Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/15-8/21

Last week I kind of took it a bit easy. Let’s call it a conservation of energy tactic. Saturday, I went from 0 to 100. I stopped at The Hudson block party where I discovered a great new band (Nightmare & The Cat), did some dancing, ate some food, and witnessed a Wu Tang performance. I left early, missing out on a couple of my favorites (Dead Sara and Andy Clockwise). I had to get to Santa Monica for the Milk Carton Kids CD release event where I spent two hours on the brink of tears, either from laughing too hard or from the sheer beauty and brilliance of the music. Then I jetted from McCabe’s down to Saint Rocke just in time to be blown away by the powerful and empowering Nico Vega. So many great friends gathered at this final performance, I ended up talking/laughing/smiling through the wee hours. A day to remember for sure!

And really, yesterday was just the beginning of a week-long celebration of music and friends surrounding The Sunset Strip Music Festival. If you want to know what I’m up to next week, just go here: http://www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com/.

And that’s not all? In fact, there are so many shows I wish I could go to this week but can’t that I’m beginning to think that I’ve done something to upset the universe. The cruelty of having TFDI’s So-Cal dates conflict directly with SSMF. The inhumanity of me NOT getting a ticket to see Muth Math at The Troubadour. The audacity of scheduling TWO Death Cab for Cutie/Frightened Rabbit dates when I cannot attend either one.

 

What a week! Here goes my list:

 

 

Monday: Automatique at The Viper Room (10:15)
ALSO: Robert Francis FREE at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: The Wilderness of Manitoba at Origami Vinyl (7pm)
ALSO: Adele at The Greek Theater (7:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: it’s a school night at Bardot featuring Damndogs (featuring members of Jet) and Nikki Lane (10:30)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/

 

Tuesday: Mute Math at The Troubadour (8pm)…if someone has an extra ticket to this thing, I’ll be your friend forever…
ALSO: Wilderness of Manitoba at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: SSMF Showcase at The Roxy featuring The Green Children, Kyle Nicolaides, Los Einsten, and more (7pm)

 

Weds: SSMF Showcase at The Roxy featuring Benvenue, Lido Beach, and more (7pm)
ALSO: Old 97’s and Josh Ritter at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Alex Lambert at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Parker Ainsworth at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Weepies at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Adele at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

 

Thursday: Nico Vega and Eastern State Champions at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: The Canyons (8), The Veronicas (9) and Run Run Run(10:30), The Tender Box (11:20), Nude (12:20) at The Viper Room
ALSO: TFDI at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Johnny Polonsky at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Frightened Rabbit and Death Cab for Cutie at The Greek (7:30)

 

Friday: Dead Sara and Buckcherry at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Kevin Martin at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke & The Roughs (8:30), Lady Sinatra (9:30), Purple Melon (10:30), Hillbilly Herald (12), and Eli James (1am) at The Viper Room
ALSO: TFDI at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Red Light Sky at Amplyfi (9:45)
ALSO: Frightened Rabbit and Death Cab for Cutie at The Greek (7:30)

 

Saturday: SSMF at The Sunset Strip (between The Key Club and The Whiskey) featuring Motley Crue, Bush, Youngblood Hawke, Indians, Love and A .38, Deluka, Queen Caveat, Jordan Cook, Imagine Dragons, Sabrosa Purr, Semi Precious Weapons, and SO MANY MORE (1pm)
ALSO: Walk the Moon at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Taryn Manning at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig & The Santa Fe Seven at The Troubadour (8:15)
ALSO: TFDI at Zoey’s in Ventura (5pm)

 

Sunday: Koffehouse presents 5th Annual Evening of Independence at Ford Amphitheatre featuring Tyrone Wells, Satellite, Allen Stone, Jamestown Revival, Of Verona, Jes Hudak, and MORE (6pm)

 

Monday: Big presentation at work…I’m just pointing this out to emphasize how much the universe hates me right now.

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 22nd: Ben Rector at The Hotel Cafe
August 22nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room
September 24th: William Elliot Whitmore at Bootleg Theater
September 25th: The Lonely Forest at The Wiltern
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/8-8/14

SOOO many things to be excited about this week. Too many really. The Milk Carton Kids CD release and Nico Vega at Saint Rocke on the same night…it’s like making me choose which of my theoretical children I like more. And throw in John Elliot’s CD release, a rare Matthew Jordan performance, and a stacked line-up at The Hudson block party and well…can I be in like 5 places at once?

Also this week, some of my favorite out-of-state musicians are in LA. Nashville’s Andrew Belle, Philadelphia’s Adam Arcuaragi, and New York City’s Kill the Alarm are all must see performances.

And that’s just the start of all the great acts I’d love to see this week. It’s a good time to be in Los Angeles, that’s for sure! Hope you can all make it out to at least a show or two this week. There are certainly enough great ones to choose from.

 

Here’s my list:

 

Monday: Robert Francis FREE at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Infantree and Whispering Pines FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Brooke Northrop, Annaliese, Wes Poland, and Joel Eckels (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Jes Hudak at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Johnny Moezzi at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers at The Piano Bar (free music from 8-?)

 

Weds: Adam Arcuragi at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Sia and Oh Land at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour in Carson (11am)

 

Thursday: Beatnik Jr. at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Benefit at Cafe Was featuring acoustic sets from Ernie Halter, The Material, Kyle Nicolaides, and more (8pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Good Hurt (10pm)
ALSO: Golden State and Family of The Year at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding at The Wiltern (6:30)
ALSO: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair (7:30)

 

Friday: Schuyler Fisk and Andrew Belle at The Mint (8,9)
ALSO: Vas Defrans at Amplyfi (8pm)
ALSO: The Young Romans at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: The Decemberists at The Greek Theater (7:30)
ALSO: Rodrigo y Gabriela at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)

 

Saturday: Milk Carton Kids CD Release at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke (11pm)
ALSO: Bird By Bird at On the Rox (5pm)
ALSO: Amiee Mann FREE at Marina Del Rey
ALSO: Matt Jordan at Genghis Cohen (9:30)
ALSO: John Elliot and the Hereafter record release at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Addison Strong at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: The Hudson Block Party featuring Saint Motel, Andy Clockwise, Races, Dead Sara and more (1-11pm)
ALSO: Rodrigo y Gabriela at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)

 

Sunday: Kill the Alarm at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Andrew Belle at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Jack and White at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Milk Carton Kids in Ventura at Zoey’s (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 16th: Mutemath at The Troubadour
August 18th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TFDI at The Hotel Cafe
August 18th and 19th: Death Cab for Cutie and Frightened Rabbit at The Greek Theater
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 22nd: Ben Rector at The Hotel Cafe
August 22nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room
September 24th: William Elliot Whitmore at Bootleg Theater
September 25th: The Lonely Forest at The Wiltern
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/11-4/17

Last night, I ventured down to Temecula where I met up with Amanda and we danced the night away with good friends and one of our favorite bands, Parade of Lights. I want to do it all again (well aside from that drive). Fortunately, if this week plays out as planned, last night was an enjoyable preview for what is to come!

The amazing tunes continue tonight with The Milk Carton Boys at The Hotel Cafe. As for the rest…check my schedule below (pay particular attention to Thursday…eeeeep!).

 

Monday: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: The Filthy Souls at The Central in Santa Monica (8:30)
ALSO: Cage 9 FREE at The Viper Room (10:15)
ALSO: Tsunami Relief Benefit for Japan at Room 5 featuring so many amazing artists including Paris Carney, Joel Eckels, Gabriel Mann, Chris Pierce, Kyler England, Jenni Alpert, Keaton Simons, David and Devine, John Elliot, and MORE…seriously WOW (8pm)

 

Tuesday: The Stone Foxes and Chasing Kings at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Queens of the Stone Age at The Wiltern (7:30)
ALSO: Ryan Calhoun at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

 

Weds: Nico Vega and Imagine Dragons at The Slidebar in Fullerton (8:30)
ALSO: Patrick Stump at The Hotel Cafe (two shows, 7pm and 10pm)
ALSO: Greg Laswell at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Queens of the Stone Age at The Wiltern (7:30)

 

Thursday: Dynamite Walls and BIFFY CLYRO at The BellyUp in Solana Beach (8pm)…$6 tickets folks…seriously, you can’t miss it!
ALSO: Electric Touch at 3 Clubs (9pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

 

Friday: Scarlet Grey and Assemble the Skyline at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Pi (9pm)

 

Saturday: Ben Rector and Matt Wertz at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Garrison Starr and Raining Jane at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: The Lonely Forest at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa (9pm)
ALSO: 10,000 Maniacs at The House of Blues Sunset (8pm)
ALSO: Infantree at The Echo (5pm)

 

Sunday: Greg Laswell at Saint Rocke (8:30)

 

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 20th: Ellie Goulding at The Music Box
April 22nd: Purple Melon at The Roxy
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
April 25th: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour
April 27th: Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Xavier Rudd at The El Rey
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 9th: KT Tunstall at The El Rey
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
May 27th-29th: Sasquatch Music Festival (Washington)
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 7th: Death Cab for Cutie and The Lonely Forest at The El Rey
June 9-12: Bonnaroo (TN)
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (SC)

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/4-4/10

Couldn’t really tell the difference between the last two days and the five that proceeded it. The world looks the same when all you can see is your computer screen with that darned blinking line, so taunting on the blank white page…ah writer’s block. On top of the fact that I worked through the weekend, I will probably be limiting my concerting schedule once again this week. Life of a grad student…

For those of you with a more sane work schedule, please go out to these events in my stead. Trust me, there’s not a bad one in the bunch!:

Monday: Jim Bianco CD release at Bardot (10pm)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Graham Colton at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Run Devil Run at The Viper Room (8:50)

Weds: SO and SO and Armada at The Viper Room (8:50, 9:40)
ALSO: Little Red Radio at The Central in Santa Monica (midnight)
ALSO: Maniac at Crazy Girls (9pm)…yes it’s a strip club…
ALSO: Little Hurricane at Silverlake Lounge (8:30)
ALSO: Pete Yorn at The Wiltern (7pm)

Thursday: Little Red Radio and Queen Caveat at Tommy’s Place/USC (8pm)
ALSO: Satellite at Harvelle’s (8:30)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Friday: The Oak Creek Band at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Naked and Famous at The Echoplex (10pm)

Saturday: Parade of Lights at The Vault in Temecula (6:30)…I know it’s a drive…but it’s worth it
ALSO: Warner Drive at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: The Entrance Band at Bootleg Theater (??)
ALSO: The Naked and Famous at The Echoplex (10pm)

Sunday: Milk Carton Kids at The Hotel Cafe (two performances 7, 9)…it’s seating only so get your tickets ‘cause it WILL sell out

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 11th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
April 15th: Scarlet Grey at The Roxy
April 16th: Matt Wertz and Ben Rector at The Troubadour
April 16th: 10,000 Maniacs at The HOB Sunset
April 20th: Ellie Goulding at The Music Box
April 22nd: Purple Melon at The Roxy
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
April 25th: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour
April 27th: Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Xavier Rudd at The El Rey
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 9th: KT Tunstall at The El Rey
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
May 27th-29th: Sasquatch Music Festival (Washington)
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 7th: Death Cab for Cutie and The Lonely Forest at The El Rey
June 9-12: Bonnaroo (TN)
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (SC)

~ Kristen

 

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/28-4/3

Just got back from Saint Rocke where we experienced a most excellent evening of music. Justin Hopkins lead a mildly chaotic yet thoroughly enjoyable songwriters in the round featuring several artists (whose names I’ve sadly mostly forgotten). Justin himself played only a few songs, although I wish he could have done more. At one point, he brought up a 10-year-old girl who was an incredibly talented guitar player and songwriter. Keaton Simons also made an appearance and took part in several impromptu jam sessions after singing a few of his own tunes including a brand new one he claimed he just wrote yesterday.

 

The headliner of the evening was the incredibly entertaining Wakey!Wakey! Between the fun tunes and the funny banter, my cheeks still hurt from all the smiling and laughing. Seriously, if you’ve never been in a “conversation” with Wakey!Wakey! frontman, Mike Grubbs, you cannot fully appreciate the full spectrum of his talent. And speaking of talent, I should mention the violinist whose accompaniment elevated each song to a level of mesmerizing despite the fact that she had a cut on her finger.

 

It was a fantastic way to begin the week. Hopefully the rest of my schedule this week will be equally or more enjoyable. Check out my list:

 

Monday: Honeyhoney at Bootleg Theater (10:30)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (10:15)
ALSO: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Brian Wright at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…record release show…and after what I heard at SXSW this would be my top pick of the week!
ALSO: The Canyons and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Weds: Queen Caveat and Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room (8,9)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at On the Rox (10pm)…the last of their Empire residency shows before they head off to re-join Lady Gaga
ALSO: Laura Jansen at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

 

Thursday: Ringside at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)

 

Friday: Bird by Bird at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11:30)
ALSO: Brendan James and Matt White at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: J. Scott Bergman at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

 

Saturday: Tyler Hilton at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Northstar Session at Molly Malone’s (10pm)…album release

 

Sunday: day of restuntil something inevitably comes along…

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 6th: Andy Clockwise and The Silent Comedy at The Troubadour
April 10th: Milk Carton Kids at The Hotel Cafe
April 11th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
April 15th: Scarlet Grey at The Roxy
April 16th: Matt Wertz and Ben Rector at The Troubadour
April 20th: Ellie Goulding at The Music Box
April 22nd: Purple Melon at The Roxy
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
April 25th: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 9-12: Bonnaroo!!!
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/22-3/27

Back in LA after driving straight through the night from Austin. Forgive me if this email seems a bit incoherent or incomplete at any point. I’m slightly delirious from lack of sleep. I went straight to work after getting into town and have been going ever since. I don’t really recall the last time I slept…  The horrible thing is, I really want to go to Bardot tonight for It’s A School Night. James Walsh from Starsailor is singing along with Teddy Thompson and a special surprise guest. And it’s FREE with RSVP. I know I shouldn’t but the pull is so strong.

 

Here’s what else I’m gravitating towards this week:

 

Monday: see last week’s email

 

Tuesday: War on Drugs at The Troubadour (9:15)…opening for Destroyer and unfortunately sold out
ALSO: King Creosote at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Esben and The Witch at Bootleg Theater (11pm)

 

Weds: Little Red Radio and Semi Precious Weapons at On The Rox (EMPIRE party-FREE with RSVP to rsvp@semipreciousweapons.com)
ALSO: Liam Finn at The Autry (7pm)
ALSO: Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8:30)

 

Thursday: Hoots and Hellmouth at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

 

Friday: John Elliot, Wakey Wakey, and The 88 at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,11)

 

Saturday: Aussie BBQ at The Echo featuring Maniac (12:30pm), Andy Clockwise (1pm), Dash & Will (6:30pm), etc. (noon-9pm)
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (10:15)
ALSO: The PreZcotts at The Mint (5pm)

 

Sunday:  Justin Hopkins and Wakey Wakey at Saint Rocke (7, 10)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Briens (10pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:

March 28th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
March 30th: Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room
April 6th: Andy Clockwise and The Silent Comedy at The Troubadour
April 10th: Milk Carton Kids at The Hotel Cafe
April 11th: Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex
April 15th: Scarlet Grey at The Roxy
April 16th: Matt Wertz and Ben Rector at The Troubadour
April 20th: Ellie Goulding at The Music Box
April 22nd: Purple Melon at The Roxy
April 25th: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite
April 25th: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 9-12: Bonnaroo!!!
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box

~ Kristen

http://www.localmusicnation.net/
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

 

Amanda’s Top 10 Discoveries of ’10- Part 1

It’s now 2011. Which means, it’s time to reflect on all the things that happened in 2010 and all the things we want to accomplish in 2011. I for one, had a wonderful time discovering and rediscovering music that I love. This particular post is part one of a list I made of my top 10 favorite musical discoveries of 2010!

10. Assemble the Skyline-

Here’s the thing about Assemble the Skyline… they picked up Kristen and I on the Sunset Strip after a Scarlet Grey show. Normally, I don’t pay much mind to bands throwing cds at me but they did more than just plug the show and give us a free cd. They took the time to engage us about our night and were so darn adorable that it was hard for us to walk away. Once we played their song and heard the phrase, “you’re such a bitch and it thrills me” we were definitely curious and decided to go to the show.

While they aren’t the typical kind of music I like, they are so fun to see that its hard not to make space in your heart for them. Actually, they are a band that would be fantastic on Warped Tour. I’d love to see that and I will keep enjoying my guilty pleasure band.

9. The Howls-

I first saw The Howls open for my favorite San Diego band, The Silent Comedy. I wasn’t really sure what to think at first but I was intrigued. The more I’ve seen them play, the better they seem to get. They are currently in the middle of recording a new record but I can’t wait to hear what they come up with. You can download some tunes like the one below for free at their website. Do it!

The Howls- Revival

8. Mumford and Sons-

If you aren’t familiar with Mumford and Sons, you must be living under a rock. It’s ok though. There is still time to discover how amazing they are. Mumford hails from West London and “have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously.” I never thought I would be afforded the opportunity to see them as they sell out venues so fast. However, I got lucky when aforementioned band, The Silent Comedy, opened for them at The Belly Up! I wasn’t overly familiar with their music but fell head over heels for them. When I was able to see them once again in LA, my love was cemented.

7. Landon Pigg-

Landon brings back such great memories! I was familiar with him insofar as I knew his song from the mobile carrier commercials but I wasn’t really familiar with his music as a whole. Kristen on the other hand, was familiar and one day, saw a post about his upcoming west coast tour and a need for fans to merch. Kristen, knowing my deep seeded desire to merch for bands and hit the road told me about this wonderful opportunity. I replied to the request and we were able to work the show in San Juan Capistrano! The venue was great, the music was great, and the people were awesome. We made some serious buck for Landon and we hope to do it again soon.

By the way, this video totally melts me.

6. Fierce Creatures

Fierce Creatures came out of nowhere and hit me upside the head like a bag of bricks when I saw them (in the best way possible). You can check out a previous post I did on them here but I have to say, I was not prepared at all for their hurricane-like force. There was this crazy supernatural energy they emitted. Maybe it was all the banging on cans or the dancing in the crowd but I’m seriously hooked. They lived up to all the hype I heard and while I’m bummed they are up north, I can’t wait to see them play again!

Stay tuned for my top 5 discoveries!