nico vega

Kristen’s SXSW ’10 Mix- Part 1

Posted on by Kristen

It took a bit longer than I’d hoped…and wasn’t quite as exhaustive as last year (mostly due to the lack of free mp3s on the SXSW site), BUT here it is…some of my fave “new” acts discovered from SXSW 2010…okay some of these acts I already knew and loved, but I just don’t feel that you are quite there with me yet so I decided to include them.
Also, I’ve decided to spread the love and broke my list down into several, more digestable posts full of exciting videos and music.  Enjoy!

  1. “You’ve Been Warned” – Dirty Sweet 

 Have loved this San Diego band since I saw them (multiple times) on their tour with Nico Vega and Gringo Star. They recently released their second full length album, American Spiritual. I felt this track, from that album, was the perfect way to start off this mix

             2. “Around the Bend” – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

The obligatory “so that’s who sings that song” track. I must say Apple has good taste in music…

                 3. “We Sing In Time“ – The Lonely Forest

This is one of those tracks I fell in love with before the chorus even hit…probably the first track I knew was going to be on this mix. The Lonely Forest is at the top of my list of bands I need to investigate further…and see perform!  The video below is an acoustic version of “We Sing In Time”…it really showcases what a gorgeous song this is.

              4. “If You Care” – Doll & The Kicks

The slow song from their fantastic self titled CD. I had the pleasure of falling in love with this band when they went on tour with The Silent Comedy and Links. Just another band to add to my faves from across the pond list.

Part 2 of my SXSW ’10 Mix coming soon…

~ Kristen

Can I move to Texas for a week?

Posted on by Kristen


The thing I love most in life is discovering amazing new bands. Close behind that on my list of loves would be when these amazing bands discover each other…especially when this leads to them playing together. This is why I am uber excited about an upcoming May tour which includes one of my newest discoveries, After Midnight Project, and one of my very favorite LA bands, Nico Vega. Unfortunately for me, this tour will take place in Texas. So, if you happen to be in Texas or know anyone who is, pass this info on…I will be jealous

The headliner for this tour is actually Chevelle who also puts on a fantastic live performance.

Here are the dates

May 7th: Scout Bar – San Antonio, Texas
May 8th: Lonestar Amphitheatre (also with Puddle of Mudd and Adelita’s Way)- Lubbock, Texas
May 9th: Midnight Rodeo & Piranha – Amarillo, Texas
May 11th: Toom Dos Amigos (also with Papa Roach and 12 Stones) – Odessa, Texas
May 12th: Stubb’s – Austin, Texas
May 14th: Las Palmas Race Park – Mission, Texas
May 15th: Concrete Street – Corpus Christi, Texas 

Texas will Rock!

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 4/2-4/8

Posted on by Amanda

Happy Monday! Anyone have any April Fool’s jokes played on them? Or perhaps you played one on someone else? Either way, I holed up in my pjs and have been on a Big Bang Theory marathon. It’s been gloomy. I’m allowed.
We have a fresh batch of shows this week so let’s get to it.

Monday: Heartless Bastards @ Belly Up @830 $16
AND: Patrick Norton @ Tin Can Alehouse @9 $5
AND: Marcus Foster @ Casbah @9 $12

Tuesday: Sleigh Bells @ 4th and B

Wednesday: The Royalty @ Soda Bar @9 $5
AND: Hunter Hayes @ House of Blues @7

Thursday: The Howls and Low Volts @ El Dorado @930
AND: Greg Ginn and The Royal We @ Soda Bar @9 $7

Friday: Vokab Company, The Holdup, and The Burning of Rome @ Belly Up @830 $15
AND: Lady Sinatra, Indians, and The Short Eyes @ Griffin @9 $10
AND: Hot Snakes @ Casbah @9

Saturday: CityBeat Beer Fest w/Nico Vega, Hyena, and Heavy Guilt @Lafayette Hotel @2
AND: Transfer and The Blackout Party @ Belly Up
AND: New Kinetics @ Eleven @9 $6
AND: Rubblebucket and The Heavy Guilt @ Casbah @9 $10
AND: River City and Dustbowl Revival @ Bar Pink @9
AND: Heavy Hawaii @ Soda Bar @9 $7

Sunday: Easter!
Keep in Mind:
April 13th- Coachella Weekend 1
April 14th- The Rapture @ The Irenic
April 15th- Rise Against @ Viejas Arena
April 16th- Elvis Costello @ Humphreys
April 17th- The Hives @ Belly Up
April 17th- Yuck and The Makeup Sex @ Casbah
April 18th- Band of Skulls and We Are Augustines @ Griffin
April 20th- Coachella Weekend 2
April 28th- Little hurricane @ Casbah
May 2nd- Say Anything @ House of Blues
May 2nd- Sara Watkins @ Anthology
May 4th- Thrice @ House of Blues
May 4th- Deer Tick @ Casbah
May 5th- Portugal. The Man @ 4th and B
May 8th- Jay Nash @ Anthology
May 12th- Delta Spirit @ Belly Up
May 15th- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus @ Soma @630
May 22nd- Hugh Laurie @ Belly Up
May 24th- Toad and the Wet Sprocket @ Anthology
May 30th- Horse Feathers @ Casbah @9 $12/$14
June 3rd- Mogwai @ Belly Up

Nico Vega at The Casbah – Kristen’s Take

Posted on by Amanda

Yeah, so I drove down to San Diego with my friend Trina to see Nico Vega last night. This morning was tremendously painful, but it was definitely worth it. Nico Vega always puts on such a stellar show in San Diego. The audience was amazing, the other bands (The Loons, Soundtrack of Our Lives) were fun, and who doesn’t LOVE The Casbah?!? The set included a mix of the band’s newer songs (“Taxi Cab”, “Fe Fi Fo”) as well as some older fare (“So So Fresh”, “Blood Machine”, “Underground”), but regrettably left off a couple of my personal favorites (“Million Years”, “Protest ..?”). But of course they played “Gravity” and ended with what has to be one of the best closings songs ever, “Beast” (tied with Carney’s “Testify” of course!). The set was SO good that the audience continued singing well after the band was offstage, a plea for an encore that, unfortunately, never came.  Trina said knowing this band was kind of like being in a cult, and I tend to agree. Once you are introduced to them you can’t turn away. Your life is forever changed and your soul will forever belong to the power trio that is Nico Vega.
~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 4/19-4/25

Posted on by Kristen

Due to the demands of Coachella, this week’s concer calendar is a bit…underdeveloped…  I was going to try to post a more complete version, but I realized that by the time I flushed it all out, it would be the end of the week already. And that’s just not acceptable. Especially considering the Nico Vega/Semi Precious Weapons face-melting that will occur Weds night at The Roxy…highly recommend advanced tickets for this one folks!
Here’s my brief list (and certainly enough to keep anyone busy and sleep deprived).

Monday: Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Viper Room

Weds: Nico Vega and Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy with after party at The Viper Room…NOT to be missed!
ALSO: Foxy Shazam at The Troubadour
ALSO: Glee Tour at the Gibson Amphitheater 

Thursday: Wartapes at Silverlake Lounge
ALSO: Shelby Lynn at The Roxy
ALSO: Glee Tour at the Gibson Amphitheater
ALSO: Honeyhoney at The Hotel Cafe 

Friday: Killola and Sick of Sarah at The Roxy

Saturday: Get Back Loretta at The Roxy (On the Rox)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Libertine
ALSO: Jennifer Knapp at The Mint 

Sunday: Jason Castro at The Troubadour

To Keep in Mind:

May 2nd: The Kin at The Hotel Cafe
May 4th: Greg Laswell at The Troubadour
May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   
May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater
May 20th: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
May 28th: The Silent Comedy and Dirty Sweet at North Park Theater (in SD)
June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)
June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)
July 10th: Lilith Fair

~ Kristen