There are many reasons to support KCRW by becoming a member. Of course, it goes without question that you should support your local NPR station, but KCRW members have access to a slew of additional fringe benefits, such as groovy T-shirts and mugs, and an amazing discount program with a whole bunch of cool retailers (we're talking places you'd actually want to spend your money). But one of the best perks of becoming a KCRW member might just be the priority booking privileges to their new Sessions series, the second installment of which was last night. The event, at the rather civilized Malibu Performing Arts Center, featured an intimate performance by Moby. The show sold out in an amazing six minutes, which means that sales never went beyond the initial priority/members-only stage.
As you might imagine, an audience that snapped up tickets so quickly was going to be more than up for it by the time the proverbial curtain rose at the deluxe converted recording studio-cum-venue. The first set developed into what KCRW Music Director Nic Harcourt later called "a partially seated rave." By the third song, encouraged by generous pours from the bar staff, everyone was out of their comfy cinema-style seats and on their feet dancing.
Before playing his seminal Twin Peaks inspired rave anthem "Go", Moby dedicated the track to David Lynch, saying, "without him I wouldn't have a career." Indeed, if someone tried similar sampling in today's less innocent musical age, they wouldn't have a home or a car either after the resulting lawsuit, but the song took us all back to more glo-stick friendly times.
After the initial five song ravetastic set, Moby cosied up to Harcourt on the center stage sofa for a Morning Becomes Eclectic-style interview. Worried that the Scientologists were out to get him after recent comments he'd made to various members of the press, Moby jokingly requested that they avoid the subject at the start of the interview. Firing right back, Nic posed the question: "If you had to get shot by a Scientologist who would it be?" Actor Jason Beghe was the Xenu follower of choice, this initial exchange setting the tone for the remainder of the frequently LOL-funny interview.
A second set followed, which the bald one warned would be "weird." But it was weird in a good way, featuring major amped-up reworkings of songs which spanned Moby's two and a half decade career -- though sadly the set didn't include songs from his first band the Vatican Commandos and their debut 1983 hardcore punk E.P. "Hit Squad for God". Longtime Moby singer Laura Dawn handled much of the vocal duties, with a drummer, guitarist/bass player, keyboardist, and a dedicated computer geek rounding out the band. The second set built up again to rocked-out electronica heights. One can only hope the response from the crowd, which coaxed several encores from the band, will be enough to persuade Moby to give the DJ decks a rest and return to the stage for more full-on live performances like this.
Backstage after the show we bumped into the very shagadelic Heather Graham. Who knew the Hollywood actress had such good taste in music? Then again she did date Adam Ant back in the day -- he's another artist that needs to find his way back to the live stage.
To catch up with Moby's KCRW Session go to www.KCRW.org to view the archived webcast.
