FLYAWAY WITH THE NATIONAL

Those who donate to KCRW between May 4 and 7 are automatically entered to win a trip to see the band on Saturday, May 15. Presented by Zync from American Express


Los Angeles-based public radio station KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is thrilled to announce a special sweepstakes for a trip for two to New York City to see The National perform a special concert at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) on Saturday May 15 to benefit Red Hot AIDS charity. The concert is presented by Zync from American Express.

"The buzz on The National is palpable, and as an early candidate for one of the best albums of the year, this is an amazing opportunity to see the band perform to a hometown crowd in New York City. For a KCRW music fan, this getaway is a dream come true," said Jason Bentley, KCRW Music Director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic.

The majority of KCRW’s funds come directly from member donations. Anyone who joins, renews or makes an additional donation to the non-profit station between Tuesday, May 4 and Friday May 7 at noon will be automatically entered to win. KCRW Star Members, who contribute on a monthly basis, are automatically entered as well.

The winner will fly to New York City on Friday, May 14 and have two nights at the ACE Hotel in Manhattan. Transportation to the hotel and concert will also be taken care of.

This very special evening of music will be webcast live on You Tube and directed by DA Pennebaker.

This special concert event follows the release of The National’s highly anticipated new record, High Violet, on May 11. KCRW will be streaming the album in its entirety on the Album Preview page: http://www.kcrw.com/albumpreview

All the information about the sweepstakes, including rules, can be found online at http://www.kcrw.com/TheNational

Donations to KCRW can be made online at http://www.kcrw.com/join

WHERE YA BEEN, GIRL?

Chantal Kreviazuk released this video of her singing the Kelly Clarkson hit, "Walk Away," which she did co-write with Kelly & Kara Dioguardia of American Idol. I use to be obsessed with Chantal, but I haven't heard much from her. I know she's released stuff recently and even had a gig in L.A, but I've just lost touch. I love her voice, I need to keep up with her again...maybe she'll have another gig soon!



"In This Life" was one of my favorite songs she released. Lets watch & reminisce...

KCRW WELCOMES TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

HOT HOT HOT! Two Door Cinema Club is burning up the disco and selling out shows all over the world. They stopped by KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic yesterday for a studio session. They also have a SOLD OUT show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles tonight. Watch and see why this band is the BUZZ band of the moment.

IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...

Performing "Tiny Lights" on The Ellen Degeners Show yesterday, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. The band is also in LA shooting a new music video today.

MAKING IT POP

Colin Meloy was at The Ace Hotel in Portland for the Make It Pop fundraiser.

IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...

Two Door Cinema Club stopped by Kimmel to perform "I Can Talk" off their debut album. They also have a SOLD OUT show here at the Troubadour tomorrow. This band is headed for stardom!!

TICKLING THE IVORIES

The Black Keys will tour extensively this summer and fall to support their new album, Brothers—due out May 18 on Nonesuch Records. The band has confirmed additional tour dates—beginning July 24 in Cleveland—which include headlining shows with The Morning Benders, The Whigs, and Nicole Atkins; dates with Kings of Leon; and a performance with The Flaming Lips in Canandaigua, NY. The new dates follow The Black Keys’ opening slot for Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden on May 20, as well as performances on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on May 25 and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on May 26, The tour also includes two shows at Central Park’s SummerStage on July 27 and 28, the first of which quickly sold out. Please see reverse for complete tour dates.

In conjunction with the new tour dates, fans may now pre-order a limited-edition collectible hardbound book/deluxe edition of Brothers, available online only via the band’s website: www.theblackkeys.com. The 56-page hardbound book includes never-before-seen live photos, intimate backstage and studio shots of the band, and the full Brothers album on CD. The deluxe package also includes MP3s of the new songs “Tighten Up” and “Next Girl” delivered to fans instantly and a digital download of the full album on May 18. An exclusive 9 ¾” x 6 ½” lithograph of The Black Keys will also be included, with a limited number signed by the band.

Brothers arrives on the heels of three other acclaimed projects the band released in the past year: Dan Auerbach’s solo effort, Keep It Hid, the debut LP from Patrick Carney’s band Drummer, and Blakroc, a collaboration between The Black Keys and renowned MCs including RZA, Mos Def, Q-Tip, and Raekwon.

The new album includes the Danger Mouse-produced song “Tighten Up” (streaming now on the band’s MySpace page: myspace.com/theblackkeys) and a cover of the Jerry Butler classic “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The remaining songs on Brothers are written, performed and produced by The Black Keys. Carney admits Brothers is the album they’ve always wanted to make and taps into their creative force as a duo. “Dan and I grew up a lot as individuals and musicians prior to making this album. Our relationship was tested in many ways but at the end of the day, we’re brothers, and I think these songs reflect that.”

Carney and Auerbach recorded the bulk of the album at the legendary Alabama studio Muscle Shoals with additional sessions at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound System in Akron, OH and The Bunker in Brooklyn, NY. Muscle Shoals, an old building located in the sparse Alabama town that lends the studio its name, has produced iconic recordings from The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and Wilson Pickett, among many others. Of the album, Auerbach says, “We like spooky sounds…like Alice Coltrane, where a dark groove is laid down. That’s the headspace we tried to get into for this record.”

With the exception of a handful of tracks, co-production duties were handled by Mark Neill. The record was mixed by Tchad Blake. Carney explains the sound the band wanted for this record: “We are big fans of Tchad Blake. The way he approaches mixing is the same way we approach making music. Respecting the past while being in the present. The mixes he did for us on Blakroc impressed us so much we knew he had to mix Brothers.”