Author Archives: Jennifer Quiroz

The Seattle-based folk rock outfit makes their second trip to SoCal this Saturday. Motopony’s self-titled debut record, which was released this past month, charted at #1 on KCRW and the top 200 on the CMJ Chart. In support of the album and new music video for “King of Diamonds,” the band kicks of their summer tour this weekend, leading them through LA, SF and SD.

Catch Motopony performing this Sunday at Hotel Utah in San Francisco

Friday, June 24th | Today we woke at Forrest’s Parents house up in Sacramento. There’s nothing like rolling into suburbia at 4 in the morning and setting the air brake on your giant box truck. We spilled out of that thing grumpy and biker-cursing and I’m sure the neighbors sleeping with their windows open had dreams of Spinal Tap as we manhandled the futon mattress out of the back. Like a wad of boy we made some sort of puppy cuddly pile on the game room floor and tried not to smell anything for the next blessed eight hours of stillness.

The road is a splendid adventure…but there’s nothing like a dinner pre-made and waiting for you after eating truck stop peanuts all day. Thank the great spirit for mothers who raise good drummers. On the way down I somehow managed to comprehend and answer some questions from the LA Times. You can read it here.

I have to tell you. This truck we are driving makes me think of the hard past on a regular basis. It’s hot and cramped and the highways of California have seen better days. Every bump and crumble on the road has been recorded in my vertebra cellular memory and when I straddle out to stare listlessly into the urinal at the various truck stops we encounter…I understand why truckers all seem to have a peculiar gait and aching slouch.

Motopony | King of Diamonds

But honestly, can you imagine crossing this country in a covered wagon? We are weak compared to those that stole this land for us. Glenda, the woman working at the Pilot just outside the California border, took a genuine affection to my turquoise rings. She told me she was a rock hound and was heading out for a weekend with her husband hunting in the hills for black gold. The most comfortable seat in the truck is by far for the driver, however it sits right above the front axle so anything you roll over throws the “air ride” seat into the ceiling.

I literally hit my head today….but then again I had the fucker pegged at the governor’s limit of 78mph. We drive in shifts of gas. A tank will get you roughly 300 miles depending on how much AC you waste. I can’t believe how many trucks there are on the road, if you’re pulling a trailer in the sunshine state your speed limit is 55, so if you’re not pulling a trailer or you have a problem with “limits” then your interstate experience is all about passing trucks…and there are literally thousands of them out there at all hours.

Full of the stuff. The stuff we cant seem to live without. The stuff we can’t seem to find around us…so we pull it from all over the world into boxes we can walk into and see the stuff we brought to ourselves. Like us…the band. The band who got into this box truck and brought itself to your town. Thing is…….it’s worth it. It’s worth every stiff joint and every bleary eye and over-caffeinated singalong to the iPod hijacked FM radio dial. I’m so glad we are traveling along this river of human need. I feel lucky and wanted and beside myself in the land of the free.
—Daniel Blue of Motopony

Born and raised in Kentucky and living in Brooklyn, singer/songwriter Matt Bauer will be performing in LA tonight Friday, June 24th at a special house concert.

How cool is that? It’s so rare in LA to be able to go to a house concert open to the public. It will be a special, intimate music community experience that will be about both the people and the music.

This sentiment is also found within Bauer’s song “When I Was A Mockingbird,” a compassionate and almost symphonic look into all the varioius forms of life in the wilderness of his hometown in Kentucky. Banjos, bells, violins, cellos, and violas all wrap around Bauer’s compassionate and inquisitive musing of all the different perspectives – and all the different worlds – that lie within ours. The song is a bird’s eye view of the world, where each verse is dedicated to zooming in and focusing on the life and perspective of another. The song makes me realize the blessing of words – our human ability to speak, communicate to one enough, and understand the world around us.

Bauer says of his song: “I think of it almost visually, like a panning shot that’s capturing all these moments around one of the places I grew up outside Lexington, KY. I’m imagining what it would be like to be the horse I had growing up, the flies drinking off her eyes, the starlings following each other around in the sky, the the ants looking for mites on a heron… it ends in a dry lake bed that’s behind my parent’s place. There’s a lot of limestone in central Kentcuky, and because of that a lot of caves; so there’s a little sunken forest where there used to be a lake, but all the water escaped down into some underground caves a long time ago.”

TVD is giving away a vinyl copy of Bauer’s album The Jessamine County Book of the Living. For a chance to win, simply leave us a comment telling us what animal you would like to be, if you couldn’t be human of course.

The winner will be chosen next Friday (7/1) and must have a mailing address in the continental US or Canada.

Here are the details on tonight’s show:
Friday, June 24th | House Concert feat Matt Bauer and Dana Falconberry | 209 S. Garey Street | Music starts at 9pm

Here is Bauer’s music video for Mockingbird:

For more information on Matt Bauer:
Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter

LA singer/songwriter John Gold, or as he likes to put it “writer-songsinger,” recently released his debut album A Flower In Your Head on Vagrant Records. A Flower winds electronic sound effects around an acoustic backbone and confessional journal-esque lyrics. Gold says of the album, “It’s become my own personal manifesto. In the past few years I’ve sort of changed the way I think about things. I’ve decided that if I’m gonna sing the same things over and over for years, better to reach for the good that is now and will be tomorrow rather than report on the past.”

You might recognize Gold’s music from the series of music placements he’s achieved . Gold’s song “Honeymade” was recently featured on MTV‘s Teen Wolf, while “August Vail” was heard on 16 and Pregnant. Past songs of Gold’s have also been heard on shows like Weeds and commercials for companies like Nike and Levi’s.

To support A Flower In Your Head, Gold will be playing a short residency in June at The Rotary Room at Little Temple in Los Angeles. While his June 14th and June 21st dates have already passed, you can catch the last night of his residency this upcoming Tuesday, June 28th.

John Gold | Thursday

For a taste of Gold’s music, listen to “Thursday.” It showcases his love of substance over structure and his ridiculous talent for creating what might be the catchiest ending to songs ever. It’s a charming song about eager anticipation that would make any girl’s heart skip a beat. Gold says of the song, “I’m gonna see you this Saturday and I can’t wait, so I’m writing you a song on Thursday night about seeing you.”

Here are the details on Gold’s residency:

June 28 | Rotary Room @ Little Temple | 4519 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90029 | 8:30pm | $8| 21+

For more information on Gold:
Website | Facebook

Trevor Menear‘s album Some Kind Of Sunshine is a record that makes you feel at ease. I think it’s the sound of the record – melodies that remind me of listening to the local Classic Rock radio station from the backseat of my dad’s station wagon – to the way it was recorded. Despite the clarity and quality of the recording, it has a distinctly vinyl feel. There is a beauty and depth to the songs and recording that make them stand out from today’s drum machines, bits, bytes, and samples… and it makes you nostalgic.

My favorite track off the record is “Give Her A Name,” a song co-written by Shane Alexander, another local LA singer/songwriter. How can you not love a song that references a rocking chair in the very first line? It reminds me of whenever I fly into Nashville and see the rocking chairs they have right at baggage claim. In that moment, I know I am in the South; and I’m happy. In this song, when you see the image of him sitting in the rocking chair in the very first line, you know are in for something special. His set up does’t fail me; the specificity of his lyrics wind in and around the haunting guitar and in-between the cinematic strings. Lines like “scarf in the wind and that look on her face” give me my “moment in time I still can’t escape.”

Trevor Menear | Give Her A Name

Menear will be having a free full band show at Hemingway’s Lounge this Sunday night. There will also be an open Jameson bar, which is pretty much a deal sealer. Get there early, as the doors will close after 300 people. Here are all the details:

“Plumbline” by Jamie Drake is one of those songs that I was swept away with upon the first listen. I love songs that remind me of Emily Dickinson poems: a beautiful idea that is instantly transferred to the listener upon the first hearing, but that over time unravels itself to reveal something deeper. That’s what this song is like – simple, soothing, and sweet – and then as it unfolds itself listen after listen (and you begin to understand what a plumbline actually is) – the song becomes deep, substantive and classic.

The song is weighted with the foundation of the low-end finger picking, which is perfectly balanced out by Drake’s vocals and dreamscape of a slide guitar. Besides the way it sounds though, I think one of my favorite things about this song is the way it is sung. Drake sings the song like she would speak it; it’s a conversation with the listener.

Here is Drake’s description of the song: “I’m not sure where I heard the term – probably back in my youth group days – but when I was writing this song I had just come out of a very long and seemingly permanent relationship and was experiencing a new one for the first time in what felt like ages. It was an exciting and horrific time, so what else did it do but breath some much needed inspiration into my writing? A plumbline is defined as ‘a line from which a weight is suspended to determine verticality or depth’ before building the foundation of a house – making sure that everything is ‘plumb’ or balanced. I used this as an analogy for building a balanced relationship – not exactly like but similar to a story that Jesus tells about ‘one man building his house upon the sand, and another man building his house upon the rock,’ and which one do you think stood when the rains came?”

Plumbline | Jamie Drake

Drake’s next LA show is at the Ventura Folk Festival being held at Mission Park in Downtown Ventura on August 20th and 21st. Her set will be on Sunday, August 21st around noon.

For more information on Jamie Drake:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | You Tube

LA singer/songwriter Scott Brause has a lovely, hidden gem of a song tucked away on You Tube called “Nebraska.” One that I’ve had on repeat for some time now, it is the perfect song for a melancholy Spring day spent reminiscing. For me, the song is about the weight of dreams unfulfilled, yet somehow the song is still peaceful and contemplative in nature, from its calming vocals and dream-like specific lyrics to its classically beautiful string arrangement and homemade video by Brause’s daughter. With backyards, trampolines, a happy dog, and a family dinner, there is something utterly charming about the music video. It’s like enjoying a sunny day, despite all the sadness… or when things are a mess, being grateful for the little things in life.

For full disclosure, I do have to admit I am singing back-up on this song, but the above is precisely why I chose to. I’ve loved this song since I first heard it.

To watch Scott Brause’s “Nebraska:”

Veteran LA singer-songwriter Keaton Simons will be at The Hotel Cafe this Wednesday, June 15th for a full band show.

Simons delivers the kind of time-stopping performance that lifts you up, holds your breath, and makes your eyes open a little wider and focus in; it’s almost as if you’re in a vacuum. After seeing him perform many times, each and every time, I get sucked in. His songs are strong. His guitar playing is moving. His voice will take you from a raspy growl to a scratchy, emotional belt. He’s also hilarious and so comfortable on stage that nothing ever feels too planned. He lets his set flow and this freedom on stage puts you at ease… and makes you listen. Intently.

My personal favorite of his is called “Beautiful Pain,” which will be on his next studio album (likely coming out in early 2012). While it’s not released as a studio track just yet, a live version is available on the SXSW 4 Japan compilation. While we here at TVD don’t normally link to iTunes and Amazon, since the proceeds from this album go to the Red Cross in support of the Japan earthquake and tsunami aftermath, you’ll find the links to purchase the stellar compilation below.

Here’s a live performance of “Beautiful Pain”, featuring musician Tony Lucca, for a taste of what you can expect Wednesday:

Here are the show details:
Wednesday, June 15th | Hotel Cafe | 10PM | $10 | 21+

To buy tickets in advance, click here.

For more information on Keaton:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

To purchase “Beautiful Pain” and to make a donation to the Red Cross:
iTunes | Amazon

(Photo credit: Zach Lipp)

Had you been checking into TVD LA lately, you’d have noticed it had gotten a little, well…sleepy. (They seem to come and go in that City of Angels.) Our hangout has a renewed spring to its step this week with the arrival of Jennifer Quiroz, a singer/songwriter in her own right, who’s now manning TVD’s LA outpost daily.

She’s got one today we think is smart to share far beyond LA. —Ed.

LA singer/songwriter Joel Eckels is bringing the local music community together this Friday, June 10th to help the victims of the catastrophic tornado that affected his home state. Inspired by the fundraisers his friends and family were organizing back home, Eckels is bringing his own local community together to do what he can, despite now living so far away. No stranger to rallying artists together for a good cause – Eckels raised $1000 for Haiti last year with a similar event – he hopes to be able to raise both money and awareness for the cause, one that is understandably so close to his heart. All proceeds from Friday’s concert will go to Convoy of Hope.

Being held at Room 5 – one of the most intimate rooms in Los Angeles – the show will bring together several staples in the singer/songwriter scene. This show is about bringing the community together – the community at large and our own little community of musicians and music lovers. There will be performances by: Gaby Moreno, Keaton Simons, Angel Taylor, Justine Bennett, Trevor Menear, Stephen Wrabel, Jenni Alpert, Tim Fagan, Michael Doman, Derek Carter, Joel Eckels, Clare Means, Leslie Lowe, Josh Damigo, Ryan Darton, Patrick Joseph and Kelly McGrath.

Here are the details:
Friday, June 15th | Room 5 | 9pm | $10 Donation | 21+
All proceeds go to Convoy of Hope

Having seen many of these artists perform live, I can personally attest to how special this show will be, but here is a little taste of a few of the featured artists:

Chai Tea Latte | Angel Taylor

Heavy Feeling | Justine Bennett

River Blues | Trevor Menear

Wicked Saints, a LA band led by singer/songwriter Paul McCarty, has just released it’s self-titled debut album. With McCarty at the helm, Wicked Saints also features several other local LA musicians and singer/songwriters: Chad Watson (bass), John Gannon (drums), David Vidal (slide guitar), Brent Michelle (backup vocals).

The song that took my heart is “Mama,” McCarty’s ode to his mother, who he lost to Lou Gehrig’s disease. His melodic guitar hook and bittersweet lyrics slither into my emotions, open up my heart, wind their way around my thoughts and make my eyes tingle. Simply, the song is poignantly beautiful. Here is what McCarty has to say:

“My mom suffered for over two years with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It started in her extremities and gradually moved in to her core. Then she stopped breathing. She had a beautiful voice. She taught voice and piano in the house. She sang with the New Orleans Symphony Choir. She first noticed symptoms when she discovered she couldn’t reach as big an interval on the piano as she had been able to. My interval is 22 years. Mom, I wrote you a song.”

Wicked Saints | Mama

For more information on Wicked Saints:

Website

After half a million votes, 16 acts have been narrowed down to two finalists in the Choose the Cover of Rolling Stone contest. One of these finalists is LA singer-songwriter Lelia Broussard, who if she wins, will not only grace the cover of Rolling Stone, but will also win a recording contract with Atlantic Records.

Broussard has been a staple in the LA and Hotel Cafe singer-songwriter community for some time now. My favorite song of hers is “My Heart’s A Cannonball.” It’s one of those songs I like to call a dirty, little obsession and that I will quite literally play on repeat. All. Day. In that way, her one song will become my soundtrack. I also love her mixing of genres – the backbeat and shuffle of a heritage Country song, subtle favors of a Pop melody, and the genuine, confessional feel of a Singer-Songwriter’s acoustic guitar.

Lelia Broussard | My Heart’s a Cannonball

In the final leg of the contest, Broussard will face her competitors The Sheepdogs in a Battle of the Bands taking place on June 11th at Bonnaroo in Nashville. If you’ll be at the festival, definitely make sure to check her out.

Click HERE to vote for who you’d like to see on the cover of Rolling Stone.

For more information on Lelia:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

LA-dweller, Nebraska-born singer/songwriter Will Hutchinson will be making his Hotel Cafe debut this Saturday, June 11th at 9pm.

The stand-out song for me off his debut album Arrive is “Without You,” a simultaneously sad and peaceful song about a man dealing with the loss of his wife. Its soothing finger-picking and softly-whispered vocals are punctuated by high haunting harmonies and the subtle bellows of low percussion. The beauty of this song is in the interplay between the direct lyrics and sparse arrangement, leaving room for you to hear both Hutchinson’s message and your own thoughts. It is also the perfect length from my apartment to my local grocery store – literally door to door – and somehow made my bland errand a little more meaningful.

“Without You” by Will Hutchinson

Hutchinson will be making his Hotel Cafe debut with an all star band featuring Ben Jaffe (Guitar), Rob Humphreys (Drums), Simon Huber (Bass) and Aaron Beaumont (Keys).

For more information on Will:

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp