Photos: Masquerade 2012

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Jason Bentley holds court in the Grand Ballroom by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

For the 4th year in a row, KCRW took over the legendary Park Plaza and brought some of our favorite musical friends for an evening that is always beyond words (which is why I post so many pictures!).

One of the last conversations I had, sitting on a bale of hay outside by the food trucks at 2am, was with a woman who said the event is rough for someone with a short attention span because there is so much going on.

Chris Muckley aka Ziggy Stardust by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

KCRW DJs always gather early to check out each other’s costumes and a few impersonated their rock heroes this year: Eric J Lawrence as Brian Eno, Chris Muckley as Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie, Aaron Byrd as Elvis, and Valida as Stevie Nicks.

Meanwhile, a true rock icon was roaming the halls. John Lydon (Sex Pistols/ Public Image Ltd) not only spun a DJ set but could be seen carrying a Corona and enjoying the event when he wasn’t on stage. He surprised me with his picks.  “Groove is in the Heart”? ABBA? Never would have guessed that, but it was a huge hit with the crowd.

John Lydon by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Next door, M83 was wowing the crowd. Even with a Friday the 13th Jason mask on, women were lined up right in front of the DJ booth gushing over the French artist, who now calls LA home. He made his own rock tribute, wearing an Iron Maiden shirt. Earlier garage rocker Hanni Khatib tore through a set of songs in the Bronze Room with a little help from members of another LA band, Crystal Antlers.

M83 and his adoring fans by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

Upstairs, Raul Campos was back as his moniker “Senor Discos” and he lit it up the Terrace Room with an unstoppable house set following a live performance from Mexican Institute of Sound, 80’s classics from Chuck P and opener Marion Hodges. Vampire Travis Holcombe took it home in the late night hours.

The Grand Ballroom was bumping early on, with an eclectic set from Liza Richardson setting the stage for KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley and special guest Z-Trip, who pretty much blew my mind over and over with his mashups. Adele into DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat”? You betcha. And the crowd went crazy.

Z-Trip by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

I’ve never seen Anne Litt dance like I did last night and she has some unofficial back up dancers as well that couldn’t resist jumping up on stage when she played Robyn’s “Konichiwa Bitches”. (Guilty as charged)

The minute you walked into the event you were greeted by stilt walkers from Lucent Dossier and horns blaring from wandering roots collective, the Dustbowl Revival. The fun was nonstop.

There were incredibly creative costumes as always –a LOT of Boy Scouts (Moonrise Kingdom was clearly a big inspiration), NASA/space-themed outfits, zombies…and a few “binders full of women”.

It was a great night and a huge thanks to all of you who came and made it special!

See fabulous photos from Gary Leonard and Jeremiah Garcia below and check out KCRW’s Facebook page to see pics from the Costume Contest.

RR

Zombies by the food trucks by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Lucent Dossier by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
crowd by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Liza Richardson by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Mexican Institute of Sound by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Raul Campos aka Senor Discos by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Hanni El Khatib by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Gary Calamar and Chris Douridas by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
M83 by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Valida by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Chuck P by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Mathieu Schreyer by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Eric J Lawrence by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Vampire Travis Holcombe by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Aaron Byrd by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Dan Wilcox as Huell Howser by Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Marion Hodges by  Jeremiah Garcia (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
RR and KCRW Presents maven Mary Chellamy by Gary Leonard (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)