Thing of the week two weeks ago: Yann Tiersen Live @ KCRW

Two weeks ago my favorite radio station (and really, the only radio station I listen to) KCRW invited me to come down to the studio to see one of my favorite artists, Yann Tiersen perform. Rachel Reynolds (master of all things KCRWPR) had seen my recent Yann Tiersen posting (I've blogged about him twice, actually) and asked if I wanted to be her guest to the live in-studio set that was happening the following week. I shit my pants, had them dry cleaned, then accepted.

ED: If it wasn't for KCRW, 90% of the music I post here on GGC would be unknown to me. KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic has (pretty much singlehandedly) been my musical education for the last thirteen years.

Upon arrival (which in itself was an adventure - KCRW is located in the basement of Santa Monica City College) I was given the grand tour that included one of the most expansive collections of records (and CDs) in the universe:

the lovely Rachel who is as awesome as she looks

The room was staggering. At one point I forgot to swallow and drooled on myself.

Some photos I snapped in the KCRW hall of fame:

Eric J. Lawrence: Music Librarian

KCRW's Alyssa King

I wandered and perused, marveled and gasped until at last the music swelled from the engineering studio down the hall. Rachel and I scurried toward the sound booth where for thirty minutes we watched Yann Tiersen and his band perform:

my view from the sound suite

Jason Bentley's reflection in the glass of the studio. 

...And I got teary-eyed and pretended like I was yawning but I was actually Yann-ing. That wasn't meant to be a pun either. The man moves things in me. Unspeakable things. I'm also one of those people who cry at live performances. I cried at a Kool Keith concert once because it was just so honest. So seeing Yann Tiersen perform up close and personal? It took everything in me not to fall on my knees in fetal position. And in 'Til the End? When the harmonies swelled at 3:16? I'm still picking up my broken pieces

Same went for The Trial, which is my favorite song on new record "Skyline" (and one I posted the video for here). 

It was a pretty incredible experience and one I'll treasure always. Thank you Rachel and everyone at KCRW for making my day/week/month. Thank you for putting in the (crazylongdemanding) hours you do in order to bring the best of the best music to Los Angeles and beyond. 

If you're not an LA resident you can stream Morning Becomes Eclectic here, watch pre-recorded in-studio sessions here + peruse KCRW's music blog here. And if you're local to the LA area, check out KCRW's (free!) Summer Nights concert series! Long live listener supported public radio! 

.... And Yann Tiersen, of course.

GGC