Failure in a Few Ways

I'm a bad, bad Station Manager. I don't update this blog nearly enough. I could give a lot of excuses, one being that I'm still settling into my dual life as student and manager extraordinaire. Honestly, I just can't find time to sit down and blog and when I do have time, I'm always doing a hundred different things I need to be doing. But here it is, the long awaited Thanksgiving Break! I have time, finally. But I also have something to blog about...

Monday November, 24th, 2008 KSCL will be off-air. Don't freak out. Centenary is doing work on electrical conduits (what that mean, no one really knows) so power will be out for most of the campus. No one is clear how long these repairs will last, but there is a possibility that the power will still be out on Tuesday. Unfortunately there's nothing much we can do other than wait it out.

We've dealt with power outages before (both expected and unexpected) and luckily we've had more than a days notice this time. Unfortunately, it's hard to get word out to the listeners. I know we'll probably get a million phone calls (that no one, including the answering machine, will answer).

Now, I can promise to update more regularly, or I can promise to keep the station trucking along. In all honesty, I can make sure I can do the latter. The former, I'll try. Please don't hurt me!

'Cause You Don't Know What Ya Got Till It's Gone...

This is a personal entry. About my finger. And trust me it's relevant to radio. I promise.

So, recently I've taken this endeavor to motorize my Schwinn Cruiser bicycle thereby turning it into an awesome moped that will make me cooler than your burnt out, punk-rock uncle and a total chick magnet to boot.

Anyway, today I was working on my bike, minding my own manly business when all of a sudden I lose my grip on the screw driver I was using, and my knuckle on my right index finger catches the sharp tip of a shiny, exposed handlebar. DEEP CUT!

OUCH!

I bleed. I see the blood. I feel like crying, but curse instead because that's what a real man does. And then I almost faint while cleaning the wound...

Now it doesn't look that bad in the pics, but that's because I cleaned it. I was worried I might need stitches, however that terrifies me, so I just decided to put the flap of skin back on my finger and bandage it up.

Why am I telling all this to you on the KSCL blog? Because right now I am sitting at my laptop typing with gauze and a sawed-off No. 2 Office Max pencil taped to my finger for a splint wondering how in the heck I'm gonna press all the damn buttons in the radio station tomorrow.

My finger hurts. And it's like black and stuff now.

This is a message mainly to all you youngsters out there (and maybe a message to some of you oldsters too). And it's a relevant message with Thanksgiving approaching too. The message is "be thankful for what you have even if it's a index finger that works properly, cause we all take things like index fingers for granted sometimes."

That being said, I want for all of you to think about what you are thankful for whenever you turn on 91.3 FM this Thanksgiving. Thank you.

Parts & Labor Concert- A Great Success!

I jsut wanted to thank everyone who showed up for the concert with Parts & Labor last night. It was a really awesome show in my opinion. Goth Conglomerate opened the evening with a few laughs for everyone, and then we got to hear some awesome music from a talented group who is definitely on the up-and-up.

Almost 90 people came to Artspace for the show last night. I know it was a late event for a Tuesday evening, and many of you had to leave because you had school the next day, but we all really appreciate your supporting the station and the artists who performed.

I just wanted to post some pictures in this blog article and give you a link to some video I took last night in case you missed anything.

I also wanted to explain something else that you might have seen at the show last night. There were several people wearing black t-shirts painted with graffiti-type stencil work. These were shirts that I made as a performance art project for a multimedia writing class. The t-shirts had two lines of poetry printed on front and back, and each shirt was a different piece of the poem. The idea was to have a poem published on t-shirts and have the poem constantly moving about the room. The actual poem itself was written by me, Tyler, and was an homage to bad love songs/poetry. And the significance of having the poetry constantly moving and changing is relevant to how the same ideas in literature get rehashed in different ways by different people.
Thank you again for coming to show, and double thanks to those of you who came to show and also helped me finish my English homework by wearing one of my shirts!

PS
Here's the poem in it's entirety:

A Dead Language: Poetic

I know my words hang wet on my lips.

So my heart will pump in Poetic-

The language of those who love someone-

The tongue of the black and red Poetic.

A dedicated, lovely, little heart-

He will translate my words to Poetic.

I'll look to the sky for the Satellite.

Red Heart says, "Lover's moon!" in Poetic.

And a man named Smith, who is dead today,

Whispered words to my ear in Poetic.

But a girl in my arms, who was there tonight,

Taught my heart to beat in Poetic.

So I thought, I think I'll dream in Poetic.

I think, I'll understand in Poetic.

I want Her to know me in Poetic.

So I'll tell her, "I love You"- Poetic.

--Tyler Davis 9/9/06

Parts & Labor... & KSCL!

KSCL is hosting Parts & Labor for a show at Artspace (710 Texas Street, downtown Shreveport) on Tuesday, November 11 @ 8:00 PM. And we are totally excited about having them come all the way from Brooklyn to play in Shreveport for us. They play an awesome live set of loud, experimental indie rock that will knock you indie socks off! Also, local-ish group Goth Conglomerate led by Centenary student Austin Price will warm up the crowd with some original experimental rock of their own. Doors open at 7:30 PM and the cost will be $5.

Parts & Labor have been traveling through Shreveport playing shows for almost the last decade or so. During their Shreveport visits they even picked up a new bassist, Sarah Lipstate of Alexandria, LA who appears on the band's newest album Receivers. Parts & Labor's show with KSCL at Artspace is part of a tour to promote Receivers which was recently reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine.

That being said, we know this show will take place on a Tuesday night and that this is approaching finals time for students, but if you think you can bring $5 and your awesome self to Artspace for this show, we guaranty you won't regret the experience!

New news director and New Podcast

Hello everyone well we have been busy here this semester getting new interviews from interesting people on campus and around the Shreveport area. i also wanted to say howdy to everyone since I am new to the staff. my name is Casey Mc Beath I am a senior here at centenary hopefully graduating sometime with a communications degree. I love tinkering around here at KSCL and am hoping my passion for radio and the station can translate into great interviews and great things here for KSCL. as the news director i am in charge of putting news on the site that is read over the air by the DJ's if you know of something going on in the Shreveport area shoot me an e-mail at KSCLnews@gmail.com and i will get it on the air.
till next time
Casey

Elaine McArdle - Successful Writer, Rocker and Former KSCL DJ

During the week of October 7, 2008, Elain McArdle visited Centenary's campus to do a lecture series and to promote her new book The Migraine Brain. Ms. McArdle is an alumna of Centenary College of Louisiana and was a DJ for KSCL from 1977-79.

In an exclusive KSCL interview with Tyler Davis, Ms. McArdle told us about the fun she had being a DJ in the late 70's when the station was broadcasting at only 10 watts and the signal could hardly be tuned in across campus.

Elaine McArdle is an author and writer for the Boston Globe, though she boasts a law degree and has had much experience writing for other publications.

Live from NYC #4: Beaten By Them

Alright, "Live from NYC" is back with a new episode! The lovely Vanessa Boyd has done it again, this time interviewing the band Beaten by Them at the Knitting Factory. The band has been promoting their new album "Signs of Life" across the US and Europe. With some members hailing from Australia, their sound is hard to steadfastly define, though a cello accents the improvised rock sound.

KSCL will air Live from NYC #4 Wednesday the 8th at 11am, Saturday the 11th at 8pm and Wednesday the 15th at 11am. Make sure to check out the schedule!

This episode is a whopping 7'58" (download)

Vanessa Boyd graduated from Centenary College in 1999. She was a co-program Director at KSCL from 1997-98. Now, she's a musician and artist living in New York City. If you or your band is traveling to New York and would like to set up an interview with Vanessa, contact Kelly Dunnigan (me).

photo courtesy of http://youbethemouse.blogspot.com

Rock School

Did you happen to tune into KSCL last Saturday around 9pm and heard something new? If so, you were listening to the premier episode of Rock School on 91.3fm. Rock School is a one-hour program produced by KSLU 90.9fm at Southeastern. The show is hosted by Dr. Joe Burns, a Communications professor, and Chad Pierce, a 2002 graduate of Southeastern. The program explores classic rock of the 60s, 70s and 80s and focuses on one topic a week during the show.

Ellyn Couvillion describes the information discussed during a show in an article for The Advocate, "Between songs, listeners received a mini-course on the harmonica — every harmonica plays in one of 12 musical keys; harmonica players in the United States had to fight to get the harmonica recognized by their musicians’ union as an instrument and not a toy; and the first country music release that sold a million copies was a harmonica ballad, “The Wreck of the Old ’97.”."

This week's episode (which will air a 9pm on 10.04) is entitled "New Orleans II" and will follow last week's epsiode "New Orleans I." If you missed this episode, please visit the Rock School's website, where you can download many previous episodes.

We here at KSCL are pleased to work with KSLU in airing this program! This kind of partnership between college radios is what is needed to keep us around.

And we're back!

After weathering two hurricane successfully without any power outages, KSCL is ready for Fall Broadcasting to begin! On the 10th, we had a DJ interest meeting and the turn out was fantastic. There were a lot of new faces who were terribly excited about possibly having a radio show. By the end of the meeting, Tyler had a stack of DJ applications.

On the 16th, we had our first training meeting. Unfortunately the turn out wasn't so great. However, that didn't stop us from training and re-training the small group. Though more importantly, we sat every one of them down to sign them up for Spinitron!

Zakk and Cazes hosted the premier show of the this Broadcast season. The Top 30 show is back, with a brand new time slot! If you loved the Top 30 show over the summer, be sure to check it out Fridays from 3pm until 6pm.

In Centenary news, last week the college welcomed the new Dean of Student Life, David L. Wolmack. I have yet to meet him, but I've head great things from students that have had interaction with him.

Now that we're back into the swing of things, expect more consistent updates to the blog. The station will begin broadcasting a new program soon, so expect an update about when you can check it out (and yes, you'll find out what the show's about and what it's called then too. I've gotta keep things suspenseful somehow!).

For now keep an eye out on our broadcasting schedule for the start of some great new and returning shows!

Oh Gustav...

Well, classes have been canceled through Wednesday for us lucky students here at Centenary. Most of us have spent all day preparing for the worst by evacuating or sand-bagging when appropriate. Since classes have been nixed, most everything else will be delayed. Plans were to have our first DJ interest meeting this Thursday; however, with the possibility of 20 inches of rain I think we might have to postpone it.

Here's hoping for the best from NOLA to Shreveport. If the power goes out that probably means KSCL will be off-air. What happens will happen and there's not anything much we can do about it.

Stay safe kids. Try to have a little fun if possible.

Meet and Greet with Congressional Candidates Paul Carmouche and John Milkovich

Pizza and Politics: An Informal Get To Know Your Candidates

On Tuesday, September 30th at 11 am, College Democrats will present an informal meet and greet with Democratic Congressional candidates Paul Carmouche and John Milkovich in the Student Union Building. Mr. Carmouche will give a brief talk at 11:00 am and Mr. Milkovich will give a brief talk at 11:45 am. Pizza and drinks will be provided as well.

KSCL will be on hand to try to record a brief interview on the candidate's thoughts on the campaign, more on that soon!

For more information on Paul Carmouche, please visit his campaign site: http://www.carmoucheforcongress.com/

For more information on John Milkovich, please visit his campaign site: http://johnmilkovich.com/index.php/home

For more information on all of the candidates running for the 4th congressional district and other election information, please visit: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=ELECTION

update: the meet&greet was rescheduled to september 30th

Don't You Dare Miss Rhythmic Gymnastics

No, don't worry faithful readers, the KSCL blog isn't dead! It's just these past few weeks have been blisteringly uneventful. Summer broadcasting has plodded along and will come to an end this Saturday. The target date for starting Fall Broadcasting is currently set as September 15th. Sorry to all those listeners who found some favorite new shows over these past few months. With any luck, most of your favorite DJs will be returning soon enough.

Centenary begin a new term on August 25th and all the new first years have started to flood the campus. I'm excited at the wealth of new DJs our little station could possibly have. The name of the game is recruiment and it goes into action this Sunday at the Organization fair.

Like I said before, not much has happened as of late (aside from that whole "Jon leaving" bit). Fear not, however, more posts will come as more stuff occurs. For now, go enjoy the last week of summer and the last week of the Olympics.

PS - Curbside recyling started on Monday. A cry of "Finally" was issued from those of us who filled up the can in the first week.

Former KSCL DJ, Rob Schneider does Stephen Colbert

Apples in Stereo frontman Robert Schneider appeared on The Colbert Report on Monday, August 4th. I got a chance to see the apples in Little Rock last week and was able to capture a KSCL Station ID. Hopefully it'll go live soon. But did you know that Schneider was a KSCL disc jockey in the late 80's?

Here's the video:

Let the Good Times Roll

In approximately two weeks I, your faithful station manager, will depart on another part of my life's journey.

I'm leaving Centenary at the beginning of my junior year to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. It's a decision upon which I've spent a considerable amount of time. Contemplating. But it's official, I've signed a lease and registered for classes, so I'm off to a new land.

My college career has been stressful, in short, much like any student's. Whatever the present circumstances, our radio station kept me strong and alive. Through KSCL I've met hundreds of groovy individuals, experienced amazing live music, and achieved goals I never dreamed possible.

Fear not! There are more good days ahead for Centenary Radio. Kelly Dunnigan will take over the post, running it as only she knows best. I'm down in the history books, just like everyone before me. It was a good run, and it'll be even better for you, the listener.

My last week in town will be spent editing our projects, finishing the website, and training the staff for life without Jon. I imagine the future will be just fine, just as it has in the past.

I would like to extend my gratitude to all the individuals who've helped me on my journey. There were some bad days. And god knows there were some good.

Video Killed the Radio Star

I'm sitting here reviewing Conor Oberst's new solo CD (and from what I've heard, it's very promising) eagerly awaiting 10:00pm. Why 10:00pm? Do I have something fun and exciting to do? Never.

Just kidding, I occasionally have fun and exciting things to do, but not tonight.

Tonight at 10:00pm I'm going to be watching the news. KTAL Channel 6 (aka the local news station on NBC) to be precise. Today a man named Jeremy from KTAL came and filmed Tyler, Zakk and I around the station and got a bit of my show "The Sound and the Fury." There will be a little spot about it on the news and I think everyone is excited. Check out the write up about KSCL on KTAL's website here!

That's it for now. Stay tuned kiddos for some major shifts at KSCL soon. Everyone's hoping that these changes will be very good for the station; however, they'll come at a cost. Don't worry though! Everyone is alive and well. All I can say is that Jon better be watching out for Cazes and his car.

Sloan steals the number 1 slot!

On this week's KSCL Top 30 Countdown, it was a fight to the end for the number 1 spot. There were some great debuting artist such as: Hotchacha with their album Rifle, I Knew You When You Were Just a Pistol, Windmill with their album Puddle City Racing Lights, Silver Jews with their album Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, and we finally got the full length album Partie Traumatic by the Black Kids. Some tough falls this week were: The Ting Tings, Walter Meego, Minus the Bear, Colin Meloy, the Warped Tour '08 Soundtrack, and the Offspring. Now moving on to our Inside the Five.

5) Wolf Parade with At Mount Zoomer: This is Wolf Parade's first time in the Top 5. Last week they were number 8 and they move up 3 slots to number five. At Mount Zoomer is their second full length album on Sub Pop. Wolf Parade has been charting with us for some time and they finally make it in the Top 5. Will they be able to make a stretch next week for the number 1 spot?

4) Ladytron with Velocfiero: Ladytron has been on a slow decline from when they hit the number 1 spot. Last week they were number 2 and they fall to number 4. Ladytron's new album incorporates a poppy sound to their electronic music. Ladytron has been at number 1, but with this slight decline will they be able to make back to the top?

3) Fleet Foxes with Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes were number 1 last week and they drop to the number 3 slot. Fleet Foxes have been number 1 only one time. Fleet Foxes' album carries a rich sound with lots of instrumentations. Amazing production of composition and arrangement. Will Fleet Foxes be able to taste that number 1 spot again?

2) N.E.R.D with Seeing Sounds: N.E.R.D stands still this week at number 2. They have been so close to number 1 spot, but have not been quite there. N.E.R.D stands for No One Ever Really Dies and they stand by that. N.E.R.D's new album is great. The lyrics are well established and their sound is as if I could see sounds. Will their hip-hop sound be enough to be number 1 next week?

1) Sloan with Parallel Play: Sloan makes a major jump to the number 1 slot. Last week, they were number 4. Sloan's new album is a continuation of the musical concepts put forth on their last album. They take Parallel Play from a psychology term which is a behavior seen in young children in which they enjoy independent activities in the company of other children. That right there is what Sloan is about in their new album.

Will Sloan be able to stay at the number 1 slot next week? There are some top competitors for the next week's number 1 slot like: Coldplay, Black Kids, Supergrass, My Morning Jackets, and Weezer. Tune into the show today Wednesday from 3-6pm to find out where your favorite artists are on the countdown.
Til next week, Zakk!

KSCL Covers Howard Dean in Shreveport

Democratic National Committee Chairman and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean visited Shreveport this morning as part of the national Register for Change bus tour.

After an introduction by Louisiana Field Director for Obama Alex Okrent, Dean encouraged the crowd gathered to get out the vote and get involved in the campaign. Dean talked about the importance of competing in all states in this election, including states who do not traditionally vote Democrat, such as Louisiana. Standing in the stadium behind Galilee Baptist Church, Dean made an analogy to the next team who might play there; he said that if the team never made it to the field, then they would always lose. He said it was time for the Democratic party to get into the field in Louisiana and make it a blue state.


Dean also stated that it was important to register voters who might have become disenfranchised in the last election and to register voters across the board. Dean spoke about the future of politics and how the Democratic party plans to reach out to the younger generation of Evangelical Christians through the three issues that most concern them: poverty, climate change, and Darfur, which are more of a Democratic party platform. He emphasized that this was the people's election and not the politicians-- and it was about neighbor-to-neighbor, friend-to-friend discussions.

Dean said that it was time to move away from the Bush administration's divisive politics and move to a unified America. He said that although John McCain would offer another Bush term, Barack Obama wanted to be president of a unified America. A theme of the talk was that the election could and would only be won for the people and by the people, not for and by Washington. Dean said, "It's not me or Barack that's going to win this election, it's you that's going to win this election."

After the talk Dean took questions from the press (including KSCL!) and that coverage will air soon. For more information on Louisiana campaigning for Obama, please visit http://laforobama.blogspot.com/

Starbucks closures in Shreveport/Bossier

Carrie Jones, Chris DeGuerce, Digby Jukes, Matt Crowson,
Megan Hoffmeyer, Shreveport
Originally uploaded by trudeau

Starbucks Corp has just released the list of store closures.

Download the list (pdf)

In Shreveport, we'll lose the I-20 & Pines location. (map) The next near store closing will be in Monroe. So much for java culture there. Now's the time to move it underground.

Baton Rouge is being hit unusually hard, losing a nine out of its eighteen stores.

And I was just getting excited about the sortof free iPhone WiFi in Starbucks locations.

Louisiana's List
6326 CORPORATE BLVD & ENERGY DR 5720 CORPORATE BLVD BATON ROUGE LA
6357 SIEGAN & PERKINS 8729 SIEGAN LN BATON ROUGE LA
6414 AIRLINE AND HIGHLAND 19970 HIGHLAND RD BATON ROUGE LA
8321 PERKINS & BLUEBONNET 7777 BLUEBONNET BLVD BATON ROUGE LA
11263 I-10 & SIEGEN 6556 SIEGEN LN BATON ROUGE LA
11264 COURSEY & MARKET 14241 COURSEY BLVD BATON ROUGE LA
11628 ESSEN LN & MANCUSO 5565 ESSEN LANE BATON ROUGE LA
13291 AIRLINE HWY & HARRY DR 8183 AIRLINE HWY BATON ROUGE LA
13292 BURBANK & BLUEBONNET 9837 BLUEBONNET BLVD BATON ROUGE LA
13575 LOYOLA & DUKE 3117 LOYOLA DR KENNER LA
13649 VEROT SCHOOL RD & PINHOOK 115 VEROT SCHOOL RD LAFAYETTE LA
10597 PECANLAND MALL 4700 MILHAVEN RD MONROE LA
*11049 I-20 & PINES 6730 PINES RD SHREVEPORT LA*

Howard Dean in Shreveport for Register for Change Tour

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will lead a national grassroots voter registration effort on a three-day cross-country Register for Change Bus Tour. The tour builds on the Democratic National Committee's 50-State Strategy as well as Senator Barack Obama's commitment to run a 50-state campaign for the presidency.

Dean says, "Over the next few weeks we'll be visiting towns and cities in every corner of the country -- even states where you might not expect Democrats to show up. I want to show Americans how our people-powered movement is changing the country by stopping in as many places as we can to register new voters and open up our political process."

Dean kicked off the Register for Change tour today in Crawford, Texas. He heads to Louisiana tomorrow to visit New Orleans and will also stop by Jackson, MS. On Saturday he will visit Shreveport and Baton Rouge. For more information on the bus tour and to register to attend an event, please visit http://www.democrats.org/page/-/bus/RegisterChange.html

Howard Dean's Shreveport stop will take place Saturday, July 19th at:

Galilee Baptist Church Parking Lot

1500 Pierre Avenue

8:30 am to 9:45 am

To register to attend the Shreveport event, please visit http://www.democrats.org/page/s/Shreveport

We Didn't Start the Fire!

The fire in the electrical manhole that is.

If you're trying to figure out why KSCL is off-air right now, well, it's because there was a bit of a mishap on campus. If you tuned in to the Top 30 show around 3:30ish you might have heard Zakk, Cazes and I proclaim that the lights were flickering on and off. This started right as I walked into the lobby, which means that at first, it must have been my fault. We managed to start an Alkaline Trio song before the power went out for good. Zakk called Jon. I called DPS. We went to explore the damage.

All the power was out on the third floor of the SUB, only half on the second, and the basement level (with the post office and student life) had full power. We headed back upstairs, but it was clear that we couldn't do anything. So we headed down to the second floor where Cazes and his friend Danny played some ping pong and then chair jousted. I made a sign which I later hung in the lobby. Check it out if you're ever up there.

Then Zakk, Cazes, Danny and I all proceeded to call Cha Cha, a service which will answer any question to the best of their abilities. Yes, real people answer you too! We had a variety of silly stupid questions along with a few important ones. Like "How many licks to the center of a toostie pop?" The answer: 364. I kid you not. Ask Cha Cha.

We discovered the source of the power outage was a fire in an electrical manhole right outside Rotary. Electrical Manhole. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Best band name ever. Cazes called dibs on it though. Someone told us the power would be back on soon... we waited and waited. In Centenary Speak, "soon" means "eventually" and "eventually" means "not today, or maybe today if we get around to it." However, since it's after 5, they probably said, "Time to go home, we'll fix it tomorrow."

I guess it's a waiting game. Though I have no idea how we'll find out when the power comes back on unless we're there.

Maintain radio silence, dearies. Until next time.

The Top 30 Blog is Back!!!

This week's Top 30 is the stuff. We have a lot of new music on the chart and a set of brand new CD's in the Top 5. So here we go!!!

5) Colin Meloy "Colin Meloy Sings Live": This CD has been doing marvelous on the Top 30 and continues to be in the Top 10 for the past 3 weeks. Colin Meloy is the front man for the Decemberists and is solo in this live CD. Colin Meloy drops this week from number 3 slot to number 5 slot. Will Colin Meloy have what it takes to be number 1 next week?

4) Sloan "Parallel Play": If you tuned into last week's show then you must have heard Kelly and I sing one of Sloan's songs live on air. Reasons for this behavior was that Sloan's new CD was missing so we improvised. lol. Anyways, Sloan is sitting back at the number 4 slot. Last week they were number 2. Can they get back to the number 2 slot and try to get the golden number 1 slot?

3) Ladytron "Velocifero": Ladytron new CD a one of the best summer jams. Ladytron rocks it out hardcore with a new rhythms and all sorts of stuff. If you haven't heard their new CD then go buy it. Ladytron falls from number 1 slot to number 3 slot.


2) N*E*R*D "Seeing Sounds": N*E*R*D initials symbolize Nobody Ever Really Dies. N*E*R*D has been on a steady climb to number one ever since it hit the charts. Kill Joy and Spaz have been more of the popular songs played at KSCL. N*E*R*D moves up from number 5 to number 2. Can they make to number 1 next week?

1) Fleet Foxes "Fleet Foxes": Fleet Foxes are number one this week and they continue to be a superior force on our countdown. Fleet Foxes has had amazing reviews from the DJ's here at KSCL and the Shreveport/Bossier community. Fleet Foxes finish on top rising from the number 4 slot. Will they be able to hold back the competition?

All right that is your Top 5 Artist for the week. Some people that might be contenders for number 1 are: Weezer, Black Kids, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Offspring and much more. Tune in Wednesday from 3-6pm to find out where everyone is and also check out spinitron the show!!!!!!

What's happening Thursday

Just a reminder,

We've canceled the event set for Thursday. Everything. So, don't expect anything save a quiet KSCL.

Sorry we decided on it. Things were ruff for multiple parties. However, there's more stuff coming this fall so don't lose hope!

Also,
Be sure to check out Missoni Lanza and Angie Mattson at Jayne Marie on Cross Lake.

AJ Haynes, Hawaiian punch, and a party [Canceled]

[Update] We've canceled the event. Sad, I know. :(

We're having a get-together this Thursday, July 10th at 7pm. We're not really sure what will happen. Nat has called and can't make it to town on time. But AJ Haynes is still excited about playing.

So, how about this? Hawaiian punch, cookies, and live music in the Student Union. Whatever money is earned will be donated to the band.

I'm waiting for word on any other possible performers. I was thinking that just a party (sans alchie) would be wicked fun. Then we could all go and see Missoni at Jayne Marie.

There's a Facebook event and directions on our homepage.

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby

We here at KSCL are always about the newest and hippest things. And I'm posting now to tell you about the newest, hippest thing that will bring the public closer to station. No, it's not online streaming (it's coming! I promise!). It's a little website called Spinitron.

Before I explain, a brief history lesson about KSCL (sorta): Did you know that we have paper playlists from all the way back in the 90s? No, well I'm sure a lot of people don't know this, because the public never gets to see these playlists. For every show, a DJ writes down the song he or she plays recording band name, album name, and sometimes record company. Up until now, these playlists have only been useful to the music director.

Well not anymore. Spinitron is a playlist management website that will connect our lovely audience to the DJ shows in a whole new way. DJs will be able to update their playlists automatically while on air. Not only can the public see what's being played, they can also go back and find out what song was being played at what time during a certain show.

Currently Spinitron is in a testing phase for us at KSCL. For now, only staff shows will have live playlists with the older DJs soon to be trained. Hopefully all summer DJs will be accustom to using Spinitron instead of written playlists by the end of the month.

And for the second time this summer, I manage to be the first to do something. My show on June 8th was the first official show of summer programing and today I was the first staff member to put Spinitron to use. You can check out The Sound and the Fury's first online playlist here!

Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys (Download the music here)

Mark & Co. never stop running. His upcoming show is this Friday, June 27th. Homer Hiccolm & the Rocket Boys, Quiet Company, and Missoni Lanza w/Brad Goodwin. will perform. It all goes down at Jayne Marie on Cross Lake at 7pm. (directions)

Door is $5 and you have to be 17-or-over. I know, I hate "the man" too. However, Jayne Marie's got a contest with the possibility of scoring two free tickets to 2008 Austin City Limits. You have to be present to win, says the Facebook event page.

This time around we have music for you to sample before the show. We think it'll help you sing along with the band:
MP3: Homer Hiccolm and The Rocketboys - Secrets and Numbers

MP3: Quiet Company - It's Better to Spend Money Like There's No Tomorrow Than Spend Tonight Like There's No Money

Other Links:
Find it on Facebook
Mark blogging [via MySpace]
Mark blogging [via WordPress]

poster design by Shannon Palmer, hosted here

Live From NYC #3: 8BITches, radio play now

What, what?! We've got another Live From NYC from Vanessa Boyd in New York: this time with 8BITches. They're an awesome "chip-hop" band from North Haven, Maine. They use all kinds of crazy electronics to bring together their sound. The final product is very powerful.

To give you a taste, the band uses gameboys to get their groovy beats. Big Pic Zel then raps about blue screens of death and Zelda, to name a bit.

I think it's one of the best shows we've done. We'll air it on 91-3 this Friday, next Wednesday, and next Friday at 11am. Find it in the schedule.

The episode clocks in at 6'05" (download)

Vanessa Boyd graduated from Centenary College in 1999. She was a co-program Director at KSCL from 1997-98. Now, she's a musician and artist living in New York City. If you or your band is traveling to New York and would like to set up an interview with Vanessa, contact Jon Schleuss (me).

photo from myspace.com/8bitcheschiphop

Punk/Indie Show at H and H to feature Shreveport, other cities

Spencer & Co. are working up a punk/indie show. It's going to be quite the riot. It all goes down tonight at the H&H Lounge. Starts at 6pm.

The lineup includes: Atrocity Solution (Wausau, WI), Nino Zombi (Mexico City Mexico), Krush Klamath (Portland), and local bands: Sunday Mass Murder, Ono! and Jack Blasphemy. Live art by Paul Garner will also be on site.

Door is $7, but it'll get you a chance at winning some awesome prizes from 3rd Eye Tattoo and T-shirts from yours truly.

My radio show will be running from 6-8p, but I'll be at the H&H as soon as possible. Maybe I'll see you?

Atrocity Solution - Streets Laced with Hate [mp3]

SBFG link

Let the Good Times Roll Festival

Live bands, funnel cakes, turkey legs, crawfish, fried shrimp and fried candy bars.. yes it's fair time again here in Louisiana.

Shreveport's Festival Plaza is currently hosting the Let the Good Times Roll Festival from Friday June 20th to Sunday the 22nd. Hosted for twenty-two years by Rho Omega and Friends, Inc., the event is said to be the largest African American music and arts festival in north Louisiana.

Jennette (the local Planned Parenthood community organizer) and I did voter registration at the event, so we got to enjoy the skillful r&b performances by local groups Intuition, Sash, and Jimmy Lynch. Although the music was good, all anyone was talking about was the big performance to be hosted tomorrow by the well-known Hurricane Chris, which is scheduled for 7 pm.

Tomorrow's other events will include performances by LRS, Don Pope& Associates, New Dimensions Brass Quintet, Music Box, Lil Wayne and Ol 2 Step, Windstorm, Hot 8 Brass Band, and Con Funk Shun.

Sunday will feature the Giant Family Praise Dancers, the Grip Praise Team, Robyn Moffet& the Movement, Betty Lewis & the Executives, All Funk Radio Show, and the Bar-Kays.

"Ethnically it's very important to the Shreveport-Bossier community to have African-Americans share their culture with the whole city. It's become a tradition that people look forward to; the fun food and music has become well-known," said Rudolph S. White, a Rho Omega chapter member who's worked at all twenty-two festivals.

Rho Omega chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is also well known for its many service programs including Project Manhood, building social and survival skills in high school males, Education 1st Choice, assisting inner city elementary schools and kids with school supplies and Community Youth Athletic Program, offering financial and coaching support for city youth groups.

For more information on Rho Omega and the Let the Good Times Roll Festival, visit their website.

Open Mic Night at Starbucks on Line, Shreveport

On Friday, June 13th at 7pm Starbucks on Line Ave. will host performers wanting to show off some skills. One of those performers will be the lovely AJ Haynes, a Centenary student.

There will be no cost to get in, since it's Starbucks. However, purchasing a "doppio espresso and dropping in two drops of cream" is a cheap latte, supporting the establishment. We college students are useful like this.

It's good to see that stage finally get some use. John Kay must be proud.

For more info on the event, see the Facebook event (a place where people meet other people and things happen).

Young@Heart, Playing at Robinson Film Center

I was deeply moved by this film, Young@Heart. It's received 88% approval on Rotten Tomatoes. It's gained applause from blog circles. And, it's just bleepin' awesome.

The film mixes music and cinema, so it's appropriate to discuss it here.

The film follows a group of older people, average age 80, on their tour, learning new songs along the way. There's a great feel for the movie. While, yes, these people are old and experience health problems (none of which are hidden, btw) they are still determined to keep singing. They are full of so much energy. And don't think they're singing just any old tune. Try Coldplay, Sonic Youth, the Clash, and more.

Take Elaine, for instance, she's a 92-year-old woman living in a nursing home. She's the only resident with a key, because she gets back so late from performances. She doesn't drive; leave that to Lenny. Her and the filmmaker get into a very interesting conversation about being old and having men (the camera crew) in her bedroom. "Don't get nervous, just start taking something [clothes] off," Elaine responds. She's full of excitement and approaches many songs conservatively, seemingly impossible to learn. However, here she is, bouncing off solos left-right-center. The trailer (below) shows Elien belting out the first bit of the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

And I think I've realized the magic of the film. All these characters sharing their love for music. What music does to people. It is quite spectacular.

Has anyone seen it? Loved it? Hated it?

To purchase tickets, visit the Robinson's website.

New KSCL Homepage

We've just launched our new website. It's clean, smooth, and incorporates some social networking, but it has some problems that need to be addressed. We're also looking into expanding it, I'll detail that information here.

First, I apologize for the history section. I'll be working on expanding it as soon as I get back from my trip. For now, we'll just have to live without the history section. I'd also like to improve the navigation (especially with images), but I can't get my head around it. Maybe a light will click soon.

There are several things we'd like to add in the future, including DJ playlists, instant messaging with DJs, internet streaming, and a section for underwriting. Suggestions are open! Feel free to drop me a line via email. I feel confident in the current site, hoping it will draw attention to our blog. My goal is to incorporate all of KSCL's digital lives into one. So you, the listeners, can get in touch with us easier.

Anywho, stay tuned to new web developments. The website is a one-man team, with lots of staff input.

Calling all KSCL Alumi!

Literally!

Today was a good day for the staff here at KSCL. We had a meeting with Kathy Fell and Fred Landry to help us figure out ways to raise money and discuss the on going growth of the station. We decided to pump fundraising into overdrive. With the end of the fiscal year approaching, both Kathy and Fred hope we can garner some support from our alums through a phoneathon-type deal. So if you're a KSCL alum, don't be surprised if you get a phone call soon.

After the meeting, Tyler and I made a stab at cleaning around the station. We managed to move all the vinyl into the "Vinyl Frontier" closet and in doing so, I now have a whole new area to put cds! That means I won't have to get rid of as many cds as I had thought. Soon I can start reorganizing everything and the library will be truly awesome. The picture to the left is the closet that is filled to the brim with vinyl. Unfortunately, it's not in any sort of order, but that's least of my worries right now.

After digging around some more, Tyler and I nicknamed the closet, the "History Closet." As you can see, the old board is now living there, along with a case of 8-tracks and old 78s we found.

I believe the rest of the week will be devoted to figuring out the new logistics of the cd library and training to call all the alums. Summer Springboard starts next week and KSCL will have a table set up during the resource fair. Hooray for recruiting the first-years before they even officially start!

Now if it wasn't so blasted hot.

Dr. Dan Seymour Appointed Interim Dean of Student Life

Centenary Provost Dr. Darrel Colson sent out an email on behalf of President Ken Schwab announcing that beginning tomorrow, Dr. Dan Seymour will be serving as Interim Dean of Student Life.

Dr. Seymour served as Centenary Dean of Student Life in the late 80's and early 90's before moving on to Northwestern State University, where he served as Vice President for Student Affairs and taught in the School of Education. Recently retired from NSU, Dr. Seymour will head the Office of Student Life until the search committee finds a new Dean of Student Life.

Summer Broadcasting Begins With a Full Schedule and a Turkey Sandwich

So Official Summer Broadcasting began today at high Noon with Kelly's show "The Sound and the Fury." A fine show, and a handsome woman that Kelly...

I personally tuned in to her show on my new mp3 player and had nice listen, however as the Summer Program Director I'm responsible for listening to all the shows and evaluating each DJ's performance. So I'm working while I play I suppose. And, hey, don't get me wrong- I'm lovin' it that we have such a full schedule. We have back-to-back shows on Sunday from noon to 2am. That's totally awesome, but it also means I'm going to be listening to the radio for 14 hours strait today. Heh, heh....

You know what, it's cool. I have decided I can do anything. But I've always been an advocate of the age-old saying that you can do anything as long as you start with a Turkey Sandwich. So I'm making a turkey sandwich and I'm gonna eat it. And I'm gonna listen to the radio for 14 hours today. And I'm gonna get up and do it again tomorrow. Cause Jesus gave me a Turkey Sandwich with extra blessing.


Photos by Tyler Davis