We had a couple of guests in the studio for Mercury Rev’s performance last week. LA Weekly Music Editor Randall Roberts and photographer Tim Norris dropped by to document the performance – and a bit of new Morning Becomes Eclectic host Jason Bentley in action. You can check it out here
Here is a link to the performance in our archives.
RR
]]>New York trio Mercury Rev returned to MBE with a new batch of songs from their album “Snowflake Midnight.” As the set geared up, a few words were thrown around in the studio – cinematic, magical, art rock …even a comparison to early Genesis. I first got turned onto this band thanks to the soundtrack to the movie "Laurel Canyon" and their tune “In a Funny Way.” It’s one of those songs I’ve literally listened to over and over.
Jason delved into a bit of their history and I learned some fun facts. Mercury Rev singer Jonathan tells Jason they began playing along to nature shows on TV and made, what I believe to be, the first “platypus” reference during an MBE interview. He explains that the band has never been geared to the verse chorus verse, “let’s make sure this sticks in someone’s head” type of songwriting and that for this current album, many of the songs started as 40-minute long pieces. When the band gets in the studio, he says, their job is more to erase a record rather than record one. It was an intriguing interview and a solid set of music.
RR
UPCOMING ON MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC
Tuesday, December 9
L.A. based rapper Murs brings his free-thinking style to Morning Becomes Eclectic with host Jason Bentley at 11:15am.
Friday, December 12
Revered Bollywood film composer A.R. Rahman exchanges ideas and anecdotes with Jason Bentley as they review the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Tuesday, December 16
New York trio Mercury Rev join Jason Bentley as they perform a batch of new songs from Snowflake Midnight on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
KCRW PRESENTS
Friday, December 5, THE SEA AND CAKE AT THE GLASS HOUSE in Pomona.
Saturday, December 6, LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES W/ WEST INDIAN GIRL at THE GLASS HOUSE.
Sunday, December 7, LITTLE JOY AT THE TROUBADOUR.
Monday, December 8, JAMES WALSH (of Starsailor) at THE HOTEL CAFÉ.
Monday, December 8, MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO W/ THE COUP AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES, Sunset.
Tuesday, December 9, GARY JULES at THE HOTEL CAFÉ.
Friday, December 12, PHANTOM PLANET WITH THE LIKE at THE TROUBADOUR.
Friday, December 12, JON BRION AND FRIENDS at LARGO AT THE CORONET.
Tuesday, December 16, MERCURY REV W/ IMAAD WASIF AT THE EL REY THEATRE.
Tuesday, December 16, MISSY HIGGINS AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN ANAHEIM.
Wednesday, December 17, KCRW.COM presents CSS at WEBSTER HALL in NEW YORK CITY.
Thursday, December 18, JULIETTE COMMAGERE AT THE TROUBADOUR.
Thursday, December 18, OZOMATLI AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN HOLLYWOOD.
Friday, December 19, OZOMATLI AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN HOLLYWOOD.
Saturday, December 20, OZOMATLI AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN HOLLYWOOD.
Wednesday, December 31, GIANT MAXIMUS 3RD ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION WITH MOBY (DJ SET) IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.
Friday, January 9, GRAM RABBIT W/ POP LEVI AT THE TROUBADOUR .
Thursday, January 22, BOOZOO BAJOU AT ZANZIBAR.
Friday, January 23, FEMI KUTI AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES ON SUNSET .
Friday, January 30, ADELE AT THE AVALON .
Tuesday, Feburary 24, KINKY AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Wednesday, March 11, CUT COPY WITH MATT AND KIM AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Thursday, March 19, LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO AT THE CONGA ROOM.
Saturday, March 28, MADELEINE PEYROUX AT THE NOKIA THEATRE.