Coco O by Jeremiah Garcia

Quadron have come a long way since recording their debut in a basement studio in Copenhagen.

Both producer Robin Hannibal and singer Coco O now call Los Angeles home and they’ve spent the last few years prepping songs for their sophomore release, some of which we got to hear in a live show as part of KCRW’s Apogee Studio series last night.

They had one guiding principal for the new songs: What would Michael Jackson say?

They bonded over their love of the entertainer and he’s all over the new record – a track Coco introduced as being “really excited about”, “Favorite Star”, clearly had some MJ touches and the song “Neverland”, was a dedication to fans of the singer. Later, she sang a cover of “Baby Be Mine”.

The audience was completely enraptured by Coco’s incredible voice, soaring over an incredible backing band (all LA musicians) and arrangements that are always just right — never too busy, but always interesting.

The duo have perfected the equation for creating soul with a modern touch –always passionate and real, but completely current.

Robin, a self-proclaimed “studio rat” who says he’s found his calling working behind the scenes as a producer/songwriter, and Coco, who clearly relishes the limelight and soaked up the love from the audience with a warm smile, have a huge amount of respect and admiration for each other.

Coco and Robin by Jeremiah Garcia

They made the big leap to a major label (Epic) with the new record and are ready for whatever is ahead, with Coco confidently telling Jason Bentley during the interview portion that they want as many people as possible to hear their music and they retained full artistic integrity in the process. In fact, they finally had a budget , which allowed them to record in Westlake Studio – where Michael Jackson recorded some of his biggest albums. Coco said they always try to “find his spirit in everything we do”.

The crowd really heated up for “Sea Salt” (“now it’s time to get a little sexy”, said Coco, before launching into the song) and “Hey Love”, the incredibly catchy and poppy first single from “Avalanche”.

It was also great to hear songs from the first record – after all, the DJs at KCRW were such early supporters, they were responsible for the band getting a record deal here in the U.S. Tracks like “Jeans” and “Average Fruit” reminded us why we fell in love with Quadron in the first place.

Coco’s reworking of the track “Pressure” to explore her full register in dramatic fashion was the ideal finale, leaving us all wanting more.

The session, recorded by producer/engineer Bob Clearmountain, will air on Morning Becomes Eclectic on Tuesday, June 4.

RR

Quadron Live on KCRW Set List

Looking For Trouble **
Average Fruit
Favorite Star **
Unpatient
Day
Neverland **
Sea Salt **
Jeans
It’s Gonna Get You **
Hey Love **
Baby Be Mine (Michael Jackson cover)
Pressure

**NEW SONGS

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

by Jeremiah Garcia

Coco and Robin backstage by Jeremiah Garcia

Holy Ghost! by Harry McNally

Brooklyn-based synth pop duo Holy Ghost! are hitting the West Coast next week. Sadly their LA show is already sold out, but they’ve released a video for their track “Dumb Disco Ideas“, which is getting some serious love on KCRW’s airwaves.

The video, directed by Ben Fries, features a plethora of colorful, synchronized lights and a backdrop of the New York City skyline from dusk until dawn.

The track will be on their forthcoming sophomore album, “Dynamics“, out this fall. Also, there will be another chance to see them soonish — they’re on the lineup for FYF Fest in September !

RR

For a number of years, DJ/Producer Vincente Sanfuentes has been forging the sound of the new Latin alternative dance movement as a member of the Comeme label and producer for Matias Aguayo, Los Amigos Invisibles, Senor Coconut, Rebolledo and more. Additionally, he’s released work on the BoysNoize label under the Surtek Collective moniker.

Continually pushing forward, the prolific and supremely gracious Sanfuentes has now launched his own label, based here in Los Angeles, under his own name.

Sanfuentes‘ first release is a heater called “Ivy League” which includes an extra chuggy remix from DJs Pareja.

The first in what promises to be a super sharp series of releases for Sanfuentes, it’s well worth seeking out and playing loud all summer long.

We’ve been fans of pretty much everything Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr has released – from their debut full length to a few EPs – so they returned the favor by premiering a handful of new songs from their forthcoming album during their live session for Morning Becomes Eclectic.

The duo from Detroit (Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott) also brought a full band along and won us over with some spot-on whistling and sax playing ON TOP of expertly-crafted pop songs, which is their specialty.

Their recent EP – with the uber-danceable “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)” – is a good indication of what’s to come.  (Their manager mentioned that the crowds go crazy when they play it live)

It’s strange to think that my favorite song off their last album was a romantic, somewhat simple pop ballad and the frontrunner on their new disc, “War Zone”, seemed like it would fit perfectly in the closing scene of any of my favorite movies from the 80′s, complete with  its dreamy “heart beats faster” lyrircs and a sax solo towards the end that makes the song.

In fact, Josh says he’s had that saxophone since 6^th grade and it’s still the instrument he’s best at because he practiced so much as a kid.

They don’t have an exact release date for “The Speed of Things” but if today’s set was any indication, it will likely end up one my Top 10 of the year list. It’s one of few occasions when I was tempted to try to get the band to sneak me an early copy!

Get a preview right here! (Audio is up now and video will be up soon)

RR

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr Live on KCRW — Set List

Hiding
Run **
Mesopatamia **
If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)
Dark Water
Knock Louder **
War Zone **
Don’t Tell Me **
I Think of You (Rodriguez cover)

**new songs!

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr by Larry Hirshowitz

with Jason Bentley by Larry Hirshowitz

Saturday Night Live is finishing up its 38^th season this weekend so we invited cast member Jason Sudeikis to share song songs that have shaped him as part of KCRW’s Guest DJ Project.

From favorites he inherited from his parents to the West Coast gangsta rap that informed him of a lifestyle far from his own in suburban Kansas, music seems to have been as big of an influence on his life as his comedy idol, Eddie Murphy.

He mentions detention and getting in trouble at school, so it’s safe to say he’s always had a rebellious nature, as many of the best comedians do.

Check it out here and below.  (I should also mention he voices a character in the upcoming animated adventure-comedy film Epic, out in 3D on May 24.)

I should mention that  SNL’s head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers – also a Guest DJ Project graduate – will be leaving the show after this week.

Current (as of now) cast member Fred Armisen, who opened for Vampire Weekend recently as his punk alter-ego Ian Rubbish, has also shared his songs with us.

RR

1 FITZ & THE TANTRUMS == More Than Just A Dream >> [Elektra]
2 PHOENIX == Bankrupt >> [Glassnote]
3 BONOBO == North Borders >> [Ninja Tune]
4 CLASSIXX == Hanging Gardens >> [Innovative Leisure]
5 TOKIMONSTA == Half Shadows >> [Ultra]
6 MAJOR LAZER == Free The Universe >> [Secretly Canadian]
7 BIBIO == Silver Wilkinson >> [Warp Music]
8 CATO, ANDY == Times & Places >> [Apollo/r&s]
9 MVULA, LAURA == Sing To The Moon >> [Sony]
10 RUSSELL, ALICE == To Dust >> [Tru Thoughts]
11 GREAT GATSBY == Ost – Music By Lana Del Rey, Coco O >> [Interscope]
12 EL KHATIB, HANNI == Head In The Dirt >> [Innovative Leisure]
13 IRON & WINE == Ghost On Ghost >> [Nonesuch]
14 VILE, KURT == Wakin On A Pretty Daze >> [Matador]
15 FOL CHEN == False Alarms >> [Asthmatic Kitty Records]
16 VAMPIRE WEEKEND == Modern Vampires Of The City >> [Xl]
17 DAFT PUNK == Random Access Memories >> [Columbia]
18 BLAKE, JAMES == Overgrown >> [Republic]
19 SAVAGES == Silence Yourself >> [Matador]
20 HAR MAR SUPERSTAR == Bye Bye 17 >> [Cult Records]
21 CAYUCAS == Bigfoot >> [Secretly Canadian]
22 THEE OH SEES == Floating Coffin >> [Castle Face]
23 JAMES, JIM == Regions Of Light & Sound Of God >> [Ato]
24 YO LA TENGO == Fade >> [Matador]
25 OLMS == Olms >> [Harvest]
26 BIG BLACK DELTA == Big Black Delta >> [Masters Of Bates]
27 KISSES == Kids In La >> [Cascine]
28 ODELL, TOM == Songs From Another Love >> [Rca]
29 GAUDI == In Between Times >> [Six Degrees Records]
30 LITTLE BOOTS == Nocturnes >> [On Repeat]
31 ORCHESTRE POLY-RYTHMO DE COTONOU == Volume 3 – Skeletal Essences Of Voodoo >> [Analog Africa]
32 COMA == In Technicolor >> [Kompakt]
33 SUPERHUMANOIDS == Exhibitionists – Sampler >> [Innovative Leisure]
34 JUNIP == Junip >> [Mute]
35 DJ KOZE == Amygdala >> [Pampa]
36 RHYE == Woman >> [Republic]
37 DISCLOSURE == Singles Ep >> [Cherrytree/interscope]
38 MYRON & E == Broadway >> [Stones Throw]
39 EMIKA == Dva – Sampler >> [Ninja Tune]
40 EMPIRE OF THE SUN == Ice On The Dune – Sampler >> [Astralwerks]
41 BEADY EYE == Be >> [Import]
42 DEERHUNTER == Monomania >> [4ad]
43 LETHERETTE == Letherette >> [Ninja Tune]
44 KNIFE == Shaking The Habitual >> [Mute]
45 SINKANE == Mars >> [Dfa]
46 DEPECHE MODE == Delta Machine >> [Columbia]
47 JAVELIN == Hi Beams >> [Luaka Bop]
48 PALMA VIOLETS == 180 >> [Rough Trade]
49 EX COPS == True Hallucinations >> [Fat Possum]
50 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA == Ii >> [Jagjaguwar]

Last year, new DFA artist Larry Gus (Panagiotis Melidis) released and gave away his first full length album “Silent Congas“ as a free download.

A trippy, sample-based beat record, it was a response and love letter to the MPC God J Dilla and artists like Koushik and Caribou. A solid DFA debut, it actually sits quite well in the mix with all those artists.

Recently, DFA’s just released a pair of excellent dancefloor ready remixes of tracks off that record by Hana and Hello Skinny. The Hana Remix of Figueroa Islands is a particularly dizzying chugger.

Admittedly obsessed, I’ve been playing it everywhere and on the show for the past few weeks. The menacing arpeggiated motorik coldwave synths, steady bass drum thump, 808 kink and acid lines are perfectly balanced until they start decaying at the end…at which point they become REALLY perfect. INTOIT. SO INTOIT.

Larry Gus – Figueroa Islands (Hana Remix) by DFA Records

Although a bit more discoball in tone than his LPs, these remixes are a fine precursor to Gus’ new full length, “Years Not Living“, available later this summer. Continuing to build on the psychedelic beat sound of Congas, recorded deep in the midst of the Greek financial crisis and inspired by Georges Perec’s 1978 book Life: A Users Manual and Lucio Battisti’s 1974 album Anima Latina, Larry Gus recorded upwards of 80 tracks for this album. The whole thing was then filmed for a forthcoming documentary on Larry Gus and his process.

If it all sounds rather heady, it is. But not in some clinical, bookish way. This is good heady, like laughing while listening to Buhloone Mindstate, watching the Monkees’ HEAD or spinning in circles in a field of dandelions.

I’m yet to meet a RAC remix I don’t like and our latest favorite is his take on Bastille’s track “Laura Palmer”.

The British band Bastille released their debut album last month and it debuted at #1 in the UK.

As soon as Jason starting spinning the remix, he heard from the band, which says a lot about KCRW’s global reach. It’s a beautiful thing how the internet can bring us all together, from London –> to RAC’s home base in Portland –> to here in LA.

It’s a small world after all, and music is all the better for it.

RR

What I think is interesting about The Decemberists choice to cover R.E.M.s “Cuyahoga” is the fact that they STARTED their live session with it!

You will never convince me that the Michael Stipe-penned environmentalist folk-ballad about the Cuyahoga river in Northern Ohio is of “Stairway To Heaven” quality, but for a group to go live on air and cover one of indie rock’s sacred acts right off the bat is pretty impressive.

It all starts with that unmistakable bass line navigated perfectly by Nate Query. And as the song drives on you notice that lead singer Colin Meloy is reading the lyrics as he sings in his vocal range, not Stipes’– a very important distinction that is more a show of respect than an artistic choice.

This cover is not a re-creation — it’s not even an informed creative force that motivates a new interpretation. This is a pure, note for note cover. And for those reasons right there, my friends, are why it succeeds.

*Little known fact: The Decemberists performed this session in February of 2011 which was one month after the release of the album “The King Is Dead” which features 3 songs by Peter Buck. Yes, the Peter Buck who co-founded and was the guitarist for R.E.M. Colin Meloy has publicly stated that R.E.M. was an inspiration for some of the songs on the album. So, there’s that.

Several releases into a fine discography, local husband and wife duo Rainbow Arabia have crafted a consistent sound that is equal parts 80s synthpop and “World” music. Like Bjork’s excursions into polyethnicity, the duo’s sound fetishistically fused North African desert rhythms and Middle Eastern percussion with the neon glow of early MTV. 

On their follow-up to 2011′s Boys and Diamonds, they’ve turned up the glow. Unlike that album, their new release FM Sushi is less a sonic trip to a club scene in sci-fi Morocco and more a Michael Mann thriller set in LA. Just prior to releasing FM Sushi, the group released The Sorcerer Mixtape which was a reimagining of Tangerine Dream’s score to William Friedkin’s 1977 film, The Sorcerer.

It’s a good sound for the duo who live in Echo Park, close to the damaged Downtown LA of Drive. The album has a cinematic hazy nighttime feel to it. Check out the skittering percussion, Europop-synths, and soft focus vocals on “Lacking Risk.”  This is fever-dreamy stuff.

Lacking Risk by Rainbow Arabia

The Olms by Justin Wise

You can’t really talk about The Olms without setting the scene a little bit.

The band is best known as the latest project from singer-songwriter Pete Yorn, but the minute you meet his collaborator J.D. King, it’s very clear where the retro influences on the album came from.

Dressed in a burgundy suede suit, and noticeably tall with a George Harrison circa 1972 haircut, J.D. seems like he was dropped in 2013 from another era.  He set up a portable record player in their dressing room, spinning Sly and the Family Stone as the pre-show music (with albums from Roxy Music, ELO, Zombies and the Beach Boys in the cue).

These guys are ALL about vibe, which is one of the things I love about their new album, which they performed for a room full of KCRW supporters at Apogee Studio last night. It was their first show in LA, even though they are based here.

They met through J.D.’s girlfriend about 8 years ago, with Pete saying he “loves him like a brother”, but it wasn’t until a year ago that they tried to write a song together, starting with the bouncy pop of “Twice as Nice”, which kicks off the new record.

They’re music isn’t easily categorized as there are bits of jangly folk, rock, brit-pop and some quirky unexpected moments (the somewhat spoken word of “On the Line”).  Of course, there is at least one love song that is pure Pete, the wistful “Someone Else’s Girl” (sample lyric: “everyone is having fun while I just sit here and cry”).

In fact, host Anne Litt asked them about the fact that there is some darkness hidden in their lighthearted sounding songs, to which J.D. replied “You have fun at Disneyland but you have to wait in line”.

by Justin Wise

Pete talked about how much he enjoys having a collaborator to “pick up the slack” when he’s hitting a wall and is out of ideas. J.D. made sure to add that they are astrologically opposites, which makes them a perfect pair.

Their friendship clearly fuels the music and a track like, “Wanna Feel It”, which has been a favorite at KCRW for many months now, is a perfect example of their musical union.

It’s worth noting that their post-show vinyl pick was T. Rex and that the one cover they worked into their set was “Love is All Around” by the Troggs.

The band is just getting started and have a few tour dates over the summer, including June 3 at the Troubadour. Tune in on June 5 to hear the session on Morning Becomes Eclectic.

The Olms Live on KCRW Set List

On The Line
What Can I Do?
Another Day Dream
She Said No!
Someone Else’s Girl
Rise & Shine
Love is All Around (The Troggs cover)
Bottle of Wine, Etc.
Wanna Feel It
Twice as Nice

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

by Justin Wise

backstage with Anne Litt by Justin Wise

Tuesday, May 14, Soulful pop collective Fitz & The Tantrums performed a slew of songs from their new album “More Than Just a Dream” in front of a live audience at Apogee Studios recently. They brought down the house and you can hear it on Morning Becomes Eclectic on the day of their release at 11:15am!

Wednesday, May 15, Vampire Weekend took a break between Coachella weekends to join us for a set in front of a live audience, playing new songs and old favorites. We’ll broadcast highlights from our Apogee session on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Thursday, May 16, Motor City’s Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr have a new EP and will make a pit-stop on Morning Becomes Eclectic to play a set of indie pop at 11:15am.

Monday, May 20, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds thrilled a room full of fans with a free-wheelin’ live session of songs from their fantastic new album and back catalogue at our Apogee Studio session.  We’ll share it on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Tuesday, May 21, Laura Marling really impressed us when she made her debut on KCRW a few years ago. We’re excited to welcome her back for another captivating performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Thursday, May 30, Swedish band Junip is a favorite among our DJs. Lead by the talented guitarist and singer José González, they bring carefully crafted songs to KCRW studios when they perform on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
KCRW.com PRESENTS

Fri, May 24, theLIFT with Gilles Peterson at Public Works in San Francisco

KCRW PRESENTS

Thurs, May 16, Devendra Banhart at the Fonda
Sat, May 25, theLIFT with Gilles Peterson at the Club 333 in Downtown L.A.
Thurs, May 30, Tame Impala at the Fox Theater Pomona.
Fri, May 31, Ludovico Einaudi at The Ford Amphitheatre
Sat, June 1, Make Music Pasadena featuring Yacht, The Peach Kings, Dom La Nena, KCRW’s Valida and Tanlines in downtown Pasadena
Fri, June 21, Sea Wolf at the El Rey Theatre
Fri, June 21, The Church Sessions with Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti at the First Unitarian Church
Sat, June 22, Josh Rouse at the Troubadour
Sun, June 23, KCRW’s World Festival begins with She & Him, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell and Matthew E. White at the Hollywood Bowl
Fri, June 28, Twin Shadow at the Glass House
Sun, June 30, KCRW’s World Festival continues with Reggae Night XII featuring Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stephen Marley, Third World, and special guest The Ghetto Youths Crew (Wayne Marshall, Christopher Ellis, Jo Mersa and Black Am I)
Sun, July 14, KCRW’s World Festival continues with Rodrigo y Gabriela, DeVotchKa and Lord Huron at the Hollywood Bowl
Wed, July 10, Amadou & Mariam at the Fonda
Sun, August 4, KCRW’s World Festival continues with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Sun Ra Arkestra and Oliver Mtukudzi at the Hollywood Bowl
Sun, August 25, KCRW’s World Festival continues with Goat Rodeo featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile with guest Aoife O’Donovan at the Hollywood Bowl
Sun, September 22, KCRW’s World Festival continues with M83 with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Phantogram at the Hollywood Bowl

It’s the 10-year anniversary and they’ve assembled an extra-special lineup to celebrate, including headlining performances from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and My Bloody Valentine — the latter of which is playing their first U.S. show since 2009.

The festival will also host sets from TV on the Radio, MGMT, Beach House, Deerhunter, Devendra Banhart, The Breeders performing Last Splash, Yo La Tengo, Solange, Washed Out, Toro y Moi, Holy Ghost!, Thee Oh Sees, and many more. Full lineup below.

KCRW

The series kicks off amidst the historic buildings of One Colorado in Old Pasadena, with two Saturday evening courtyard concerts featuring LA-based artists Hot as Sun (June 8) and Mr. Little Jeans (June 22).

We join Grand Performances for four events in one of the city’s most breathtaking outdoor venues, California Plaza, in the heart of Downtown LA, in July and August.

We team up with the Hammer Museum for the “Music for Better Living” series, inspired by their exhibition A. Quincy Jones: Building for Better Living, which displays the architect’s significant impact on the built environment of Southern California.   DJ Jeremy Sole will spin the Hammer’s Summer Solstice Party on June 21, followed by five Thursday evenings of live music in the Hammer courtyard curated by and featuring KCRW DJs.

We also celebrate one of LA’s most unique neighborhoods, Chinatown, by rockin’ the dance floor with DJ sets for three Saturdays this summer, June 15, July 20 and August 17.

KCRW will also be hosting the Santa Monica Pier’s Thursday night Twilight Concert Series and more.

Check out the full lineup here – more to come!

RR

When I set aside a few hours to listen to new music, most of it is fine, but rarely is it special. However, in the midst of all that, the diamonds really shine through.

I’m not a huge folk fan, but when I saw a CD from a band called Holy Folk, I had to listen based on their sense of humor alone.

Come to find out they’re based here in LA and a collaboration between four local songwriters from other bands: Keith Waggoner, Josh Caldwell, Ryan George and Jonathan Hylander (from, in no particular order, the bands Les Blanks, Amateurs, The Voyeurs, Honey Loving Cells).

And, in fact, it’s far from folk – it’s all over the place! The only consistent element is well-crafted songs and melodies – whether it’s The Beatles’ inspired “All’s Forgotten” or the straight up Beach Boys harmonies on “A Place We Couldn’t Stay”.

They’ve already released rocker “Jump the Rails” (enter your email to grab it here) as a single but my favorite track, by far, is “Time Lapse”. I find it completely intoxicating. It’s meditative and thoughtful — three minutes of pop bliss.

These lyrics especially caught my ear. “I could’ve taken it easy, but shallow things please me. Get myself lost in the time lapse”

The song is actually their next single, officially released tomorrow, and I asked the band to tell me more about it. From Ryan George:

“Time Lapse” documents that moment when you awaken from the depths of a dreamlike relationship and find yourself alone and a bit broken.  

The dream is over but the passage of time brings its own brand of salvation.  The melody sways and drifts, rises and glides down like the turns of the affair itself, until we reach the end and are returned to the present where everything is new.”

The album “Motioning” will be out June 18 on Silver Side. It’s an emotional roller coaster in the best kind of way and I hope it’s a ride you’ll take!

The band will be playing at The Echo THIS Friday, May 17, and on June 20 at El Cid.

RR

by NPR Music’s  Stephen Thompson

If you’ve ever been poolside on a hot day, you know what it’s like to have your senses bombarded with leisure; to feel the sun radiating and shimmering off everything around you. Watch the first few moments of this Field Recording, with its bobbing inner tubes and lounging vacationers, and you can practically smell the spots where chlorine meets concrete.

We filmed the band late one morning at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs — a setting that also produced an eager dancer, assorted rubberneckers and one particularly agreeable dog. All in all, perfect surroundings in which to re-create the laconic pop-rock of the California band Cayucas.

Sitting poolside on a picnic table, the band performed its bittersweet single “High School Lover” with only an acoustic guitar and light percussion for accompaniment. In any form, the song isn’t all sunshine — its youthful nostalgia gets filtered carefully through the prism of regret — but this performance is plenty bright, as Cayucas’ members locate their best-known song’s laid-back heartbeat. “High School Lover” provides a perfect soundtrack to the shimmery leisure that surrounds the band on all sides here. But it also leaves room on the agenda for hints of sadness and sunburn.

Watch Cayucas perform an entire session –  indoors this time, on Morning Becomes Eclectic.

 

Cayucas at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs

Fitz by Brian Lowe

The new album from Fitz and The Tantrums has been on regular rotation for me lately, but that is a band you MUST see live to fully appreciate. Last night, they treated a roomful of people to a full set of songs from their latest release “More Than Just a Dream”, including two they’ve never played live before. It was their first proper show in Los Angeles behind the new album and they proved why we should be very proud to call them our own!

by Brian Lowe

Their chemistry is incredible – not just the vocal/physical tug of war between Michael Fitzpatrick (aka Fitz) and Noelle Scaggs, who play off each other in the most entertaining ways – but the entire band.  (There was a funny moment when Noelle teased Fitz about sneaking a peek at a lyric sheet, but it’s clearly all in good fun) They love these songs and play them with every fiber of their being. Also, they don’t miss an opportunity to draw in the crowd, so there were lots of coordinated handclaps.

“6AM” is my clear favorite of the bunch, though “The Walker” is incredibly catchy, with it’s whistling hook. The audience seemed to get most exited about “Out of My League”, which we’ve been spinning quite a bit.

In fact, Fitz actually took a moment to talk about the band’s history with the station, crediting KCRW for launching the band. They played MBE in 2009, before their first full length came out, and he got choked up about how, after that radio debut, they returned to LA to play their first sold out show, with the crowd singing his songs back to him.  He clearly got emotional and doesn’t take any of the band’s success for granted.

Fitz says they really wanted to take risks when they finally got back in to the studio after years of non-stop touring. There is a clear 80’s influence that is quite different from the retro soul of their debut, but retains their energy,  enthusiasm and pure poppiness.

As Fitz said in an interview with host Anne Litt, he’s an “80’s baby”. He said it’s the soul-influenced British bands of the 80’s that have always been his inspiration (naming Kajagoogoo and Style Council, specifically).

Noelle added that after years of touring non stop, they’ve “grown together as a band” and they wanted that to shine through on the album. When they finally found the time to write new songs, it was an intense 5-6 week period during which they wrote about 40 new tracks.  Producer Tony Hoffer helped them whittle it down to the best bunch and the results were released just this week.

They are, without a doubt, one of the best, live bands around. They give 110% at every show I’ve ever seen and they are all heart (and talent, of course).

Before the show, Fitz took a peek outside and, noticing the gorgeous sunset, gathered the whole band in the middle of the street for an impromptu photo shoot as their fans were lining up to go see them. Not your typical “rock star” stuff – more like a family portrait. It was a really sweet moment that somehow said everything.

Fitz and The Tantrums with Anne Litt and Jason Bentley by Brian Lowe

The full session airs on Morning Becomes Eclectic on Tuesday, May 14.

Fitz and The Tantrums Live on KCRW – Set List

Keepin Our Eyes Out
Break The Walls
6AM
Merry Go Round
Out of My League
Spark
House of Fire
Last Raindrop
The End
The Walker

by Brian Lowe

by Brian Lowe

by Brian Lowe

by Brian Lowe

by Brian Lowe

by Brian Lowe

backstage before the show by Brian Lowe

with host Anne LItt by Brian Lowe

]]> http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2013/05/photos-fitz-and-the-tantrums-live-on-kcrw/feed/ 0 http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2013/05/photos-fitz-and-the-tantrums-live-on-kcrw/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-fitz-and-the-tantrums-live-on-kcrwhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/0J70e8pqQgo/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/3ys-6qmFuuM/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/JOiLWYCJ1uk/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/qVbZQrfA0sk/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/o5S-RwXDlOQ/ http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2013/05/kcrw-exclusive-eric-burdon-and-jenny-lewis-duet-for-true-blood/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 16:27:44 +0000 Gary Calamar http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/?p=27231

Jenny Lewis and Eric Burdon at work in the studio

KCRW DJ Gary Calamar premieres a special track from the upcoming True Blood Vol 4. soundtrack – Eric Burdon and Jenny Lewis dueting on “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”. Take a listen and read the story behind it below.

“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Eric Burdon and Jenny Lewis

Oh, the summertime is comin’….flowers blooming, fireflies lighting the sky, and the beach is the place to go. But no suntans for the vampires in True Blood which is kicking off Season 6 (Season Premiere June 16 on HBO) and a new soundtrack album coming on May 28 (on ATO Records).

As Music Supervisor of True Blood, this is the time of year I look forward to. This is my favorite job (after DJing at KCRW of course), creating and picking songs for the sexy, scary, funny world that Alan Ball has created for True Blood.

In past seasons, I’ve had the pleasure of putting together some cool recordings collaborations for True Blood:

Donovan and Karen Elson’s witchy version of “Season Of The Witch”
Nick Cave and Neko Case’s sexy take on The Zombies’ “She’s Not There”
Iggy Pop and Bethany Cosentino for “Let’s Boot and Rally” a song which I co-wrote (with James Combs) last season.
The Heavy’s soulful and spiritual reading of Laura Nyro’s “And When I Die”

For Season 6, the writers of the show wanted to use the song “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood“, one of my favorite songs as recorded by Eric Burdon and The Animals. (Nina Simone did a beautiful version as well.)

Eric has recently had a career resurgence with a loving shout out from Bruce Springsteen at SXSW and great new album “Till Your River Runs Dry“. How about Eric doing a new version of the song ? How about pairing him up with someone to take the song to a whole new place for True Blood?

As it turns out the ex-Animal lives in Ojai. I give him a call,  give him the low down…..and he’s game. YES !

I’ve always loved the voice and style of Jenny Lewis (from Rilo Kiley, Jenny and Johnny, Postal Service). Her collaboration with Elvis Costello on “Carpetbaggers“ is terrific.

I think her sexy and soulful acid tongue would be a perfect fit. I give her people a call….she likes the idea….she would love to get in the studio with the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

The secret weapon here is producer John Would. We get together at his Stanley Recording Studio in Echo Park and start to lay it down. It takes a bit to get the vibe right in the studio. Eric has never sang this song as a duet. John Would’s  ”True Blood” production of the song throws him a little bit as well.

It was a little touch and go at first. Eric wasn’t so sure it would work. He said “I Gotta Get Out of This Place“. But after a few passes it starts coming together as Jenny wraps her soulful vocals around Eric’s gruff sound. Eventually everybody got into a groovy groove and we were having some fun. They nail it!

Let me say, my life and career has been defined by Rock and Roll. To me, the stories about the olden days in Hamburg, London, Memphis, Laurel Canyon and Seattle are downright biblical! As a rock and roll history buff, I am honored that I have the opportunity to bring the old(er) school and the new(er) school together to keep the rock and roll timeline moving along.

Check out the new recording of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and let me know what you think….also on True Blood Vol. 4 is new music from My Morning Jacket, Alabama Shakes, Los Lobos and Deap Vally as well as The Flaming Lips, The Naked and Famous, Warpaint, and Howlin’ Wolf.

The End

Gary Calamar and Eric

Eric, Jenny and Gary Calamar

Conor J O’Brien

Conor J O’Brien is the musical mind behind Ireland’s latest export Villagers. There’s been no shortage of talented singer songwriters to come out of the Emerald Isle but Conor’s combination of bittersweet lyrics and extremely catchy tunes have him standing out in the crowd.

In his Morning Becomes Eclectic debut, Conor played songs off his new album “Awayland” without the comforts of his backing band. What we were left with was the flesh and bone of beautifully crafted songs and heartfelt lyrics.

Check out this live MBE version of Conor’s song, “Nothing Arrived”

It was a different take from what we’ve been hearing on MBE lately, but it was a refreshing look at a songwriter who has plenty to offer.

Villagers Live on KCRW — Set List

Nothing Arrived
The Bell
My Lighthouse
Earthly Pleasures
The Waves
Where Are We Now (David Bowie cover)
That Day

This past week I received a single from Crosstown Rebels which has now turned into just about one of my favorite things I’ve heard all year. It’s unquestionably the prettiest, genuine euphoria-inducing piece of dance music I’ve heard in awhile.

A new, near perfect shimmering piece of minimal tech-house, Mathew Jonson’s “In The Stars” is absolutely stunning. The B-Side to the “Automaton” single he’s released in advance of a forthcoming full length record called “Her Blurry Pictures“, “In the Stars” is a woozy and expertly crafted trip. A slow burner that just rises and rises until it explodes for a moment, just to create a perfect vaccuum that draws you in and propels you back out into a deep pink orange nebula, Jonson has created a track that feels like equal parts interstellar travel and deep soul kiss.

Not being a techno afficionado, I’m admittedly a bit late to the Jonson game. The man has been consistently releasing work under his own name, aliases and collaborations since 2003 and is a bona fide techno star. Intrigued, I’ve ended up hunting down Red Bull Music Academy interviews and FACT mixes to find out more about the man responsible for this feeling.

Admittedly, on any given week I feel pretty intensely about a lot of tracks…but this one feels different. This one is real special, and could very well be one of my all time jams.

Big Beat pioneers The Chemical Brothers are legend. 20 years on, the signature squelch that was present from inception on “Song to the Siren” still bangs on  ”Swoon” off 2010′s Furthur.

The past few years found them touring incessantly, releasing an album, scoring a film (Hanna,) releasing another album and a live concert film.

Understandably, they’ve taken a year off…however, considering their tireless search for the perfect beat, Brother Tom Rowlands gave Erol Alkan a couple of DJ tool tracks for use in his sets which Alkan utilized for a couple of months and found that people really dug. These turned into a new EP for Alkan’s always reliable Phantasy Sound label.

The EP (which will be available digitally and on vinyl) features a pair of twitchy bangers  ”Through Me” and “Nothing But Pleasure.”

The tracks bubble, swirl and jack –”Nothing But Pleasure” is pure intensely hypnotic ramp up for almost 3 minutes at which point it explodes. It’s absolutely bonkers and although the EP is supposed to work as a kind of Chemical Brothers panacea, it will probably just make you fiend for more and rifle through their back catalog…as you impatiently wait for more new Chemicals.

Tom Rowlands – Through Me / Nothing But Pleasure [PREVIEWS] by Phantasy Sound

Robyn really stands out in a crowd.

When Robyn Hitchcock wrapped up his Morning Becomes Eclectic performance last week, we had run out of time for his encore. Which was a huge bummer for us and the listening audience because he had chosen to cover Bob Dylan‘s“Quinn The Eskimo (Mighty Quinn)” to end the show.

But being the English Gentleman that he his and nary the sort to disappoint, Robyn obliged us with another cover that we could record for our archives.  Since we weren’t under the duress of the clock he eased into an audible and chose a different one. One that he told us was his favorite song of all time!

“Visions Of Johanna” was first recorded by Bob Dylan in 1966 for the seminal album, “Blonde on Blonde” in Nashville.  Several critics assert that this was one of Dylan’s finest works of songwriting while this guy thinks it’s literally the best song ever written(!)

It’s a beautiful contrast for Robyn, as his wit and relaxed personality become sharply focused and drawn into a song that’s so highly regarded. Cover songs have a way of fighting its way to the core of an artist and casting a bright light on what’s behind the curtain. And that’s why we asked him to stick around.

Robyn Hitchcock covering Bob Dylan’s  “Visions Of Johanna”

]]> http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2013/05/robyn-hitchcock-covers-bob-dylan-visions-of-johanna/feed/ 0 http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2013/05/robyn-hitchcock-covers-bob-dylan-visions-of-johanna/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=robyn-hitchcock-covers-bob-dylan-visions-of-johannahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/_l_LOVlRQfc/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/zT6VOW5PMiM/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/6ZRolDlLznA/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/AGBMl_WWfCk/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kcrw/musicblog/~3/iNNFOiZa0-Y/ http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/2013/05/new-boxer-rebellion-diamonds/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 17:18:40 +0000 RR http://blogs.kcrw.com/musicnews/?p=27221 We’ve been big fans of The Boxer Rebellion’s driving melodic rock since their 2009 album “Union” and the lead single for their latest effort, “Diamonds”, is an intoxicating track that indicates the best is yet to come.

From Jason Bentley:

“The music and lyrics of The Boxer Rebellion churn with a gravitational pull that is undeniable, each song building a roiling intensity throughout “Promises”. It’s apparent that the UK based quartet has paid careful attention to the balance of elements at their command on this album, and the result is a solid offering for fans of brooding Alt Rock.”

“Promises, out May 14, ” is currently streaming in full as part of KCRW’s Album  Preview series.

The band will be swinging through LA on June 7 for a date at the Avalon and will perform live on Morning Becomes Eclectic that morning.

RR

Boxer Rebellion by Vincent Dolman

1.) Bibio – Silver Wilkinson (Warp Records)
2.) On And On – Give In (Roll Call Records)
3.) Laura Mvula – Sing To The Moon (Columbia)
4.) Phoenix – Bankrupt! ( Glassnote)
5.) Andy Cato – Times & Places (Apollo Records)
6.) Quantic & Alice Russell– Look Around The Corner (Tru Thoughts)
7.) Empire Of The Sun – Ice On The Dune (EMI)
8.) Fitz & The Tantrums – More Than Just A Dream (Elektra)
9.) Guards – In Guards We Trust (Black Bell Records)
10.) Hanni El Khatib – Head In The Dirt (Innovative Leisure)

Vampire Weekend played a diverse set of old and new songs for a crowd of 200 KCRW Members, staff, press and fans between their Coachella gigs. (Check out photos here)

Standing out among the new songs from their forthcoming album, “Modern Vampires Of The City“, was the catchy track “Unbelievers”.

With frontman Ezra Koenig playing an acoustic guitar, the song features some beautiful harmonizing between him and Rostam with an upbeat tempo. This, all added to the more organic sound that the group revealed, was a real mark for their 3^rd release.

Check out the single “Unbelievers” here and be sure to watch/ listen to the entire set on Wednesday, May 15^th at KCRW.com/MBE

by Brenda Janairo