Austinist Interviews SXSW: Nic Harcourt of KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic
One of our favorite radio shows around is Morning Becomes Eclectic, the weekday program produced by Santa Monica public radio station KCRW. Affable Englishman Nic Harcourt, host of MBE and music director at KCRW, has helmed the program since 1998, introducing his listeners to some of the best new bands around the world while playing a range of genres that encompasses progressive pop, world beat, indie rock, jazz, African, reggae, classical and more. You can listen to past episodes online.
Is SXSW fun or work? How do you balance the two?
There's always an opportunity for fun at SXSW, a dinner with friends or seeing a great band I've never heard of, but essentially I'm there for work and that occupies most of my time.
What (or who) can we expect to hear on Morning Becomes Eclectic while you're in town?
So far we have Stoney, an unsigned artist out of the UK, whose music we've been playing for the last six months, and Lou Rhodes (Lamb).
How'd you manage to corral all of those great artists (REM, Damien Rice, Flaming Lips, Robert Plant) for the new KCRW 'Covers' album?
We dug through eight years worth of sessions and pulled out all the covers; these were the best tracks that worked together.
What's your mode of transportation for the week going to be? Tell us about your van, car, caravan, bus or donkey.
Usually, I'm on foot, but I'm going with my girlfriend to visit her grandma in San Antonio the weekend before, so we'll be driving into Austin in a rental. It'll be the first time I've ever had a car at SXSW.
What album of 2006 can you not leave at home? Of all time?
Brazilian Girls: Talk to La Bomb
Beatles: Let it Be
Share a story about a previous trip to Austin or SXSW.
Too many crazy cab drivers and industry folks making drunken spectacles to recount, but I did see Mexican band Kinky at SXSW a few years back for the first time on a Latin showcase. I'd been playing their demos, but never seen them live. Their stage show just blew me away.
Is rock and roll dead?
What do you mean by Rock and Roll? Music and song writing is alive and well.
What do you never want to see inside a tortilla?
Anything that was once alive (I'm a card carrying member of PETA)
BBQ or Tacos? Margaritas or beer? Parties or showcases?
Neither, Margaritas, Showcases that I can get into.
