Local Music Nation

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/9-7/15

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Kristen

I’ve been doing a lot of writing this weekend. I can’t write without listening to music, so I’ve been doing a lot of that as well. After seeing Joe Firstman Friday at WitZend play one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while (from anyone), I’ve got his entire catalog on repeat. I’m also mixing in The Young Roman’s Tiger Child and the live EP Twin Atlantic gave out last week which has a particularly compelling acoustic version of “Make A Beast Of Myself”. Finally, last night, while at The Satellite to see Queen Caveat, I discovered a new band from Portland called Rags & Ribbons so I’m absorbing and slightly obsessing over their album The Glass Masses.

Soon, however, I’ll have to switch over to The Silent Comedy to pump myself up for their show tonight at The Echoplex. I can’t imagine a better way to end the weekend than a TSC dance-party.

Next week starts off strong with a show from Tony Lucca at Room 5. We’ll see how much Tony’s popularity has increased since his showing on The Voice. My other pick of the week might have to be Saint Motel’s record release at The El Rey on Saturday. I’m so proud of these LA locals, rising in popularity to headlining status at The El Rey! There are also several great shows at The Hotel Cafe this week including one by LMN Band Love Tournament of Hearts.

Here’s my full calendar of recommendations:

Monday: Tony Lucca at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Lost Lander and Terraplane Sun FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Miracle Parade at R Bar (?)…be sure to check the R Bar website for the current password to get in

Tuesday: Monsters Calling Home at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

Weds: Connie Lim and Sonia Rao at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars at Los Globos (10pm)
ALSO: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at King King Hollywood (8pm)

Thursday: Sara Watkins & Tom Brosseau at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Naia Kete and The O’s at The Hotel Cafe (9, 11)
ALSO: London Cries at The Viper Room (11pm)

Friday: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down at California Plaza Downtown (12pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins and Orlando Napier at Harvelle’s (9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines and Golden State at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Javier Dunn, Jesse Thomas, and The Young Romans at Room 5 (8,9,10)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra and Warner Drive at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: David and Devine at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Ryan Cabrera at The Key Club (10pm)

Saturday: Tournament of Hearts and Dawn McCoy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Saint Motel with Princeton and Chasing Kings at The El Rey (8pm)…Saint Motel Record Release
ALSO: Carina Round at The Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Finish Ticket at Amplyfi (9pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon and Berlin FREE at Pershing Square (7:30)

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke (8:05)

To Keep in Mind:
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^thand 11^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14^th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6^th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/2-7/8

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Kristen

Last night, The Sunset Strip kept me out a bit late, so I’m in recovery mode today. Perfect time to prep a couple band interviews and catch up on the Olympic Trials. I am quite excited about these upcoming games. Swimming! Gymnastics!! Equestrian events (I have a soft spot for dressage)!!!

But back to the point, we have another week of excellent shows. The beginning of July means new month-long residencies by Terraplane Sun at The Satellite and The Dig at The Silverlake Lounge. Also, on the east side, Sunset Strip darlings, Queen Caveat, make an appearance at The Satellite on Saturday. Don’t miss it!

As for the rest:

Monday: Terraplane Sun and The Steelwells FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: The Janks FREE at The Bootleg (11pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Red Circle Underground at The Roxy (7:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Piano Bar Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring Dave Green (9pm)

Weds: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

Thursday: Marie Moreshead and Barnaby Saints at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8)
ALSO: Franky Perez & The Truth and London Cries at The Viper Room (10, 11)

Friday: A House for Lions and Andy Clockwise at The Central (10, 11)
ALSO: The Young Romans and The Cordovas at WitZend (8, 9)
ALSO: Bad Rabbits at The Millenium Biltmore Hotel (9pm)…playing as part of the “Keeping It Classy” adult prom

Saturday: Queen Caveat at The Satellite (10:30)
ALSO: Brett Detar, Audra Mae, Cory Branan at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Black Carl and The Shakers at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Jamar Rogers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Sunday: The Silent Comedy at The Echoplex (7pm)

To Keep in Mind:
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 15^th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^thand 11^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14^th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6^th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/24-7/1

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Kristen

Currently listening to all the bands on the Warped Tour line-up…trying to decide if I want to go to Ventura’s date. I’m leaning towards yes, mostly because I want to see Dead Sara, but sadly I feel there are more bands on my “to avoid” list than my “to check out” list (yes, I have made lists). Regardless, I’m putting together my calendar a day early just in case…

Plenty of good shows this week. I’m most excited about seeing some local bands I haven’t seen in a while (Lovers Drugs, The Active Set, Sabrosa Purr, NO, Standing Shadows, etc.). If you want to experience some great LA rock bands, it’s a good week to get out!

Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring ZZ Ward and DWNTWN (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Beachwood Rockers Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring The Cordovas (9pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Del Monte Speakeasy (9pm)
ALSO: Infantree record release FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Lisa Marie Presley at The Roxy (8:30)

Weds: Jessie Payo and Joel Eckels at Room 5 (8,9)

Thursday: Lovers Drugs and The Active Set at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Josh Groban at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm)

Friday: Golden State, Kill the Complex and Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (9,10,11)
ALSO: NO at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Sophie B. Hawkins and Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Connie Lim and Nina Storey at WIZend (9,10)
ALSO: Adam Bones at The Redwood Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Keane at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

Saturday: Standing Shadows at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Buddy and Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)

Sunday: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines at The Bootleg (8pm)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)
ALSO: Laura Marling Ford Amphitheatre (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
July 7^th: Queen Caveat at The Satellite
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 19^th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25^th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25^th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13^th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23^rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The EL Rey
August 24^th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1^st & 2^nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/18-6/24

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Kristen

I posted my Bonnaroo pictures today (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.348607241875512.75890.192625794140325&type=1)! I can’t believe it’s been a week. I’m still recovering…and ignoring the coughing and sniffling and fact that my voice is going. Probably wasn’t the best idea to follow up five days of no sleep with five days of early mornings and late nights, but I can’t imagine doing anything else. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the big Phantom Planet reunion show. Then there was the Backstage Artist Lounge party where I discovered several great new bands including Cody Jasper who I just had to see play again the next day at The Roxy before he ventured back to Austin.

This week, the great shows continue. Glen Hansard (The Frames/The Swell Season) is in town to promote his new record, LMN Band Love, Crash Kings are making a somewhat rare appearance at The Troubadour, there are some solid line-ups at The Viper Room, and summer-staple, The Warped Tour is rolling through SoCal with stops this week in Pomona and Ventura.

I think, however, my show pick of the week would have to go to the ladies playing The Hotel Cafe Thursday night. Jasmine Ash, Kate Voegele, and Mariah McManus.

So many great musical options in LA this week. Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: Glen Hansard FREE at Amoeba Records (6:30)
ALSO: The Rocket Boys at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Spring Standards and Rhett Miller & The Serial Lady Killers at The Troubadour (9, 10)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Keaton Simons at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Beware Of Darkness, Bullet and Snow, Jamar Rogers, and Vicci Martinez at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Kate Miller Heidke at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Lisa Hannigan & Joe Henry at The El Rey Theatre (8pm)

Weds: Matthew Mayfield at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Glen Hansard at The Wiltern (7pm)

Thursday: Jasmine Ash, Mariah McManus and Kate Voegele at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Vanaprasta and Crash Kings at The Troubadour (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: The Bolts, The Rambles, and Taylor Locke & The Roughs at The Viper Room (9, 10, 11)

Friday: The Avett Brothers at Nokia LA Live (8pm)
ALSO: Connie Lim, King Washington, The Janks at WitZend (9,10,11)
ALSO: Matt Skiba & The Sekrets at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour Pomona featuring Bayside, Dead Sara, Mayday Parade, New Found Glory, We Are the Ocean, We The Kings, Yellowcard, You Me at Six, etc. (11am)

Saturday: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Milo Greene at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Stonefeather at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Lemon Sun at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Oedipus at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: The Cult with Against Me! at Hollywood Palladium (7:30)

Sunday: Warped Tour Ventura featuring Bayside, Dead Sara, Mayday Parade, New Found Glory, We Are the Ocean, We The Kings, Yellowcard, You Me at Six, etc. (11am)

To Keep in Mind:
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29^th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 1^st: Laura Marling at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
July 1^st: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10^th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 14^th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Cafe
September 4^th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19^th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/13-6/17

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Kristen

Just got back from Tennessee. The four days spent at Bonnaroo were absolutely magical. I have many a story and I will do my best to post some words and pictures soon. After Bonnaroo we had a Nashville day spent eating BBQ, avoiding the erratic and intense bouts of rain, checking out a couple local venues, and of course a stop at Cafe Coco. I love Nashville!

But I love LA too and it’s good to be back home. Here’s what I’ve got going on music-wise for the rest of the week:

Weds: Haim and Phantom Planet at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: Kyle Nicolaides at Room 5 (9pm)

Thursday: Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Cody Jasper at The Rainbow Room (11pm)
ALSO: The Mowgli’s, Avalanche City, and Walk Off the Earth (7pm)
ALSO: Blake Mills and Phantom Planet at The Troubadour (9,10)

Friday: Cody Jasper at The Roxy (11:30)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Leslie Stevens, Ethan Gold, and Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers (9, 9:45, 10:50)
ALSO: Golden State at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Unwritten Law at The Viper Room (11pm)

Saturday: So & So and Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (7, 10)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Getty Center (6pm)
ALSO: The Spring Standards and Rhett Miller & The Serial Lady Killers at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Joel Eckles at WitZend (8:30)
ALSO: Telstar at El Cid (10pm)
ALSO: White Arrows at The Troubadour (10:30)…CD release party
ALSO: Thrice at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium (8pm)
ALSO: Indigo Girls at The Wiltern (8pm)

Sunday: Jonny Polonsky FREE at The Satellite (10pm)

To Keep in Mind:
June 20^th: Glen Hansard at The Wiltern
June 21^st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 22^nd: The Avett Brothers at Nokia LA Live
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29^th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 1^st: Laura Marling at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
July 1^st: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey
October 1^st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11^th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/4-6/12

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Kristen

You’ll notice this week’s list is a bit…elongated. Well, that’s because I’ll be at Bonnaroo over the weekend without internet. I don’t think I’m even going to take my computer (gasp). I’ll be back Tuesday and hopefully fill you in on everything. In the meantime, there are a couple acts I’d really recommend checking out this week. If you didn’t manage to snag tickets to one of Ben Howard’s two sold out shows at The Troubadour, the English singer-songwriter and one of my SXSW mix picks, will also be doing a free show at Amoeba Records on Monday.

Another treat this week is that Joe Firstman is in town with The Cordovas. They are playing several shows. Today (Sunday) at The Franklin Village Festival, Tuesday at The Hotel Cafe, and Wednesday at Saint Rocke. Who knows when Joe will be back, so I wouldn’t miss out!

Here’s what else I have on my list:

Monday: Ben Howard FREE at Amoeba Records (6pm)
ALSO: Morning Parade and Walk the Moon at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Bess Rogers at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Kate Miller Heidke, The Cordovas, and Patrick Joseph at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9, 11)
ALSO: The Rocket Summer at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Walk the Moon and Morning Parade at The Echo (8pm)
ALSO: Ben Howard at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The Absolute, Juke Kartel, Beachwood Rockers at The Piano Bar (7pm)… http://www.facebook.com/events/420567781316948/

Weds: Ben Howard at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke (9pm)

Thursday: Jane Carrey and Dinner and a Suit at The Roxy (7:15)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Kurt Vile at Largo (8pm)

Friday: Xavier Rudd at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Jesse Thomas and Green River Ordinance at The Mint (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Badwater CD release at The Viper Room (11pm)

Saturday: Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)

Sunday: something will come up….

Monday (June 11^th): Daniel Bedingfield and Red Circle Underground FREE at Bootleg Bar (9, 12)
ALSO: Shawn Colvin at Barnes & Nobles at The Grove (7pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Broken Anchor (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/

Tuesday (June 12^th): Ume at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Shawn Colvin at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Kate Miller Heidke at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Collective Soul at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 15^th: Joe Firstman at WitZend
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 16^th: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium
June 20^th: Glen Hansard at The Wiltern
June 21^st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 22^nd: The Avett Brothers at Nokia LA Live
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29^th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 1^st: Laura Marling at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
July 1^st: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour
July 14^th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 3^rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 13^th: The Kills at The El Rey

~ Kristen