KEXP's marketing director, Courtney Miller, explains, "Kevin and Cheryl have been doing a tremendous job on the air. We felt it was time to move them into prime-time slots. Cheryl has been hosting evening shows for 11 years, and Kevin has been hosting a weekend show for nearly six years…. Steve continues to be a DJ at KEXP. We've made changes to the daytime lineup to allow Cheryl and Kevin to broadcast their shows during prime times."
Wilde, who continues as a DJ for KUOW's excellent Saturday night Swing Years and Beyond show, could not be reached for comment, but she recently told the P-I, "I'm proud of what I accomplished in 12 years," and said she is working on an audio-project grant that came about because of Swing Years.
Although Wilde and Zoom were strongly associated with the station's pre-KEXP, KCMU days, Miller points out that "just about all of our hosts have been with us since the station was KCMU. Here is a list: DJ Riz, Don Slack, Leon Berman, John Richards, Cheryl Waters, Jon Kertzer, Darek Mazzone, Jack Walters, Abe Beeson, Masa, Kid Hops, Quilty 3000, Kevin Cole, Larry Rose, John Gilbreath, Greg Vandy, Poptart, Larry Metro, Greg Jaspan, and Johnny Horn (he did the reggae show for KCMU back when)."
Jumping on the local band(wagon), 99.9 KISW recently announced it will host a local show on Sunday nights. According to the station's website, the one-hour program (from 11:00 until midnight, compared to The End's two-hour, earlier slotted, local Sunday-night Young and the Restless show) promises airtime for local buzz bands, as well as "deep cuts from some of the bands who put this city on the map--Screaming Trees, Nirvana, Mudhoney, and more." Let's hope that this 60-minute nod to our local talent pool actually gives some new bands radio space. The last thing we need is yet another Nightly Nirvana. Tell KISW what you want to hear at newmusic@kisw.com or loudandlocal@kisw.com.
Another local showcase, Live Eye TV, airs its next episode on Thursday, January 20--the same night as, well, my birthday, so anyone wanting to come on over to Chop Suey for Club Club: Galactica is hereby invited to the future-focused party. For the cable-access show (channel 77/29), though, expect footage of the Blood Brothers and Wolf Eyes as well as interviews with the Lights and the Epoxies. It all airs at 8:00 p.m.
Tail-end tidbits: Dirtnap's Ken Cheppaikode has relocated to Portland, after assuming ownership of Green Noise Records over on Clinton Street…. Congrats to Akimbo, who recently signed to Bay Area punk label Alternative Tentacles. According to drummer Nat Damm, the hardcore-metal trio sealed the deal with Alternative head himself, Jello Biafra, at the recent Melvins-Biafra New Year's show…. USE have become an international dance sensation--at least in part of Asia--with a number-two hit in Japan for "It Is On." For the week of January 16, the electropop act charted between Destiny's Child and Kylie Minogue on FM Northwave Radio. Up next for USE, a record on Sonic Boom out March 12….
The Bus Stop hosts craft nights every Tuesday from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, for those who would like to knit their favorite musicians scarves for next winter. The Bus Stop is the new Capitol Hill bar located next to Bimbo's…. Expect new club news about one downtown dive in the next couple weeks. For now, I've promised to keep quiet. And one more tip on the DL--the Scissor Sisters are planning a swing by Wire, a new pop-focused club night at the Baltic Room, on Wednesday, January 26.
Seattle bands, studios, record labels, and clubs: Make sure you're in the 2005 edition of The Stranger's annual Seattle Musicians' Directory, the city's most comprehensive guide to our local music industry, for fans and insiders alike. Submit your info via mail using the ballots inserted in the paper or online at www.thestranger.com. All entries are due by Monday, February 14.
