42 posts from September 2009

Actress Scarlett Johansson has two albums under her belt as a singer, so it’s obvious she’s a big music fan. She reminisced about her musical passions starting with her toddler years, from her obsession with Frank Sinatra to her love for the Beach Boys, crediting Brian Wilson as the first performer to make her sob at a concert.

Check out the full Guest DJ set here and listen to Morning Becomes Eclectic on October 7 when she performs songs from “The Break Up” with Pete Yorn.

RR

The duo behind Crystal Method – Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland -- have known Jason Bentley for many years so they've been looking forward to the moment they would visit our studios for a live performance. They all played major roles in the growth of electronic music here in LA. In fact, Jason dubbed them the “hometown heroes of electronic music” this morning.

The guys set up a massive rig in our studio for a special live set that included a couple old favorites (Busy Child!) and the first ever performance of a track off their new album called “Falling Hard.” They were joined by local singer Meiko on vocals and guitar, as well as Guns and Roses’ Dizzy Reed on piano and drummer Samantha Maloney (Hole, Peaches, Motley Crue,Chelsea Girls). Their latest album includes a number of special guests that are KCRW favorites, including Emily Haines, Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle and Matisyahu. Watching this set was truly like watching masters at work. It’s so much fun to see this explosive, energetic music being produced in front of your eyes – even if it’s a little strange in the morning with no “mood” lighting.

Check out the set

RR

 

 
 

KCRW DJ Michael Barnes explores the Top 5 Musicians to Include in the Soundtrack to Your Dreams in the latest 5Things from KCRW blog post. He is very specific in pointing out that he is not recommending artists to help you get a full night of zzzzzzzzs. Rather, this music will work as a soundtrack carrying you through your dreaming life.

One of the featured artists is singer Hope Sandoval, who happens to be playing a KCRW Presents show later this month at the Mayan Theater. (You might recognize her as the singer for Mazzy Star – one of my personal favorites for late night listening)

RR

 

Tickets to KCRW’s first ever Halloween benefit bash are now open to the public. Can you imagine a better way to spend fright night? Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party for KCRW will be held on Saturday, October 31 from 9p to 2am at the Legendary Park Plaza in five-uniquely themed rooms.   

The evening will feature KCRW DJs on the turntables and live band performances, including headliners Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. The 10+ piece band delivers a compelling live show, winning over sold out audiences with their infectious energy. This is sure to be a set to remember. Full lineup below!

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros will brainwash costumed revelers with their laser beam of love causing euphoric joy. Fearless fire-breathers Little Dragon will heat up the dancefloor with a mysterious, minimalistic mix of soul, pop, and electronica. Sea Wolf  will emerge from their underwater lair to create an alternate, mythical universe with epic, swirling melodies. And featuring live sets by the following KCRW DJs...

Jason Nosferatu Bentley
Anne Elvira Litt
Liza Diva of Death Richardson
Dan Blood Sucker Wilcox
Chris Who’s Your Mummy Douridas
Eric J Werewolf Lawrence
Garth The Thriller Trinidad
Tom Cryptkeeper Schnabel
Mathieu Coldblooded Schreyer
Raul Ghoul Campos
Anthony Soul Stealer Valadez

Tickets for Masquerade are $75 and are on sale now at www.kcrw.com/masquerade

RR

KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 09/28/2009

  1 MAAL, BAABA == Television >> [Palm Pictures]
  2 FORRO IN THE DARK == Light A Candle >> [Nublu Records]
  3 AIR == Love 2 >> [Astralwerks]
  4 MUM == Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know >> [Euphono]
  5 MONSTERS OF FOLK == Monsters Of Folk >> [Shangri-la Music]
  6 XX == Xx >> [Xl]
  7 BREAKESTRA == Dusk Till Dawn >> [Strut]
  8 RADIO NOVA COMPILATION == Nova Tunes 2.0 >> [Nova]
  9 PINK MARTINI == Splendor In The Grass >> [Heinz]
10 NDEGEOCELLO, MESHELL == Devil's Halo >> [Mercer Street]
11 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA == 11:11 >> [Ato]
12 BIG PINK == Brief History Of Love >> [4ad]
13 LITTLE DRAGON == Machine Dreams >> [Peacefrog]
14 ZERO 7 == Yeah Ghost >> [Atlantic]
15 HARRIS, CALVIN == Ready For The Weekend >> [Ultra]
16 ONO, YOKO - PLASTIC ONO BAND == Between My Head & The Sky >> [Chimera]
17 7 WORLDS COLLIDE == Sun Came Out >> [Emi]
18 PACHA MASSIVE == If You Want It >> [Nacional]
19 KHER, KAILASH & KAILASA == Yatra - Nomadic Souls >> [Cumbancha]
20 HAWTHORNE, MAYER == Strange Arrangement >> [Stones Throw]
21 PENATE, JACK == Everything Is New >> [Xl]
22 YORN & JOHANSSON == Break Up >> [Atco/rhino]
23 FAT FREDDY'S DROP == Dr Boondigga & The Big Bw >> [Drop]
24 LERCHE, SONDRE == Heartbeat Radio >> [Rounder]
25 SHARPE, EDWARD & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS == Up From Below >> [Vagrant]
26 HUSAYN, SHAFIQ == Shafiq En A-free-ka >> [Plug Research]
27 M == Pop Muzik - 30th Anniversary Remixes >> [Echo Beach]
28 BARLOW, LOU == Goodnight Unknown >> [Merge]
29 KING BRITT == Kingstrumentals >> [Self Release]
30 BLK JKS == After Robots >> [Secretly Canadian]
31 BROWNOUT == Aguilas & Cobras >> [Six Degrees Records]
32 OTTO == Certa Manha Acordei De Sonhos Intraquilo >> [Nublu Records]
33 BASEMENT JAXX == Scars >> [Ultra]
34 CUBAN FUNK COMPILATION == Si Para Usted - Vol 2 >> [Waxing Deep]
35 DO == Mouthful >> [Get Down]
36 FELIX DA HOUSECAT == He Was King >> [Nettwerk]
37 FINK == Sort Of Revolution >> [Ninja Tune]
38 NOUVELLE VAGUE == 3 >> [Peacefrog]
39 BIBIO == Ambivalence Avenue >> [Warp Music] 40 DATAROCK == Red >> [Nettwerk]
41 MIIKE SNOW == Miike Snow >> [Downtown]
42 HUKKELBERG, HANNE == Blood From A Stone >> [Nettwerk]
43 CASTLETON, GAVIN == Home >> [Five One Inc]
44 GROOVE ARMADA == Groove Armada Ep >> [B-live]
45 SANCHEZ, PONCHO == Pyschedelic Blues >> [Concord Picante]
46 LATIN BITMAN == Colour >> [Nacional]
47 ZEEP == People & Things >> [Crammed Discs]
48 RAVEONETTES == In & Out Of Control >> [Vice]
49 COUGAR == Patriot >> [Counter Records]
50 LUSINE == Certain Distance >> [Ghostly International]

We’ll be previewing the brand new full length release by KCRW favorites Zero 7 at 8pm PST tonight (Monday, 9/28) on Eclectic24, our new online music channel (KCRW music 24/7!). We’ll be streaming “Yeah Ghost” from start to finish. Don’t miss it!

We have a new album streaming EVERY Monday. (hint: coming up soon we’ll have the new double CD by a band that loves confetti,  likes to have people dressed in animal costumes on stage with them and whose lead singer walks over the crowd in a huge plastic ball).

Previously we streamed CDs by the super group Monsters of Folk and Joe Henry’s latest.

Stay tuned for more good stuff!

RR

Portugal. the Man are a notable band for a number of reasons. 1) They hail from Wasilla, Alaska (a city made famous by Sarah Palin), though they’ve now relocated to Portland 2) they’ve put out an album a year for the last four years – that’s pretty prolific 3) the colorful, layered packaging for their new album, “The Satanic Satanist,” could keep your attention for the entire length of the CD.

I had a few friends lucky enough to see them at the Troubadour over the weekend and I heard that almost the entire audience knew the words to their songs so it was a rousing sing-a-long. This was a beautiful set of music, with singer/guitarist John Gourley’s high pitched vocals really setting them apart from other indie-folk bands. Also, the band itself seemed surprised when he ended with a solo acoustic version of “Created.” Walking out of the studio they commented how they’ve been trying to get him to play that song for some time and that this is a rare moment.

Enjoy it all here  

RR

It’s a little known fact that KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad started his career in the arts in another field entirely – as an illustrator. The master music selector shares what his top five dream jobs would have been had KCRW not put him on the air. Check out it out here and ALL the 5Things lists from KCRW personalities here.

RR

 

I found out Jorja Fox was a KCRW fan when I spotted her at an event we put on earlier this year called RadioActive. She looked like all the other music lovers, ready to get her groove on! The actress is perhaps best known for her work in the hit CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as roles on ER and The West Wing, but her love of music is clearly a major part of her life. She chooses a wide range of tracks for her Guest DJ set – from big band and samba to folk and post-punk. Jorja returned to CSI for a story arc this month.

RR

Upcoming on MBE and KCRW Presents!

Monday, September 28

Portugal. The Man are a prolific band of Alaskans whose latest CD caught our eye with awe-inspiring album art and then kept our attention with rousing sing-a-longs. They are known to be a phenomenal live band and we’ll get to hear it when they perform on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Wednesday, September 30

Grammy-nominated duo Crystal Method are one of the best selling electronic acts in the U.S. They'll bring special guests for a live band performance of new material on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Thursday, October 1

Musical husband and wife duo Amadou & Mariam will bring the modern sound of Mali to KCRW airwaves when they join Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Friday, October 2

The Postmarks are inspired by film scores of the 60's and it shows in the sophisticated sound of their sophomore release. Pitchfork calls it a "pristine orchestrated pop beauty" and you can hear it live on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

KCRW.COM PRESENTS

Wed, September 23 – Sun, September 27, KCRW at GIZMODO Gallery in NYC, w/ LIVE DJ SET by JASON BENTLEY on SATURDAY, SEPT 26.

KCRW PRESENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Fri, September 25, BON IVER AT THE WILTERN.
Fri, September 25, GAVIN CASTLETON AT THE HOTEL CAFÉ.
Fri, September 25, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA AT THE ORPHEUM.
Sun, September 27, BON IVER (doors at midnight with performance at 6am on Sun morning) AT THE HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY.
Thurs, October 1, LONEY, DEAR with ASOBI SEKSU AT THE TROUBADOUR.
Thurs, October 1, THE HORRORS AT THE EL REY THEATRE.
Fri, October 2, THE HORRORS AT THE GLASS HOUSE IN POMONA .
Fri, October 2, AMADOU AND MARIAM AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Sat, October 3, THE SECOND ANNUAL MANIMAL FESTIVAL FEATURING: EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS, FOOL’S GOLD, ALEXANDRA HOPE AND OTHERS AT PAPPY & HARRIETS IN PIONEERTOWN.
Sun, October 4, MIIKE SNOW WITH JACK PENATE AT THE ECHO.  moved to the Echoplex.
Sun, October 4, THE SECOND ANNUAL MANIMAL FESTIVAL FEATURING: JULIETTE COMMAGERE, OTHER LIVES, CHAIRLIFT, WARPAINT AND OTHERS AT PAPPY & HARRIETS IN PIONEERTOWN.
Mon, October 5, SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS AT THE TROUBADOUR.
Tues, October 6, ROBYN HITCHCOCK AT SPACELAND.
Wed, October 7, MIIKE SNOW WITH JACK PENATE AT SPACELAND.
Wed, October 7, FEVER RAY AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Wed, October 14, TEMPER TRAP AT THE ROXY.
Wed, October 14, MOBY AT THE WILTERN.
Fri, October 16 and Sat, October 17, (H)ITWEEK LA WITH FRANCO BATTIATO, NEGRITA, GIOVANNI ALLEVI, CALIBRO 35, BELLADONNA AND OTHERS AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Sun, October 18, MONSTERS OF FOLK WITH CONNOR OBERST, M. WARD AND JIM JAMES OF MY MORNING JACKET AT THE GREEK THEATRE.
Sun, October 18, FRANCO BATTIATO AT THE BROAD STAGE.
Mon, October 19, BRAZILIAN GIRLS AT THE AVALON.
Tues, October 20, GRIZZLY BEAR AT THE HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM.
Thurs, October 22, MONSTERS OF FOLK WITH CONNOR OBERST, M. WARD AND JIM JAMES OF MY MORNING JACKET AT THE SANTA BARBARA BOWL.
Thurs, October 22, HOPE SANDOVAL AT THE MAYAN THEATRE.
Thurs, October 22, MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO AT THE EL REY THEATRE.
Sun, October 25, ENNIO MORRICONE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.
Wed, October 28, REGINA SPEKTOR AT THE GREEK THEATRE.
Thurs, November 5, MILTON NASCIMENTO AT THE CONGA ROOM.
Fri, November 6, FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS AT THE ECHO.
Thurs, November 12, ORGONE AT ZANZIBAR.
Wed, November 18, SWELL SEASON AT THE WILTERN.
Wed, November 18, ROYKSOPP AT CLUB NOKIA.
Thurs, November 19, FORRO IN THE DARK AT THE MINT.
Sat, November 21, FRIENDLY FIRES WITH THE XX AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Sat, November 21, PETER BJORN AND JOHN with FOOL'S GOLD AND EL PERRO DEL MAR AT CLUB NOKIA.
Fri, January 8, SONIC YOUTH AT THE FOX THEATRE IN POMONA.
Sat, January 9, SONIC YOUTH AT THE WILTERN.