Maniac

Local Musicians Giving Back to the Community

Posted on by Kristen

Holidays are a time of year where there is a huge emphasis on giving to the less fortunate. You don’t always put together local music and giving to the local community. At least I didn’t.  Well, about a dozen local SoCal bands did just that.  Hi.  My name is Ashley and Kristen and Amanda are letting me hijack their blog for this one post.  I work for a nonprofit agency called Child and Family Guidance Center in Palmdale.  We give all of our clients and their siblings (low income at risk youth) gifts for the holidays.  I got the bright idea to ask local bands to donate their merchandise and music to the teens as a unique and totally awesome gift.  I got so many more positive responses than I was expecting.  I was able to collect enough items to give 60 totally awesome gifts to the clients.  I was so moved that I asked Kristen if I could post a big THANK YOU (!) to all the bands.  It made my heart swell with happiness and warmth to know that they cared enough to donate their hard work.  Plus the clients really enjoyed getting the special gifts.

As an added bonus-Oh No Not Stereo gave me money to be able to run a music group for the teens.  Talk about my heart filling with even more gushy happiness.

Here is a list of the bands and their websites.  Check them out cause they rock.

Oh No Not Stereo: http://ohnonotstereo.com/blog/

Andy Frasco and the UN: http://andyfrasco.com/

Virtual Boy: http://wearevirtualboy.com/

Oedipus: http://oedipusband.com/

Blonde Summer: http://www.facebook.com/blondesummer

Saint Motel : http://saintmotel.com/

Dead Country: http://deadcountry.net/

Runner Runner: http://www.runnerrunnermusic.com/

Taylor Locke and The Roughs: http://www.tlatr.com/

Maniac: http://maniacmania.com/sonsofsummer.html

Some Hear Explosions: http://www.somehearexplosions.com/

The Silent Comedy: http://www.thesilentcomedy.com/

Fitz and the Tantrums: http://fitzandthetantrums.com/

 

~ Ashley (awebb@childguidance.org)

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/5-12/11

Posted on by Kristen

I barely survived last week. I can’t remember the last time I pushed my poor body so hard for so long. I can’t say it was a bad week because it was peppered by some amazing musical experiences, but it’s not a good sign when going to a show is a “break” rather than the end of your day. But it is weeks like these that make me most thankful for great live music and its ability to get me through just about anything.

Here’s to hoping this week can be fabulous without the severe sleep deprivation!  Musically, there is a lot of promise. Friday I’m going to wish I could be in 10 places at once. Thankfully, my fave rockers Queen Caveat will also be making an appearance Weds night down in Hermosa Beach. They’ve been busy recording new music and I’ve been suffering withdrawals…

As for the rest, here’s my list:

 

Monday: Brian Wright at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Beverly Kills at Howl at The Moon in Universal City (10pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Daniel Lanois and Rocco Deluca…free with RSVP (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Maniac and The Postelles at Bootleg Bar (8:30,10:30)
ALSO: Benefit for Free The Slaves at The Hotel Café featuring Joe Purdy, Cary Brothers, The Rescues, The Makepeace Brothers, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Me Talk Pretty at The Key Club (10:30)
ALSO: The Dahls at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Carina Round and Puscifer at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at The Piano Bar (9pm)

 

Weds: Queen Caveat FREE at The Shore Lounge in Hermosa Beach (9:30)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Scott Weiland at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Thursday: Ryan Cabrera at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Friday: Jon McLaughlin and Stephen Kellogg at The Key Club (9, 10:15)
ALSO: Queen Caveat and Kevin Martin at The Viper Room (11, 8pm)
ALSO: The Silent Comedy at Villian’s Tavern (?)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (8:30)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Sara Bareilles and Joshua Radin at The Palladium (7:30)
ALSO: The Belle Brigade at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: William Elliot Whitmore and Trampled by Turtles at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Saturday: Quiet Mind, Soul Puppet, The Young Royals, and Roman Candle Wars at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann Christmas Show at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Sugarcult at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (7pm)
ALSO: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Gibson Amphitheater featuring Incubus, Bush, Chevelle, New Found Glory, etc.

 

Sunday: Satellite Holiday Recital and Toy Drive FREE at The Satellite featuring Steven Wikin (Vanaprasta), Useless Keys, Rob Kolar & Lauren Brown (He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister), etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Odd Us and Parker Ainsworth at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Brandi Carlile at Broad Stage in Santa Monica (?)
ALSO: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Gibson Amphitheater featuring The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Death Cab for Cutie, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, The Naked and Famous, etc.

 

Advance Notice NEXT MONDAY: High Voltage Holiday Party at On the Rox featuring Zero 1, The Active Set, Suddyn, and Bethpage Black (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
December 14th: Deas Vail and Lakes at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Forrest Day at Molly Malone’s
December 16th: Chris Cornell at The Orpheum Theater
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 17th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 18th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 31st: Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

 

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/28-12/4

Posted on by Kristen

Well, I had a delightful Thanksgiving full of adventures down in San Diego. It actually felt like a holiday which is a rare thing for me. I’m not really looking forward to facing my massive to do list tomorrow, but I am quite excited about this week’s show schedule. My beloved LA rockers, After Midnight Project, are doing their first show in what seems like years Monday night in North Hollywood at The Federal Bar. Another highlight is Tuesday when songstress Rachel Yamagata comes to The Troubadour to regale us with tunes from her fantastic new record, Chesapeake. For my complete list of shows I’d recommend, just keep reading:

 

Monday: After Midnight Project FREE at The Federal Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Bathgate at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings, Vanaprasta, Voxhual Broadcast FREE at The Satellite (9pm)…last night of Vanaprasta’s residency (you read our interview, right?)
ALSO: Rhett Miller at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Driftwood Singers and Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: Sting at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Milo Greene and Incan Abraham FREE with RSVP (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Garrison Starr, Adrianna, Dawn Thomas, and Maia Sharp (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls, The Californian FREE at On the Rox (9pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: SONOS at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Races and Kiev at The Central (10,11)
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at Molly Malone’s (11:15)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at Piano Bar featuring Johnny Moezzi at midnight (8pm)

 

Weds: Empire at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Thursday: Hurricane Bells with Shadow Shadow Shade at The Satellite (9pm)

 

Friday: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at WitZend in Venice (9:30)
ALSO: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Fences at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at Origami Vinyl (8pm)

 

Saturday: KCRW’s Holiday Show at The Orpheum Theater featuring Brett Dennn, Iron and Wine, Belle Brigade, White Denim, etc. (7:45)
ALSO: The Ataris acoustic performance at The Airliner (9pm)
ALSO: Beverly McClellan at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: David and Devine at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Beady Eye at The Wiltern (8pm)

 

Sunday: Maniac acoustic set at Bellejar Vintage (8pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Satellite (10pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
December 6th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 9th: Stephen Kellogg and Jon McLaughlin at The Key Club
December 9th: Camp Fredd at The Roxy
December 9th: The Belle Brigade at McCabe’s
December 12th: High Voltage Holiday Party at On the Rox
December 14th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Chris Cornell at The Orpheum Theater
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 17th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 18th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

 

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Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 11/21-11/27

Posted on by Kristen

Since I got back from my east coast trip, I feel like I have been running full speed ahead non-stop. I can’t believe it’s already Sunday eve and despite working most of the weekend, my to do list barely has a scratch. I didn’t get out to too many shows last week, but the ones I saw were phenomenal. The Hours and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Royce Hall and Milo Greene and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern were both top notch musical experiences. And let’s not forget LMN’s show tonight featuring Wires in the Walls, Holy Rolling Empire, and Sunken Ships…an excellent night of music!

Despite it being a holiday week, there are still a few promising shows. I’m basically going to have to take it on an hour by hour basis, but those of you fortunate enough to be able to plan ahead, here’s what I’d recommend:

 

Monday: Vanaprasta FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Rachel Cantu, The Janks, Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (8:30, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: The Maine at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Mowglis and Maniac at Three of Clubs (9, midnight)
ALSO: Golden State and Kemble Walters and the Blank Faces at The Viper Room (10,12)
ALSO: Ari Shine, Kevin Martin, Just an Animal at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Weds: Korey Dane at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Brian Wright at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground at Bootleg Bar (11pm)

 

Thursday: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

Friday: Trapt at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Central (8:30)

 

Saturday/Sunday: everyone will probably be out of town, but maybe something will come up by the weekend…

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Allen Stone at The Echo
December 2nd: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey
December 2nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 6th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 14th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

 

 

 

 

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New Music Tuesday 10/25/11 featuring Honeyhoney and Maniac

Posted on by Kristen

A couple big names put out releases this week (Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto, Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger). We also have the start of the holiday CD offerings with albums from Michael Buble (expected), She & Him (intrigued), and Scott Weiland (??). While you’re in the new music buying mood, might I suggest a couple new discs from local LA artists:

 

Honeyhoney – Billy Jack

Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe (AKA Honeyhoney) have been around the LA scene for several years now. I’ve been a fan since I first heard “Little Toy Gun” off their debut CD, First Rodeo. I love their bluegrass-y sound and Suzanne’s alluring vocals and can’t wait to hear what they’ve come up with on Billy Jack. Honeyhoney will be back in LA November 13th at The Troubadour.

Check it out on Itunes or Amazon 

Here’s what Suzanne and Ben have to say about the record:

 

Maniac– Session 1 from Sons of Summer

As previewed when Maniac took LMN’s Band Exam, the band will be releasing new songs in groups over the next several months. Together, these songs will comprise Maniac’s second full length album, Sons of Summer. The first 4 songs were released today!! I haven’t heard the tunes, but I bet they’re fun, danceable numbers. Added bonus: the artwork on the album cover will combine with the other sessions’ covers to great one giant piece.

You can order your limited edition, hand screened pressing of Session 1 here.  The proceeds go to help record the rest of the album.

 

~ Kristen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LMN Band Exam: Maniac

Posted on by Kristen

Who is Maniac? You could check out their webpage. That will tell you something. You could attend their show tomorrow night (Thursday 10/13) at The Bootleg Theater. That will certainly give you a taste. You could even look at the definition of the term, maniac. I’m pretty sure that gives you some solid intel as well.

If there is only one thing to say about LMN band love Maniac, it might be that they are doing their own thing and loving it! From their on-stage antics and quirky tunes to the way they interact with their fans, partners in crime Jake Grigg and Shawn Harris always manage to dish up the unexpected and make sure everyone is having a good time.

I love Maniac for their exciting live performances. I also love their unique perspective on being a professional musician. The band captures the essence of DIY, pushing the boundaries on both music-making and marketing. They are currently recording in their home studio and plan to  release new music three songs at a time in limited edition screen printed cases. The songs will be available in their online store starting this month! In the meantime, be sure to pick up their Extended Play EP and first full lenght album, Mania.

For more info on their travels, specialty-crafted limited edition merch items, random thoughts, and how to become a member of their exclusive East Nowhere Social Club, I’d head on over to their facebook  page.

Is that still not enough information for you? Well, LMN also wanted to learn more about Jake and Shawn (AKA Maniac) so we gave the fellas our band exam full of random questions. Here’s how they did:

 

Multiple Choice:

Favorite Super hero: Superman, Spiderman, Batman

Shawn: Batman doesn’t have any powers, just heaps of monies

Jake: Spiderman hooked up with Kirsten Dunst in the movies so i’m jealous and want him dead.

Best place to play a random show: beach, forest, shopping mall 

Shawn: Depends on the weather

Jake: Your house

Best mode of transportation: bicycle, train, horse

Jake & Shawn: Definitely a horse.

The ultimate music question: The Beatles or The Rolling Stones

Shawn & Jake: hahahahahahahahahahaha

Shawn: I can’t believe thats even a fucking thing

Jake: hahahaha

Fill in the Blank:

My favorite guilty pleasure music is __The Rolling Stones___.

The last book I read was ___Keith Richards Life___.

One weird skill/talent no one would expect from me is ____oral sex___.

Describe what it’s like to be on the road in two words: ___oral­­­­_ _  _ _sex___

 

Essay/Short Answer:

 If you could live in another Era, what would it be and why?

Jake: 1960’s would be fun. Free love, acid and the radio was playing songs that we actually like.

Shawn: And everyone rode horses

Jake: Bare back!

Tell us a story about one of the songs off Mania.

Shawn: I totally asked Jake “who do you know” and he was “all I know is I don’t like people like me.” Which prompted me to ask “who do you trust?” Turned out, he trusted the mail and the rain. We wrote a little song about that.

Jake: Hahaha

 

Listen and Love!

 

 

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/10-10/16

Posted on by Kristen

This weekend just seemed to slip through my fingertips. I swear I spent most of it in front of my computer working, but I certainly don’t have anything to show for it. I did manage to get out Friday night for a little Culture Collide (such a great festival!). Then Saturday night was an evening at The Hotel Cafe where I was taken on a journey back to 2004 with Michael Tolcher. Hearing Michael play some of my favorite tunes from that year made me realize just how connected certain songs are to particular years of my life…and that 2004 may very well be my happiest year. I’m not sure if that year’s greatness was more because of the music or because of the events that the music accompanied, but I do know that the bands and songs that I associate with that time will forever be my favorites.

 

What songs are going to make that indelible imprint on 2011? Could it be a song heard by a band playing this week? Quite possibly! Here’s my schedule:

 

Monday: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring The Silent Comedy (10:30)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Golden State and Indians FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10,11)
ALSO: The Rambles and Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: Abbott Kinney and Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Boy & Bear at The Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Atomic Tom, Anberlin, and Switchfoot at The Wiltern (6:30)
ALSO: Oh No Not Stereo at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Lakes at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Rival Sons, The Pretty Reckless, and Evanescence at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Foxy Shazam at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Pierce at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…record release show
ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo (8pm)

 

 

Weds: Whitton, Leftover Cuties, Amber Rubarth, and Coby Brown at  at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Thursday: Maniac and Family of the Year at The Bootleg (10,11)
ALSO: The Head & The Heart at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Kim Richey, Jennifer Hirsh, Rob Giles with All New People at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)
ALSO: Some Hear Explosions at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: Foo Fighters at The Forum (7pm)
ALSO: Lindsay Buckingham at UCLA Royce Hall (8pm)

 

Friday: Amy Kuney, Butterfly Boucher and Katie Herzig at The Bootleg (8,9,10)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Nikka Costa at The Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice (9pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at ReForm Academy (11pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (8:45)
ALSO: Los Sindicate at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Shelby Lynne at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)

 

Saturday: Haroula Rose at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Kozmonaut at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Jesse Malin and The Hold Steady at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Shelby Lynn at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Canyons at The Troubadour (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
October 17th: Youngblood Hawke and Imagine Dragons at The Satellite
October 18th: Portishead at The Shrine
October 19th: Melissa Ferrick and Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: Thrice at The Mayan Theater
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 11th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

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