You may recognize Lisa Hannigan’s work with Damien Rice and The Cake Sale. Unfortunately, of the three times i have seen Damien Rice, Lisa never performed with him (There was that time when they played san diego in a tiny venue and i was 3 months away from turning 21 and I wasn’t allowed in. It was one of those shows that i will forever regret for missing.) The whole time i was watching her perform, I was only thinking of how different her solo stuff is from the songs she performed with Damien. I mean sure, Damien wrote most of the songs that Lisa sang on but her solo record also features members of Damien’s band (Vyvienne and Tomo) so you would expect songs of the same style right? wrong. The songs are mature and hit the spectrum from sleepy ballads to a drum and bass type track; yet, the record is still cohesive sounding. Listening to the record is like wearing a sweater at the beginning of autumn- its warm, fluffy, and gives you a slightly hazy feeling. This may very well be my soundtrack to the season. One of my favorite things about her music is her enunciation and how fragile she sounds- hearing how she breaks the rules of pronunciation (Listen to “Keep It All” and “Pistacio”). Live, all the nuances in Lisa’s music is magnified. For example, the Harmonium and the electric upright bass is so rich sounding and adds another layer of depth. My favorite songs of the night include Venn Diagram, I Don’t Know, Lille, and Keep It All.

Set List:
Sea Song
Splishy Splashy
Blurry (from Other Voices)
I Don’t Know (one of my favorites off the record)
The Lady Is A Tramp
Keep It All
Pistacio
Teeth
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (Bob Dylan cover)
Venn Diagram
Ocean and a Rock
Lille
————————————–
Couldn’t Love You More
Free Until They Cut Me Down (Iron & Wine Cover)

Lisa’s voice is so unique and as sad as i am that she doesn’t perform with Damien Rice anymore; however, I’m glad that she has recorded a solo disc that features her unique feathery vocals.
If Lisa and her band play in your town, don’t miss it. At the moment she is only doing a few shows that aren’t with Jason Mraz (he’s playing large venues). Hopefully, after her record is released, she will do a more extensive tour.

Sorry but no pictures for this show! The Largo has a strict policy regarding cameras and I can’t tell you how many times i wanted to snap away. : ( But, check out some vids of her on YouTube.

Lisa peforming “Lille”:

Performing “Blurry” on Other Voices:

Lisa with Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol) performing “Some Surprise” from The Cake Sale, a charity project for Oxfam:

Ingrid Michaelson is doing an extensive U.S. tour to support her record “Be Ok”. A portion of the proceeds from the single will go to Stand Up 2 Cancer. Also touring with her is Newton Faulkner and David Ford. The record I did a review of Ingrid’s last Los Angeles show here and she is definately worth checking out. Dates Below.

Oct 29 Williamson Theatre (College of Staten Island) Staten Island, NY, USA Headlining
Oct 30 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA, USA Headlining SOLD OUT
Nov 1 Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, MA, USA Headlining SOLD OUT
Nov 4 House of Blues Anaheim, CA, USA Headlining
Nov 5 House of Blues San Diego, CA, USA Headlining
Nov 6 El Rey Los Angeles, CA, USA Headlining
Nov 7 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA, USA Headlining
Nov 8 Harlow’s Sacramento, CA, USA Headlining
Nov 10 Easy Street Records (Queen Anne Store) Seattle, WA, USA In-Store 6pm
Nov 10 Neumos Seattle, WA, USA Headlining
Nov 11 Music Millenium Portland, OR, USA In-Store 6pm
Nov 11 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR, USA Headlining
Nov 13 Belly Up Aspen, CO, USA Headlining CANCELED
Nov 14 Gothic Theatre Denver, CO, USA Headlining
Nov 16 Slowdown Omaha, NE, USA Headlining
Nov 17 Pantages Theatre Minneapolis, MN, USA Headlining
Nov 18 Barrymore Theatre Madison, WI, USA Headlining
Nov 19 Park West Chicago, IL, USA Headlining
Nov 20 The Ark Ann Arbor, MI, USA Headlining SOLD OUT
Nov 21 Madison Theatre Covington, KY (Cincinnati), USA Headlining
Nov 23 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA, USA Headlining
Nov 24 Club Cafe Pittsburgh, PA, USA Headlining
Nov 25 The Birchmere Alexandria, VA, USA Headlining

Here
for your chance to win a Gossip Girl “Never Have I Ever Game” as well as a copy of the Soundtrack. The contest ends on November 5th at noon Pacific Time when i will be picking a winner.

The first time I saw the Hotel Cafe Tour, it was one of the most unique concert experiences I have ever witnessed. There was no clear headlining act because it was a collaborative experience much like the Hotel Cafe itself. Musicians on the tour shared a backing band with a songwriter playing 2-3 songs then allowing the next act to do the same. For the entire duration of the show, acts would round robin and support each other musicially whether it be providing backing vocals, a duet or picking up and instrument. This tour was also unique in that it features a slew of female singer songwriters like Ingrid Michaelson, Rachael Yamagata, Kate Havenik, Anya Marina, Catherine Feeny, Meiko, Priscilla Ahn, Jamay, Erin McCarley, and Holly Conlan. I was in for a surprise when the previously scheduled roster that included Priscilla Ahn and Brooke Fraser had cancelled last minute. So, we were left with Anya Marina, Meiko, Molly Jenson, Jamay, Erin McCarley, and Holly Conlan. Unlike the past tours, this gig felt drastically different- the show felt choppy, unbalanced and lacked the collaborative spirit. Only during Jaymay’s set did Meiko and Holly Conlan come out to support her musically jumping on some percussion and backing vocals for the chorus.

Anya Marina- The new songs off of Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II sounds a lot more experimental than her her first record Miss Halfway. I’m not a big fan of her music but I always find her stories/ banter hilarious.

Jaymay- definately the highlight of the night with a bunch of great songs that held my attention.

Holly Conlan- pretty voice.

Meiko- she really surprised me because i heard her recordings awhile back and i didn’t think they were special but live she’s a lot better.

anya marina:

jaymay, meiko, and holly conlan:

Jaymay:

Erin McCarley

Holly Conlan:

Molly Jenson:

Hello Readers!

The Audio Taco is giving away a copy of the new Gossip Girl Soundtrack along with the Gossip Girl Never Have I Ever Game. Being a fan of the show, i jumped at this opportunity. For these rad prizes all you have to do is shoot an email to: audiotaco@gmail.com with the subject heading Gossip Girl Contest and included your name and address. One winner will be chosen and contacted on the 5th of November in honor of Guy Fawkes Day.

The soundtrack track listing is as follows:
1. The Kills – “Sour Cherry”
2. The Kooks – Do You Wanna”
3. Phantom Planet – “Do The Panic”
4. The Teenagers – “Feeling Better”
5. The Virgins – “One Week Of Danger (Demo Version)”
6. Nadia Oh – “Got Your Number”
7. Crystal Castles – “Crimewave”
8. The Republic Tigers – “Fight Song”
9. Junkie XL – “Cities In Dust”
10. The Ting Tings – “We Started Nothing”
11. Oppenheimer – “Breakfast In NYC”
12. The Pierces – “Three Wishes”
13. Albert Hammond Jr. – “Hard To Live In The City”

xoxo

~The Audio Taco

I saw Nick and Norah’s Infinate Playlist this weekend and having been a big fan of the book, I created my own playlist to go with it. Unfortunately, myspace is limited to 10 songs.

Audio Taco’s Infinite Playlist (you can listen to the mix on myspace)

Sometime Around Midnight- The Airborne Toxic Event
The Night Starts Here- Stars
Some Surprise- The Cake Sale
Rocky Took A Lover- Bell X1
Gray or Blue- Jaymay
Somebody Hurt You- A Girl Called Eddy
Burn THe Maps- Castledoor
With Arms Outstretched- Rilo Kiley
My Sunken Treasure- The Duke Spirit
Peace and Hate- The Submarines

Photos and review coming shortly….

Set List

Into the Mystic (Van Morrison cover)
Falling Slowly
The Moon
When Your Minds Made Up
This Low
I Have Loved You Wrong
Say It to Me Now (Glen solo, unplugged)
Astral Weeks (Van Morrison cover)
Back Broke
Happiness
Maybe I Was Born to Hold You in These Arms
Low Rising
Lies (John Carney on bass)
——Encore ———–

The Hill
If You Want Me
The Blue Shoes (Colm Mac Con Iomaire solo )
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (with songwriter Richard Sherman on piano and vocals)
Out on the Weekend (Neil Young cover, Iron & Wine on vocals)
Fitzcarraldo
People Get Ready

I will be posting a review and some photos sometime this week because im going to the Los Angeles Swell Season gig tonight.

Set List: Say It To Me Now
Falling Slowly
The Moon
When Your Mind’s Made Up
I Have Loved You Wrong
This Low
Leave
What Happens When The Heart Just Stops
Astral Weeks
Happiness
Maybe I Was Born To Hold You In These Arms
Low Rising
Lies
Encore:
——————-
If You Want Me
Blue Shoes (Colm solo)
Fitzcarraldo (This was one of my favorites for the night)
People Get Ready