The Hotel Cafe

New Band Love: Queen Caveat

Posted on by Kristen

Well, I’ve seen Queen Caveat several times over the last year, and every time they just get better and better. After last night’s show at The Hotel Cafe, I realized I simply must inform the masses. Unfortunately, I don’t have much to share with you as far as music or upcoming shows. With a recent name change (they used to be StolenPlayer), only 30 or so myspace friends, and their first EP still in the works, Queen Caveat is what one may term a baby band.  They are, however, poised to take over the world. There really is nothing to not like about this band. Amazing energy, fantastic vocals, mesmerizing tunes, stellar guitar riffs, bassist with a killer smile, etc. etc. etc.

If you want a sound alike, I’d probably have to go with one of my very favorite bands, Nico Vega….female singer, similar sound. The comparison is especially obvious when the drummer for Nico Vega plays with them (if you look closely at the respective line-ups, you’ll notice how they are related).

At any rate, I’m sure I’ll be talking more about them in the future. Look out for their shows on my calendar…they are not to be missed!

Beware the Queen!

~ Kristen

p.s. The other two bands I saw at The Hotel Cafe last night were also fabulous. Armada and Travis Warren (formally of Blind Melon)…two acts that are really worth checking out and are definately going on my list!

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 5/31-6/6

Posted on by Kristen

Honestly I still feel like it should be March. The last two months were so incredibly busy, they just flew right by. And now, all of a sudden, I’m facing end of quarter deadlines and am freaking out juuuust a tad. And looking at my June calendar it seems that this month won’t be any less busy. We’ve actually got some very exciting things coming up for the website, so stay tuned for that. But in the meantime, let’s get this month started off right with a great line-up of music.

Here are my suggestions:

 Monday: War Tapes at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: The Like FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: School Night at Bardot in Hollywood featuring Sonos, Madi Diaz, and Miike Snow DJ Set…FREE but rsvp only (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/rsvp1.html)

 Tuesday: Samantha Crain and First Aid Kit at Bootleg (9:30)
ALSO: Honeyhoney at Spaceland (9pm) 
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Ivan Kane’s Cafe Was (two sets starting at 7pm and 8:30)

Weds: Ashes Divide at The Viper Room (11pm)…the beginning of an exciting month-long residency
ALSO: Hot Hot Heat at Bootleg (10:30)…another residency…seems likes Weds is the busy day this month… 

Thursday: Hear NoHo (8pm)… http://www.hearnoho.com/
ALSO: Mumford & Sons at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Watkins Family Hour at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)
ALSO: Lex Land at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums at Spaceland (10pm) 

Friday: Mumford & Sons at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Don McCloskey at The Hotel Cafe (11pm) 

Saturday: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Balloon and Wine Festival in Temecula featuring music by Keaton Simons, The Gin Blossoms and Vertical Horizon (3:30, 5, 7) 

Sunday: Mumford & Sons and The Silent Comedy at Belly Up (SD)

To Keep in Mind:

June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)
June 13th: Beth Hart and Garrison Starr at The Echoplex
June 25th: Warped Tour in LA
June 25th: The Rescues CD Release at The Troubadour
June 21st: Carney at The Troubadour
June 21st: Gaslight Anthem at El Rey
July 7th: Carbon Leaf at The Troubadour
July 8th: Michelle Branch at Greek Theater
July 10th: Lilith Fair
July 18th: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl
July 30-31st: Morceeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center (with Lady GaGa)
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 5/17-5/23

Posted on by Kristen

Last week was a very emotional week of beginnings and endings…and many goodbyes. On the music front, one of my favorite bands, Jealousy Curve, officially announced that they were going to end their run as a band. Their last show will be their record release next Saturday in Philadelphia at World Cafe Live. (yes I will be there). Carney’s record release show Saturday in Los Angeles at The El Rey signified the exact opposite; the beginning of a successful and (hopefully) very long career. Watching the guys be escorted from the back to the signing table where we all had to wait in line to get our CDs signed and say our hellos really made me realize how far the band has come since I saw them play every week at Molly Malone’s. The entire set was a bit emotional for me. I was at once immensely grateful for having such an amazing band be a part of my life for the last couple of years and incredibly sad that they were leaving Los Angeles and I would not be seeing them play again anytime soon.

But such is life. Really it just gives me more time and energy to discover amazing new bands to enrich and fulfill my life, right? Well, that’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

Here are the bands and musicians I’m looking at this week to potentially take up the mantel of “new favorite band” and help fill the massive void  in both my concert calendar and my heart left by the breaking up of Jealousy Curve and year-long departure of Carney:

Monday: Filthy Souls at 14 Below in Santa Monica (8pm)
ALSO: The Like FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Wartapes at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief Fund Benefit at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…line up TBA
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Nina Storey at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

Weds: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (10:45)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s 

Thursday: Shout Out Louds at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Glee Live at Gibson Amphitheater (8pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi at The Hotel Cafe (8pm) 

Friday: Glee Live at Gibson Amphitheater (8pm)
ALSO: The National at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: OK GO at The Musicbox (8pm)
ALSO: Far at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Lelia Broussard at Room 5 (7pm)
ALSO: Shout Out Louds at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Vienna Teng & Alex Wong and Sara Watkins at McCabe’s (8pm) 

Saturday: The National at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Glee Live at Gibson Amphitheater (8pm)
ALSO: The Real Sunset Strip On the Rox with Terra Incognita (9pm)
***if you happen to be in the Philadelphia area, you’d better join me at World Cafe Live to witness the last performance of Jealousy Curve…also playing IKE, Camille Peruto, and LA’s own The Shakers! 

Sunday: Frightened Rabbit at The Musicbox (8pm)
ALSO: Lelia Broussard at Saint Rocke (7pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
May 28th: The Silent Comedy and Dirty Sweet at North Park Theater (in SD)
June1st: First Aid Kit at Bootleg
June 3rd: Mumford & Sons at The Music Box
June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)
June 10-13th: BONNAROO
June 25th: Warped Tour in LA
July 10th: Lilith Fair

~ Kristen

Kristen’s SXSW ’10 Mix- Bonus Tracks!

Posted on by Kristen

               22. “Are You Fucking Kidding Me (The Facebook Song)” – Kate Miller-Heidke

I first saw Kate Miller-Heidke at The Hotel Cafe. I had no idea really what to make of this classically trained songstress who sang about how cruel she was in high school or this lovely ditty about a former lover resurfacing on facebook. Definitely unforgettable. Then I saw Kate at Coachella and cemented my love. The video below wasn’t taken by me, but it was the first time I saw this song performed live…

                   23. “Monsters, Demons, Accidents” – The Other Side of Morning

I thought my SXSW ’10 mix was complete until I saw The Other Side of Morning play a set at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica. I felt compelled to tack on another track…

And thus ends my SXSW ’10 mix. I hope you, like me, were able to discover some amazing new artists. Enjoy the music!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s SXSW ’10 Mix- Part 4

Posted on by Kristen

              13. “Sympathetic_Vibrations” – The Paper Raincoat

I discovered Amber Rubarth from last year’s SXSW offerings. I was surprised to hear her voice under a different name, but since seeing The Paper Raincoat play with Joey Ryan at The Hotel Cafe, I think I may be an ever bigger fan of this project Amber has with fellow Brooklynite Alex Wong. Their live version of “Rewind” should not be missed!

                14. “Manhattan” – MoZella

I’m just so excited that she finally put this full length CD,Belle Isle, I had to celebrate!

             15. “Moving Backwards” – Ben Rector

This song moved me. end of story.

              16. “Sleep Walking” – Erin McCarley

I’ve been looking for an excuse to showcase this song since I saw Erin play with Landon Pigg at The Troubadour several months ago. This was a good a place as any.

  

             17. “Followed the Waves” – Melissa Auf der Maur

A music-loving friend turned me on to the former Hole bassist’s solo project. This friend is very wise.

…not done yet…

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 5/10-5/16

Posted on by Kristen

It’s Carney Week! Saturday is their big show at the El Rey. They are moving to NYC (yes, it’s really happening this time) to be a part of Spiderman on Broadway. They will be gone for awhile. As the first local LA band I fell in love with, this is a big deal to me. The apocalypse could be coming and I would not miss this show. Their first full length CD, Mr. Green Vol. I, also comes out this week (May 11th). So even if you can’t come to the show on Saturday night, you can still celebrate Carney week, by going out and getting a copy of the CD (you’ll want an actually copy as the artwork is brilliant).

If you’d like to celebrate Carney week, I’ve earmarked daily suggested activities along with the rest of the amazing musical events happening this week (and there are quite a few good ones this week)…

Monday: Ashes Divide and Sweethead FREE at Spaceland (10pm)…if you’re looking for the lead singer of A Perfect Circle or a guitarist for Queens of the Stone Age, here’s where to find them
ALSO: SO & SO at The Hotel Cafe (8:30)
ALSO: The Like FREE at The Echo (10pm)…they’re back! And they’re doing a month long Monday night residency!!
ALSO: Wartapes FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)…also playing every Monday in May
ALSO: The Filthy Souls at 14 Below in Santa Monica (8pm)…and another great month-long residency…wow, Monday’s are going to be busy…
ALSO: Songwriter’s in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
CARNEY WEEK: listen to their EP Nothing Without You and Reeve Carney and the Revolving Band Live at Molly Malone’s CD and celebrate the Carney that was. Also, go to bed early, falling asleep to “Think of You”.

Tuesday: Mississippi Man at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Transfer at The Viper Room  (10:25)
ALSO: The Northstar Session at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Kate Nash at The El Rey (8pm)
CARNEY WEEK: get up bright and early and bust down the doors of your Local Best Buy to pick up a copy of Mr. Green Vol. I. Listen all day long. 

Weds: Trent Dabbs and The Daylights at The Hotel Cafe (9,10pm)
ALSO: Ben Folds and Kate Miller-Heidke at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Curly Rock in the Round at Cubana Club Showroom featuring Curtis Peoples, Ernie Halter, Tony Lucca, Lisa Loeb, Tyrone Wells, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers’ Society at Crane’s
CARNEY WEEK: introduce the new Carney CD to all of your friends. 

Thursday: Lemon Sun and Crash Kings at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Jakob Dylan at The WIltern (8pm)
ALSO: Sally Jaye at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Carole King and James Taylor at the Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Ben Folds and Kate Miller-Heidke at The Music Box (8pm)
CARNEY WEEK: start making plans for Saturday. Arrange car pools and pre-concert dinners. Don’t forget to make time for that place down the street that sells the apple mint lemonade. If you feel so obliged, this is the evening to gather together all your friends and discuss the merits of the new CD…song by song…at length. You can do this while making your “I love you Zane Carney” posters

Friday: Turin Brakes at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Carole King and James Taylor at the Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Andrew Bird at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)
CARNEY WEEK: go to Molly Malone’s to see Carney Bassist, Aiden Moore, perform some of his solo work at 8pm…don’t forget to tell him you love the new CD and can’t wait for Saturday night

Saturday: CARNEY WEEK: The night you’ve been waiting for. Come to The El Rey to rock out with Carney to all their new tunes that you’ve spent all week falling in love with. (8pm)
ALSO: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater (7:30)
ALSO: Carole King and James Taylor at the Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO:  Annuals at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Andrew Bird at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)
ALSO: The Real Sunset Strip with Scheff and The Hawk featuring Terra Incognita at On the Rox (10pm)

Sunday: Patrick Park at The Autry (7:30)
CARNEY WEEK: begin your Carney detox program…but not before watching Spiderman and making tentative plans for your NYC trip next fall… 

To Keep in Mind:
May 19th: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
May23rd: Frightened Rabbit at The Music Box
May 28th: The Silent Comedy and Dirty Sweet at North Park Theater (in SD)
June1st: First Aid Kit at Bootleg
June 3rd: Mumford & Sons at The Music Box
June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)
June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)
June 25th: Warped Tour in LA
July 10th: Lilith Fair

~ Kristen

Favorite Band Alert! The Kin

Posted on by Kristen

Waking Up Shining

I am still overwhelmed with emotion from seeing The Kin play Monday night at The Hotel Cafe. It had been far too long since brothers Thorry and Isaac Koren played LA. An added bonus, the absolutely brilliant and incredibly unique Shakerleg was indeed present behind his makeshift drum kit and despite the fact that he was terribly ill, still managed to pull out all the stops on stage. They played mostly songs from their most recent album, The Upside, and closed the night with some covers they’ve been working on, but the highlight for me was when they came off the stage and into the audience to play a brand new tune.  

There is nothing better than seeing one of your favorite bands play after you haven’t seen them in awhile…except perhaps seeing an amazing band play for the first time. Which is why, if you’re in the Los Angeles area, I think you should come to The Stronghold in Venice 9pm Weds night to fall in love with The Kin as they are playing one more time before leaving LA.

 The Kin covers Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” in NYC

~ Kristen