Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/16-4/23

So many great artists coming through LA this week. Could it be because we are in between Coachella weekends? I’ve been attempting to write these past couple of days and I’ve been using the Coachella live feed as my inspiration playlist (http://www.youtube.com/coachella). Hopefully next weekend I’ll be at the actual event (hence the extra day in calendar below). To keep up with my Coachella happenings, follow LMN on twitter (@_localmusicnat). I’ll be tweeting ‘til my phone dies!

And in the meantime, let’s get out to some shows (*indicates a 2012 Coachella artist)!

 

Monday: Band of Skulls*, We Are Augustines*, The Sheepdogs* at The El Rey (7:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Kimbra and Mini Mansions (9pm)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Manchester Orchestra* at The Music Box/Henry Fonda Theater (7pm)
ALSO: Eric Hutchinson with Holly Conlan and Jessie Payo at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9:30)
ALSO:  A House for Lions FREE at Bootleg Bar (8pm)
ALSO Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Other Side of Morning (acoustic) at The W Hotel (9pm)
ALSO: Lovers Dugs at Dagonfly Bar (9pm)
ALSO: The Big Pink* and Miike Snow* at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Italian Japanese at The Satellite (8:30)
ALSO: Oh Darling at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: LP and Kimbra at The Troubadour (9:15, 10:30)
ALSO: David and Devine at WitZend (10pm)
ALSO: Kasabian* at The Fonda Theater (8pm)
ALSO: We Were Promised Jetpacks*, Chasing Kings, and Tristen at The Echo (8:30)

 

Weds: Maniac and Foxy Shazam at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Revival Tour 2012 at The Troubadour featuring Chuck Ragan, Cory Branan, Tommy Gabel, Nathaniel Rateliff at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Dar Williams Record Release Show at The Largo (8pm)
ALSO: The Black Angels* at The Fonda Theater (8pm)

 

Thursday: Nico Vega, Standing Shadows, A House for Lions at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: The Big Pink* and IO Echo at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: First Aid Kit* and Wild Flag* at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Missy Higgins and Gotye* at Nokia Theate LA Live (8pm)
ALSO: John Elliot and The Hereafter at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: 0x0 and Blake Lewis at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Buddy at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Friday: Brendan James, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, and Dawn McCoy at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Lakes at M Bar (?)
ALSO: Sonia Rao and Connie Lim at WitZend (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Telstar at Flying Saucers Café in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Coachella featuring The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, honeyhoney, etc.

 

Saturday: Coachella featuring Radiohead, The Shins, Kaiser Chiefs, AWOLNATION, We Are Augustines, St. Vincent, Laura Marling, The Big Pink, etc.

 

Sunday: Coachella featuring Fitz and the Tantrums, Band of Skulls, Florence + the Machine, Lissie, Gotye, First Aid Kit, etc.

 

Monday (April 23rd): It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring LP and We Are Augustines* (9pm)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 24th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
April 24th: Eve 6 at The Grammy Museum
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 25th: Dead Sara at Club Nokia
April 26th: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy
April 26th: Zoe Keating at The Largo
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 6th: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 19th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5th and 6th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7-10th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 23rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour

 

~ Kristen

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Valentine’s Day Playlist- The Cycles of Love: Loneliness

I honor of the upcoming holiday I have tried to boycott and have never seemed to enjoy, I thought it fitting to create a playlist for Valentines Day. There is a catch however. In true Amanda style, I’ve decided to arrange the playlist according to the cycles of love that every person experiences and will be realeasing a new one up to V-Day. On top of that, is a song for each category of listener; local music, top 40, alternative radio, soundtrack, and miscellaneous. I’m throughly happy to be doing this V-Day playlist with newbie LMN author Marissa Mortati. If it wasn’t for her help and contributions, this list would not be possible.

Now, if you’re anything like me (which you probably aren’t) or any other human, the cycle of love tends to start with loneliness. If we are never alone we can never truly appreciate the love we will have in our life. But with loneliness comes the bitter taste of self-loathing, depression, and an all around not feeling good about one’s self. Bummer dude. Hopefully these songs will help you to feel not alone in your loneliness! Cheers mate.

 

Woe Is Me

Local Music: Boston- Augustana 

It’s not often that a local band you are familiar with has their lyrics sung by the lead in a tv show like The Big Bang Theory as a demonstration of raw emotional emoness. However, that lucky commendation goes to the song Boston by Augustana. I love Augustana. I love the piano coupled with his melancholy vocals.  I love them more when I’m feeling upset, unloved, misunderstood, and beyond repair. Cheery, right?

Top 40: Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls 
Funnily enough, I saw Augustana open for Goo Goo Dolls back in the day so this is a lovely double whammy of memories for me. Anyways, the thing about this song is while it talks about being down, it also discusses a wasted life of a young man. The song may deceive you, making you think you’re about to partake in a happy pop rock song, but Broadway is about a young man without a place in world.  He feels like he’s got no one on his side and self destructs because of it.

 

Alternative Radio: Creep -Radiohead 

If you’ve ever felt like a sniveling little, well, creep you’ve probably blasted this song on your car stereo many times.   The Radiohead anthem is one of those anti hero songs that you can’t help relate to because hey, we all want perfect bodies. It’s dark and brooding and makes us all feel a little more badass.

 

Soundtrack: Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid

You think you’re an outsider? Imagine how a Mermaid feels? That’s right, that’s pretty rough.  Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid expresses just how much one can feel like an outsider looking in this song.  Come on guys! She just wants to fit in!

 

Misc: Somebody to Love – Queen

Freddie Mercury speaks to the romantic in all of us.  Somebody to Love is the perfect depiction of a desire to love someone.  With amazing harmonies and that rock opera style that defines Queen you find yourself singing along happily with a song that is actually quite sad.

 

 

Feeling Frisky? Stay tuned.

Kristen’s Top 5 Reasons To Attend Coachella 2012

Yesterday the Coachella line-up was announced. I want to go. Especially on Saturday. If you haven’t heard, Coachella is two weekends this year, April 13-15 and April 20-22 with the same lineup each weekend. For the entire list of performers, tickets, and other like information, go to the website.

I don’t know all the performers announced, but after a quick scan of the list, here are the ones that give me most reason to buy that ticket:

 

1. St. Vincent

I’ve been a St. Vincent fan for several years now, but last year I got the unexpected opportunity to see the explosive Annie Clark live and she vaulted to another level in my estimation. Strange Mercy is one of my favorite albums that came out in 2011 and I cannot WAIT to see her again.

 

2. The Big Pink

After recently reviewing the forthcoming album, Future This, I am very much looking forward to the return of The Big Pink to the States. With new offerings like the catchy fist pumping “Hit The Ground (Superman)”, I am more than ready to party it up in The Big Pink tent!

 

3. The Head and The Heart 

I’ve seen them at just about every major festival I’ve attended in the past year and they always put on one of the most enjoyable sets of the event. I expect The Head and The Heart at Coachella to be no different. They are the perfect festival band.

 

4. Laura Marling/We Are Augustines

Festivals are great for checking out all those bands that you’ve been enjoying but just haven’t gotten around to seeing live. Laura Marling and We Are Augustines are both at the top of that list for me. Thank you Coachella for giving me this opportunity to see them!

[vimeo 29334190]

5. Radiohead

umm…I believe this one is self-explanatory.

 

And 5 more for good measure:

  • The Shins – another one I’d love to see but just never have
  • Gotye– that song is just so damned catchy…must.see.live
  • Fitz and The Tantrums– they put on the best dance party in town and Coachella is all about the dance parties
  • Band of Skulls– their face-melting new record will be out by then. I’m always down for a good face-melting
  • Arctic Monkeys – so I can dance electro-pop like a robot from 1984!

 

~ Kristen

Musical Tastes (On a Date)

Every once in awhile, I go cruising through the interwebs all day and happen upon something rather golden. This time, I was going perusing through a particular site I like to visit on occasion called The Frisky (I have my girly moments, alright?) and came across this article about musical tastes on a date. Well, it wasn’t so much an article as a list from another site called How About We… and includes bands like Nirvana, The Ramones, The Pixies, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, Best Coast, Tool, Oasis, Prince, The Strokes and the like.

I’ve pulled some rather choice excerpts but you can view the full list here and part 2 here

 

David Bowie: You’re selective, but slutty.

The Arcade Fire: You spend the first third of relationship in a romantic frenzy and the last two trying to justify it.

AC/DC: If you’re a woman, you’re the kind of person who lets a guy move in with you after three dates because he’s temporarily homeless. If you’re a guy, you’re temporarily homeless.

LCD Soundsystem: You’re not the type to let your strong sense of irony ruin your good time.

Belle and Sebastian: If you hook up, it’s gonna get weird.

R.E.M.: You’ve got a big heart.

The Mountain Goats: You’re very serious about your feelings.

Van Morrison: You’re a romantic. Possibly with a slight drinking problem.

Nirvana: You’re angry and hurt.

Radiohead: You’re angry and hurt. But you’re open to getting some professional help.

Bob Dylan: You’re an asshole, but you don’t know it.

The Clash: You’re willing to work for it, but you’re kind of pissed that you have to.

The Cure: You fall in love WAY too easily.

Best Coast: You fall in love way too easily, but only for, like, a week.

Guns N Roses: You’re going to have to sex in the bathroom and regret it.

Joan Jett: You’re going to have sex in the bathroom and not regret it.

Leonard Cohen: You’re the kind of person that people get obsessed with for years. Too bad you’re too depressed to appreciate it.

Depeche Mode: You’re screwed up, but you know it, which actually does help.

Gogol Bordello: You sweat a lot and you have a nice smile.

Coldplay: Missionary position only. But lots of kissing and eye contact.

Paul Simon: You’re sincerely insightful about your relationship issues, but in the end you decide that it’s not your fault.

Green Day: You get upset over nothing all the time, but bounce back quickly.

Prince: You’re a little weird, but you make up for it by being a total sex machine.

U2: You’re very loving, but prone to fits of irritating self-righteousness.

Lady Gaga: You’re sort of obnoxious, but people can’t help but like you.

I can’t really pick just one from the lists. I have some R.E.M. with some Van Morrison and Depeche Mode thrown in. What about you?

Today’s Listen: Jamie Cullum

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!

Today's Listen: Jamie Cullum

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!