San Diego

New Band Love: Civil Twilight

Posted on by Kristen

Just got back from The Hotel Cafe. Went to go see Matthew Jordan, a fantastic piano-playing singer-songwriter who was especially brillant tonight when he busted out this amazing arrangment of “Smooth Criminal“. After Matthew, I stuck around to see Civil Twilight and completely fell in love. I had known about these guys for awhile thanks to an ITunes free download, but their self-titled debut CD was only very recently released in the states. The trio is actually from South Africa which makes this just another in a string of bands I’ve fallen for recently that are based overseas…I’m wondering if this is some sort of sign…or perhaps a cruel joke?

Anyway, I just had to share. They took the entire audience at The Hotel Cafe to another place this evening  and I cannot wait to go on that journey with them again. Fortunately, they are playing again Saturday at Voyeur in West Hollywood then on Sunday down near San Diego at The Loft at UCSD. Then they are off on a mini tour of the south (check their website for exact places and dates). Don’t miss out!

Listen and Love!: 04 Letters From The Sky 1

~ Kristen

Kristen's LA Concert Calendar 4/5-4/11

Posted on by Amanda

Spent my day celebrating Easter with my LA family and then out at the movies (go see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!) so once again, this week’s concert installment may be missing a few things. All these options are making my head spin anyway…all you really need is one…or maybe two.

So here’s what I hope to be doing this week:

Monday: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9)

ALSO: Jakob Dylan at The Grammy Museum (8pm)

Tuesday: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour (8pm)

ALSO: Joey Ryan, Laura Jansen, and Jay Nash at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: Gin Wigmore at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)…another from my SXSW ’10 list

ALSO: Five for Fighting at The Wiltern (7pm)

Weds: Lelia Broussard at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

ALSO: A Fine Frenzy at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: The Janks at Molly Malone’s (11pm)

ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard, Rocco Deluca, and Honeyhoney at the Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)

Friday: Cary Brothers, Joey Ryan, and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Cafe (9-midnight)…my mind is blown at the greatness of this evening’s selection…also this is Cary Brothers CD release, so get your tickets in advance.

ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Owl City and Lights at Club Nokia (7pm)

ALSO: Nikka Costa at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: The Janks at Bootleg (11:30)

Saturday: Saint Motel and Mississippi Man at The Echoplex (8:30)

ALSO: Truth & Salvage Co. and Rocco Deluca at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at The Loft (9pm)

ALSO: Olin & the Moon at Bootleg (10:30)

ALSO: Ben Gibbard at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)

Sunday: ??

To Keep in Mind:

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 17th: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

April 21st: Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy

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 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah (in SD)

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

 

Mp3s

  • “Too Late for Lovers” – Gin Wigmore
  • “Ride”- Cary Brothers

 

~ Kristen

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights

Posted on by Amanda

Listening to all the SXSW ’10 bands, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights definitely caught my ear. I loved their song “Gypsy Woman” but was frustrated when I couldn’t find it anywhere online (so I could add it to my mix). Fortunately, they played LA Thursday night…The Viper Room. It was a typical Viper Room experience. I went by myself and since there are no walls to really melt into, it felt a bit like being the weak link in a Red Rover game most of the evening. But Jonathan et al. made it worthwhile. They play my favorite type of rock ‘n roll- with a southern flare (the band is from Texas, but its members originate from all over the southern portion of the country).  Their inspiring music and invigorating live performance will definitely qualify them for a spot on my watch list. They have a CD coming out at the end of the month (April 27th) and are touring all over CA and then the south…making a stop at Bonnaroo (yay!!).  

Tonight (Saturday) they will be in San Diego at The House of Blues.

If you can’t catch them live, be sure to check out their videos and live recordings on their website. I’ve been told the Viper Room show will get put up there so I’m excited to have something to listen to while I patiently wait for April 27th.

~ Kristen

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights

Posted on by Amanda

Listening to all the SXSW ’10 bands, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights definitely caught my ear. I loved their song “Gypsy Woman” but was frustrated when I couldn’t find it anywhere online (so I could add it to my mix). Fortunately, they played LA Thursday night…The Viper Room. It was a typical Viper Room experience. I went by myself and since there are no walls to really melt into, it felt a bit like being the weak link in a Red Rover game most of the evening. But Jonathan et al. made it worthwhile. They play my favorite type of rock ‘n roll- with a southern flare (the band is from Texas, but its members originate from all over the southern portion of the country).  Their inspiring music and invigorating live performance will definitely qualify them for a spot on my watch list. They have a CD coming out at the end of the month (April 27th) and are touring all over CA and then the south…making a stop at Bonnaroo (yay!!).  
Tonight (Saturday) they will be in San Diego at The House of Blues.

If you can’t catch them live, be sure to check out their videos and live recordings on their website. I’ve been told the Viper Room show will get put up there so I’m excited to have something to listen to while I patiently wait for April 27th.

~ Kristen

Doll & The Kicks

Posted on by Amanda

Currently touring with The Silent Comedy and Links. Also, on my SXSW ’10 list.  They put on a killer live show. They are from England and won’t be back in the states until they work out “visa issues”. So, catch them if you can!

http://www.myspace.com/dollandthekicks

Here are their remaining US dates with Links:

 
4/2 – San Diego, The Casbah
4/4 – San Francisco, Rickshaw Stop
4/5 – Portland, Hawthorne Theater
4/6 – Seattle, WA, Hi Dive

 a few pics I took from their set at The Bootleg Theater Weds night.

~ Kristen

Doll & The Kicks

Posted on by Amanda

Currently touring with The Silent Comedy and Links. Also, on my SXSW ’10 list.  They put on a killer live show. They are from England and won’t be back in the states until they work out “visa issues”. So, catch them if you can!
http://www.myspace.com/dollandthekicks

Here are their remaining US dates with Links:

 
4/2 – San Diego, The Casbah
4/4 – San Francisco, Rickshaw Stop
4/5 – Portland, Hawthorne Theater
4/6 – Seattle, WA, Hi Dive

 a few pics I took from their set at The Bootleg Theater Weds night.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar 3/29-4/4

Posted on by Amanda

It’s been more years than I care to think since I last saw them, but Something Corporate is back and I still love them. I’m still not entirely back down to Earth as I write this. I also don’t know how I’m going to get any sleep tonight…I’m way too excited. Between San Diego Indie Music Fest and Bamboozled, we saw over 20 bands this weekend, most of them for the first time…I’m a bit overwhelmed with new music. Clear standouts (for me) were Far, After Midnight Project, and, of course, Something Corporate. I’m sure I’ll be detailing more of this at some point in the blog (links below), so keep checking ;).  Amanda will have her take too!
As a result of my jam-packed schedule this weekend, this week’s list might not be all inclusive. But it’s still got some amazing shows. If you can only make one this week, please please PLEASE come out to The Bootleg on Weds to check out The Silent Comedy. It will be a lovely way to break up your week!

Here’s what I’ve got going on this week:

Monday: Paris Carney at Room 5, followed by Songwriters in the Round featuring Joel Eckles, Dawn Thomas, Jay Nash, and Laura Meyer (8pm)…my new favorite way to spend Monday evenings…!!

ALSO: Warpaint at Spaceland (8:30)

Tuesday: Haiti Benefit Show featuring Jonah Matranga of Far and Gratitude (10pm)

ALSO: Northstar Session at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)…EP Release Show

Weds: The Silent Comedy at The Bootleg (9:30)

ALSO: Brooke White, Nina Storey, and Tommy King at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10) 

ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Jonathan Taylor and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room (11pm)

ALSO: Justin Nozuka and HoneyHoney at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)

ALSO: Puddle of Mudd at Grove of Anaheim (8pm)

ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (10:45)

Friday: Alkaline Trio and Cursive at The House of Blues (9pm)

ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Echoplex (8:30)

ALSO: Mozella at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

ALSO: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah in San Diego (copies of their new CD will be available at this show!)

Saturday: Amie Miriello and the so and sos at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Nonpoint and Cold at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: Bad Religion at The House of Blues (8:30)

ALSO: JR Richards at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

Sunday: HAPPY EASTER!!

To Keep in Mind:

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 9th: Cary Brothers CD Release with Joey Ryan AND Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Cafe

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson

May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   

May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater

May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah (in SD)

June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)

June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)

~ Kristen