Imagine Dragons

New Band Alert! Egyptian

Posted on by Kristen

What happens when two of the sexiest, most captivating singers I know get together to make music? That would be Egyptian, a musical endeavor featuring Aja Volkman (Nico Vega) and Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons).

Egyptian doesn’t really sound like either Nico Vega or Imagine Dragons…it’s not so much a band as it is two brilliant vocalists having fun with a keyboard. For those of you who have discovered Aja’s “Stick of Wax” video(as we did), I’d think more in that direction.

I’m not sure what the intentions are here with this side project, but they have quite a few songs up on their myspace. I’ve been listening all day and now consider myself a fan…definately putting this duo on my “watch” list. I just needed to share!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 9/6-9/12

Posted on by Kristen

I nearly forgot I needed to write this up as it kind of feels like the weekend is not over yet…because it’s not! YAY for three days weekends. I actually had some great plans for today but proceeded to sleep through all of them. I must have had way too much fun last night at The After Midnight Project show at The Key Club. The AMP boys put on quite the to-do and I am so glad some of you were able to make it out to see my most recent band obsession. I’ve got good reviews all around so I’m incredibly pleased. For more of my musical suggestions, check out this week’s calendar…if you’re looking to try something new, might I suggest Queen Caveat at Spaceland on Saturday.

As for the rest:

Monday: Happy Labor Day!

Tuesday: Imagine Dragons, Free Energy and Links at The Viper Room (9, 10, 11:15)
ALSO: Todd Carey at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Interpol at Space 15 Twenty (7pm)
ALSO: David Gray and Ray LaMontagne at The Greek Theater (7pm) 

Weds: David Gray and Ray LaMontagne at The Greek Theater (7pm) 

Thursday: Curtis Peoples at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Scarlet Grey and Red Light Sky at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Cracker at The Echoplex (8pm)
ALSO: Ry Cuming and Justin Nozuka at El Rey (8pm) 

Friday: Hellen Stellar at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Café (11pm)
ALSO: Pink Martini at Hollywood Bowl (8:30) 

Saturday: Queen Caveat at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Ernie Halter, So & So, Eckels Brothers (9,11,12)
ALSO: Rocco Deluca and White Apple Tree at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium (8pm)
ALSO: Pink Martini at Hollywood Bowl (8:30) 

Sunday: Pink Martini at Hollywood Bowl (7:30) 

To Keep in Mind:
September 18th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
September 30th: BIFFY CLYRO at The Bootleg Theater
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium 

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 7/12-7/18

Posted on by Kristen

Well, Amanda and I certainly had quite the busy weekend getting sneak previews of some very exciting projects coming out soon. Slash-approved British rockers, Gods and Men, are in the process of recording their first album for Pacific Records. Remember the name…it will come up again soon, I’m sure. Also, San Diego’s own Endoxi just finished their first full-length CD, Earthbound. The record is coming out August 3rd and the release party will be August 6th at Epicentre in SD. I’m very excited about Endoxi, and feel that they are poised to become the next big band out of San Diego.

But if you need a good show before August 6th, this week will definitely satisfy. Two of my very favorite bands are playing the Troubadour, The Silent Comedy on Tuesday (opening for Andy Clockwise) and Nico Vega on Weds (opening for Sweethead). You know you’ve been meaning to check out these bands I’m always blathering on about…well, here’s your chance so don’t miss it! 

As for everything else (it’s quite a fantastic week for music):

Monday: Matt Morris at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Mississippi Man FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at Les Deux (10pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Kings of Leon at Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: The Silent Comedy and Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: Imagine Dragons FREE at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Cafe Was (7pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard at The Hotel Cafe (8pm) 

Weds: Nico Vega at The Troubadour (9:15)…what else do you need? 

Thursday: KT Tunstall, Garrison Starr, Jay Nash, Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe (7-11)
ALSO: Killola at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Wakey Wakey at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Alex Band at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Fitz & the Tantrums at the Hammer museum (7pm)
ALSO: Alternate Routes at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena (8pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara (7pm) 

Friday: Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Victoria Clemmons, Kris Karlsson, Alex Rhodes at Genghis Cohen (8,9,10)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Rusty’s Surf Ranch in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: MGMT at The Greek Theater (7:30) 

Saturday: Thrice at Fox Theater in Pomona (6:30)
ALSO: Leerone and Laura Jensen at The Hotel Cafe (8, 10)  
ALSO: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah (SD) 

Sunday: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Joe Firstman and Jay Nash at Saint Rocke (7pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
July 21st: Gaslight Anthem at The Wiltern
July 23rd: Tony Lucca album release at The Mint
July 28th: Bang the Gong Tour featuring Civil Twilight, Paper Tongues, and Neon Trees at The Glass House
July 29th: Queen Caveat EP Release at The Viper Room
July 29th: Civil Twlight at The Hotel Cafe
July 30th: Dirty Sweet at The Viper Room  
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 6th: Endoxi CD release at Epicentre (SD)
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/20-5/26

Posted on by Amanda

This message comes to you from The Mint where I am attending one of the coolest events I’ve been to recently, Overture Con. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hanging out with Bad Wolf, Cadaver Dogs, Queen Caveat, and Semi Precious Weapons. There were informative panels about DIY activities, fashion in music, etc. plus some exclusive opportunities like a Bad Wolf acoustic performance and an advance listen to the Cadaver Dogs CD (made into an intense drinking game). The focus of the event is to connect super fans like myself to their favorite bands and by the end of the day everyone in attendance felt like family to me. Today promises to be similar with a new set of bands like Honor Society who, as I write this, is talking about the notion of living in a box and detailing the unique smell of their dressing room.

Later today, I will be on a panel talking about my life as a super music fan, part of which includes my obsessive desire to put together these calendars every week in my attempt to spread the music love…speaking of, this week promises to be another good one! I’m thrilled that Irish brotherly duo Hudson Taylor booked another show (Monday at Bardot) and I’m equally pumped about Atlanta’s The Shadowboxers who are finally coming to LA playing The Viper Room on Wednesday.

Here are the rest of my picks:

Monday: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Hudson Taylor and The Honey Trees (9pm)
ALSO: Laura Marling FREE at Amoeba (6pm)
ALSO: Robert Schwartzman and Damndogs FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Milo Greene FREE at UCLA Bruin Plaza (noon)
ALSO: Frankie & Friends at The Viper Room Acoustic Lounge (8pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: The Rolling Stones at The Staples Center (8pm)

Tuesday: Allison Iraheta at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Laura Marling at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever (9pm)
ALSO: The Postelles with Tapioca and The Flea at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Kate Nash at The Echoplex (10pm)
ALSO: 28 North at The Mint (9:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays at The Piano Bar featuring Animals of Kin (8pm)

Weds: The Shadowboxers at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Better Looking People With Superior Ideas at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Youngblood Hawke at Avalon (9pm)

Thursday: The Mowgli’s with American Authors and Hunter Hunted at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Irontom and Checkpoint Charlie FREE at Sunset Strip Farmers Market (8, 9)
ALSO: The Last Internationale at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Vance Joy, Caitlin Crosby, Kristen Toedtman at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)

Friday: Sir Sly at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Jay Nash at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: The Spring Standards at Bootleg Bar (9:15)
ALSO: Shane Alexander at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Cold War Kids at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)

Saturday: Zookeeper’s Palace at Molly Malone’s (8:55)
ALSO: Family Cave at Amplyfi (9pm)

Sunday: ?

To Keep in Mind:
May 28th: Lissie at Masonic Lodge at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery
May 28th: Cary Brothers at The Hotel Cafe
May 29th: Tyler Hilton and Curtis Peoples at Saint Rocke
May 29th/30th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
May 31st: CHVRCHES at Fonda Theater
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 1st: CHVRCHES at The Troubadour
June 1st: Make Music Pasadena
June 4th: Willy Moon at The Troubadour
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
June 5th: Atomic Tom at The Hotel Cafe
June 6th: Meg Myers and Dear Boy at The Troubadour
June 6th: Capital Cities at The El Rey
June 7th: The Boxer Rebellion at Avalon
June 7th/8th: Jubilee Music Festival
June 8th: Bjork at Hollywood Palladium
June 13th: Fall Out Boy at The Wiltern
June 22nd: The Staves at Bootleg Bar
June 23rd: Guster, Barenaked Ladies, and Ben Folds Five at The Greek Theatre
June 25th: Rachael Yamagata at The Troubadour
June 27th: Bernhoft at The Troubadour
July 1st: Anberlin at The Roxy
July 19th: Passenger at El Rey Theatre
July 23rd: Savages at The El Rey
July 23rd/24th: The Postal Service at The Greek Theatre
August 8th: The Silent Comedy at Fonda Theatre
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center
September 4th: Tegan and Sara at The Greek Theatre
September 26th: Hanson at House of Blues Sunset
October 1st: Jake Bugg at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/4-2/10

Posted on by Kristen

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! If you know me, you may find it odd that I am recognizing the event because I quite dislike football. Not just in the casual way, but I find myself getting inexplicably, and perhaps irrationally angry when I am in a room with people sitting around watching football (don’t ask, because honestly I don’t know why). But Super Bowl Sunday is great because while everyone else seems to be pressing pause on their lives, I keep going and actually feel like I’m getting ahead for once instead of barely keeping up.
One of my action items today is to plan out my February. As far as shows go, it’s going to be tricky because my oh my February is a busy month for must see residencies. On Mondays we’ve got A House for Lions, The Mowgli’s, AND Wires in the Walls all playing free shows at The Echoplex, The Satellite, and Silverlake Louge respectively. Then on Wednesdays we have Sir Sly at The Echo and Warner Drive at The Viper Room and each Saturday you can find We Were Indians (formally Indians) downtown at Casey’s Irish Bar and Sweetwater & The Satisfaction at The Hotel Cafe. I need to decide what week I’m going to go to what venue now so that I can be sure I see everyone and not become paralyzed with options. It’s so easy to say “oh, I’ll catch them next week” when it comes to these residencies…

Whatever you end up doing today and for the rest of the week, I hope you’re having a blast. To help you in that endeavor, here are my musical recommendations:

 

Monday: The Young Roman’s at Central SAPC (8pm)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s and Of Verona FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: A House for Lions with Olin and The Moon and The Steelwells FREE at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Lewis Watson and Matt Costa (8pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Deadly Birds at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Judy Collins in Conversation with Stephen Stills at The Saban Theatre (7:30)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Kris Allen and Jake Newton at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9:30)
ALSO: Chi McClean and Brendan Hines at Room 5 (9, 10)
ALSO: Solwave at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays at The Piano Bar featuring Escondido (9pm)

 

Weds: Queen Caveat FREE at The Studio (10pm)
ALSO: Sir Sly and Kitten FREE at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Warner Drive and Deluka at The Viper Room (10, ?)
ALSO: Kris Allen at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Thursday: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan and Hey Ocean! At Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: The Grammy Foundation’s Play It Forward Event at The Saban Theatre featuring Ed Sheeran, LP, Leann Rimes, Emmylou Harris, etc. (7:30)

 

Friday: Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Stone Foxes at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Slim Cessnar’s Auto Club at The Viper Room (11pm)

 

Saturday: We Were Indians at Casey’s Irish Bar Downtown (11:30)
ALSO: The Stone Foxes at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at Universal Bar and Grill (7:30)
ALSO: Nonpoint at The Roxy (8:15)
ALSO: Sweetwater & The Satisfaction at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Palladium (6pm)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding at The Wiltern (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Ragged Jubilee at The Viper Room (8pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 12th: Ellie Goulding at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 13th: Papa Roach at Club Nokia
Feb. 13th: Dear Boy at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Pink with The Hives at The Staples Center
Feb. 17th: Ed Sheeran at Nokia Theatre LA Live
Feb. 20st: twenty one pilots at The Troubadour
Feb. 21st: The Shakers at The Roxy
Feb. 26th: Anberlin at The House of Blues Sunset
Feb. 28th: Matthew Perryman Jones at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 28th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Echo
March 5th: Marcus Foster at The Troubadour
March 5th: Mother Mother at The Viper Room
March 7th: Youngblood Hawke at The Troubadour
March 7,8,9: Buckcherry at The Viper Room
March 8th: Boy at The Troubadour
March 12th: CHVRCHES at The Echo
March 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Music Box
March 15th: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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New Music Tuesday 9/25 featuring The Chevin, Mother Mother, Mumford & Sons

Posted on by Kristen

I know it’s a little late, but hey, I’ve been a little busy. I just submitted a manuscript so now I’m ready to celebrate with some new music!

The Chevin – Borderland

This band from The UK has been crafting this record in Los Angeles and I have had the pleasure of seeing them play several times over the last several months. The first time I saw them at The Satellite, it was like a breath of fresh air, rock and roll air. The more time I spent with The Chevin, the more I have fallen in love with their music. I cannot wait to get my hands on this record!

 

Mother Mother – The Sticks 

One of my favorite Canadian bands from recent years, Mother Mother made an impression on me with their song “Hayloft” off their debut album O My Heart (2008). I’ve been keeping tabs on the dynamic and somewhat quirky five-piece alt rock group ever since. You can stream their new album, The Sticks, here http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/mother_mother-sticks_album_stream. I did and I quickly became hooked! Not sure when you’ll be able to get it from amazon or itunes, but you can get it from the band’s website: http://mothermothersite.com/store

 Mumford & Sons – Babel 

From what I’ve heard, this record is making a play for my record of the year….

 

Other’s to look into:

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 9/3-9/9

Posted on by Kristen

Happy Labor Day Weekend (whatever that means to you)! I hope you are all able to get out and enjoy the weekend. As for me, I haven’t seen much of the sun in the last couple of days. I’m trying to get some work done in order to clear my schedule for important events happening over the next few weeks.  Fortunately, my writing companion is Biffy Clyro’s Revolutions: Live at Wembley DVD which helps keep me focused…sometimes.
I did see the blue moon Friday night and I celebrated by going to The Hotel Cafe see one of my favorite bands, Truth & Salvage Co. play a secret show under their former name, The Denim Family Band. This filled me with nostalgia as it was the year I moved to LA that I discovered this band and saw them at The Hotel Cafe numerous times. Ah, memories…

More potential musical memories up for grabs this week at the following shows. Obviously, my pick of the week is The Silent Comedy who open for The Heavy at The El Rey on Friday, but here are all my musical recommendations:

Monday: Kitten FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: The Lonely Wild FREE at The Satellite (11pm)

 

Tuesday: Voxhaul Broadcast at The Viper Room (9:15)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (10pm)
ALSO: My Satellite FREE at Hemingways
ALSO: post-labor day carousal at The Piano Bar featuring Lowlight, Dave Green, Jesse Cole, and Foster Timms (9pm)
ALSO: Gaby Moreno at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Gotye at The Greek Theatre (7pm)

 

Weds: David & Devine and Armada at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)…Armada’s Record Release Show
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers at WitZend (8pm)

 

Thursday: NO FREE at The Santa Monica Pier (7pm)
ALSO: The Material at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…Record Release Show
ALSO: The Dollyrots at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: John C Reilly & Friends at Largo (9pm)

 

Friday: The Silent Comedy and The Heavy at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Belmont Lights and SO & SO at The House of Blues (8pm)…Belmont Lights Record Release
ALSO: Holly Conlan, The Young Romans, Madi Diaz at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)
ALSO: Crosby, Stills & Nash at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

 

Saturday: Garrison Starr, Adrianne, Maia Sharp at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Honda Civic Tour at The Home Depot Center featuring MUTEMATH, Incubus, and Linkin Park (5:30)

 

Sunday: The Ataris at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Pink Martini at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
September 12th: Allen Stone at Hollywood Bowl
September 14th: Teitur at The Hotel Cafe
September 14th: The Hives at The Wiltern
September 19th: Band of Skulls at The Fonda Theatre
September 20th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22nd: Epicenter at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
September 22nd: Sondre Lerche at The Troubadour
September 27th: Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sara Watkins at Club Nokia
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 1st: Safety Suit at The Roxy
October 2nd: Garbage at The Hollywood Palladium
October 2nd: The Lumineers at The Fonda Theatre
October 4th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
October 4th-7th: Culture Collide Festival
October 6th: Ben Howard at The Fonda Theatre
October 9th: The Wallflowers and Everest at The Fonda Theatre
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 13th: Marcus Foster at The Roxy
October 16th: First Aid Kit at The Fonda Theatre
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
October 19th: Frightened Rabbit at The Troubadour
October 19th: Allen Stone at The Music Box
October 20th: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Saint Rocke
October 23rd: Shiny Toy Guns at The Echoplex
October 24th: The Darkness at Club Nokia
October 25th: Bayside at Club Nokia
October 27th: Queen Caveat at The Roxy
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 8th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 16th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 20th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey

~ Kristen

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