MBE Oct. 11: Honoring radio pioneer Art Laboe + Mamas Gun guest DJ set

The British soul-pop five-piece Mamas Gun has long been an object of Morning Becomes Eclectic obsession. The entrancingly dulcet tones of “This is the Day,” off of the group’s 2018 album “Golden Days,” were played during the very first episode of MBE hosted by Novena and Antony in February 2021, and brought forth an immediate flood of e-mails and tweets clamoring for more info on the group. There might have even been a voicemail or two…

Ever since, “This is the Day” has been a staple of KCRW programming along with the entirety of Mamas Gun’s 2022 LP, “Cure The Jones.” The new album finds them sounding sultrier and smoother than ever, as if each track has been hand-dipped in the aural equivalent of a farm-to-table jar of honey. Ahead of a nearly sold-out show at the Moroccan Lounge, all five (!) members of the band — Andy Platts (lead singer, composer, producer), Dave Oliver (keys), Chris Boot (percussion), Terry Lewis (guitar), and Cam Dawson (bass) — crammed into the booth at KCRW HQ to share some sonic inspiration. Their set includes a funky deep cut from 94 East with an early feature from Prince, some perfect harmonizing along to Earth, Wind & Fire in real time, and pure bliss from left-field R&B dreamers Dina Ögon. The band also recounts the sublime/surreal experience of jamming with Robert Plant live on the BBC to countless listeners, and they take on one of the most important debates of our time: In-N-Out vs. Nando’s?

Plus, we honor radio titan Art Laboe with a megamix crafted by KCRW DJ Jason Kramer, share a few of our own reflections of the man who coined the term “oldies but goodies,” and take your requests and dedications… just the way Laboe would have wanted. If you missed the first call for requests and dedications, send ‘em our way now via twitter @mbeKCRW.