Matthew Perryman Jones

Kristen’s Wedding Mix ’12- A Selection

Posted on by Kristen

I have a friend who is getting married at the end of this month so obviously, I am making her a lovely wedding/marriage themed mixed CD. In the process of combing through my music library to select the perfect songs, I’ve realized that many of the songs that one might classify as “love songs” aren’t really that at all. Well, there are a lot of songs about love, but I feel that they are mostly about love lost, a yearning for love, or what might more appropriately be labeled “lust” songs.

Another challenge is keeping the ratio of slow songs to more upbeat numbers reasonable. Ballads are great, but there can be rock songs about love and marriage, right? right??

Overall this has been a fun little exercise as it’s encouraged me to take a closer listen to some of my favorite songs. I thought I’d share some of my selections, so here are my top five cuts from my first wedding mix:

1)      “Mountains” – Biffy Clyro

I firmly believe this to be the most romantic song ever written. I think for full impact, one must read the book Only Revolutions which inspired the song and the album it is on. I selected the acoustic version for the mix

 

2)      “Nothing Without You” – Carney

I am also including the obvious “Think of You” but I wanted to rock the mix up a bit.

 

3)      “Car Door (Dancing In the Aisles)” – Joe Firstman

All the complexities of marriage boiled down to a single line: “I’ll open up your car door every time as long as you’ll reach over and unlock mine”

 

4)      “On Top Of The World” – Matthew Perryman Jones

the beauty of this song is paralyzing

 

5)      “May I Suggest” – Red Molly

an affirmative song that should be played every day, but might be particularly relevant on a day like your wedding day

 

I also have on deck, songs from Ed Sheeran, Ben Rector, NEEDTOBREATHE, A Fine Frenzy, Tony Lucca, and more!

However, suggestions are welcomed…

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 9 – Ben Rector

Posted on by Kristen

9. “When A Heart Breaks” – Ben Rector 

LMN spent some time in Nashville this year exploring a bit of the local music scene. I realized that I’ve been listening to quite a few Nashville-based artists. Butterfly Boucher, Matthew Perryman Jones, Gabe Dixon (and all the Ten of Tenn-ers), Neal Carpenter, Bonnie Bishop, Matt Wertz, etc. It was hard to select just one for this mix, but the one who had the greatest impact on me this year was probably Ben Rector.  I first heard of Ben a couple of years ago but this year was the first opportunity I had to see him, first opening for Matt Wertz at The Troubadour and later at The Hotel Cafe as part of my epic 4 venue/7band evening.  Ben Rector had a new album come out this year called Something Like This, which I quite enjoy, but I’m still hung up on Into The Morning which features “When a Heart Breaks”

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 9/20 Featuring Needtobreathe, Thrice, Will Dailey & The Rivals, Katie Herzig, etc.

Posted on by Kristen

I can’t believe it’s Tuesday already. I’m still happily feeding off of last week’s releases (especially that Matthew Perryman Jones) and now a whole new course of music is being dangled in front of me. Of course I will partake as I’m a bit of a glutton, but the richness is a bit overwhelming. If you’re hungry for some new tunes, many great options this week. Here are some of my top picks:

 

Needtobreathe– The Reckoning 

Needtobreathe is one of the bands I am most excited about at the moment. Their show at The Hotel Cafe will certainly go down as one of the best of the year. I pre-ordered this CD that night and was so happy at midnight last night when I could start listening! Love this band. Love this album. Love love love their live show. If you have the opportunity to get to one of the “secret shows” the band has been doing across the country, DO IT!

In the meantime, you can stream the new record here

 

 

 

Or just go ahead and buy it on amazon or itunes.

 

Thrice– Major/Minor 

Hard rockers Thrice, always manage to surprise me with each new CD release. I have really enjoyed following this band on their musical journey over the last 10 years or so and I look forward to discovering where recent years have taken them. I feel in love with the more bluesy tones of their last album, Beggars, but I’d be foolish to expect more of the same from a band who seems to change it up with every album. I’m not exactly sure what to expect from Major/Minor, but I am confident that it will be a great addition to the band’s varied catalog of music.

Stream it here. Buy it here or here.

 

 

 

Will Dailey & The Rivals – Will Dailey & The Rivals

Boston singer-songwriter, Will Dailey, caught my attention the first time I heard his song, “How Can I Make You Happy”. It was love at first listen. I have followed his career ever since and I was thrilled to discover he had a new album, Will Dailey and The Rivals, coming out today. You can download one of the new songs from his website and if you live in the Boston area, be sure to catch him tonight at Newbury Comics or the 24th at The House of Blues Foundation Room.

Amazon has the album here.

 

 

Katie Herzig– The Waking Sleep  

Another week, another Ten out of Tenn artist release! Katie Herzig is one of the first artists from this Nashville collective that I started listening to (she made my SXSW ’08 mix). Especially considering how much I’m loving the recent releases from Gabe Dixon and Matthew Perryman Jones, getting this one was really a no-brainer. Plus, I’m really looking forward to her show at The Hotel Cafe in October with Butterfly Boucher and I need to be prepared!

Download the new album on Amazon or Itunes.

 

 

Other releases I’m looking forward to giving a listen:

Happy Music Day!
~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 9/13 featuring Ben Rector, Matthew Perryman Jones, Atomic Tom, Melissa Ferrick, etc.

Posted on by Kristen

A TON of new music released today that I’m curious about. But I certainly can’t buy them all so here are my top picks:

 

Ben Rector- Something Like This http://www.benrectormusic.com/

I’ve been talking a lot about Ben Rector lately…and with good reason! This singer-songwriter from Nashville writes songs that will both warm your heart and make you dance…I just can’t get them out of my head! His last CD, Into The Morning, makes frequent appearances on my music player and based on the new tunes I heard last month at Ben’s Hotel Cafe show, Something Like This will follow in its footsteps.

Buy it on amazon or itunes.

 

Matthew Perryman Jones – Until The Dawn Appears http://mpjmusic.com/

Another Ten Out of Tenn artist releases a CD! Until The Dawn Appears is actually a collection of the songs Matthew has played over the years that he still feels passionate about (he calls it a “retelling”). Personally, I can’t stop listening to this CD…especially the new version of “Save You”.  Matthew Perryman Jones has a hypnotizing voice that is both soothing and uplifting. With the addition of the piano and the strings, the beauty of this song is almost overwhelming. The rest of the record follows suit. A must have for you collection!

Get Until the Dawn Appears on Amazon or Itunes 

 


Atomic Tom – In Parallel  http://www.atomictom.com/

Atomic Tom blew me away at The Bootleg when I saw them at the beginning of the year. They have a new EP coming out today with a couple of new songs so adding it to my shopping cart is a no brainer. Sample the EP then if you haven’t already, be sure to get their full length album, The Moment.

“Red Light Warning Sign” is the band’s most recent single off The Moment but can also be found on the In Parallel EP.

Download the tunes on Amazon or Itunes 

 

 

Melissa Ferrick- Still Right Here http://www.melissaferrick.com/

So many CDs out today, I listened briefly to a song or two from each and Melissa Ferrick’s Still Right Here stuck out above the rest for me. I’ve always loved Melissa for her passion. It’s easy to connect to her songs and her spirit and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of these new tunes.

Here’s where you can buy the new CD on Itunes

 

Other CDs I’m sampling today:

New music! New music! YAY!
~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/4-2/10

Posted on by Kristen

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! If you know me, you may find it odd that I am recognizing the event because I quite dislike football. Not just in the casual way, but I find myself getting inexplicably, and perhaps irrationally angry when I am in a room with people sitting around watching football (don’t ask, because honestly I don’t know why). But Super Bowl Sunday is great because while everyone else seems to be pressing pause on their lives, I keep going and actually feel like I’m getting ahead for once instead of barely keeping up.
One of my action items today is to plan out my February. As far as shows go, it’s going to be tricky because my oh my February is a busy month for must see residencies. On Mondays we’ve got A House for Lions, The Mowgli’s, AND Wires in the Walls all playing free shows at The Echoplex, The Satellite, and Silverlake Louge respectively. Then on Wednesdays we have Sir Sly at The Echo and Warner Drive at The Viper Room and each Saturday you can find We Were Indians (formally Indians) downtown at Casey’s Irish Bar and Sweetwater & The Satisfaction at The Hotel Cafe. I need to decide what week I’m going to go to what venue now so that I can be sure I see everyone and not become paralyzed with options. It’s so easy to say “oh, I’ll catch them next week” when it comes to these residencies…

Whatever you end up doing today and for the rest of the week, I hope you’re having a blast. To help you in that endeavor, here are my musical recommendations:

 

Monday: The Young Roman’s at Central SAPC (8pm)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s and Of Verona FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: A House for Lions with Olin and The Moon and The Steelwells FREE at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Lewis Watson and Matt Costa (8pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Deadly Birds at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Judy Collins in Conversation with Stephen Stills at The Saban Theatre (7:30)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Kris Allen and Jake Newton at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9:30)
ALSO: Chi McClean and Brendan Hines at Room 5 (9, 10)
ALSO: Solwave at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Tuesdays at The Piano Bar featuring Escondido (9pm)

 

Weds: Queen Caveat FREE at The Studio (10pm)
ALSO: Sir Sly and Kitten FREE at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Warner Drive and Deluka at The Viper Room (10, ?)
ALSO: Kris Allen at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Thursday: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan and Hey Ocean! At Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: The Grammy Foundation’s Play It Forward Event at The Saban Theatre featuring Ed Sheeran, LP, Leann Rimes, Emmylou Harris, etc. (7:30)

 

Friday: Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Stone Foxes at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Slim Cessnar’s Auto Club at The Viper Room (11pm)

 

Saturday: We Were Indians at Casey’s Irish Bar Downtown (11:30)
ALSO: The Stone Foxes at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at Universal Bar and Grill (7:30)
ALSO: Nonpoint at The Roxy (8:15)
ALSO: Sweetwater & The Satisfaction at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Palladium (6pm)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding at The Wiltern (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Ragged Jubilee at The Viper Room (8pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 12th: Ellie Goulding at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 13th: Papa Roach at Club Nokia
Feb. 13th: Dear Boy at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Pink with The Hives at The Staples Center
Feb. 17th: Ed Sheeran at Nokia Theatre LA Live
Feb. 20st: twenty one pilots at The Troubadour
Feb. 21st: The Shakers at The Roxy
Feb. 26th: Anberlin at The House of Blues Sunset
Feb. 28th: Matthew Perryman Jones at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 28th: Jukebox the Ghost at The Echo
March 5th: Marcus Foster at The Troubadour
March 5th: Mother Mother at The Viper Room
March 7th: Youngblood Hawke at The Troubadour
March 7,8,9: Buckcherry at The Viper Room
March 8th: Boy at The Troubadour
March 12th: CHVRCHES at The Echo
March 13th: Frightened Rabbit at The Music Box
March 15th: Anais Mitchell at McCabe’s
March 19th: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo
March 19th: Everything Everything at The Roxy
March 20th: Nico Vega, Atlas Genius, and Imagine Dragons at The Wiltern
March 20th: Charlotte Church at The Troubadour
March 24th: Janis Ian at McCabe’s
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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