Princeton & Kisses

So long overdue. I have been talking about posting about Princeton for months now, that it almost felt ridiculous to do anything - but that wouldn't be right as I have really taken a liking to this local Santa Monica band. What pains me is that they had a residency for the month of February at Spaceland and I missed 4 Mondays. I was busy with work. Oh, and they would go on at 11PM on a Monday. Sorry boys, I'm just unable to do that for you. Too old I guess for these youngsters who all grew up on Princeton Street in Santa Monica. Cuter? Lucky for me, and I better fricken make it this time, to their show with Active Child at The Troubadour, another favorite I blogged about.

Their Sound naturally caught my attention with their Jens Lekman-like sound...or if Jens wasn't born in Sweden, but instead in Southern California.

Oh, and if you happen to love their hand clapping pop songs like I do, check out Kisses, from Princeton's singer Jesse Kivel and girlfriend Zinzi Edmindson.
http://www.myspace.com/blowkissess

Download:
Calypso Gold

http://www.princeton-band.com/music/
http://www.myspace.com/princetonmusic

Broken Bells

Broken Bells in two parts.

Part one: Experiencing the listening party of a lifetime...or at least of 2010. On a rooftop in downtown LA, Music Supervisor's and a select few of other music guru's gathered to take a listen to the release of Broken Bells. A drive in/laser show complete with 3-D glasses and a station for people to snuggle in their car to tune into, and chairs for those wanting to sit under the stars and gaze at the swirly images accompanied by the bands release. Apparently they gave out limited edition lithos....I didn't get one. WAH.

Part two: A week later performing their second show for the album, (first time was at the Bootleg Theater for friends and family). But, I got lucky enough to score myself ONE ticket to their sold out Troubadour show. Aside from the chatty Cathy's around me (rude), they were solid with a backdrop of psychadelic images inspired from their album cover. THAT time I picked up their print, not numbered. Double WAH. Oh, but they did hand out matchbooks with their logo. Not a bad gift with purchase.

The project with Danger Mouse and James Mercer of The Shin's, has different peaks and valleys. Some songs resembling a song Air would have produced, to mysterious tracks that could have come off of The Last Shadow Puppet's album to a song Thom Yorke could have released. A magnificent album getting lots of attention.

Download:
The High Road

Buy Stuff:
http://www.sonymusicdigital.com/broken-bells/pages/5437030/

http://www.myspace.com/brokenbells

Florence & The Machine

The fiery red head Florence Mary Leontine Welch of Florence & The Machine performed a jaw dropping show at The Troubadour last night. Her dramatic and theatrical performance matched by her powerful vocal strength had the audience falling deeper in love with her. With a mix of Lilly Allen, Heart and Sia....they won't be playing venue's like The Troubadour for much longer. A major player in the UK already, the should be on your radar if it isn't already.

Downloads:

http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachine

Dinosaur Jr. , Grunge is alive and kicking

Dinosaur Jr's newest album Farm was just released this week. It's the first album in 20 years with all three original members - J. Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph.










It's what you would expect from Dinosaur Jr, distorted guitars, J.'s gravely voice, and the feeling that you have been transported to your dorm room from the 90's. That's how it felt at last night's show at The Troubadour - as if time went backwards and I was in some sort of time capsule that I didn't really want to end. Sure - I had my ear plugs in, so I was a little more prepared and responsible that I was in my early 20's. At one point there were 2 adults and one (roughly) 13 year kid crowd-surfing....at THE TROUBADOUR.




I loved that they were selling their classic Dinosaur Jr. shirts at the Merch table. Ah, memories.

The two songs that have stood at to me are "I want you to know" and "Over it". Check out the band skateboarding through their video for "Over it".

The Subjects & The White Rabbits

The Troubadour Thursday night started with a light crowd, while The Subjects opened the evening. The Brooklyn band which is unsigned (someone pick them up!), is somewhere in the world of The Deadly Syndrome and Dr. Dog. Great sound, good energy and with band member nick names like Matty Pickles, Cobra, Mr.Splif, Shanky, I see them getting some notice...I did, and I picked up a cd at the merch table.



By the time The White Rabbits came on stage, the venue got so full that I realized once again, my favorite spot is starting to be a bad spot. I was so far back that I couldn't see the band killing it. I heard it, I saw the audience liking it, but I saw very little boo-hoo. One of my favorite parts of their show is when there were multiple people playing the drums. I love that. My only complaint? The only thing they said to the audience was at the end "Thanks Los Angeles". Blah. Speak to me people....speak to me.

Passion Pit At The Troubadour

Last night's show at The troubadour restored my faith in music fans. For a while now, with the economy being in a state of flux, shows at The Troubadour have been full, but not sold out...and I mean packed. The VIP Lound, The Loft, has been closed most of the time since there hasn't been a need for a overflow bar. That was not the situation at the Passion Pit show.

The young Cambridge band sold the venue out, to a point where I wondered...is the fire department going to come and shut it down? I couldn't move, I couldn't squeeze my way through the crowd and I worried. I found my spot (I won't tell you where!) and my friend liked it but wondered where the nearest escape was if someone screamed FIRE. I knew how to to duck and cover. That's the greatest thing about the Troubadour - It's like a tree house. There are stairs and passages throughout the space.

The set was 45 minutes - and if I hadn't heard the bartender telling someone else the story I would have been bummed, but I get it. The label/management was protecting the band for the next two shows in and around the LA area. Tonight's show at The Echoplex, and Saturday night's show at The Glass House in Pomona. They are a young band - the lead singer is 22 and they already have such a great following!

My only regret is not getting up by the stage and dancing it out...but I needed to protect myself in case someone actually did scream FIRE.

Nico Stai & Youth Group Play The Troubadour

Tuesday May 19, at The Troubadour Nico Stai opened for Youth Group. Two very different sounding bands with two very different audience's.

Nico Stai whose influences must range from Bruce Springstein to Counting Crowes - were the opener for Youth Group, but somehow drew a bigger crowd than the Australian band Youth Group.

Love old Youth Group with songs like Skeleton Jar & Shadowland. Sadly - the newest album has be a bit down with the lack of hooks they shared with us in albums past. What I never realized until I saw Youth Group live though was how similar they are to fellow Aussie Ben Lee. It may have something to do with lead singer Toby Martin's style of singing. Like Ben Lee, they both sing with a noticeable accent. I like it. I like that they don't cover their accent for a generic sound. But please guys, give me a good double cap or pop hook on the next album, k?

Archers Of Loaf : Crooked Fingers @ The Troubadour

I first need to start this off with announcing that I am a HUGE Archers Of Loaf fan. In the 90's, when I was in college, they were a anthem for my days of play. The North Carolina band broke up in my final year of college.....

and then Eric Bachmann started Crooked Fingers. Now based out of Seattle, with a rotating line-up, including Neko Case on this latest album, to make up the "band", and Eric on lead vocals - it's a little less gruff but just as nice.

Promoting his newest album, "forfeit/fortune", Crooked Fingers performed at The Troubadour to a intimate audience.



Opening for them was Port O'Brien. A California band with a Band of Horses/alt-country/folk sound. Tegan, of Tegan and Sara was there to see her friends play.


But back to Eric Bachmann. He is tall. So tall that he makes his guitars look like a toy. He is a big guy with a low but beautiful voice. I was over the moon when he gave us a special treat of singing "White Trash Heroes" and "Web In Front". Truly magical.

They Are Like : David Vandervelde | Margot & The Nuclear So & So's

I have wanted to see David Vandervelde since I heard the title track of from their EP "Nothing No'". There is emotion in the song that I always felt connected to. Not knowing what he was like performing live, I was amazed to see they looked like a cross between The Black Crows, attempted to capture the sound of My Morning Jacket but deep down, really captured the era of Glam Country Rock - I could have easily closed my eyes and envisioned myself listening to the sound track from Velvet Goldmine. A solid performance from the band, who borrowed most of their instruments from Margot & The Nuclear So & So's...since they are touring in a car.

With a moody setting of a backdrop, warm lighting and random tree figures on stage - Margot & The Nuclear So & So's came to the Troubadour ready to rock their newest album "Animal" for the folks at Epic and other enthusiasts.
The Indianapolis group whose name Margot was influenced by Margot Tenenbaum from Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums" filled up the small stage at The Troubadour with up to as many as 10 members on stage. They even have their own Joel Gion (from Brian Jonestown Massacre's tambourine sidekick). They played with fire and energy for the crowd.

The only thing missing for me was a giant hook or chorus portion to each of their songs. Each track was fun and I used the word "dynamic" a lot with their mix of influences mashed into each song. Trumpet's, violins, tambourine's, cellos.....you name it - they had it. I can see them playing with a symphony one day. If you like Broken Social Scene, Sea Wolf, The Deadly Syndrome and Dr. Dog (all variations of each other) - you are bound to like these guys.

Shorts : Bon Iver

It's August...it's hot in LA...and apparently Bon Iver aka Justin Vernon, was hot as well, as he was in shorts on stage at the Troubadour.


Two sold out shows this week, and duh - of course it's sold out. His voice is sweet and sad and sultry...I just have no idea what the lyrics are except for a few here and there and that's ok.

Thank goodness for the sing along in "The Wolves (Act I & II)" when he told the audience what to sing "What might have been lost", or I might not have understood what to sing.


He must be working on a new album as he played a new track called "loving". Maybe he is over his heartbreak and he is onto loving a new one?

One would expect a solemn and quiet show, but surprisingly he jammed it out with his band to a few of his songs, and damn - I wish I had brought those fancy ear plugs.

For some reason I love when a band has multiple drum kits on stage that are played simultaneously - as if the chorus within the band wasn't enough - the three band members aside from Justin would bang it out at one time. Yum.

My love for Bon Iver has been solidified.

Outcakast To Solo : Janelle Monáe

Tuesday night, despite my need to go home and go to sleep, I was dragged to a show at the Viper Room to see Janelle Monáe. While I may have just been too exhausted to enjoy it...I can appreciate the artistry and energy that Janelle Monáe puts out there for her audience.

It may have been the best dressed crowd I have seen in a long time. Tailored suits, retro 80's Spike Lee hair and facial hair styles. (That sounds odd, right?) So much thought and effort into outfits, but not in a annoying way - in a - fashion is back and respecting the show enough to look good!


Janelle was no exception with her pompadour Mohawk , and white suit accompanied by saddle shoes. She's beautiful and very theatrical.

Turns out, reading her bio that she went to the American Musical Academy in New York, and studied to work on Broadway. Because of the lack of parts she started her own label, then worked with OutKast, which has lead back to a record deal with Bad Boy Records (Diddy's), in conjunction with her own label.



She's Motown, meets rock, meets orchestral theatrics. Her energy is inspiring. The only thing that lacked for me is the lack of hooky chorus'...I guess I can't always have everything I want....can I?

Everyone In Plaid : Hayden

I've been a fan of Hayden for many years. His mumbling folky vocals get me every time...and his live performance did not dissapoint. Touring to promote his new album "In Field & Town" at The Troubadour in a living room setting, with a forest backdrop, the Candian singer was playful with the audience's banter....humoring them with discussion of his tour and explanations of his songs.

The audience and even most of the band dressed in hipster plaid.