the (almost) daily blog

Fifteen years ago 99X became the first commercial "Alternative" station in the Atlanta market. It was announced yesterday that the station's key personnel has been let go, and that a it's signal will be taken over by a pop station. While I haven't listened to 99X in years, it is sad to see it go the way of 96Rock, which took on a modified format a few years ago.

So here are a few of my memories of the station:

• During the blizzard of 1993, not long after the station changed formats, I was sitting in the living room of my parents house with a small battery operated clock radio while in the midst of a week with no electricity. During my channel surfing, I hit upon a song that halted my surfing. I listened, waiting to find out who it was. After the song was over, the deejay called out the 99X tag line and announced the previous song was by Gene Loves Jezebel. From that point, my radio rarely left 99.7.

• The day that Kurt Cobain killed himself, I remember flipping back and forth as all the rock stations basically stopped programming to cover the details and play Nirvana songs. At the same time, talk radio host "The Kimmer" was trashing the death and got into verbal sparing with the various stations around town.
  
  
• The last broadcast of Will Pendarvis before he left for a station in DC. Among the songs he played were the back-to-back playing of RatCat's, "Getting Away (from this world)" and Planet P Project's, "Top of the World". While I'm sure few other people have heard of either of these bands, I promise you there is little more haunting that this to songs, played in the above order, back-to-back. Here's a hint, if you like "Major Tom" you'll get these songs.
  
  
• Listening to Darious Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish take over as deejay when the band was first becoming popular and thinking how cool it was he played both The Replacements AND The (English) Beat - on the radio.
  
  
• Driving back from college my first two years and being thankful to pick up the channel's signal, and knowing that it meant I'd be home in an hour or so.
  
  
• Being thrilled the once or twice each winter when I could pick up 99x in Auburn. And blasting White Town's "Your Woman" riding at night via 99X.
  
  
• Remembering the first time I heard Cake, Pavement, Flaming Lips and the Sea and Cake.
  
  
• Being a senior in high school, in advanced lab, and listening to "Steve's College of Musical Knowledge" followed by the "House of Retro Pleasure".
  
  
• Driving back to college while listening to "Resurrection Sunday" and being so happy to hear The Smiths, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Murphy, and other great '80's bands without having to play their tapes or CDs.
  
  
• Spending the summer after high school counting the number of times The Police were played during the day while noticing how different the format was from mid-day to drive to night.
  
  
• Moving back to Atlanta and hearing Dido on the radio a year before Dido was back on the radio everywhere.
  
  
• Hearing the US premier of "Acid Rain" by the Aussie band Silverchair. That song was off an EP a year or so before they hit big.
  
  
• And listening the first time they switched from Power 99 to 99X in the fall of 1992, and how that completely changed the music that people liked in high school. People went from MC Hammer to Nirvana and Pearl Jam almost overnight.

I'm sure there are more, as I typed this, I remembered the first time I heard "Yellow" by Coldplay and how "You Outta Know" was played three times back-to-back-to-back the first time the Alanis Morrisette single was played on the airwaves (and all the calls that came it wanting to hear it again and again). And I remember hearing Travis for the first time.

For everything I have described above - and more I haven't thought of yet - I know where I was each time. Music played a big role in my life, and it still does. And as I've spent 15 minutes thinking about how big of a role 99X played in my life, I've found I've got more memories of that station than I do of things that most people would deem more important.

You came in like a lion and brought with you the only exposure a kid without cable in the semi-rural South had at the time. Before the Internet, there was 99X. Before XM, there was 99X. Before the Tiger, there was 99X. And even if you were no longer relevant to me and stayed around five more years that you should have, thanks for the memories 99X.

Labels: 99X, atlanta, dido, editorial, mc hammer, nirvana, pearl jam, power 99, silverchair, the police, will pendarvis

From our friends at Park Grounds:

NOPHEST is three days of delicious local entertainment. 50 bands, artists, and performers will take over ParkGrounds December 7th, 8th and 9th. Dailies has arranged three feature films including Blood Car (Saturday night) and multiple short films - all local, all amazing. Liana and The Worlds Tiniest Queer Circus will do a Silks performance from our amazing oak tree. Barry and the Superhoopers will perform their fire show. The Atlanta Roller girls are in charge of causing "trouble". No Brakes is hosting a $5 in, winner takes all fixie race around the lot (Saturday) and a skid competition (Sunday). All musicians, dj's, etc. are local Atlanta celebrities. Come out and enjoy them.

__


THE "FINAL" SCHEDULE!

FRIDAY DEC 7 - INSIDE STAGE
7:15-7:45p United Pirates Club
8:00-8:30p The Green Hit
8:45-9:15p Envie
9:30-10:00p Cinetrope
10:15-10:45p Wednesday If Not Before
11:00-11:30p Feeding Fingers
11:45-12:15a Contraverse

FRIDAY DEC 7 - OUTSIDE STAGE
6:00-9:00p Dailies - Film Showcase
9:00-11:00p Dr Xnlb (DJ)

SATURDAY DEC 8 - INSIDE STAGE
12:00-2:00p DJ Ryan Dempsey
2:00-2:30p The Focus
2:45-3:15p Witt Wisebram
3:30-4:00p Austre Giltrap
4:15-4:45p The Extraordinary Contraptions
5:15-5:45p Ship to Shore
6:00-6:30p Hitchcocks
6:45-7:15p Dig Your Hole
7:30-8:00p Ether Family Presents
8:15-8:45p Recompas
9:00-9:30p Nerd Parade
9:45-10:15p Swank Sinatra
10:15-10:45p Random Rabbit
11:00p-12:00a DJ Choyce Hacks

SATURDAY DEC 8 - OUTSIDE STAGE
11:00a-4:00p Craft Market/ Liana, Wolds Tiniest Queer Circus
4:00-6:00p Dr Xnlb (live)
6:00-6:30p Citizen Green
6:45-7:15p Christopher Morris & Dharmatronix
7:30-8:00p Blocksender
8:00-11:00p Dailies - Film Showcase

SUNDAY DEC 9 - INSIDE STAGE
12:30-1:00p No River City
1:15-1:45p The Juice
2:00-2:30p Subliminator
2:45-3:15p Push Button Action Man
3:30-4:00p PoodleFace
4:15-4:45p Hardly Darlings
5:15-5:45p A Fight to the Death
6:00-6:30p Single Channel System
6:45-7:15p Blanca Noche
7:30-8:00p GoldenFro
8:15-8:45p Harmaline
9:00-9:30p LSD
9:45-10:15p R. Garcia
10:30-11:00p Tricil

SUNDAY DEC 9 - OUTSIDE STAGE
11:00a-4:00p Craft Showcase
11:00a-2:00p DJ 12th Step
2:15p-2:45 Frank (NC)
3:00-3:45p Wighat
4:00-6:00p Dj Minkey Boodle
6:00-10:00p Dailies - Film Showcase

PURCHASE TICKETS

You may now pre-purchase tickets with Paypal! The sooner you purchase, the better -- as this festival WILL sell out. We are offering a discount of $5 if you purchase a three-day pass. All transactions are secure and guaranteed for pre-sale tickets. Tickets may be available in limited supply the day of the show, but may be subject to additional charges.

NOPHEST - 3 DAY PASS - $25
Includes entrance for Friday, Saturday and Sunday Dec 7-9. Your tickets will be held and issued at the door upon your arrival. Please be sure to include your correct name in the transaction notes if your Paypal account doesn't reflect it: Tickets include re-entry and are Non-Refundable.

NOPHEST - SINGLE DAY PASS - $10
Good for any single festival day. If you wish to attend only two days, you must purchase TWO tickets separately. Your tickets will be held and issued at the door upon your arrival. Please be sure to include your correct name in the transaction notes if your Paypal account doesn't reflect it: Tickets include re-entry and are Non-Refundable.

PURCHASE TICKETS AT www.NOPHEST.com

Labels: atlanta, NOPHEST, ParkGrounds

What the crowd lacked in size (150+ish?), it made up for in passion for The Rentals - and Matt Sharp and company didn't disappoint by giving as max show. The band was energetic, fun and smooth as you'd hope an experienced band would be. It was truly one the of best shows I've seen, with Sharp being every bit the frontman one would expect.

The band's line-up (which included Shon Sullivan of Goldenboy filling in on guitar) was teaming with chemistry on stage. Matt Sharp, Rachel Haden, Sara Radle, Ben Pringle, Dan Joeright and Lauren Chipman exuded both enthusiasm and musicianship.

The band played through the three new tracks on their new EP, while playing a number of songs from their first two LPs. But, as one would expect, the best response was for songs from the 1995 debut, Return of The Rentals.

The band stayed true to the original versions of "Please Let That Be You", "Friends of P.", "These Days" and "Waiting" (which was the final song of their encore) but performed a slightly revised version of "Move On" as well as the version of "Sweetness And Tenderness" that is on their current EP.

At the end of the show (which ended as it began with the playing of a Nat King Cole song), it was announced that another Rentals album is in process and another tour is being planned for '08. Fantastic. More Moog, more trombone, more female harmony, more Matt Sharp and more Rentals.

Labels: atlanta, Ben Pringle, concert review, Dan Joeright, deadjournalist.com, Goldenboy, Lauren Chipman, Matt Sharp, Rachel Haden, Sara Radle, Shon Sullivan, the rentals

We here at DeadJournalist.com are huge fans of Midlake (whose song "Roscoe" is #1 in our most played iTunes folder). The band will be making it's way to Atlanta next Tuesday at the Earl. Go show support to a band who deserves your support.

The band will also be releasing a digital-only EP on Sept. 4 with an accoustic version of "Roscoe" and three other songs. The EP, "Oak and Julian will be available at iTunes.

Track Listing:
1. Roscoe (Acoustic Version)
2. It Covers The Hillside (Acoustic Version)
3. Marion
4. Mornings Will Be Kind


Midlake Tour Schedule:
Tue - Sep 04 @ The Earl, Atlanta, GA

Wed - Sep 05 @ CatÕs Cradle, Carrboro, NC

Thu - Sep 06 @ Black Cat, Washington, DC

Fri - Sep 07 @ Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Sat - Sep 08 @ Webster Hall, New York, NY

Sun - Sep 09 @ Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

Tue - Sep 11 @ Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH

Wed - Sep 12 @ Metro, Chicago, IL

Sun - Sep 16 @ Austin City Limits, Austin, TX

Thu - Sep 20 @ Numbers, Houston, TX

Mon - Sep 24 @ Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ

Tue - Sep 25 @ Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

Wed - Sep 26 @ Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach / San Diego, CA

Thu - Sep 27 @ Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA

Sat - Sep 29 @ Doug Fir, Portland, OR

Sun - Sep 30 @ Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Tue - Oct 02 @ Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO

Wed - Oct 03 @ Jackpot, Lawrence, KS

Labels: atlanta, deadjournalist.com, midlake, worlds fair

Please let that be you

Saturday night, Sept. 1, 2007. Atlanta. The Rentals. A driving force for 12 years. Bables unite!

Labels: atlanta, deadjournalist.com, the rentals

If you live or work in Atlanta (or if you are in the area) check out Park Grounds - a great little coffee shop/dog park in the Reynoldstown area.

Along with coffee, they offer a nice array of homemade baked goods, cereals and teas and an outdoor area to bring your pup for a little outside action.

Sound like a plug? Yeah, it is. But, despite the fact the shop's owner is a friend, I can say that two of the best cups of coffee I've had in Atlanta were from Park Grounds.

Just do yourself a favor and check it out yourself.

Web site: Park Grounds

Labels: atlanta, coffee shop, dog park, park grounds, reynoldstown

MTV filmed a piece a few weeks ago about the Atlanta music scene at Lenny's. If you have six minutes, it worth watching. Feature bands are Deerhunter, Snowden, The Black Lips and more.

And keep your eye open for Seany and Choice in the crowd - you'll see them twice - and you won't miss them.

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1558520&vid=147478

Labels: atlanta, deerhunter, mtv, snowden, the black lips

finally, rain to wash away some of the pollen. three of the past four days, the pollen count has been 5,300 or higher. and 100 is considered extreme.

that's exciting, right?

so, what about music ...

Labels: atlanta, pollen