Joe Firstman

Still plenty of room at Hotel Carolina…

Posted on by Kristen

Hotel Carolina: From what I hear, it’s like going camping on the beach…but you know that guy/gal who’s always strumming the guitar around the campfire?…well multiply that by about 20 and make them all your very favorite singer-songwriters.

Friday August 27th music lovers will descend upon Isle of Palms, South Carolina and make our way to the legendary Windjammer where we will spend a weekend being serenaded by the likes of Joe Firstman and Matt Duke, going to BBQs, hanging out on the beach, and participating in several artist vs. fan sporting events (flip cup anyone?).

Need any more temptation? Well, okay! Amazon.com is giving away a FREE sampler featuring the artists who will be participating in this year’s event.

Go to The Hotel Carolina website  to learn even more about the event and the featured artists.

This year’s line-up is particularly exciting to me and includes several of my favorites. Looks like this:

Todd Carey
The Bridges
Curtis Peoples
Joe Firstman
Josh Hoge
Sequoyah Prep School
Tony Lucca

Jim Bianco
Jay Nash
Sun Domingo
Matt Duke
Keaton Simons
Benjy Davis Project
Ernie Halter

Convinced? Go here to get your tickets!

Even if you can’t make it to the event, you should still check out these amazing artists!

Listen! Learn! LOVE!

~ Kristen

I don’t know how I feel about this trend…

Posted on by Amanda

Being on mailing lists for my favorite bands is somewhat of a double edged sword for me. I love keeping up with what is going on in their lives, but I absolutely hate missing out on so many good shows. Every time they play and I can’t be there…it just kills me. This is why I like local bands…

This past week, I received an email from one of my favorite bands, The Kin. It was detailing this show they are going to be doing in New York City next Weds (March 10th) at Webster Hall. It’s a special charity show through FM Charities whose goal is “to increase awareness of common, treatable illness among all populations.” Great cause, great band…only problem is I live in LA and can’t be there…or can I?

In the email they announced that the show is going to be viewable via webcast. So, if I choose I can sit at home that night and watch one of my favorite bands put on an amazing show…via the internet. I guess this is a good thing. I mean, I LOVE The Kin. I’d love to see them every single time they play. I’ll know what songs they play, if they break out any new tunes, if Shakerleg makes an appearance. I’ll be able to hear any in between song banter, stories from the road or from their most recent annual trip to Australia (where they are from).

But, really, it won’t be the same. It won’t feel the same. I won’t be moved by the pulsating beats from the overblown speakers or sense the energy of the audience as they fall in love with every note. I won’t be able to join in the sea of voices as the songs hit that familiar chorus or turn to that stranger next to me and smile when Thorry and Isaac nail that whistle at the end of “Romeo” or begin to introduce “Abraham” as that song about two brothers…come to think of it, it might be MORE painful to watch the spectacle in this detached mode then to not see it at all.

But this seems to be the way things are going. I watched a couple songs from a Joe Firstman set the other day streaming live from some place or another. In a few minutes, I’ll turn on the live stream from a local Philly radio state (Radio104.5) to hear IKE play a couple of tunes live…I guess streaming entire shows is just the next logical step.

So, I think everyone should check out the stream from The Kin’s show next Weds. And let me know how it goes…’cause I’ll be out at The Troubadour that night having a Manchester Orchestra experience.

http://www.thekin.com/

http://www.fmworldcharities.org/events.html

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/24-10/31

Posted on by Kristen

Does anyone else sink into a depression when deprived of live music for over a week? This past week has just been brutal. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for redemption this week…including the event I’ve been looking forward to alllll month, Nico Vega headlining at The Roxy with Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat. You best be there in your witchy wear!
But that’s not all. Plenty of great shows this week to get me out of this funk. Here’s what I’ve got going:

Monday: Amy Correia at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)
ALSO: John Meeks at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Jessie Baylin at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Aqualung at Bardot for it’s a school night FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Curtis Peoples and Josh Hoge at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Lights at The El Rey (9pm) 

Weds: The Nervous Wreckords at Bordello (11pm)
ALSO:  Steel Train and fun at The Music Box (8pm) 

Thursday: Free Energy and Foxy Shazam at The Troubadour (9:15, 10:15)
ALSO: Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Kate Nash at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Moving Picture Show and The Nervous Wreckords at The Viper Room (10,12) 

Friday: Nico Vega, Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Electric Touch at The Viper Room (11:50)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Stone Temple Pilots at Nokia Live (8pm)
ALSO: Rock N Roll Circus Halloween at The Echo featuring Andy Clockwise, Henry Clay People, Etc. (7pm) 

Saturday: last minute Halloween costume shopping….

Sunday: Purple Melon at The Viper Room (10:30)

To Keep in Mind:
November 2nd: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
November 4th: Five for Fighting at The Brixton
November 5th: Bayside at The Toubadour
November 6th-7th: Florence + The Machine at The Wiltern
November 8th-10th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
November 12th: Teitur at Bootleg Theater
November 13th: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey
November 16th: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 1st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium 

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat