The Mint

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 7/12-7/18

Posted on by Kristen

Well, Amanda and I certainly had quite the busy weekend getting sneak previews of some very exciting projects coming out soon. Slash-approved British rockers, Gods and Men, are in the process of recording their first album for Pacific Records. Remember the name…it will come up again soon, I’m sure. Also, San Diego’s own Endoxi just finished their first full-length CD, Earthbound. The record is coming out August 3rd and the release party will be August 6th at Epicentre in SD. I’m very excited about Endoxi, and feel that they are poised to become the next big band out of San Diego.

But if you need a good show before August 6th, this week will definitely satisfy. Two of my very favorite bands are playing the Troubadour, The Silent Comedy on Tuesday (opening for Andy Clockwise) and Nico Vega on Weds (opening for Sweethead). You know you’ve been meaning to check out these bands I’m always blathering on about…well, here’s your chance so don’t miss it! 

As for everything else (it’s quite a fantastic week for music):

Monday: Matt Morris at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Mississippi Man FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at Les Deux (10pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Kings of Leon at Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: The Silent Comedy and Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: Imagine Dragons FREE at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Cafe Was (7pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard at The Hotel Cafe (8pm) 

Weds: Nico Vega at The Troubadour (9:15)…what else do you need? 

Thursday: KT Tunstall, Garrison Starr, Jay Nash, Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe (7-11)
ALSO: Killola at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Wakey Wakey at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Alex Band at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Fitz & the Tantrums at the Hammer museum (7pm)
ALSO: Alternate Routes at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena (8pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara (7pm) 

Friday: Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Victoria Clemmons, Kris Karlsson, Alex Rhodes at Genghis Cohen (8,9,10)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Rusty’s Surf Ranch in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: MGMT at The Greek Theater (7:30) 

Saturday: Thrice at Fox Theater in Pomona (6:30)
ALSO: Leerone and Laura Jensen at The Hotel Cafe (8, 10)  
ALSO: The Silent Comedy at The Casbah (SD) 

Sunday: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Joe Firstman and Jay Nash at Saint Rocke (7pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
July 21st: Gaslight Anthem at The Wiltern
July 23rd: Tony Lucca album release at The Mint
July 28th: Bang the Gong Tour featuring Civil Twilight, Paper Tongues, and Neon Trees at The Glass House
July 29th: Queen Caveat EP Release at The Viper Room
July 29th: Civil Twlight at The Hotel Cafe
July 30th: Dirty Sweet at The Viper Room  
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 6th: Endoxi CD release at Epicentre (SD)
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 4th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 6/28-7/4

Posted on by Kristen

Just got back from Warped Tour in Ventura with Amanda. Will hopefully get around to writing something about it and posting some of my pictures. It was by far the most pleasant (weather-wise) Warped  I’ve ever been to…but I still managed to get a lovely burn on the shoulders. Fortunately this week’s planned activities are largely indoors.

And if you want to go out at all this week, might I suggest Thursday heading to one of the places participating in The Gulf Coast Benefit. (http://gulfcoastbenefit.com/#about) On this day, select venues around the country will be donating money from ticket sales to organizations aiding those impacted by the oil spill. Several LA establishments (including my picks at The Roxy and The Mint) are participating. If you’re not in LA, check the website to see if a venue near you is involved. Enjoy some great live music AND play a part in helping our country deal with its current economic and ecological crisis. You’ve seen the pictures…you know you want to do something…this sounds like a perfect opportunity to me!

As for everything else:

Monday: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9)
ALSO: Victoria Clemmons and Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (9,10) 

Tuesday: Vienne at Saint Rocke (9:30)
ALSO: The Daylights at The Roxy (8pm) 

Weds: The Smashing Pumpkins at The Viper Room (?)…no, that is not a misprint.
ALSO: The Shakers at Kibitz Room (11:30)…last night of their Kibitz residency!
ALSO: Hot Hot Heat at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Joel Eckels and The Paper Sun at The Foundry on Melrose (?) 

Thursday: Danielia Cotton at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena (7pm)…is she worth driving to Pasadena for? Why yes, yes she is!
ALSO: Saint Motel at the Hammer Museum (7pm)
ALSO: The Gulf Coast Benefit at The Mint featuring Kaki King  and Ben Lee (8pm)
ALSO: The Gulf Coast Benefit at The Viper Room featuring Wicker (9pm)
ALSO: Garrison Starr at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Year Long Disaster at Spaceland (8:30) 

Friday: Army of Me at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)…from Washington DC!!
ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Park Bar in Burbank (10pm)
ALSO: CocoRosie at Orphium (9pm)
ALSO: Cinder Cone at Vacation Vinyl (7pm)…record release at a record store
ALSO: The Shakers at Gallagher’s Pub in Huntington Beach (11pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney at Molly Malone’s (8:30)
ALSO: Automatique at The Viper Room (10) 

Saturday: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

Sunday: Happy 4th of July! I’m sure there are some lovely parties with some great music…I just haven’t found one yet…

To Keep in Mind:
July 7th: Carbon Leaf at The Troubadour
July 8th: Michelle Branch at Greek Theater
July 10th: Lilith Fair
July 13th: The Silent Comedy and Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
July 14th: Nico Vega at The Troubadour
July 18th: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center (with Lady GaGa)
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 6/7-6/13

Posted on by Kristen

This week I write to you from San Diego. Tonight I have a ticket to go see The Silent Comedy open for Mumford & Sons. Needless to say, there is a great deal of excitement involved. Friday night The Silent Comedy played at The Royal Dive in Oceanside so I decided to make a weekend of it in San Diego. Not that it’s been all fun and games…actually it’s mostly been paper-writing, but the change of location was good I suppose. And I get to see one of my favorite bands twice!  And speaking of the marvelous The Silent Comedy, they are coming back up to LA June 17th. Playing a NEW VENUE called Speakeasy over in the Silverlake area. Also playing that night: Queen Caveat! It’s gonna be a good one, so mark your calendar!

But if you want to know what to put on your calendar this week, here’s what I’ve got on mine:

Monday: Paris Carney, Songwriters in the Round (featuring Kathryn Ostenberg, Joel Eckels, Buddy, and Brother Sal), Jay Nash at Room 5 (8, 9, 10:30)…are you seeing this line-up!?! A good night to check out my favorite place to hang Monday nights
ALSO:  it’s a school night at Bardot featuring Super Secret Act (10pm)…I semi-recall them saying something about Hot Hot Heat, but no matter who it is, it will be a fun night, but don’t forget to RSVP (http://itsaschoolnight.com/)
ALSO: Thao and Mirah with The Most of All at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: The Delta Spirit FREE at Amobea (7pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (9pm)…Jared from Abbot Kinney starts his month long residency at Molly Malone’s…AKA Abbot Kinney’s Summer of Exploding Hearts

 Tuesday: The Shakers EP Release FREE at The Viper Room also featuring Automatique and New Liberty (Philly band alert!) (11, 12,8)
ALSO: Alice Wallace at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Greg Holden at Room 5 (9pm) 

Weds: Allen Stone and Dave Barnes at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Alex Lambert (yes, the one from American Idol) at The Mint (7pm)
ALSO: Ashes Divide at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Crash Test Dummies at The Hotel Café (7pm)…yes you read that right…I recommend getting advanced tickets
ALSO: Hot Hot Heat at Bootleg (11:15) 

Thursday:  BONNAROO BEGINS! Let’s take this moment to lament the fact that I am not there…silly classes having everything due this week
ALSO: Ian Axel, Amber Rubarth, Holly Conlan, TD Lind, and No Country at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)…just go for Ian and stay til the end…seriously good night of music
ALSO: Chantal Kreviazuk at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums at Spaceland (10pm)
ALSO: Amber Pacific at Whiskey a Go-Go (7pm) 

Friday: Iglu and Hartly at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Helen Stellar at Spaceland (10pm) 

Saturday: Greg Laswell, Brian Wright, and SO & So at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9, 10)…The Greg Laswell/Brian Wright portion of the evening seems to be Sold out, but go see So & So…
ALSO: Mayer Hawthorne at The Ghetty (6pm) 

Sunday: Greg Laswell, Brian Wright, and Austin Hartley Leonard  at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8, 9)…this one, not sold out last I checked
ALSO: Beth Hart and Garrison Starr at The Echoplex (8pm)
ALSO: Taproot at Whiskey a Go Go (8pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
June 17th: The Other Side of Morning at The House of Blues
June 17th: Queen Caveat and The Silent Comedy at Speakeasy 
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: 4/19-4/25

Posted on by Kristen

Due to the demands of Coachella, this week’s concer calendar is a bit…underdeveloped…  I was going to try to post a more complete version, but I realized that by the time I flushed it all out, it would be the end of the week already. And that’s just not acceptable. Especially considering the Nico Vega/Semi Precious Weapons face-melting that will occur Weds night at The Roxy…highly recommend advanced tickets for this one folks!

Here’s my brief list (and certainly enough to keep anyone busy and sleep deprived).

Monday: Juke Kartel at The Hotel Cafe
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Viper Room

Weds: Nico Vega and Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy with after party at The Viper Room…NOT to be missed!
ALSO: Foxy Shazam at The Troubadour
ALSO: Glee Tour at the Gibson Amphitheater 

Thursday: Wartapes at Silverlake Lounge
ALSO: Shelby Lynn at The Roxy
ALSO: Glee Tour at the Gibson Amphitheater
ALSO: Honeyhoney at The Hotel Cafe 

Friday: Killola and Sick of Sarah at The Roxy

Saturday: Get Back Loretta at The Roxy (On the Rox)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Libertine
ALSO: Jennifer Knapp at The Mint 

Sunday: Jason Castro at The Troubadour

To Keep in Mind:

May 2nd: The Kin at The Hotel Cafe
May 4th: Greg Laswell at The Troubadour
May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   
May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater
May 20th: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
May 28th: The Silent Comedy and Dirty Sweet at North Park Theater (in SD)
June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)
June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)
July 10th: Lilith Fair

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 4/12-4/18

Posted on by Kristen

“Emergency “ in lab = one stressed out and mentally exhausted Kristen. But even if I don’t have much time this week for extraneous shows, doesn’t mean I can’t make the time to tell you about all the fantastic things I’d like to be doing.  By the end of the week we can all gather at Coachella and celebrate. Three days of nothing but music = one happy Kristen.

Here’s the run down:

Monday: Butch Walker and the Black Widows at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale (8,9)…this is Paris’ last show for awhile
ALSO: The Postelles at Spaceland (8:30)…saw this band at Bonnaroo ’08…from NYC 

Tuesday: Tony Lucca and Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)…the last T&S Co. show before they depart for another tour…don’t miss out!
ALSO: Serena Ryder at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Links and Purple Melon at Saint Rocke(8pm)
ALSO: White Buffalo at The Mint (7:30) 

Weds: Them Crooked Vultures at Club Nokia (8:30)
ALSO: Matt Morris at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Kingsize at The Troubadour (9:15) 

Thursday: Rocco Deluca, and Dirty Diamond at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: The Daylights and Pawnshop Kings at The Troubadour (10pm) 

Friday: George Stanford, Andy Clockwise, and Vienne at The Hotel Cafe (9)…George’s Record Release…please someone go and pick up a copy for me…SO terribly sad I’ll miss it
ALSO: Arlo Guthrie at Royce Hall (8:30)
COACHELLA featuring: Alana Grace, Iglu & Hartly, Imogen Heap, Kate Miller-Heidke, She & Him, The Avett Brothers, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend

 Saturday: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Smashing Pumpkins at Space 15 Twenty (4pm)
COACHELLA featuring: Band of Skulls, Camera Obscura, Corinne Bailey Rae, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT, Muse, Porcupine Tree, Sia, Steel Train, The Dead Weather 

Sunday: Meiko at Saint Rocke (7pm)
COACHELLA featuring: Local Natives, MUTEMATH, Phoenix, Spoon, The Big Pink, Thom Yorke 

To Keep in Mind:

April 21st and 22nd: The Glee Tour at Gibson
April 21st: Nico Vega and Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
May 4th: Greg Laswell at The Troubadour
May 15th: Carney at The El Rey   
May 15th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Greek Theater
May 22nd: Frightened Rabbit at The Casbah (in SD)
May 28th: The Silent Comedy and Dirty Sweet at North Park Theater (in SD)
June 6th: Mumford & Sons with The Silent Comedy at BellyUp (in SD)
June 10-13th: BONNAROO (in Tennessee)
July 10th: Lilith Fair

 ~ Kristen

Curtis Peoples at The Mint- 3/6/10

Posted on by Amanda

I have known Curtis for a number of years now, and have really enjoyed watching him grow as both a person and an artist. He came out of writing and recording hibernation Saturday night to play a show at The Mint. He seemed so genuinely happy to be back on the stage and to share some of his new tunes with us. And that’s one of the things I love about Curtis. He’s so genuine and honest (I mean, the man admits to loving CSI: Miami, having a fetish for 80’s music, and wearing girl’s jean…). But this honesty also comes across in his songs and in his performance which always makes him a pleasure to watch.

My favorite Curtis tune has to be the last single, “All I Want”, from his latest self titled album. I still can’t decide, however, whether I like it best sung with the full band (gives it power and allows it to build a bit more) or just simply with Curtis and his guitar which is how I first heard it. Check out the video and let me know what you think!

Of course he sang “All I Want” Saturday night. Curtis also played several new tunes including one that he wrote with Tyler Hilton called “So Young” which I think will be a stand-out on Tyler’s forthcoming CD. 

The set was capped off with a fantastic version of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” with Dave Yaden delivering masterful solos on the keys…and which has subsequently set me off on a Tom Petty kick.

Can’t wait for next time!

http://www.curtispeoples.com/

~ Kristen

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

Posted on 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 9th and 10th: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour

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

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

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

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

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

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

April 16th-19th: Coachella

June 10-13th: 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!)