Lauren Jansen just celebrated the release of her EP Single Girls on Friday, and I gotta say from a fan's perspective it's been a long time coming. The first time I heard the demo of the title track months ago I was mesmerized and taken in - from her sassy gritty jazz-swung song "Trauma" to her simple weaving of indie pop melodies on enchanting tunes like "Bells", her voice is simple and perfect.
If you like music and you live near LA or Orange County, June is a good month for you. Even if you don't live around here (and I must admit, I am a bit jealous if you don't), then fret not… check out a few bands you may not have heard of before, and see if they're stopping in your area. Want free mp3's of each of these songs? Then join the newsletter , and I'll send you a link. Hooray. Laura Jansen [...]
Hotel Cafe was a force to be reckoned with at SXSW . It seemed like at almost any hour of any day I could go and see a Hotel Cafe artist. Omnipresent beings these Hotel Cafers. The first one I caught was the saucy Meiko inside the Convention Center on the Day Stage. Joined by a friend on trumpet, Meiko charmed the crowd, but dialed back her usual demeanor for the all ages crew. I later saw Meiko again at the Hotel Cafe showcase at The [...]
Never heard of Meiko, Emily Wells, or Laura Jansen? Well you've probably heard their songs. All three are the darlings of network TV lately. Meiko has been featured on numerous Grey's Anatomy episodes, while Jansen's song "Soujah" was placed in MTV's Newport Harbor (and don't give me the "I don't watch reality shows about rich teenyboppers. You do. Don't lie.) I saw these three two nights ago at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. It was a great cap to the weekend. Laura played first. The girl is fun to [...]
Fine, I admit it: I had a lot of fun at the Rascal Flatts show. Of course, it had a lot to do with the company I kept (don't let that get to your head, Mark), and the highly entertaining opening act. Would I ever spend half as much money on tickets to a country show as I plan to spend on U2? No. But the cowboys put on a good show, there were enough rednecks for me to laugh at, and I was able to [...]
The Hotel Cafe Tour House Of Blues October 16, 2008 Better Than: Staying at home, watching Grey's and washing my hair, both of which I love and one of which is soundtracked by several of the Hotel Café girls' songs--but I'll leave it up to you to guess which. Ingrid Michaelson, the way she is. (Courtney Clenney) Maybe you already know that the House of Blues is like an opera house with its exclusive balcony, vaulted [...]
Guilt Free Pleasures
Sarcasm And The City
PopWreck(oning)
DC9 At Night
A Place to Bury Strangers
Hot Chip - Night & Day
Sleigh Bells - Demons (Official Music Video)
A-Trak & Dillon Francis - "Money Makin'" (Official Video)
The Rains of Castamere by The National
DIIV "How Long Have You Known?" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
I’ll Just Leave This Here #161
BAND OF HORSES – The Funeral (Sound Remedy Remix)
Angger Dimas – Ribon Dooh (Preview)
Video: Dreamers - "Appaloosa"
