Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/20-6/26

This weekend was supposed to be SO much fun, but I ended up spending most of it sleeping. I guess I can only run away from sickness for so long. Fortunately, before the fever descended, I was able to spend an amazing night Weds at Empire, the weekly party Semi Precious Weapons throws at On the Rox (bar above The Roxy). So many of my friends were out, celebrating a few birthdays. SPW put on a stripped down miniset, including a slower version of their new tune “Free Booze” that I might just enjoy more than the original. Finally, we all danced the night away to tunes provided by my favorite DJ (DJ High Voltage). Such a memorable night! There are only two more Empires left (this Weds and next) so if you haven’t been, be sure to get on the list and go!

As for the rest of the week, here’s my wish list. At the moment, I can’t really fathom going out, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to. So many good shows this week. You’ll have to enjoy them for me until I’m back on my feet.

 

Monday: Armada at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Jenny O FREE at Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Shane Alexander, John Elliot, Joel Eckels, and Jon Green (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Blue n Green: To Jopin With Love benefit concert at The Hotel Cafe featuring Tony Lucca, Keaton Simons, Raining Jane, Stop Motion Poetry, and SO many more (9pm)…door proceeds to benefit The Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Lot 1 Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Two Gallants at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Weds: High Voltage Night at The Mint featuring Eli James, Hell & Lula, and Toy Bombs (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family hour at Largo at The Coronet (8:30, 10)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Jarrod Gorbel and Bell X1 at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: My Morning Jacket at Pantages Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Empire Presents Semi Precious Weapons On the Rox (10pm)…free with RSVP to rsvp@semipreciousweapons.com

 

Thursday: War Tapes and Dead Sara at Bootleg Theater (9:45, 10:45)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard, Chris Pierce, and The Canyons at The Hotel Cafe (9,10,11)
ALSO: Allen Stone and Nikka Costa at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at The Prospector in Long Beach (9pm)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Troubadour (9:45)
ALSO: Okkervil River at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Friday: Lakes at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Rooney and Maniac at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11:15)
ALSO: Alex Dezen at Bootleg (9:30)

 

Saturday: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy (1pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi, Lelia Broussard, Andy Clockwise, and Brother Sal at The Hotel Cafe (9,10,11,12)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone and Nikka Costa at Saint Rocke (9pm)

Sunday: Jonah Montraga at The Hotel Cafe (7:30)

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 4th: Hotel Café Presents Ford on the 4th of July featuring Truth & Salvage Co., Cary Brothers, The Rescues, Anya Marina, etc.
July 14th: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room
July 15th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 22nd: Langhorne Slim at The Echo
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 18th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)

~ Kristen

 

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/15-6/19

Just because I’m sleep deprived and drowning in my to do list, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about what is most important…bringing to you my picks for the rest of this week’s musical offerings.

Here’s what I’ll be up to if I can get over my Bonnaroo-lag:

Weds: Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Augustana at the House of Blues Sunset (6:30)
ALSO: The Civil Wars at The El Rey (9pm)
ALSO: Squealer at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at On the Rox (10pm)…free with RSVP at rsvp@semipreciousweapons.com

 

Thursday: Dom Liberati CD release at Good Hurt (10pm)

 

Friday: Lovers Drugs at Mr. T’s Bowl (10pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at House of Blues Anaheim (9pm)
ALSO: The 88 at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

 

Saturday: Pasadena Make Music Festival http://www.makemusicpasadena.org/program.html FREE featuring Ra Ra Riot, The Morning Benders, Saint Motel, Jenny O, and many more downtown Pasadena (11am)

ALSO: Bro Am in SD. FREE daytime show at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas featuring The Silent Comedy and The Howls (11am), evening show at The BellyUp featuring Johnny Rzeznick, Fiction Family, Little Hurricane, hosted by Switchfoot (9pm) http://www.switchfoot.com/c/bro-am
ALSO: Brett Dennen at The Orpheum Theater (7pm)

 

Sunday: Emery and Kemble Walters and The Blank Faces at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Of Verona at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at The Canyon (9pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 24th: Rooney at The El Rey
June 25th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 4th: Hotel Café Presents Ford on the 4th of July featuring Truth & Salvage Co., Cary Brothers, The Rescues, Anya Marina, etc.
July 14th: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room
July 15th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 22nd: Langhorne Slim at The Echo
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 18th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s ’10 Mix – Track 9 – Lady Danville

9. “Tired Magician” – Lady Danville

One of the highlights of my year was the North Park Music Thing, a music conference in San Diego. During the day we went to talks about the industry, including a keynote speech by Kim Fowley. Then, at night, the North Park area of SD was turned into a veritable pupu platter of music. It was truly fantastical. Highlights of the weekend included Endoxi, The Silent Comedy, The Rescues, The Republic of Letters, The Makepeace Brothers, and LA’s Lady Danville. I’d been a fan of Lady Danville for awhile, but this was the first time I was able to see them. They did not disappoint.

More pictures from The North Park Music Thing:

~ Kristen

track 8: Endoxi
track 10: Safetysuit

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

It’s a School Night: Everest and Lemon Sun

Giving Room 5’s Songwriters in the Round some competition for my favorite Monday night activity would surely be the It’s a School Night events at Bardot. Bardot is this lovely club located above The Avalon in Hollywood…worth going to check out the decor alone. Every Monday night the club plays host to a couple amazing bands; up and comers like Carney, The Rescues, Madi Diaz and occassionally some pretty major acts like Ben Folds and next week’s guest Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears).  And did I mention all of this is FREE?

The catch? Acts aren’t always announced very far in advance. Also, the events are generally RSVP only and with major acts like Ben Folds, get there early or there will be a line down the street! Fortunately, all you need to do is check the it’s a school night website and get on the mailing list then RSVP and you’ve got an in past the velvet ropes (yes, there actually is a velvet rope)!

Last night, I ventured to Bardot to see Everest and Lemon Sun. Everest has been on my list of bands to see for awhile now and they certainly did not disappoint. Be sure to catch them out on tour with Guster and then Matt Costa. They put on a fantastic live show:

Lemon Sun, as usual, gave us a rockin’ set…even with a drummer they’d never played with before.  However, the dance party was cut short when the cops showed up. I’m guessing there were some noise complaints… The band insisted on busting out one more song before giving in to the authorities:

All in all a good evening. Next week: Curt Smith and Angela McCluskey. It was also mentioned that sometime in October, Fran Healy (of Travis) will be making an appearance on a school night… To give you a tiny idea of what this means to me, I’ll just say that the Travis tune “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” was my theme song for many many years…

~ Kristen

Kristen’s NPMT ’10 Mini Mix

As I previously mentioned, I absolutely LOVED attending North Park Music Thing (NPMT) this past weekend down in San Diego. Saturday night was especially euphoric to me as we got the unique opportunity to venue hop, sampling so many bands…and just about every single one fit on my scale somewhere between highly enjoyable and mind blowingly brilliant. So much great new music, it was overwhelming to say the least.

I was inspired to put together a new mini music mix based on the bands and artists we was able to see. Check them out!

1. EndoxiHero Master

2. Republic of Letters– “Stories”

3. The Silent Comedy– “Exploitation”

4. Delaney Gibson– “La Di Da”

5. Astra Kelly– “All I Got”

6. The Makepeace Brothers– “Breathe”

7. Shaimus – “Like a Fool”

8. Lady Danville“Spoon”

9. Citizen Band– “Slide”

10. The Rescues– “Break Me Out”

And I’m so tempted to put together another list, just of the artists I wanted to see but couldn’t fit in: Dirty Sweet, Diablo Dimas, Jake Newton, Lemon Sun, Dynamite Walls, Audra Mae, etc. etc. etc.

Bottom line: let’s do this again next year!

~ Kristen