Wednesday Highlights from South by Southwest!
We need to talk about Michelle Obama's biceps, and all of the other things that happened on Wednesday.
South by Southwest: Tuesday Highlights
Tuesday was a blur… The day began with a midnight flight from San Francisco to Austin, TX. Followed by an Uber ride that got us to our beds by 6:00am, only to wake up for morning conferences. But we did it! Hello 90 degree Texas. Jesus take the wheel.
KZSC is Going To South By Southwest!!
South By Southwest is the fastest growing music and media gathering in the United States. The festival is held yearly in Austin City, Texas, and KZSC is sending five intrepid reporters to bring you the highlights back from the mayhem!! The event will be so fantastic that Obama will be skipping Nancy Reagan's funeral to fly out! So stay posted to our blog from March 14th to 19th for coverage of the conference's exhibitions and music showcases.
KZSC’s Closet Free Radio Wins Lifetime Achievement Award!
KZSC is bursting with pride, for Closet Free Radio! They've been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Diversity Center Santa Cruz County. Closet Free Radio is the longest running radio show about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning issues in the country. You can count on CFR for a comprehensive stream of LGBTQ news, interviews, and entertaining commentary every Monday at 7 pm.
Bowie is Gone… but Rock Charts are Back!
KZSC has shed many a tear in the last couple days over the loss of a legend. As Vonnegut would say, so it goes. In preparing the CMJ Charts & Adds for the week, I discovered this new B-side, "David Bowie Songs," released by The Spook School just hours before Bowie's passing. In addition to Blackstar itself, The Spook School's Try To Be Hopeful was one of our Top 5 Adds this week at KZSC.
Best Releases of 2015: Fonzie’s Don’t Sleep Recommendations Volume 3
It's pretty difficult for me to rank my favorites, but here are my personal top 25 favorite releases (albums, mixtapes, EPs) of 2015. It's mostly hip-hop since that's what I listen to most as hip-hop director here at KZSC! Please comment how I left off your favorite album (I know I probably did). It's hard to keep up with everything!
KZSC Presents Surfer Blood & Cayucas on Jan 13
KZSC Presents Surfer Blood’s fuzzed-out indie-surf rock and Cayucas’ nostalgic sunny pop at a rockin’ show January 13th at The Catalyst. Surfer Blood released their third album, 1000 Palms, this past May and Cayucas just released their second album, Dancing at the Blue Lagoon.
Programmer of the Month: Aimdog Hamslice
Aimee Hamel, AKA Aimdog Hamslice, is October's Programmer of the Month. Aimee created Country Fried and Irish Boyfriend. She is currently interning at WAM (Women’s Audio Mission). WAM is the only non-profit recording studio in the world that was built and run by women. Less than 5% of people working in the audio industry are women, and WAM’s goal is to “change the face of sound.”
Day of the Dead a Time to Remember
We lost Greg Williams this year. He was a programmer and a warm and welcoming presence at KZSC for years and years. On this Day of the Dead, we wanted to share this Cole Lemke artwork--in tribute to Greg AKA DJ Sequoia Slim and The Gemini Factor. It seems perfectly fitting.
Greetings from Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
We were so happy to get this great postcard, direct from The Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in Lafayette, Louisiana! It says: "Get on board and git a good education.... The Lagniappe crew needs a field trip!" Thanks, Randy D! We're packing our pirogue for the next fest!
Bon Voyage, Dylan Music
KZSC is losing one of its very best DJs, just as we head into our fall schedule. Dylan Music (AKA DJ Oy-Dog) of Muzikal Jewz has to end his seven-year run with The Great 88. The good news is that he has a job in radio. The bad news is the commute back to our side of the Monterey Bay is just too long.
Programmer of the Month: David Anton Savage
David Anton Savage, The Savage, as he is warmly known by at the station has been a big part of the KZSC Community for 16 years now. Best known for his work on Unfiltered Camels, a show which began in the Fall of 1989; he became the host in June of 1999 (and the show hits its 26th year this Fall) ! Savage has also gone above and beyond the call of duty as a volunteer at KZSC, and he has created or shaped many other shows at the station, including The Savage Bistro, Insect Agony, Talkabout, and Musikal Jewz, contributing--as DJ Goy Boy-- "Did Jew Know?" a 2 to 4 minute segment of Jewish knowledge.
Fonzie’s “Don’t Sleep on ‘Em” Recommendations Volume Two: Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs of 2015 So Far
The Fonzie Scheme will be back on air in the Fall! Until then, here are some "Don't Sleep on 'Em" Recommendations to hold you over while I'm gone. For Volume Two of my "Don't Sleep on 'Em" picks, I decided…
Programmer of the Month: Marley Lix-Jones (Marles Barkley)
In just a few short days, KZSC will bid a "see-you-later" to senior programmer, Marles Barkley aka Marley Lix-Jones. Earning her staff badge during her freshmen year, Marles went on to be Rock Director for one year, followed by Music…
Farewell Greg Williams
We are deeply saddened to inform you that our longtime KZSC volunteer programmer and friend, Greg Williams, aka DJ Sequoia Slim and The Gemini Factor, has left us. Greg died in his sleep, at home, on Friday May 29th. Greg was a wonderfully diverse programmer and one of the kindest people ever to join the KZSC community. He hosted many successful shows like Indie Babies and Sternal Precautions and he was always eager to provide a warm welcome to newcomers to the station family.
Programmer of the Month: Jacob Block (Brickfrog)
Jacob Block, known on-air as “Brickfrog” has been tearing up the airwaves of Santa Cruz for four whole years. Since his radio debut in May of 2011, Jacob has programmed over 200 shows on KZSC. Jacob’s older brother, who programmed…
Now you can listen to KZSC on your schedule
Did you miss one of your favorite shows? Want to check the instant replay? Now you can listen to KZSC on your own schedule! You can listen on-demand to the past two weeks of our broadcasts in our archive. You don't have to live under the tyranny of the clock any more--at least when it comes to enjoying KZSC.
Fresh Faces at KZSC
Congratulations to the newest staff members of KZSC! They've completed our rigorous training and their new shows are now debuting on our Spring 2015 schedule (coming on April 13th). We can't wait to hear what they'll come up with, and we're sure you'll love what they do on KZSC.
UC Santa Cruz students should contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jared, so you can join them. We offer a training class (for credit!) every quarter, and you can take it after you volunteer at the station for 20 hours.
Programmer of the Month: Brandon Oleksy (BrandX)
March’s programmer of the month is KZSC’s very own New Media Director, Brandon Oleksy. Brandon is a sophomore originally from San Marcos, studying computer game design, although his passion lies in photography. As "BrandX," Brandon hosts “Teenage Kicks” every Sunday 10pm-12am, and occasionally appears on “Morrissey Boulevard,” Mondays 9am-noon--if he’s up that early.
Programmer of the month: Lennon Stankavich (Jaws)
Hailing from Long Beach California, Lennon Stankavich is a sophomore at UCSC studying film. As Jaws, he spins "shark rock" tunes on Swimmin' With The Sharks, Thursday nights from 7:00-8:30. Shark Rock includes original 60's surf rock music, alongside any more modern rock, garage and punk that uses lots of reverb and treble. "If it can fool me into thinking it's old school, then I like it," says Lennon.
Archive available for Angela Davis broadcast
KZSC broadcast Professor Angela Davis speaking on “Racism, Militarism, and Poverty: From Ferguson to Palestine” on Wednesday, January 28th, at 7 pm.
KZSC is glad that our live broadcast reached many of the hundreds of people turned away when the civic auditorium filled up.