Results tagged “hotelcafe”

                     

On Monday night, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and Spirits in the Sky -- germinated from the recent Sky Saxon tribute at The Echoplex, whose lineup includes guitarist Dave Navarro and 19 year old drummer Mike Byrne -- performed the final show of their mini tour at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood.

The trio Lady Danville (Michael Garner, Dan Chang and Matthew Frankel) took to the stage for an early set at Hotel Cafe on Tuesday night to solidly appreciative and collegial crowd. Our guess is that many UCLA students, alums and friends ventured East of Westwood to hear the band who were all members of UCLA’s a cappella choir, Awaken A Capella.

       

LAist favorite Sasha Grey has been quite a media sensation due to her leading role in Steven Soderbergh's , with film critic Roger Ebert even observing that "I haven't seen any of [her adult work], but now I would like to see one, watching very carefully, to see if she suggests more than one level."

Singer/songwriter Asa was born to make music. From her birth and later years in Paris to her formative years in Nigeria, music has remained her constant companion. In an effort to grow as a musician, she secretly enrolled in music school, bought a guitar and carved out a distinct sound that's unmistakably Asa--a blend of reggae, folk, soul and jazz. She weaves many themes throughout the 10 tracks of her self-titled debut, and the way she communicates emotion is further heightened through her use of English and her mother tongue, Yoruba. LAist recently sat down with Asa at Caffe Etc. prior to one of her recent gigs at the Hotel Cafe. Over espresso, she opened up about the meaning of her name, the beauty of Nigeria and her thoughts on Los Angeles.

Mexico City blogger Alejandro De La Cruz is in town and last night went to see a friend of his play at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. To his surprise, John Mayer tweeted/announced (twinounced?) that he would be playing later that night. A few hours later, the intimate venue was packed--luckily, De La Cruz already had a front row seat at a table, allowing for some good photos.

       

On Sunday night, Georgian-born singer-songwriter Katie Melua performed a sold-out show, as part of her latest tour promoting the release of her new album , at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. It was actually her second show of the day as she did a free in-store earlier at the nearby Amoeba Records.

UK-based singer/songwriter Katie Melua has sold more than 10 million records, performed for the Queen and headlined at Wembley Arena. Even though she can sell out larger venues, Melua still enjoys playing more intimate spaces. Tonight, a lucky few will have the opportunity to hear her play a set at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. Melua's current tour coincides with the US release of her studio third album, "Pictures," which mixes jazz, folk and pop influences. LAist recently spoke with Melua to learn about her childhood in the country of Georgia, the new album and her favorite roller coaster in Southern California.

              

Last Wednesday, San Diego-based Tristan Prettyman (MySpace) and local Jesca Hoop (MySpace) anchored a solid night of female singer-songwriters at Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood that included openers Lucy Schwartz (MySpace) and Annie Bethancourt (MySpace).

                     

Thanks to top late-night picture-taker Drew "Rukes" Ressler, we can see what goes bump in the night, and who dances to that bump. Last month we did. This month we present evidence, that despite the cold fist of the economy, SoCal is full of people dancing, led by those DJs who make us dance. That, and Rukes paid a visit to rockers Last Exit.

The story goes like this: When Joe Pug was a junior studying playwriting at the University of North Carolina he had an two sequential epiphanies. He decided that he was unhappy in his studies, and he wanted to pursue a career as a musician. So he picked up his things, packed up his car, and headed for Chicago. Three years later, Joe Pug has released his first EP Nation of Heat upon the world, and we are all thrilled he made such a bold choice.

I'm used to conducting interviews at the back of 7-11s or at Target or a local coffee shop. So when I was told to meet Maia Hirasawa at a swanky little hotel in Beverly Hills called Maison 140, which requires that I mention it in the article in order for me to take pictures there (Mentioned!) it felt odd. Not just odd, but so un-rock n' roll. The host had reserved us tables at their bar which was packed with business men.

One can't help but be intrigued by Lex Land's voice. She deftly navigates fervor and vulnerability in a manner that usually takes a lifetime to cultivate, and yet she's only 22. Since the release of her debut record, Orange Days on Lemon Street, comparisons have already been made with Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple and Liz Phair among others. But Land takes it all in stride. Last Thursday, LAist sat down with Land at Peet's Coffee in Studio City and spoke with the Southern California native about her whirlwind year, her three tattoos, the craziest experience she's ever had on LA public transportation, and her gig tonight at the Hotel Cafe.

                     

On Monday night, while Norwegian rocker Ida Maria (MySpace) wowed the Spaceland (MySpace) crowd, Santa Barbara's Katy Perry (MySpace) returned to her singer-songwriter roots by headlining a sold out show at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, with support from last-minute openers Holly Conlan (MySpace) and Meiko (MySpace). LA-Underground observed that, "If [Perry] returned to the 50-capacity Genghis Cohen Cantina or Highland Grounds where she really started now that would be something (especially since Highland Grounds/The Dive closed last year)." But to say that this intimate show wasn't highly anticipated would be wildly inaccurate, as fans flew in from as far away as Vancouver, offering as much as $200 for a pair of tickets, and upwards of 15 paparazzi camped outside at the front and rear entrances for the duration of the evening.

       

Songwriter Round is a semi-regular gathering of singer-songwriters, hosted by local Jay Nash (MySpace), that's usually held at the Room 5 Lounge above Amalfi on Fairfax. But Monday's edition was moved to the newly-expanded stage at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood to accomodate peers Joey Ryan (MySpace), Javier Dunn (MySpace), and special guest Sara Bareilles (MySpace), who was advertised as the anagram "Lara Sarables."

In recent months, Erin McCarley's music has been featured on shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Privileged and One Tree Hill. The movie trailer for He's Just Not That Into You includes her song "Love, Save the Empty." And tonight, she'll appear on the Late Show with David Letterman. Not bad for an artist whose first album debuts today! LAist recently chatted with McCarley a couple days after hanging out on the set of her first music video shoot. During the conversation, she opened up about the new record, the best advice she ever received, and why she might take up grocery shopping as a hobby.

                     

Earlier this month, Buddyhead held its Christmas Party at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, with a lineup that included poet Ryan Ritchie, Brandon Intelligator and The Sheriffs (MySpace), Tsk Tsk (MySpace), Sid Brown (MySpace), Todd Congelliere ("MySpace), Dios Malos (MySpace), Claire Cronin (MySpace), Zander Schloss (MySpace), Nick Jago, Alain Johannes, Jason Simon, Sweethead (MySpace), and Aaron North.

                     

Earlier this month, Brooklyn-based rock trio Earl Greyhound (MySpace) headlined with an acoustic set at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, supported by singer-songwriter openers Angel Taylor (MySpace) and Annie Stela (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here. Attendance was unfortunately down from a typical night there but understandable given the torrential weather.

                     

Earlier this month, local singer-songwriter Gary Jules concluded his "Old School Tuesdays" residency at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, supported by openers Simone White (MySpace), Oren Lavie (MySpace), and Jim Bianco (MySpace). At first a space for jazz musicians, the Hotel Cafe was revitalized as an alternative to Largo -- for early-adopters Jules, Bianco, and Joshua Radin (MySpace) -- a fact that hasn't been lost on Jules, who reminsinced during his set about those early days.

                                    

Earlier this month was "Ho-Ho-Tel 2008" at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. The three night fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the LAFD's "Spark of Love" Toy Drive, featured a "very good" all-star lineup of singer-songwriters and bands that included The Abdomen (MySpace), Sweet Talk Radio (MySpace), Alvin Stewart (MySpace), Holly Conlan (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), AM (MySpace), The Paper Raincoat (MySpace), Meiko (MySpace), Buddy (MySpace), Gary Jules (MySpace), Brian Wright (MySpace), Joe Firstman (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), and Butch Walker (MySpace) for Friday, while Sunday included Jenni Alpert (MySpace), Rob Giles (MySpace), Shane Alexander (MySpace), Charley Turner (MySpace), Lissie (MySpace), Austin Hartley-Leonard (MySpace), Jay Nash (MySpace), Brother Sal (MySpace), Chris Pierce (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), Pedestrian (MySpace), Andy Clockwise (MySpace), Foster Timms, Tim Jones (MySpace), and Truth and Salvage Co. (MySpace).

                      

Last Wednesday, local indie band Obi Best (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here -- performed at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. Opening were Miami-based singer-songwriter Rachel Goodrich (MySpace) and the Rio de Janeiro-based Kassin +2 (MySpace).

       

Last month, the Hotel Cafe Tour (MySpace) -- mentioned previously here -- whose all-female singer-songwriter lineup was comprised of locals Emily Wells (MySpace), Lenka (MySpace), and Meiko (MySpace), as well as Jaymay (MySpace), Thao Nguyen (MySpace), and Rachael Yamagata (MySpace), concluded at the Henry Fonda Theatre.

                      

Last month, there was a great night of performances by singer-songwriters that included Carina Round (MySpace) at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, as well as Tenlons Fort (MySpace) -- backed by members of Amnion (MySpace), Avi Buffalo (MySpace), Castledoor (MySpace), and The Monolators (MySpace) -- Jenny O. (MySpace), Angela Correa (MySpace), Rachael Cantu (MySpace), and Daniel Ahearn (MySpace) at Mr. T's Bowl (MySpace) in Highland Park. Opening at Mr. T's was rapper Trick Tracy -- aka Castledoor's Brandon Schwartzel.

                      

Last month, San Diego-based singer-songwriter Anya Marina (MySpace) headlined at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, with support from Molly Jenson (MySpace) and New Jersey-based Laura Warshauer (MySpace).

                      

Last Tuesday, local blues/rock duo HoneyHoney (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here -- celebrated the release of their debut full-length album at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, with openers The Sweet Hurt (MySpace) and Miss Willie Brown (MySpace).

               

On Saturday night, The Parson Redheads (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here -- headlined a local Aquarium Drunkard (MySpace) showcase at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake, supported by openers The Sweet Hurt (MySpace) and Willougby (MySpace) as well as the Ventura-based The Spires (MySpace).

        

Last night, local ethereal shoegazers Warpaint (MySpace) closed the evening's lineup at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. Formed in March 2007 with actress Shannyn Sossamon as drummer, the once all-female band has had two residencies this year -- February March at the Silverlake Lounge and August at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake -- as well as a spot on last month's Clean Air Clear Stars Festival (MySpace) at Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace (MySpace).

                     

A number of Swedish singers, including Lykke Li (MySpace, LAist), Theressa Andersson (MySpace, LAist), and Lisa Miskovsky (MySpace), have performed at local venues in recent months, and on Monday, pop singer-songwriter and Perez Hilton favorite Robyn (MySpace) headlined an industry showcase at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood, with London-based Molly Beanland (MySpace) opening.

                             

Last Sunday and Monday was Obama Nights! at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. The sold-out Barack Obama Presidential Campaign fundraisers, featuring an all-star lineup of 23 singer-songwriters, included Marina V (MySpace), Caitlin Crosby (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), Charlotte Martin (MySpace), Charley Turner (MySpace), Brother Sal (MySpace), Terra Naomi (MySpace), Priscilla Ahn (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), and Butch Walker (MySpace) for Sunday, while Monday included Kelly Dalton (MySpace), Marié Digby (MySpace), Tim Myers (MySpace), Schuyler Fisk (MySpace), HoneyHoney (MySpace), Rocco DeLuca (MySpace), David Ryan Harris (MySpace), Chris Pierce (MySpace), Tom Freund (MySpace), Ben Lee (MySpace), and Brett Dennen (MySpace).

                                    

Earlier this month, the Hotel Cafe Tour (MySpace) -- mentioned previously here, here, and here -- whose all-female singer-songwriter lineup was comprised of locals Laura Jansen (MySpace), Holly Conlan (MySpace), and Meiko (MySpace), as well as Jaymay (MySpace), Erin McCarley (MySpace), and Rachael Yamagata (MySpace), stopped by the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood.