My radio station, my friend

I am a subscriber and huge fan of KCRW, a local radio station that is my mecca for cultural affairs, my news source and wellspring for new music. It is on these airwaves that I learned of Daniel Merriweather, an Aussie singer from down under with haunting, soul-revealing pipes. I've noticed that Australia tourism has been ramping up efforts to get people into the country as evidenced by all the bulletin boards around town. As part of the campaign KCRW hosted a private, intimate concert for members with Daniel Merriweather on the rooftop of the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. It was a Saturday afternoon, one of those awesome LA winter days where large white clouds hang like cotton candy on a brilliant blue background in the crispy air. We entered the Paley center, which was adorned with slideshows depicting Australia's beauty and loads of tourism propaganda and headed for the rooftop. There was a host bar offering flights of Australian wine and gorgeous woman serving equally gorgeous hors d'oeuvres. As the sun gave rise to the moon and twilight turned the sky that stunning shade of mauve and charcoal with the Hollywood hills as the backdrop, the artist took the stage.

This kid is sooo easy on the eyes! His persona nods to a bygone era with a chivalry and irreverence about him all at once. When he opens his mouth he is well spoken, funny and real. And when he sings he manages to let you see inside his soul. His voice is sultry even a bit rasp and he sings with a maturity that not many his age can or do. His band consisted of a female bassist, and lead guitar player who totally rocked it, a lounge lizard looking guy in a bow tie on keyboard and a youngster working his arse off on drums. The band is super tight and the singer sings sweet melodic songs about social consciousness, love and war, incidentally the name of his newly released released lp which I encourage you to run out and purchase. He does a very cool cover of the The Smith's Stop Me worth listening to.

After an hour long concert my boyfriend, Daniel, was briskly whisked away as if he were a superstar - presumably another gig - so we finished up our refreshments before heading to dinner. From Australia to Russia all in one night. We ate at a delicious Russian restaurant in LA and sampled the garlic infused Vodka toasting a lovely, eclectic afternoon.