SXSW ’13 – Day 2

*warning: having issues uploading pictures so come back later for some photo fun!

It’s quite a bit later than I’d like it to be, but I’m still bouncing and full of energy from today’s events…everything feels good (except for my feet and over-fed stomach). I’m in my happy place. I’m at SXSW!

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Today began by picking up credentials (a breeze!) and meeting friends at The Great British Breakfast where we dined on sausage, eggs, beans, bacon, and toast. Sometime during breakfast, the Spotify line-up was announced and included twenty one pilots to play mid-afternoon. The rest of the morning was a blur of meetings and photobooths with only that one clear item on the agenda. When we approached the Spotify house and found ourselves at the end of a line that wrapped around the house and well down the street, I’d say “dismay” was an understatement for my emotional state. Luck, however, was with me and we all got in nearly 40 min. later right as the first song was starting. The twenty one pilots duo did their best not to let the heat and crowd full of industry folk deter their typically dynamic and engaging performance. The set seemed short, but it did the trick to propel me through the afternoon.

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Having a badge this year for the first time, I was able to spend some time wandering around the Trade Show where we ran into a 10 ft. astronaut, walked through a giant yam, created a post-it work of art, snacked on some delicious mini-desserts, and, of course, heard some music (including a band in a box!)…all while wearing cowboy hats.

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After a brief respite and dinner of mini burgers and fries at The German Haus, the evening started to take its musical shape. We ended up at Hype Hotel to catch a bit of Ivan & Alyosha, a SXSW favorite from last year, and eat some Taco Bell (yes, there was a lot of eating today). Afterwards we headed to The British Embassy where Lucy Rose was sitting comfortably in a chair singing with an acoustic guitar surrounded by a full rocking band. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I had no complaints. Next, we went to celebrate the two year anniversary of LMN favorite The Milk Carton Kids whose gorgeous harmonies, melancholy tunes, and unforgettably hilarious banter had the entire room at The Central Presbyterian Church completely transfixed…they received a standing ovation at the end of their set.

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I was debating staying at the church to catch Gaby Moreno, but even the short time between sets was too much for me to be without music, so I ran back to Hype Hotel to sample Irish songsters Little Green Cars (and maybe grab a burrito), then headed back to The British Embassy to close out the night. I got a boost of energy in the form of Willy Moon whose lively stage presence was infectious. Finally, perhaps the highlight of my night, after waiting well over a year, I FINALLY GOT TO SEE BASTILLE!! Before the set, I spoke with a Manchester native who told me that it would be near impossible to see this incredibly popular band over in England is such a tiny venue, let alone so close to the front of the stage. The buzz in the room before and during the set was electric and I certainly felt incredibly grateful to be there as the quartet took over the room with songs from their recently release, Bad Blood. Two hours later, and I still can’t quite shake the excitement of that set. But I can, I will, and I must, for I need to get some rest before tomorrow’s adventures.

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Here are a couple of the events I’m most looking forward to tomorrow:

Day Party: Horseshoe Casino presents a screening of Butch Walker’s Out of Focus followed by performances by artists including Butch Walker, Six60, Air Traffic Controller, and The Royalty.

Night Party: The Nikon/Warner Sound Party at The Belmont featuring The Rubens, twenty one pilots, Tegan & Sarah, Paramore

And some artist I’d love to see tomorrow:

The Virginmarys at The Blackberry House (2pm)
NO at Cheer Up Charlie’s (2:15)
Mike Mains and The Branches at The Acquarium (7:15)
Youngblood Hawke at Hype Hotel (8pm)
Holy Esque at British Music Embassy (9pm)
Middle Class Rut at Mohawk Outdoors (10pm)
The Chevin at Buffalo Billards (11pm)
BOY at Central Presbyterian Church (12:30am)
Foxes at Red Eyed Fly (1am)

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/11-3/17

A teensy bit overwhelmed by everything I still have to do for SXSW. We’re leaving tomorrow. I’ve got my incredibly overwhelming schedule, my extra pair of comfy shoes, and my camera so I should be good, right? Oh, did I mention I got sick last week and lost my voice? Still recovering from that so…yay. Tonight is The Silent Comedy at The Casbah down in San Diego. I’m sad The Silent Comedy boys won’t be at SXSW this year, but I couldn’t be more grateful for an SD show conveniently booked the night before I need to catch a plane from SD…also, I have plenty of other artists to track down in Austin (my top picks list should be coming out tomorrow).

If you’re staying in LA this week, you have a lot to look forward to as well. There are some really good residencies this month. Sad Robot Tuesdays at Hemmingway’s, David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe Weds nights, and Sonia Rao and Elliot Yamin at WitZend every Thursday. Don’t let the month pass you by without seeing all of these great acts.

Here are the rest of my musical suggestions:

Monday: Lucy Rose at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring MO and Mikhael Paskalev (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 featuring Scott Mellis, Erin Willett, Jackie Does Joel and MORE (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Sad Robot and The Ten Thousands at Hemmingways (9pm)
ALSO: Madi Diaz and Robert Francis at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: MO and CHVRCHES at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Broken Anchor at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays FREE at The Piano Bar (8pm)

 

Weds: Meiko and David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe (8, 10)
ALSO: Frightened Rabbit at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)

 

Thursday: Belmont Lights at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Sonia Rao and Elliot Yamin at WitZend (9, 10)
ALSO: Rocco DeLuca at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Friday: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Chris Stills at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: The Ten Thousand with The Vim Dicta at Bootleg Bar (9pm)…EP Preview Party
ALSO: Northern Youth at Casey’s (10pm)
ALSO: Maroon 5 with Neon Trees and Owl City at Staples Center (8pm)

 

Saturday: Katrina Parker at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

 

Sunday: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 19th: Foxes at Bootleg Bar
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 21st: The Rubens and Finish Ticket at The Hotel Cafe
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
March 25th: Dinner and a Suit at The Hotel Cafe
March 27th: Mika at The El Rey
March 27th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
April 3rd: William Beckett at The Hotel Café
April 4th: NO at The Troubadour
April 9th: Andrew Ripp at The Hotel Café
April 16th: The Neighbourhood at The El Rey
April 17th: Lelia Broussard at The Hotel Cafe
April 18th: Little Green Cars at The Troubadour
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
April 26th: Chappo at The Satellite
May 2nd: Lights at The El Rey
May 2nd: Crash Kings at Saint Rocke
May 4th: The Brobecks at Amplyfi
May 7th: Tom Odell at The Troubadour
May 8th/9th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
May 22nd: Youngblood Hawke at Avalon
May 29th/30th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
June 6th: Capital Cities at The El Rey
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

http://www.localmusicnation.net/

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/3-3/11

I’m putting my calendar together from a wonderful little cafe in Santa Monica. It’s a very calming place that has comfy chairs, pink ginger lemonade and good music. What more do I need?

With SXSW music week just around the corner, LA is getting some great out of country acts stopping in this week on their way to Austin. By way of Germany we have Fetsum and indie pop darlings Boy playing Bardot and The Troubadour.  Australia’s Jack Carty, The Trouble With Templeton, and Emma Louise all have at least one show this week. If you want to rock out, try Canada’s Mother Mother at The Viper Room or New Zealand’s Six60 at Los Globos. Also from Canada, Said The Whale and Wake Owl will be at The Hotel Cafe. Finally, the UK has a couple outstanding troubadours in town with Marcus Foster and Frank Turner. You won’t get many chances to see any of these artists, so if you dig ‘em, be sure to go see ‘em!

For more details and more music recommendations, keep reading!

Monday: Deadly Birds at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Fetsum (9pm)
ALSO: Drive He Said FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)…a sampling of local singer-songwriters

 

Tuesday: Mother Mother and Lolove at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Armada and Sad Robot and at Hemmingway’s (9,10)…Sad Robot residency!
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at Sayer’s Club (10pm)
ALSO: Chi McClean at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Marcus Foster with Sean Rowe and Ruston Kelly at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Robert Francis and Broken Anchor at The Hotel Cafe (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays FREE at Piano Bar featuring The Filthy Souls (12am)

 

Weds: Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Hey Marsilles at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Beware of Darkness at The Central SAPC (10pm)
ALSO: Gayle Skidmore, Sweet Talk Radio, and David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)

 

Thursday: Frank Turner, Noah Gundersen, Wake Owl, and Said The Whale at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8, 9:30, 11:30)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s and Youngblood Hawke at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: Sonia Rao and Elliot Yamin at WitZend (9, 10)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Friday: Boy at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Emma Louise and Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (7,8)
ALSO: Joshua James at Bootleg Theatre (10:30)
ALSO: Jack Carty at WitZend (10pm)
ALSO: Badwater at El Cid (10:15)
ALSO: Erin McKeown at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Saturday: Andy Clockwise and Irontom at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Nightlands at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Zookeeper’s Palace at Good Hurt (9pm)
ALSO: Jack Carty at Talking Stick Lounge
ALSO: The Trouble With Templeton at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

Sunday: Aussie BBQ at The Echo featuring Jack Carty, Trouble With Templeton, and more (event starts at noon)
ALSO: Six60 and Mind The Gap at Los Globos (7pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 11th: Lucy Rose at The Hotel Cafe
March 12th: CHVRCHES at The Echo
March 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Music Box
March 14th: Belmont Lights at The Roxy
March 15th: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 19th: Foxes at Bootleg Bar
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 21st: The Rubens and Finish Ticket at The Hotel Cafe
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
March 25th: Dinner and a Suit at The Hotel Cafe
March 27th: Mika at The El Rey
March 27th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
April 3rd: William Beckett at The Hotel Café
April 4th: NO at The Troubadour
April 9th: Andrew Ripp at The Hotel Café
April 16th: The Neighbourhood at The El Rey
April 18th: Little Green Cars at The Troubadour
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
April 26th: Chappo at The Satellite
May 8th/9th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
May 22nd: Youngblood Hawke at Avalon
May 29th/30th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
June 6th: Capital Cities at The El Rey
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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