The Hotel Cafe | Local Music Nation

Truth & Salvage Co.- Residency and CD release

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Amanda

Most exciting news! One of my very fave LA bands just announced the release date for their first album. May 25 Truth & Salvage Co. will release their self-titled debut. This six piece group instantly drew me in with their energetic live performances and The Band-like qualities. I discovered them a couple years ago when they were known as The Family Band. I’ve had the immense pleasure of watching them grow, get signed by Chris Robinson’s label, Silver Arrow, and go out on tour with The Black Crowes where they were even able to play a date with one of my fave Philly bands, Pawnshop Roses. I was so happy when they returned to LA and started playing local gigs again. Right now, the band is in the middle of a residency at The Hotel Café…every Friday night through to March 12^th. If you get an opportunity to see them, it will be an unforgettable evening of music and dancing…just be sure to get there early as they tend to pack the place and they will stop allowing people through the door.

For a preview of the album, the band recently recorded some songs through Daytrotter: http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/truth-and-salvage-co-concert/20030993-37382166.html

Be sure to see them now before they head out on tour again (this time with The Avett Brothers)

Or alternatively, if you’re not in the LA area, be sure to catch them with The Avett Brothers (another fantastic group). Dates posted so far:

~ Kristen

Kristen's LA weekly concert calendar: 3/1-3/7

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Amanda

Alright folks, it’s finally happened! Thanks to my musical partner in crime, Amanda, I have a blog! Amanda and I are working on it together (AKA she is doing most of the work…and I’m just posting my musical musings). The blog is entitled Local Music Nation. The goal of this project of ours is to eventually morph the blog into a full blown website where people can post about their favorite local bands based on region (this is how I’ve always classified bands). And then other people can easily find good shows to go to when they travel (something I always struggle with) or just discover great new bands before they get too big. For now, we’re just covering LA and SD…and whatever other places and groups we happen to be inspired by.

We’re still messing around with formats and such and learning the basics of how to be a blogger. We are leaning towards using Tumblr (you can post mp3s on it for free) vs. WordPress (a bit easier on the eyes and, in my opinion, more flexible), but for now have both running.

So, please check out our sites and let us know what you think. Any comments, suggestions, helpful tips would be much appreciated. From now on, this email will be posted on our blog (but don’t worry, I still plan on sending it to your inbox as well). But if you want more up to date information, concert reviews, info on bands I’m obsessing over or songs that are inspiring me…you should check out the blog on a more regular basis! Also, if you ever find yourselves journeying down to San Diego, Amanda will have all your musical needs covered.

So, check this out: http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

And/or this: http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

And onto the events of this week. Here’s what I’ve got planned:

Monday: Paris Carney at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: Aimee Miriello at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Café (8pm)

Tuesday: Lucy Woodward at The Hotel Café (9pm)

ALSO: The Hounds Below and Miranda Lee Richards at Spaceland (10pm)

Weds: Vienne at Molly Malone’s (8:30)

ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard and Amber Rubarth at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Keaton Simons at Room 5 (9:30)

ALSO: Pawnshop Kings at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Joey Ryan, Jim Bianco, and Honeyhoney at The Hotel Café (8,9,10)

ALSO: Purple Melon at The Mint (10pm)

ALSO: Mike Doughty at The Troubadour (9pm)

Friday: Bell X1 and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Adam H. Stephens (from Two Gallants) at The Troubadour (8pm)

ALSO: The Bird & the Bee at The El Rey (8pm)

Saturday: Curtis Peoples at The Mint (9pm)

ALSO: Killswitch Engage at The Wiltern (8pm)

ALSO: Paris Carney at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Opus Dai and Visa at The Troubadour (10pm)

ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo at The Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Benefit show at The Echoplex featuring The Submarines and Thao Nguyen (noon)

Sunday: The Academy Awards!!

To Keep in Mind:

March 9^th and 10^th: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour

March 11^th and 12^th: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah

March 11^th: Joey Ryan and Melissa Ferrick at The Hotel Café

March 27^th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

March 27^th/28^th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 9^th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

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

April 16^th-19^th: Coachella

June 10-13^th: BONNAROO

Mp3s

“Eve, the Apple of My Eye”- Bell X1
“I Just Want The Girl In The Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing” – Mike Doughty

~ Kristen

p.s. if you still haven’t checked this out, please do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOkKufaZ84s (and look for me!)

Kristen’s LA weekly concert calendar: 3/1-3/7

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Amanda

So, check this out: http://localmusicnation.tumblr.com/

And/or this: http://thelocalmusicla.wordpress.com/

And onto the events of this week. Here’s what I’ve got planned:

Monday: Paris Carney at Room 5 (8pm)

ALSO: Aimee Miriello at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Ari Hest at The Hotel Café (8pm)

Tuesday: Lucy Woodward at The Hotel Café (9pm)

ALSO: The Hounds Below and Miranda Lee Richards at Spaceland (10pm)

Weds: Vienne at Molly Malone’s (8:30)

ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard and Amber Rubarth at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Keaton Simons at Room 5 (9:30)

ALSO: Pawnshop Kings at The Roxy (8pm)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Joey Ryan, Jim Bianco, and Honeyhoney at The Hotel Café (8,9,10)

ALSO: Purple Melon at The Mint (10pm)

ALSO: Mike Doughty at The Troubadour (9pm)

Friday: Bell X1 and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Café (9,10)

ALSO: Adam H. Stephens (from Two Gallants) at The Troubadour (8pm)

ALSO: The Bird & the Bee at The El Rey (8pm)

Saturday: Curtis Peoples at The Mint (9pm)

ALSO: Killswitch Engage at The Wiltern (8pm)

ALSO: Paris Carney at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Opus Dai and Visa at The Troubadour (10pm)

ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo at The Coronet (8pm)

ALSO: Benefit show at The Echoplex featuring The Submarines and Thao Nguyen (noon)

Sunday: The Academy Awards!!

To Keep in Mind:

March 9^th and 10^th: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour

March 11^th and 12^th: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah

March 11^th: Joey Ryan and Melissa Ferrick at The Hotel Café

March 27^th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

March 27^th/28^th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 9^th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

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

April 16^th-19^th: Coachella

June 10-13^th: BONNAROO

Mp3s

“Eve, the Apple of My Eye”- Bell X1
“I Just Want The Girl In The Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing” – Mike Doughty

~ Kristen

p.s. if you still haven’t checked this out, please do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOkKufaZ84s (and look for me!)

“…your voice is echoing again through catacombs inside my mind…” – Breathless by Dan Wilson

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Amanda

Dan Wilson just blows my mind every time. The man is a genius. Tonight at The Hotel Café he mostly played new songs which is great on the one hand because I was able to hear new brilliance for the first time, but on the other hand, so much goes unplayed. He did manage to squeeze in my two faves “Breathless” and “Free Life” plus a good one from his Semisonic days (“Singing in my Sleep”) so I was left feeling completely satisfied.

The entire evening was full of amazing music. Jim Bianco is always such a treat to watch. He has this new song from his forthcoming CD that I think takes his music to a whole new level. But, of course, he sings that one right before a song that calls for strippers…

Joey Ryan is one of my new faves and deserves a blurb all to himself (forthcoming).

And my intuition about Scars on 45 was spot on! I have a very good feeling about this group that was just signed to Chop Shop Records and are working on recording their debut album…next stop for them: SXSW. Definitely keep your eyes and ears open for these guys…

Next up: Nico Vega at El Rey…NOT to be missed!

~ Kristen

I am being drawn to this band

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Amanda

http://www.myspace.com/scarson45

They are called Scars on 45. I just heard them for the very first time a couple of hours ago. I am feeling inexplicably drawn to thier music…which is great because they are playing at The Hotel Cafe TONIGHT which was where I was planning on going anyway…now I just have to try to make it there by 6pm which is when This group goes on. Preliminary research suggests they are from The United Kingdom so come out tonight before they disappear across the pond!

Also playing tonight, a couple of my local faves Joey Ryan and Jim Bianco, as well as Dan Wilson who, in my opinion, writes some of the best lyrics ever to be put to song…NOT to be missed!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 12/20-12/26

Posted on 7 Hours Ago by Kristen

Hope everyone’s gearing up for the holidays…after the Hotel Cafe Christmas party I attended on Friday, I’m finally starting to feel the spirit of the season. Unfortunately I am WAY behind with all the practicals (preparing for holiday travel, gift manufacturing, etc.). Doesn’t help that my new computer is just not up to snuff (I need a tech savvy robot for these things).
Usually I venture to Philadelphia for the Christmas season. There is a fantastic show that takes place on the 26^th each year supported by local radio station, WMMR. This year the Mistletoe Jam features IKE, SINAI, The Shakers, Venice Sunlight, and Anthony Renzulli Band. I wish I could be there. But instead of spending the holidays with my musical family in Philly, I am opting to see my actual family in Missouri (to the grandparent’s house I go!). Have yet to look into concerting options in the Show Me State, so if anyone reading this happens to know of any good venues or local bands in the St. Louis region, let me know!

Unlike Philly, where over the holidays everyone is in town and local bands shows are plentiful, LA seems to disappear and shows become scarce. Still, here’s what I found:

Monday: Agent Ribbons at Bootleg Theater (midnight)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Midnight Magic (10pm)

Tuesday: Watkins Family Christmas show at Largo (9pm)
ALSO: Dead Country at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ASO: Amber Rubarth at Room 5 (9pm)

Weds: Jenni Alpert at Room 5 (7pm)

Thursday: last minute Christmas shopping

Friday: frantically processing my holiday presents

Saturday: Merry Christmas!

Sunday: recuperating from all that holiday cheer…

To Keep in Mind:

January 7^th: Scarlet Grey at The Roxy
January 9^th: Bonnie Dune at The Roxy
January 20th: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg
January 20^th: Nikka Costa at The Roxy
January 22^nd: Guster at The Music Box
January 28^th: Free Energy at The Roxy
Feb 9^th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9^th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16^th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb 26^th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1^st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/24-10/31

Posted on 7 Hours Ago by Kristen

Does anyone else sink into a depression when deprived of live music for over a week? This past week has just been brutal. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for redemption this week…including the event I’ve been looking forward to alllll month, Nico Vega headlining at The Roxy with Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat. You best be there in your witchy wear!
But that’s not all. Plenty of great shows this week to get me out of this funk. Here’s what I’ve got going:

Monday: Amy Correia at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)
ALSO: John Meeks at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Jessie Baylin at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Aqualung at Bardot for it’s a school night FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Curtis Peoples and Josh Hoge at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Lights at The El Rey (9pm)

Weds: The Nervous Wreckords at Bordello (11pm)
ALSO: Steel Train and fun at The Music Box (8pm)

Thursday: Free Energy and Foxy Shazam at The Troubadour (9:15, 10:15)
ALSO: Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Kate Nash at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Moving Picture Show and The Nervous Wreckords at The Viper Room (10,12)

Friday: Nico Vega, Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Electric Touch at The Viper Room (11:50)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Stone Temple Pilots at Nokia Live (8pm)
ALSO: Rock N Roll Circus Halloween at The Echo featuring Andy Clockwise, Henry Clay People, Etc. (7pm)

Saturday: last minute Halloween costume shopping….

Sunday: Purple Melon at The Viper Room (10:30)

To Keep in Mind:
November 2^nd: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
November 4^th: Five for Fighting at The Brixton
November 5^th: Bayside at The Toubadour
November 6^th-7^th: Florence + The Machine at The Wiltern
November 8^th-10^th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
November 12^th: Teitur at Bootleg Theater
November 13^th: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey
November 16^th: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland
November 17^th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18^th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21^st and 22^nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 1^st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2^nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4^th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11^th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen
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