Cincinnati: the future of rock (and riots)
An Yngwie Malmsteen guitar lick rips through my computer’s speakers. Then the voice-over: “It’s a Guitar Center (fading into the background– “CENTER…Center…center”) clearance blowout!” The obnoxious commerical continues to screech about effects pedals, Yamahas, and other hot rock items. Mercifully, the commercial is short and the DJ is back on the air. He sounds like a DJ at any mainstream radio station, talking about station-sponsored contests and giveaways. “Alright folks, we’ve got the latest…” he says… “from The Shins.” Wait, what? This is not a college station. Not public radio. It’s Cincinnati’s 97X. Here are some samples from their heavy rotation list: Beulah, My Morning Jacket, Joe Strummer, Belle and Sebastian, The Wrens, +/-, and Death Cab for Cutie. I stumbled upon their internet stream while sampling some of iTunes (is this the most perfect piece of software ever created?) radio stations. Basically, once in iTunes, go to radio stations>alt/modern rock> and then almost at the bottom of the list is WOXY. Check it out. The last song they played was by a group called “Basement Jaxx” and featured Siouxsie Sioux. I think it was called “Cish Cash.” Have you heard this? SICK.