It’s been a great ride on Saturday nights for over a year and as I embark on a new time slot on Sundays from midnight to 3am (technically on Monday morning) to make room for this, I wanted to share some of the bands I’m most excited about at the moment.
The show will remain the same with some added nuggets not heard before on …

Back in 2009 I heard this great catchy track called “In this City” and immediately I was hooked. Turns out, it was from a band called Iglu and Harley from right here in Los Angeles. I got to see them once at The Roxy in 2010 and, shortly after, they broke up.
I kept in touch with singer Sam Martin and guitarist Simon Katz and …

For the last two sold out nights at the Troubadour, UK singer Ben Howard had the audience in musical awe. Born in West London, Ben Howard has this cool singer songwriter vibe that fits perfectly here on the West Coast. Ben is an avid surfer and mentioned to me last night how he took to the waves in Hermosa Beach on this trip.
Last night’s …

When I first encountered the video to The Neighbourhood’s super-catchy track “Sweater Weather”, I wondered exactly which neighborhood they might be from.  It turns out they live not that far from KCRW’s studios, a mere 45 minutes away in Thousand Oaks.
This young quintet has sparked something that is making them an instant favorite among all those who hear them, with KCRW DJ Anne Litt …

From KCRW DJ Jason Kramer:
About a year ago, I was browsing the web and came across an amazing video called “Atlas Hands”. The singer had a soft and inviting voice and style of writing that grabbed my attention.
Fast forward to today – and a million hits later — UK singer Benjamin Francis Leftwich is packing houses on his new world tour. He signed a …

Singer Lianne La Havas was previously profiled in our Love from London series and now she is taking hold on our airwaves here at KCRW! Here are some additional reflections on the artist from DJ Jason Kramer.
I first found Lianne La Havas when doing a little research about what’s going on in England, where she has been nominated for BBC’s Sound of 2012 alongside …

I saw Vanaprasta do a live taping for a TV show and was blown away by their performance. A few weeks later, I saw them at the Satellite and the audience was just as enthusiastic.
Vanaprasta’s debut album “Healthy Geometry” came out last November, and it presents yet another niche of the growing Los Angeles indie rock scene. The band unleashes catchy, anthemic tunes throughout, creating a …

From KCRW DJ Jason Kramer:
On his recent Morning Becomes Eclectic appearance and well-received new release, Van Hunt continues to surprise me and now I’m happy to present a cover of one of my favorite songs.
Here is his version of The Pixies timeless classic “Hey”, exclusively for KCRW listeners.
In a short conversation with Van Hunt, I wanted to know why he chose this track, one …

As a Los Angeles native, I take extra time to check out our local bands. One band that has recently caught my eye is a fairly new 6-member indie rock band called Races. Recently signed to Frenchkiss Records, they have a new EP that is just released called “Big Broom”.
While the various members of the band have been making their way around for quite …

By KCRW DJ Jason Kramer:
Forrest Day defines eclectic. He grew up in the Bay Area, and was heavily influenced by the jazz he and his musically-talented family would listen to. You can hear the effect of his stellar background reflected in his new group.
The music is new, it’s unusual, and it personifies the spontaneity and free spirit of jazz, while pulling elements from hip-hop …