college radio recap
So I’m entering my fourth year of being on college radio, first on WMBR and then KZSU, having started in December 2002, with notable gaps (Fall 2003 and Summer 2004). It’s something I think about stopping sometimes, but even when it’s a difficult time slot (Thursdays 6-9am, alarm goes off at 4:30am), I enjoy it. I missed it both times I was off the air so I worked to get back on the air.
I’ve done some fun things and crazy show themes in the past three years:
- Cohosted some crazy late night shows with Devin (of Night Rally) (and Farhad and Austin). I’d often do my indie show called Tonight I Will Retire followed by an old-timey/ field recording show called Maple’s Lament, which would stretch past 4am. Devin would say hilarious stuff (me: the phone number here is 253-xxxx, him: oh man, that’s a great number) and we’d generally be total idiots.
- Playing the entirety of In the Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel at about 3am.
- An hour of “crushingly beautiful music” (starting with the one am radio).
- an ill-thought-out attempt at “chamber pop two-fers” (from Matt Pond PA to Sufjan Stevens).
- an hour of indie rock songs featuring banjo (through Preston School of Industry, I think).
- almost three hours of oldies when I was so sick I’d asked for, but couldn’t secure a sub DJ.
- my patented 1/1/1 format show. (1 hour indie, 1 hour old-timey, 1 hour motown).
- a show I called “canuck goes totally whack on irish (and some cape breton) music in preparation for st. paddy’s day so break open a guinness or maybe a murphy’s and listen while relaxing with your friends”.
I just applied for a show (or two, actually) for the fall programming schedule. I’ll still be doing my indie format show, but I might be adding a 1 hour slot of a different format. I’ll say more about that later.