Download This: Acoustic “The Captain”

Coming out of my drug-induced slumber to tell you all about the acoustic version of the Biffy Clyro song, “The Captain” available for download here: http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2011/02/15/mp3-at-3pm-biffy-clyro/

It certainly brightens my day…hope it can do the same for you.

Biffy Clyro’s north american tour is underway. Their LA date at The Troubadour on March 1st is already sold out. Their special sit down with Mark Z. Danielewski to discuss the influence of his book “Only Revolutions” on their CD of the same name still has tickets available as far as I can tell. March 2nd at The Bootleg.

Enjoy!

~Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/14-2/20

I should be writing to you now about what an amazing time I had this weekend both at Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom and at the Semi Precious Weapons Grammy after party. Instead, all I really have to report from this weekend is the fact that I am really looking forward to new episodes of Mr. Sunshine (Allison Janney throwing children at ax wielding clowns?!? I’m in!).  I suppose I overdid it a wee bit last week between movie premieres, secret Foo Fighters shows, and an assortment of other amazing concerts. Doesn’t really surprise me that I ended up getting sick.

Anyhoo, let’s hope I feel better soon! In the meantime, here’s what I suggest all you able-bodied folk invest your time in this week:

Monday: It’s a School Night at Bardot FREE with RSVP featuring Lucinda Williams and Augustana
ALSO: Greenroots Valentine’s Day featuring Austin Hartley-Leonard, Jenni Alpert, Keaton Simons, and many many more at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Everest and Red Cortez FREE at The Satellite (10pm)

Tuesday: Mother Mother at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Mountain Men at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Madi Diaz and Joseph Arthur at The Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Weds: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Nicole Atkins and The Sea at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Indians at Bordello (10pm)
ALSO: Satellite at Club Central (9:30)

Thursday: Boyce Avenue at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at Whiskey a Go Go (8pm)
ALSO: Moderne Man at The Troubadour (9:15)

Friday: My Own Machine at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Prohibition Rose at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Matt Jordan at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: Carl Broemel (of My Morning Jacket) at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

Saturday: 100 Monkeys at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Eli’s Creepshow at The Hotel Cafe featuring Ferras, The Canyons, etc. (9:30)

Sunday: Jordan Cook and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10, 12)
ALSO: Beth Hart at The Echoplex (6pm)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 22nd: Sick of Sarah at The Roxy
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
Feb 26th: Young the Giant at The Roxy
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 1st: Queen Caveat and The Silent Comedy at Saint Rocke
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 8th: Vertical Horizon at The Roxy
March 9th: Jay Nash at Saint Rocke
March 17th: Alkaline Trio and Dead Country at The Mayan
March 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
March 26th: Lady Danville at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen

Don’t Miss It: Biffy Clyro tour and special LA event!!

Biffy Clyro’s North American tour starts today in Washington DC at The Rock N Roll Hotel. Tomorrow they are in Philly at North Star! All my east coast friends best be checking out one of my top bands of 2010. They reside overseas so opportunities to see them are rare. Don’t miss out!

http://www.myspace.com/biffyclyro

Adding to my excitement is the fact that they just added a special LA date at The Bootleg on March 2nd. This is no ordinary show but an event where the band sits down along with author Mark Z. Danielewski to discuss his book Only Revolutions and the impact it had on Biffy Clyro’s CD of the same name. I just got my ticket and I suggest you do the same if you want in on this unique event.

This event,  in combination with Biffy Clyro’s show at The Troubadour on March 1st, has me shaking with anticipation. I put Only Revolutions back in my car player this morning where it will stay for the remainder of the month.

For a taste:

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 2/7-2/13

I should be in San Diego where The Silent Comedy is rockin’ the cowboy hats off of Ryan Bingham fans at The House of Blues.  But I’m being responsible tonight seeing that I have a presentation to give tomorrow morning. Also, I did see TSC Friday in Ventura and Saturday at The El Rey…and hey, they’re coming back to LA tomorrow (Monday) to play The Satellite and I wouldn’t miss that for the world (or any number of secret shows that may or may not be in the LA area).

If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing The Silent Comedy, please make your way to Silverlake tomorrow night. It’s a good line-up all ‘round and it’s FREE. Get there early!

Monday: The Silent Comedy, Rocco DeLuca, Red Cortez FREE at The Satellite (8pm)
ALSO: Everest at Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi and Jenny Owen Young at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: Soraia at The Viper Room (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Hanni, El Khatib, and Hot as Sun (10pm)
ALSO: secret Foo Fighters show at ?? (??)…good luck with this one

Tuesday: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: Infantree at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at Bootleg (9:45)

Weds: Tina Dico at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick and Nina Storey at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Satellite at Club Central (8pm)
ALSO: Shawn Hlookoff and Jenni Alpert at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: Butterfly Boucher and Sarah McLaughlan at Nokia Theater (8pm)

Thursday: Maniac at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Lelia Broussard and The Canyons at The Hotel Cafe (9,11)
ALSO: Chasing Kings at The Satellite (midnight)

Friday: The Howls at The Mountain Bar (?)
ALSO: Bryan Greenberg and Lindsey Ray at The Hotel Cafe (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Jake Newton and Matt Sucich at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: The Pretty Reckless at The El Rey (10pm)
ALSO: Dead Country at The Roxy (10pm)

Saturday: Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom at the Palm Court Ballroom of the Alexandria Hotel (8pm)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven and Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Cafe (10, 12)
ALSO: Will Hoge at The Troubadour (8pm)

Sunday: The Elizabeth Kill at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Val Emmich at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb. 15th: Mother Mother at The Satellite
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb. 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 22nd: Sick of Sarah at The Roxy
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
Feb 26th: Young the Giant at The Roxy
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 1st: Queen Caveat and The Silent Comedy at Saint Rocke
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 8th: Vertical Horizon at The Roxy
March 9th: Jay Nash at Saint Rocke
March 17th: Alkaline Trio and Dead Country at The Mayan
March 21st: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
March 26th: Lady Danville at The Troubadour
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/31-2/6

It’s been quite the week for music! Sorry I’ve been so quiet, but I’ve been busy enjoying great shows every night and I haven’t had the time to write. Some of the highlights from last week include seeing one of my fave songwriters and storytellers, Anna Nalick, watching Keaton Simons blow the roof off of The Roxy with his amazing new tunes, hanging with friends and falling in love with new bands like Armada at The Mint, getting what I hope continues to be my weekly fix of new band love Queen Caveat, and, of course, being reminded of why Nico Vega is one of the greatest bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching perform.

Also, this week I had the extreme pleasure of talking with one of the most exciting new bands coming out of the Philadelphia music scene, SINAI. More on my interview with them PLUS footage from the last weekend’s Philly adventure still to come…

In the meantime, amazing live musical opportunities continue to present themselves here in Los Angeles…here’s what’s on my “not to be missed” list for this week:

Monday: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a school night at Bardot featuring Tristen, Alex Luke,  and  Peter, Bjorn, and John (9pm)

Tuesday: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Patrick Park at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Satellite at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Maniac at Crazy Girls (11:15)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton and Satellite at Club Central in Santa Monica (9,10)
ALSO: Shawn Hlookoff and Jenni Alpert at Genghis Cohen (9pm)

Thursday: Garrison Starr, Lelia Broussard, Curtis Peoples, and The Canyons at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10,11)
ALSO: Great Northern at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: War Tapes at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Soraria at The Whiskey (10pm)
ALSO: We Barbarians at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

Friday: The Wood Brothers with Carsie Blanton at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Oh Land at The Echo (7:30)
ALSO: Tennis at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: First Friday at The Natural History Museum featuring Wild Nothing and Abe Vigoda (8pm)

Saturday: The Silent Comedy at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Tony Lucca at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Forgetters at The Echo (8pm)

Sunday: Jordan Cook and Dead Sara at The Viper Room (10,11)

To Keep in Mind:
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb. 12th: Saint Motel’s Zombie Prom
Feb. 15th: Mother Mother at The Satellite
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
Feb 26th: Young the Giant at The Roxy
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour
March 4th: After Midnight Project at The Roxy
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Troubadour
May: The Script at Club Nokia
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/17-1/23

Writing this while listening to Pepper’s Ghost do a radio interview about their reunion show next weekend. If it’s possible, I’m even more excited about my favorite band getting back together for a one night only double header show at The Grape Room in Philadelphia. There are a ton of awesome shows in LA this week, but I’m mostly excited about venturing east at the end of the week to catch Pepper’s Ghost…and maybe some other fave Philly bands. And then going back to NYC to catch the guys of Carney once again rock out in Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark.

It’s gonna be a fantastic week!

Here’s what I’ve got on my LA calendar:

Monday: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Great Northern and The Pierces (10pm) 

Tuesday: Queen Caveat and Endless Hallway at The Viper Room (10,11) 
ALSO: The Shakers at Crazy Girls in Hollywood (9pm) 
ALSO: The Pierces at The Hotel Cafe (10pm) 
ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (9:30) 
ALSO: Lindsey Ray and Taylor Locke and the Roughs at The Satellite (8pm) 
ALSO: Wire in the Walls, Family of the Year, and Olin and The Moon at The Echo (8:30) 
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (9pm) 

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Thursday: Nikka Costa at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard and Satellite at The Hotel Cafe (8,10pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at The Cat Club (8pm) 
ALSO: Chasing Avalanche at The Viper Room (10:30) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Friday: Langhorne Slim and Old 97’s at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Alice Peacock at The Mint (8pm) 
ALSO: David and Devine at Room 5 (11pm) 
ALSO: Lady Danville at The Troubadour (8:35) 

Saturday: Jake Newton, Tyler Hilton, Ernie Halter, Shaimus, and Queen Caveat at The Hotel Cafe…this line-up blows my mind. Don’t miss it…seriously…(8,9,10,11,12) 
ALSO: Indians and The Mowgli’s at Area 33 in Culver City
ALSO: Guster at The Music Box (7pm) 
ALSO: Purple Melon at Saint Rocke (9pm) 

Sunday: Lemon Sun and Voxhaul Broadcast at The Echoplex (8pm)
ALSO: TD Lind, Jesse Cole, and Brandon Walters at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10) 
ALSO: Chris Pierce at Saint Rocke (9pm) 

To Keep in Mind:
Jan. 24th: Cold War Kids at Bootleg 
Jan. 25th: Vertical Horizon at The Key Club 
Jan. 28th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
January 28th: Free Energy at The Roxy 
January 29th: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg 
Jan. 30th: Against Me! at The Music Box  
Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café 
Feb. 1st: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room  
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey 
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour 
Feb. 16th: Scars on 45 at The Hotel Cafe  
Feb. 20th: Beth Hart at The Echoplex
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour 
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour 
March 22nd: War on Drugs at The Toubadour 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/10-1/16

About to head out to The Roxy to check out the very first performance of Bonnie Dune. I feel that Seth Roberts (Lakes) can do no wrong, so I’m fairly confident I’m in for a treat. But after two straight nights of amazing shows (Scarlet Grey and Parade of Lights), we’ll see if this new band can impress.

And it’s just the first day of a week’s worth of great shows. Here’s what’s on my list this week: 

Monday: Cannoneers of the New Command, Sabrosa Purr and Moving Picture Show FREE at The Echo (9pm) 
ALSO: Kinch and Endless Hallway FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10,11) 
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring The Civil Wars and White Sea (10:30)
ALSO: Jenni Alpert at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Tuesday: Beachwood Rockers Society at The Piano Bar featuring David Green at 10pm
ALSO: Olin and The Moon FREE at The Echo (10pm) 

Weds: Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Thursday: Roses Pawn Shop at The Echo (9pm) 
ALSO: Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm) 

Friday: Love and a .38 and Run Devil Run at The Roxy (8:30)
ALSO: Toad the Wet Sprocket at The Key Club (10:30)
ALSO: Lindsey Ray and Taylor Locke and the Roughs at Saint Rocke (8:45, 11) 
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig & the Sante Fe Seven at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall (11am) 

Saturday: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Tyler Hilton and So & So at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: George Stanford and Lissie at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Bad Books (featuring Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra) at The Troubadour (10:15)
ALSO: Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm) 
ALSO: Andrew Bird at Largo (8:30) 

Sunday: Andrew Bird at Largo (8:30)

To Keep in Mind:
January 18th: Queen Caveat at The Viper Room
January 20th: Nikka Costa at The Roxy
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box  
Jan. 28th: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke
January 28th: Free Energy at The Roxy 
January 29th: Charlotte Martin at Bootleg 
Feb 1st: Patrick Park at The Hotel Café  
Feb 5th: The Silent Comedy at El Rey
Feb 9th: Sarah McLaughlin at Nokia Live
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
Feb 26th: Josh Ritter and Scott Hutchinson (Frightened Rabbit) at The Music Box
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour
March 3rd: Civil Twilight at The Troubadour 

~ Kristen