M. Ward: KCRW Live Set, Apogee Studio, Santa Monica, 9 March 2012

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Photo by Larry Hirschowitz

Last Friday I was fortunate to attend an evening KCRW show featuring M. Ward at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studio in Santa Monica. Backed ably by Chris Scruggs, Scott McPherson and Mike Coykendall (C. Scruggs, S. McPherson and M. Coykendall, if you must), the soft-spoken Ward delivered ten rousing songs sandwiching a brief Q&A with DJ Anne Litt, before returning for a two-song encore.

The songs were stellar; the performance laid back and unassuming, just what we’ve come to expect and love from a performance from Matt. I like that within the span of a very short interview, Anne managed to cover Matt’s non-rock-star persona, digital v analog, Monsters of Folk, Matt’s appearance at a Big Star tribute to Alex Chilton two years ago during SXSW 2010 (Sung and I were both present), as well as the commonly-held belief that Portlandians hold an affinity for beards and canvas tents. (Debunked by Ward.)

M Ward’s new album A Wasteland Companion drops April 10 which, incidentally, is the date you will hear this very show on-air, and at KCRW.com. That date will be followed by weekend appearances at Coachella, and a free in-store performance at Fingerprints Records (Long Beach) on April 21, which is Record Store Day 2012. (Pre-order the new album from Fingerprints now to get on the RSVP list – shh!) Finally, for those of you headed to Austin he’ll also have several appearances in Texas this week as you would no doubt already know. Full setlist for last Friday’s show, about half of which came from the forthcoming album, after the jump.

Set List: M. Ward and Band, Apogee Studio, Santa Monica for KCRW, March 9, 2012

Chinese Translation
Pauls Song
Poison Cup
Me and My Shadow
I Get Ideas

(Brief Interview w/Anne Litt, KCRW)

Never Had Nobody Like You
Crawl After You
Requiem
Watch the Show
Primitive Girl

Encore
Fisher of Men
Roll Over Beethoven