I Wanna Tell You About Texas Radio and the Big Beat

I'm a radio guy. I grew up in New York listening to the great Dave Herman on WPLJ and then WNEW. I love personality-driven, free-form radio with a focus on the music. I'm a big fan of Americana music (as the name of this blog implies) but to me "Americana" is a big world (including Rhythm 'n' Blues, Reggae and Conjunto, for example).

So living in Austin and being a big fan of Austin and Texas music (which itself is a large and expanding universe) I'm in radio heaven with so many great alternatives on our dial, and more if you count Sirius XM.

The big three are Sun Radio, KUTX, and KGSR.

Sun Radio is listener-supported, commercial-free, solar-powered radio with stations all over the Hill Country. It started as KDRP in Dripping Springs featuring the late Larry Monroe, whose Blue Monday and Phil Music shows were a mainstay at KUT for years. My favorite Austin DJ is the morning show's Kevin Connor, whose "A Hill Country Saturday" is a great way to kick off the weekend. Kevin, who also was at KUT, and KGSR before that, knows every musician in town and loves to feature Austin music. Several current musicians such as Suzanna Choffel have regular shows, along with specialty shows like John Dromgoole's Dance Halls and Last Calls and Ed Miller's Across the Pond Celtic music show.

KUT, Austin's NPR's station, used to fit in great music around its news programming but 5 years ago spun off the all-music KUTX. Some of their best jocks have moved on to Sun Radio and some, like Paul Ray, whose Saturday evening R&B show Twine Time was required listening in the Jaffe household, have moved on, period. But they still have Austin stalwarts Jody Denberg and Jay Trachtenberg and Laurie Gallardo, the most enthusiastic and refreshing DJ ever, plus long-time specialty shows like Michael Crockett's Horizontes. And don't miss John L. Hanson's Old School Dance Party Fridays after work. Their music is a an eclectic blend of different genres including a wide spectrum of new Austin bands, especially on the Laurie show (she must go out every night)!

KGSR, recently re-branded Austin City Limits Radio (to go with the television program, the music festival, and the venue) is more mainstream indie and pop-oriented than its Radio Austin roots but still plays a lot of good music. Andy Langer remains one of the most knowledgeable Austin disk jockeys.

Just one measure of how these three stations contribute to Austin occurs this week, during SXSW. All three have morning and afternoon shows at restaurants around town featuring SXSW as well as local acts, open to the general public without a badge or wristband. For a $5 or $15 donation (going to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians in KUTX's case) you get breakfast tacos, coffee and the likes of Wyclef Jean, Steve Earle and Hayes Carll.

If that weren't enough we have a range of country stations including Bob Cole's reincarnation of the legendary KOKE FM, which was a big station during the Armadillo and progressive country days in Austin. When Cole's not talking the station plays a good range of country music, including a lot of Texas acts like Kevin Fowler and Cody Johnson. And two Sirius XM shows, Dallas Wayne's shows on Outlaw Country and Willie's Place, broadcast out of Austin. BTW, Dallas sings every Sunday night at the Continental as part of Heybale! 

So I know a lot of people are down on Austin, saying the growth has changed it. While I'm sensitive to affordability issues Austin is still badass and radio is a big part of it!

And if you're not lucky enough to live in Austin, all these stations stream!

The title of this piece was suggested by my daughter Dara. Her friend Lauren Ruth Ward played SXSW a year ago and, while driving the band around to various showcases, I of course was showing off these stations. As soon as I had them in my car I was saying, "I wanna play some great radio for you", so of course my Doors fanatic daughter said, hey Dad, you're like Jim Morrison in The Wasp (Texas Radio and the Big Beat).