White Denim’s James Petralli by Jeremiah Garcia

I was fortunate to be able to attend KCRW’s winter holiday benefit concert “Are Friends Eclectic?” this weekend past at the venerable Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. For those that couldn’t make it to the soiree, here is a ten-second recap, Losanjealous-style:

Mia Doi Todd started the proceedings. She was allowed one song. That, or she only played one song. She sounded great. Following the five-minute set by Mia I discovered that the evening, comprising ten acts, would unfold in a Front of Curtain, Behind Curtain sort of pattern – and that witty banter (or something resembling it) would be provided from the KCRW on-air DJ personalities, themselves an eclectic crew, situated in the foremost house-right balcony, Statler and Waldorf style.

Other Lives followed, behind the curtain. This was my first time catching the Stillwater band and I am pleased to report they sounded as great as Spotify would lead you to believe. They represented my home state of Oklahoma more than adequately and were one of my favorite acts of the night.

Following Other Lives, Belle Brigade appeared in front of the curtain. I’d been force-fed a few of their songs for some months and I am pleased to say their harmonies did not disappoint.

Austin act White Denim followed. Full confession, this was the band I was most looking forward to seeing, and they did not disappoint. I had not seen the band perform for a few years and their latest material (do give the album D a spin) sounded stellar live. Further confession that somewhere in here I began nitpicking the sound mix in the theatre, got up after the final song, grabbed a cocktail and made a silent resolution to enjoy the acts, sound mix be damned.

Secret Sisters were next, front of curtain. One of them liked to talk. A lot! Props for their closing cover of the “Steve Martin Date Song” from the Jerk (“Tonight You Belong to Me” – ed). However, I noticed a peculiar thing, and if they read this, the Secret Sisters will probably crucify me, but it appeared that although they personally stayed in perfect harmony throughout the a cappella cover, they began the song in one key and ended the song in quite a different key. Hey, that’s what I heard. Don’t shoot the messenger. I welcome a re-singing on my voicemail if I heard incorrectly. I will pull out my tuning fork. Props for a cappella just the same.

Anna Calvi followed. Prior to her act we were told, by a silver-clad DJ Valida in the Statler-Waldorf balcony, that she was a sight to behold. Or something along those lines. Anna sounded good. If you want the Hollywood pitch, think the tamer stylings of PJ Harvey meet the tamer fretwork of Stevie Ray Vaughan – that will get you somewhere in the vicinity. I enjoyed the set but I expected something more, given the introductory hype. Feels like Anna, moreso than most of the acts on the bill, would benefit from a longer set time. I don’t think she got the chance to open up. I was also on my third cocktail, so read into that what you will.

Zee Avi was next. And yes, Zee Avi fans, she did play the Morrissey cover “First of the Gang to Die.” She also threw in a couple of lines from “Pumped Up Kicks” which seemed a bit of a superfluous play for legitimacy (hey, that’s me). She has a great voice; she should not squander it covering everybody else’s stuff. Zee played a few songs and then we were left with a few heavy hitters.

Jimmy Cliff probably needs little introduction. Then again, it’s been a while since I scoured the demo data for this website. Maybe he needs all kinds of introduction. He is a reggae heavy-hitter. His set brought the theatre to its feet for the first time all night. By this time the show was tracking about an hour later than promised, but I knew this was going to happen when I started pacing frantically after Mia came on the stage a few minutes late. Jimmy got big applause for all of his hits, many of which can all be found on the The Harder They Come movie soundtrack. [Reggae Homework Assignment: Watch Harder They Come, Rockers, and Countryman in one long weekend. If you remember any parts of them, you now know a lot about reggae.] He delivered said hits with a huge band while wearing a shimmering outfit that he may or may not have stitched together after stealing Valida’s dress. He also got big applause for “I Can See Clearly Now”, at which point I annoyed concertgoers in my perimeter by reminding them that song is in fact a Johnny Nash song from the 1970s which Jimmy re-recorded for the Disney Jamaican Bobsled movie Cool Runnings in the early 1990s. Christ, I’m old.

»continue reading Review: KCRW’s “Are Friends Eclectic?” Holiday Benefit Bash, Orpheum Theatre, December 3, 2011

We were fortunate to attend an evening session featuring St Vincent at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studio a few weeks back. The session, hosted by KCRW, was an album release party of sorts: Annie Clark and team entertained an audience of roughly 150 KCRW foot soldiers with songs from her new album, Strange Mercy. She also shared a few anecdotes about songwriting, guitar technique, Garage Band, albums-as-children, and David Byrne with host Jason Bentley.

The show will be airing today on Morning Becomes Eclectic sometime around 11:15am. Tune in or check it out online here: KCRW St Vincent Live Set @ Berkeley Street.

Photos by Jeremiah Garcia

Photo: HCP @ Greek 2010 by Lindsey

HEADS UP
The Henry Clay People w/ Lady Danville @ Hammer Museum
Thursday, July 28, 2011 (Free)

If you’re heading over to the final “Also I Like To Rock” show at the Hammer tomorrow evening, we have one swag bag to give away at this time. Bag includes a t-shirt, poster, and a few signed CDs by bands that have played the series – all in a handy Hammer Museum tote bag. Email me now with your first and last name for a chance to win this thing. NOTE: You must pick up this bag at the show, so, obviously, don’t enter if you’re not headed to the show.

Full press release and show details after the jump.

Final Also I Like to Rock Show of 2011 THIS Thursday
w/ Henry Clay People and Lady Danville

»continue reading Final “Also I Like To Rock” Hammer Show Tomorrow Eve: Win A Prize Pack Now

In late May, Ron and I turned out to Apogee’s Berkeley Street Studios for a live KCRW Little Dragon taping, engineered by Bob Clearmountain and rounded out by the obligatory Garth Trinidad Q&A with the band. That fine show aired on MBE yesterday morning and can be streamed right here, right now.

While we’re on the subject of Little Dragon, KCRW is also hosting a free stream of their new album Ritual Union through August 17, right here. The album drops July 26. Enjoy.

Photo by Jeremiah Garcia.

HEADS UP
Graffiti6 + Eastern Conference Champions w. KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox
Hammer Museum, Tonight, 7pm
FREE

“Also I Like to Rock” Starts on July 7

The free, all ages concert series, presented by the Hammer Museum and KCRW, is held Thursdays in July.

KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW) will continue a cultural collaboration with the Hammer Museum for a second season this summer as Also I Like to Rock returns for a series of free, all ages concerts.

The evenings kick off at 7pm with DJ sets by KCRW’s own selectors followed by two band performances starting at 8pm, including headliners Graffiti6, who appeared on Morning Becomes Eclectic this week, San Diego standouts The Soft Pack, pop-loving quintet Grouplove (who made their U.S. radio debut on KCRW!), and local rockers The Henry Clay People. The full line up is below and here.

»continue reading Also I Like To Rock: UCLA Hammer Free Thursday Shows Begin Tonight

Could this day get any better? Huell Howser is DJing on KCRW. How did this happen!? We speak now with KCRW Music Publicity Director and Guest DJ Producer/Booker Rachel Reynolds, the person responsible for this occurrence and an industry publicity personal favorite of the Losanjealous editorial staff. Indeed; not only is it Huell Howser Guest DJ Day today, it is also Rachel Reynolds Appreciation Day as decreed by Losanjealous, 22 June 2011 Anno Domini. Like most all things KCRW, Rachel brings quality to the equation (whatever the equation). Read on…

Greets, Rachel! How did you originally become involved with KCRW? How long have you worked for the station, and what do you do?

I feel like I’ve been involved with KCRW since I first started listening. I heard it in a friend’s car about 10 years ago (within a year of moving to LA) and I was totally hooked. KCRW and its DJs were what made me feel OK about the move to LA, it was like a friend I could always turn to. And I’m not saying this just because I’m the Music Publicity Director (a job I’ve held since 2007). It’s 100% true.

I was hired in late 2006 to work in the pledge drive department. I BEGGED them to give me the job. Then, the publicity position became open and since my background was doing PR for indie bands, I jumped on it!

My job is to make sure people know about all the incredible things we’re doing, both programming-wise and out in the community with events. My goal is to spread the word far and wide in hopes of growing our listening audience and our membership base. There are still far too many people out there who don’t know about the station, but would love it if they did. I also edit KCRW’s Music Blog, which is a great way for us to promote bands we’re digging, as well as the Guest DJ Project, which taps into the musical passions of creative folks outside the music business.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

»continue reading Huell Howser Guest DJs on KCRW Today: The Losanjealous Interview with the Person Responsible

KCRW pledge lines now open. Call or donate online.

Upcoming live MBE performances:
Friday, February 11 — The Decemberists
Monday, February 14 — Black Mountain
Wednesday, February 16 — Black Dub
Friday, February 18 — Local Natives

We were fortunate to attend an evening KCRW session at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Berkeley Studio a couple of weeks back. With Father’s Office pouring the suds and David Gray entertaining an audience of roughly 150, the mood was “festive introspective”. This was the first time Gray has played many of the songs from his latest album, Foundling, live.

The session will be airing today on Morning Becomes Eclectic sometime around 11am, and it will be the final live session broadcast this calendar year. Tune in at 11 or check it out online as the entire beer-soaked, introspective session is also available “on demand”: http://tinyurl.com/davidgraykcrw. Set list after the jump.

Photo credit: Larry Hirshowitz
»continue reading KCRW Live Set With David Gray Airs This Morning, 12/22 (Last Live MBE Set of 2010)

A few weeks back I was fortunate to attend an evening KCRW session at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Berkeley Studio. With Father’s Office pouring the suds and Manu Chao entertaining an audience of roughly 100, if that, the mood was festive indeed. Tom Schnabel managed to get a few questions in to Chao, who had to shift more than a couple of lingual gears to eventually arrive at an English response.

The session will be airing tomorrow, November 10, on Morning Becomes Eclectic. The entire session – and interview — will be up in the archives starting at 9am here: KCRW’s Beer-Soaked Manu Chao Live Session at Apogee Studios

Set list (by the band) and a couple more photos after the jump.

»continue reading KCRW Live Set With Manu Chao Airs Wednesday Morning, 11/10 (MBE)

KCRW once again returned to the Park Plaza hotel to throw a massive seasonal party, Saturday prior. DJ decks in tow. Mixers in tow. PA systems in tow. Food trucks in tow. Bottled water in tow. DJ personalities in tow. Cocktail service in tow. Costume checkpoints in tow, lighting systems in tow, heat lamps in tow, Henry Rollins in tow, the whole nine yards. I was on hand for the festivities. My rough timeline follows.

»continue reading KCRW Masquerade 2010: Year Two at the Park Plaza Hotel

How time flies. Just last week Jason Bentley, KCRW (89.9 FM Santa Monica; 89.3 KCRI Indio/Palm Springs; 89.1 KCRU in Oxnard/Ventura, and 88.1 KCRY in the Antelope Valley) Music Director and host of the popular post-NPR program Morning Becomes Eclectic, completed his first full year in his new role. I spoke with Jason at a coffee shop last year in Venice, right before the torch was passed, and admittedly no small part of me is left wondering just what in the hell I personally have completed in those 365 days, by comparison. He’s still got nine years left to champion Nic Harcout’s run. Think he’ll be around that long? He’ll have a new boss for year two; Ruth Seymour is leaving at the end of February. Here’s his top 10 album list for 2008 (before helming the entire station) and here’s his list for 2009 (with applicable Music Director title). And though I’ve personally listened to terrestrial radio far fewer hours this year than any other year in history, all told I think he’s doing a pretty bang-up job. But enough about me – what are your thoughts?

» Jason Bentley’s Top Five Condiments (KCRW)
» Getting To Know Jason Bentley, Your New KCRW Music Director
» Follow Jason Bentley on Twitter

Nic’s out, Jason’s in. Oh, and Garth’s back! The next KCRW saga officially begins December 1, 2008. So does Jason have an agenda yet? A grand scheme? Devious plans to turn the station into a gigantic conglomeration sponsored by Ableton Live? Time to head down to Venice, grab a coffee and squeeze in a few words. Meet Your New KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley!

First off, congratulations.

Thank you.

Now I’ll go ahead and ask the question that’s on everybody’s mind. What’s the first record you’re going to play on Morning Becomes Eclectic? There’s an over/under of sorts on whether or not it’s going to be something electronic.

I’ve been thinking about playing a song off the Crash soundtrack by Mark Isham. Such a great soundtrack. I’ve also been thinking about playing a track by Johan Johannson’s latest album Fordlandia. I really want to kind of flip the switch.

Do you have a general idea as to what the shift in your audience looks like? I’m guessing considerably larger post-NPR crowd in the mornings. (note self, might have been prudent to actually procure applicable segment and reach #s prior to venturing down to Venice for coffee this morning)

»continue reading Exclusive: Getting To Know Jason Bentley, Your New KCRW Music Director

The circle nears completion. The one item remaining, as I see it, would be the Joe Frank weekly. From KCRW’s DJ Wire…

Garth Trinidad Returns to Weeknights on KCRW from 8 to 10pm

Starting December 1, KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad returns to weeknights, hosting a music show from 8 to 10pm PST, the slot previously occupied by new Music Director and Host of Morning Becomes Eclectic Jason Bentley.

Garth has been on the air at KCRW since 1996 and hosted a weeknight show, formerly known as “Chocolate City.” His exploration into urban rhythms and soul created a new home for a demographic that wasn’t served anywhere else and he was the first DJ in the country to play both Macy Gray and Jill Scott.
»continue reading Garth Trinidad Returns to Weeknights on KCRW from 8 to 10pm

KCRW Announces New Music Director Jason Bentley

The longtime KCRW DJ will leave his current evening time slot to host Morning Becomes Eclectic starting in December.

KCRW announces the appointment of Jason Bentley as Music Director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic, effective December 1. Bentley will leave his current evening time slot to take over KCRW’s signature music program from 9am to noon PST, Monday through Friday. »continue reading KCRW Announces New Music Director Jason Bentley