Matthew Jordan

Today's Listen: Jamie Cullum

Posted on by Amanda

Today, I started listening to Jamie Cullum’s new CD, The Pursuit. Every since his song “Twentysomething” spoke to my very soul, I’ve been a fan. Plus, you really can’t go wrong in my book with piano-based songs.  I was a little concerned because people were saying this was Jamie’s attempt to get away from his jazzy piano style that made him so popular. One look at the cover (a piano that is being blown to smithereens) would also indicate this was his intent. Fortunately, for me, this is not true. Granted he gives us songs like “Music is Through” that sound more like…well everything else that I don’t really listen to…but even through the maze of synthesized beats, he still can’t resist busting out the snazzy piano solo.

People seem to like his cover of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” which is great, and gives me a whole new appreciation of that song.  But as far as covers go, I tend to gravitate more towards his version of “Not While I’m Around”…a classic from my childhood which means a lot more to me than Rihanna’s booty shaker. Listening to this new CD actually made me crave one of Jamie’s older offerings, Pointless Nostalgic, which also showed us his great diversity of tastes as he covers several of my fave tunes including Gershwins’ “Ain’t Necessarily So” and Radiohead’s “High and Dry.”  

All in all, I feel it is another great addition to the Jamie Cullum library, meant to be pulled out on rainy days and lazy afternoons.

http://www.jamiecullum.com/

Enjoy Cullum’s take on “High and Dry”!

~ Kristen

p.s. Jamie Cullum is playing The Avalon this Thursday, but unfortunately, it’s sold out. If you still want to see some piano playing genius, go to Cafe Was that night at 9:30 to check out Matthew Jordan…do it!

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 3/22-3/28

Posted on by Amanda

As everyone is recovering from their trip to Texas, the shows are coming back to LA. So, many options this week including one of the bands I discovered listening to all the SXSW acts, The Paper Raincoat, who are playing with Joey Ryan Thursday at The Hotel Cafe! More amazing SXSW discoveries to come in the upcoming weeks…and someday, my official list.
In the meantime, here are my personal selections for this week:

Monday: Paris Carney and Lelia Broussard at Room 5 (8,9)

ALSO: Ernie Halter at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Tuesday: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

ALSO: Taylor Locke at the Roughs (album release) at Bordello (11pm)

ALSO: Honeyhoney at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO:  Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears) at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Christopher Dallman at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at The Echo (8:30)

Weds: The Low Anthem at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Smile Empty Soul at The Key Club (10pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: The Paper Raincoat and Joey Ryan at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)

ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Cafe Was (9:30)

ALSO: The Low Anthem at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Jamie Cullum at The Avalon (8pm)

ALSO: She & Him at The El Rey (8pm)

ALSO: The Miniature Tigers at The Troubadour (8pm)

Friday: Nico Vega and Metric at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

ALSO: Greg Holden at Room 5 (9pm)

Saturday: The Like at The Smell (9pm)

ALSO: San Diego Indie Music Fest in Northpark, San Diego (noon)

ALSO: Bamboozled Left featuring AFI at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (2pm)

ALSO: The Gin Blossoms at The Coach House in SJC (8pm)

Sunday: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (1pm)

ALSO: Nelly McKay at Alex Theater in Glendale (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 31st: The Silent Comedy at Bootleg

April 2nd: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

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

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   

May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater

May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah

June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~Kristen

Want more? For up-to-date concert information, show recaps, pictures, new tunes, and other musical musings, keeping checking this blog I’m maintaining with my friend Amanda!

http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

Kristen's LA Concert Calendar 3/22-3/28

Posted on by Amanda

As everyone is recovering from their trip to Texas, the shows are coming back to LA. So, many options this week including one of the bands I discovered listening to all the SXSW acts, The Paper Raincoat, who are playing with Joey Ryan Thursday at The Hotel Cafe! More amazing SXSW discoveries to come in the upcoming weeks…and someday, my official list.

In the meantime, here are my personal selections for this week:

Monday: Paris Carney and Lelia Broussard at Room 5 (8,9)

ALSO: Ernie Halter at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Tuesday: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

ALSO: Taylor Locke at the Roughs (album release) at Bordello (11pm)

ALSO: Honeyhoney at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO:  Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears) at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Christopher Dallman at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at The Echo (8:30)

Weds: The Low Anthem at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Smile Empty Soul at The Key Club (10pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: The Paper Raincoat and Joey Ryan at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)

ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Cafe Was (9:30)

ALSO: The Low Anthem at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Jamie Cullum at The Avalon (8pm)

ALSO: She & Him at The El Rey (8pm)

ALSO: The Miniature Tigers at The Troubadour (8pm)

Friday: Nico Vega and Metric at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

ALSO: Greg Holden at Room 5 (9pm)

Saturday: The Like at The Smell (9pm)

ALSO: San Diego Indie Music Fest in Northpark, San Diego (noon)

ALSO: Bamboozled Left featuring AFI at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (2pm)

ALSO: The Gin Blossoms at The Coach House in SJC (8pm)

Sunday: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate at The Angels Stadium in Anaheim (1pm)

ALSO: Nelly McKay at Alex Theater in Glendale (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 31st: The Silent Comedy at Bootleg

April 2nd: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

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

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   

May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater

May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah

June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~Kristen

Want more? For up-to-date concert information, show recaps, pictures, new tunes, and other musical musings, keeping checking this blog I’m maintaining with my friend Amanda!

http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

Bleecker Street: 3/12/10

Posted on by Amanda

What an amazing night for music! Marti Heil  always gathers a fantastic collection of musicians…If you haven’t yet gone to Hear NoHo  the first Thursday of every month, you should check it out! Anyway, tonight’s fare featured Matthew Jordan who killed it on the keyboard and reminded me why I love piano-driven music. He was followed by the instrumental trio, Trio Non Grata, and Kenneth Pattengale who sang a collection of beautiful but sad songs with his James Taylor-esque voice.  The star of the show was the amazing Miss Paris Carney  who wrangled a crack team of musicians and special guests to perform some of her own songs (which are fantastic) as well as a couple select covers, including one of my personal favorite songs, The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” featuring Kris Karlsson on lead vocals. And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better (seriously, how can you top a The Band cover?!?), Reeve Carney came on stage to do a little impromptu set. For those of you who don’t know me…at all…the band Reeve sings in, Carney, was the first local LA band I discovered (at Bonnaroo ’07) and was able to follow around (Molly Malone’s residency) and is still one of my very favorite LA bands.

I love Marti’s events because they always end with me putting even more artists on my watch list. Here are some upcoming shows I learned about tonight that are immediately going onto my calendar:

  • Matthew Jordan:
    • March 25th at Cafe Was (FREE)
    • April 28th at The Hotel Cafe
  • Paris Carney:
    • March 15th: Room 5
    • March 22nd: Room 5
  • Carney: May 15th at The El Rey

~ Kristen

Kristen's LA Concert List 3/8-3/14

Posted on by Amanda

It’s Oscar night! So I’m going to make this brief. There are so many good shows this week, I’m a bit overwhelmed with the choices…and I didn’t even do an exhaustive search.  All I know is that I’m not going to be sleeping much…and I wish I had a double (someone needs to go to these shows I can’t go to and report back!).

Here’s what I’ve got cooking:

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

ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (8pm)

Tuesday: Big Pink and IO Echo at El Rey (7pm)

ALSO: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: The Rescues and Honeyhoney at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: Laura Veirs at Spaceland (8:30)

Weds: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: Cary Brothers and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)

ALSO: Delta Spirit at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Olin and The Moon at Spaceland (8:30)

ALSO: Agent Ribbon at The Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Melissa Ferrick, Jim Bianco, Joey Ryan, and Caitlin Crosby and Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe (7,9,10,11)…so much great music all night long!

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)… I’m driving down if anyone wants to carpool…

ALSO: Purple Melon at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Friday: Bleecker Street featuring Paris Carney and Matthew Jordan at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

ALSO: Basia Bulat, Brother Sal, and Truth & Salvage Co. with The Parsons Red Heads at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)…last week was insane…don’t miss out!

ALSO: Brandi Carlile at House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Saturday: Great Northern at Bootleg (10:30)

ALSO: The Hereafter at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Until June and Lady Danville at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Loft (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Sunday: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 26th: Nico Vega and Metric at Hollywood Palladium

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

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

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

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

April 16th-19th: Coachella

Sometime in May: CARNEY at El Rey…just block out the entire month in anticipation…  

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert List 3/8-3/14

Posted on by Amanda

It’s Oscar night! So I’m going to make this brief. There are so many good shows this week, I’m a bit overwhelmed with the choices…and I didn’t even do an exhaustive search.  All I know is that I’m not going to be sleeping much…and I wish I had a double (someone needs to go to these shows I can’t go to and report back!).
Here’s what I’ve got cooking:

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

ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (8pm)

Tuesday: Big Pink and IO Echo at El Rey (7pm)

ALSO: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: The Rescues and Honeyhoney at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: Laura Veirs at Spaceland (8:30)

Weds: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: Cary Brothers and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)

ALSO: Delta Spirit at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Olin and The Moon at Spaceland (8:30)

ALSO: Agent Ribbon at The Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Melissa Ferrick, Jim Bianco, Joey Ryan, and Caitlin Crosby and Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe (7,9,10,11)…so much great music all night long!

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)… I’m driving down if anyone wants to carpool…

ALSO: Purple Melon at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Friday: Bleecker Street featuring Paris Carney and Matthew Jordan at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

ALSO: Basia Bulat, Brother Sal, and Truth & Salvage Co. with The Parsons Red Heads at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)…last week was insane…don’t miss out!

ALSO: Brandi Carlile at House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Saturday: Great Northern at Bootleg (10:30)

ALSO: The Hereafter at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Until June and Lady Danville at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Loft (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Sunday: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 26th: Nico Vega and Metric at Hollywood Palladium

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

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

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

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

April 16th-19th: Coachella

Sometime in May: CARNEY at El Rey…just block out the entire month in anticipation…  

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~ Kristen

Random Musings- Venue Trends

Posted on by Amanda

http://www.mollymalonesla.com/

I’ve been going to Molly Malone’s lately…quite a bit it seems. I was just there last night to see the fantastic Vienne (http://www.myspace.com/vienne ). And incidentally also discovered a compelling new band called Clockwork (http://www.myspace.com/ilikeclockwork ) that will definitely be added to my watch list. I’ll be back at MM’s next Friday for another round of Bleaker Street artists including Matthew Jordan and the amazing Paris Carney.

What’s odd is that before this slew of MM’s shows, it had been a good six months or so since I’d set foot in that bar and a good year since I’d been there on a regular basis (think: Carney residency).

But that’s how things seem to go. Before this Molly Malone’s trend, it seemed as if I was at The Viper Room all the time…although it had taken me about a year before I even entered the doors of that legendary venue.

Aside from The Hotel Cafe where I try to go about once a week, other venues seem to come and go from my life like waves…anyone else ever notice this?

~ Kristen