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Photo: HCP @ Greek 2010 by Lindsey

HEADS UP
The Henry Clay People w/ Lady Danville @ Hammer Museum
Thursday, July 28, 2011 (Free)

If you’re heading over to the final “Also I Like To Rock” show at the Hammer tomorrow evening, we have one swag bag to give away at this time. Bag includes a t-shirt, poster, and a few signed CDs by bands that have played the series – all in a handy Hammer Museum tote bag. Email me now with your first and last name for a chance to win this thing. NOTE: You must pick up this bag at the show, so, obviously, don’t enter if you’re not headed to the show.

Full press release and show details after the jump.

Final Also I Like to Rock Show of 2011 THIS Thursday
w/ Henry Clay People and Lady Danville

The free music series is a cultural collaboration between KCRW and the Hammer Museum

After three hugely successful weeks, the final show in the Hammer Museum’s 2011 Also I Like to Rock series is upon us THIS Thursday, July 28. The combination of the warm Westside summer breeze, live music, and fascinating art makes this series something that stands apart from all other music events in the city. If that isn’t motivation enough, the show is free and all ages.

It is a homecoming of sorts for indie rock trio Lady Danville (on at 9:30pm), who met as part of UCLA’s Awaken A Capella ensemble. Also, be prepared to sing along with your fists in the air to The Henry Clay People (on at 8:15p), whose energy is entirely contagious. KCRW DJ Chris Douridas will host the festivities.

The series is a collaboration between KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW) and the Hammer Museum. Week after week has flown by with remarkable performances to packed audiences by Graffiti6, Eastern Conference Champions, Grouplove, Hanni El Khatib, Milo Greene and The Soft Pack. The series curator was Kevin Bronson, of Buzzbands LA.

What: Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer Museum
Time: 7pm – 10:30pm
Location: The Hammer Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd.(at the northeast corner of Westwood and Wilshire) in the heart of Westwood. For current program and exhibition information call 310-443-7000 or visit www.hammer.ucla.edu.

Parking: Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early and take advantage of $3 parking under the museum available after 6pm.

In late May, Ron and I turned out to Apogee’s Berkeley Street Studios for a live KCRW Little Dragon taping, engineered by Bob Clearmountain and rounded out by the obligatory Garth Trinidad Q&A with the band. That fine show aired on MBE yesterday morning and can be streamed right here, right now.

While we’re on the subject of Little Dragon, KCRW is also hosting a free stream of their new album Ritual Union through August 17, right here. The album drops July 26. Enjoy.

Photo by Jeremiah Garcia.

HEADS UP
Graffiti6 + Eastern Conference Champions w. KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox
Hammer Museum, Tonight, 7pm
FREE

“Also I Like to Rock” Starts on July 7

The free, all ages concert series, presented by the Hammer Museum and KCRW, is held Thursdays in July.

KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW) will continue a cultural collaboration with the Hammer Museum for a second season this summer as Also I Like to Rock returns for a series of free, all ages concerts.

The evenings kick off at 7pm with DJ sets by KCRW’s own selectors followed by two band performances starting at 8pm, including headliners Graffiti6, who appeared on Morning Becomes Eclectic this week, San Diego standouts The Soft Pack, pop-loving quintet Grouplove (who made their U.S. radio debut on KCRW!), and local rockers The Henry Clay People. The full line up is below and here.

On top of seeing some excellent indie bands, attendees can wander the museum galleries until 9pm. Also, Hammer members and KCRW subscribers at all levels receive priority entry and exclusive access to the VIP lounge.

The Hammer Museum is located in the heart of Westwood and admission is on a first come, first served basis. Concertgoers are encouraged to get there early and take advantage of $3 parking available after 6pm under the museum.

Also I Like to Rock 2011 Line Up

Thursday, July 7, 7PM
Graffiti6 + Eastern Conference Champions
KCRW DJ: Dan Wilcox

British rockers Graffiti6 were formed in 2008 around the talents of singer-songwriter Jamie Scott and DJ, writer, and producer Tommy D., who has worked with the likes of Jay-Z and Kanye West. Together they craft a heady, upbeat blend of soulful electropop that falls somewhere in between the Beta Band, Morcheeba, and Gnarls Barkley. The duo’s “psychedelic Northern Soul” is a feast for the ears.

Eastern Conference Champions
The triangulation of Bucks County, Pa.-reared Joshua Ostrander and Greg Lyons along with L.A. guitarist Melissa Dougherty, Eastern Conference Champions fashion indie-rock that can go from ferocious to tender in a heartbeat. The trio gained attention last year when its song “A Million Miles an Hour” was featured in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack and kept the momentum going with the April release of their new album Speak-Ahh.

Thursday, July 14, 7PM
The Soft Pack + Hanni El Khatib
KCRW DJ: Chuck P

Launched in 2008 in San Diego by guitar-playing friends Matty McLoughlin and Matt Lamkin, The Soft Pack rocketed to success in 2009 with a punk-meets-garage rock sound inspired by the Modern Lovers, the Fall, the Velvet Underground and the Ramones. With bassist Dave Lantzman and drummer Brian Hill, the foursome released its self-titled debut in 2010 on Kemado Records and has toured the world, including dates at the Coachella and Lollapalooza festivals.

A multi-instrumentalist who serves as singer, songwriter, and producer for his one-man band, Hanni El Khatib wields a sinewy guitar and a wry, whiskey-glazed voice to fashion a mix of bluesy garage-rock soul and malt-shop music for those who drink them spiked with bourbon.

Thursday, July 21, 7PM
Grouplove + Milo Greene
KCRW DJ: Eric J. Lawrence

Los Angeles-based quintet Grouplove came together on the island of Crete, where two friends from New York, Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi, met future bandmates Sean Gadd, Ryan Rabin and Andrew Wessen at an art residency. Finding immediate chemistry, the fivesome moved to L.A. to refine and record an EP of ambitious pop marked by sweeping anthems and soaring harmonies. A full album is due this year.

New L.A. pop quintet Milo Greene came together when former UC Irvine classmates Robbie Arnett, Andrew Heringer and Marlana Sheetz reunited for songwriting sessions and, finding common ground in the harmony-laden pop of the 1960s and 1970s, emerged with a batch of undeniably engaging material. They have since expanded their circle by adding Curtis Marrero and Graham Fink and are currently recording songs for their debut release.

Thursday, July 28, 7PM
The Henry Clay People + Lady Danville
KCRW DJ: Chris Douridas

The Pavement- and Tom Petty-influenced rock of L.A.’s the Henry Clay People is informed by the sibling revelry of Joey and Andy Siara, who trade jibes, jabs and guitar licks in the quintet’s hyperactive, angsty tunes. Their third album “Somewhere on the Golden Coast” came out in 2010 on TBD Records and the band followed it up this spring with a punk rock-influenced EP, “This Is a Desert.”

Indie-pop standouts Lady Danville were born when Michael Garner and Dan Chang — natives of Danville, CA — met Matt Frankel at a tryout for UCLA’s Awaken a capella group. Not content simply to harmonize, the threesome took up instruments and embarked on a songwriting campaign that earned them acclaim with tune “Tired Magician” and eventually gigs opening for Ben Folds, Dashboard Confessional and Jack’s Mannequin.

Could this day get any better? Huell Howser is DJing on KCRW. How did this happen!? We speak now with KCRW Music Publicity Director and Guest DJ Producer/Booker Rachel Reynolds, the person responsible for this occurrence and an industry publicity personal favorite of the Losanjealous editorial staff. Indeed; not only is it Huell Howser Guest DJ Day today, it is also Rachel Reynolds Appreciation Day as decreed by Losanjealous, 22 June 2011 Anno Domini. Like most all things KCRW, Rachel brings quality to the equation (whatever the equation). Read on…

Greets, Rachel! How did you originally become involved with KCRW? How long have you worked for the station, and what do you do?

I feel like I’ve been involved with KCRW since I first started listening. I heard it in a friend’s car about 10 years ago (within a year of moving to LA) and I was totally hooked. KCRW and its DJs were what made me feel OK about the move to LA, it was like a friend I could always turn to. And I’m not saying this just because I’m the Music Publicity Director (a job I’ve held since 2007). It’s 100% true.

I was hired in late 2006 to work in the pledge drive department. I BEGGED them to give me the job. Then, the publicity position became open and since my background was doing PR for indie bands, I jumped on it!

My job is to make sure people know about all the incredible things we’re doing, both programming-wise and out in the community with events. My goal is to spread the word far and wide in hopes of growing our listening audience and our membership base. There are still far too many people out there who don’t know about the station, but would love it if they did. I also edit KCRW’s Music Blog, which is a great way for us to promote bands we’re digging, as well as the Guest DJ Project, which taps into the musical passions of creative folks outside the music business.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

That there are only 24 hours in a day! There are so many things I want to do but I have to balance my ideas with the reality that I can only do so much.

Safe answer but a good one. And what is the best part about your job?

There are two best parts to my job – being able to walk down the hall and see one of my favorites new bands (Anna Calvi) or a music legend (like Booker T Jones) playing in the studio. It sounds amazing and I have a front row seat. Also, I’ve been known to send an mp3 or two around the station from a band I love and sometimes it’s really taken off. It’s a great feeling to give a deserving band a boost.

How did you originally become involved with the Guest DJ project?

It was my idea actually, and I book and produce it (with the help of 3 incredible engineers). I was talking to Music Librarian and DJ Eric J Lawrence about taking advantage of the fact that we are living in this amazing cultural community in LA and that you can really get to know someone by hearing them talk about music without having to ask any personal questions. We feature a wide variety of people – painters, athletes, photographers, fashion designers, authors, actors, comic book writers – and across the board their love for music is so inspiring. They each have to choose 5 songs to talk about and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been yelled at because it’s such a torturous task. (jokingly, of course)

We are all crazy about Huell over here. When did you first begin watching Huell Howser? What were your thoughts the first time you saw Huell on television? And how was he chosen to be a guest DJ?

Huell was actually a suggestion from two people I trust – Eric and Shawniece Swain, who works in our membership department. It took me months and months to get him and it was totally worth it. I’ve been watching for many years and he is just the best. His genuine enthusiasm makes anything and everything interesting. I think every single KCRW employee had their photo taken with him when he came to the station! We’re fans.

Two words, one initial: Eric J Lawrence. Go.

Where do I start? He’s a true music geek in the best sense of the word and a walking encyclopedia about not only music, but books, films and comics as well. He has golden ears and can really spot a song that is going to resonate with our audience. He is charged with listening to “music submissions” which means he has the opportunity to pick up on previously undiscovered gems but has to listen to LOTS of not-so-good music to find them

Talking music to EJL in the music library amongst the stacks is one of my favorite KCRW pastimes. Our tastes our actually pretty similar. He rocks.

Best lunch spots near Santa Monica College? (We’re cheapskates. We prefer sub-$10, but don’t limit yourself. $10.25 is also fine.)

Not many, sadly! There’s Abbot’s Pizza Company and Hungry Pocket for some falafel.

What are some of your favorite venues in and around Los Angeles? What are some of your favorite concerts over the past year?

I love the Troubadour because I live on the Westside. I saw Anna Calvi there, as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. Love them. (DEJJ Losanjealous Q&A here – ed.) I also really enjoyed Fleet Foxes and the Cave Singers at the Palladium. A few of my favorite live sets were actually in Austin during SXSW – Wolf Gang, Charles Bradley and The Kills. (Photos: Kills @ Stubbs, SXSW 2011 – ed)

Who might we expect to hear guest DJing in the months to come?

I’m going to have my first Laker! Ron Artest will be on.

Also, video game designer Will Wright, photographer/director Cheryl Dunn, and comedian Chris Hardwicke.

Anything else you’d like to tell the readers of Losanjealous?

Thanks for reading this far!

Oh, and we have a pledge drive coming up in August, so look out for that. :)

» Guest DJ Project: Huell Howser

Photos by Gregg Lewis.