Staff Blog

Thursday, May 28, 2009

summer is fun

Ian, Andy and I obviously have more fun than was thought to be humanly possible. Here are our 11 KWLC summer commandments, for your health.

1. There shall be only one KWLC. Honor thy KWLC.

2. Thou shalt have no other radio before KWLC.

3. Thou shalt shamelessly plug KWLC at every opportunity.

4. Thou shalt not ever, never, never ever play poor quality radio on thy KWLC.

5. Thou shalt never speak badly of thy KWLC, never use thine KWLC's name in vain, and always say "double-you."

6. Thou shalt always share thine Monday nights.

7. Thou shalt treat thy KWLC as thou wants to be treated. Nuture thy KWLC as if it were thine very own KWLC.

8. DON'T TRY TO STEAL YOUR KWLC'S SHIT.

9. Thou shalt not be an adulturer against thine KWLC with other lesser non-commercial college radio stations. (or against thine KWLC summer staff with other lesser humans)

10. Thou shalt heartily befriend thy KWLC summer staff and love them with all thine heart.

10.5. Thou shalt LOVE THINE MUSIC.

11. Thou shalt make every effort to keep in touch with thy KWLC radio through thine holy Facebook and/or KWLC blog.

Posted by KWLC Decorah at 10:57 PM | 3 comments

REALLY GOOD RADIO

Good morrow, buddies. Rose here. Ian, illustrious station manager, and Andy, my co-awesome co-rock music director are in the station with me today, and we're all working away like happy music elves.

We want to make sure to keep you posted on all things KWLC, or maybe just bother you with enough status updates and facebook notes that you remember to keep in touch, tune in whenever you have the chance, and spread the word about our awesome radio station. The three of us are successfully holding down the fort so far and will do our best to keep KWLC kickin' it for the next three months.

Here is some information you can keep in mind to bring yourself a little closer to KWLC:

Office Hours:
Andy and myself will be in the station reviewing new albums, organizing our rock shelves, playing in the library, and talking to promoters Monday through Friday from 10am-2pm, roughly. Ian is diligent about his planned hours of 10am-6pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to type his little documents and planplanplan. We'll see how long that lasts. We're usually reachable by facebook or you can call us persistently at 563-387-1240. We'd love to know what's up with you and tell you all about what's up with us.

On-Air Hours:
It's a little complicated, but you'll figure it out. If Ian can, so can you.
I'm telling you who's on when so you can freely discriminate against any one of us. Remember that Ian holds grudges and that I have magical powers. I personally love listening to weeknights the most because that's where you can hear the best new rock that's on our shelves--and boy, is it good.

On Sundays, Ian or Myself will broadcast from 7am-7pm, and you can hear Andy from 7pm-12:30am.
Monday nights you have the chance to hear any two of us, we'll be on a rotating schedule, so tune in.
Tuesday is all Rose (me! nothing wrong with that),
Wednesday is Andy with a full night of Loud Rock, his specialty,
Thursday you can hear Ian get acquainted with the Rock shelves,
and Fridays I'm back from 10-12:30.
Saturday, Andy is up early-- 7am-12:30pm, myself from 12:30pm-7pm, and Ian from 7pm-12:30am

Now, you can add all that info to this info: Our Scheduled Programming.
Like I said, Monday through Friday we're on the air from 10pm to 12:30am playing all new rock, all the time. Andy will throw some Loud Rock into the mix on Wednesday nights.
Saturdays look like this:

• 7:00a-8:00a—World
• 8:00a-9:00a—Folk
• 9:00a-10:00a—Bluegrass Review
• 10:00a-11:00a—Woodsongs
• 11:00a-12:30p—Americana
• 12:30p-1:00p—Bioneers
• 1:00p-2:00p—Americana
• 2:00p-4:00p—Special Presentation/Folk
• 4:00p-6:00p—Blues
• 6:00p-7:00p—The Song is You
• 7:00p-8:00p—Full album presentation
• 8:00p-9:00p—90’s Rock
• 9:00p-12:30p—Rock
and Sundays as follows:
• 7:00a-11:00a—Religious Programming (CHURCH!)
• 11:00a-11:30a—Voices of our World
• 11:30a-12:00p—Dialogue
• 12:00p-2:00p—Classical
• 2:00p-3:00p—WFMT Production (Classical)
• 3:00p-5:00p—Classical Presentation
• 5:00p-6:00p—Soundtracks (Broadway/Film/Opera)
• 6:00p-7:00p—Jazz
• 7:00p-8:00p—WFMT Production/CultureWorks/Jazz Inspired (Jazz)
• 8:00p-9:00p—Jazz with Pete Russella
• 9:00-10:00p—Jazz with Andy Hoffmann
• 10:00p-12:30a—Rock

Great things are happening at KWLC.
The three of us are planning on having a very enjoyable summer, which may or may not include making some 5-minute home movies, buying a fish to go in the fishtank we found in the cupboard (seriously), watching too much Arrested Development, and giving too many on-air shout outs to our honorary KWLC peeps/legendary bffs (Green, Bitchards, Schuj, CJ the DJ, and others).

It's almost over, I promise. I wanted to name-drop some of the kick-ass albums that have happened on our shelves since Andy and I have been in power (like evil dictators).
All added in May:
ARTIST/album

THE FEATURES some kind of salvation (check this)
CRASH KINGS crash kings (raconteurs-esque)
FUTURE FUTURE future future
OPERATION ALOHA operation aloha (check this)
THE WOODEN BIRDS magnolia
SO MANY DYNAMOS the loud wars
TEREU TEREU all that keeps us together
PASSION PIT manners (you know it)
HONOR BY AUGUST found
ABSTRACT RUDE rejuvenation
BEATI PAOLI a sense of urgency
ON ENSEMBLE ume in the middle
THE BEAUTIFUL CONFUSION the beautiful confusion
ZEE AVI zee avi (check)
THE AGGROLITES iv
POLLY SCATTERGOOD polly scattergood (recommended-bjork-y)
STRANGE JEROME guns, ammo, jewelry, coins
AMANDA BLANK might like you better
THE PERFECTS future automatic
DAVID BERKELEY strange light
LOONER i love my tamagotchee (true)
HEADLESS HEROES the silence of love
MIKA MIKO we be xuxa
THE DAREDEVIL CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT in deference to a broken back (mixed by justin vernon)
DEPECHE MODE sounds of the universe
EELS hombre lobo
U-N-I land of the kings
OWL CITY of june (feeling blue? play this)
ELVIS COSTELLO secret, profane & sugarcane
PHOENIX wolfgang amadeus phoenix (real good)
GLISS devotion implosion
THE TING TINGS we started nothing (check a song that you haven't heard. they good)
MAXIMO PARK quicken the heart
BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS 7 white lies for dark times (lay there & hate me-great song)
GRIZZLY BEAR veckatimest (check this out)
MOCKY saskamodie
THE CLIKS dirty king
THE FIELD yesterday and today (very neat)
JOSH REICHMANN oracle bands (we got this on a 45. awesome)
POPUP a time & a place
INWARD EYE inward eye ep
SEUME it is what it is
HUGH CORNWELL hooverdam
T.O.J people like us
WICKED HEMLOCKS wicked hemlocks

on our shelves in the next 2 weeks, anticipate excitedly:
MARS VOLTA
TREVOR HALL
CARBON LEAF
VENOMOUS
LANDY
MEWITHOUTYOU
DIRTY PROJECTORS
WARLOCKS
BUSDRIVER

also check out:
AKRON/FAMILY
CASPER AND THE COOKIES
JOHN VANDERSLICE
THE CUBISTS
MORAKESTRA

I could write this note all day long, but it's time for my appointment with the couch.
Stay tuned, stay happy, rock out.

Love,
Rose

Posted by KWLC Decorah at 10:49 PM | 1 comments

Saturday, February 28, 2009

DANCE BAND @ Spark 02/21/2009

There's a moment at any great show when you know that magic is happening, stars are aligning, and that after this moment the universe will never again be the same. It's when Eminem smashes into "Lose Yourself" or when the beat blasts into overdrive during "Final Countdown" at a Europe concert. If you've had either or both of these experiences, I envy you more than you would think.

I knew that everything was going to be alright at DANCE BAND when the lead singer in mid-thrust ripped off his shirt, and a tidal wave of body odor crashed into my dance sphere. It was then that my body announced to no one in particular, "goodbye earth, I'm sorry that my moves are too much for terrestrial minds, butts, and hips."

Minneapolis-based DANCE BAND performed at the Spark Festival of Electronic
Music and Arts at the University of Minnesota on February 21st. With rhymes to kill and funk-oozing beats that didn't quit, DANCE BAND asked/instructed/commanded the dance crew to clap our hands, stop, drop and roll, and to shake our babymakers. I was more than happy to oblige.

DANCE BAND describe themselves as "Geekadelic,"but it's not a wholly accurate description. Try "Prancecentric," "Bumptronic," "Thurst-o-matic" or "Grindsplosive."

Interpol doesn't prosecute trans-european criminals, Flo Rida doesn't rhyme about the lightning capital of America and Jurassic 5 is anything but reptilian. DANCE BAND, however, is exactly what the name suggests. If your rear is stationary, then you're in the wrong place or you need a new notebook.

Posted by Ben at 7:27 PM | 0 comments

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Coe Review

I've still been chewing rolaids since Saturday and wondering how a team whose defense gives up just 191 yards and six points LOSES a game. That's what happended Saturday as Coe defeated Luther 22-19 in overtime for its fifth straight win over the Norse.

First things first, Luther felt Saturday like Buena Vista felt the previous week. BV outgained 265-161, had 77 offensive plays compared to Luther's 56, including many more inside the opponents terrority and had the ball for four more minutes. Good fortune and karma giveth. Good fortune and karma taketh away.

On the positive side, this Norse defense continues to impress. The defense it's self has given up nine points in the last three games. 161 yards given up. 3.7 yards per play. 2.9 yards per rush. 8 of Coe's 16 possessions were three and out. Seven tackles for a loss. Two sacks. Three takeaways. It's unfortunate that such an effort was not rewarded Saturday afternoon.

Special teams was a vast disappointment. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Coe fumbles the ball and to his credit, Chad Reifschneider for Coe picks up the ball, plays to the whistle and takes it in for six. Weird play. One guy plays to the whistle on the field. Later in the game, Jesse Kent tries to field a punt inside the ten yard line, fumbles into the end zone and Coe recovers for six points. To be fair to Jesse, he was trying to make a play and by letting the ball go with Kohawks all around him, the ball could have been downed inside the five yard line. But if you're going to do that, a-you have to be smart and b-you have to secure possession and take care of the ball. Otherwise the high risk, high reward proposition turns to disaster.

Another week, another missed extra point. Granted, you don't know how the game would have played out but the safety that tied the game would have led to a one point deficit for Coe. Five extra points in seven games. Unacceptable. The Norse kicking game has been an adventure this year. But scoring touchdowns and getting six on the board instead of seven cannot continue to happen.

Offensively, the consistency just hasn't been there. Saturday, the running game failed to get going. 2.5 yards per carry this week. 1.7 yards per carry last week. Unacceptable. No matter how many plays you can make in the passing game, teams need to run the ball consistenly to win. And I don't believe it's a one or two person problem. It's a team issue. All persons involved in the running game must step up and improve that facet.

The timing of the passing game was off all day Saturday. Chris Reynolds was not on his game, due in part to the Coe defense putting more pressure on him than any other defense this season. And when Reynolds was on target, Luther receivers often dropped catchable balls. The difference between the offense against Buena Vista and Coe was key plays at key times. Against BV, the offense made one extra play, got one first down instead of a three and out and held the ball for nine minutes when the Beavers had the wind. Luther often on Saturday put themselves behind the eight ball by negativity on first and second down. Long story longer, consistency just wasn't there. Coach Durnin always talks about whoever is on the field the expectation is to perform. That's what it's gotta to be in the final three weeks.

A win against Coe could have made this week huge. A little bit of luster is off but the Norse can also knock Wartburg out of the top spot in the league with a win this week. 1-0 this Saturday. That will be the goal. Conference title hopes are still alive, but now you need some help. The entire focus needs to be Wartburg. Dreaming big is nice. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. A win Saturday could bring a little more excitement to the last two weeks. A loss Saturday and you're playing out the season.

Posted by Darin Svenson at 7:49 AM | 0 comments

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

BV Review

I apologize for missing the blog last week. My bad. No excuses. No alibi. But a lot to talk about this week.

Saturday was one of the most entertaining 6-3 games you'll ever see. The momentum swung back and forth like a musical metronome. Both teams with many opportunities. Both teams rose to the occassion many times. Fortunately, the Norse won and now they're tied for first place in the league.

Defense wins championships. The Luther defense held Buena Vista to 1-3 in the red zone, with the only score being a field goal. The Beavers came into the game scoring 78 percent of the time in the red zone. That doesn't include a stop on the last play of the game with Buena Vista when Josh Patterson knocked down a pass to Eric Bertelsen in the end zone. A lot of heroes on defense. Alex Mierau was the Iowa conference male athlete of the week with 19 tackles, 15 solo and two passes defensed. Sean Hood had ten tackles. Will Bothe with nine tackles and one for a loss. Cody Webb with three tackles for a loss. Paul Pierson with a sack. Interceptions by Trevor Theobald and Jeremy Klein. Needless to say it was a fine effort by the entire defense. Many felt going into the season Luther had a good enough defense to be competitive in every game they play. With the exception of the Simpson game that has been the case.

Another game ball to Nate Neblung, who was the Norse punter Saturday as regular punter Andrew Burkle was taking a test to get into graduate school. Neblung averaged 37.6 per punt with a long of 51 yards. Yes, he did have a strong wind at his back for a lot of the game, but did a good job of keeping the ball away from the Beavers returners. He even had a 40 yarder against the wind with a roll. Every time a Norse player has gone down this year, the backup has stepped up. As coach Durnin always says, the expectation is if you get on the field, you're to perform. That was the case on special teams with Neblung.

Things were difficult for the offense Saturday, but they did take advantage of a short field in the first quarter and scored. Try Scheetz caught his first collegiate touchdown pass from Chris Reynolds and Reynolds showed some nice improvisation on the play. Also after an interception in the third quarter the Norse had a 62 yard, 14 play drive that unfortunately led to a missed field goal. Despite the inconsitency on offense, there were many situations the offense helped in the victory, other than the ones listed above. In the second half, in four of six drives by Luther they earned a first down. A first down here and there made the clock run that much more and allowed the field position battle to sway in the Norse's favor. Without some key plays at key times, the Norse would not have been victorious Saturday. That said, the consistency on offense needs to get a lot better for continued success.

So, Luther has played themselves into a spot that they control their own destiny with four games to go. But all of the focus needs to be on Coe. Need to be 1-0 today, tomorrow, the next day, Saturday. Luther is good enough to beat any team remaining on the schedule. But, the margin of error is small enough for any team to beat them. Consistency needs to get better on all sides of the ball. If that happens, Happy feelings could continue.