The Kills rock foundation of Apogee Studio away from the harsh winds of Coachella

The Kills rock foundation of Apogee Studio away from the harsh winds of Coachella
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
April 22, 2016

The Kills vocalist Alison Mosshart paced the tiny stage at Apogee Studio back and forth, biting her nails waiting for guitarist Jamie Hince to launch into the opening song of their KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic performance. Once “U R A Fever” started, Mosshart and Hince were all business, after engaging in an oft-hilarious 20-minute conversation with Jason Bentley.

Of the things discussed, Mosshart called The Kills’ Monday show at the Mayan Theater the best they’ve ever played, so if you were at that show consider yourself extremely lucky. She also said their Coachella set on Friday was difficult, with extremely gusty winds blowing dust into her mouth while she sang, the sunlight also making it hard for her to see Hince across the stage from her. You wouldn’t know there was any difficulty given how epic their set was.

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Glen Hansard makes Apogee Studio crowd laugh, nearly cry

Glen Hansard makes Apogee Studio crowd laugh, nearly cry
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
August 21, 2015

If there’s one thing that Glen Hansard has proven to be in his songwriting, it’s that he is one hell of a storyteller.

Wednesday night, Hansard only further illustrated that point in an intimate performance at Santa Monica’s Apogee Studio for KCRW. What I expected to be an hour-long performance — including interview — turned out to be a nearly two-hour performance that included an intriguing 30-minute sit down with host Jason Bentley.

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Cold War Kids rock Annenberg Space for Photography for tepid crowd

Cold War Kids rock Annenberg Space for Photography for tepid crowd
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
August 18, 2015

Sometimes, I get this feeling that Los Angeles is spoiled when it comes to live music, and therefore they don’t appreciate how good they have it.

Such was the case Saturday night, when Long Beach’s own radio-rockers Cold War Kids headlined the final night of KCRW’s Sound in Focus free shows at Studio City’s Annenberg Space for Photography, a beautiful place to take in a show.

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Ratatat turns up the heat at Sonos Studio

Ratatat turns up the heat at Sonos Studio
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
August 6, 2015

KCRW’s Jason Bentley apologized afterwards for the air conditioning being busted at Sonos Studio, but I’m not entirely convinced rock-tronic duo Ratatat weren’t the ones responsible for the sauna-like temperatures inside.

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De la Soul and Quantic bring killer beats to KCRW's Sound in Focus at Anneberg Space for Photography

De la Soul and Quantic bring killer beats to KCRW's Sound in Focus at Anneberg Space for Photography
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
August 3, 2015

If you haven’t made it to one of KCRW’s free Sound in Focus shows at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Studio City yet, you’re missing out.

In its second weekend of 2015, an enticing double-bill featuring Quantic and headlined by throwback hip-hop stalwarts De La Soul took center stage.

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TV on the Radio open KCRW Sound in Focus with premier indie rock set

TV on the Radio open KCRW Sound in Focus with premier indie rock set
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 27, 2015

Studio City was the place to be Saturday early evening as KCRW kicked off the first of their free Sound in Focus shows that featured performances from TV on the Radio and Boxed In. The music was the main course for a night that featured excellent food truck choices and solid drink options as well as some interesting entertainment in between the music.

The event took place at the Annenberg Space for Photography, a massive courtyard that sits behind the CAA building. If I ever was jealous of anyone who runs around in that realm of entertainment, it was for the fact that they get to enjoy their lunches in this beautiful area.

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Alabama Shakes give special intimiate performance at Apogee Studios

Alabama Shakes give special intimiate performance at Apogee Studios
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
April 21, 2015

Just a few days removed from their second of two tremendous sunset Coachella sets, the soulful Alabama Shakes performed a much more intimate — and just as affecting — set at Apogee Studios yesterday in Santa Monica.

I myself had just returned from my second weekend in the desert, and anyone who has been to Coachella before can attest that it usually necessitates a 24-hour recovery period of doing nothing but sleep. This year, one hour of seeing Brittany Howard and her band was enough to shake me out of that funk. Not one minute into the set-opening “Miss You” and I was moving my feet as though I hadn’t just watched three straight days of live music.

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