Not all radio stations play the same 17 songs over and over. Let’s give props to a couple that buck the trend.
- 94.9 FM The River just tweaked its playlist — adding at least one act that might raise a few eyebrows — and jettisoned its “World Class Rock” slogan in favor of “Music First.”
It’s an evolution, not an overhaul. The station’s format — known as triple-A or adult album alternative — remains the same.
“The River changed from ‘World Class Rock’ to ‘Music First’ to highlight the breadth of our music library and importance of what we’re all about — the music,” explained promotions manager Josh Schlaich. “It’s more than just about ‘rock,’ it’s about quality tunes — spanning more than just one genre.”
In addition to mainstays such as Coldplay, U2 and Mumford & Sons, you’ll now hear Neon Trees, Maroon 5 and ... Evanescence.
Huh? Goth metal? On The River?
Cocking my head slightly, I think I get it. (Come on, Evanescence is on your iPod’s Guilty Pleasures playlist. Admit it.)
It’s fun to imagine a long-time River listener curled in the fetal position while the nu-metal crunch of Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life” blasts on their favorite station: “WAKE ME UP! I CAN’T WAKE UP! SAAAVE MEEEE!!!”
- No commercial station in town touches the playlist diversity of 89.9 FM Radio Boise. (The DJ quality? OK, that can be a bit erratic.) Starting Oct. 22, more Treasure Valley residents can sample the programming for themselves.
That’s when the community radio station will widen its audience by adding another frequency: 93.5 FM. The second option will improve reception in Downtown Boise and fringe areas.
In other words, if Radio Boise is staticky at 89.9, try 93.5. It’s that simple.
New to community radio? Here’s a suggestion: If you happen to hear my rock talk show, “The Other Studio,” from 9 to 10 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 The River (there’s my full disclosure), consider a late-night flip to Radio Boise.
One of that station’s highlights, “Krush Groove 208,” spins indie hip-hop and breakbeats from 10 p.m. to midnight. Good tunes.
BACON RESTAURANT SIZZLES ON TV
If you haven’t seen it on the Travel Channel yet, hit my blog to watch a new episode of “Food Paradise” featuring Boise restaurateur John Berryhill and his pork-worshipping eatery, Bacon, 915 W. Idaho St. It premiered Oct. 3.
This isn’t the first time a cable show has visited us. Nor will it be the last.
Area restaurants should be thankful.
After the History Channel profiled Bardenay and its distillery on “Modern Marvels” in 2006, the impact lasted for years, owner Kevin Settles said.
For one thing, the channel kept airing the show in reruns.
Bacon stands to benefit, too, because if its focused, attention-grabbing culinary approach.
If I’m an out-of-towner visiting Boise who has seen “Food Paradise,” I’m probably going to remember it and seek out Bacon.
Interested in which Treasure Valley restaurants have been featured on TV shows? There’s a list at www.tvfoodmaps.com.
You’ll be shocked by how long it is.
EDM SATURATES BOISE
Electronic dance music has become a huge, glitter-covered slice of the live-music pie in Boise.
The Knitting Factory in Boise featured EDM acts both nights this weekend: Wolfgang Gartner on Oct. 19 and Big Gigantic on Oct. 20.
Garden City’s Revolution Center had about 1,000 bodies through the door for Steve Aoki on Oct. 17. (Snapshots on my blog.)
The coming week, the biggest EDM production ever to play the Valley will hit: Bassnectar, Oct. 25, Revolution Center.
You’d think that a DJ would travel light, right?
Bassnectar may as well be AC/DC.
“Three semi-trucks, two tour buses, about 25 crew members,” the 34-year-old told me in an interview that ran Oct. 19 in Scene magazine. “We set up full multimedia art installations and LED and video and a state-of-the-art sound system that is laser-spec-ed to every single seat in the room to have the exact same amount of weight and bass and volume as it would in the front of the room. A lot of work and heart goes into this.”
Remember, Bassnectar plays major festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo. As a headliner, he sold out Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado earlier this year.
Tickets to the RevCenter show are $35 at Ticketfly. I’m also giving away two free pairs Oct. 22. Details are on my blog.
TONIGHT IN ‘THE OTHER STUDIO’
I’ll chat with Bassnectar, discuss milestone celebrity birthdays with co-host Tim Johnstone, plus play new songs from Bat for Lashes, Ellie Goulding, The Killers, The Whigs and more.
“The Other Studio” airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM The River.
IN SCENE MAGAZINE OCT. 26
- A preview of Opera Idaho’s new season.
- Restaurant review: Cafe Vicino
Michael Deeds’ column runs Fridays in Scene and Sundays in Life. Email: mdeeds@ idahostatesman.com. Twitter: @IDS_Deeds
