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Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley @ Nokia Theater 10/28/09
The LA Weekly weighs in this week with Kate Sullivan's plea to save Indie 103. Realizing we're in the minority (even among LAisters), we have to say, no thanks. Because:
1. ClearChannel explicitly said its goal was to suck ad dollars away from KROQ -- to screw with the smaller conglomerate that owns KROQ. (Audio link). They don't want to create an alternative rock station: they just want to weaken and kill someone else's alternative rock station.
2. ClearChannel COULD keep Indie 103 going if it gave up one of its other 8 stations in the LA market. But they're attached to KBIG, KFI, KIIS-FM, KOST, Star98 and the rest.
3. There are so many musical alternatives now (iPod, satellite radio, music on ye old internet) that it doesn't make any sense that smart, creative Angelenos like Sullivan and rocker/blogger Dave Navarro (in photo) have fallen under the spell of a corporate behemoth that's just trying to crush the opposition.
So while it might be just one tiny voice, we say: ClearChannel, who needs ya?
photo from www.indie1031.fm, unless they tell us they want it back
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In my own special and unfeeling way, I'd like to start off my response to the LA Weekly's brown-nosing of Indie 103 by pointing out the Hunter S Thompson is dead. Taking a dirt nap. Worm food. Six feet under. He's gone, so can we leave it alone? He was barely half the writer of the likes of Hemingway, Carver and Miller, so why spend all this time bemoaning his passing? Goodbye Hunter S. See you in Hell. Now could God do something about Dave Eggers while we're at it?
Now, on to Indie 103. I do not, and have not, been a fan of the station. I didn't like it when it began—though, being hopeful I gave it a shot—and I certainly don't like it any better now. Aside from the questionable "punk" credibility of two of the stations star DJs—Steve Jones for his affiliation with the first punk boy band, and Henry Rollins for his amazing ability to adapt to whatever financial situation best suits him (at top volume)—any station that adopts "Indie" as its title should have something "indie" about it. You know, like KXLU does. Or internet radio does. Something that has nothing to do with advertisers like Hyundai or Yahoo! or Tower Records (that mighty bastion of indie record sellers).
I'm probably one of the few people left who resents that independent music and the people who have worked hard, long and with little reward to do things their own way is being co-opted into a fashion show of Chuck Taylors and dyed-black hair, worshipping at the altar of Macolm MacLaren when there is plenty of indie left in the world that isn't manufactured to look the part. I'm sick of the disingenuous guise of Indie 103 and its ilk; should the station go dark on April 1, I won't shed a tear.
Three thoughts:
1) For those of us who can't afford an iPod (which isn't a way to get exposed to new music anyway) or satellite radio, stations like Indie are a great way to discover artists and songs we wouldn't have heard about any other way. It's what radio should be. And KROQ has become more listenable (i.e. less mall-punk) since they got some competition. What's wrong with that?
2) Why hate on Indie just because they are affiliated with a corporate behemoth? Did you stop eating Ben & Jerry's when Unilever bought them?
3) Clear Channel's JSA with Entravision ends after this month, so if Indie survives, it will have no affiliation with CC. Would it have your blessing then?
My solution: Just tune in to Rodney on the Roq, if you can stay awake that long.
1. He's an LA institution
2. He plays the best new music out there
3. He really, really likes you
4. He's on the little station that could.
I love indie 103.1. I'm proud to love it. It has free-format shows on a corporate-owned station. What the fuck do I care about the ads? God forbid someone makes some money. I'm so sick and tired of people blabbing on about "indie" music and how it gets ruined by people like the OC, or because it's on the radio, or in a commercial. I love it when a band I like gets popular. I love it when they can pay the rent. I also love turning on the radio and hearing some halfway (but not always) decent music. I also love the fact that someone else is doing the leg work to find this stuff so I don't have to.
Yes, I have an ipod. Yes, I use iTunes, slsk, and mp3 blogs. And Yes, I listen to and love indie 103. America is founded on competition and undercutting. That's what we do best. Why defend kroq? That station has sucked for years. Jed the Fish? Are you kidding me?
Indie is a genre. It hasn't referred to "independent" in a long time, and it has always aped musicians that were on major labels (for example: arcade fire worship talking heads, who were on Sire). Anyway, I don't see as much bad in this situation as you guys do, with your indie cred and your rep to protect. And I know my bitching won't solve any of this, I just wanted to stand on the soap box for a second.
I feel better.
Ooh, ooh, precious little indie kids getting their horned rims and braids all up in a dander....
One:
I know this dates the crap out of me, but I don't need Steve Jones resume to enjoy his radio show. He could be any thckly accented old gobber and I'd still enjoy the musical choices and the banter.
Two:
Back the F off Hunter. He was part of a time and a place and miserable old f's like me have to have some time to reminisce. But I second your thought about the utterly annoying Mr. Eggers.
Salud!
Christ on a Vivienne Westwood crutch, save us from the indier-than-thou purists who INSIST! INSIST! INSIST! that "indie" can now and forever only refer, literally, to "independent." Go on, admit it: you still think the Clash sold out when they signed to CBS, right?
Look, I'm no apologist for the ever-increasing consolidation of corporate media in this culture -- its insidious and, frankly, dangerous. And yeah, as someone who spent her teens having to search (and I do mean *search*) for punk/"new wave" and dodge the bullying of my adolescent peers whilst doing so, I too find the wholesale appropriation of alternative culture to be bleakly disheartening.
But the fact is, I love a wide variety of music and 103.1 plays a shitload that -- aside from Rodney -- DOES NOT GET PLAYED ON KROQ. Period. I've heard bands I'd forgotten about for 20 years, and went and bought their CDs (some on actual independent labels!) the next day. I've heard the Small Faces, the Buzzcocks, the Futureheads, and Lightnin' Hopkins in the time it takes me to go to the grocery store. The only other time I can get that kind of mix is when I set the ol' iPod to shuffle -- and silly me, I'd kind of like to hear some music I don't *already* own once in awhile.
Something's certainly rotten in the state of American culture, but hoping for 103.1's demise is a little like hoping to bring down a shark by catching minnows.
I thought the Clash sold out when they went electric at the Altamont Folk Festival. Right?
Anyhow, Check...onetwothree played my CD, and Demolisten didn't, so that makes it easy.
Who's Vivienne Westwood?
As for the meaning of "indie," many labels we place on music no longer mean what they were originally intended to mean. "Pop" music has more to do with the beat and the sound than how "popular" it is. "Alternative" music isn't so alternative anymore if certain songs get played on EVERY station.
I'll stand on the side of Indie 103.1, no matter who owns it. (Well, as long as it isn't Walmart.) Personally, I prefer internet radio where I can list my preferences and rate songs and have similar-minded people suggest songs for me. But until Yahoo! starts streaming to my car, I'll have a pre-set for Indie. And KROQ. And KCRW. And even Star 98.7 as long as I remember not to hit that button before 10AM.
Vivienne Westwood
You guys are so off the mark on this one. Who cares where you get your new music and old favorites from as long as we have more listening choices? Some of the commenters have already expressed more eloquently why Indie 103.1 should be saved, but yes:
1) Indie is a genre.
2) Steve Jones' banter and music choices are entertaining.
3) 103.1 plays a lot of music that doesn't get played on KROQ and there's nothing wrong with that.
4) Thompson isn't half the writer that Carver, Hemingway and/or Miller were, but that doesn't mean he isn't without merit.
5) Not everyone can afford iPods, it isn't a good way to discover new music, and we all don't have access to satellite radio or can listen to internet radio at work.
6) Eggers should be stopped.
7) Don't hate the player, hate the game.
I respected when you posted (on February 24, 2005,
Hi and low and lower art) that you, "have no qualifications for judging art." I've been wondering, what, other than going to a lot of shows and spending hours sifting through the CD bins at Amoeba, qualifies you to comment on music? Maybe it's time to get someone on board who can? Maybe then local artists will want to send your their demos for review, not because they'll take anyone's review no matter how unqualified, but because they'll get a fair and knowledgeable shake.
Well really, what qualifies anyone to comment on anything? It all comes down to preference and semantics, and—more often than not—nostalgia.
Aside from that, "we" refers to more than one person on the staff here, so while "we" may be unqualified to comment on music, or art for that matter, it doesn't mean that there are not individuals on staff who are qualified to do so.
My personal disregard for Indie 103 is exactly that: personal. I make no bones about it, but neither do I expect everyone else to line up behind me. If you like it, fine. If you don't like it, fine. I gave up on radio years ago, anyway. It's not like Indie 103 is anything but a minor disappointment and a reminder of how far we've fallen.
And The Clash, in my estimation, never sold out.
Overheard at work:
A: So why was it that Motley Crue closed the New York Stock Exchange?
B: It's more rockin than NASDAQ? Judas Priest is goin to NASDAQ.
A: Where did the traders and Crue party afterward?
B: Tommy Lee and Sumner Redstone shared fifth of Jack after the event.
A+B: NYSE RAWKS!
And The Clash, in my estimation, never sold out.
You're joking, right? Opening up shows for the hated dinosaur junkies The Who in baseball stadiums wasn't selling out? [Answer: of course it was! They became exactly what they started out to destroy] Joe Strummer acting like an idiot and kicking out Mick Jones and then touring with session musicians wasn't a sellout? [Answer: Yes, absolutely] I love their music but I've increasingly come to dislike all the hoo-ha surrounding the band, such as their embrace of military posturing in their clothes--showing up in camo's on SNL was a particular low point--or the very middle-class John Mellor turning in to working class yobo Joe Strummer and so on, but in the end, it's all about the music and the first 3 albums and about half of Sandinista are great records. The less said about Combat Rock and the ghastly Cut the Crap, the better.
I like 103.1, I just wish they could boost the signal a bit; it's sometimes hit and miss getting a decent signal from different parts of the city.
This station is bothersome is so many way. For one thing, there's this constant mentioning of KROQ as the evil corporate behemoth in their ads, while portraying themselves as the "little guy." And then there's the annoying fake callers with their fake drugged up praises. And it doesn't help that they are brazen enough to name themselves INDIE, which isn't so offensive because of the corporate backing as much as the fact that it's such a contrived, self-conscious name. I'd have much more sympathy for them if they'd just drop the act.
It isn't a good radio station, either. They play rehash rock as much as KROQ plays angry-white-boy music.
I won't miss them when they are gone, but I do like that they force KROQ to diversify their playlist.
what bugs me is that the music played on "indie" 103 fm is hardly "indie." it saddens me that this pretentious station is still going to be around.
do you think dumping clearchannel as your parent company gives you "indie" cred? clearly. and you know what else gives you street cred? having djs like dave navarro, dicky barret, henry rollins, and jonesy.
laist, i am with you. screw indie 1031.
Now we need a KDAY update.