Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/31-2/6

It’s been quite the week for music! Sorry I’ve been so quiet, but I’ve been busy enjoying great shows every night and I haven’t had the time to write. Some of the highlights from last week include seeing one of my fave songwriters and storytellers, Anna Nalick, watching Keaton Simons blow the roof off of The Roxy with his amazing new tunes, hanging with friends and falling in love with new bands like Armada at The Mint, getting what I hope continues to be my weekly fix of new band love Queen Caveat, and, of course, being reminded of why Nico Vega is one of the greatest bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching perform.

Also, this week I had the extreme pleasure of talking with one of the most exciting new bands coming out of the Philadelphia music scene, SINAI. More on my interview with them PLUS footage from the last weekend’s Philly adventure still to come…

In the meantime, amazing live musical opportunities continue to present themselves here in Los Angeles…here’s what’s on my “not to be missed” list for this week:

Monday: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a school night at Bardot featuring Tristen, Alex Luke,  and  Peter, Bjorn, and John (9pm)

Tuesday: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Satellite at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Maniac at Crazy Girls (11:15)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton and Satellite at Club Central in Santa Monica (9,10)
ALSO: Shawn Hlookoff and Jenni Alpert at Genghis Cohen (9pm)

Thursday: Garrison Starr, Lelia Broussard, Curtis Peoples, and The Canyons at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10,11)
ALSO: Great Northern at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: War Tapes at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Soraria at The Whiskey (10pm)
ALSO: We Barbarians at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

Friday: The Wood Brothers with Carsie Blanton at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The Echo (7:30)
ALSO: Tennis at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: First Friday at The Natural History Museum featuring Wild Nothing and Abe Vigoda (8pm)

Saturday: The Silent Comedy at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Tony Lucca at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Forgetters at The Echo (8pm)

Sunday: Jordan Cook and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10,11)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb. 12th: Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom
Feb. 15th: Mother Mother at The Satellite
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
Feb 26th: Young the Giant at The Roxy
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
May: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/24-1/30

Amanda and I are in New York City at the moment. Just came back from seeing the boys of Carney rock Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark (again). They made some changes in the second half that I loved. As you know, we ventured to the east coast because my first favorite band, Pepper’s Ghost, had a reunion show at The Grape Room, Saturday in Philadelphia (their first show since 2007…). There are no words to describe how I felt about seeing this band play again. The whole day, really, spent with some of my favorite people and seeing a couple of my top bands (we also went to Northstar to catch a bit of Alright, Junior’s set) is bound to go down as one of the best days of my year…hopefully I’ll find some time to put up some pictures and, fingers crossed, video (!) soon.

But, in the meantime, we’ve got lots of great shows to look forward to this week in LA! Can’t wait to get back (and not just because I’m freezing my fingers off over here)! Here’s what I’d like to do:

Monday: Cold War Kids at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at Whiskey a Go Go (9pm)
ALSO: The Script at Jimmy Kimmel (6:45…with reservation from 1iota.com)
ALSO: Iron & Wine FREE at Amoeba (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Royal Bangs and Gary Clark Jr. (10:30)

Tuesday: Cold War Kids at Amoeba (6pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at Saint Rocke (10:30)
ALSO: WPA featuring Glen Phillips and Sean Watkins at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Vaccines at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Iron & Wine at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Olin & The Moon FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: 8mm at The Good Hurt (11pm)

Weds: Red Circle Underground at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Iron & Wine at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Bryan Greenberg at Saint Rocke (10pm)

Thursday: High Voltage Presents at The Mint featuring Armada, 8mm, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Amos Lee at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Graydon at Silverlake Louge (9:30)
ALSO: Steel Train at The Troubadour (8:45)

Friday: Queen Caveat and Nico Vega at Saint Rocke (9,11)
ALSO: The Postelles and Free Energy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Honeyhoney at Bootleg (9:45)
ALSO: Parade of Lights at Club Cohiba in Long Beach (7:30)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig at The Sante Fe Seven (11:45)
ALSO: Rocco Deluca and Daniel Lanois at The El Rey (8:30)

Saturday: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Oh Darling at the Santa Monica Pier (5:30)

Sunday: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe
ALSO: Against Me! at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Briens

To Keep in Mind:

Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café
Feb. 1st: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/17-1/23

Writing this while listening to Pepper’s Ghost do a radio interview about their reunion show next weekend. If it’s possible, I’m even more excited about my favorite band getting back together for a one night only double header show at The Grape Room in Philadelphia. There are a ton of awesome shows in LA this week, but I’m mostly excited about venturing east at the end of the week to catch Pepper’s Ghost…and maybe some other fave Philly bands. And then going back to NYC to catch the guys of Carney once again rock out in Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark.

It’s gonna be a fantastic week!

Here’s what I’ve got on my LA calendar:

Monday: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Great Northern and The Pierces (10pm) 

Tuesday: Queen Caveat and Endless Hallway at The Viper Room (10,11) 
ALSO: The Shakers at Crazy Girls in Hollywood (9pm) 
ALSO: The Pierces at The Hotel Cafe (10pm) 
ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (9:30) 
ALSO: Lindsey Ray and Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Satellite (8pm) 
ALSO: Wire in the Walls, Family of the Year, and Olin and The Moon at The Echo (8:30) 
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm) 

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Thursday: Nikka Costa at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard and Satellite at The Hotel Cafe (8,10pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at The Cat Club (8pm) 
ALSO: Chasing Avalanche at The Viper Room (10:30) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Friday: Langhorne Slim and Old 97’s at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Alice Peacock at The Mint (8pm) 
ALSO: David and Devine at Room 5 (11pm) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Saturday: Jake Newton, Tyler Hilton, Ernie Halter, Shaimus, and Queen Caveat at The Hotel Cafe…this line-up blows my mind. Don’t miss it…seriously…(8,9,10,11,12) 
ALSO: Indians and The Mowgli’s at Area 33 in Culver City
ALSO: Guster at The Music Box (7pm) 
ALSO: Purple Melon at Saint Rocke (9pm) 

Sunday: Lemon Sun and Voxhaul Broadcast at The Echoplex (8pm)
ALSO: TD Lind, Jesse Cole, and Brandon Walters at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10) 
ALSO: Chris Pierce at Saint Rocke (9pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
Jan. 24th: Cold War Kids at Bootleg 
Jan. 25th: Vertical Horizon at The Key Club 
Jan. 28th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
January 28th: Free Energy at The Roxy 
January 29th: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg 
Jan. 30th: Against Me! at The Music Box  
Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café 
Feb. 1st: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room  
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey 
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour 
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe  
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour 
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour 
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Toubadour 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/13-1/19

I’m still feeding of the epicness that was The Black Crowes at The Palladium Saturday night. Being at the rail for the extra long (was it really three hours?) final set was an intense experience I won’t soon forget…and I’m not just saying that because I think that the incense they were burning on stage has permanently affixed itself deep inside my nostrils.

Hopefully the Palladium show, which also featured personal favorites Truth & Salvage Co.  was just an indicator of what is to come. With the quarter ending (and my evenings becoming less burdened) and with all the fantastic shows on the menu (AMP! Nico Vega!! Hotel Cafe holiday party!!!) I’ve got a fantastic feeling about this week!

Here’s what else is cooking:

Monday: Garrison Starr and The Rescues at The Hotel Cafe (8,9:30)
ALSO: Princeton and Hands FREE at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Little Red Radio at The Key Club (8:30)
ALSO: Michael Buble at The Staples Center (8pm)…this is in honor of my college roommate…
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round featuring Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale at Room 5 (8,9)|
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Belle Brigade and Sonos (10pm) 

Tuesday: After Midnight Project at The Key Club (7pm)
ALSO: The Rescues at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Honeyhoney at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Tame Impala at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Satellite Holiday Party at Spaceland (8:30) 

Weds: Justin Jones and Badly Drawn Boy at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: Ari Shine and The White Buffalo at The Mint (9:30)
ALSO: Low at Spaceland (9pm)
ALSO: Adam Lambert at The Music Box (8pm) 

Thursday: Justin Jones and Badly Drawn Boy at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: Brian Wright and Jessie Cole at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Keaton Simons and Lovers Drugs at Genghis Cohen (8,9:30)
ALSO: Adam Lambert at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at The Slidebar in Fullerton…totally worth the trip outside LA 

Friday: Hotel Cafe Holiday party featuring The Weepies, Butch Walker, Cary Brothers, and SO many more (7pm)ALSO: 8mm at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (11pm) 

Saturday: Fat City Reprise, The Shakers, Red Circle Underground at The Viper Room (10,11,12)
ALSO: Hotel Cafe Holiday party featuring Tyler Hilton, Keaton Simons, Lelia Broussard, and SO many more (7pm)

Sunday: holiday party/Love Actually viewing… 

To Keep in Mind:
January 7th: Scarlet Grey at The Roxy
January 9th: Bonnie Dune at The Roxy
January 20th: Nikka Costa at The Roxy
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box
January 28th: Free Energy at The Roxy  
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/6-12/12

Tonight marked the final performance of LMN mainstays, Mississippi Man. I first saw this band play with Get Back Loretta at The Bootleg. I thought they were good. The thing about Mississippi Man, however, is that every time I’ve seen them since, they’ve gotten better and better. They came back from a tour with The Silent Comedy in particularly good form. I’m sure that tonight, their final performance, was their absolute best. But I am sad that I will not get the opportunity to continue to watch them grow and improve. If you haven’t already, you should check out their most recent record, A-OK. Mississippi Man will be missed.

Let’s focus on the flip side of seeing a great band’s last performance; seeing your new favorite band play for the first time. In remembrance of Mississippi Man, let’s make it a point this week to discover some new amazing music. If you need some guidance, might I suggest the following (and there are PLENTY of options this week):

Monday: IO Echo and Haim FREE at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: The Rescues and Raining Jane at The Hotel Cafe…week two of The Rescues’ winter residency (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Whispering Pines FREE at Spaceland (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Grouplove and The 88…RSVP at http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/ 

Tuesday: Eastern Conference Champions Record Release at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Rob Crow (of Pinback) at Spaceland (10pm)
ALSO: Kitten at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Edie Cary at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Street Drum Corps at The Roxy (10pm) 

Weds: So & So at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Assemble the Skyline at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Maren Parusel at The Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Natalie Cole at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm) 

Thursday: Scars on 45, Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, Taylor Locke & The Roughs at The Hotel Café (8,9,11)
ALSO: The Janks at Bootleg Theater (11pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm) 

Friday: Sabrosa Purr, Darling Stilettos, and Camp Freddy at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Kina Grannis at The El Rey
ALSO: NEEDTOBREATHE and The Daylights at The Musicbox
ALSO: The Dandy Warhols at Club Nokia
ALSO: Warpaint at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: A Silent Film at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm) 

Saturday: Truth and Salvage Co. and The Black Crowes at Hollywood Palladium…The Black Crowes FINAL LA show
ALSO: Rockdrive 2010 featuring Aqualung, Cary Brothers, Rocco Delucca, Lady Danville, Joey and Kenneth, Chris Pierce, Terra Naomi, Raining Jane, etc. at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Loft (midnight)
ALSO: Roses Pawn Shop at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Los Sindicate at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm)                    

Sunday: Marie Digby at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Warpaint at The Troubadour
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm)                                                                                        

To Keep in Mind:
December 14th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
December 17th-19th: The Hotel Cafe Christmas Party
December 18th: Fat City Reprise, The Shakers, and Red Circle Underground at The Viper Room
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/15-11/21

Just got done grading a seemingly infinite number of exams…plus a few quizzes. Aside from two musical interludes, that’s all I’ve been up to all weekend. As for the interludes, tonight was The Elizabeth Kill at The Mint and Saturday was Philadelphia goes LA, hanging out with other Philly area natives and checking out some bands with Philly roots (Terrible Things at The El Rey and The Shakers at The Cat Club). All in all, I just can’t believe the weekend is coming to a close!

But as one week ends, another begins. And what a fantastic line-up of shows this week. Greatness, in the form of SD band The Silent Comedy, returns to LA this week Thursday at The Echo. I’m also really excited about The Lonely Forrest, a band that made my SXSW ’10 mix but that I’ve never seen. Plus Queen Caveat, Fitz and the Tantrums, Freelance Whales, Dynamite Walls…I’m exhausted already! Some tough choices will have to be made this week.

Maybe you can help. Here’s what I’m contemplating…

Monday: Chasing Kings FREE at The Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9) 

Tuesday: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: Val Emmich at The Hotel Café(8pm) 

Weds: AWOLNATION and Fitz and The Tantrums at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Mayday Parade at The House of Blues Sunset (10pm)           
ALSO: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Kate Miller Heidke and Terra Naomi at The Hotel Cafe (7,8)
ALSO: Natasha Bedingfield at The Troubadour (7pm) 

Thursday: The Silent Comedy at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Miniature Tigers and Freelance Whales at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: Jack’s Mannequin/Something Corporate and Matt Nathanson at The El Rey (7pm)
ALSO: Joshua Radin at The Music Box (10pm) 

Friday: Dynamite Walls at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Chris Pierce at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Avi Buffalo at The Echo (10pm) 

Saturday: Lelia Broussard RECORD RELEASE at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Teddy Geiger at Spaceland (10pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at The Mint (9pm) 

Sunday: Dar Williams at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Eisley at The El Rey (10pm) 

To Keep in Mind: 
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 1st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/8-11/14

I Love Nico Vega!! It must be said. Again. Saturday night I impulsively drove up to Santa Barbara to see them play the New Noise Music Festival. I had just gotten through a horrid week…so bad towards the end it was almost funny how many things were going wrong. Then, just in time, Saturday night was one of those evenings that made me once again realize that life is worth living. Danced and sang into the wee hours with some of my favorite people, heard amazing music from a local Santa Barbara band, Verna Beware, as well as an LA fave, Killola. And then, of course, there was Nico Vega. I don’t know if I felt like it was one of Nico Vega’s best performances because it was or because I so desperately needed it…but does it really matter?

Here’s to hoping that this next week won’t be so dreadful and that I’ll be able to get out and see some music! Here are my preferred options (some really good ones this week!!):

Monday: Makepeace Brothers at Aviator Nation in Venice (9pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Florence and The Machine at The Wiltern (7:30)
ALSO: A Perfect Circle at Avalon (7:30)
ALSO: Street Sweeper Social Club at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9) 

Tuesday: Allen Stone and Lenka at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Brian Wright at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Ari Hest at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: A Perfect Circle at Avalon (7:30) 

Weds: ANT Management Presents On The Rox featuring Kyle Nicolaides, The Right Coast, Lakes, and Pan America (8pm)
ALSO: A Perfect Circle at Avalon (7:30)
ALSO: Elle King at Bootleg Theater (8:30) 

Thursday: Austin Hartley Leonard (CD RELEASE!) and Alex Dezen at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: KT Tunstall at the Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Volcano Dolls at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: Kurt Vile and the Violators at The Echoplex (8:30) 

Friday: Teitur at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Over the Rhine at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Nonpoint at The Whiskey (10pm) 

Saturday: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Darren Criss and Charlene Kaye at The Mint (2:45, 4pm)
ALSO: Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe TWO shows (8,11)
ALSO: The Shakers and Fat City Reprise FREE at The Cat Club 

Sunday: The Elizabeth Kill at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Joey Ryan and Meg & Dia at Saint Rocke (8:20,9:10) 

To Keep in Mind:
November 16th: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18th: The Silent Comedy at The Echo
November 18th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 1st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box 

~ Kristen