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Showing posts with label troubadour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label troubadour. Show all posts

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Twenty One Pilots at The Troubadour




Show: Twenty One Pilots
Venue: Troubadour, Los Angeles
Date: 2/20/13
Show #8

Last night I went to see a band called Twenty One Pilots at The Troubadour. Never heard of them? Well learn their name, because they're going to be big. Twenty One Pilots are a pop/rock/punk/rap duo from Ohio currently signed to Fueled by Ramen. A friend had told me about these guys a few months ago and from the moment I watched their video for "Guns for Hands" (which is an awesome video!) I've had their album Vessel on loop and knew I had to see them live.

I missed the first opening band the Echo Smiths, but made it in time to see another buzzworthy band called New Politics from Denmark. They're known for their latest single "Harlem" which just got picked up by KROQ.

The lead singer had moves like (no, not Jagger) Tyson Ritter from the All American Rejects, and the drummer looks like Adam Levine, so in addition to their fun upbeat songs, they're also easy on the eyes. Also, the lead singer is quite the break dancer!




After New Politics came Twenty One Pilots. This was one of those shows you get a special feeling about and by the end you find yourself asking the question "Holy shit, what did I just witness?". This was their first time playing in Los Angeles, and they made it quite obvious this was show was a big deal for them. All the record exec big wigs were sitting in the balcony watching the show and crowd reaction with great intent. I'm proud to say I don't think the crowd could have been any better or more responsive and totally shattered the LA crowd stereotype all bands dread. When we were asked to jump, we jumped, when we were asked to scream, we wailed and when we were asked to go nuts, we lost it and given the amazing show we were all witnessing, it was easy.

They actually did something I have ALWAYS wanted to see a band do, and that's make fun of how everyone pretends to say this is their last song, when we all know they're going to come out and do an encore. Lead singer Tyler did just that. He said "I'm going to say this is our last song, you're going to say aww, boo! But we all know that's not true, and you'll all cheer and scream for one more song, and we'll play another one." In fact, when the cheering started for one more song, they didn't even leave the stage, and instead assisted in cheering for one more song, which they then of course did, and ended with "Guns for Hands". I thought it was funny that even after all of that, everyone still stuck around staring at the stage waiting for another song, as if to have a real encore, but that didn't happen.

One of my favorite songs of theirs is actually a slower number called "Car Radio", which I recorded:


Semi-Automatic






I can't wait for these guys to come back to LA (which I'm going to predict their next show will be at a much bigger venue... maybe the Wiltern?). Until then, go get their album Vessel!




Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Augustana at the Troubadour




Show: Augustana
Venue: Troubadour- Los Angeles, CA
Date: 2/2/13
Show #5

Earlier this month I went to see the acoustic Augustana (which at this point just means Dan and David) show at the Troubadour, and like every other time I've seen Dan, he was just incredible. If you're not familiar with Augustana, they had a big song in 2005 called "Boston".


Lauren Shera


Opening for them was a singer/songwriter named Lauren Shera. This girl was such a breath of fresh air. Her voice was so soft and beautiful with that old soul feel. She's one of those artists that when you watch them perform, you can't help but notice the joy being up on that stage brings them. So if you enjoy laid back, slightly depressing songs with thoughtful lyrics sung by an angelic old soul of a voice, you'll love Lauren Shera.

She did a great cover of the Black Keys song "Little Black Submarine"

I also recorded her song "Once I was a bird", which you can actually download for free right now on Noisetrade.com!

Next up was Augustana. This was my third time seeing Dan/Augustana, and every time I do, I can't help but be baffled by the fact that more people don't know and appreciate the enormous talent that is Dan Layus. In my opinion he's one of the most underrated artists around today. When Dan performs, he goes into another world, and he brings you with him. Ok that might be the cheesiest thing I've ever written, but it's true. You get completely lost in the show and forget about anything happening around you. You can always hear a pin drop at an Augustana show because everyone is so invested in what's happening on the stage. If you ever get a chance to see him live, do yourself a favor and get your ass to that show, you will not regret it.

He did a new song called "Youth is Wasted on the Young" which was great! I really hope the next album is all acoustic, he sounds so much better without a band behind him.


"Alive" is probably my favorite Augustana song. It's one of the most beautiful songs you'll ever hear and if it doesn't tug at your heart strings just a little, you're not human.


"Fire"
 


"Borrowed Time"



Saturday, July 7, 2012

Katie Herzig and Andrew Belle at The Troubadour

 
Show: Katie Herzig and Andrew Belle
Venue: The Troubadour- Los Angeles, CA
Date: 5/1/12
Show #27

A friend suggested I go check out these 2 singer/songwriters Katie Herzig and Andrew Belle, and seeing as I was bored and had nothing to do that night, I decided to go. I didn't know anything about either of them prior to going, other than listening to a clip of 1 song each before heading over.

Note- Sorry about the crappy pictures! I brought my Nikon in, only to find out that I left my battery at home charging. Womp womp. I took lots of video though to try and make up for it.

Up first was Andrew Belle. I hate calling him an "indie singer/songwriter" because I feel like that puts him in the same bucket as all the other million indie singer/songwriters, but he's so much better than that. He has such a soft, beautiful, soulful voice with just the right amount of grit to it. He reminds me a lot of Mat Kearney. Simple, beautiful, well written songs. He's also adorable and terribly charming.


 I recorded a bunch of videos of him that night, see below!

"Static Waves" ft. Katie Herzig

"In My Veins" (Featured in Grey's Anatomy)

More videos:
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Sky's Still Blue
The Ladder

Katie Herzig, also an indie singer/songwriter with a beautiful voice, was up next. You might know her for her song "Lost and Found", most recently heard on the season finale of Cougar Town. It's easily my favorite of hers. One of the reasons I loved her set was because of her crazy talented band. Any time I can see drums, guitar, cello and clarinet in the same set, I'm sold. I recorded 2 other songs from that night:

"Midnight Serenade"

"Make a Noise"


Sunday, May 13, 2012

The All American Rejects at The Troubadour



Show: The All American Rejects
Venue: The Troubadour- Los Angeles, CA
Date: 3/30/12
Show #19

Friday marked my 3rd, and sadly final All American Rejects adventure for that week. This was the one I had been looking forward to the most. The Troubadour is one of my favorite venues in LA, so to see one of your favorite bands there, in such a small intimate setting is just the best.

I won't say too much about this show and let the pictures speak for themselves, but if you've seen All American Rejects live before, you know just how amazing they are live. One of the best live acts around. They put on the type of show where you feel like you can't sing loud enough, jump high enough, or scream loud enough. You're a crazy sweaty mess after an AAR show, and it's fantastic.

Videos recorded:
Heartbeat Slowing Down
Fast & Slow (Feat. Audra Mae)
Beekeepers Daughter
I For You





 W/ Audra Mae (As heard on Fast and Slow)








And of course, I got a set list!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Of Monsters and Men at The Troubadour




Show: Of Monsters and Men
Venue: Troubadour, Los Angeles
Date: 3/21/12
Show #13

Show #3 of the week for me was Of Monsters and Men at the Troubadour. If you haven't heard their song "Little Talks" taking over alternative radio yet, I can guarantee you will soon be seeing and hearing much more from these guys. They're an indie/folk band from Iceland who have just begun to blow up stateside. They got their start in Iceland from winning a big battle of the bands competition called Músíktilraunir in 2010.

I felt very lucky to have seen them in such a small venue so early on in their career because I only see them getting bigger. Rolling Stone magazine even went as far as to call them "the next Arcade Fire". (Don't shoot the messenger!) This began the bidding war among the record labels and they ended up signing with Universal Music. Their debut album "My Head is an Animal" just came out this month and it's everything I wanted it to be. I highly recommend you check it out, you won't regret it.

This was the bands first trip to Los Angeles and shared that one of their first experiences here involved a couple of cab drivers fighting (as in fists flying, and blood being drawn) over who would take them around town.

Also wanted to call out their awesome opening act Lay Low, also from Iceland. She was so adorable! So humbled to be there and shared that she moved out to Los Angeles into a house with people she had never met to follow her dream. She even took out a 12 string she had just purchased and asked someone take a picture of her with it so she could send it to her Mom back home to show her that she tried. I recorded a video of her playing it, you can see it here.



To check out all the videos I recorded from this show, click here.







Sunday, February 12, 2012

The Fray at The Troubadour

Show: The Fray
Venue: Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA
Date: 2/11/12
Show #6

Last night, I was one of the lucky few who got to see The Fray live at the Troubadour. If you're not familiar with the Troubadour, it's an amazing small capacity venue in West Hollywood, CA. Tickets sold out instantly. To see a band as big as The Fray in such an intimate setting was one no one wanted to miss.

There was no opening act, just The Fray. They opened the set with one of my favorite songs "Turn Me On", off their new album "Scars and Stories" which came out on Tuesday.




















Some of the highlights of the night include:

1. "Never Say Never"/"Wannabe" mash up (Yes, as in The Spice Girls)


2. Isaac jumping off the stage to sing "Happiness" from the middle of the crowd (Video)

























3. Emmy Lou Harris coming out to perform "Boulder to Birmingham" (Video)






The show as a whole was amazing, and to top it all off, I got the set list!
























Videos I recorded last night:
"Turn Me On"
 
"The Wind"

"Rainy Zurich"
 

"Boulder to Birmingham"
 

"Run For Your Life"

"Happiness"

 More pictures