I <3 our local NPR affiliate, KUT 90.5 FM. It is so much more than NPR, which is great in and of itself. The diversity of music on KUT spans the spectrum from jazz to blues to alt-country to indy rock to - if you listen to John Aielli in the morning - opera. And, usually, they do it amazingly well. The thing that makes listening to KUT such a wonderful experience is the richness and depth that the DJs provide. They all have an amazing amount of information that they share with listeners, often bringing in the musicians themselves to play live or talk about their craft.
In fact, even though I really shouldn’t be giving any money away right now, I’m srsly tempted to donate to their current fund drive at the $120 level to get the KUT Live Vol. 4 CD, which features in-studio performances of some of my favorites, including Okkervil River and Spoon. When I heard some of the cuts from this CD today, it made me realize that some of the KUT DJs are also amazing musicians - such as sub Jeff Johnson, formerly of the Orange Mothers and now with Li’l Cap’n Travis.
Speaking of Spoon, Brit Daniel was a DJ when I was a DJ at KTSB Student Radio, which is now known as KVRX 91.7, sharing that frequency with KOOP Radio. Those of you who are new to the Austin area (or who just weren’t paying attention) may not know that the KVRX and KOOP camps were once mortal enemies. As I remember it, in the late 80s/early 90s, there was only one FM frequency available, but two different groups that wanted it - KOOP, a community group led by Jim Ellinger, and KTSB, student-run radio on the University of Texas campus broadcasting on cable. I remember the two sides truly hating each other and being completely unable to talk to each other in any rational way. Fortunately, by the mid-90s a judge had resolved the dispute and told the two groups they would have to share the frequency. Sounds goofy, but it worked. And we now have even more great radio in Austin, from shows focused on local environmental issues to the always fun Elk Mating Ritual Show, hosted by Master Pancake Theater leader and UT doctoral student John Erler (hey another artist who is a DJ!).
Ausinites, consider yourself lucky to have great radio. Truly. Oh, and be sure to donate to KUT, KVRX, or KOOP!
