Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 6/28-7/4

Just got back from Warped Tour in Ventura with Amanda. Will hopefully get around to writing something about it and posting some of my pictures. It was by far the most pleasant (weather-wise) Warped  I’ve ever been to…but I still managed to get a lovely burn on the shoulders. Fortunately this week’s planned activities are largely indoors.

And if you want to go out at all this week, might I suggest Thursday heading to one of the places participating in The Gulf Coast Benefit. (http://gulfcoastbenefit.com/#about) On this day, select venues around the country will be donating money from ticket sales to organizations aiding those impacted by the oil spill. Several LA establishments (including my picks at The Roxy and The Mint) are participating. If you’re not in LA, check the website to see if a venue near you is involved. Enjoy some great live music AND play a part in helping our country deal with its current economic and ecological crisis. You’ve seen the pictures…you know you want to do something…this sounds like a perfect opportunity to me!

As for everything else:

Monday: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9)
ALSO: Victoria Clemmons and Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (9,10) 

Tuesday: Vienne at Saint Rocke (9:30)
ALSO: The Daylights at The Roxy (8pm) 

Weds: The Smashing Pumpkins at The Viper Room (?)…no, that is not a misprint.
ALSO: The Shakers at Kibitz Room (11:30)…last night of their Kibitz residency!
ALSO: Hot Hot Heat at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Joel Eckels and The Paper Sun at The Foundry on Melrose (?) 

Thursday: Danielia Cotton at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena (7pm)…is she worth driving to Pasadena for? Why yes, yes she is!
ALSO: Saint Motel at the Hammer Museum (7pm)
ALSO: The Gulf Coast Benefit at The Mint featuring Kaki King  and Ben Lee (8pm)
ALSO: The Gulf Coast Benefit at The Viper Room featuring Wicker (9pm)
ALSO: Garrison Starr at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Year Long Disaster at Spaceland (8:30) 

Friday: Army of Me at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)…from Washington DC!!
ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Park Bar in Burbank (10pm)
ALSO: CocoRosie at Orphium (9pm)
ALSO: Cinder Cone at Vacation Vinyl (7pm)…record release at a record store
ALSO: The Shakers at Gallagher’s Pub in Huntington Beach (11pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney at Molly Malone’s (8:30)
ALSO: Automatique at The Viper Room (10) 

Saturday: The Janks at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

Sunday: Happy 4th of July! I’m sure there are some lovely parties with some great music…I just haven’t found one yet…

To Keep in Mind:
July 7th: Carbon Leaf at The Troubadour
July 8th: Michelle Branch at Greek Theater
July 10th: Lilith Fair
July 13th: The Silent Comedy and Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
July 14th: Nico Vega at The Troubadour
July 18th: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center (with Lady GaGa)
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 6/21-6/27

So, I finally get to the point when I can actually take more nights off and have my weekends back and I was so excited about the prospect of being able to catch more of the shows I long to see every week and then…I go and get myself sick. Bleck! But just because I’ll probably have to take it easy this week doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from all the great shows going on.

Here’s my dream list:

Monday: Carney at the Troubadour opening for Athlete (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (8pm) 

Tuesday: Adam Arcuragi at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)…PHILLY artist alert!!
ALSO: Automatique and The Shakers at Whiskey a Go Go (9pm)
ALSO: The Open Sea featuring Ari Hest at Room 5 (7pm) 

Weds: Abandoned Pools and Ashes Divide at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Lucy Woodward at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)…record release
ALSO: Josh Ritter at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Hot Hot Heat and Links at Bootleg (8:30) 

Thursday: Kate Miller-Heidke at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)  
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at House of Blues acoustic lounge (9:30)
ALSO: Rick Cornette at Cafe Was (??)…plays keys for The Other Side of Morning…also has a solo project. Curious? So am I!
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums at Spaceland (10pm) 

Friday: The Rescues at The Troubadour (9pm)…Record Release show
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Cafe (10:30) 

Saturday: The Silent Comedy and Jonathan Foreman (of Switchfoot) at the BellyUp in Solano Beach

Sunday: The Webb Sisters at The Hotel Cafe (8:30)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Brien’s (10pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard at The Foundry on Melrose
ALSO: Warped Tour in Ventura 

To Keep in Mind:
July 7th: Carbon Leaf at The Troubadour
July 8th: Michelle Branch at Greek Theater
July 10th: Lilith Fair
July 13th: The Silent Comedy and Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
July 14th: Nico Vega at The Troubadour
July 18th: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center (with Lady GaGa)
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center

~ Kristen

Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour: Kristen’s Story

So although I’m still a little sad I missed out on The Silent Comedy/Transfer night 1 at The Casbah, I am mostly just glowing over the amazing night I did have. Afterall, it involved half naked Scotsmen, mind altering music, a gift from the heavens, and an American Idol contestant.  

I went to The Troubadour to the sold out Manchestra Orchestra show. Due to typical LA traffic, I missed the first band. Thankfully, I got there in time to catch Biffy Clyro .  I was initially put off by their appearance-three heavily tattooed men on stage without shirts, but they quickly won me over with their music (and charming accents). At first, I couldn’t decide what type of music they were playing. Some of their songs were slow and melodic…and then they would bust one out so loud and pounding it felt like a metal show. Then I realized what I loved about them was their unpredictability. Even in their beats…they never took them where I expected them to go. I found myself transfixed by the novelty of it all. I immediately purchased their CD, but I have a feeling that what I witnessed transcends the confines of an audio recording.

The second band I saw, The Features , was also a bit of a paradox. Its lead singer looked like a woodsman yet would break out into this hard rock screaming. My favorite part of this band was the drummer whose deft movements on his drum kit gave the distinct impression of floating on air…a joy to watch. Their song, “Lions” sounded like something from a commercial (if not, it should be).

Manchester Orchestra started off with a folksy dedication to 50 Cent…I knew then that it was going to be an amazing set.  Manchester Orchestra is one of those bands that really know how to work the lows and the highs of a song.  They do this so well that they are somehow able to keep the audience on this perpetual high. I got so lost in the songs that I had no sense of time or space. I started floating back down to reality as they were playing their hit “I’ve Got Friends” and I realized that their set was coming to an end…and that my feet really really hurt…and that somehow in the hour or so that they played I had managed to move a good ten feet or so. Thankfully they had the presence of mind to close with a slow tune; carefully bringing us all back down to Earth.

As I was exiting the venue a piece of paper floated down from the sky above and landed at my feet (very reminiscent of the whole secret Wolfmother show incident). On one side was a large note written in sharpie that said “No More Scotch.” On the other, was the set list for the show I had just witnessed. I felt like it was God sending me a message telling me I was in the exact right place and time…or maybe to lay off the scotch (!?!).

To cap off my excellent evening I ventured to nearby Millions of Milkshakes. Turns out I was in line in front of American Idol contestant, Aaron Kelly and family who were in town for the show. I would never have known this if it weren’t for the two guys standing outside the shop who stopped me as I came out to ask me if, indeed, I was standing next to the reality show contestant. I ended up talking to his family and discovered that some of them are from a town very close to where I grew up! Suddenly I felt oddly compelled to participate in the American Idol voting…I went home and immediately watched this week’s episode.

-The End-

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert List 3/8-3/14

It’s Oscar night! So I’m going to make this brief. There are so many good shows this week, I’m a bit overwhelmed with the choices…and I didn’t even do an exhaustive search.  All I know is that I’m not going to be sleeping much…and I wish I had a double (someone needs to go to these shows I can’t go to and report back!).
Here’s what I’ve got cooking:

Monday: Aimee Miriello at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (8pm)

Tuesday: Big Pink and IO Echo at El Rey (7pm)

ALSO: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: The Rescues and Honeyhoney at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: Laura Veirs at Spaceland (8:30)

Weds: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: Cary Brothers and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)

ALSO: Delta Spirit at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Olin and The Moon at Spaceland (8:30)

ALSO: Agent Ribbon at The Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Melissa Ferrick, Jim Bianco, Joey Ryan, and Caitlin Crosby and Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe (7,9,10,11)…so much great music all night long!

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)… I’m driving down if anyone wants to carpool…

ALSO: Purple Melon at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Friday: Bleecker Street featuring Paris Carney and Matthew Jordan at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

ALSO: Basia Bulat, Brother Sal, and Truth & Salvage Co. with The Parsons Red Heads at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)…last week was insane…don’t miss out!

ALSO: Brandi Carlile at House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Saturday: Great Northern at Bootleg (10:30)

ALSO: The Hereafter at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Until June and Lady Danville at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Loft (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Sunday: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 26th: Nico Vega and Metric at Hollywood Palladium

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

March 27th/28th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

Sometime in May: CARNEY at El Rey…just block out the entire month in anticipation…  

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~ Kristen

Kristen's LA Concert List 3/8-3/14

It’s Oscar night! So I’m going to make this brief. There are so many good shows this week, I’m a bit overwhelmed with the choices…and I didn’t even do an exhaustive search.  All I know is that I’m not going to be sleeping much…and I wish I had a double (someone needs to go to these shows I can’t go to and report back!).

Here’s what I’ve got cooking:

Monday: Aimee Miriello at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Barcelona at Saint Rocke (8pm)

Tuesday: Big Pink and IO Echo at El Rey (7pm)

ALSO: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: The Rescues and Honeyhoney at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: Laura Veirs at Spaceland (8:30)

Weds: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour (9pm)

ALSO: Cary Brothers and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)

ALSO: Delta Spirit at Bootleg (11pm)

ALSO: Olin and The Moon at Spaceland (8:30)

ALSO: Agent Ribbon at The Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Melissa Ferrick, Jim Bianco, Joey Ryan, and Caitlin Crosby and Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe (7,9,10,11)…so much great music all night long!

ALSO: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah in San Diego (8:30)… I’m driving down if anyone wants to carpool…

ALSO: Purple Melon at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Friday: Bleecker Street featuring Paris Carney and Matthew Jordan at Molly Malone’s (8pm)

ALSO: Basia Bulat, Brother Sal, and Truth & Salvage Co. with The Parsons Red Heads at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)…last week was insane…don’t miss out!

ALSO: Brandi Carlile at House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Saturday: Great Northern at Bootleg (10:30)

ALSO: The Hereafter at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

ALSO: Until June and Lady Danville at Saint Rocke (8pm)

ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Loft (10pm)

ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Echoplex (8:30)

Sunday: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:

March 26th: Nico Vega and Metric at Hollywood Palladium

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest featuring Metric

March 27th/28th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 6th: Paper Tongues at The Troubadour

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 12th: Butch Walker at El Rey

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

Sometime in May: CARNEY at El Rey…just block out the entire month in anticipation…  

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

~ Kristen

Local LA Shows For The Week

Nico Vega’s new music video for their song “Gravity” is FINALLY out! I was fortunate enough to be a part of it and so proud of how it turned out. We might as well call this Nico Vega week. Starts with a fantastic music video and ends on Friday with their show at the El Rey opening for The Soundtrack of Our Lives. And if you’re really crazy (like me), you might consider a midweek journey to San Diego to catch them at The Casbah…seriously…

I can’t get enough of this band and if you haven’t already, please check them out!

Gravity- Nico Vega

As for the rest of the week (and can we talk about Tues. and how unfair it is for everyone to be playing that evening):

Monday: Joey Ryan at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Aiden Moore CD release at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

ALSO: Butch Walker CD release at The Hotel Café (10:30)…need a ticket for this one

ALSO: Until June at The Viper Room (8pm)

ALSO: Haim at The Echo (9pm)

ALSO: Tayler Locke and the Roughs at Cinespace (10pm)…found out this Rooney lad has started his own group…my sources tell me to check it out…

ALSO: Lelia Broussard at Room 5 (9pm)

Weds: Nico Vega at The Casbah in San Diego (9pm)

ALSO: The Rescues at The Troubadour (9:45)

ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s

Thursday: Joey Ryan, Jim Bianco and Dan Wilson at The Hotel Café (8,9,10)

ALSO: Visqueen at Spaceland (10pm)

ALSO: my good friend Patrick is singing with Pancho and Sancho at The Troubadour (8pm)…there may or may not be a pirate costume…J

ALSO: Audra Mae at Bootleg (10pm)

Friday: Nico Vega at The El Rey (8pm)

ALSO: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Café (11:30)

ALSO: Still Waters Run Deep at Molly Malone’s (10pm)

Saturday: Lemon Sun at Bootleg (midnight)

ALSO: Kina Grannis at The Dakota Music Lounge (8pm)

ALSO: Mississippi Man at L’Keg Gallery (8pm)

Sunday:  nothing comes to me…sorry

 

 

To Keep in Mind:

March 4th: Mike Doughty at The Troubadour

March 9th and 10th: Manchester Orchestra at The Troubadour

March 11th: The Silent Comedy and Transfer at The Casbah

March 11th: Joey Ryan and Melissa Ferrick at The Hotel Café

March 27th: San Diego Indie Fest

March 27th/28th: Bamboozled Left featuring Something Corporate and AFI

April 9th: Lights and Owl City at Club Nokia

April 16th: George Stanford CD release at The Hotel Café

April 16th-19th: Coachella

June 10-13th: BONNAROO

Mp3s:

  • “Million Years”- Nico Vega
  • “Vaxxine” – Visqueen
  • “Free Life” – Dan Wilson…have I mentioned that this guy writes some of my very favorite lyrics?

~ Kristen

Kristen’s Concert Calendar: 6/21-6/27

So, I finally get to the point when I can actually take more nights off and have my weekends back and I was so excited about the prospect of being able to catch more of the shows I long to see every week and then…I go and get myself sick. Bleck! But just because I’ll probably have to take it easy this week doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from all the great shows going on.
Here’s my dream list:

Monday: Carney at the Troubadour opening for Athlete (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (8pm) 

Tuesday: Adam Arcuragi at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)…PHILLY artist alert!!
ALSO: Automatique and The Shakers at Whiskey a Go Go (9pm)
ALSO: The Open Sea featuring Ari Hest at Room 5 (7pm) 

Weds: Abandoned Pools and Ashes Divide at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Lucy Woodward at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)…record release
ALSO: Josh Ritter at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Hot Hot Heat and Links at Bootleg (8:30) 

Thursday: Kate Miller-Heidke at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)  
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at House of Blues acoustic lounge (9:30)
ALSO: Rick Cornette at Cafe Was (??)…plays keys for The Other Side of Morning…also has a solo project. Curious? So am I!
ALSO: Fitz and the Tantrums at Spaceland (10pm) 

Friday: The Rescues at The Troubadour (9pm)…Record Release show
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at The Hotel Cafe (10:30) 

Saturday: The Silent Comedy and Jonathan Foreman (of Switchfoot) at the BellyUp in Solano Beach

Sunday: The Webb Sisters at The Hotel Cafe (8:30)
ALSO: The Shakers at O’Brien’s (10pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley Leonard at The Foundry on Melrose
ALSO: Warped Tour in Ventura 

To Keep in Mind:
July 7th: Carbon Leaf at The Troubadour
July 8th: Michelle Branch at Greek Theater
July 10th: Lilith Fair
July 13th: The Silent Comedy and Andy Clockwise at The Troubadour
July 14th: Nico Vega at The Troubadour
July 18th: The Swell Season and Bird and the Bee at Hollywood Bowl
July 30-31st: Morcheeba at Hollywood Bowl
August 12th: Semi Precious Weapons at Staples Center (with Lady GaGa)
August 21st and 22nd: Sunset Junction
September 25th: Band of Horses at Greek Theater
September 25th: Muse at Staples Center

~ Kristen