kfog died years ago when they fired all the DJ's and tried to flip around the entire format
broadcast radio is obsolete anyhow. using any number of websites or apps, i can listen to any band or song i want, or go thru playlists of obscure music, and if i want to hear someone talk there are thousands of podcasts that are much longer and more in depth than anything on broadcast radio, and additionally most are not beholden to corporate advertisers or networks.
yeah, a radio show with a DJ who is super knowledgeable about music and puts on all kinds of unique and obscure stuff you wouldnt have heard before can be very valuable, but havent been hardly any radio shows like that for many, many years. i come across some things like that on bay area or mendocino public radio, but for large swaths of the country without culturally rich areas like that, radio stations are all just hits from a specific genre or era.
tons of ads, randos blabbering in between every few songs...no thanks, ive got youtube w/ adblocker...unlimited access to almost all modern music, millions of hours of lectures and podcasts by respected academics, politicians, comedians, etc, thousands of full color HD concert videos of everyone from modern hip hop acts to the most famous and revered classic rock icons of the 60s and 70s, news coverage from every conceivable mainstream media source as well as hundreds of independent journalists and channels...theres just no comparison
I listen to one of several public stations whenever I'm driving around town. Blues, alt rock, jazz, ethnic, and GD shows with DJs who are hip to the genre and program their own music.
It is for the most part. Sports talk radio is huge and props up the FM radio industry largely. NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered draw huge numbers.. but, yea.. in terms of music, it's mostly dead. Every city has the classic rock station playing ACDC and Aerosmith all day. Some cool local stations I find here and there on the road using the scan button. My brother listens to AM radio haha.
was bummed visiting santa cruz recently. there used to be like 5+ good public stations all with eclectic killer shows...i think they are down to one or 2 now...
Hand raised. We have some great independent stations in Portland:
KMHD (89.1) - Jazz during the day and serious funk at night.
KBOO (90.7) - Community supported radio with GD, classic country, bluegrass, jazz, world music, etc.
KOPB (91.5) - NPR and related programing.
XRAY (107.1) - A relatively new station playing obscure deep tracks from a wide range of rock, soul, hip-hop, and reggae artists - known and unknown. Its like random tracks from a gigantic collection of out of print LPs and they also feature a lot of local artists who would never hear on the radio otherwise.
>>>> My brother listens to AM radio haha
The best country station I have heard is on the AM dial and you can only get it between Longview and Castle Rock, Washington. Hank, Cash, Waylon, No Show Jones, Patsy, and the rest. No bro country.
I caught the last few years of KFOG being decent when I moved to SF in the early 90's. It started going in the wrong direction fast, right about 1996 from what I remember.
KEXP is by leaps and bounds the best radio station in the country. they kept with tradition and broadcast like normal, but also used the internet and youtube to bring performances of all kinds of great artists to people who might not have heard them otherwise, in really really good quality to boot. i dont think ive ever listened to a KEXP broadcast, but ive listened to more KEXP videos on youtube than ive even overheard broadcast radio in the last 5 years or so.
KEXP has several good programs and deejays, and does a great job with live performance broadcasts, but calling it the best in the country by leaps and bounds is off the mark.
They do have some of the best weekly featured programs. Greg Vandy's Wedneday evening "Roadhouse" American Roots Music program , Kid Hops' Saturday morning "Positive Vibrations" Reggae show, and Johnny Horne's Sunday morning "Preaching The Blues" program are all stand-outs. Excellent, diverse programming by knowledgeable hosts who put the music front and center and leave their egos on the back-burner.
Their regularly paid weekday deejays are hard to listen to. John Richards ("John In The Morning") and Cheryl Waters in the midday are the lead deejays. They always sound over caffeinated and, especially in Waters' case, pollyannic. Kevin Cole, who came here from Minneapolis and used to be a great college-rock deejay, now spends inordinate amounts of time playing shitty EDM. It's as if he's trying to prove he's still down with the club music scene, which is awkward and borderline creepy when you're pushing 60. Troy Nelson is downright unlistenable. He has a Southern California gnarly surfer dude voice that sounds like he is on the perma-rag. Compounded with his having to insinuate himself within 7 degrees of every act he plays makes his voice like nails on a chalkboard. My staff and I all can't stand him and change over to KBCS whenever he is on-air. Their best afternoon deejay, Stevie Zoom, is too infrequently on the mic. They do have a Saturday afternoon deejay named Megan, who does a good job, and is likely being groomed as Cheryl Waters replacement when they can push her off into retirement, however the Sunday afternoon host, Evie, is simply godawful.
I also take issue with their claim to be non-commercial. Their programs are riddled with very commercial pitches for the businesses and institutions underwriting their shows, all with the same polyannic undertone. It is dissembling and annoying. To top it off, their pledge drives are too frequent considering the amount of grants and underwriting money they receive, and are unlistenable.
When I lived in L.A., I preferred KCRW's programming and presentation by far. When I am back visiting in Washington D.C., WPFW still offers outstanding Jazz and R&B programming, and when I was in New York City earlier this summer, I really enjoyed what I was hearing on the public radio station out of Columbia University.
All that being said, no station in this country to my ears can hold a candle to New Orleans' WWOZ. Whenever I need a hit of that Crescent City vibe, I dip into their stream.
As a kid growing up in LA, the first station I remember was the mighty 690 broadcast out of Tijuana, MX. It was pretty awesome. Then I grew into KLOS (and for the hard rocker in me KNAC). Either way, I found KDAY in about '84-85 and it was a major game changer.
When I moved to the Bay Area in 1990, I definitely drew straight into KFOG (that and our public radio station in Santa Cruz). KFOG died off a long time ago but not forgotten. Something about Sunday mornings. FYI, KDAY in LA still is the bomb.
KFOG helped alleviate my withdrawal symptoms when I left XRT (and Chicago) for Oakland in 1992. It felt kind of like a college radio station for adults, a spot between more alternative Live105 and too mellow Alice. Always enjoyed jumping in the car at 5pm on Friday and turning KFOG on to start the weekend (that's what I do...) Over time, I eschewed radio music for my own cd's (some of which I might not have purchased if it weren't for KFOG). I still have the cd's and, most importantly, the working cd player in the car.
I agree with much of what's already been said. I'm a little sad about the final nail in the coffin (end of an era), but don't turn to the radio except to listen for "creativity" in the moment, whether it's listening to the news or seasonally listening to sports radio.
Kind of like wanting to support the local restaurant which will close, but not being interested in eating that food anymore, or sighing at the news of a sports team leaving, when it is no longer worth paying the high prices to attend the games. Or something like that.
I've been listening to KFOG in the car today and enjoying the Clash, Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime, and a few newer songs that I didn't recognize...then switching the stereo back to cd when I hear a song that doesn't do anything for me.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe Buck is Back
That sucks. Loved listening
That sucks. Loved listening to that station when I lived in the Bay area from 02-06.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dr. Benway
kfog died years ago when they
kfog died years ago when they fired all the DJ's and tried to flip around the entire format
broadcast radio is obsolete anyhow. using any number of websites or apps, i can listen to any band or song i want, or go thru playlists of obscure music, and if i want to hear someone talk there are thousands of podcasts that are much longer and more in depth than anything on broadcast radio, and additionally most are not beholden to corporate advertisers or networks.
yeah, a radio show with a DJ who is super knowledgeable about music and puts on all kinds of unique and obscure stuff you wouldnt have heard before can be very valuable, but havent been hardly any radio shows like that for many, many years. i come across some things like that on bay area or mendocino public radio, but for large swaths of the country without culturally rich areas like that, radio stations are all just hits from a specific genre or era.
tons of ads, randos blabbering in between every few songs...no thanks, ive got youtube w/ adblocker...unlimited access to almost all modern music, millions of hours of lectures and podcasts by respected academics, politicians, comedians, etc, thousands of full color HD concert videos of everyone from modern hip hop acts to the most famous and revered classic rock icons of the 60s and 70s, news coverage from every conceivable mainstream media source as well as hundreds of independent journalists and channels...theres just no comparison
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
This is sad news.
This is sad news.
It's been over for KFOG for years now, but still, in it's time it was a truly great FM rock 'n roll station.
But really, who listens to radio stations anymore?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
I listen to one of several
I listen to one of several public stations whenever I'm driving around town. Blues, alt rock, jazz, ethnic, and GD shows with DJs who are hip to the genre and program their own music.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
I always start with the radio
I always start with the radio. Ya never know what'll grab ya.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lassen
KFOG Live From the Archives
KFOG Live From the Archives Volume 8 Phil Lesh and Friends Friend of the Devil 2001
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6GTUPqDsLw
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay
>>>broadcast radio is
>>>broadcast radio is obsolete anyhow.
It is for the most part. Sports talk radio is huge and props up the FM radio industry largely. NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered draw huge numbers.. but, yea.. in terms of music, it's mostly dead. Every city has the classic rock station playing ACDC and Aerosmith all day. Some cool local stations I find here and there on the road using the scan button. My brother listens to AM radio haha.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
https://www.kcrw.com/music
https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/morning-becomes-eclectic
was bummed visiting santa cruz recently. there used to be like 5+ good public stations all with eclectic killer shows...i think they are down to one or 2 now...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Commercial Radio blows, but
Commercial Radio blows, but Public Radio is strong in Seattle. KEXP (90.3), KBCS (91.3) and KNKX (88.5) all offer a diverse selection of programs.
As the Replacements said, left of the dial.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>who listens to radio
>>>>who listens to radio stations anymore?
Hand raised. We have some great independent stations in Portland:
KMHD (89.1) - Jazz during the day and serious funk at night.
KBOO (90.7) - Community supported radio with GD, classic country, bluegrass, jazz, world music, etc.
KOPB (91.5) - NPR and related programing.
XRAY (107.1) - A relatively new station playing obscure deep tracks from a wide range of rock, soul, hip-hop, and reggae artists - known and unknown. Its like random tracks from a gigantic collection of out of print LPs and they also feature a lot of local artists who would never hear on the radio otherwise.
>>>> My brother listens to AM radio haha
The best country station I have heard is on the AM dial and you can only get it between Longview and Castle Rock, Washington. Hank, Cash, Waylon, No Show Jones, Patsy, and the rest. No bro country.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Vann Kliburn
KMHD (89.1) - Jazz during the
KMHD (89.1) - Jazz during the day and serious funk at night.<<<<<<<
pretty much the only station I'm tuned to locally.
KFOG was cool in it's day. Always tuned it in right away in the rental car when I got back to the bay.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: JP (J Bomb)
I caught the last few years
I caught the last few years of KFOG being decent when I moved to SF in the early 90's. It started going in the wrong direction fast, right about 1996 from what I remember.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dr. Benway
KEXP is by leaps and bounds
KEXP is by leaps and bounds the best radio station in the country. they kept with tradition and broadcast like normal, but also used the internet and youtube to bring performances of all kinds of great artists to people who might not have heard them otherwise, in really really good quality to boot. i dont think ive ever listened to a KEXP broadcast, but ive listened to more KEXP videos on youtube than ive even overheard broadcast radio in the last 5 years or so.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace
KFOG's Kaboom was the bomb...
KFOG's Kaboom was the bomb...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
KEXP has several good
KEXP has several good programs and deejays, and does a great job with live performance broadcasts, but calling it the best in the country by leaps and bounds is off the mark.
They do have some of the best weekly featured programs. Greg Vandy's Wedneday evening "Roadhouse" American Roots Music program , Kid Hops' Saturday morning "Positive Vibrations" Reggae show, and Johnny Horne's Sunday morning "Preaching The Blues" program are all stand-outs. Excellent, diverse programming by knowledgeable hosts who put the music front and center and leave their egos on the back-burner.
Their regularly paid weekday deejays are hard to listen to. John Richards ("John In The Morning") and Cheryl Waters in the midday are the lead deejays. They always sound over caffeinated and, especially in Waters' case, pollyannic. Kevin Cole, who came here from Minneapolis and used to be a great college-rock deejay, now spends inordinate amounts of time playing shitty EDM. It's as if he's trying to prove he's still down with the club music scene, which is awkward and borderline creepy when you're pushing 60. Troy Nelson is downright unlistenable. He has a Southern California gnarly surfer dude voice that sounds like he is on the perma-rag. Compounded with his having to insinuate himself within 7 degrees of every act he plays makes his voice like nails on a chalkboard. My staff and I all can't stand him and change over to KBCS whenever he is on-air. Their best afternoon deejay, Stevie Zoom, is too infrequently on the mic. They do have a Saturday afternoon deejay named Megan, who does a good job, and is likely being groomed as Cheryl Waters replacement when they can push her off into retirement, however the Sunday afternoon host, Evie, is simply godawful.
I also take issue with their claim to be non-commercial. Their programs are riddled with very commercial pitches for the businesses and institutions underwriting their shows, all with the same polyannic undertone. It is dissembling and annoying. To top it off, their pledge drives are too frequent considering the amount of grants and underwriting money they receive, and are unlistenable.
When I lived in L.A., I preferred KCRW's programming and presentation by far. When I am back visiting in Washington D.C., WPFW still offers outstanding Jazz and R&B programming, and when I was in New York City earlier this summer, I really enjoyed what I was hearing on the public radio station out of Columbia University.
All that being said, no station in this country to my ears can hold a candle to New Orleans' WWOZ. Whenever I need a hit of that Crescent City vibe, I dip into their stream.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
I believe they were the first
I believe they were the first to break the news that Garcia would play the Stone for his first comeback shows in '86.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mylar
One of the very few major
One of the very few major market radio stations to play my music. Always had a 104.5 preset on my car radios. Bummer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
http://dparkradio.com/phone
http://dparkradio.com/phone/index.html
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Is there still a KPIG?
Is there still a KPIG?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rando
As a kid growing up in LA,
As a kid growing up in LA, the first station I remember was the mighty 690 broadcast out of Tijuana, MX. It was pretty awesome. Then I grew into KLOS (and for the hard rocker in me KNAC). Either way, I found KDAY in about '84-85 and it was a major game changer.
When I moved to the Bay Area in 1990, I definitely drew straight into KFOG (that and our public radio station in Santa Cruz). KFOG died off a long time ago but not forgotten. Something about Sunday mornings. FYI, KDAY in LA still is the bomb.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Johnny D
KFOG helped alleviate my
KFOG helped alleviate my withdrawal symptoms when I left XRT (and Chicago) for Oakland in 1992. It felt kind of like a college radio station for adults, a spot between more alternative Live105 and too mellow Alice. Always enjoyed jumping in the car at 5pm on Friday and turning KFOG on to start the weekend (that's what I do...) Over time, I eschewed radio music for my own cd's (some of which I might not have purchased if it weren't for KFOG). I still have the cd's and, most importantly, the working cd player in the car.
I agree with much of what's already been said. I'm a little sad about the final nail in the coffin (end of an era), but don't turn to the radio except to listen for "creativity" in the moment, whether it's listening to the news or seasonally listening to sports radio.
Kind of like wanting to support the local restaurant which will close, but not being interested in eating that food anymore, or sighing at the news of a sports team leaving, when it is no longer worth paying the high prices to attend the games. Or something like that.
I've been listening to KFOG in the car today and enjoying the Clash, Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime, and a few newer songs that I didn't recognize...then switching the stereo back to cd when I hear a song that doesn't do anything for me.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Johnny D
Around the Dial...
Around the Dial...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHqhs5KQxlo
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
Is there still a KPIG?
Is there still a KPIG?
Yes there is! I listen via their streaming app.