New York Rock Radio Is in a Hard Place (SoundRaves Week of 7/18/2011)

If you haven't heard the radio recently, then surely you've at least heard the news about it:    New York's lone commercial broadcast outlet for new rock, WRXP, 101.9, is no more.     The station's long time owner, Emmis Communications, after putting it on the market for a while, finally sold the station.    This past weekend they were stunting some softer, more commercial rock without DJ's, but the ultimate format will be News/Talk, which seemed to work so well (NOT!) on WNEW, which of course, once was a legendary rock station in its own right.

Despite The Beatles playing Carnegie Hall, The Ed Sullivan Show and Shea Stadium (and for that matter, Paul McCartney's recent concerts at Citi Field, and just last weekend, Yankee Stadium); despite the birth of punk rock and new wave at CBGB's; and all the way to the current alt-rock scene in Brooklyn, with bands like The Drums, TV On the Radio, Sleigh Bells and others; and Madison Square Garden a viable venue for concerts, New York is still not considered a "rock town" when it comes to playing it on the radio.   And apparently it never really was.

And if classic and mainstream rock is a relative rarity here, then lotsa luck finding one that plays current alternative rock.   

I know us Alt-rock lovers aren't alone, it's been ages since the Big Apple had a Country music station as well, but sometimes I get the impression that these commercial stations insult our intelligence when it comes to music.  

I have to admit I rarely listened to RXP, maybe a glance here and there, but only because I gave up any hope for a cutting edge station on the right side of the dial.   There is, of course WFUV, which does play a lot of new and obscure rock (in fact, looking at there website, one of the jocks talks with the Sam Roberts band  (whose "The Last Crusade" has been a SoundRaves fixure for the last nine weeks, and is #60 this week), but if other areas can have a commercial alternative or "Triple A" station, why can't New York?

Back in the day, WNEW-FM was the rock station of choice.   In the early 70's during my high school days, it wasn't considered "cool" to listen to Top 40...Progressive album rock on the FM dial was where it's at.    And when I went to college at Montclair State, which had their own radio station, half the time, the music being pumped in was WNEW!!!  I probably would have never thought about the classic prog-rock album Remember the Future by Nektar, for example if that didn't happen.

But, like most AOR ("Album-oriented Rock") stations, the format became regimented and was a victim of its own success....less and less new music and more and more classic rock began invading these types of stations, until things got pretty stagnant.

The first real cutting-edge format to emerge as a challenge, coincidentally was on the same frequency as RXP at 101.9, WPIX, which changed formats as often as people changed underwear.    But between late 1978 and early 1980, they had a new wave format, the first real new rock style in about a decade.    However, ratings weren't that great (giving proof to New York's conspiracy against rock), and the format was jettisoned.

By the mid 1980's all of the rock stations were relying heavily on the music 15 to 20 years before hand, fr example, playing The Doors like it was a current band, but there was a modern rock movement underway with bands like Depeche Mode, The Cure, Camper Van Beethoven, Siouxie & the Banshees, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Smiths and others.    Some stations, like the Top 40 (but rock-leaning) WPST, out of Trenton NJ would have something called "The Modern Rock Dance Party" on Friday nights (and in the 90's, the station would feature just about all alternative up until around 1996 and have a similar show called "Post-Modern PST").    There actually WAS a great alternative station out in Long Island at 92.7, WDRE (which was rock powerhouse WLIR).  The only problem with that, was during my commute home from Roseland to Budd Lake, it would fade out somewhere between Parsippany and Denville.   A big tease if you ask me!


But for me, it wouldn't be until the summer of 1990 when I realized what a great Alt-rock station could be.    As I had done the year before, I joined a beach house in Belmar NJ.   The station of choice was WHTG-FM, "FM 106.3" ("Real Rock Radio"...later "Modern Rock at the Jersey Shore"), and heard...24/7...bands like The Stone Roses, Something Happens, The Origin, Dramarama, Happy Mondays, The Charlatans UK and other stuff I never heard anywhere else, mixed in with some classics like The Undertones, The Stranglers, Devo, and countless others.  New stuff by INXS ("Suicide Blonde") and Jane's Addiction ("Stop") for example provided the soundtrack to that great summer (for me anyway!).   For the next several summers in Belmar, I kept my car radio and boom box tuned to WHTG-FM.

The problem was what do to when the summer was over.    That especially became a big problem   I subscribed to Billboard, so I knew what the big Modern Rock hits were.   Do I buy a full CD without knowing what kind of music was on it?   That was the big dilemma; I just had to bite the bullet and listen to regular mainstream rock on WDHA or the occasional alt-rock hits on WPST.

In the winter of 1992-93, part of that problem was solved when I joined "The Skihaus" up at Mount Snow Vermont.    For many, the station of choice was WEQX, based in nearby Manchester, and again I was in music heaven.    Of course, just the year before saw grunge explode with the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarten and several others.    Alternative rock started getting the press, along with the listeners.    Other breakout artists ranged from Stone Temple Pilots to Live; Matthew Sweet to Gin Blossoms.  Black 47 was featured on 'EQX to the point that haus-mate Brian Sniatkowski played their "Funky Ceili" over and over in the house around 20 times.  

But in New York City and Northern New Jersey?   Still no alternative rock.   WPST started dayparting it in the evenings, and by 1994, even Z-100 started leaning in that direction (unfortunately kiling WDRE in the process).  

Then the biggest break occurred.    New York, in early 1996, finally got an alternative rocker in WXRK, 92.3 "K-Rock" (which had been a classic rocker for about ten years).   Upstate in Orange County, there was WRRV which became modern as well.   Unfortunately for the former, it became a big fraud, in my opinion.    First of all, they had Howard Stern in the morning, who didn't play music.    Then, somehow, Metallica made its way into the rotation, followed by Korn, Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit and other "Nu-metal bands" which basically hi-jacked the format.   Guns n Roses?  You gotta be kidding!    K-Rock was mainstream rock in alternative clothing, and the jocks were horrible as well.    'RRV was much better (morning man "Boris" was cool to listen to), although a notch below EQX and HTG.   Alternative became loud, booming noise.   By the end of 1996, the mainstream deserted the format...Z-100 went back to top 40 (and DRE....back to becoming LIR, was never the same).   Even WPST in Trenton...always rock leaning even during the "adult boom" of the early 1980's, and head first into alterative leaning music in the early 90's, went all top 40 with The Spice Girls, hip-hop and the boy bands.   I did eventually discover a great Triple-A station in WDST (100.1 out of Woodstock), but again, I could only listen to it during a portion of my ride to Vermont.

Rock...all kinds...started withering away in the mainstream during the 2000's.  I ignored K-Rock (it eventually disappeared a few years later), and eventually RRV.   In fact, except for the summer and winter, I had to rely on web streaming (thank you, Internet!) to get my new music.   WHTG-FM 106.3 (now called G-106.3 or G-Rock radio, but still a great station despite a change in presentation in 2001), finally folded in 2009.   Many of my friends do listen to FUV (and some classic 'NEW jocks like Dennis Elsas are there), but I can't get it that clearly except for streaming.  So, by the time RXP did get on the air, for me it was a matter of 'how long will THAT last'.   But I really started getting into to recently....it was a thrill to actually hear The Black Keys on a New York radio station.   So, even though it's gone, it's still sad.     Neil Young, perhaps said it best:  "Rock n Roll will never die". 

You just gotta find a place to listen to it....


SOUNDRAVES 100:  As I mentioned earlier, Country had also been short-changed in New York City (no station since the mid-90's, and I don't there's any suburban FM outlets in North Jersey, either.   Still, there's quite a few on my chart this week, and that includes the formidable Rachel Allyn, who holds off some tough competition to log her second week at #1.   She breaks a record of sort, that being most cumulative weeks at #1, with six.  "Stand Still" hit the top for a single week, while her most recent "Gettin' By" stayed at the top for 3.   She thus breaks a tie with Adele (5 weeks on 3 #1's), and Avi Buffalo, who did it with just one song "What's In It For?"--more on that song later.     Ms. Allyn's status on Tuesday was that she was at 30 Rock for a taping of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.  Unfortunately it's just to see country legend Emmylou Harris and not to perform herself.     Oh well.....

Katy Perry stays at #2, while Fitz & the Tantrums move up a notch to #3.   They are filming a video for their new single "Don't Gotta Work It Out", and I will finally add it when that is released, as there's just too much good stuff out there.     Plan B jumps to #4, while Florence + the Machine hold tough at #5.   Next week is anyone's guess who will be at the top; any of these five could grab the brass ring.

Two additions to the Top 20 this week.   Adele yet again with "Set Fire to the Rain", become the first artist to land 4 songs in that elite circle.    So, what else is new?    But the Top 20 Impact goes to Best Coast, the LA indie, garage rockers, who also have a surf-pop sound.   They are touring mostly out west, including some dates with Lykke Li, and will also be at Lollapalooza in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of Lollapalooza, the headliner for the 1992 festival is back with a new single and upcoming album.   Red Hot Chili Peppers have the top debut at #63 with "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie".  It's from their forthcoming 10th album (and first in five years), titled I'm With You.  Guitarist John Frusciante has left the band; his replacement is Josh Klinghoffer.  They will tour, but starting out in Latin America the last half of this year, but will be in the US (as well as the UK and Australia) in 2012.

Finally, Fitz & the Tantrums "Money Grabber" drops slightly to #83, but logs its 33rd week on the list, breaking the record of 32 weeks by "What's It In For?" by Avi Buffalo.    Of course, with "Rolling in the Deep" STILL in the top 20 (31st week there, 32nd overall), Adele will shatter that in record fashion.

The SoundRaves 100 for the Week of July 18, 2011:

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	RACHEL ALLYN "Say Hello To Goodbye" (Single Only)	8
2	2	Katy Perry - Last Friday Night	6
3	4	Fitz and the Tantrums - Dear Mr. President	6
4	10	Plan B- Love Goes Down	4
5	5	Florence + the Machine - You Got the Love	10
6	3	Train - Save Me San Francisco	11
7	9	Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean	10
8	12	Avi Buffalo - How Come	4
9	7	My Morning Jacket - Holdin' On to Black Metal	9
10	6	Lykke Li - Get Some	10
11	8	Adele - Rumour Has It	13
12	13	The Strokes - Taken For A Fool	10
13	11	Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi-Two Against One	15
14	14	Adele - Rolling In the Deep	32
15	15	Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory	6
16	17	Foo Fighters - Walk	6
17	18	The Black Keys - Everlasting Light	6
18	26	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK   BEST COAST "Something In the Way" Album: Something in the Way (EP)	5
19	34	Adele - Set Fire To the Rain	3
20	16	Kate Voegele - Heart In Chains	10

21	24	Portugal the Man - Got It All	6
22	23	The Raveonettes - Apparitions	8
23	27	Neon Trees - Your Surrender	13
24	19	Fleet Foxes - Battery Kinzie	10
25	22	Ray Lamontagne & the Pariah Dogs - Repo Man	9
26	31	Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall	7
27	20	Cage the Elephant - Around My Head	12
28	21	Death Cab for Cutie - You are A Tourist	15
29	25	The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)	14
30	30	Drive-By Truckers - Everybody Needs Love	12
31	29	Adele - Someone Like You	13
32	36	Paramore - Monster	7
33	28	Cold War Kids - Skip the Charades	10
34	37	Shontelle - Say Hello to Goodbye	8
35	33	Lady Gaga - Judas	11
36	43	Gomez - Options	8
37	49	We Are Augustines - Chapel Song	5
38	44	The Lonely Forest - We Sing In Time	5
39	72	MOVER OF THE WEEK:   BRILLIANT COLORS "How Much Younger" Album: Again and Again	2
40	40	Christina Perri - Arms	9
41	39	Peter Bjorn & John - Dig A Little Deeper	10
42	46	Arcade Fire - Month of May	10
43	38	Rachel Allyn - Gettin' By	27
44	60	Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights, Bigger City	3
45	62	Wild Flag - Romance	4
46	50	Zac Brown Band f Jimmy Buffet - Knee Deep	11
47	63	Generationals - Ten Twenty Ten	3
48	64	Foster the People - Helena Beat	2
49	41	The Kills - Future Starts Slow	8
50	35	Dom - Living In America	15
51	51	Kenny Chesney f. Grace Potter - You & Tequila	7
52	59	KT Tunstall - Glamour Puss	4
53	32	Foster the People - Houdini	12
54	53	Scotty McCreery - I Love You This Big	8
55	42	The Vaccines - Post Break-up Sex	19
56	61	Sleeper Agent - Get It Daddy	4
57	52	Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks	26
58	55	Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down "Cause I Moved Your Chair	8
59	56	Brett Dennon - Comeback Kid	6
60	45	Sam Roberts Band - The Last Crusade	9
61	82	Beastie Boys - Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win	2
62	84	The Kooks - Junk of the Heart	2
63	----	TOP DEBUT:   RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" Album: I'm With You	1
64	47	Florence + the Machine - Dog Days are Over	20
65	58	Rise Against - Make It Stop	6
66	71	Young the Giant - Cough Syrup	3
67	70	Linkin Park - Iridescent	5
68	75	Yacht - Dystopia	4
69	88	Lenny Kravitz - Stand	2
70	48	Ke$ha - Blow	9
71	66	Kings of Leon - Back Down South	6
72	73	The Naked and Famous - Punching In A Dream	5
73	67	Givers - Up Up Up	6
74	80	The Head and the Heart - Lost In My Mind	4
75	69	Sublime with Rome - Panic	8
76	85	Michelle Branch - Loud Music	2
77	68	Scars on 45 - Give Me Something	22
78	57	Ben Harper - Rock n' Roll is Free	15
79	54	Flogging Molly - Revolution	7
80	65	Noah & the Whale - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.	9
81	87	Bon Iver - Calgary	3
82	----	Maroon 5 f. Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger	1
83	79	Fitz and the Tantrums - Money Grabber	33
84	83	10 Years - Fix Me	7
85	86	Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight	5
86	94	Goo Goo Dolls - All That You Are	2
87	96	Colbie Calliat - Brighter Than the Sun	2
88	78	311 - Sunset in July	7
89	92	The Band Perry - If I Die Young	3
90	----	Los Lonely Boys - 16 Monkeys	1
91	93	Mat Kearney - Hey Mama	3
92	----	PJ Harvey - Let England Shake	1
93	76	Chk Chik Chick - Wannagain Wannagain	17
94	95	The Belle Brigade - Losers	5
95	----	A Day to Remember - All Signs Point to Lauderdale
96	----	Incubus - Promises, Promises	1
97	77	The Raveonettes - Recharge and Revolt	16
98	89	Brother - Darling Buds of May	14
99	90	Austra - Beat and the Pulse	10
100	74	Middle Brother - Me Me Me	12