yea anti-Nic Harcourtism

I mean, KCRW is sponsoring shows in NYC now WTF?? I know, I know, it's teh Age Of teh Internets, and KCRW has seen the future and is working very hard to develop a national audience. The full harcourt press is part of that promotional effort.

As for Harcourt being a tastemaker, I'd say he most certainly is one. I think he actually plays many acts that he himself doesn't really care about or aren't really to his particular taste. That's why I like him. I first heard Stars through him so he's alright by me.

why are tha adminz deletin on ned raggett's homiez and makin him look like a foo'

yo nigz cant look like a fool especially on tha mean streets of swindon town as me and mah homebody C-Money dodge tha gangstaz bulletz by tha chalkhills and children yo yo yo

my mom has worked directly with him at KCRW for years. getting the concerts going in NY was actually her doing. the reason she started working there was to work with Eric Douridas, and when he left, everyone everyone was a bit sad. Nic brought something comepletely different to the show. it might not be your cup of tea (definitely not mine), but there's a huge market for the kinda stuff he's playing.

Anyway Spencer, I don't see how pushing "Coldplay alternative adult contemporary" is not a valid reason to hate the guy. And Roger, I think you're wrong about Coldplay being inoffensive. I find their music absolutely grating and reserve the right to hate them for it.

he was the original DJ of Morning Becomes Eclectic. definitely more of a tastemaker and someone i'm sure most of the people on ILM could listen to and appreciate the stuff he was playing. he left, i think, to start the PBS show Sessions at W 54th st (great live music show) that later had David Byrne, however weird he is, as a host. i think he's now doing music supervision for films.

oh, sorry.

ned, isn't yr friend there named Eric? i don't live in LA anymore and get all these names mixed up.

KCRW = "Top Gun" For Future Music Supes.

how long were you sitting on that one! perfect.

David Bowie
Franz Ferdinand
Andrew Bird
Blonde Redhead
Arcade Fire
Martha, Rufus, and Louden Wainwright (all seperately)
Spoon
The Shins
M. Ward
Devendra Banhart
Air
Sonic Youth
Neil Young
Rilo Kiley
Brazillian Girls
PJ Harvey
Patti Smith
Supergrass
Beck
Wilco
Badly Drawn Boy
The Decemberists
MIA
Bloc Party
Jesca Hoop
The Dears
Le Tigre
Dogs Die in Hot Cars
Richard Buckner
etc etc etc....

i could go on and on and on and on...im sure everyone can find someone in that list to bitch about, but really-- its pretty impressive. i find him to be on the mellow side of charming (okay, maybe its just the accent, haha) and he has good taste in music. you want something loud in the morning, listen to KXLU 88.9 (the college station).

i always listen to KCRW from 9-12, then switch over to 103.1 from 12-2 for Jonsey, who is unarguably the BEST 2 hours of radio EVER. (oh shit, i just set myself up for some hatin' with that comment, huh?)

Yup - you left out Crooked Fingers! I almost made a special mention for the in-studios. He had Al@nis in a little over a year ago, and I actually risked missing a boxing class to stay and hear more. And I'm still pretty sure I don't like her! I almost did, but I was ashamed ::hangs head::

Jonsey, who is unarguably the BEST 2 hours of radio EVER

There are two ways to approach this.

1. I love Jonesey too. I mean, we all love Jonesey. But the playlist is starting to get that not-so-fresh feeling, no? E.g., at 1:36PM PST tomorrow, Mister Shovel will be directed to play "All The Way From Memphis." But God what a breath of fresh air he was, and I'll always be grateful.

2. Orson Wells to thread.

Either way, I'm just sassin' ya, shh! LA radio in general is better (i.e., less rigidly programmed) right now than it's been in years.

::curtsies::

he has had great guests though, but in the last two months at my last job, when we got to listen to the radio in the AM...there was a 50% chance that every time i'd turn it to MBE, damien rice would be playing. or a DUET featuring damien rice, dear christ. spencer i knew you'd post immediately to say you heart him.

So it is kind of Coldplay thing.

The genteel Harcourt however aspires toward hipness with his eyes steadily planted on becoming the LA county suburbanite's messenger of "alternative," he's much more insidious. The type of ardent listener who single-mindedly follows him in the quest to "keep with it" and discover new music also reminds me of something (though i'll prolly get in trouble for saying it here, but)...

It reminds me of how one night, Mark came up here to watch a show with me at the Knitting Factory, that was sponsored by KCRW. We looked around at the GAP-&-leather jacket / beanie-clad crowd, and he said..."there's something about this KCRW crowd, that's just so wrong...lacking true color or personality, it's just so...so..well this is going to sound funny but.."

"What? Say it!"

"So Chicago."

=)

Vik, I'm a bit uncomfortable with your claim that I'm a knee-jerk heart-er. I'm just saying that he appeals to certain people and that you can ignore him if you like. I don't think that Coldplay is the root of all evil and there are more important fans to worry about. I understand your critique and I'm sympathetic to it, but again, his show has introduced me to a number of non-middle-of-the-road things that I like. Also, his M.I.A. interview was actually very good/informative. He takes people at their own word which is not especially unique, but he actually sort of listens and asks them polite, but well-formed follow-up questions.

btw, you still have one day left to rsvp!

Also, I have a hairline fracture in my foot! I may not be going out at all this weekend but we should meet for drinks when I'm not hobbling.

Harcourt is harmless. He appeals to folks who would spend $$$ to see David Byrne/Arcade Fire at the Hollywood Bowl.

xpost,
Nope, tripped on an uneven sidewalk!

I'm staying in my car where it's safe...

In all seriousness, sorry to hear that. Hope the prognosis is good, and that you heal faster than expected.

No electronica or r'n'b either.

From the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, July 19, 2005. Front-page article on Starbucks' growth as a music retailer.

"Music sold at Starbucks tends to appeal to the chain's mostly adult customers, and generally reflects a sensibility similar to that of National Public Radio stations like Los Angeles' influential KCRW: moderately eclectic, often jazzy, and never noisy enough to disrupt a quiet cup of coffee."

This is prolly a little unfair to MBE, but nonetheless: ouch.

So my shame is eternal.

Having said that, I am currently in the midst of a fight to get my Tuesday 2-6pm show on KXLU back, and if the following words seem somewhat ungracious and less than ladylike toward my so-called "competitors" at 89.9fm, well, who gives a fuck, right?

Everytime I hear some suburban wannabe music adventurist try and stretch his or her wings and get a little wild on the subject of music, they somehow always wind up mentioning Harcourt, as though listening to him and his aural morphine is some sort of measure of musical derring-do amidst their dreary lives of stock option, homeowners association floor fights about unsuitable shrubberies along Whitey Flight Lane, etc., etc.

Jesus fucking Christ; are we all really that stupid?!

Okay, so Harcourt was the first to play Norah Jones; and while it seems, from all accounts that Norah Jones is a very nice woman, and a far, far, far more accomplished musician than I will ever be-- just what does this mean? Hell, John Tesh could probably kick yours, mine and the rest of our asses combined on the piano; and, I'll bet, he is probably talented enough that, if he wanted to, he could be playing some killer jazz in a club down on Central Avenue and just totally be blowingall our minds.

Instead, Tesh writes weirdo religious symphonies that always mention his wife, and God, and all the little baby children of the world, etc., etc.; and, while I am not saying Norah Jones is of a similar freak ilk as Tesh, she is certainly no more challenging to listen to-- just a bit more secular, strictly speaking; but still playing her stuff for the already converted.

Those who need their music soft and unchallenging, with just a teensy-weensy lil' bit of angst thrown in to remind them why they abandoned their true selves in the first place.

All very professional sounding. All very accomplished. All very pleasing to the deadened ear.

And all very boring.

Big deal! Woo-hoo; Nic Harcourt broke Norah Jones in this country! Maybe we can make him co-grand marshall of a parade, along with the folks who brought other poxes to this country, such as Mad Cow Disease, Africanized Bees, cockfighting and, yes...

Coldplay.

For the poster who wondered where the radio in-fighting was (sorry I forgot your name; no slight intended...), here it is:

Though I am off the air for now, I hope to soon enough be back, nasally voice and all to my KXLU slot of Tuesdays 2-6pm. When I do return, I will again put to rest any such debate no matter who else is on the air, and no matter their time slot/corporate backing.

Bring on Harcourt, the Douridas Twins (Chris/'Eric') and their possible improprieties as it relates to their relationships within the music industry; and bring Jonesy and his allegedly "greatest most inspiring most awesome orgasm inducing reinvention of flight, math, cereal, footbinding, indoor plumbing, etc., TWO HOURS OF RADIO, EVER!!!"....

Bring 'em all on, and send 'em to me. Eventually, I will be back on KXLU, at my regular Tuesday 2-6pm slot; and from there, will be more than happy to slit all their throats, time and again.

Before I go, I will say this, by way of hopefully putting across the notion that such words were not said from some egomaniacal standpoint:

Everyone has anywhere from one to three, maybe four, things they are really good at throughout their entire lives. Some are good at oral sex, or risotto, or quantum physics or patching up squabbles between their drunken white trash baby-mill neighbors who smoke while pregnant, etc. Get it?

Everyone's good at something, right?

And, while I am probably the worst non-beating/non-cheating bet for a boyfriend/husband ever (irresponsible self hater who avoids suicide only out of spite), I do know the few things I can do well:

I can cook like an absolute fiend. Really, my spaghetti sauce is to die for.

This example aside, I'm a fairly decent writer; and, as bad a bet as I am romantically, I love my Miss MonkeyBoots to death, though saying so will not likely necessarily save the only relationship I've ever had where I have been crazier than the female involved. An utter fucking shame if you ask me; but, hey!, them's the breaks.

Lastly, I know music and radio. Let Harcourt, the Douridas twins and even loveable Jonesy, whose show I like, by the way, take their best shots. If I somehow tapdance through the red-tape minefield well enough to reacquire my time slot, I believe I will put all such debate to rest.

Actually, I know I will.

thanks one and all for listening,
chris checkman, kxlu radio
(blueshotel@yahoo.com)

eek