From KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez:

I remember being hipped to Hypnotic Brass Ensemble after hearing them cover “What’s My Name” by Snoop Dog, which they dubbed “Rock With The Hot 8“.

The song was filled with spirit and soul only heard on the streets of New Orleans or in Chi Town.

I began to do my research and found these eight brothers from the southside of Chicago  were also doing gigs with Mos Def, Tony Allen, Maxwell and Erykah Badu.  “Spottie” is another perfect example of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble reworking a Hip Hop classic – Outkast’s “Spottieottiedopalicious”– with layers upon layers of horns.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Spottie by ArtDontSleep

Download that track, and another called “Starfighter”, here.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble has a very special live appearance coming up on Feburary 23 at the Downtown Exchange in Los Angeles that you won’t want to miss. It will feature a rare appearance from their father – jazz musician and musicologist Phil Cohran – as well as Venice Dawn w/ William Hart of the Delfonics, Dj Spinna, Lefto and yours truly.

Drop us a comment below.

We’ll randomly select one to send you and a friend to see the show and stop by the merch table to pick up Lefto’s Universal Magnetic mix CD with T-Shirt and DJ Spinna’s Future Shock mix CD. Cool!

Drop your comment now, we’ll select a winner on Tuesday, Feb 14.

Don’t forget to leave your email address in the appropriate field, so we have a way to contact you!
Tickets can be purchased at www.artdontsleep.com. Full details below!

Thursday February 23rd, 2012 :: 8pm-2am

EVFA & ArtDontSleep present: Homage

Live Performances by: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble feat Phil Cohran

Opening Performance by: Venice Dawn feat William Hart (Delfonics)

Main Room DJs: DJ Spinna & Lefto

Lounge DJ’s: Anthony Valadez, Expo, Seano, Rani D.

LOCATION:

Exchange LA :: 618 S. Spring Street :: Los Angeles, CA 90014 :: (213) 627-8070

TICKETS:

21 +
25$ presale :: 30$ @ the door

When I was a kid, there was a lot of talk of Stevie Nicks’ “being a witch.”

I dunno where exactly I heard that, but I distinctly recall it being a topic of conversation one holiday when my aunt found my copy of “Tango in the Night.” (A dubbed cassette given me by a hairspray addicted, white wolf howling at the moon airbrushed jean jacketed, and eye-liner wearing minister’s son from New Jersey, no less. But that’s another story, for another time.)

Now that I’m older, I know that it actually doesn’t matter whether or not Stevie is a “witch” or the Devil’s daughter or the Devil herself, because she’s a stone cold fox with one of the raddest voices of all time OF ALL TIME!

She’s amazing. And although it’s not witchcraft, I often find that random internet radness is Stevie Nicks associated.  Now a lot of snobby dance music dudes will hate hard on a mash-up (admittedly I’ve been guilty of it myself) but, when it’s good, it’s good…and you can’t hate on Stevie…or she’ll turn you into a frog or a put a hex on your ass.

This dude Chris Bithell, under the name ToastSoundsystem, laid a sweet acapella of “Dreams” over Black Van’s sweet DFA single “Yearning” and came up with a magical dancefloor burner that will have you two-stepping your hooves like a satyr drunk on babyblood wine at Baldelli’s Cosmic celebrating the Vernal Equinox under a Full Moon with all those naked people from The Wicker Man village.

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Well Done Internets!

Stevie’s Black Van – Toast Soundsystem by AOR DISCO

All of our DJs receive hundreds of CDs a month to consider for airplay. In this regular feature, KCRW DJ Chuck P catalogues his musical bounty from the Post Office each week.

Another odd week and a half of cold rain mixed with spring/summer type temps. I’d feel weird about it if it wasn’t so dang nice. When I lived in the Northwest, I had a friend with an outdoor jacuzzi. I used to love sitting in the nice warm water while there was a foot of snow just a few feet away. That’s what our current (wonderful) weather reminds me of.

Lot of wonderful music at the post office this week too!

1) Team Love Records was kind enough to send me a massive package of vinyl, along with a CDR of their new release (and a current obsession of mine), Conduits. Shoegaze of the highest order, I’m really looking forward to the vinyl version of this masterpiece. Plus, looks like they’ll be on tour with Cursive this spring, so check ‘em out when they hit your town.

2) Third Man Records was also kind enough to send over a couple of incredible 7″s from John C. Reilly, one includes Tom Brosseau and the other, Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond. All three will be performing at the Bootleg Bar at the end of the month! Also included, the new CD from The Black Belles, who rock a la White Stripes and do it nicely.

3) Lambchop “Mr. M” – Kurt Wagner & crew deliver their first since 2008′s OH (Ohio). If I know what to expect, should be some gorgeous understated orchestral country twang with Wagner’s trademark baritone. Great artwork on this new album, and Merge Records delivers again with the poster that was included. Bravo.

4) The Toure-Raichel Collective “The Tel Aviv Session” – Vieux Farka Toure collaborates with Idan Raichel in this dream team up. I’ve only heard the one track I’ve played on my show, but I’m really looking forward to putting this one on later during dinner.

Oh, and here’s a picture of the mail I got this week. LUCY… YOU GOT SOME LISS’NING TO DO…

Honorable mentions include new music from The Shrouded Strangers, Ed Vallance, Balkan Beat Box and Frankie Rose with the digital promo of the week going to one of my top ten of 2011, EMA, who’s just released a radio edit of one of the best tracks on the album, California. I’m so excited to finally be able to play it for you on the radio.

Be sure to catch EMA with Zola Jesus  for First Fridays at the Natural HIstory Museum on March 2nd! KCRW’s own resident DJ Anthony Valadez and myself will be spinning for your pleasure.

Cheers,
Chuck P. 

Chuck P./Music Please - PO Box 1870, Hollyood, CA 90078

Producer/Musician extraordinaire Mark Ronson stopped by KCRW’s studios today to talk about one of his newest creations, the track “A La Modeliste”. It’s a collaboration with Erykah Badu, Trombone Shorty, Mos Def, Zigaboo Modeliste, and Members of The Dap Kings.

It was part of “RE:GENERATION”,  a documentary film that follows Ronson, DJ Premier, Pretty Lights, The Crystal Method, and Skrillex as they remix, recreate and re-imagine five traditional styles of music.

Ronson was given the genre of jazz and says he aimed for the “pure second line” jazz piece and wanted to focus on the “groove that gave birth to the Meters” style of funk. The recording took place over two days and Mos Def ended up on the track because he lived nearby and happened to stop into the studio.

He said it was a magical experience recording with that group of musicians but, as with any project, was “petrified” going into it, saying “what if I show up and nothing comes out.” Clearly that wasn’t a problem as the result is fantastic.

Learn more about the project here.  Mark’s interview will be available in the archives here shortly.

RR

Mark Ronson at KCRW by Larry Hirshowitz

The Obama campaign has released their official music playlist for 2012 and lots of KCRW bands are on the list. You can hear it streaming via Spotify on the campaign’s Facebook page.

Highlights for me –

 “Green Onions” by Booker T and the MGs – Check out the incredible version recorded live at KCRW 

“Keep Reachin’ Up” – Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators – This was a KCRW favorite a few years back. Super soulful stuff!

“Keep Marchin’” – Raphael Saadiq – You really can’t go wrong with Ray Ray. ALL of his music is inspiring

 ”I Got You” – Wilco — The simple lyrics (I got you and it’s all I need) + scorching guitar = Wilco at their best.

 View the full playlist below:

• “Different People” – No Doubt
• “Got to Get You Into My Life” – Earth, Wind & Fire
• “Green Onions” – Booker T & The MG’s
• “I Got You” – Wilco
• “Keep on Pushing” – The Impressions
• “Keep Reachin’ Up” – Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators
• “Love You I Do?” – Jennifer Hudson
• “No Nostalgia” – AgesAndAges
• “Raise Up” – Ledisi
• “Stand Up” – Sugarland
• “This” – Darius Rucker
• “We Used To Wait” – Arcade Fire
• “You’ve Got the Love” – Florence and the Machine
• “Your Smiling Face” – James Taylor
• “Roll with the Changes” – REO Speedwagon
• “Everyday America” – Sugarland
• “Learn to Live” – Darius Rucker
• “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green
• “Mr. Blue Sky” – Electric Light Orchestra
• “My Town” – Montgomery Gentry
• “The Best Thing about Me Is You” – Ricky Martin, featuring Joss Stone
• “You are the Best Thing” – Ray Lamontagne
• “Keep Marchin’” – Raphael Saadiq
• “Tonight’s The Kind of Night” – Noah and the Whale
• “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Keep Me In Mind” – Zac Brown Band
• “The Weight” – Aretha Franklin
• “Even Better Than The Real Thing” – U2
• “Home” – Dierks Bentley.