Big Black Delta Live on KCRW – Huggin’ and Kissin’ + Money Rain Down

Big Black Delta brought their own lighting rig in the studio for their MBE debut – creating the disco dance rock vibe we needed to get our Monday mornings off to a good start.

BBD is a project from LA musician Jonathan Bates, who brought a stellar group of musicians – including a couple horn players – to add the layers of sound needed for the epic, grandeur he tends toward. It’s not complicated music – in fact he says he aims for simplicity – but the overall affect if like being hit with something, in the best way.

Jason Bentley said “Huggin’ and Kissin’”, a mainstay on KCRW’s airwaves since early 2011, “felt like an industrial record” when he first heard it. Jonathan replied that he was trying to combine Nine Inch Nails and Roy Orbison – “smooth gliding lyrics over something you can get in a fight to”. One of my fave musical descriptions in recent memory.

“Money Rain Down” was another clear highlight, and he even dropped a Sade sample, combining it with “Bittersweet Symphony”, for “Orinoco Symphony”.

The band left for a bunch of European tour dates the day after our session — including huge festivals Reading and Leeds. Safe to say these locals are taking off and this session proves why.

Find the full session in the archives here.

RR

Big Black Delta Live on KCRW – Set List

Put The Gun on The Floor

Huggin’ & Kissin’

Money Rain Down

Love You This Summer

Orinoco Symphony

Side of the Road

Into the Night