greek Theater (7:30)

 

Saturday: Beatnik Jr. at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Amy LaVere at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Blue October at The House of Blues Sunset (7pm)
ALSO: The Kills at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Ray LaMontagne at The Greek Theater (6:30)

 

Sunday: Hello Vegas(8pm), Of Verona(9pm), Our Lady Peace (10pm) and The Shakers(11pm) at The Viper Room
ALSO: Lelia Broussard at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The National at Hollywood Bowl (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
September 12th: Dan Wilson at Bardot
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: 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 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
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

Amanda’s SD Show Calendar 8/29-9/4

Posted on by Amanda

So, I tried to be a good person and get this post out yesterday because I have school Mondays and Wednesdays. This obviously didn’t happen and it might have had something to do with the fact that I was at a shoot all day. Exhausting and wonderful though it was, I was not able to compose my post. However, you should take the time to look up SD Soundsystem. They have been doing some really cool stuff with some really cool bands and I’m thankful to be a small part of it.

Anyways, the day is still early, school is done and I can do what I’m here to do today….

To the calendar!!!

 

Monday: Neon Cough, Death on Mars, The Very, Scott Mathiasen @ Casbah @9

Tuesday: Bully and Patrick Norton @ Tin Can Alehouse @10 $5

Wednesday: White Apple Tree @ Soda Bar @9 $8
AND: Illuminauts @ Casbah @9 $7

Thursday: Patrick Stump @ Anthology @730 $10-$35
AND: Handsome Furs @ Casbah @9 $12

Friday: Fitz and the Tantrums @ Del Mar Racetrack
AND: The Amandas and Crawdaddys @ Casbah @9 $20
AND: Mister Heavenly, Waters, and Little White Teeth @ Bar Pink @10 $10
AND: Daughtry @ Pechanga Resort and Casino $45-$80

Saturday: Fierce Creatures, John Meeks and Joanie Mendenhall @ Tin Can Alehouse @10 $6
AND: River City @ Bar Pink @10
AND: FYF Fest-The Descendents, Death From Above 1979, Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky, Guided By Voices, Cold War Kids, Girls, No Age, and many more… @1st and Main (Downtown LA)

Sunday: The Great American Showcase @ El Dorado @2 $20 (its for breast cancer!)
AND: A Scribe Amidst the Lions and the Heavy Guilt @ Casbah @9 $8 adv/$10 day of
AND: Ben Harper @ Del Mar Racetrack
AND: Cash’d Out @ Belly Up @9 $16 adv/$18 day of
AND: Le Butcherettes @ Bar Pink @10

 

Keep in Mind:

September 4th- The Great American Showcase with The Soft Pack, The Nervous Wreckords, and more! @ El Dorado Cocktail Lounge
September 8th- SD Music Thing Kickoff Party with Telekinesis @ Casbah @9 $12
September 8th- AWOLNATION @ Bell Up
September 9th and 10th- San Diego Music Thing (formerly North Park Music Thing)
September 11th- Diana Ross @ Pechanga Resort and Casino $85-$120
September 11th- The Kills @ House of Blues SD
September 13th- Blue October @ House of Blues SD
September 13th- Ray Lamontagne and The Pariah Dogs @ Copley Symphony Hall
September 14th- The Vaccines, Tennis, and Young Buffalo @ Casbah $15 adv/$17
September 21st Bright Eyes @ Soma @7 $25
September 23rd- Ladytron @ House of Blues SD $25
September 24th- Arctic Monkeys w/ TV on the Radio @ SDSU Open Air Theater
September 24th- Two Door Cinema Club @ House of Blues SD
September 27th- Bush with Chevelle and Filter @ 4th & B @630 $40
September 30th- Portugal. The Man @ House of Blues SD
October 1st- Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls @ Casbah $14
October 5th- The Naked and Famous @ Belly Up
October 6th- Honda Civic Tour w/ Blink 182, My Chemical Romance, and Matt and Kim @ Cricket Wireless
October 9th- Dawes and Blitzen Trapper @ Belly Up @8 $18 adv/$20 day of
October 11th- Dropkick Murphys @ House of Blues
Octiber 14th- The Head and the Heart @ House of Blues @7 $17.50 adv/$20 day of
October 16th- The Naked and Famous @ Belly Up @9 $15
October 17th- Foo Fighters w/ Cage the Elephant @ Viejas Arena
October 19th- Foster the People @ Soma $25
October 26th- Manchester Orchestra @ House of Blues SD
October 30th- Matt Nathanson @ House of Blues SD $23-$40
November 9th- Ra Ra Riot @ Belly Up
November 11th- Thrice @ House of Blues SD
November 16th- The Dirty Heads with Gym Class Heroes @ House of Blues SD
November 20th- Newfound Glory @ House of Blues

Amanda’s (Late) SD Show Calendar 3/29-4/3

Posted on by Amanda

I realize this is coming at you much later than it should be. Although, I suppose I could have just forgotten all together. Point being, I had a very busy weekend and I forgot that I wasn’t going to have time yesterday to put out my calendar like usual. Sunday was my day of rest and it kind of just bit me in the ass. Ha ha. I’m hoping you all just looked at the Keep in Mind section from last week…

Thankfully (maybe only for me) this is a rather light week of music. Although Saturday looks to be rather busy…

 

Tuesday: Fitz and the Tantrums @ Belly Up -SOLD OUT but maybe you can get lucky

Wednesday: Maren Parusel and The Baseball Project @ Casbah $13 adv/$15 day of

Thursday: Uh Huh Her @ Belly Up @9 $16 adv/$18 day of
AND: Trevor Davis CD Release @ Anthology @7 $10-21

Friday: Pretty Too Bad CD Release @ Casbah @ 8 $8
AND: Orgone @ Belly Up @9 $12 adv/$14 day of
AND: Modern Rifles @ Soda Bar @9 $5

Saturday: Black Heart Procession @ Casbah @5 $10 adv/$12 day of
AND: Little Hurricane and Get Back Loretta @ Casbah @ 9
AND: She Wants Revenge @ Belly Up @930 $20 adv/$22 day of
AND: The Donkeys @ Soda Bar @9 $8 adv/$10 day of

Sunday: A Rocket to the Moon, Valencia, and Anarbor @ Soma @630 $13 adv.
AND: Wendy Bailey and Echo Revolution @ Soda Bar @9 $5

 

Keep in Mind:

April 4th- The Sounds and White Apple Tree @ Belly Up
April 8th- Rise Against w/Bad Religion @ RIMAC Arena- UCSD
April 9th- Pete Yorn @ House of Blues
April 14th- Billy Clyro @ Belly Up
April 14th- Brandon Flowers @ House of Blues SD
April 14th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
April 16th- Ellie Goulding and the Knocks @ Casbah
April 28th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
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 11th- Bayside and Silverstein @ Soma @6 $18
May 12th- Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Casbah
May 13th- Pinback @ Belly Up
May 16th- Black Angels @ Belly Up
June 1st- Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra @ Soma @ 630 $20
June 11th- Airborne Toxic Event @ House of Blues