LA

“More Bacon Than The Pan Can Handle”

Posted on by Amanda

Today, is a Mike Doughty kind of day. I have been listening to his music all day long! I discovered Mr. Doughty through one of my favorite television shows, Veronica Mars. His song “I Hear the Bells” was featured on the soundtrack for the show and is still one of my favorites. I love his CD, Haughty Melodic, which also contains a couple other gems including “Your Misfortune” and “Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well.” Plus, it was created in collaboration with Dan Wilson (might help explain why I love it so much).

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see Mike Doughty live until Spring ’08 when he went on tour to support his second CD Golden Delicious. It had taken me so many years to see him, mostly because whenever he came to Philly (where I was living at the time) his shows would sell out too fast. He is an entertaining performer with an arsenal of engaging songs on which he puts his unique “Mike Doughty” stamp.  I dare you to listen and not get hooked.

This week (Thursday 3/4), he’s in LA playing at The Troubadour.  I have yet to pick up his most recent CD, Sad Man, Happy Man, so this would be the perfect opportunity for me (and YOU!) to see what he’s been up to these past couple of years!

~ Kristen

Truth & Salvage Co.- Residency and CD release

Posted on by Amanda

Most exciting news! One of my very fave LA bands just announced the release date for their first album. May 25 Truth & Salvage Co. will release their self-titled debut. This six piece group instantly drew me in with their energetic live performances and The Band-like qualities. I discovered them a couple years ago when they were known as The Family Band. I’ve had the immense pleasure of watching them grow, get signed by Chris Robinson’s label, Silver Arrow, and go out on tour with The Black Crowes where they were even able to play a date with one of my fave Philly bands, Pawnshop Roses. I was so happy when they returned to LA and started playing local gigs again. Right now, the band is in the middle of a residency at The Hotel Café…every Friday night through to March 12th. If you get an opportunity to see them, it will be an unforgettable evening of music and dancing…just be sure to get there early as they tend to pack the place and they will stop allowing people through the door.

For a preview of the album, the band recently recorded some songs through Daytrotter: http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/truth-and-salvage-co-concert/20030993-37382166.html

Be sure to see them now before they head out on tour again (this time with The Avett Brothers)

Or alternatively, if you’re not in the LA area, be sure to catch them with The Avett Brothers (another fantastic group). Dates posted so far:

April 17 | The Fox Theatre | Oakland, CA*
April 18 | Grand Sierra Theatre | Reno, NV*
April 20 & 21 | Boulder Theater | Boulder, CO*
April 23 | Rialto Theater | Tucson, AZ*
April 24 | Mesa Arts Center | Mesa, AZ*
April 27 | Crest Theater | Sacramento, CA*
April 29 | House Of Blues | San Diego, CA*

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA weekly concert calendar: 3/1-3/7

Posted on by Amanda

Alright folks, it’s finally happened! Thanks to my musical partner in crime, Amanda, I have a blog! Amanda and I are working on it together (AKA she is doing most of the work…and I’m just posting my musical musings). The blog is entitled Local Music Nation. The goal of this project of ours is to eventually morph the blog into a full blown website where people can post about their favorite local bands based on region (this is how I’ve always classified bands).  And then other people can easily find good shows to go to when they travel (something I always struggle with) or just discover great new bands before they get too big. For now, we’re just covering LA and SD…and whatever other places and groups we happen to be inspired by.  
We’re still messing around with formats and such and learning the basics of how to be a blogger. We are leaning towards using Tumblr (you can post mp3s on it for free) vs. WordPress (a bit easier on the eyes and, in my opinion, more flexible), but for now have both running.

So, please check out our sites and let us know what you think. Any comments, suggestions, helpful tips would be much appreciated. From now on, this email will be posted on our blog (but don’t worry, I still plan on sending it to your inbox as well). But if you want more up to date information, concert reviews, info on bands I’m obsessing over or songs that are inspiring me…you should check out the blog on a more regular basis! Also, if you ever find yourselves journeying down to San Diego, Amanda will have all your musical needs covered.

So, check this out: http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

And/or this: http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

And onto the events of this week. Here’s what I’ve got planned:

Monday: Paris Carney at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: Aimee Miriello at Molly Malone’s  (10pm)

ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Café (8pm)

Tuesday: Lucy Woodward at The Hotel Café (9pm)

ALSO: The Hounds Below and Miranda Lee Richards at Spaceland (10pm)

Weds: Vienne at Molly Malone’s (8:30)

ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard and Amber Rubarth at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Keaton Simons at Room 5 (9:30)

ALSO: Pawnshop Kings at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Joey Ryan, Jim Bianco, and Honeyhoney at The Hotel Café (8,9,10)

ALSO: Purple Melon at The Mint (10pm)

ALSO: Mike Doughty at The Troubadour (9pm)

Friday: Bell X1 and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Adam H. Stephens (from Two Gallants) at The Troubadour (8pm)

ALSO: The Bird & the Bee at The El Rey (8pm)

Saturday: Curtis Peoples at The Mint (9pm)

ALSO: Killswitch Engage at The Wiltern (8pm)

ALSO: Paris Carney at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Opus Dai and Visa at The Troubadour (10pm)

ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo at The Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Benefit show at The Echoplex featuring The Submarines and Thao Nguyen (noon)

Sunday:  The Academy Awards!!

To Keep in Mind:

March 9th and 10th: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour

March 11th and 12th: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah

March 11th: Joey Ryan and Melissa Ferrick at The Hotel Café

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

March 27th/28th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

Mp3s

  • “Eve, the Apple of My Eye”- Bell X1
  • “I Just Want The Girl In The Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing” – Mike Doughty  

 

~ Kristen

p.s. if you still haven’t checked this out, please do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOkKufaZ84s  (and look for me!)

Kristen's LA weekly concert calendar: 3/1-3/7

Posted on by Amanda

Alright folks, it’s finally happened! Thanks to my musical partner in crime, Amanda, I have a blog! Amanda and I are working on it together (AKA she is doing most of the work…and I’m just posting my musical musings). The blog is entitled Local Music Nation. The goal of this project of ours is to eventually morph the blog into a full blown website where people can post about their favorite local bands based on region (this is how I’ve always classified bands).  And then other people can easily find good shows to go to when they travel (something I always struggle with) or just discover great new bands before they get too big. For now, we’re just covering LA and SD…and whatever other places and groups we happen to be inspired by.  

We’re still messing around with formats and such and learning the basics of how to be a blogger. We are leaning towards using Tumblr (you can post mp3s on it for free) vs. WordPress (a bit easier on the eyes and, in my opinion, more flexible), but for now have both running.

So, please check out our sites and let us know what you think. Any comments, suggestions, helpful tips would be much appreciated. From now on, this email will be posted on our blog (but don’t worry, I still plan on sending it to your inbox as well). But if you want more up to date information, concert reviews, info on bands I’m obsessing over or songs that are inspiring me…you should check out the blog on a more regular basis! Also, if you ever find yourselves journeying down to San Diego, Amanda will have all your musical needs covered.

So, check this out: http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

And/or this: http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

And onto the events of this week. Here’s what I’ve got planned:

Monday: Paris Carney at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: Aimee Miriello at Molly Malone’s  (10pm)

ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Café (8pm)

Tuesday: Lucy Woodward at The Hotel Café (9pm)

ALSO: The Hounds Below and Miranda Lee Richards at Spaceland (10pm)

Weds: Vienne at Molly Malone’s (8:30)

ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard and Amber Rubarth at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Keaton Simons at Room 5 (9:30)

ALSO: Pawnshop Kings at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Joey Ryan, Jim Bianco, and Honeyhoney at The Hotel Café (8,9,10)

ALSO: Purple Melon at The Mint (10pm)

ALSO: Mike Doughty at The Troubadour (9pm)

Friday: Bell X1 and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Adam H. Stephens (from Two Gallants) at The Troubadour (8pm)

ALSO: The Bird & the Bee at The El Rey (8pm)

Saturday: Curtis Peoples at The Mint (9pm)

ALSO: Killswitch Engage at The Wiltern (8pm)

ALSO: Paris Carney at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Opus Dai and Visa at The Troubadour (10pm)

ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo at The Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Benefit show at The Echoplex featuring The Submarines and Thao Nguyen (noon)

Sunday:  The Academy Awards!!

To Keep in Mind:

March 9th and 10th: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour

March 11th and 12th: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah

March 11th: Joey Ryan and Melissa Ferrick at The Hotel Café

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

March 27th/28th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

Mp3s

  • “Eve, the Apple of My Eye”- Bell X1
  • “I Just Want The Girl In The Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing” – Mike Doughty  

 

~ Kristen

p.s. if you still haven’t checked this out, please do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOkKufaZ84s  (and look for me!)

I am being drawn to this band

Posted on by Amanda

  http://www.myspace.com/scarson45

They are called Scars on 45. I just heard them for the very first time a couple of hours ago. I am feeling inexplicably drawn to thier music…which is great because they are playing at The Hotel Cafe TONIGHT which was where I was planning on going anyway…now I just have to try to make it there by 6pm which is when This group goes on. Preliminary research suggests they are from The United Kingdom so come out tonight before they disappear across the pond!

Also playing tonight, a couple of my local faves Joey Ryan and Jim Bianco, as well as Dan Wilson who, in my opinion, writes some of the best lyrics ever to be put to song…NOT to be missed!

 ~ Kristen

Truth & Salvage Co.- Residency and CD release

Posted on by Amanda

Most exciting news! One of my very fave LA bands just announced the release date for their first album. May 25 Truth & Salvage Co. will release their self-titled debut. This six piece group instantly drew me in with their energetic live performances and The Band-like qualities. I discovered them a couple years ago when they were known as The Family Band. I’ve had the immense pleasure of watching them grow, get signed by Chris Robinson’s label, Silver Arrow, and go out on tour with The Black Crowes where they were even able to play a date with one of my fave Philly bands, Pawnshop Roses. I was so happy when they returned to LA and started playing local gigs again. Right now, the band is in the middle of a residency at The Hotel Café…every Friday night through to March 12th. If you get an opportunity to see them, it will be an unforgettable evening of music and dancing…just be sure to get there early as they tend to pack the place and they will stop allowing people through the door.
For a preview of the album, the band recently recorded some songs through Daytrotter: http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/truth-and-salvage-co-concert/20030993-37382166.html

Be sure to see them now before they head out on tour again (this time with The Avett Brothers)

Or alternatively, if you’re not in the LA area, be sure to catch them with The Avett Brothers (another fantastic group). Dates posted so far:

April 17 | The Fox Theatre | Oakland, CA*
April 18 | Grand Sierra Theatre | Reno, NV*
April 20 & 21 | Boulder Theater | Boulder, CO*
April 23 | Rialto Theater | Tucson, AZ*
April 24 | Mesa Arts Center | Mesa, AZ*
April 27 | Crest Theater | Sacramento, CA*
April 29 | House Of Blues | San Diego, CA*

~ Kristen

I am being drawn to this band

Posted on by Amanda

  http://www.myspace.com/scarson45
They are called Scars on 45. I just heard them for the very first time a couple of hours ago. I am feeling inexplicably drawn to thier music…which is great because they are playing at The Hotel Cafe TONIGHT which was where I was planning on going anyway…now I just have to try to make it there by 6pm which is when This group goes on. Preliminary research suggests they are from The United Kingdom so come out tonight before they disappear across the pond!

Also playing tonight, a couple of my local faves Joey Ryan and Jim Bianco, as well as Dan Wilson who, in my opinion, writes some of the best lyrics ever to be put to song…NOT to be missed!

 ~ Kristen