My resolution this year is to make this blog less of a vehicle for strictly self-promotion and infuse it with some more self-expression. That said, self-promotion in some form or another is a cornerstone of the 'blog galaxy', so I also have to be realistic. Hows this: for every announcement of a Jes Grew event, I will attempt at least one other feature on music, film or....something!
One thing I want to plug is my favorite radio personality, TD Mischke on Twin Cities' AM 1500 KSTP. Tommy(TD) has been moved to a new drive-time slot, 5:30-7:30 Central Time, down a few hours from the far more conducive late night spot from 10pm to midnight weekday evenings. The move seems to be more about getting rid of Sean Hannity(always a smart decision) by moving him to the graveyard slot rather than about really promoting Tommy, but in an age when local radio personalities are undervalued or completely ignored and easily fired, I am thrilled that KSTP has shown such faith in the most unconventional talk radio host in the country.
For those who are unfamiliar(most everyone reading this, I am sure), TD Mischke has been hosting his own show, the Mischke Broadcast, on KSTP AM1500 for the last 12 years. Before that, he was the sidekick for the 'round mound of sound', the great Don Vogel on the Afternoon Saloon in the early 90s. As a delivery driver/courier in the early 90s, I got addicted to talk radio and AM1500 in particular. These were the days of Bob Yates in the morning (who is starting a podcast by the way), and Turi Ryder in the afternoons. This was also when Garage Logic and Joe Soucheray started their reign as afternoon staples(replacing a fired Turi Ryder-it was inevitable, the Twin Cities were not yet ready for an opinionated, liberal Jewish female host no matter how funny she was). A real Golden Era at KSTP, although one plagued by short-sightedness (Bob Yates was let go several times if I recall correctly, and the eventual hiring of Jesse Ventura as a talk host-ugh). This was the climate that allowed a regular caller to shows become a sidekick as Vogel hired Mischke as a comic foil after Mischke's 'Phantom Caller' gags became a repeat success. The long and the short of it, through many ups, downs(an acrimonious split from Vogel not long before his untimely passing being one) and sideways trevails, Mischke finally managed to snag a block of time that went almost unnoticed, the dreaded 10pm-midnight slot.To hear Mischke tell it, the station was literally giving ad space away at that timeslot, so he was left alone to develop what has become over the last 12 years, the most imaginative 2 hours in radio. Oh, not always, mind you, but Mischke's ability to welcome failure as heartily as he revels in a perfect bit is what makes the show so addictive. So far, the new time slot has only made Mischke adhere to some stricter time constraints(news,traffic,etc) but has left him the same unrestrained character he was in the late show mode. If anything, he now relishes the ability to cheese off Hannity fans just by being there, otherwise his approach has shown little change. I think he is displaying some more manic energy, but only in context to himself. Shock jock morning zoo crap this ain't and never will be. Thank the Lord.
Anyway....do yourself a big favor and tune in or check out the new podcast being offered by some other fanatic die-hards online! This includes some archived podcasts and the new show at the new time. Also check out Derek Larson's Mischke Madness , the spot that brought me back to the Twin Cities via the internet and has archived many of the most legendary moments and bits in the Mischke Broadcast history so far! I can't guarantee that you will have found a new favorite radio guy, but you will have heard something unique....no question.
QUOTE of the DAY
"It is not light that is needed, but fire."
-Frederick Douglass
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