The Troubadour

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 9 – Ben Rector

Posted on by Kristen

9. “When A Heart Breaks” – Ben Rector 

LMN spent some time in Nashville this year exploring a bit of the local music scene. I realized that I’ve been listening to quite a few Nashville-based artists. Butterfly Boucher, Matthew Perryman Jones, Gabe Dixon (and all the Ten of Tenn-ers), Neal Carpenter, Bonnie Bishop, Matt Wertz, etc. It was hard to select just one for this mix, but the one who had the greatest impact on me this year was probably Ben Rector.  I first heard of Ben a couple of years ago but this year was the first opportunity I had to see him, first opening for Matt Wertz at The Troubadour and later at The Hotel Cafe as part of my epic 4 venue/7band evening.  Ben Rector had a new album come out this year called Something Like This, which I quite enjoy, but I’m still hung up on Into The Morning which features “When a Heart Breaks”

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 5 – Twin Atlantic

Posted on by Kristen

5. “Make A Beast of Myself” – Twin Atlantic 

 

 

2011 marked the first year I attended SXSW in Austin, TX. This was a life changing experience. SXSW is heavenly; a week of live music featuring “local bands” from around the world. Highlights from this event are endless, but finally seeing Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic would be near the top of my list. Later in the year, after their CD Free was released, I really became obsessed. The entire album is genius, but “Make a Beast of Myself” gets the prize for my most played song of 2011. I started listening to Twin Atlantic web chats and I even posted on their message boards (shhh!).  I saw the band again in November open for AWOLNATION and my love was cemented. I already have a ticket to spend my Valentine’s Day with them and You Me at Six at The Troubadour and have asked the band to be my valentine (still waiting for a response…)

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 3 – Biffy Clyro

Posted on by Kristen

3. “The Captain” (acoustic) – Biffy Clyro

Another year has gone by and I’m still obsessed with Biffy Clyro.  My fave shirtless Scottsmen spent a lot of time in the US this year (YAY!). Some of my Biffy highlights include seeing them headline at The Troubadour and The Belly Up, selling the band’s merch, sneaking backstage to say hi, interviewing drummer Ben Johnston, filling out my Biffy collection (including imports), and meeting the band as well as some fellow Biffy lovers. But the Biffiest experience of  all was when the band partnered up with author Mark Danielewski to do an evening of music and readings surrounding Mark’s book “Only Revolutions” and Biffy Clyro’s CD of the same name. Mark’s book is amazing. I’d never experienced experimental literature before and found it incredibly rewarding. This event also marked the first time I was able to hear the usually raucous hard rockers break it down and do acoustic versions of their tunes. I loved the acoustic version of “The Captain” so much, I went home and learned it on my guitar. MON THE BIFF!

Here’s “The Captain” prefaced by Mark Danielewski reading from his book:

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/19-12/25

Posted on by Kristen

I think I just about holiday-partied myself out last week…but by the end of The Hotel Cafe Christmas party last night even I was beginning to feel some holiday cheer! Now there is just one more week of frenetic deadlines and important meetings at work before I get some time off (to catch up on more work! Yay!). To help get me through, there is the music. I’m very pleased to announce that for those of us left in town, there are still some amazing musical experiences to be had this week. Here’s my list:

 

Monday: Songs For Kids benefit at The Hotel Cafe featuring Joshua Radin, Meiko, Cary Brothers, Joe Purdy, etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Room 5 Home for the Holidays show featuring Joel Eckels, Jessie Payo, Chris Seefried, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Moby (acoustic set) and Lucy Schwartz at Bardot FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)

 

Tuesday: Abbot Kinney and Jessie Payo at Harvelles (8:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Night at Piano Bar FREE (9pm)

 

Weds: Tyler Hilton and Satellite at The Hotel Cafe (10,11)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: The Dirty Diamond and Bethpage Black at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: Adrienne Pierce at The Cactus Lounge at The Standard (7:30)
ALSO: The Makepeace Brothers Holiday Party at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)

 

Thursday: The Fling, Yukon Blonde, and Bollweevil at The Echo (8:30)

 

Friday: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (11pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at WitZend in Venice (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Pierce at The Foundry on Melrose (9:30)

 

Saturday: MERRY

Sunday: CHRISTMAS

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
December 31st: Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
January 6th: The Lumineers at The Hotel Cafe
January 10th: Dead Sara at The Troubadour
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 17th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
January 19th: Civil Twilight at Bootleg Bar
January 19th: Zane Carney at The Hotel Cafe
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 8th: Marketa Irglova at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
Feb. 17th: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Bowl
Feb. 19th: The Darkness at House of Blues Sunset
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 18th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

 

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/12-12/18

Posted on by Kristen

Last Friday night, I had another one of those epic evenings on the Sunset Strip. I started at The Viper Room to see San Diego’s Kevin Martin. Then I ran to The Key Club to catch Jon McLaughlin and Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers with what must have been one of the most polite audiences I’ve ever been a part of. In drastic opposition, I stopped by The Roxy to witness some of the magic that is Camp Freddy. This week’s special guests included Neon Trees, Linda Perry, Sebastian Bach, Paul Stanley (KISS), and Fred Durst. I was going to head back to The Viper for the after party, but got sidetracked by some friends and pizza at Frankie and Johnny’s. Nights like these remind me why I love The Sunset Strip.

Monday night I’ll be back on The Strip for High Voltage Magazine’s Holiday Party at On the Rox. This will be the first of many holiday parties/charity events going on this week featuring some great artists and culminating in one of my favorite events of the year: The Hotel Cafe’s two day holiday party. For more details on these parties and other Kristen-approved musical events occurring this week, just keep reading:

 

Monday: High Voltage Magazine Holiday Party featuring Zero1, The Active Set, Suddyn, and Bethpage Black (8pm)
ALSO: So & So and Some Hear Explosions at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls FREE at Bootleg Bar (11:30)
ALSO: Brandi Carlile at Largo at the Coronet (8pm)
ALSO: Writers in the Round at Room 5 featuring Garrison Starr, Adrianne, Dawn Thomas, and Maia Sharp (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Ernie Halter, Mariah McManus, Amie Miriello at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)
ALSO: Noush Skaugen at Bar Lubitch (9:30)
ALSO: Sick of Sarah and The Lookout Kids at Silverlake Lounge (8, 10)
ALSO: Beachwood Holiday Party at The Piano Bar featuring Jesse Cole, Johnny Moezzi, Tripp Rezac, Ragsy, etc. (9pm)
ALSO: Brett Detar at The Satellite (10pm)

 

Weds: Noush Skaugen at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: The Rescues at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Kyle Nicolaides at Bootleg Bar (9pm)

 

Thursday: Youngblood Hawke at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Carina Round at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Spring Standards at Silverlake Lounge (8pm)
ALSO: Invisible Children Benefit Concert Night 1 featuring Jon Foreman, Matt Pryor, Aaron Gillespie, etc. (7pm)

 

Friday: Hotel Cafe Holiday Party Night 1 featuring Priscilla Ahn, Meiko, Rocco Deluca, Raining Jane, Tim Jones, Adam Grace, Walker Young, Laura Jansen, etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Why Hunger Benefit Concert at Hard Rock Hollywood featuring Cary Brothers , Bleu, and Crash Kings (9pm)
ALSO: Invisible Children Holiday Benefit Night 2 featuring The Mountain Goats, Ivan & Alyosha, etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Belle Brigade at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Forrest Day at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (11pm)
ALSO: Beverly Kills at The Federal (6pm)
ALSO: Chris Cornell at Orpheum Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Saturday: Hotel Cafe Holiday Party featuring Butch Walker, Joe Purdy, Cary Brothers, The Rescues, Keaton Simons, Holly Conlan, Austin Hartley Leonard, Jake Newton, Chris Pierce, Amie Miriello, etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The White Buffalo at Bootleg Bar (9, 11)
ALSO: Tori Amos at Orpheum Theater (8pm)

 

Sunday: Odd Us and Red Circle Underground at The Hotel Cafe (8:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Tori Amos at Orpheum Theater (8pm)


 

To Keep in Mind:
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 31st: Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
January 10th: Dead Sara at The Troubadour
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 17th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
January 19th: Civil Twilight at Bootleg Bar
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 18th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

 

http://www.localmusicnation.net

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/5-12/11

Posted on by Kristen

I barely survived last week. I can’t remember the last time I pushed my poor body so hard for so long. I can’t say it was a bad week because it was peppered by some amazing musical experiences, but it’s not a good sign when going to a show is a “break” rather than the end of your day. But it is weeks like these that make me most thankful for great live music and its ability to get me through just about anything.

Here’s to hoping this week can be fabulous without the severe sleep deprivation!  Musically, there is a lot of promise. Friday I’m going to wish I could be in 10 places at once. Thankfully, my fave rockers Queen Caveat will also be making an appearance Weds night down in Hermosa Beach. They’ve been busy recording new music and I’ve been suffering withdrawals…

As for the rest, here’s my list:

 

Monday: Brian Wright at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Beverly Kills at Howl at The Moon in Universal City (10pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Daniel Lanois and Rocco Deluca…free with RSVP (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Maniac and The Postelles at Bootleg Bar (8:30,10:30)
ALSO: Benefit for Free The Slaves at The Hotel Café featuring Joe Purdy, Cary Brothers, The Rescues, The Makepeace Brothers, etc. (8pm)
ALSO: Me Talk Pretty at The Key Club (10:30)
ALSO: The Dahls at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Carina Round and Puscifer at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at The Piano Bar (9pm)

 

Weds: Queen Caveat FREE at The Shore Lounge in Hermosa Beach (9:30)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Scott Weiland at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Thursday: Ryan Cabrera at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: The Kooks at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Friday: Jon McLaughlin and Stephen Kellogg at The Key Club (9, 10:15)
ALSO: Queen Caveat and Kevin Martin at The Viper Room (11, 8pm)
ALSO: The Silent Comedy at Villian’s Tavern (?)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (8:30)
ALSO: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Sara Bareilles and Joshua Radin at The Palladium (7:30)
ALSO: The Belle Brigade at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: William Elliot Whitmore and Trampled by Turtles at The Troubadour (9,10)
ALSO: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The El Rey (8pm)

 

Saturday: Quiet Mind, Soul Puppet, The Young Royals, and Roman Candle Wars at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann Christmas Show at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: Sugarcult at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (7pm)
ALSO: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Gibson Amphitheater featuring Incubus, Bush, Chevelle, New Found Glory, etc.

 

Sunday: Satellite Holiday Recital and Toy Drive FREE at The Satellite featuring Steven Wikin (Vanaprasta), Useless Keys, Rob Kolar & Lauren Brown (He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister), etc. (7pm)
ALSO: Odd Us and Parker Ainsworth at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Brandi Carlile at Broad Stage in Santa Monica (?)
ALSO: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Gibson Amphitheater featuring The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Death Cab for Cutie, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, The Naked and Famous, etc.

 

Advance Notice NEXT MONDAY: High Voltage Holiday Party at On the Rox featuring Zero 1, The Active Set, Suddyn, and Bethpage Black (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
December 14th: Deas Vail and Lakes at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Forrest Day at Molly Malone’s
December 16th: Chris Cornell at The Orpheum Theater
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 17th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 18th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 31st: Semi Precious Weapons at The Roxy
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 29th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 14th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

 

http://www.localmusicnation.net

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/28-12/4

Posted on by Kristen

Well, I had a delightful Thanksgiving full of adventures down in San Diego. It actually felt like a holiday which is a rare thing for me. I’m not really looking forward to facing my massive to do list tomorrow, but I am quite excited about this week’s show schedule. My beloved LA rockers, After Midnight Project, are doing their first show in what seems like years Monday night in North Hollywood at The Federal Bar. Another highlight is Tuesday when songstress Rachel Yamagata comes to The Troubadour to regale us with tunes from her fantastic new record, Chesapeake. For my complete list of shows I’d recommend, just keep reading:

 

Monday: After Midnight Project FREE at The Federal Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Bathgate at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings, Vanaprasta, Voxhual Broadcast FREE at The Satellite (9pm)…last night of Vanaprasta’s residency (you read our interview, right?)
ALSO: Rhett Miller at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Driftwood Singers and Little Hurricane FREE at Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: Sting at The Wiltern (8pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Milo Greene and Incan Abraham FREE with RSVP (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Garrison Starr, Adrianna, Dawn Thomas, and Maia Sharp (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls, The Californian FREE at On the Rox (9pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Foundry on Melrose (8pm)
ALSO: SONOS at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Races and Kiev at The Central (10,11)
ALSO: Fat City Reprise at Molly Malone’s (11:15)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at Piano Bar featuring Johnny Moezzi at midnight (8pm)

 

Weds: Empire at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Thursday: Hurricane Bells with Shadow Shadow Shade at The Satellite (9pm)

 

Friday: Camp Freddy at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at WitZend in Venice (9:30)
ALSO: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Fences at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Priscilla Ahn at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at Origami Vinyl (8pm)

 

Saturday: KCRW’s Holiday Show at The Orpheum Theater featuring Brett Dennn, Iron and Wine, Belle Brigade, White Denim, etc. (7:45)
ALSO: The Ataris acoustic performance at The Airliner (9pm)
ALSO: Beverly McClellan at The Mint (11pm)
ALSO: David and Devine at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Beady Eye at The Wiltern (8pm)

 

Sunday: Maniac acoustic set at Bellejar Vintage (8pm)
ALSO: Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Satellite (10pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
December 6th: The Postelles and Maniac at Bootleg Theater
December 9th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 9th: Stephen Kellogg and Jon McLaughlin at The Key Club
December 9th: Camp Fredd at The Roxy
December 9th: The Belle Brigade at McCabe’s
December 12th: High Voltage Holiday Party at On the Rox
December 14th: Deas Vail at The Roxy
December 16th: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
December 16th: Oh Land at The El Rey
December 16th: Chris Cornell at The Orpheum Theater
December 16th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 1
December 17th: Hotel Café Christmas Party night 2
December 17th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 18th: Tori Amos at The Orpheum Theater
December 23rd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
January 12th: Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
January 31st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 9th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater

~ Kristen

 

http://www.localmusicnation.net

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat