Hermosa Beach

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/5-12/11

Posted on by Kristen

I barely survived last week. I can’t remember the last time I pushed my poor body so hard for so long. I can’t say it was a bad week because it was peppered by some amazing musical experiences, but it’s not a good sign when going to a show is a “break” rather than the end of your day. But it is weeks like these that make me most thankful for great live music and its ability to get me through just about anything.

Here’s to hoping this week can be fabulous without the severe sleep deprivation!  Musically, there is a lot of promise. Friday I’m going to wish I could be in 10 places at once. Thankfully, my fave rockers Queen Caveat will also be making an appearance Weds night down in Hermosa Beach. They’ve been busy recording new music and I’ve been suffering withdrawals…

As for the rest, here’s my list:

 

Monday: Brian Wright at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Beverly Kills at Howl at The Moon in Universal City (10pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Daniel Lanois and Rocco Deluca…free with RSVP (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Maniac and The Postelles at Bootleg Bar (8:30,10:30)
ALSO: Benefit for Free The Slaves at The Hotel Café featuring Joe Purdy, Cary Brothers, The Rescues, The Makepeace Brothers, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Me Talk Pretty at The Key Club (10:30)
ALSO: The Dahls at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Carina Round and Puscifer at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at The Piano Bar (9pm)

 

Weds: Queen Caveat FREE at The Shore Lounge in Hermosa Beach (9:30)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Scott Weiland at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Thursday: Ryan Cabrera at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Friday: Jon McLaughlin and Stephen Kellogg at The Key Club (9, 10:15)
ALSO: Queen Caveat and Kevin Martin at The Viper Room (11, 8pm)
ALSO: The Silent Comedy at Villian’s Tavern (?)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (8:30)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Sara Bareilles and Joshua Radin at The Palladium (7:30)
ALSO: The Belle Brigade at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: William Elliot Whitmore and Trampled by Turtles at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Saturday: Quiet Mind, Soul Puppet, The Young Royals, and Roman Candle Wars at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann Christmas Show at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Sugarcult at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (7pm)
ALSO: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Gibson Amphitheater featuring Incubus, Bush, Chevelle, New Found Glory, etc.

 

Sunday: Satellite Holiday Recital and Toy Drive FREE at The Satellite featuring Steven Wikin (Vanaprasta), Useless Keys, Rob Kolar & Lauren Brown (He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister), etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Odd Us and Parker Ainsworth at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Brandi Carlile at Broad Stage in Santa Monica (?)
ALSO: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Gibson Amphitheater featuring The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Death Cab for Cutie, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, The Naked and Famous, etc.

 

Advance Notice NEXT MONDAY: High Voltage Holiday Party at On the Rox featuring Zero 1, The Active Set, Suddyn, and Bethpage Black (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
December 14th: Deas Vail and Lakes at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Forrest Day at Molly Malone’s
December 16th: Chris Cornell at The Orpheum Theater
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 17th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 18th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 31st: Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

 

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

Posted on by Kristen

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

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/29-9/4

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I’m still sad about the cancellation of Sunset Junction. While I enjoyed the psudeo-Sunset Junction party in the backyard of Dangerbird Records yesterday (I’m definitely getting the new Butch Walker record out this week), I was really looking forward to the Belle Brigade/Rooney/Hanson line-up today. I guess it’s all for the best. Now I have some time to catch up on work! Yay.

Other highlights from last week include my feat of epic proportions, finally seeing Brett Hite (such an amazing voice), the intimate Hotel Cafe performance from Needtobreathe (I was a puddle on the floor after that one) and seeing Michelle Branch again after six years (brought back so many happy memories).

What I’m really looking forward to this week is the recently scheduled TFDI performance at Room 5 Monday night. Here I was thinking I was going to miss all of their Southern California stops. And playing with Garrison Starr! I expect nothing short of amazing.

Here’s what else I have on the agenda:

 

Monday: Garrison Starr and TFDI at Room 5 (8,9)
ALSO: Chamberlin and Carbon Leaf at Saint Rocke (8,9)

 

Tuesday: The Howls, Pawn Shop Kings, and Fiction Family at Bootleg (8:30)
ALSO: Amber Rubarth, Allie Moss, Ian Axel, and Bess Rogers at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Moderne Man at The Roxy (7:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers FREE at The Piano Bar featuring John Pringle (8pm)

 

Weds: Andrienne Pierce, George Stanford, and Johnny Moezzi at Silverlake Lounge (9,10,11)
ALSO: Queen Caveat at The Shore in Hermosa Beach (10pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Didi Benami at Room 5 (10pm)

 

Thursday: Fierce Creatures at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

 

Friday: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The Echo (9pm)

 

Saturday: FYF Featuring The Head and The Heart, Avi Buffalo, Cold War Kids, The Weakerthans, Broken Social Scene, etc. (noon) http://fyffest.com/fyf-schedule/
ALSO: The Cordovas at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Sick of Sarah at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Patrick Stump at Saint Rocke (9pm)

 

Sunday: The Cordovas at Cafe Boogaloo in Hermonsa Beach
ALSO: Dead Sara at The Slidebar in Fullerton
ALSO: Of Verona at The Viper Room (10pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
September 8th Dead Sara at The Viper Room
September 9-10: San Diego Music Thing
September 10th: Blue October at House of Blues Sunset Strip
September 10th: The Kills at The Wiltern
September 11th: Our Lady Peace at The Viper Room
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: 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 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

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Kristen’ LA Concert Calendar: 2/28-3/6

Posted on by Kristen

Just go home from an Oscar party. I won a prize for successfully predicting the most award winners. If anyone wants their toast to wish them a good morning…well, I’ve got you covered! For the most part, I enjoyed the ceremony. The only thing I’m slightly irritated about (well, more than slightly) is the absence of Dido singing the song that she co-wrote for 127 Hours. Now, I love Florence from Florence and The Machine, but Dido is one of my all-time faves and I was really looking forward to seeing her sing.

But I’ll try to focus on the positive. Which brings me to this forthcoming week. Let’s christen it “Biffy week” in honor of the fact that I will be seeing my current band obsession, Biffy Clyro, twice this week. The Scottsmen will be performing on Tuesday at The Troubadour. Then on Weds, they are sitting down at Bootleg Theater with Mark Z Danielewski, author of the book Only Revolutions, upon which Biffy Clyro’s 2009 release of the same title is based. Saying that I’m giddy about these events is an understatement.

Filling out the week, we have more highly anticipated shows by the likes of Everest, Semi Precious Weapons, Moving Picture Show, and After Midnight Project (another band obsession of mine). And if you didn’t get a ticket to the sold out Biffy Clyro show on Tuesday, I’d highly HIGHLY recommend jetting down to Hermosa Beach for some The Silent Comedy/Queen Caveat action at Saint Rocke. You will not be disappointed.

My complete list of shows I’d love to go to as follows:

 

Monday: Everest and Red Cortez FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Armada at The Viper Room (9:15)
ALSO: War Tapes FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: J. Tillman (of Fleet Foxes) FREE at Bootleg Theater (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Queen Caveat at Saint Rocke (9,10)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Piano Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Jukebox the Ghost at The Echo (8pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Clarke and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at Bootleg Theater (9:45)

 

Weds: Liner Notes with Biffy Clyro and author Mark Z Danielewski at Bootleg Theater (7pm)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons FREE at On The Rox (10pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs and Beatnik Jr. at 3 Clubs (10pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Zoe Keating at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)
ALSO: Infantree at The Satellite (8:30)

 

Thursday: Moving Picture Show, Sabrosa Purr, and Great Northern at Bootleg Theater (8:30,9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Stephen Kellogg and Austin Hartley Leonard at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: The Entrance Band at The Satellite (10pm)

 

Friday: After Midnight Project at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Wild Nothing and Abe Vigoda at The Natural History Museum for First Fridays (5pm)

 

Saturday: Winchester Rebels FREE at On The Rox 11:15)
ALSO: Love and a .38 and The Binges at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Alexi Murdoch at Bootleg Theater (11pm)

 

Sunday: Morcheeba at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Joseph Tobin Tribute Concert featuring Joey Ryan, Jay Nash, Chris Pierce, Austin Hartley Leonard, etc. at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters Round at Room 5 featuring Paris Carney (9pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 8th: Vertical Horizon at The Roxy
March 8th: Queen Caveat, Dead Sara, Little Red Radio at The Mint
March 9th: Jay Nash at Saint Rocke
March 11th: Fair to Midland at Whiskey a Go Go
March 17th: Alkaline Trio and Dead Country at The Mayan
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
March 26th: Lady Danville at The Troubadour
March 28th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
March 30th: Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room
April 11th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
April 16th: Matt Wertz and Ben Rector at The Troubadour
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
June 9-12: Bonnaroo!!
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina
~ Kristen

 

The Nervous Wreckords and Moving Picture Show at Saint Rocke

Posted on by Kristen

Weds night was a much needed evening at one of my favorite venues, Saint Rocke. I sometimes forget about this venue down in Hermosa Beach because it’s a bit off the beaten path, but really it doesn’t take me any longer to get there than a club in Hollywood. And this place has comfy seats you don’t have to pay for, delicious food, and I always manage to have a perfect view of whatever musician or band I’ve come to see…while sitting down. As I’m getting older, the sitting thing has become an increasingly important draw.

Anyway, I ventured down to Saint Rocke Weds night because I wanted to see The Nervous Wreckords. Last time I saw them play was at the SDMAs and that was just a teaser so I’d been craving. The Nervous Wreckords did not disappoint! As much as I’ve been enjoying their CD, Valuminium, this is definitely a band I prefer live. Live, you get a better feel for the entire band and the songs become more alive and meaningful as each member gets their chance to shine. Despite the pedigree of lead singer, Brian Karscig, this band really does seem to just be “Doing it to Do It” and enjoying the ride. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s all join in!

I stuck around after The Nervous Wreckords to check out Moving Picture Show. I really didn’t know what to expect when the band took the stage.  Three members dressed in paint splattered attire banging on garbage cans…for a second I recalled Miss Congeniality and wondered if I was safe in the front row. The threesome quickly drew me in however with their catchy tunes and their fourth member, a video screen. I’ll admit, it was this forth member that captured most of my attention. Displaying cute stories about rescuing lost dogs that had been blown away, mesmerizing special effects, well-timed animation, and the rock band style cues for one of the trio’s songs, it was easy to fall in love with what I was hearing. I immediately went home and downloaded the group’s latest album, Studies Have Shown…, and have been listening ever since!

If you go to the Moving Picture Show Myspace and sign up for their mailing list, you can get a free mp3 of my fave MPS song, “By Now”. Seriously, listen to the lyrics…or even better go to the band’s next show at The Echo this Monday (Jan. 10) and see the lyrics for yourself displayed on the big screen (such a genius ploy, really…and so well done!)

~ Kristen

Have you been to Saint Rocke?

Posted on by Kristen

It’s not in LA proper so it’s taken me awhile to get there, but Saint Rocke is now on the fast track to becoming one of my new favorite places to see live music. Located on the PCH in Hermosa Beach, it really isn’t that far away (especially when the traffic is light). It’s got all the charm of The Hotel Cafe but with more space, more seating, and free parking! Plus, if you order food during their happy hour (starts at 5pm M-F) nearly the entire menu is $5. I opted for the kobe beef sliders with sweet potato fries and they were delicious…I have it on good authority that the tacos and the pizzas are also excellent options.

I didn’t just decide to check out a new venue on a whim. I was drawn to Hermosa Beach because it was a stop on the Joe Firstman/Jay Nash tour. The line up played The Hotel Cafe last Thursday but I could not make it as I was at The Roxy enjoying Alex Band (more on that from Amanda).

For the record, this duo is NOT to be missed. I’ve been following Joe around the country for over five years now and never have I seen the same set twice…he even changes up his own songs to keep things fresh. Already, songs from his most recent release, El Porto, have gotten new versions.  I will enjoy just about anything coming from this guy but Sunday night’s set was one of the most enjoyable I’ve seen him do in years. A great mix of old (one of my all-time favorite CDs is his debut The War of Women), new, and newly revised. His next record, Joe Firstman Live at The Treehouse, comes out next month and I cannot wait to hear it all. For a taste, go to his website and download a free track!  

Jay Nash has been a more recent addition to my list of favorite singer-songwriters. His recent collaborations with some of my favorite artists like Caitlin Crosby and Matt Duke brought him to my attention. He is also the founder and frequent participant in my favorite Monday night activity, Songwriters in the Round at Room 5. Unfortunately just as I start going to more of his shows, he decided to up and move to Vermont. The fact that he has returned to LA so soon is encouraging however and I hope that more tours like this one will continue to bring him back to his former home.

Both Joe and Jay are the kind of artist that need to be seen live to truly be appreciated for the amazingly gifted musicians they are. And when they get on the stage together, the energy is kicked up an additional notch as they feed off each other to create the kind of performance that could never be captured or repeated…moments that make you realize how incredibly fortunate you are to be in that exact place at that exact time…moments that keep you going to show after show…the kind of stuff to live for and the reason I love artists like Joe Firstman and Jay Nash and venues like Saint Rocke that can bring out these kinds of magical moments.

If you want to check out a show at Saint Rocke, here’s a link to their calendar . Might I suggest Pat McGee this Sunday…or if you read this in time 100 Monkeys tonight (Tuesday July 20th).

If you want to see more of Joe Firstman and Jay Nash their tour together is almost over, but they both have dates up on their websites and they will both be at Hotel Carolina at the end of August.

~ Kristen

p.s. this is a repost, but here’s a recording a took of the song Jay wrote about leaving California…I think it may be my new favorite.

Golden State Goodnight– Jay Nash