Washed Out Live on KCRW – Eyes Be Closed

Ernest Greene started Washed Out as a bedroom project, which might explain the intimacy – and sensuality – you hear in the music. He explained to Jason that “magic happens when I’m locked away by myself.”

He took that sound to the next level on his sophomore album, which features a naked couple on the cover. Still, he told Jason he didn’t necessarily set out to make a lovemaking record. He claims it was more innocent than that, but it’s hard to deny the sexual intonations – especially after their cover of choice this morning was Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”!

Not to imply he’s trying to pick up the ladies. In fact, Ernest married his wife just before his music started becoming the toast of the blogosphere and today she was in the studio on keys.

I was not sure what to expect from their live show but it’s clear they’ve but a lot of effort into reworking the songs for a live audience – making them shorter and a bit poppier. Ernest says they learned a lot from the musicians they’ve been touring with, including Beach House, Yeasayer, Cut Copy and others.

They played favorites from both of his albums and you can find the session in the archives here.

RR

p.s.: Check outJames Vincent McMorrow’s cover of “Wicked Game”.

Hold Out

You and I

New Theory

Wicked Games

Soft

Feel it All Around

Eyes Be Closed

You’ll See It