Add good old-fashioned radio to the list of Jaunty Stuff This Bird J'Adores, not that it's to anyone's surprise. Like most people, I grew up listening to the radio. Even with the tantalizing temptation of cable television, a lot of the music I came to love was streamed through the airwaves, finding its way to my old digital clock radio (it was lavender and came with a matching hairdryer and brush, if you must know). And it wasn't just music that I enjoyed -- I loved hearing funky talk radio programs like the supernatural world of weird from Art Bell, and I remember staying up late just to catch the funny sounds of the Doctor Demento Show. And years later in college, I'd keep the radio on while I worked, listening to Loveline, before anyone ever set eyes on what Dr. Drew and Adam looked like.

As available as television was, radio still found its way into pivotal points in my life, and it continues to hold a place in my life today, most importantly, in the form of KEXP (90.3 FM), a Seattle-based radio station. It's unique in that it is a listener-supported station and remains independent from the corporate clutches of Clear Channel and private/pay-wall satellite radio. It's a station that operates under the notion that you hire talented, music-inspired on-air personalities who host live shows they program themselves, versus letting a computer randomly spit out statistic-driven Top 40/Retro favorites, the programming is not only available on the air, but online streaming as well as recorded podcasts, so that listeners from around the world can enjoy such eclectic musical selections that include indie bands, world music, electronica, jazz, vintage country and hip hop; no sound is off limits.  And it's all free. Like the concept behind PBS, if you feel like you're getting enriched, then donate as you see fit, and with any hope, this Pay It Forward business model will sustain itself and a community of like-minded individuals will keep something good available to the masses.

Every year, they've thankfully been able to make their fundraising goals, but it's an ever-present challenge. They get a lot of help from corporate donors and matching contributions, and they always give out clever "thank you" gifts for individual sponsors. I was proud to add a new funky t-shirt which I will proudly wear as a reminder to keep the spirit of public radio alive. I urge people who aren't familiar with KEXP to give them a try if you're looking for unique, sincere music suggestions. Even if the first song you hear on KEXP's lineup doesn't catch your fancy, be patient, keep it on for a few hours and see what sticks, as it's such a wide variety of music, you will be educated on something new you'll love. Listening to DJs who know the music scene and aren't afraid of playing bold choices is a reminder of what good radio is, and why it's something that needs to be supported, enriched and shared with others.

Do as the Luchador otter says and support listener-powered radio! Viva la KEXP! 


Jaunty Fine Print:  photos by Denise Sakaki, shirts from KEXP

 

This Bird was incredibly lucky and thankful to be invited to Triple Sip, a most Jaunty wine event held at Seattle's Triple Door -- one of my favorite locales to see great live music. It's got a lovely, swanky lounge with a big aquarium that bathes everything in a sort of dreamy light, and then separate from the lounge is a full stage with booths set up like a classic dinner-and-a-show theater. It's been one of my favorite spots since it opened years ago and I love just sitting in the bar where they pipe in the music from the stage area, so even if you don't have tickets to the live show, you can still hear the music being performed. I've been able to see acts like Buena Vista Social Club's Barbarito Torres, as well as local musicians like Late Tuesday and the Ian McFeron Band.

Triple Sip was a wine event to celebrate nearly fifty small wineries, both local and abroad, offering a rare chance to meet the winemakers and try wines that usually aren't available in stores. I had many a tasty glass of vino, wandering with Jaunty friends Beth and Jim, who were so very kind to invite us to share in the experience. And the night was finished off by a rock-your-bobby-sox-off performance by Man or Astro-Man? which is a surf rock musical science experiment gone horribly right. If you've ever LOL-ed your booty off while watching Mystery Science Theater 3000, you will no doubt have heard their robo-musical stylings in the show's theme. So how cool is that? And they performed with a theremin, which in my Jaunty opinion, is the only way to finish off a perfect evening in sci-fi astro-style. We've got movie sign!

The event was a fundraiser for something especially close to this Bird's heart -- KEXP radio. Radio?? Who listens to that anymore? There's satellite and Pandora and blah, blah, blah. I enjoy Pandora, I adore podcasts (Too Beautiful to Live, Radio Lab, to name a couple), but I still believe in radio and I definitely believe in public-funded radio, which feels like a rare white tiger in these desperate times. KEXP is local, but is broadcast over the internet, so anyone with a connection can hear it, plus they have podcasts available. The music is primarily alternative/indie rock, but includes unique programming that showcases world beat music, blues, rockabilly, reggae, ambient, the list goes on. My ears always hear something interesting and find new discoveries far more meaningful than anything standard radio provides. This is significant, considering much of radio these days exists as corporate shills, privately owned by huge conglomerates, whether it's broadcast or satellite. They push products before artists, and it's removing the option of choice listeners once had when radio was hosted by human beings who chose the playlists. It's sad that a lot of stations have to lose their staff and they're replaced with a computer that just randomly generates playlists, intercut with drops and ads.

In my pimple-faced Jaunty early days, I used to work at a college radio station where I'm pretty sure love was what kept that antenna broadcasting on that tinny AM bandwidth, but it was a great experience in finding music that mattered and being in a community that celebrated weirdly wonderful choices, versus finding the next Top 10 song that's going to be played ad nauseum for the next three weeks. Listening to KEXP brings me back to those happy days and even with tighter purse strings, I scrape together the cash to donate every year during their periodic fundraisers (they have awesome thank-you shirts!). It's out of solidarity for quality programming that's insightful and supportive of the arts. Even if you don't live in the Seattle area, check out KEXP's online stream -- your heart will be singing along with the music.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Beth and Jim for inviting us -- getting to drink amazing wine, hang out with KEXP and meet Cheryl Waters was fantastic!


Jaunty Fine Print: photo of Man or Astro-Man? by Mr. Magpie and his amazing iPhone