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What I am Thankful For…

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Kristen

Why MUSIC of course. Music of all shapes and sizes…but mostly music that moves me in its live format. I am also thankful for all those people in my life that have a similar appreciation for music…or that simply indulge me in my obsession by accompanying me to shows.

I am thankful to be living in Los Angeles, a city that has so much to offer music-wise. I can’t imagine going back to living a life in which there weren’t opportunities for fantastic live music every night of the week.

Although, I am spending the holiday in LA…working, Thanksgiving is a time to be thinking about home. I do really wish I could be in Philadelphia this weekend. Last night was WMMR’s Gobblaroo featuring a couple fantastic LA-based bands with Philly roots (The Shakers, Fat City Reprise) as well as Stonethrown, and the debut of Philly’s hottest new band, SINAI. I wish I could have been there…if you were, I’d appreciate reviews. Also, tomorrow night at The Grape Room marks the return of The Awesome Brothers, a collaboration of some of my favorite musicians gathering together to play some of their favorite songs. Musical bliss for sure. If you’re in town, don’t’ miss it!

Happy Thanksgiving to my music-loving family (both near and far)!

~ Kristen

And on that note, I leave you with the song that’s been playing on repeat in my head all day. Jonathan Singleton’s “Airplanes.” I would like to take this moment to point out that I DO like some country music…and that I wish that Jonathan would venture back to LA…and bring The Grove with him this time.

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

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Kristen

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 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
January 22^nd: Guster at The Music Box

~ Kristen

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

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Kristen

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 16^th: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland
November 17^th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18^th: The Silent Comedy at The Echo
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
January 22^nd: Guster at The Music Box

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/18-10/24

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Kristen

That blank white page really is filling me with rage this week. My favorite Mumford & Sons tune will have to be performed without me in the audience tomorrow (Monday Oct. 18^th) at The Palladium as I will be proctoring an exam that evening. It was quite painful to give away my ticket (purchased during the pre-sale mind you). But, as they say, life goes on…as does the music. With Joe Firstman tonight at the Hotel Cafe and a host of promising acts to fill the week, I’m sure I’ll get by ;).

Here are my musical suggestions this week:

Monday: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Griffin House at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: The Diamond Light at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Northstar Session at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Weds: Flyleaf and Story of the Year at House of Blues (7:45)
ALSO: BellX1 at The Hotel Café (9pm)
ALSO: Matt White at The Viper Room (7:45)

Thursday: Griffin House at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Dead Country at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Alex Dezen at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Assemble the Skyline FREE at Hot Topic on Hollywood and Highland (6:30)
ALSO: The Shakers at The Kibitz Room at Canter’s Deli (10:30)

Friday: Prohibition Rose at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Honda Center in Anaheim (8pm)

Saturday: Sufjan Stevens at The Wiltern (7pm)

Sunday: Joan Osborne at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at Saint Rocke (9:30)

To Keep in Mind:
October 28^th: Foxy Shazam and Free Energy at The Troubadour
October 29^th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
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 13^th: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey
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 4^th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11^th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s Concert Calendar 9/27-10/4

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Amanda

Epicenter was fantastic…fantastically hot. But fun was definitely had as I got to see some of my favorite bands, meet a couple new ones, and see some big groups I never would have seen otherwise. But the lesson of the weekend is definitely one Douglas Adams would approve of: always carry a towel! More on our adventures in Fontana to come.

My fave group of the weekend, Biffy Clyro, is playing Bootleg Theater on Thursday so if you weren’t able to make it to Epicenter over the weekend be sure to venture to Booleg on Thursday. But first, tonight (Monday), Semi Precious Weapons invades the El Rey. This group buts on the most insane show I’ve ever seen and it’s not to be missed.

As for the rest (so many good shows this week, it will be very hard to choose):

Monday: Semi Precious Weapons at El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Hellen Stellar and Moving Picture Show FREE at Spaceland (9pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings and Pacific Hurt FREE at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Juke Kartel Record Release at The Hotel Café (9:30)
ALSO: The Black Keys and Nicole Atkins at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: A Fine Frenzy FREE (with RSVP) at Bardot http://www.itsaschoolnight.com (10pm)
ALSO: Alice Wallace at The Mint (7:30)
ALSO: Pete Yorn at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9)

Tuesday: Landon Pigg and Guster at The Troubadour (8:15, 9)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: The Black Keys and Nicole Atkins at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Sara Barellies and Greg Laswell at The Orphium (8pm)

Weds: Parade of Lights at El Cid (10:30)
ALSO: Electric Touch at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Sarah Harmer at Spaceland (9pm)
ALSO: Mikel Paris (of OAR) and WPA f. Sean Watkins and Glenn Phillips (8, 9:30)
ALSO: The Felice Brothers at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Jimmy Eat World and We Were Promised Jetpacks at The Wiltern (7pm)

Thursday: Biffy Clyro at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Queen Caveat at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Jukebox the Ghost at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Volcano Dolls at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Spoon at Hollywood Palladium (7pn)
ALSO: Train and NeedtoBreathe at The Greek Theater (7:30)
ALSO: Brian Ray at The Mint (8pm)

Friday: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Fight From Above, Fat City Reprise, The Shakers at The Viper Room (10, 11:30, 12:30)
ALSO: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at The Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: Kyle Riabko at The Hotel Café (8pm)
ALSO: Ludo at The Key Club (10pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann at Largo (8:30)

Saturday: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour (9:15)
ALSO: Raining Jane and Keaton Simons at The Hotel Café (10,11)
ALSO: Prohibition Rose at The Cat Club

Sunday: Aimee Mann at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Belle & Sebastian at The Hollywood Bowl (7:30)…this one is for the student in my discussion section who likes this band J

To Keep in Mind:

October 8^th: Crash Kings, Civil Twilight, and Anberin at The House of Blues
October 13^th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
October 17^th: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Café
October 18^th: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Palladium
October 28^th: Foxy Shazam and Free Energy at The Troubadour
October 29^th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
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 8^th-10^th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
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 4^th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11^th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/23-8/30

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Kristen

I write to you now from a bench outside one of my favorite dining establishments down the street from where I went to college in Bryn Mawr, PA. I’m waiting for my college roommate and her sister to come pick me up and carry me through the next leg of my east coast journey. I flew in yesterday to Philadelphia in time to see one of my favorite local Philly bands, Alright Junior, at The North Star Bar. It had been a year since I’d seen them and words are hard to conjure to appropriately explain how incredibly happy I was to be in their presence again . It’s one thing to listen to a CD over and over again, but nothing can really replace the live experience and last night was just a validation as to why Alright Junior is one of my favorite bands.

A week from now I will be writing to you a tad on the late side…I will be a beach house in South Carolina enjoying the singer songwriter extravaganza, Hotel Carolina. I will unfortunately not have internet access so I apologize in advance for next week’s delayed concert list.

For me this week is going to be somewhat dry as far as concerts are concerned. I’ll be in the Washington DC area if anyone knows of a good band playing in those parts please let me know. I’ll definitely be envious of all of you back in LA enjoying all the amazing shows, such as:

Monday: Hellen Stellar at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Café (6pm)
ALSO: The Outline and Heavy Young Heathens FREE at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9pm)

Tuesday: Monster Eats the Pilot , Diamond Light FREE at The Viper Room (11,12)
ALSO: Thriving Ivory at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: The Maine at House of Blues (7:30)
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums FREE at Amoeba Records (7pm)

Weds: The White Buffalo at The Mint (10:30)

Thursday: Filter at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Shakers and Purple Melon at The Viper Room (9:30,10:30)
ALSO: Rick Cornette at The Cat Club (8pm)
ALSO: Flight from Above at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: The Beth Hart Band at Whiskey A Go-Go (7pm)

Friday: Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring:
               * The Silent Comedy (9pm) and Run Devil Run (10pm) at The Viper Room
               * Nico Vega (10pm) and Unwritten Law (11pm) at The Roxy
               * The Other Side of Morning at The Cat Club (9pm)
ALSO: Denim Family Band Reunion Concert at The Hotel Café (11pm)
ALSO: John Williams at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)

Saturday: Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring:
             * Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (9:30)
             * Transfer at The Key Club
             * Street stage with Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, The Smashing Pumpkins, etc.
ALSO: Something Corporate at Club Nokia (7:30)

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Travis Warren at The Hotel Café (10pm)
ALSO: Green River Ordinance, Switchfoot, and Goo Goo Dolls at The Greek Theater (7pm)

…and because I might be late and don’t want you to miss out…

Monday (August 30^th): Haim and Whispertown 2000 FREE at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Venus Infers and 8mm at Saint Rocke (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:
September 4^th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 18^th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25^th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25^th: Muse at Staples Center
September 30^th: BIFFY CLYRO at The Bootleg Theater
October 1^st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13^th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
December 11^th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/9-8/15

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Kristen

I must say, there are a LOT of festivals going on this week. Thursday is the Sunset Strip Block Party celebrating the fact that there will no longer be construction holding up traffic along the strip (YAY!). Saturday is the Venice Beach music festival featuring Keaton Simons . Then both Saturday and Sunday at the Echoplex is the Free for All music festival sponsored by When You Awake and featuring Langhorne Silm on Sunday. And let’s not forget about Warped Tour on Weds in Pomona featuring many fantastic bands including my new favorite, After Midnight Project. We could also throw in the North Park Music Thing down in San Diego which I’ll be attending over the weekend.

But really these festivals are just prepping everyone for next week’s Sunset Junction and the, of course, Sunset Strip Music Festival at the end of the month.

As for what else is going on:

Monday: Of Verona and Soul Puppet FREE at The Troubadour (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Saint Rocke (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Jake Newton at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

Weds: Keaton Simons at Cinespace (8pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour in Pomona
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at The Staples Center (8pm)

Thursday: Soraia at Good Hurt (11:30)…Philly band alert!
ALSO: The Shakers at The Cat Club (10pm)…part of Sunset Strip Block Party (http://thesunsetstrip.com/blockparty)
ALSO: Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal at Club Nokia (9pm)
ALSO: My Morning Jacket and Avi Buffalo at The Greek Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at The Staples Center (8pm)
ALSO: Wartapes at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Northstar Session at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Freelance Whales at El Rey opening for Tokyo Police Club (8:30)

Friday: Natalie Merchant at Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Soraia at Canter’s Kibitz Room (10pm)
ALSO: American Idols 2010 Live at The Staples Center (7:30)

Saturday: Venice Beach Music Fest f. Keaton Simons (1:30pm)
ALSO: Rasputina at The Troubadour (10:15)

Sunday: Langhorne Slim at The Echoplex (4pm)
ALSO: Mississippi Man at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: Levon Helm and Jenny Lewis at The Greek Theater (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
August 21^st and 22^nd: Sunset Junction
August 27-28^th: Sunset Strip Music Festival
August 28^th: Something Corporate at Club Nokia
September 4^th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
September 18^th: Heart at Gibson Amphitheater
September 25^th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25^th: Muse at Staples Center
October 1^st: Brandi Carlile and The Avett Brothers at Nokia Theater LA Live
October 13^th: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater
December 11^th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

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