Photo Courtesy of www.zydepunks.comI love KWUR. I really do. I like hearing intriguing and uncommon music from people with eccentric taste and inventive names. I appreciate its endearing conviviality. I especially like guessing whether or not the DJs are drunk, high or both. I like a challenge.
For those who don’t know, KWUR can be cranked on 90.3 FM, proudly broadcasting on its 10,000 milliwatt signal, but is best served up online (www.KWUR.com). The Web site is fantastic and easy to use; check it out to stream a show digitally, check the schedule of shows or read their blogs.
KWUR, founded in 1976, has the distinction of being called the Saint Louis Riverfront Times’ best radio station in the entirety of the Lou. According to its Web site, “KWUR’s goal has been to supply listeners with otherwise unavailable programming in Saint Louis radio.” In addition, KWUR Week, a full week of great music, events and various pandemonium, takes place once a year.
KWUR Week will be in full swing by the time this article sees print. Sponsored by KWUR, four sets will be rocking the Gargoyle tonight through Saturday. In addition, the St. Louis Symphony Partnerships Program will be at the 560 Building on Monday.
Tonight is all about hip-hop; head over at 7 p.m. to see the Twilight Sentinels perform in the company of several other emcees and DJs.
Friday at 8 p.m., check out New Orleans-based Zydepunks for a sound blending punk, folk, Yiddish riddles, Irish ballads and everything in between. Opening is local group Water Bears. Saturday offers an even more experimental and impressive set with The Octopus Project out of Austin, Texas, who rock distorted guitars and a theremin.
KWUR has drawn praise not only for its programming but also its egalitarian, underground ethos. Says a 2003 Rolling Stone Review of KWUR, “They dole three-hour blocks to students, who do bong-hits, then waltz in and play their favorite records to a few hundred college buddies. The result, of course, is amateur and defiantly unprofessional, but who cares?”
The variety of shows KWUR pumps out is astounding: sports talk, jazz, indie, hip-hop and rock of all sorts. I credit this diversity to the wide gamut of individuals who have made time each week to chill on air for an hour, play some records and invite you to their Facebook groups.
“It’s been amazing,” quips sophomore sex symbol and KWUR DJ Alex Esche.
The application and training process for budding DJs is relatively painless: It requires a semester’s worth of information in periodic doses in the form of training sessions. While it is too late to begin training to get on the air this semester, interested parties should e-mail [email protected].
“It’s easy to get involved,” said Esche, who has had his own radio show (47 Wre$tling Robot$; Thursdays at 10 p.m.) since spring semester of his freshman year.
And now, a moment to reflect on the art of naming your own radio show. Should the title be informative? Methinks not. Should it describe your music or personality in any way? Hell naw! Should it be whimsical? Nonsensical? An inside joke between you and your freshman roommate? Oh hell yeah!
‘Alt-country Mayhem’ proclaims Friday 3 p.m. slot ‘Jew Named Sue.’ Not to be outdone, ‘Newsworthy Ghost Island’ declares their status of being ‘Locked inside a baby since 2006.’ And we can certainly all relate. Personal favorite? ‘Free your mind and your ass will follow’ by Sunday night revelers ‘Midnight Mauraders,’ presumably freeing both mind and ass at 10 p.m. every week.
For more information go to www.KWUR.com.