LA-based soul band Fitz & The Tantrums make breaking up sound good. Heartbreak may have inspired their recently released EP and the new songs they debuted this morning on Morning Becomes Eclectic, but it’s the funky way they swing it that makes them special. Eric J Lawrence previously noted that the single we’ve been spinning -- “Breakin’ the Chains of Love” – “is the catchiest up-tempo blue-eyed soul track in a long time, like a Tom Jones for the new millennium.” He even warned that the knickers might start flying Fitz’s way if he’s not careful. This is definitely a band that kills it in their live shows, from the first time I saw them at Spaceland to the studio this morning. They look good, they sound good and best of all they seem to be having fun. A highlight was “Pickin’ Up the Pieces of Love’ – written just this week and performed today for the very first time.
Check out the set here!
RR
Did you know Tim Robbins’ father was a singer in a popular folk group? Neither did I! The actor has music in his blood and dropped by our studios to talk about how much it has defined his life – from the song his mother sang to him as a child to a track about the stark realities of “adult” love. He also pays tribute to his time living in LA, where he founded one of the city’s most accomplished theatrical institutions, The Actor's Gang. They are currently hosting a series of both free and fundraising events called the WTF Festival.
RR
KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 11/03/2009
1 AIR == Love 2 >> [Astralwerks]
2 TWILIGHT - NEW MOON == Ost - Music By Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear >> [Atlantic]
3 BANHART, DEVENDRA == What Will We Be >> [Warner Bros.]
4 ZERO 7 == Yeah Ghost >> [Atlantic]
5 QUADRON == Quadron >> [A:larm/attack]
6 BROWN, VV == Travelling Like The Light >> [Island Uk]
7 MASSIVE ATTACK == Splitting The Atom Ep >> [Virgin]
8 ATLAS SOUND == Logos >> [Kranky/4ad]
9 LITTLE DRAGON == Machine Dreams >> [Peacefrog]
10 BUILD AN ARK == Love Part 1 >> [Kindred Spirits]
11 VALADEZ, ANTHONY == Audio Visual >> [Recordbreakin]
12 ASTATKE, MULATU == New York - Addis - London >> [Strut]
13 KINGS OF CONVENIENCE == Declaration Of Dependence >> [Astralwerks]
14 JOGGER == This Great Pressure >> [Magical Properties]
15 BIG STAR == Keep An Eye On The Sky >> [Rhino]
16 NDEGEOCELLO, MESHELL == Devil's Halo >> [Mercer Street]
17 MIDDLE EAST == Recordings Of The Middle East >> [Spunk]
18 HEAVY == House That Dirt Built >> [Counter]
19 FOOL'S GOLD == Fool's Gold >> [Self Release]
20 TEGAN & SARA == Sainthood >> [Sire]
21 ORCHESTRE POLY RYTHMO DE COTONOU == Echos Hypnotiques - Vol 2 >> [Analog Africa]
22 SWELL SEASON == Strict Joy >> [Anti]
23 FARRAR & GIBBARD == One Fast Move Or I'm Gone >> [Atlantic]
24 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA == 11:11 >> [Ato]
25 MAAL, BAABA == Television >> [Palm Pictures]
26 XX == Xx >> [Xl]
27 BIBIO == Ambivalence Avenue >> [Warp Music]
28 EL PERRO DEL MAR == Love Is Not Pop >> [Control Group]
29 SHAFIQ == Shafiq En A-free-ka >> [Plug Research]
30 GROOVE ARMADA == Groove Armada Ep >> [B-live]
31 MUM == Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know >> [Euphono]
32 BLK JKS == After Robots >> [Secretly Canadian]
33 BASEMENT JAXX == Scars >> [Ultra]
34 FLORENCE & THE MACHINE == Lungs >> [Universal Island]
35 DO == Mouthful >> [Get Down]
36 TIMBER TIMBRE == Timber Timbre >> [Arts & Crafts]
37 FANFARLO == Reservoir >> [Self Release]
38 WASHED OUT == Life Of Leisure >> [Advance]
39 STONE, JOSS == Colour Me Free >> [Virgin]
40 TENOR & ALLEN == Inspiration Information >> [Strut]
41 STEVENS, SUFJAN == Bqe >> [Asthmatic Kitty]
42 LEE & HOPKINS == Fascinating Fingers >> [Ubiquity]
43 FLAMING LIPS == Embryonic >> [Warner Bros.]
44 SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS == Prince Of Peace Ep >> [Vagrant]
45 HARRIS, CALVIN == Ready For The Weekend >> [Ultra]
46 FORRO IN THE DARK == Light A Candle >> [Nublu Records]
47 LUSINE == Certain Distance >> [Ghostly International]
48 CORREATOWN == Demo >> [Advance]
49 MONSTERS OF FOLK == Monsters Of Folk >> [Shangri-la Music]
50 ZAZA == Cameo >> [Kanine]
Last year, Little Dragon sold out their first-ever show in LA. It was at the Roxy on Sunset and packed with hardcore fans. They didn’t even have an album out at the time, but a few KCRW DJs – Mathieu Schreyer and Garth Trinidad in particular -- were giving them steady spins and word spread fast that this Gothenberg band was one to watch. Their new album is a bit more electro and fast-paced, but still maintains the experimental minimalist mix that made the first one stand out – as well as Yukimi Nagano’s vocals, which add warmth and passion to the array of sounds. I’ve heard word that the band is working with TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek on a collaboration so keep an ear out for that. Also, Jason confirmed this morning that Yukimi and fantastic Swedish musician Jose Gonzalez are in fact a romantic couple and she told us he is working on a new album. Some exciting music news!
Check out this live set from Little Dragon.
RR
Port O’Brien was one of six bands we chose to showcase at this year’s SXSW Music Conference for our official night event. They handed out pots and pans to the audience and created a warm vibe to go along with their loose folky pop, which was at times simple and other times experimental. The roots behind their music are incredibly interesting and unique. Signer Van Pierszalowski spent years working in Alaskan canneries for short stints that would allow him to earn a good chuck of money, get some inspiration, and then focus on his music for the rest of the year. He founded the band with Cambria Goodwin, from the city of the same name, and the started filling out the line up before touring with everyone from Bright Eyes to Modest Mouse. The band dropped in to play some songs from the new album and, despite a broken bass string, gave us an inspired set of music.
Watch/Listen to the full session!
Check out photos from KCRW’s Masquerade event HERE and read this wrap up of the festivities!
There were lots of thrills, but surprisingly few Thrillers at KCRW’s Halloween party, Masquerade at the Park Plaza. Halloween is always exciting, but celebrating it in a gorgeous historic venue with KCRW DJ sets and live band performances made this a night to remember. And did I mention there were food trucks?!?
The most striking thing about KCRW’s first ever Halloween party, other than the awesome music of course, was the incredible creativity of the costumes. I didn’t see a single Balloon Boy, Swine Flu, or Thriller-era Michael Jackson in the bunch. No, this group was far better than that. My favorites were a few couple’s costumes – brightly-colored jellyfish who swam through crowd, two gals dressed like the twins from “The Shining,” an Alice in Wonderland and a Mad Hatter and a big group inspired by “A Clockwork Orange.” There was also a lamp (better than it sounds), a Tropicana showgirl, lots of vampires, a few Octomoms, actress Olivia Wilde as a Bloody Mary, complete with celery, many impressive hand drawn skeleton masks and a Santa who was pretty much mobbed most of the night by folks who seemed equally naughty and nice. Anne “Elvira” Litt lived up to her nickname as the sexy queen of the night and Liza Richardson truly was a “diva of death.” Garth Trinidad parted the crowds as Moses, Tom Schnabel was a sheik from the Middle East, and Eric J Lawrence went all the way as Teen Wolf, letterman’s jacket and all.
It was hard to stay in one place for more than a minute with so much going on in five rooms. The venue is not only beautiful and impressive architecturally, but it has a lot of history – as both the backdrop for many films and a dance club destination in the 80’s. The dancing ghosts were summoned to life last night, as if by Ray Parker Jr. himself, whether it was the captivating and haunting electronica of Gothenburg’s Little Dragon, the mixmaster DJ Shadow, or the DJs holding down the Grand Ballroom -- with Jason Bentley, Raul Campos, and Anthony Valadez on the turntables. Anne and Liza kept the Terrace Room moving between sets from the very best of LA’s indie rock scene: first, a stunning jam from LA’s own Sea Wolf, in matching skeleton costumes. It was my first time hearing some of their new songs live and they absolutely killed it. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have been drawing sold out crowds in their recent local shows and Halloween was no different. The room was PACKED with revelers joyfully blissed out on their feel-good vibes and folk-rock tunes. The hippie ensemble scored big with this crowd.
Last but not least, the food trucks! I sampled TWO myself, which is pretty impressive in one night. Since the Grilled Cheese Truck just launched this week, I thought I should sample the goods and was thrilled with my simple sharp cheddar. For a nightcap, I tried out the Border Grill for some delicious tacos. Korean mobile vendor Kogi also made an appearance, along with a couple trucks for those with a sweet tooth – gourmet cupcake bakers Sprinkles and Cool Haus ice cream sandwiches.
Overall it was an incredible evening. If you were there, we would love to hear your thoughts on it!
p.s.: your blogger RR was a Ghostbuster! Here I am with Santa.
If you could only drink one beverage for the rest of your life (not including water), which one would you choose?
I would basically just have this injected into my veins. Best Iced Lattes are the ones with Hazelnut Syrup and a little bit of cinnamon sprinkled over it OR Starbuck's Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Yum. Iced preferrable.
KCRW volunteer Shawniece Swain is a food truck pro so we asked for her take on tomorrow night’s event:
On Saturday, KCRW celebrates Halloween with our first ever Costume Ball and Dance Party, Masquerade, at the legendary Park Plaza Hotel. The phenomenal line up of station DJs and live acts is more than enough reason to be excited, but the line up food trucks is proving to be just as exciting!
Providing yummy treats to hungry revelers will be trucks from KOGI BBQ, Border Grill, Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwiches, Sprinkles Cupcakes and a new entry from the Grilled Cheese Truck!
KOGI, a longtime station favorite, will be there with their amazing Korean BBQ and Border Grill will throw in a splash of Southwest. I'm ready for the all the TACO LOVE! Comfort food is now on the menu with the addition of the Grilled Cheese Truck. We are so excited to have them during their inaugural week and can't wait to try them out. To round out the dinning options Sprinkles will grace us with cupcakes while Coolhaus serves up the ice cream. I am going to be so full I don't know how I am going to dance…. But I will find a way!
KCRW’s online music channel Eclectic24 will be featuring a heavy dose of music for Halloween tomorrow so feel free to make it your party soundtrack. Also, our Music Librarian Eric J Lawrence got the party started with his show late Sunday night (midnight to 3a, technically Monday AM)
From Eric:
I’ve been doing a special Halloween edition of my show for over 10 years now, and it’s still lots of fun tracking down both the spooky and the kooky songs for the holiday. They can range from the explicitly creepy (The Essex’s “Cemetery Stomp”) to the seasonally goofy (the late Soupy Sales’ “My Baby’s Got a Crush on Frankenstein”), and from the old school (Louis Armstrong’s “The Skeleton in the Closet”) to the contemporary (The Starlight Mints’ “Coffins ‘R’ Us”). It’s an annual full-on spook-tacular!!!
Hear is in the archives here until the next show airs.
RR
