Author: WXNA FM

Long Distance Dedication: DJ Jaimie Hart

WXNA FM

DJ Jaimie Hart of Web of Sound of WXNACheck out our long distance dedication to DJ Jaimie Hart and Web of Sound (Saturdays from 10 – 11 a.m.) from the popGeezer of This is Pop (Saturdays from noon – 2 p.m.)

Saturdays are a special day on WXNA. The line-up is terrific, and I don’t say that simply because I have a show on Saturday.

And, being on the more ancient side of the DJ age chart, I particularly enjoy hearing shows from the “young folk” that play the music of my era, or even earlier.

Both of these factors play into why I enjoy DJ Jaimie’s Web Of Sound.

Every Saturday at 10 a.m., Jaimie’s Web is “a radio show that spins a web of music history by connecting producers, musicians, record labels, songwriters, and other musical works,” in her own words. Usually thematic, Web covers that music history deeply. In the past six weeks, Jaimie has played tracks spanning from the 1920’s (i.e. Bessie Smith) all the way into the 21st century. On any given week, you may hear early to mid-20th Century Blues, mixed with Motown, Punk & Post-Punk up to contemporary sounds. She was around when only a very few of her selections were “current hits.” And Jaimie brings this weekly musical history lesson to you in a warm voice with great enthusiasm.

So, take my invitation to hear decades of popular music from a knowledgeable young person on air or in the archives at wxnafm.org

Meed Your Wizards: Randy Fox

WXNA FM

A peek behind the curtain… Meet Randy Fox, WXNA Programming Director and host of Randy’s Record Shop, airing Mondays from 7-9 a.m. and Hipbilly Jamboree, airing Sundays from 1-3 p.m.

Born: Gary, Indiana but grew up in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky (Yes, just like the John Prine song)

Home: Nashville since 1986, am I considered a Nashvillian yet?

Drafted into WXNA: March 20, 2012, the first meeting of former WRVU DJs that would lead to WXNA going on the air more than four years later!

Spins:

  • Randy’s: Rock’n’roll from its birthin’ to now with whatever else strikes my fancy!
  • Hipbilly: Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, Bluegrass – Hipbilly Music!

How did you discover independent radio? Three-part answer: In high school I fell in love with midnight broadcasts of The Dr. Demento Show which was a syndicated show on commercial stations, but its origin was in the freeform underground radio days of Los Angeles’ KPPC-FM. The mix of genres and both new and ancient music, as long as it was weird, charged me up in a way no commercial radio had ever done.

When I started college at Western Kentucky University in 1981, Bowling Green was sadly lacking in any independent radio stations, but I was soon making frequent trips to Nashville, and I would lock my radio dial on WRVU 91 Rock as soon as I got in range of its signal. I continued listening when I moved to Nashville in 1986, eventually worming my way on the air in 1998 as a “community volunteer DJ.”

A year or so later, with the arrival of Internet access, I discovered WFMU-FM online and the idea of independent, freeform radio that was separate from a university came into full focus for me. So when WRVU died as a broadcast station in 2011, the path ahead was obvious!

Most played song:

  • Randy’s: Mekons – “Memphis, Egypt”
  • Hipbilly: Janis Martin – “Bang Bang”

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Vinyl with the occasional CD

Fave WXNA shows: As Programming Director I can’t choose just one — I love all the children in the family!

Pinch-me moment: Any time someone tells me about a song they heard on WXNA that blew their mind and led them to discovering music that they now love!

When I die:

Bury me deep
With a rock’n’roll record at my feet
Phonograph needle in my hand
Gonna rock my way
Right outta this land!

(Thank you, Ronnie Dawson & Lux Interior!)

About Me: One of my core beliefs is that our ability to dream big and hopeful dreams that fly in the face of all logic and reason, is the essence of humanity. When it comes to radio, I can’t say it any better than this quote from community radio pioneer Lorenzo Milam, “A radio station should not just be a hole in the universe for making money, or feeding an ego, or running the world; A radio station should be a live place for live people to sing and dance and talk: talk their talk and walk their walk and know that they (and the rest of us) are not finally and irrevocably dead.”

Long Distance Dedication: DJ Housequake

WXNA FM

Check out our long distance dedication to DJ HOUSEQUAKE and The Housequake Vinyl Hour (Fridays from 6 – 7 p.m.) from DJ George LaBour of Hi Stax of Motown (Fridays from 7 – 9 p.m.)

To me, The Housequake Vinyl Hour captures what a great radio show should be.

When I tune in, I always know what kind of music I’m going to hear; yet, DJ Housequake always meets my expectations while keeping the sound fresh and inventive. He puts together a playlist that stays within the genre of dance music without the sound ever getting stale. The show emanates an atmosphere, a rhythmic pulse that’s simply irresistible and utterly intoxicating.

On top of this, DJ Housequake shows his love for the music not just through spoken praise during the talk breaks but also through the clear depth of his vinyl collection. The personality of the host shines through every minute of The Housequake Vinyl Hour, and that’s one of the things I love most about the show.

Best of all, it’s just plain fun!

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Mello-D

WXNA FM

A peek behind the curtain … Meet DJ Mello-D, host of Groovy Potential, airing Tuesdays from 5 – 7 p.m.

Born: Oxford, Mississippi

Home: Nashville for life! I currently live in Donelson — East-er Nashville!

Drafted into WXNA: From the get-go, having also been a DJ at WRVU with most of the founding board members.

Spins: Anything with a groove, from classic and indie rock and soul to jazz, country, global grooves and beyond.

How did you discover independent radio? My family moved to Nashville in 1981 while I was in high school. I found Vandy’s WRVU 91 Rock on the left side of the FM dial almost immediately, discovering R.E.M. and The Replacements at the beginning of their careers, along with so many great local artists and tons of bands I’d never heard before.

Most played song: Minnie Riperton’s “Baby, This Love I Have”

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Vinyl primarily, but also CD. I only play physical media on Groovy Potential.

Fave WXNA shows: Eargasm, Untune the Sky, Hipbilly Jamboree, Runout Numbers, Nashville Jumps, Hazy Ways, Gilded Splinters… there are so many! I love most of the programming on the X.

Pinch-me moment: Being asked to compile two volumes of Craft Recordings’ Jazz Dispensary series, based on my old radio show D-Funk. If you look in the liner notes for either volume of The Dank D-Funk Blend LPs, you’ll see a nice blurb promoting WXNA!

When I die: Roll me up and smoke me!

About Me: I’m a music lifer. I’ve been obsessed with music as far back as I can remember. I asked for records for Christmas when I was a kid. When I realized I didn’t have a natural gift for playing music as a young adult, I started working in record stores, finally graduating to co-owning one when I bought half of Grimey’s in 2003! I love that I can share my passion and my record collection with the listeners of WXNA.

Long Distance Dedication: Tom Priesmeyer

WXNA FM

Check out our long distance dedication to DJ Tom Priesmeyer of Swing Shift (11am – 1pm on Fridays) by the popGeezer of This is Pop (noon – 2pm Saturdays)

During the first phase of the Covid outbreak, and while I was briefly allowed to work from home, I streamed WXNA on the “big stereo system” quite often. One Thursday mid-morning, I first heard Tom Priesmeyer’s “Swing Shift.”

The big band orchestra Jazz and Swing that is the heart of Tom’s show is one of my favorite genres of musical sounds, so I was immediately drawn to the show. Beyond the music itself, Tom’s deep annotation of his weekly playlist selections – his audible liner notes – makes the listening experience richer and truly educational.

If you need a detailed history of the bands that Iowa’s favorite musical son Bix Beiderbecke played for, or the inaccuracies of his fictionalized 1950 biopic “Young Man with A Horn” – and who doesn’t? – then this is the show for you.

Tom’s voice is warm and gently professorial, which makes the facts and stats go down with the proverbial spoonful of sugar. The playlist covers big band Jazz’s wide musical spectrum, which, for me, is a pure shot of Dopamine.

And if you need the maximum daily requirement of acoustic bass, you need Swing Shift in your life.

Long Distance Dedication: DJ Ed

WXNA FM

Check out our long distance dedication to DJ Ed, Eighties Schmeighties (10am-noon on Fridays) and Physchobabble (noon-1pm on Fridays), by DJ Jubilee:

My Long-Distance Dedication goes out to DJ Ed and his long running show Eighties Schmeighties (10am-Noon).

I became a fan of DJ Ed one night when I was listening to a show I used to tune into regularly but — on this night – it was like every song was being played specifically for me. Song after song, I was hearing my favorite artists and my favorite songs – and an interesting mix of music too. At the next talk break, I found out it was not Paul Burch but DJ Ed who hosted a show called Eighties Schmeighties.

Since that night, I have made a point to listen to Eighties Schmeighties whenever I am able. Jumping off from our mutual admiration of bands like Minutemen and The Clash, Ed has introduced me to bands I missed out on the first time around and made me aware of new releases by members of some of the best bands of the 1980s.

In my mind, Eighties Schmeighties and DJ Ed represents WXNA at its best: Elevating underappreciated music and artists. And for me, it provides the comfort of hearing some of my favorite music with the tension of hearing music for the first time and maybe discovering a new favorite artist or band.

Thanks DJ Ed – for keeping the flame alive.

Meet Your Wizard: DJ Anne McCue

WXNA FM

A peek behind the curtain…
Meet Anne McCue, local Nashville musician and host of Songs on the Wire, airing Tuesdays from 9am-10am CT!

Born: Sydney. Hint: I heard “A Hard Day’s Night” at the cinema but I wasn’t born yet.

Home: East!

Drafted into WXNA: About 6 years ago!

Spins: I have no rules and am not interested in time or fashion. I am constantly looking for music I haven’t heard before, but it doesn’t matter when it was recorded or where. So I end up playing music from all over the world, cinema soundtrack, string quartet, English, Icelandic, Chinese, African folk, psychedelic, jazz, soul, pop, you-name-it… 🙂

How did you discover independent radio? When I was a wee kid in Sydney a new radio station started called Double Jay. They played anything and everything including lots of imports from England, the States and Europe. Our minds were expanded. Then when I moved to Melbourne, I heard two amazing community stations – RRR and PBS. In Nashville, I always tuned in to WRVU first and now WXNA is my number one on the dial! It was what Nashville airwaves needed, so I am eternally grateful to all the folks who started XNA!

Most played song: This past year: I Talk To The Wind (King Crimson), Udhero Na (Anoushka Shankar & Aroob Aftab), I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (Rotary Connection), Ping Pong (Stereolab), Long and Lonesome Road (Shocking Blue), I Put A Spell on You (Nina Simone) etc…

Vinyl, CD or mp3? If I’m doing the show live, I’ll play vinyl and CDs.

Fave WXNA shows: This is hard because there are so many great shows, so I’m just going to name some of the shows I happen to hear the most regularly – Reggae University, Scattershot, Indie Hangover, X-posure, Friday Afternoon Club, Nashville Jumps, Dear Jelly, Peter Rodman Goes Off, Ear To The Ground, Groovy Potential, Earthly Delights, Nashville Mixtapes… There are more!

Pinch-me moment: When I was given a show on WXNA – it was always my dream to have my own radio show.

When I die: I’d like one of those organic burials under a tree in Tennessee.

About Me: I am so honoured to be a part of the station and the Nashville community. I’m about to release my 8th album and I’m just thrilled that I’m still kickin’! Music is everything.

Hear music from Anne McCue & the Cubists music here!

Our Favorite Records of 2023

WXNA FM

Twenty-three is a pretty significant number. It was Michael Jordan’s number on the Bulls. Benjamin Harrison, one of the most remembered US presidents, was the 23rd to hold that office. And who can forget “The Number 23,” a 2007 film staring Jim Carrey that definitely exists. With such focus on 23 and all of its numerical glory it’s amazing any of us had time in 2023 to think about anything else. Luckily, your fearless WXNA DJs have come to the rescue once again with an amazing assortment of musical recommendations from the past year.

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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.

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Karl

WXNA FM

Wherein we pull back the curtain for a personal visit with one of the wonderful wizards of the X. In this case, the DJ we are featuring is Kari “Bunny” Ames aka DJ Karl!

Listen to Dizzy Spell, Saturdays from 11a-Noon

Born: Planet Claire in the Fortean System

Home: Bluebottom Garden, Nashville

Drafted into WXNA: April 25, 2017

Spins: Experimental / ethereal / existential

Fades: Disingenuousness

How did you discover independent radio? WRVU and Coast To Coast AM

Most played song: “Be Free” by B.F. Trike – recorded at RCA studios in Nashville in 1971

Vinyl, CD or mp3? All of ‘em and cassettes to boot

Fave WXNA shows: Tapeworms / The Scatter Shot / Body to Body

Pinch-me moment: Getting married 🙂

When I die: Bury me in my garden and plant a tree in my chest cavity