Stream the MGMT session here

Will, Ben, James, Andrew, and Matt

We have about two hours before we're on the air.  After a brisk set-up, we had maybe 30 minutes to sound check.  Should be enough time for a band as talented as MGMT.  No problem.

But, James' guitar amp wasn't working.  Their crew had a back-up in the van.  Hurry to go get it.

thump, thump, -- thump, thump  120 over 80.  --- 25 minutes to air.

So James has a new amp up and ready.  Sounds good!   But ---- The Juno keyboard (which is key to the song "Electric Feel") starts buzzing and wheezing.

thump, thump, -- thump, thump  125 over 85 -- 18 minutes to air.    

The battery in an effects pedal was dead/dying.  replaced.  We're on again!

But, but --- then our headphone system mysteriously stopped working.

thump, thump, -- thump, thump  130 over 90.  10 minutes to air 


Finally, I got that sorted out, but we were just about out of time. 


The band went through one song before Nic gave me the thumbs up that we're going on.  So, what you hear on-air was pretty much without a sound check.  Major kudos to the band's house engineer, Billy Bennett, who cued me on everything coming up and manned the effects channels in the mix.

This was a little like music festival mixing, where no band really gets a sound check.  Up you go, and it is what it is.  A mix engineer has to call on their experience in situations like these, and ride it through as best you can.  Oh, and compressors are indeed your friend.

The session still came off sounding pretty good considering the circumstances of the morning.

Here's the live version of "Electric Feel"

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Ray Guarna

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Now that the subscription drive and two weeks of convention coverage are over, it's back to business as usual in the performance studio at KCRW.  Today we were visited by Marching Band, the project of two lads from Sweden, Erik Sunbring and Jacob Lind.

Watch or Listen to the Marching Band Live Session here

The set features charming pop songs masterfully mixed by the band's record producer, Adam Lasus.  Check it out, and enjoy.

Marching_band

Ray Guarna

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Recently an LA radio trade publication published an objection by a reader that another station’s reporter commented there weren’t many persons of color at the Republican National Convention.  The reader felt it was a cheap shot and everything shouldn’t be turned into a racial issue.
 
I agree that everything definitely should NOT come down to a question of race. Yet this is an election of contrasts.
 
Contrast an older white war veteran running against a younger African American who was raised in Hawaii no less.   Contrast a white Washington insider VP running mate vs. a relatively unknown governor who is young, attractive woman running mate who has had family issues which many average Americans can identify with.  
 
Contrasts.
 
I’m writing this from St. Paul as I wait for my flight back to LA.   I’m not a political wonk or claim to have any expertise on who has done what for whom.  I however have been at both conventions for the last two weeks and I have eyes.   I watched the speeches with groups of locals in both cities at public spaces.  I’ve spoken with and listened to delegates, cab drivers, bus riders, cops and other behind the scenes worker bees. I’ve heard from those who hold a viewpoint on the left, middle, right, right to life proponents and others somewhere in between. I’ve been impressed at the conviction which people hold their views and beliefs, whether I agree with them or not.  I’ve not expressed a viewpoint when listening so much as I’ve engaged and listened.  Last night I walked around the arena at the seating area as the RNC program was underway, prior to McCain appearing.  Here’s what I’ve noticed.
 
In Denver the make of the attendee’s “looked” a lot like the population of Los Angeles.  There were people of all colors and creeds.   There was electricity in the air as most had the feeling they were there to witness a piece of history, the nomination of African American as the democratic candidate for President of the United States.
 
In St. Paul the overwhelming majority of the attendees were white.   You can’t hide that.   Were there other colors and creeds?  Yes.   Was there large number of women there?  Yes.   But without fail, the majority of those in attendance where white.   On several occasions I took the bus back to the hotel from downtown St. Paul just a few blocks from the convention site.    Greater than half of those on public transit in the evening were non-white, much like LA.  Looking about the streets, bars and hotels, the population here is largely white, but not to the degree seen at the RNC.  Any number I’d attach would be a guess but based on my observations, there is a far higher ratio of non-white faces here in the host city than those who attended the RNC.
 
The air at the RNC was energized by the selection of Sarah Palin, but the tenor was not that of making history, but rather to prevent Obama from winning this race.   We heard from the Republican Party ideals many of use would like to see: smaller government that stays out of our business, fiscally restrained and pro-American.   There’s nothing wrong with that.  Having been at the last two presidential conventions, these sound like the same points which were made in those cycles.
 
So what? Why do I make these observations and dare write them down, being a white guy from the Westside of LA?    Because if these parties and their delegates represent America, it’s pretty telling which part of America they are representing.
 
It’s not about race, but you can’t deny race is a driving factor this election.

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After spending two weeks with two legged lawyer type sharks here at the convention sites, I had an opportunity to experience REAL sharks, you know the aquatic type at the “Underwater Adventures Aquarium” located at the Mall of America.

Mike Newport and I headed there very early this morning to swim with the fishes at the Rainbow Reef exhibit, touted as their newest EXTREME adventure.   It's an artificial reef filled with over 60 types of tropical fish, including puffers, stingrays and some sharks.  Two Zebra sharks appropriately named "Obama" and "McCain" were swimming about the tank with us.  (Obama is slightly larger than McCain).

As a long time diver, ocean swimmer, surfer and underwater hockey player, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to slip into the tank and experience this up close and personal.

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The water is about 72 degrees and I certainly didn't need a wetsuit but the aquarium felt it was a good idea to have us all insulated and so we wouldn't get scraped up on the artificial reef.

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The exhibit is a series of tanks with a large acrylic tube stretching through the reefs so you can experience the setting without getting wet.  I prefer getting wet myself!   This next video was shot from the tube in the shark tank area which I'm told I could have dived on scuba had I brought my "c" card with me.

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One find I wasn't expecting was their alligator.  I wonder if this is where the fair gets the fried alligator??

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Underwater Adventures Aquarium is located at the Mall of America located near the MSP airport in Bloomington, Minnesota.  Before today I'd never have thought I'd go diving in Minnesota with tropical fish at an aquarium at a mall?

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Obama look-alike with some delegates and media Monday afternoon

Yesterday I wrote about some of the behind the scenes technical & logistical aspects which goes into our setup at the DNC.   Today I thought I'd share a bit more of what happens behind the scenes.

I'm really the advance man on these convention remotes.  I was at Pepsi Center in June to get a preview of the venue and what the organizers had in mind for us.   From there I put together and tested our equipment shipped it from L.A.   Next I got up at 4am Friday morning 8/22 for a 6:30am flight from LAX to Denver, rented a car and got to the site about noon Denver time.

This is a video and first look of our location and workspace in the parking lot at the Pepsi Center Friday.

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I worked from noon until nearly 9pm Friday night solo to turn it into this, a behind the scenes look at our broadcast from the workspace approximately 15 minutes into Tuesday 8/26/08's program.  

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After the broadcast each day, we break for lunch at the only nearby food venue we have nearby.the Hot Dog Stand.   While waiting in line however, who should show up but Barac himself?

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Security is one of the biggest issues at this year's convention site.  While tempted I'm not going to show you the layers of Secret Service, local police, state police, swat teams,  more cops and paramedics on bicycles and others who make up this fort we call a venue, but know there are several rings you have to access before you can get on site.

Tonight I visited my friends from WBUR radio who are in a separate Pavilion (aka tent) who happen to be near one of the entrances.  This next clip shows a building you may have seen in the media already and probably 1000 delegates or more hopelessly delayed as they wait for the secret service security screeners to check everyone out quite thoroughly.   Think of TSA screens with lots of guns and little humor, aka the secret service.

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This video was shot from inside the security parameter and is not exactly a friendly scenario as all these delegates are waiting to get through about 7pm Tuesday night.   That's it for now I hope to share with you some more of our view of the convention, in the outside.

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My name is Steve Herbert and I’m the Chief Engineer for KCRW.  One of the many roles I fulfill for the station besides technical support is that of logistical support.   As such, this election year marks the fourth presidential political cycle for which I’ve been sent to by the station in bringing you our programming.

This time we are broadcasting “To The Point” (TTP), live from “workspace” provided by the political parties at both venues at the host cities of Denver and St. Paul.   In Denver, our workspace is located in one of four, 40,000 square foot tents set up in the parking lot of the Pepsi Center, the indoor stadium home to the Denver Nuggets here.

If you are reading this, you’ll recognize that while To The Point from a technical stand point is a fairly straight forward topical interview program, the show itself draws on a  vast and varied database containing contacts of 10’s of thousands of people who can speak intelligently on nearly any subject which is in the news of the day.   As such, the guests are invited to the program. 

 I mention all this because in a typical radio setup at these conventions, there is something called “Talk Show Row”, which consists of rows and rows of tables, clustered together so someone with a point of view and credentials to get past the perimeter security of the venue can effectively appear on dozens of talk shows and radio programs as they work their way down the lines of tables,  with radio stations with their link up back to their studios & host sitting at a 3’wide portion of the table, side by side with the next station or organization.

Because of the nature of To The Point, we do not have our setup on Talk Show Row or a similar ghetto found inside the convention center (or in this case Pepsi Center) called Radio Row where the radio guys can be found under stairwells and crevices along the rings of the arenas.    NPR & American Public Media (two separate organizations) are found in such a crevice behind an awkward segment on the second floor ring of Pepsi.

TTP by contrast typically is housed among the print journalists in workspace a bit removed from the circus atmosphere which engulfs these rows.   In Denver we have 10’ x 15’ piece of real estate backing space occupied by the New York Times and the Boston Globe in our “Media Pavilion”, aka tent.  

To the Point's makeshift studio

While we are furnished the floor space free of charge, EVERYTHING contained in that space we pay for at trade show rental pricing.   Those who have exhibited at a trade show can relate to what I’m about to describe.   Everything is rented.  The tables, chairs, partitions for sound isolation around the parameter, phone lines, internet connection, carpet, electricity…EVERYTHING which makes up the temporary broadcast facility is rented from one of two large trade show “exhibition” companies. 

 Most of the equipment we utilize is owned by the station and used for these remotes and the likes of Morning Becomes Eclectic when on the road.   But unlike MBE, we are dealing with the very quickly shifting sands of politics and time blowing around, attempting to make sense of it and present it to you, the listener.

mobile setup

Fortunately my role is not to produce the content you listen to, but rather plan, create, assemble, order, design, ship, wire, and support everything needed by the producers, technical director and of course Warren to broadcast this from the space.  There are only five of us in total for each political convention.  This means in addition to the above, I get to be a go-fer, meet with guest who are live from the space instructing them on what to expect when they get in front of Warren, how to use the microphone, headphone controls and to remember it’s live radio.   I deal with issues as they arise.  At one minute I may have to create a routing path which lets Warren and the technical director hear the producers at the studios through their headphones without being resending it back to the studios as part of the program.  Another minute I may be meeting a guest and explaining what is about to happen with them.  The next minute I may be correcting a paper jam, fetching a pen, headphones or anything else needed at that moment.  This is not a job a vocational counselor ever will tell you are suited for, and yet it’s something that most people never have an opportunity to experience.  Those producing a program are very demanding and for good reason as they have to have it, and have it now!

In future entries I hope to share some of the encounters we have behind the scene with the delegates, media operatives, action groups, support staffs and volunteers, cops, fire fighters, food vendors and other folks who make up a major political convention like this and some of the contrasts you’ll run into.   

Here’s a small bit of irony to start.   Pepsi and Pepsi products are the only beverage sold  at the Pepsi Center, but our media Pavilions (tents) are furnished with Coke machines.

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Bitter:Sweet

Harmony Stratotone

Silvertone Catalog

Patrick holding his vintage Stratotone

The Ditty Bops

Billy Bragg

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Mario here- I've missed a few days from the blogosphere but today I intend to make up some lost days.  The studio was a busy the last few weeks and I got to record some great sessions with established musicians plus one new band.  A couple of performances may have given some listeners flash-backs.

June 2nd - Aimee Mann

Watch or Listen to the Aimee Mann session here

Aimee Mann has been here a few times over the years and again she brought in some great players.  If you get a chance to watch the video or see her live, watch the keyboard player.  He manages to fire off sequences and play
keys and piano all at the same time and split his brain in three.  They usually have two keys players but for our performance he was covering it all.

Watch Aimee Mann and her band perform "Miss Freeway"

Aimee Mann

June 5th - James

Watch or Listen to the James session here

James in the Studio

The Set-up for James was a little different.  I had to put a small drum kit outside the usual isolation booth since musician Saul Davies was playing violin, guitar AND the small kit. Sometimes he played violin and hit the kick drum at the same time.  With everything that was going on in the room, I ended up putting lead singer singer Tim Booth in the booth.  And talk about pipes! Tim hit notes that most bands don't even attempt that early in the morning.  On one of the tracks he holds a note so long that he must practice circular breathing or something aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaahhhh!

Watch James perform "Waterfall."

James

June 10th - Los Campesinos

Watch or Listen to the Los Campesinos session here

Los Campesinos is from a place you wouldn't expect, given their name...Wales. They filled the room with Casio keys, glock, violin, a mini Korg, guitars and drums; and they bashed away.  Lead singer Gareth had me busy at the faders singing some very soft parts the some spoken parts and then going to a full blown abusing of the vocal cords.  These guys are young and already touring the US and were on the way to a studio in Seattle to record their next chapter. Man I wish I was young again...  aww  forget about it.

Watch Los Campesinos perform "You! Me! Dancing!"

Los Campesinos

June 11th - Bajafondo

Watch or Listen to the Bajafondo session here

Bajofondo

Finally in this installment, Bajofondo.  The band, led by Gustavo Santaolalla, on guitar and vocals just amazed us all.  I enjoyed the session not only because of the music, but because of the out of the ordinary instrumentation.  There was double bass, violin, and the traditional to tango bandoneon (button accordion.)  The music is a little electronic, (think Bitter:Sweet, but with a tango influence,) with several instrumentals. But these players were not messing around and are amazing performers that have loads of fun together as a collective. Gustavo Santaolalla has many producer credits and has worked with people like Julieta Venegas, Molotov, Juanes and Café Tacuba.  His many awards also include winning Grammys for scoring Brokeback Mountain and Babel.  He a song live for the first time which he wrote called Fairly Right. They ended the show playing some instrumentals that had the KCRW stafff leaving their desks to find the source of this tango-infused music that made you want to get up and dance.

Watch Bajafondo perform "Miles De Pasajeros"

Bajofondo

Mario Diaz
KCRW Recording Engineer

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Watch or Listen to the Mia Doi Todd session here

A few weeks ago, Mia Doi Todd performed hauntingly beautiful songs in our studio, from her latest album, GEA. With a classically trained alto voice, accompanied by sparse instrumentation, the session set a contemplative mood to start the day.

Mia's world

Mia played nylon string guitar and harmonium.  Joining her for the session was violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and percussionist Andres Renteria.

While small, the portable harmonium like the one used in this session, is quite loud.  A reed instrument, that Mia activated by pushing bellows with her foot,  is similar to the sound of an accordion but the dynamics are a bit more consistent.  The harmonium has the look, feel, and sound of what might be considered an ancient instrument, but it is actually relatively modern, being invented in the mid-19th century as a way to bring an inexpensive organ sound to rural churches and chapels in the old West.

Mia uses it as a major 5th drone on a couple of her songs. -- shown here in D.

Harmonium

Setting the beats was Andres, with a personal take on using brushes for his snare drum.  Actual paint brushes!  Hey, it works.

Real brushes

Rounding out the trio was Miguel on viola, who provided commentary to Mia's melodies through well crafted counterpoint delivered with reverential subtlety.  I pulled the mic back from the viola so it would occupy a space that wasn't too intrusive to the vocals.  Both Mia's alto vocal and the viola sit in the same octave, so if the viola was too close mic'ed or direct in, it might fight, rather than support the song.  The goal was to be close enough to get clarity from the viola line, but far enough away to hear the viola as a sort of calling from a distant lover.

Miguel

Mia Doi Todd might be the most interesting singer/songwriter of this era that you've never heard of.  Her music blends American folk with a hint of something vaguely eastern.  It has a timeless quality that conjures both the modern and distant past.

Inspirational artistry with a truly eclectic flavor.

Mia Doi Todd

Ray Guarna

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