Category: Long Distance Dedication

Long Distance Dedication: DJ Susan

WXNA FM

Check out our long distance dedication to DJ Susan of DJ Susan of Inconsiderate Mixtape (5-7 pm on Wednesdays), by Eric (DJ Big Chief Chaz, Gilded Splinters, Tuesdays from 8-10 p):

If you check wxnafm.org for DJ Susan’s show description of his two-hour “Inconsiderate Mixtape,” you’ll see he name checks Aretha, Haggard, Coltrane, and Zappa. (His on-air show card also includes Howlin’ Wolf, I think…) But if you’ve tuned in and not heard any of those artists, there’s actually a really good reason why: DJ Susan spins what is likely the most wide-ranging palette of freeform programming of anyone at WXNA — which is saying a lot.

Somewhere back in the early days I heard him announce, “Well, that makes it 2,000 artists I’ve played on this show without ever repeating one…” What?!? Was that even possible…?? Of course it was, and is — for the simple reason that DJ Susan’s playlists are all-inclusive, all-genre, all-era… and all-world great. He’ll declare that he picked up some obscure, lost-to-history release simply because he thought the cover was cool, then flow it into the mix and make it feel like it was part of our collective consciousness this whole time. Did he make actual mixtapes that were this cool for his friends back in school? Who cares…. Right now, he’s making another great one for all of us, and you need only tune in next Thursday at 9 a.m. (or check the archive!) for your own copy.

Long Distance Dedication: Michael Roark

WXNA FM

Lond Distance Dedication: Michael RoarkCheck out our long distance dedication to DJ Michael Roark (Hazy Ways, Tuesdays noon-3) by DJ Leanne of X-Posure (Wed, 2-4 p.m.)

I met Michael Roark at our very first DJ Mixer before WXNA went on the air in the Spring of 2016. I remember our first conversation was focused on our excitement of having a new freeform radio station in town and all of the music that we wanted to play. That very same excitement about making radio is still alive and well. Michael is a multi-talented DJ. He makes great radio that fits every mood and makes it seem effortless. I love his creativity, appreciate his candor, and his great taste in music.

Each week he takes his foggy notions and musings, and then knits them all together with an excellent blend of eclectic tunes to create the colorful and expansive soundtrack of Hazy Ways (Tues, noon-3 p.m.). He keeps it modern with interesting new sounds on The Friday Afternoon Club (Fri, 1-3 p.m.). Michael is also one heck of a thespian. Remember the Soap Radio Hour? His radio endeavors also include many jobs for the station behind the scenes. I even call upon him when I need a substitute or a concert buddy.

Thank you, Michael. You’re a great friend and a kindred spirit. You rock my world!

Long Distance Dedication: Paul Glavin

WXNA FM

Paul Glavin of Eargasm, Wednesdays 5-7pmCheck out our long distance dedication to Paul Glavin of Eargasm (5-7 pm on Wednesdays), by Laura of Runout Numbers (Sundays from 8-10 am):

Being a part of WXNA has introduced me to so many inspiring and creative people, and one who always stands out to me is the great Paul Glavin.

From 5-7 pm on Wednesday evenings he brings us Eargasm!, which plays the trashiest, greasiest, most full-speed-ahead records from both your garage rock favorites as well as bands that you’ve never heard of (and probably won’t ever hear of again). If I’m listening at home, I’m furiously updating my Discogs wantlist with the wild stuff he plays, and if I’m tuned in while driving around, I feel like the coolest person on the road jamming to what he is spinning. The main theme of his show is that records are FUN! It’s infectious, and it’s so clear he is having a good time sharing his selections on air.

And while his show is great, Paul himself is even better. A true gem of a person and a collector’s collector, Paul is a warm and welcoming presence in the record collecting world. It is far more common as a young woman to encounter curmudgeons who don’t take you seriously as a collector or go above and beyond to try to invalidate your knowledge, and Paul instead likes to check out my finds at record shows and let me know about estate sales I might be interested in. I’m so glad to call him and his lovely wife Sandy friends, and grateful to WXNA for causing our paths to cross.

Long Distance Dedication: Peter Rodman

WXNA FM

Paul Glavin of Eargasm dedicates the following to Peter Rodman

Curating a radio show that merges so many genres and formats into a specific identifiable image is daunting and challenging. It is the equivalent of walking an audio tightrope. Lack of creative discipline can easily send the show into the murky abyss of sounding like the DJ is simply trying to fill the time slot with anything that takes up time. Peter Rodman Goes Off rides the line of balance perfectly in his structured unstructured show of music, talk, interviews and whatever else happens to make him, “go off”. Peter’s show is entertaining, fun, opinionated, and hosted by someone who obviously loves what he’s doing as well as the music he plays. I’m always amazed by the scope and breadth of his knowledge of pop music and his ability to interview his subjects in a conversational manner to bring out the best in them so the listener remains captivated and interested whatever the subject is.

Peter Rodman the person is equally great. I have a fantastic time whenever we have the opportunity to meet up and always leave wishing there was more time to just hang out and yak. Peter was born in New York and I am from the Boston area so I’m sure listening to us having a conversation can be pretty challenging in Nashville when we are at WXNA events especially when the subject turns to baseball. Our Red Sox and Yankees biases become apparent very quickly!

Peter Rodman Goes Off can be heard on Monday from 10am-11am on WXNA and should be required listening for anyone who loves the art of music conversation and perfectly sequenced songs supporting the interview. Now, about those Yankees, Peter…

Long Distance Dedication: Leanne Merritt

WXNA FM

Check out DJ Karl‘s long distance dedication to DJ Leanne of “X-Posure“

My friend and WXNA DJ Leanne Merritt is an influencer in the truest sense of the word — digging deep into new releases, keeping fresh on upcoming tour announcements, and alerting the world to the next magical act that will grace Nashville stages. She supports local, bringing in tons of interviewees from all over the city. Experimental artists and indie darlings alike are thrilled to be included on X-Posure, Leanne’s weekly exploration of the new and hip, the deep and sincere. She finds hidden treasures like she’s a talent magnet and makes connections to amazing people in a way that feels organic. It’s beautiful to hear the conversations bloom on the airwaves each Wednesday. Thank you, Leanne. The brightness of your X-Posure has given me a lasting burn ❤

Long Distance Dedication: Pete Wilson

WXNA FM

DJ Rhatfink of The Continental appreciates Pete Wilson

Just as the soundtrack to American Graffiti changed my life in the 1970s, so too did DJ Pete Wilson, beginning in the early 2000s with his seminal show, Nashville Jumps!

George Lucas’s film, American Graffiti (1973), sent me down the rabbit hole of rock and roll as a young listener. What an amazing soundtrack! I loved that music so much that I had my father make me reel-to-reel tapes of nothing but classic oldies but goodies like The Five Satins, Bo Diddley and Etta James. I played those over and over again until the tapes wore thin. The bedrock rock of DJ Rhatfink is rock and roll. Yet there was still more to discover as I found out when I started listening to DJ Pete Wilson and his outstanding, long-running radio show Nashville Jumps! This was radio manna from heaven coming to us from out of the past to the here and now, flinging open the musical doors of my proto-rocker brain with tunes from Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris and so many more! Pete plays nothing but the finest early unbleached rock n’ roll, boogie woogie, jazz and jump blues every Friday morning and has helped me continue a family tradition. Just as my dad shared mix tapes with me, I have had the pleasure of sharing Nashville Jumps! with my daughter as I took her to school. History lessons have never been more fun. Thank you, Pete! Long may you continue to spin those big 10-inch records.

Long Distance Dedication: DJ Rhatfink

WXNA FM

DJ Pete of Nashville Jumps appreciates DJ Rhatfink

For “The Continental,” Rhatfink spreads his net WIDE to collect a startlingly wide variety of songs on each week’s theme. He does themes better than just about anybody, and I’m a sucker for a show that follows Lord Sitar with Lou Rawls. But what I like best is his talk breaks. They are performances in themselves. I remember reading once that when talking to a baby, you should vary your voice a lot–soft to loud, high to low, swoops and drops–to keep the baby entertained and paying attention. I resolved to do that as a DJ, but my delivery at its best is a little sloppy.. Rhatfink, you are a far better baby-entertainer than I could ever be.

Long Distance Dedication: Randy Fox

WXNA FM


Big Chief Chaz of Gilded Splinters appreciates Randy Fox

I used to be scared of Jerry Reed, mostly because the song “Amos Moses” was blasted at top volume on the Matterhorn ride at the Allegan County Fair. Jerry’s raucous cackling with thumping funk backing was ominous in a way unmatched by “Free Ride” or “Space Trucking”… Smokey and the Bandit sanded off some rough edges, sure — but he still made me nervous.

I’ve grown since then; now when I think of Jerry Reed, I hear the joy and hilarity of “Guitar Man,” “US Male,” “Lord, Mr. Ford,” or a half dozen others played by Randy Fox on the HIPBILLY JAMBOREE every Saturday on WXNA.

Thanks, Randy!