Saint Rocke

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/7-2/13

Posted on by Kristen

I should be in San Diego where The Silent Comedy is rockin’ the cowboy hats off of Ryan Bingham fans at The House of Blues.  But I’m being responsible tonight seeing that I have a presentation to give tomorrow morning. Also, I did see TSC Friday in Ventura and Saturday at The El Rey…and hey, they’re coming back to LA tomorrow (Monday) to play The Satellite and I wouldn’t miss that for the world (or any number of secret shows that may or may not be in the LA area).

If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing The Silent Comedy, please make your way to Silverlake tomorrow night. It’s a good line-up all ‘round and it’s FREE. Get there early!

Monday: The Silent Comedy, Rocco DeLuca, Red Cortez FREE at The Satellite (8pm)
ALSO: Everest at Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi and Jenny Owen Young at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: Soraia at The Viper Room (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Hanni, El Khatib, and Hot as Sun (10pm)
ALSO: secret Foo Fighters show at ?? (??)…good luck with this one

Tuesday: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Infantree at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at Bootleg (9:45)

Weds: Tina Dico at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick and Nina Storey at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Satellite at Club Central (8pm)
ALSO: Shawn Hlookoff and Jenni Alpert at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: Butterfly Boucher and Sarah McLaughlan at Nokia Theater (8pm)

Thursday: Maniac at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Lelia Broussard and The Canyons at The Hotel Cafe (9,11)
ALSO: Chasing Kings at The Satellite (midnight)

Friday: The Howls at The Mountain Bar (?)
ALSO: Bryan Greenberg and Lindsey Ray at The Hotel Cafe (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Jake Newton and Matt Sucich at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: The Pretty Reckless at The El Rey (10pm)
ALSO: Dead Country at The Roxy (10pm)

Saturday: Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom at the Palm Court Ballroom of the Alexandria Hotel (8pm)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven and Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Cafe (10, 12)
ALSO: Will Hoge at The Troubadour (8pm)

Sunday: The Elizabeth Kill at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Val Emmich at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 15th: Mother Mother at The Satellite
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb. 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 22nd: Sick of Sarah at The Roxy
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
Feb 26th: Young the Giant at The Roxy
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 1st: Queen Caveat and The Silent Comedy at Saint Rocke
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 8th: Vertical Horizon at The Roxy
March 9th: Jay Nash at Saint Rocke
March 17th: Alkaline Trio and Dead Country at The Mayan
March 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
March 26th: Lady Danville at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen

Queen Caveat Rages at The Viper

Posted on by Kristen

You all know I am completely in love with this band. I’ve seen Queen Caveat twice in the last two weeks and I’m already ready to have another go. Tuesday night at The Viper Room, the place just about exploded when they did this cover of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name”. Someone caught it on video. Thought I’d share…

Mark your calendars for March 1st when they team up with SD fave’s The Silent Comedy to destroy the stage at Saint Rocke!

~ Kristen

Entering Anna’s World: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe/Saint Rocke

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Despite the fact that it meant I’d be awake for 24+ hours in a row, I still ventured to Saint Rocke last night to see the amazing Anna Nalick. I’d always been a fan of Ms. Nalick…since Wreck of the Day, an album that I believe to be pure brilliance. Everyone knows her for her hit song “Breathe (2am)”, but that tune is barely in my top five from that album. She has been playing residencies at The Hotel Cafe more recently and I finally got out to one of her sets a couple of weeks ago. Let’s just say, the performance was not what I expected…it was more than some musicians up on stage playing some songs, it was a show!

Anna has her stage set up around a plush chair that bears slight resemblance to a throne. Next to the chair is a stand holding a fancy book and a table…with a flower. She takes the stage, a tiny figure, unassuming save for the wide eyes and fiery red hair. She’ll play a song showcasing her sweet yet powerful vocals, emoting through to her fingertips. After the song, she’ll make the announcement that she isn’t very good with on stage banter so instead, in between songs, she’ll read some poetry she wrote just for the occasion.

Her poems, as well as her engaging banter (she lied when she said it was no good), quickly bring you into her world more so than I think I’ve seen with any other musician on stage. Not only is the forth wall smashed to smithereens, but the audience is transported not just onto the stage but into the mind of Anna Nalick. She complains about every crack in her voice (even redoing bits of songs to prove that she can do it), freely informs you that she suffers from depression, may have multiple voices in her head, and is unashamed to announce that her songs are brilliant.

For last night’s performance at Saint Rocke, she wrote one long poem that she broke up into smaller segments. She claimed it was the answer to the questions she always gets about where she’s been since her smash hit was released. It was a story of kings and castles, of a brave knight and a little girl who wrote songs…a thinly veiled tale of how a record label can mess with an artist, but definitely the most entertaining way I’ve ever heard the storytold!

I suppose the bottom line, and most exciting part, of last night’s tale was that the little girl is still writing brilliant songs. And those songs are soon to be released!!

One of my favorites of the new tunes:

In the meantime, I know that I will try to catch as many Anna Nalick performances as I can. Each one is a unique experience, guaranteed to enrapture and entertain, giving you insight into the mind of an artist who is fast becoming one of my favorite lyricists as well as performers.

Anna Nalick’s final two Hotel Cafe Residency dates are Feb. 2nd and Feb. 9th. Don’t miss it!

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/24-1/30

Posted on by Kristen

Amanda and I are in New York City at the moment. Just came back from seeing the boys of Carney rock Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark (again). They made some changes in the second half that I loved. As you know, we ventured to the east coast because my first favorite band, Pepper’s Ghost, had a reunion show at The Grape Room, Saturday in Philadelphia (their first show since 2007…). There are no words to describe how I felt about seeing this band play again. The whole day, really, spent with some of my favorite people and seeing a couple of my top bands (we also went to Northstar to catch a bit of Alright, Junior’s set) is bound to go down as one of the best days of my year…hopefully I’ll find some time to put up some pictures and, fingers crossed, video (!) soon.

But, in the meantime, we’ve got lots of great shows to look forward to this week in LA! Can’t wait to get back (and not just because I’m freezing my fingers off over here)! Here’s what I’d like to do:

Monday: Cold War Kids at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at Whiskey a Go Go (9pm)
ALSO: The Script at Jimmy Kimmel (6:45…with reservation from 1iota.com)
ALSO: Iron & Wine FREE at Amoeba (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Royal Bangs and Gary Clark Jr. (10:30)

Tuesday: Cold War Kids at Amoeba (6pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at Saint Rocke (10:30)
ALSO: WPA featuring Glen Phillips and Sean Watkins at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Vaccines at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Iron & Wine at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Olin & The Moon FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: 8mm at The Good Hurt (11pm)

Weds: Red Circle Underground at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Iron & Wine at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Bryan Greenberg at Saint Rocke (10pm)

Thursday: High Voltage Presents at The Mint featuring Armada, 8mm, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Amos Lee at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Graydon at Silverlake Louge (9:30)
ALSO: Steel Train at The Troubadour (8:45)

Friday: Queen Caveat and Nico Vega at Saint Rocke (9,11)
ALSO: The Postelles and Free Energy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Honeyhoney at Bootleg (9:45)
ALSO: Parade of Lights at Club Cohiba in Long Beach (7:30)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig at The Sante Fe Seven (11:45)
ALSO: Rocco Deluca and Daniel Lanois at The El Rey (8:30)

Saturday: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Oh Darling at the Santa Monica Pier (5:30)

Sunday: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe
ALSO: Against Me! at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Briens

To Keep in Mind:

Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café
Feb. 1st: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/17-1/23

Posted on by Kristen

Writing this while listening to Pepper’s Ghost do a radio interview about their reunion show next weekend. If it’s possible, I’m even more excited about my favorite band getting back together for a one night only double header show at The Grape Room in Philadelphia. There are a ton of awesome shows in LA this week, but I’m mostly excited about venturing east at the end of the week to catch Pepper’s Ghost…and maybe some other fave Philly bands. And then going back to NYC to catch the guys of Carney once again rock out in Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark.

It’s gonna be a fantastic week!

Here’s what I’ve got on my LA calendar:

Monday: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Great Northern and The Pierces (10pm) 

Tuesday: Queen Caveat and Endless Hallway at The Viper Room (10,11) 
ALSO: The Shakers at Crazy Girls in Hollywood (9pm) 
ALSO: The Pierces at The Hotel Cafe (10pm) 
ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (9:30) 
ALSO: Lindsey Ray and Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Satellite (8pm) 
ALSO: Wire in the Walls, Family of the Year, and Olin and The Moon at The Echo (8:30) 
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm) 

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Thursday: Nikka Costa at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard and Satellite at The Hotel Cafe (8,10pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at The Cat Club (8pm) 
ALSO: Chasing Avalanche at The Viper Room (10:30) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Friday: Langhorne Slim and Old 97’s at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Alice Peacock at The Mint (8pm) 
ALSO: David and Devine at Room 5 (11pm) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Saturday: Jake Newton, Tyler Hilton, Ernie Halter, Shaimus, and Queen Caveat at The Hotel Cafe…this line-up blows my mind. Don’t miss it…seriously…(8,9,10,11,12) 
ALSO: Indians and The Mowgli’s at Area 33 in Culver City
ALSO: Guster at The Music Box (7pm) 
ALSO: Purple Melon at Saint Rocke (9pm) 

Sunday: Lemon Sun and Voxhaul Broadcast at The Echoplex (8pm)
ALSO: TD Lind, Jesse Cole, and Brandon Walters at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10) 
ALSO: Chris Pierce at Saint Rocke (9pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
Jan. 24th: Cold War Kids at Bootleg 
Jan. 25th: Vertical Horizon at The Key Club 
Jan. 28th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
January 28th: Free Energy at The Roxy 
January 29th: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg 
Jan. 30th: Against Me! at The Music Box  
Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café 
Feb. 1st: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room  
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey 
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour 
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe  
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour 
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour 
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Toubadour 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/10-1/16

Posted on by Kristen

About to head out to The Roxy to check out the very first performance of Bonnie Dune. I feel that Seth Roberts (Lakes) can do no wrong, so I’m fairly confident I’m in for a treat. But after two straight nights of amazing shows (Scarlet Grey and Parade of Lights), we’ll see if this new band can impress.

And it’s just the first day of a week’s worth of great shows. Here’s what’s on my list this week: 

Monday: Cannoneers of the New Command, Sabrosa Purr and Moving Picture Show FREE at The Echo (9pm) 
ALSO: Kinch and Endless Hallway FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10,11) 
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring The Civil Wars and White Sea (10:30)
ALSO: Jenni Alpert at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Tuesday: Beachwood Rockers Society at The Piano Bar featuring David Green at 10pm
ALSO: Olin and The Moon FREE at The Echo (10pm) 

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Thursday: Roses Pawn Shop at The Echo (9pm) 
ALSO: Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm) 

Friday: Love and a .38 and Run Devil Run at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Toad the Wet Sprocket at The Key Club (10:30)
ALSO: Lindsey Ray and Taylor Locke and the Roughs at Saint Rocke (8:45, 11) 
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig & the Sante Fe Seven at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall (11am) 

Saturday: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton and So & So at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: George Stanford and Lissie at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Bad Books (featuring Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra) at The Troubadour (10:15)
ALSO: Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm) 
ALSO: Andrew Bird at Largo (8:30) 

Sunday: Andrew Bird at Largo (8:30)

To Keep in Mind:
January 18th: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
January 20th: Nikka Costa at The Roxy
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box  
Jan. 28th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
January 28th: Free Energy at The Roxy 
January 29th: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg 
Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café  
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour 

~ Kristen

The Nervous Wreckords and Moving Picture Show at Saint Rocke

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Weds night was a much needed evening at one of my favorite venues, Saint Rocke. I sometimes forget about this venue down in Hermosa Beach because it’s a bit off the beaten path, but really it doesn’t take me any longer to get there than a club in Hollywood. And this place has comfy seats you don’t have to pay for, delicious food, and I always manage to have a perfect view of whatever musician or band I’ve come to see…while sitting down. As I’m getting older, the sitting thing has become an increasingly important draw.

Anyway, I ventured down to Saint Rocke Weds night because I wanted to see The Nervous Wreckords. Last time I saw them play was at the SDMAs and that was just a teaser so I’d been craving. The Nervous Wreckords did not disappoint! As much as I’ve been enjoying their CD, Valuminium, this is definitely a band I prefer live. Live, you get a better feel for the entire band and the songs become more alive and meaningful as each member gets their chance to shine. Despite the pedigree of lead singer, Brian Karscig, this band really does seem to just be “Doing it to Do It” and enjoying the ride. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s all join in!

I stuck around after The Nervous Wreckords to check out Moving Picture Show. I really didn’t know what to expect when the band took the stage.  Three members dressed in paint splattered attire banging on garbage cans…for a second I recalled Miss Congeniality and wondered if I was safe in the front row. The threesome quickly drew me in however with their catchy tunes and their fourth member, a video screen. I’ll admit, it was this forth member that captured most of my attention. Displaying cute stories about rescuing lost dogs that had been blown away, mesmerizing special effects, well-timed animation, and the rock band style cues for one of the trio’s songs, it was easy to fall in love with what I was hearing. I immediately went home and downloaded the group’s latest album, Studies Have Shown…, and have been listening ever since!

If you go to the Moving Picture Show Myspace and sign up for their mailing list, you can get a free mp3 of my fave MPS song, “By Now”. Seriously, listen to the lyrics…or even better go to the band’s next show at The Echo this Monday (Jan. 10) and see the lyrics for yourself displayed on the big screen (such a genius ploy, really…and so well done!)

~ Kristen