And Then Came Monday…

Jan 20th, 2009

by Jon.

old_radio Today’s guest post is from Monica of mf magazine and
Kill The Microphone

And Then Came Monday…

Okay, I’m assuming everyone and his or her mother knows about the farewell Southern California was forced to bid Indie 103.1 last week. If you haven’t and you want to know the details, visit the sites listed below because I’m not going to tell you about them. Like most listeners of the station I was saddened, and eventually angered, by the absence of the station. Now, I know there are people out there that don’t have the luxury of a sweet whip, hooked up with Sirius or satellite radio, or even a working CD player or iPod to provide a soundtrack to their commutes. “No way,” you say? Way. I know because I’m one of them.

Yes, I still listen to the radio in my car. Though the lack of good radio on the FM airwaves has led me to listen to the sound of my car, the wind coming in through the open windows and the cars that I pass along most of the time, there was a station that I could ALMOST always count on to have something better than the rest. And sometimes it was new. And most of the time it was stuff the other stations weren’t playing. And that station was Indie 103.1. But Thursday morning arrived and changed that forever. My car rides will never be the same.

I always give each station a chance at the beginning of each car ride. In the past, I started with the lower numbered stations (like NPR) because I have O.C.D. and that’s the order I have them programmed in. But for the past couple of months I had been starting with my favorite station, eventually working my way down to my least favorite station. I didn’t drive much this weekend so the reality hadn’t really hit me. And then Monday came. I had a ton of shit to do today, which included a whole lot of driving and listening to the stations that remained all morning and all afternoon. It wasn’t pretty. And now, instead of being sad about the whole Indie 103.1 situation I’m just pissed. While switching from station to station all day long, I thought the following to myself:

88.5 (KSBR-FM) – A jazz station that doesn’t play enough good jazz. Or maybe I’m listening at the wrong times.

89.9 (KCRW-FM) – Weird transitions scare me. Whether they’re over done and gimmicky or they’re awkward fade in and outs of instrumental music, I’m not a fan. Sometimes I catch some gems and learn a shit load about politics and current events.

91.1 (XTRA-FM) – When I’m driving in southern Orange County and anywhere on PCH, between San Clemente and Newport Beach, it’s one of the only stations with a good signal that I can get. It’s like the mainstream rock station of San Diego. You do the math.

92.3 (KHHT-FM) – This is one I so grateful for. Especially when ‘Art Laboe and The Old School Show’ is on. Classic.

93.1 (KCBS-FM) – It’s a gamble but the station has some rad sets sometimes.

94.7 (KTWV-FM) – Um, only if I’m visiting my dentist. But thanks anyway.

95.5 (KLOS-FM) – You can’t hate on ‘Breakfast with The Beatles’ and some of the ‘The Vault’ shows that they air. I’ll pass on the ‘Mark and Brian Show,’ though.

98.7 (KYSR-FM) – What happened? You’re all sorts of confused, dudes.

101.1 (KRTH-FM) – Oldies but goodies. Duh.

102.7 (KIIS-FM) – A guilty pleasure of mine when they’re playing a cheesy song I like to sing along to on my girliest of days, but I’m woman enough to admit it. Most of the time, this station makes me want to shoot myself in the head.

103.5 (KOST-FM) – ‘Love songs on the Coast’ and the love dedications: Basically, it’s the only thing they have to offer.

104.3 (KBIG-FM) – Meh…

106.7 (KROQ-FM) – I’ve noticed that they have been beefing up their ‘Local Only’ shows (both on air and live). Okay, cool. But now can you stop playing THOSE songs (you know the ones) and stick to the stuff Kat Corbette has helped expose your listeners to? Thanks.

Links to hit up for the skinny on Indie 103.1:

The podcast of Kevin Bronson’s interview (01/17/09) with Mark Sovel, aka Mr. Shovel, former music director for Indie 103.1 (http://www.littleradio.com/radio/show/buzz_bands/)