When I first heard about Middle Brother, I was instantly intrigued. Since I couldn’t make it to the show myself, I asked KCRW volunteer Sierra Drucker to send a report from the scene:
“Hipsters, frat boys, and music nerds alike gathered this stormy Monday night at the Troubadour for an epic evening of music.  KCRW presented Middle Brother and friends in a holiday benefit concert for Invisible Children.
Middle Brother is the newly formed folk rock super group made up of John McCauley (Deer Tick), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and Matt Vasquez (Delta …

From DJ Mario Cotto:
It’s the end of the year which means it is list season, fersherrr.
Consequently, I’m going list crazy…although I’m generally unable to create a single item for a to-do list, when it comes to listing things I love it’s more than easy, in fact, it could very easily be labeled at best “an obsession,” at worst “a compulsion.” For example, I worked and re-worked my Top 10 album list.  And, even after it was submitted, I found myself rewriting it for myself. …

KCRW Presents dozens of shows across Southern California and here are some photo highlights!

From KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox:
Arguably the greatest cover song ever done was Aretha Franklin’s version of “Respect”. She took Otis Redding’s lover’s quarrel and transformed it into a women’s movement anthem, a generation-defining moment.
The trick to a great cover song is 1/2 creativity and 1/2 context… to filter a vision through a new lens. To take a meaningful song and give it new meaning.
Below are my 10 favorite, most memorable covers songs from 2010, in no particular order:
1) John Legend & The Roots “Hang On In There” — Possibly the …

I’ve been nudging KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley to put together a list of his favorite live performances of the year on Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Drumroll please…
Jason Bentley’s Top 10 Live Morning Becomes Eclectic Performances of 2010

LCD Soundsystem (Nov 24, 2010)

The Secret Sisters (October 27, 2010)
Rufus Wainwright (August 19, 2010)
Laura Marling (July 29, 2010)
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (June 28, 2010)
Flying Lotus (May 14, 2010)
Jose James (April 15, 2010)
Charlotte Gainsbourg + Beck (Jan 27, 2010)
The Black Keys (December 13, 2010)
Gary Numan (November 3, 2010)

It’s no easy task — I watched …

Upcoming Live Performances on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host JASON BENTLEY
Tuesday, December 21, A standout band on the local Latin alternative scene, Wait. Think. Fast. use bilingual lyrics to explore their post-punk musings when they join Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Wednesday, December 22, Don’t miss a special live session with singer David Gray recorded at Apogee Berkeley St. Studios for a live audience, we’ll feature an intriguing interview and a captivating performance from a favorite KCRW artist on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Thursday, January 6, Long before the cheerful folk …

From DJ and KCRW Music Librarian Eric J Lawrence:
We learned today of the passing of rock icon and acclaimed painter Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart at the age of 69, due to complications from multiple sclerosis.  I don’t use the term “rock icon” lightly, despite the fact that he may be the least heard rock icon in the pantheon, but that’s due to the uncompromising nature of his work, the non-“radio-friendly” sound of his surreal, mind-bending records.
You’re not likely to ever hear his songs on oldies radio stations, despite …

Jenny and Johnny’s album “I’m Having Fun Now” easily made my Top Ten Albums of the Year list and they never disappoint live. I even caught Jason Bentley playing a little air guitar during “Slave Driver” this morning.
The musical and romantic couple – Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and Johnathan Rice — said they went into the studio together without telling anyone they were working on a new project so it was “totally freeing.” Jenny says “the intention for us was pure musical joy.”
They certainly achieve that with …

On Raphael Saadiq’s last album he channeled the “ghosts of The Temptations,” as he says. On his new one, Stone Rollin’, he keeps that retro style, but takes it MUCH further – as DJ Jeremy Sole says, “it’s his “Electric Ladyland.”

At a listening party at his studio last night, all the DJs gathered there agreed it is an album you will be hearing on the air a LOT in 2011.

More from Jeremy: “We stepped into Ray’s world last night, and saw on the horizon the dawn of …

From DJ Marion Hodges:
Liechtenstein have been operating in the shadows of so many cool things for roughly the past three years. The Swedish girl foursome has released a couple of strong singles on frontwoman own Fraction Discs Label, a full length record last year on the indie pop stalwart Slumberland Records, and naturally gone through a line-up change or two.
The last time that I filled in for Nic Harcourt, I played the band’s newest single — far and away the most exciting thing they’ve given us to date. I’ve played …