Local Music Nation

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/9-7/15

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Kristen

I’ve been doing a lot of writing this weekend. I can’t write without listening to music, so I’ve been doing a lot of that as well. After seeing Joe Firstman Friday at WitZend play one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while (from anyone), I’ve got his entire catalog on repeat. I’m also mixing in The Young Roman’s Tiger Child and the live EP Twin Atlantic gave out last week which has a particularly compelling acoustic version of “Make A Beast Of Myself”. Finally, last night, while at The Satellite to see Queen Caveat, I discovered a new band from Portland called Rags & Ribbons so I’m absorbing and slightly obsessing over their album The Glass Masses.

Soon, however, I’ll have to switch over to The Silent Comedy to pump myself up for their show tonight at The Echoplex. I can’t imagine a better way to end the weekend than a TSC dance-party.

Next week starts off strong with a show from Tony Lucca at Room 5. We’ll see how much Tony’s popularity has increased since his showing on The Voice. My other pick of the week might have to be Saint Motel’s record release at The El Rey on Saturday. I’m so proud of these LA locals, rising in popularity to headlining status at The El Rey! There are also several great shows at The Hotel Cafe this week including one by LMN Band Love Tournament of Hearts.

Here’s my full calendar of recommendations:

Monday: Tony Lucca at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Lost Lander and Terraplane Sun FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Miracle Parade at R Bar (?)…be sure to check the R Bar website for the current password to get in

Tuesday: Monsters Calling Home at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

Weds: Connie Lim and Sonia Rao at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars at Los Globos (10pm)
ALSO: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at King King Hollywood (8pm)

Thursday: Sara Watkins & Tom Brosseau at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Naia Kete and The O’s at The Hotel Cafe (9, 11)
ALSO: London Cries at The Viper Room (11pm)

Friday: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down at California Plaza Downtown (12pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins and Orlando Napier at Harvelle’s (9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines and Golden State at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Javier Dunn, Jesse Thomas, and The Young Romans at Room 5 (8,9,10)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra and Warner Drive at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: David and Devine at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Ryan Cabrera at The Key Club (10pm)

Saturday: Tournament of Hearts and Dawn McCoy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Saint Motel with Princeton and Chasing Kings at The El Rey (8pm)…Saint Motel Record Release
ALSO: Carina Round at The Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Finish Ticket at Amplyfi (9pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon and Berlin FREE at Pershing Square (7:30)

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke (8:05)

To Keep in Mind:
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^thand 11^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14^th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6^th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/2-7/8

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Kristen

Last night, The Sunset Strip kept me out a bit late, so I’m in recovery mode today. Perfect time to prep a couple band interviews and catch up on the Olympic Trials. I am quite excited about these upcoming games. Swimming! Gymnastics!! Equestrian events (I have a soft spot for dressage)!!!

But back to the point, we have another week of excellent shows. The beginning of July means new month-long residencies by Terraplane Sun at The Satellite and The Dig at The Silverlake Lounge. Also, on the east side, Sunset Strip darlings, Queen Caveat, make an appearance at The Satellite on Saturday. Don’t miss it!

As for the rest:

Monday: Terraplane Sun and The Steelwells FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: The Janks FREE at The Bootleg (11pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Red Circle Underground at The Roxy (7:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Piano Bar Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring Dave Green (9pm)

Weds: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

Thursday: Marie Moreshead and Barnaby Saints at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8)
ALSO: Franky Perez & The Truth and London Cries at The Viper Room (10, 11)

Friday: A House for Lions and Andy Clockwise at The Central (10, 11)
ALSO: The Young Romans and The Cordovas at WitZend (8, 9)
ALSO: Bad Rabbits at The Millenium Biltmore Hotel (9pm)…playing as part of the “Keeping It Classy” adult prom

Saturday: Queen Caveat at The Satellite (10:30)
ALSO: Brett Detar, Audra Mae, Cory Branan at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Black Carl and The Shakers at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Jamar Rogers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Sunday: The Silent Comedy at The Echoplex (7pm)

To Keep in Mind:
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 15^th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^thand 11^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14^th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6^th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/24-7/1

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Kristen

Currently listening to all the bands on the Warped Tour line-up…trying to decide if I want to go to Ventura’s date. I’m leaning towards yes, mostly because I want to see Dead Sara, but sadly I feel there are more bands on my “to avoid” list than my “to check out” list (yes, I have made lists). Regardless, I’m putting together my calendar a day early just in case…

Plenty of good shows this week. I’m most excited about seeing some local bands I haven’t seen in a while (Lovers Drugs, The Active Set, Sabrosa Purr, NO, Standing Shadows, etc.). If you want to experience some great LA rock bands, it’s a good week to get out!

Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring ZZ Ward and DWNTWN (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Beachwood Rockers Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring The Cordovas (9pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Del Monte Speakeasy (9pm)
ALSO: Infantree record release FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Lisa Marie Presley at The Roxy (8:30)

Weds: Jessie Payo and Joel Eckels at Room 5 (8,9)

Thursday: Lovers Drugs and The Active Set at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Josh Groban at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm)

Friday: Golden State, Kill the Complex and Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (9,10,11)
ALSO: NO at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Sophie B. Hawkins and Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Connie Lim and Nina Storey at WIZend (9,10)
ALSO: Adam Bones at The Redwood Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Keane at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

Saturday: Standing Shadows at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Buddy and Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)

Sunday: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines at The Bootleg (8pm)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)
ALSO: Laura Marling Ford Amphitheatre (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
July 7^th: Queen Caveat at The Satellite
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The EL Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/4-6/12

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Kristen

You’ll notice this week’s list is a bit…elongated. Well, that’s because I’ll be at Bonnaroo over the weekend without internet. I don’t think I’m even going to take my computer (gasp). I’ll be back Tuesday and hopefully fill you in on everything. In the meantime, there are a couple acts I’d really recommend checking out this week. If you didn’t manage to snag tickets to one of Ben Howard’s two sold out shows at The Troubadour, the English singer-songwriter and one of my SXSW mix picks, will also be doing a free show at Amoeba Records on Monday.

Another treat this week is that Joe Firstman is in town with The Cordovas. They are playing several shows. Today (Sunday) at The Franklin Village Festival, Tuesday at The Hotel Cafe, and Wednesday at Saint Rocke. Who knows when Joe will be back, so I wouldn’t miss out!

Here’s what else I have on my list:

Monday: Ben Howard FREE at Amoeba Records (6pm)
ALSO: Morning Parade and Walk the Moon at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Bess Rogers at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Kate Miller Heidke, The Cordovas, and Patrick Joseph at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9, 11)
ALSO: The Rocket Summer at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Walk the Moon and Morning Parade at The Echo (8pm)
ALSO: Ben Howard at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The Absolute, Juke Kartel, Beachwood Rockers at The Piano Bar (7pm)… http://www.facebook.com/events/420567781316948/

Weds: Ben Howard at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke (9pm)

Thursday: Jane Carrey and Dinner and a Suit at The Roxy (7:15)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Kurt Vile at Largo (8pm)

Friday: Xavier Rudd at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Jesse Thomas and Green River Ordinance at The Mint (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Badwater CD release at The Viper Room (11pm)

Saturday: Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

Sunday: something will come up….

Monday (June 11^th): Daniel Bedingfield and Red Circle Underground FREE at Bootleg Bar (9, 12)
ALSO: Shawn Colvin at Barnes & Nobles at The Grove (7pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Broken Anchor (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/

Tuesday (June 12^th): Ume at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Shawn Colvin at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Kate Miller Heidke at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Collective Soul at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 15^th: Joe Firstman at WitZend
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 16^th: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium
June 20^th: Glen Hansard at The Wiltern
June 21^st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 22^nd: The Avett Brothers at Nokia LA Live
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29^th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 1^st: Laura Marling at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
July 1^st: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey

~ Kristen

Kristen’s SXSW ’12 Mix – Part 3

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Kristen

One of the things I love most about SXSW is the opportunity it provides every year to discover great new artists. The following mix reflects some of the bands and musicians I’ve added to my “watch list” as a result of SXSW 2012. Enjoy!

12. Defining Times– “Rite”

I hear potential in this band from Oklahoma City, OK…I like potential.

13. New Cassettes – “Silent Guns”

Okay, so I did see this band a year ago…but I had kind of forgotten about them until they popped up on my SXSW radar. I thought they deserved a second mention.

14. Morning Parade– “Headlights”

After listening to my mega SXSW mix en route to Austin, it was decided that Morning Parade was going to be one of our must-sees. We caught them one early afternoon at The British Embassy and they did not disappoint.

15. Brother & Bones – “Hold Me Like the Sun”

Is it just me or can you are you also craving a line-up of Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, Brother & Bones, and The Silent Comedy after listening to this song? Just me? huh…

Listen! Learn! Love!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/20-3/25

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Kristen

Just got back from the long drive from Austin, TX where we spent a glorious week immersed in the musical insanity that is SXSW. Check out our site for some recaps of our experience (http://www.localmusicnation.net/). Also, I did some coverage for High Voltage Magazine, so check that out as well (http://www.iamhighvoltage.com/festivals/). Due to overwhelming exhaustion, I have little sense of space and time but I made a to do list and at the top is “put out this week’s calendar” so here we go! (p.s. I am writing this wearing a bunny ears and a tiara…leftovers from some birthday shenanigans).

Some people may be all showed out after a week of non-stop concerts, but honestly, I’m already feeling some withdrawal. Fortunately this week is full of amazing musical opportunities, including some new SXSW finds like fiN, Morning Parade, and Marcus Foster. Here are my picks:

Tuesday: Ben Rector and NEEDTOBREATHE at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Of Monsters and Men at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The War on Drugs and Sharon Van Etten at The Avalon (8pm)
ALSO: The Driftwood Singers at The Satellite (9pm)

Weds: Tournament of Hearts, Satellite, Boyce Avenue at The Avalon (7pm)
ALSO: Paul McDonald at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Of Monsters and Men at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Wicker at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: The Naked and Famous at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: The Ting Tings at The El Rey (9pm)

Thursday: The Lumineers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Morning Parade, The Other Side of Morning, Zero1, Oedipus at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: Eddie Cohn at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: The Ting Tings at The El Rey (9pm)

Friday: Brian Wright and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour (9, 10)…this is last Truth & Salvage show in LA before the band moves to Nashville
ALSO: Marcus Foster, The Lumineers and Whispertown Record Release Show with Buddy, Haim, Jonathan Rice, etc. (7, 9, 11)
ALSO: Juke Kartel and fIN at The Viper Room (11, 12)
ALSO: The Nervous Wreckords and Robert Schwartzman at The Satellite (9pm)

Saturday: Marcus Foster and Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9)
ALSO: Run Run Run at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Troubadour (10:15)

Sunday: Allen Stone at The Troubadour (10:15)

To Keep in Mind:
March 30^th: All American Rejects at The Troubadour
March 31^st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 1^st: Charlotte Martin at The Bootleg Bar
April 4^th/5^th: Dan Layus (of Augustana) at The Hotel Cafe
April 10^th: Neon Trees at The Troubadour
April 11^th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12^th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 18^th: Dar Williams at The Largo
April 19^th: Foxy Shazam at The Roxy
April 13^th-15^th AND 20^th– 22^nd: Coachella
April 24^th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
April 25^th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 26^th: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy
April 26^th: Zoe Keating at The Largo
April 27^th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2^nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3^rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 8^th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10^th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11^th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 19^th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30^th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
June 3^rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5^th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia

~ Kristen