Mostly, you're dead-on. KFOG is an especially sad case: Constantine has eviscerated everything that was once unique about the station. 10@10, once their crown jewel in the Morey and Annalisa eras -- it was "appointment radio", you always knew you were gonna be surprised by something you hadn't heard in ages (or ever) -- has been reduced to a dull, low-energy recitation of 10 overplayed "classic" tracks from whatever year it is, obviously chosen from a consultant-approved list of oldies. Hearing them go on about their heritage during the recent 30th anniversary, bringing back the likes of Scoop Nisker, M Dung and the "Psychedelic Psupper" for cameo appearances, was just a reminder of what's missing from their current incarnation.
Several notes, Rich: - Tell us more about Stephen Kapen in the future. For some reason, I just don't remember the name and voice. The others of course - especially Dr. Donald D. - are very familiar. - Yes, KFOG is a sad case. But somehow, I see Rosalie staying there as long as she wants just to stick it to the Tricky Dickeys. - Don't like the Bay Baseball split caps? I would like to know how many people have families who split their sports loyalties in both baseball and football. In my case, I'm also an A's lifer, but I have uncles, cousins, and friends who love the Giants, and I always enjoy my visits to AT&T Park. Don't care for Baer's exact protocol and his support for the Tricky Dickeys, but I like that the local National League team gets the job done, especially the superawesome Buster Posey. I'm also a Raiders lifer (except when they were in LA, outside of both teams wanting to shut up Joe Theismann when the Raiders dethroned Washington in 1983-84), but my father watches the 49ers the way homemakers watch soap operas, and I have other friends and family that love the Niners. In summary, I've been straddling the Bay Sportsline since the day I started walking. Still, I do not own a split cap (just never got around to it).
I remember the original split caps that were designed for the Bay Bridge Series. I still wish I'd grabbed one at the time. The ones available now just aren't the same. Neither is KFOG, but how much is Constantine's doing and how much is Cumulus responsible? Why is the morning show trying to gain traction? Because most of the time they sound like ignorant goofballs.
You're too nostalgic honestly. The Grateful Dead? Ugh. KFOG? Ugh another dinosaur. The reason is that Live 105 is terrible and doesn't play anything good, neither did KUSF when it still had airtime. So, they alienated their audiences, they were gone. I still love music a lot but the music that gets played is awful. There's no great alternative rock anymore that gets played, the big companies still promote crap and so people are turning to youtube or even to GAMES to find good music. Radio certainly isn't playing it and hasn't been since the mid-90s.
Hey.... Check out 107.7 The Bone! Lamont & Tonelli, Steven Seaweed & Nicki Black! Now that's appointment radio. I can't wait to see what Nicki plays on Metal Zone tonight! Legendary Bay Area personalities paired with iconic songs by legendary artists. That's great radio! When was the last time you heard a radio station play Megadeth and Metalica back to back with Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and have it flow. From Van Halen and Journey to Anthrax and The Ramones. That's ROCK & ROLL radio!
You want a blast from the past of the old free form KSAN days? Tune into the Bone on Sunday nights at 7pm. Joel Selven does a underground radio show that is like listening to the days of Tom Donahue and JIVE 95. Good stuff!
Selvin's show is on at 11pm last time I checked. And The Bone's website still shows Little Steven from 9-11 Sunday nit, and they dumped him last December...
I put on live 105..and they had -I shit you not- BANJO music/rock. College kids are pussys. Then the oldys 103.7?..Sure, Supertramp me to death. The M-F morning commute selection is either great songs played over and over (Hotel California) or real crap like Footloose on regular rotation. Don Blue has no clout does he?..Incredibly..the weekend is much better..the good stuff like Badfinger,The Beatles, Manfred Mann...the Police,Motown,the Righteous Brothers.
Very good article. It's no secret that corporate radio has yanked the spine out of San Francisco FM rock like the Predator taking a victim, but its stunning to see no one nut up and fill the void.
Mostly, you're dead-on. KFOG is an especially sad case: Constantine has eviscerated everything that was once unique about the station. 10@10, once their crown jewel in the Morey and Annalisa eras -- it was "appointment radio", you always knew you were gonna be surprised by something you hadn't heard in ages (or ever) -- has been reduced to a dull, low-energy recitation of 10 overplayed "classic" tracks from whatever year it is, obviously chosen from a consultant-approved list of oldies. Hearing them go on about their heritage during the recent 30th anniversary, bringing back the likes of Scoop Nisker, M Dung and the "Psychedelic Psupper" for cameo appearances, was just a reminder of what's missing from their current incarnation.
ReplyDeleteSeveral notes, Rich:
ReplyDelete- Tell us more about Stephen Kapen in the future. For some reason, I just don't remember the name and voice. The others of course - especially Dr. Donald D. - are very familiar.
- Yes, KFOG is a sad case. But somehow, I see Rosalie staying there as long as she wants just to stick it to the Tricky Dickeys.
- Don't like the Bay Baseball split caps? I would like to know how many people have families who split their sports loyalties in both baseball and football. In my case, I'm also an A's lifer, but I have uncles, cousins, and friends who love the Giants, and I always enjoy my visits to AT&T Park. Don't care for Baer's exact protocol and his support for the Tricky Dickeys, but I like that the local National League team gets the job done, especially the superawesome Buster Posey. I'm also a Raiders lifer (except when they were in LA, outside of both teams wanting to shut up Joe Theismann when the Raiders dethroned Washington in 1983-84), but my father watches the 49ers the way homemakers watch soap operas, and I have other friends and family that love the Niners. In summary, I've been straddling the Bay Sportsline since the day I started walking. Still, I do not own a split cap (just never got around to it).
I remember the original split caps that were designed for the Bay Bridge Series. I still wish I'd grabbed one at the time. The ones available now just aren't the same. Neither is KFOG, but how much is Constantine's doing and how much is Cumulus responsible? Why is the morning show trying to gain traction? Because most of the time they sound like ignorant goofballs.
ReplyDeleteYou're too nostalgic honestly. The Grateful Dead? Ugh. KFOG? Ugh another dinosaur. The reason is that Live 105 is terrible and doesn't play anything good, neither did KUSF when it still had airtime. So, they alienated their audiences, they were gone. I still love music a lot but the music that gets played is awful. There's no great alternative rock anymore that gets played, the big companies still promote crap and so people are turning to youtube or even to GAMES to find good music. Radio certainly isn't playing it and hasn't been since the mid-90s.
ReplyDeleteHey.... Check out 107.7 The Bone! Lamont & Tonelli, Steven Seaweed & Nicki Black! Now that's appointment radio. I can't wait to see what Nicki plays on Metal Zone tonight! Legendary Bay Area personalities paired with iconic songs by legendary artists. That's great radio! When was the last time you heard a radio station play Megadeth and Metalica back to back with Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and have it flow. From Van Halen and Journey to Anthrax and The Ramones. That's ROCK & ROLL radio!
ReplyDeleteYou want a blast from the past of the old free form KSAN days? Tune into the Bone on Sunday nights at 7pm. Joel Selven does a underground radio show that is like listening to the days of Tom Donahue and JIVE 95. Good stuff!
ReplyDeleteSelvin's show is on at 11pm last time I checked. And The Bone's website still shows Little Steven from 9-11 Sunday nit, and they dumped him last December...
DeleteNope... 7pm on Sundays and then Yeager plays music from local bands... Sunday nights on the Bone. is now appointment listening.
DeleteI put on live 105..and they had -I shit you not- BANJO music/rock. College kids are pussys. Then the oldys 103.7?..Sure, Supertramp me to death. The M-F morning commute selection is either great songs played over and over (Hotel California) or real crap like Footloose on regular rotation. Don Blue has no clout does he?..Incredibly..the weekend is much better..the good stuff like Badfinger,The Beatles, Manfred Mann...the Police,Motown,the Righteous Brothers.
ReplyDeleteI don't get it.
Very good article. It's no secret that corporate radio has yanked the spine out of San Francisco FM rock like the Predator taking a victim, but its stunning to see no one nut up and fill the void.
ReplyDelete