97X - Rumblings from the Big Bush

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Dan McCabe: Cincinnati's premier promoter of indie music Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

From 1991-1999, Dan McCabe booked local and national bands (and tended bar, and cleaned the washing machines) at the late, great Sudsy Malone's on Short Vine, fronting his own money to book the national acts. Decades later, he's still promoting great live music, as co-owner of MOTR Pub and The Woodward Theater in Over-the-Rhine. Dan shares some amazing memories from his Sudsy's days (Morphine, Jesus Lizard, Mercury Rev... and Reverend blood on the sidewalk), and talks about why indie venues are crucial to up-and-coming bands.

MOTR and The Woodward, like many indie venues across the country, have been shuttered by COVID-19 and need our help. All of us can #SaveOurStages by taking action (writing congresspeople, donating to an indie venue emergency relief fund, etc.) at NIVAssoc.org.

(This episode also features special guest appearances from Rictile and Howard Cohen.)

Tina Christina: a Radio Lifer Oct 17, 2020

Show notes

Tina Christina was on the air at 97X for more than a decade (1991-2003), doing weekend shifts, then overnights, and eventually middays with her distinctive New York accent. She's still in the radio biz... although she goes by a different name these days. We talk to Tina about her 97X memories, which include barking dogs, sleeping on the air, Bogart's stage fright, and a decoration from Cake.

More Phun with Phil Manning Oct 04, 2020

Show notes

Dave and Damian continue their chat with Phil Manning, who joined 97X in the summer of 1988 and was with the station until December of 1994, spending most of those years in the program director role. This episode features stories about Bob Mould, Richard Thompson, comedian Chip Chinery, angry Goo Goo Dolls, Folgers coffee, fax machines, Hawaiian honeymoons, and other things that made the station so special.

Phil Manning: Manning the airwaves Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

Phil Manning started at the very bottom of the totem pole at 97X shortly after he graduated from college in 1988. He began with a single weekend overnight shift but gradually worked his way up to program director, and had that role at 97X for nearly five years during the halcyon days of the early to mid 90s. Phil talks about how he got the gig, his interesting side jobs, his roommates, his "whopping" salary and how he became a "radio vagabond" in several major markets after departing 97X in 1994, including spending 10+ years at The End in Seattle and a stint at 91X in San Diego.

The fun stuff between the songs Sep 12, 2020

Show notes

There's no denying that the music is what attracted a small-but-mighty tribe of forward-thinking listeners to 97X. But the commercials, promos, contests, station ID liners and DJ breaks helped contribute to the freewheeling, fun-loving, anti-corporate nature of the station. In this episode, Dave and Damian play several bits and breaks from back in the day.

Luann Gibbs: Miss Kitty Forever! Aug 29, 2020

Show notes

Luann Gibbs started listening to 97.7 FM in Oxford in the pre-97X/Dr. Demento days of the late 70s. When 97X debuted in 1983, she became an avid listener. When the 97X message boards started, she was quite active on them (as "Miss Kitty"). Eventually, her college friend Mike Taylor recruited her to do on-air shifts at 97X/woxy.com. Luann's been with the Cincinnati Enquirer for 15 years (she's the queen of "Things to Do"), and also does shifts at Inhailer Radio. We chat with her about college radio, internet radio, her message board "family" and her ongoing promotion of new music.

Matt Soden: Your Little Green Amigo Aug 16, 2020

Show notes

Matt Soden moved to Oxford on Memorial Day weekend in 1990 and immediately got hooked by 97X's annual Modern Rock 500. He parlayed his college radio experience into a DJ gig at the station for a year and a half, first doing weekend shifts, then overnights, and eventually evenings. We chat with Matt about crazy callers, drunken door knockers, his Kermit the Frog inpersonation, and his massive salary... but we still can't figure out how he snuck past Department of Defense screeners.

David Groff: a 97X Lifer Aug 01, 2020

Show notes

Geography, fate -- and a cool dad -- turned David on to 97X in his preteen years. He never stopped listening, through high school (he and his dad went to a PiL show at Bogart's together!), his college years at Miami University and afterward when he moved back to Cincinnati. We chat with David about how he got hooked, and his 97X memories of college concerts, Oxford bars, local bands and dorm room hijinks.

Michael Winstead: Modern Rock Stead(y) Jul 19, 2020

Show notes

Mike "Stead" Winstead grew up in Oxford and dreamed of working at 97X. When he got out of the Army in 1994, he "bugged" (his word) the station until he finally landed a job as Director of First Impressions ("Mike the Modern Rock Receptionist"). He also did weekend and fill-in shifts, and helped out at nearly every on-location promotional event that 97X did during his time there. We chat with Stead about singing the Miami U. alma mater (without knowing the words), pizza payola, his first time on the air, and the sweaty mass of humanity at Lollapalooza.

Bill Douglas: Hot tunes and Cold Beer Jul 06, 2020

Show notes

Bill Douglas (a.k.a. "Billy D the Fresh MC") spent most of the 90s working at 97X, starting out as a weekender back in 1990 when he was still in school at Miami University, and continuing on (in two stints) through December of 1998. We chat with Bill about the Free Music Break that gave him his 97X break, as well as his current radio gig(s) and his longtime side hustle with the Cincinnati Reds (trust us, you've heard him).

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