They dont ignore singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright because they dont respect him, quite the opposite, its a live radio show that is broadcast on-air and online and as with any live entertainment there is a sense of electric urgency in the air and no one has time to stop and gush.

At KCRW the mornings are ripe with visits from the likes of Beck, Moby, Coldplay and scores of other talented artists, all of whom feel completely at home in the underground radio station hidden away on the Santa Monica College Campus. For most of the artists that visit Morning Becomes Eclectic to play live and chat with host Nic Harcourt, this basement has been their biggest supporter, pushing out their tunes and webcasting their performances long before the CD is available in malls across America.

In fact Morning Becomes Eclectic host Nic Harcourt is known for his radar-like ability to track and pin down the real, true talent out of the masses of eager up and comers. This is why when the visiting artists make the trek down the flight of stairs and into the KCRW underworld, they know they are playing on safe turf.

Flamboyant rock star, Rufus Wainwright is the main attraction today and sitting outside on cold concrete, this muggy L.A morning, he settles in and seems right at home.

His leather pants seem to guide his skinny rock star frame indoors where he helps himself to a free beverage in the locker size waiting room. The liquid lubricates his galloping voice, which comes riding out of him, a wild horse that is much bigger than he is.

Rufus Wainwright and his band file into the historical performance space. The band is made up of a crew of members that each look like they were kidnapped from other bands making the entire arrangement fascinating to watch. Rufus Wainwrights sister, Martha Wainwright is a mainstay in the band and her presence adds a soulful womans touch. As she notices the webcam pointed directly at them she steps up to her brother and tenderly begins to primp his hair, The camera, she says, directing his eyes with her pointed finger to the webcam, the worldwide eye in the sky.

Three minutes to airtime and the mood is light. Oh God! Make sure everybodys cell phones are off, Rufus laughs. Martha Wainwright gets any slip of the tongue out of her system with a profanity mike test. This gets the whole band giggling, including Rufus who even through all of the heightened realities of his spotlight life, seems to love to just goof around with his sister.

Nic Harcourt, introduces Rufus in his booming accent, and theyre off. Rufus and the band jump right into a set thats as moody as a sunset. Rufus plays his piano like hes madly in love, his voice dances around the melodies with the instrumentation acting like shadows dancing with his words.

Martha Wainwright listens to her brothers songs, eyes closed and head swirling, like shes never heard the tunes before. Shes never next to him just waiting for her turn to sing, she is utterly absorbed in the music. When her part does come, her voice oozes out from her gut and her heart and the sound she makes doesnt just compliment Rufus they take the songs to another level, a plateau that wont go any higher.

Between songs Rufus, as well as all those in the studio, come up for air. Listening to his songs, the stories are so vivid its easy to forget where you are. Nic shoots Rufus some probing questions and the banter between them remains sharp and wicked. Rufus explains to Nic and the listening audience, that for some time he had come to terms with whoring himself out but presently hes been feeling more like a Jon.

In order to support the managers and everyone else, I actually have to work really hard. He explains.

I moved to New York and it happened, I became notorious. Im wearing sunglasses right now. He laughs.

Rufus is the best sort of entertainer, the type of performer whose personality not only is impossible to hide but also contradicts the music he writes. Rufus Wainwright is a painting whose frame is the perfect contrast to the art it keeps in focus. Even if the rest of the world doesnt get him, for those who do, life takes on a subtle glow as they walk the streets whistling to a strange, and desperately romantic soundtrack.

The set has wrapped and the pizza guy is there. Nic comes out from behind the glass that separates him from the performers. He laughs with the band and joins them outside where they swarm around the greasy cardboard boxes and talk about the show.

Rufus has been asked by the Morning Becomes Eclectic producer to sign some copies of his new album, Poses. Rufus sits on a monitor in the hallway as the station begins preparation for the next show.

Does anybody have a pen? Rufus inquires.

Just another morning at KCRW.