I had the great pleasure of spending a lot of time with the UK’s Belleruche when they were in Los Angeles for an extended period during their first tour of the USA. This was almost a session that didn’t happen. Our usual producer for performances was not able to be here due to a medical emergency and his stand-in was unable to find some highly necessary cords. In the end, everything worked out (Thank you Tamika Zoghi for the last minute production magic!) just in the nick of time and so you get to hear all 3 songs (“Gold Rush” “Clockwatching” and “Cat in a Dog Suit”, all from 270 Stories) that the band performed live in our studios.

We had a number of conversations during the 3+ hours the band was at the station, about the differences between “winter” in the UK vs. what we perceive as uncharacteristically cold weather in LA (“time to breakout the shorts” was pretty much how Ricky from the group described his impression of our “blisteringly cold” weather in LA) to recommendations (in terms of venues and record stores) in the Bay Area, which the band hopes to visit in the near future.  The interview covers how the band got together and their thoughts on how to characterize their sound and a certain freedom that comes from not having a label easily placed on you.

Though the band made their way to KEXP and NPR’s World Cafe, it’s nice to know that the first place they stopped by was our very humble space at KPFK. There’s a very good chance they’ll be swinging back through the States in March around the time of SXSW and hopefully they’ll be able to spend more time in LA. For the time being you have the tracks from this session in addition to their latest album on Tru Thoughts, 270 Stories.

Belleruche on KPFK’s Melting Pot: Recorded 11-29-2010

One final bonus, my very first bit of video, featuring the band performing their song “Gold Rush” at KPFK:

Robin and Coco of Quadron perform at KPFK

Had the distinct pleasure of spending a fair amount of time with Robin Hannibal and Coco of Denmark’s Quadron just before Halloween. I actually picked up Robin & Coco and drove them to KPFK for the interview, so we spent a long time discussing a number of topics, only some of which makes it into this interview. At slightly over one hour all together, I decided to split up the interview over two weeks on Melting Pot, but it’s here as the full session.

Quadron sign copies of their CD for KPFK listeners

We cover a number of topics, from the origins of the band, a bit of their influences, the state of soul music in Denmark and here in the States and a really interesting discussion of issues of race, which finally solved the puzzle behind the band’s name. The songs here are different versions of tracks that can mostly be found elsewhere, stripped down versions performed in the KPFK studios, via keyboards and laptop and that exceptional voice from Coco.  Included are VERY different versions of “Simili Life” and “Pressure” from the album and a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Baby Be Mine.” 

I’m really happy that the group has found a number of kindred spirits here in the Los Angeles area, it will be very interesting to see how being in LA will affect the group’s sound on the next record. This one is definitely a group to watch here in coming years and this is one of the most special sessions I’ve been a part of since I got started in radio. Big big thanks to Andrew Lojero for setting things up and Stan Misraje for doing the sound and most importantly to Robin & Coco for sharing their music with us on Melting Pot.

Quadron on KPFK’s Melting Pot: Recorded 10-29-2010

Scott Craig lays some serious funky treats on Melting Pot's listeners!

Scott Craig of Records LA was our second guest DJ during this October’s end of the month all vinyl shenanigans on Melting Pot, appropriately held on Halloween. As I’ve mentioned before, since opening it’s doors almost exactly one year ago, Records LA has been and remains one of my favorite record stores in Souther Cali. Like Groove Merchant up north, there’s a little bit of everything for people at this store, from the mega rare to the super solid. What sets Scott’s store apart from others is the wealth of quality 45s, often at rock bottom prices.

For his guest spot on Melting Pot, Scott layed nothing but heavy funky treats on listeners during his 30+ minute guest spot, all on original 45 vinyl, with one exception…an honest to goodness Keb Darge dub plate of the already absurdly rare Pearly Queen 45 “Quit Jivin.”

A Keb Darge Dub Plate of Quit Jivin from Scott Craig's collection

The story that Scott relayed to me was that at one point Keb Darge sold a lot of his rare records, but cut dub plates of many of them, only to subsequently depart with some of these Dub Plates too. As rare as the original is, I wonder how many of these Darge Dub Plates are out there!

The jams just kept coming after that, with a super rare private press Little Anthony (yes THAT Little Anthony) record with some super fresh vocalizing, M.D.L.T. Willis’ Jackson 5 produced, “What’s Your Game” and one of the oddest and illest funky tracks I’ve heard “Key To Your Love.”

According to Scott this one is a mega rarity out of Detroit, recorded in the 1980s with some of the craziest sounding production I’ve ever heard on the drums and guitar…just insane production, like I mean that literally, was there a mentally unstable person at the board? When you hear those drums you’ll see what I mean. Scott closed things up with some righteous soul sounds from Main Events, a 45 I’ll definitely be on the look out for, in addition to all the rest as will you as soon as you heard this set.

Guest DJ Set from Scott Craig of Records LA on KPFK’s Melting Pot

Selections:

Gene Anderson – Gigilo
Marboro Men – Ride On
Incomparable 7 – Funky Grandpa
Prolifics – Guts
Pearly Queen – Quit Jivin’
Shackleford Singers – God Is All Over Me
Belita Woods – Grounded
Little Anthony – Nothing From Nothing
M.D.L.T. Willis – What’s Your Game
L. Lavollis – Key To Your Love
Main Events – I Want You To Remember
{Not Included: Instrumental during the on-air break Eunice Collins – At The Hotel}

Francoiz Breut performs at KPFK

Francoiz Breut on KPFK’s Melting Pot: 10-3-2010 (Recorded 9-29-2010)

Francoiz Breut has been for sometime now one of my favorite singers, in any language. I’ve been a fan of her’s since first hearing 2000′s Vingt à Trente Mille Jours while at KALX in Berkeley. I’d always hoped to get a chance to interview her and tape a live session, but figured she’d never make it out to the states. I was surprised and immensely thankful to receive an e-mail from singer Marianne Dissard a couple weeks ago asking whether or not I’d be interested in interviewing Francoiz and taping a live session before her performance in LA on Oct. 5th (this show has since been moved from the now closed Echo Curio to Echo Park guitar shop The Fretted Frog, Oct. 5th at 8pm, cover = $10).

Francoiz Breut at KPFK

The interview covers the experience of performing for fans who often don’t understand your lyrics, her first foray into writing her own lyrics and a bit about the creative process, not only as a musician but also as an illustrator. Big thanks to Marianne Dissard for not only setting everything up, but especially for translating English to French and back again!

During our session Francoiz performed four songs, all from her most recent record “A L’aveuglette,” they are (in order of performance) “L’etincelle Ou La Contrainte Du Feu,” “A L’aveuglette,” “2013″ and “Les Jeunes Pousses,” which remains one of my favorite songs of this decade. Special thanks to Stan Misraje from KPFK for doing such an exceptional job with the sound.

Francoiz Breut and Marianne Dissard with KPFK's Michael Barnes

{Update: Due to the untimely closing of Echo Curio, the Los Angeles performance on Oct. 5th has been moved to 8pm at the Fretted Frog in Echo Park}

Earlier today I taped a session with one of my favorite singers (even though I don’t speak French, I still “feel” everything she sings) Francoiz Breut at KPFK, which we’ll be broadcasting this Sunday on Melting Pot (and archiving here on the blog thereafter). I wanted post a little something just in case any of you are in the cities that Francoiz will be touring (especially Bay Area peeps!) before she comes back down here to LA for one of her last shows on this all too brief tour. This is actually the first time Francoiz has done a multi-city tour of the US, so catch her while you can, along with the equally talented Marianne Dissard. “Les Jounes Pousses” was one of four songs Francoiz and her guitarist Stephane performed today. This mix is a little raw, but I think it has a very disarming quality to it, as if it were recorded by happenstance late one night amongst friends, clearly (based off of the howl after the first verse) under a full moon.

Francoiz Breut – Les Jeunes Pousses (Recorded Live At KPFK)

Francoiz Breut & Marianne Dissard US Tour 2010

Sept. 29th @ Steynberg Gallery – San Luis Obispo, CA
Sept. 30th @ Hotel Utah – San Francisco, CA
Oct. 1st @ Sam Bond’s Garage – Eugene, OR
Oct. 2nd @ Lola’s Room – Portland, OR
Oct. 3rd @ Triple Door – Seattle, WA
Oct. 5th @ Originally scheduled for Echo Curio, Moved to the Fretted Frog – Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 6th @ Trunk Space – Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 7th @ Raven Café – Prescott, AZ

Chicano Batman perform live on KPFK's Melting Pot!

This past Sunday I had the distinct pleasure of spending almost an hour with Los Angeles’ very own Chicano Batman. Bardo, Eduardo & Gabriel did a 25+ minute acoustic set and then came into the studio with me to chat about the band and music in general.

(From L to R) Eduardo, Gabriel & Bardo of Chicano Batman at KPFK

Chicano Batman released an album earlier in the year on Club Unicornio that’s one of the best independent releases of 2010 from an LA artist. Their style draws upon 1970s Chicano/Latino music as well as Tropicalia and Soul, whipped into a unique and inspiring mix. For this set, they went all acoustic, playing 4 songs live, featuring Bardo & Eduardo on guitars and vocals with Gabriel on percussion and vocals. I’m already looking forward to bringing them back in the not too distant future with the full set up including that righteous casio keyboard featured on the LP, a couple of tracks of which are featured during this set, “La Samaona” and “Itotiani”.

Chicano Batman on Melting Pot 09-26-10: Performance
Chicano Batman on Melting Pot 09-26-10: Interview

Here’s some video that the boys shot of them performing the song “Pomegranate Tree” live at KPFK during this show:

The Gories on KPFK’s Melting Pot: September 5, 2010

Still finding it a little hard to believe that I got a chance to interview Mick Collins, Dan Kroha and Peg O’Neill of the Gories. Some of it I’m sure is because I never thought the Gories would get back together, but once I heard they had and were playing in LA, I just never thought this interview was actually going to happen…but it did and here’s the audio to prove it. We talk about how the band got back together, how the Gories originally formed and a few other choice stories including one about recording in Memphis with Alex Chilton.

Clifton James Weaver III is one of the hardest working DJs in LA, spinning at some of Los Angeles’ best underground spots, including the Legendary Deep Funk weekly Funky Sole, 60s mod+indie/brit pop haven  Club Underground, LoveLife! at the Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown and just about everywhere else he can throw down some wax with his trademark style.  This past Sunday Clifton came in to Melting Pot to do a guest DJ set during our end of the month all vinyl show and gave us 35+ minutes of nitty gritty from his 45 collection.

Guest DJ Set from Clifton James Weaver III aka Soft Touch on KPFK’s Melting Pot

Selections:

The Rolling Stones – 2,000 Light Years From Home
Noonday Underground – When You Leave
Belle & Sebastian – Legal Man
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & Trinity – Black Cat
Rhinoceros – Apricot Brandy
Wendy & Bonnie – It’s What’s Really Happening
Six Feet Under – She’s Not There
Lou Rawls – Season Of The Witch
The Telescopes – Celeste
The Samurai – Fresh Hot Breeze Of Summer
Lena Rios – Eu Sou Eu, Nicuri E O Diabo
Tony Morgan & Muscle Power – Racial Segregation

Yours Truly with NYC's Pacha Massive at KPFK

Pacha Massive Live on KPFK’s Melting Pot: August 1, 2010

Pacha Massive out of New York City were the first in-studio guests for KPFK’s Melting Pot. Pacha Massive consists primarily of multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Nova & Maya, here joined by vocalist and flute player Monica. They’ve released a couple of records on Nacional, 2007′s All Good Things and 2009′s If You Want It.

Pacha Massive's Nova on guitar and Maya providing percussion on a KPFK trash can!

In our interview we chatted about their love of Los Angeles, their distinctive mix of styles and sounds and a bit about the recording process. They also performed two songs, “Your Love” and “If You Want It” in our studio, with Nova and Monica on vocals, Nova on guitar, Monica on flute (ala Rahsaan Roland Kirk playing and singing!) and Maya on percussion which as you can see from the picture was improvised on the spot using one of our trash cans! Looking forward to bringing them back at a later date with the full band and hopefully a much better sound person (I simply don’t cut it as a sound man…)

Enjoy,

Michael