Temecula

New Band Love: Parade of Lights

Posted on by Kristen

It’s been about six months since we first heard and fell in love with Parade of Lights so this post is waaaaay overdue. If you’re looking for some perfectly crafted pop music that just makes you want to DANCE, look no farther than Las Vegas based Parade of Lights. Ryan Daly (vocals, guitar), Matt Frey (keys, guitar), Randy Schulte (bass, keys), and Anthony Improgo (drums) have known each other for years. They used to play together in a group called Polus. Then they drifted apart with Anthony drumming for Metro Station and Matt on tour with 30 Seconds to Mars.  But now they are back together, rechristened Parade of Lights!

The first time I saw them, I was instantly drawn to their sound; catchy and fun…tunes that you just can’t get out of your head. One of the great things about following a young band is watching them develop. At the Parade of Lights show a couple weekends ago at The Vault in Temecula, I was amazed at the growth and maturity that had occurred over the last several months. The band seems to be adding more texture to their songs, infusing softer openings and head banging outros to their boppin’ pop core. I actually stopped jumping up and down for a few seconds just to marvel at their progress. I thought, it’s time to get the word out there. The world needs to know about Parade of Lights!

Fortunately for you, many of the band’s songs are available for FREE download on their facebook page. “Starstruck” is the song that made my end of 2010 mix…but it’s “Young Again” that’s been swimming in my head more recently.

If you’re curious as to how Parade of Lights got their name (we were!), watch what they said when we asked them about it:

No Parade of Lights shows on the horizon, but we’ll be sure to let you know if they come anywhere near Southern California…

~ Kristen

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

Posted on by Kristen

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

Posted on by Kristen

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