Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 7/25-7/31

What an awesome and exhausting week! Finished this two week crazy intense neuroimaging training program. Meet some truly amazing people from around the world and Friday night I was excited to take some of them out and show them a bit of my other life. We ventured to The Viper Room for Indian’s CD Release show. Everyone fell in love with opening band, Maniac. Then Indians put on their trademark powerhouse of a set. I was happy to be able to finally take home some of their songs! We caught a bit of the craziness that is Har Mar Superstar and rounded out the night with some Little Red Radio dancing.

The whole evening made me wish people would visit me more often…

This week, things (hopefully) return to a more normal pace. Great shows every night. I’m especially looking forward to Langhorne Slim on Tuesday! Here’s what else I have on my calendar:

 

Monday: Races FREE at The Bootleg Theater (10:30)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: The Mulhollands at The Viper Room (12:15)
ALSO: Battles FREE at Amoeba Records (6pm)
ALSO: Gavin DeGraw, Maroon 5, and Train at The Hollywood Bowl (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Langhorne Slim at The Echoplex (10pm)
ALSO: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Halos at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Toy Bombs at The Central in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at Piano Bar (8-??)

 

Weds: Holly Conlan, So & So, Angel Taylor at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)…So & So record release show
ALSO: Meiko at Saint Rocke (9pm)

 

Thursday: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium (8:15)
ALSO: Ben Sollee at Bootleg Theater (10:30)
ALSO: The Co, Holly Winter, and Jen Hirsh at The Hotel Cafe (7,8,9)
ALSO: Kurt Vile and the Violators at The Troubadour (9:15)
ALSO: The Henry Clay People and Lady Danville FREE at The Hammer Museum (7pm)
ALSO: Kina Grannis at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)
ALSO: The Gin Blossoms at Brixton South Bay in Redondo Beach (8pm)

 

Friday: Fat City Reprise at On the Rox (10pm)
ALSO: Ludo at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: The Damnwells at The Mint (8:45)
ALSO: The Features at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Kurt Vile at The Troubadour (10:15)

 

Saturday: 10,000 Maniacs at Pershing Square (8pm)…part of the outdoor summer concert series downtown
ALSO: Inverse at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Ernie Halter at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: LA Rising at the LA Coliseum featuring Rage Against the Machine, Muse, Lauryn Hill and Rise Against (3pm)

 

Sunday: Filter at The Key Club (9pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 10th: Sia at The Wiltern
August 11th: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair
August 11th: Ellie Goulding at The Wiltern
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 13th: Milk Carton Kids CD Release at McCabe’s
August 13th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
August 16th: Mutemath at The Troubadour
August 18th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TDIF at The Hotel Cafe
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room

~ Kristen

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SSMF Lineup Announced!

I know we just got back to Bonnaroo and trust me, more on that soon. But today’s big news is the announcement of the lineup for the Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF). Once a year, the Sunset Strip puts on a gigantic block party featuring major artists from around the world as well as more local bands that might call the strip their home. It’s a three day party starting on Thursday August 18th with a tribute to this year’s honorees, Motley Crue at the House of Blues. Both Thursday and Friday, clubs around the strip (The Roxy, The Viper Room, Whiskey a Go-Go, Key Club, House of Blues) will host a variety of bands. Saturday the 20th is the daytime festival where headliners Motley Crue as well as Bush, Public Enemy, Matt & Kim, etc will play on an outdoor stage while other bands continue to fill the surrounding clubs.

For more information about the lineups, tickets, etc., check out official SSMF website: http://www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com/

I’m excited about so many of these artists…especially seeing so many of my favorites on the bill. Based on my initial reaction, here’s what I’ll most likely be up to that weekend.

 

Thursday August 18th: The Veronicas, The Tender Box, and Run Run Run at The Viper Room

Friday August 19th: Amazing lineup at The Viper Room featuring Eli James, Taylor Locke and The Roughs, Lady Sinatra, and Purple Melon
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Roxy

Saturday August 20th:
Outdoor Stage: Motley Crue, Bush
The Key Club:  Deluka, Youngblood Hawke, Indians
The Roxy: Queen Caveat, Sabrosa Purr, Jordan Cook, Imagine Dragons, Semi Precious Weapons

 

More to come about this festival I’m sure…get your tickets now.

This festival is going to rock!!

 

~ Kristen

Warped Tour Pomona

About a week ago, Amanda and I ventured to Pomona for Warped Tour #2. I’m so glad I went, mostly because it was another excuse to rock out with After Midnight Project, who, by the way, are coming home to LA to play the Key Club September 4th (get your tickets now!).

One of the best parts of Warped Tour Pomona, was the fact that After Midnight Project was able to do an acoustic set. The following video isn’t from Pomona, but AMP have been doing several acoustic sets, including one at the KIA tent that was captured and showcased here. I love it when rock bands break it down acoustically, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a band do it as well as After Midnight Project…

Other highlights for me included actually being able to see Mayday Parade, hearing some of You Me At Six’s  new songs, and being able to sample several new bands. Amanda was a big fan of Dicso Curtis who gave me a new appreciation for Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and certainly put forth the happiest performance of the day (seriously, try to watch the band play and not smile).

Personally, I was enraptured by the Arkansas-based Deas Vail, whose soaring vocals, subtle harmonies, and piano base drew me in like a moth to a flame. I was literally walking past their stage to go elsewhere when I heard the music and HAD to stop. I kept trying to leave, but I just couldn’t…it was too beautiful to look away.

I recognized the name of the band, not because they were openers for the Owl City/Lights tour that I really wanted to see, but because I had at one point told myself NOT to like the band as they won a competition to get their video on MTVU, beating my beloved Carney. Funny how these things work sometimes…

Here’s that video:

And here’s the song that hooked me: Birds

~ Kristen

p.s. pictures to come…

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 8/16-8/22

I’m still flying high over all the glorious weekend I had in San Diego at The North Park Music Thing…either that or this feeling is caused by the combination of acute sleep deprivation and abnormally high levels of caffeine necessary to accomplish everything that needs to be done for Monday.

Anyway, North Park Music Thing (NPMT) is like a mini SXSW that takes place in San Diego every year. During the day it’s a conference with booths, demo listening sessions, and panels on topics ranging from music licensing and touring on a budget to the current state of radio and music and technology. At night it’s a veritable smorgasbord of music with all the local clubs and bars playing host to a variety of showcases featuring mostly local music acts. I love conferences as places for learning and inspiration and I love concert festivals for the discovery and enjoyment factors. The combination of the two was quite heavenly.

Briefly, some highlights of my weekend included a highly entertaining keynote speech by Kim Fowley, seeing Endoxi again, the near mosh-pit that took place at The Silent Comedy set, and meeting and talking to some new music-loving friends. Also, the absolute MAGIC that occurred Saturday night as we venue hopped, listening to and discovering band after amazing band. This included several LA-based bands; faves like Lady Danville and The Rescues as well as some new fantastic groups like The Makepeace Brothers and Shaimus. Seriously, I was floating…

And in my attempt to remain up in the air, there is plenty of good stuff I’m looking forward to this week. And the list goes as follows:

Monday: Truth & Salvage Co. at Jimmy Kimmel (6pm)…it’s sold out but if you keep checking at 1iota.com, you could probably score a discarded ticket
ALSO: Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Alice Russell at Bootleg Theater(10:30)
ALSO: Amos Lee at Largo at the Coronet (7:30, 9:30)
ALSO: The Diamond Light at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Crocodiles at The Echo (9pm)…just because I’m curious as to what the hype is all about
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring John Elliot (9pm) 

Tuesday: Rachel Yamagata at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: Brandon Flowers at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Café Was (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Adam Haworth Stephens (of Two Gallants) at Spaceland (9pm) 

Weds: The White Buffalo at The Mint (10:30) 

Thursday: Jonah Matranga at The Hotel Café (7pm)
ALSO: Mat Kearney at Saint Rocke (10pm) 

Friday: Graydon at The Hotel Café (11pm)
ALSO: Rufus Wainwright at The Greek Theater (7:30) 

Saturday: Sunset Junction featuring Andy Clockwise, Everest, White Apple Tree, Saint Motel, Chris Pierce, Dawes, etc.
ALSO: Cary Brothers at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Killola at The Roxy 

Sunday: Sunset Junction featuring The Janks, Gringo Star, Fitz & The Tantrums, etc.
ALSO: Haim at The Troubadour
ALSO: Agent Ribbons at Bootleg Theater (11pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard at The Foundry on Melrose 

To Keep in Mind:
August 26th-28th Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring The Silent Comedy, Nico Vega, Queen Caveat, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon trees,  etc.
August 28th: Something Corporate at Club Nokia
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
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
October 18th: Mumford & Sons at Hollywood Palladium
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/9-8/15

I must say, there are a LOT of festivals going on this week. Thursday is the Sunset Strip Block Party celebrating the fact that there will no longer be construction holding up traffic along the strip (YAY!). Saturday is the Venice Beach music festival featuring Keaton Simons . Then both Saturday and Sunday at the Echoplex is the Free for All music festival sponsored by When You Awake and featuring Langhorne Silm on Sunday.  And let’s not forget about Warped Tour  on Weds in Pomona featuring many fantastic bands including my new favorite, After Midnight Project. We could also throw in the North Park Music Thing down in San Diego which I’ll be attending over the weekend.

But really these festivals are just prepping everyone for next week’s Sunset Junction  and the, of course, Sunset Strip Music Festival at the end of the month.

As for what else is going on:

Monday: Of Verona and Soul Puppet FREE at The Troubadour (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Saint Rocke (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Weds: Keaton Simons at Cinespace (8pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour in Pomona
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at The Staples Center (8pm) 

Thursday: Soraia at Good Hurt (11:30)…Philly band alert!
ALSO: The Shakers at The Cat Club (10pm)…part of Sunset Strip Block Party (http://thesunsetstrip.com/blockparty)
ALSO: Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal at Club Nokia (9pm)
ALSO: My Morning Jacket and Avi Buffalo at The Greek Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at The Staples Center (8pm)
ALSO: Wartapes at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Northstar Session at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Freelance Whales at El Rey opening for Tokyo Police Club (8:30) 

Friday: Natalie Merchant at Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Soraia at Canter’s Kibitz Room (10pm)
ALSO: American Idols 2010 Live at The Staples Center (7:30) 

Saturday: Venice Beach Music Fest f. Keaton Simons (1:30pm)
ALSO: Rasputina at The Troubadour (10:15) 

Sunday: Langhorne Slim at The Echoplex (4pm)
ALSO: Mississippi Man at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: Levon Helm and Jenny Lewis at The Greek Theater (8pm) 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
August 27-28th: Sunset Strip Music Festival
August 28th: Something Corporate at Club Nokia
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 18th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center
October 1st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Warped Tour Pomona

About a week ago, Amanda and I ventured to Pomona for Warped Tour #2. I’m so glad I went, mostly because it was another excuse to rock out with After Midnight Project, who, by the way, are coming home to LA to play the Key Club September 4th (get your tickets now!).
One of the best parts of Warped Tour Pomona, was the fact that After Midnight Project was able to do an acoustic set. The following video isn’t from Pomona, but AMP have been doing several acoustic sets, including one at the KIA tent that was captured and showcased here. I love it when rock bands break it down acoustically, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a band do it as well as After Midnight Project…

Other highlights for me included actually being able to see Mayday Parade, hearing some of You Me At Six’s  new songs, and being able to sample several new bands. Amanda was a big fan of Dicso Curtis who gave me a new appreciation for Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and certainly put forth the happiest performance of the day (seriously, try to watch the band play and not smile).

Personally, I was enraptured by the Arkansas-based Deas Vail, whose soaring vocals, subtle harmonies, and piano base drew me in like a moth to a flame. I was literally walking past their stage to go elsewhere when I heard the music and HAD to stop. I kept trying to leave, but I just couldn’t…it was too beautiful to look away.

I recognized the name of the band, not because they were openers for the Owl City/Lights tour that I really wanted to see, but because I had at one point told myself NOT to like the band as they won a competition to get their video on MTVU, beating my beloved Carney. Funny how these things work sometimes…

Here’s that video:

And here’s the song that hooked me: Birds

~ Kristen

p.s. pictures to come…