Music Feature Indie radio provides

Indie radio provides rock without restriction

BY LESLEY ANNIS

For the Daily Titan

Every year on Dec. 25, Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ, but on Dec. 25, 2003, rock fans in Los Angeles and Orange counties were sent a savior of a different kind, Indie 103.1 FM.

Owned by Entravision Communications Corporation, well known for the Hispanic television network Univision, Indie 103.1 has stayed away from the dominating radio corporations such as Clear Channel and Infi nity, leaving them free from the corporate demands most stations deal with.

Using that freedom to their advantage, the hosts of the radio shows play what they want, when they want, living up to the name “Indie.”

“It’s the most amazing thing, in that it is completely independently programmed and amazing music happens on the air because of it,” afternoon disc jockey TK said.

With 18 different shows a week, Indie plays various genres of rock every day of the week, with hosts that are notorious within the world of rock 'n' roll. Stars ranging from Rob Zombie to the Crystal Method duo, host shows that highlight their own originality and taste of music.

A common theme ties together the diversity of the Indie radio DJ's is their distaste for the repetitiveness of the majority of other stations on air today.

“It’s not the same 10 songs over and over,” Rob Zombie said. “We can sit here and do whatever we want. It’s the fi rst time in a long time that you can turn on the radio and not know what you are listening to.”

Indie radio has a show for anyone that likes rock `n’ roll even remotely. Along with whatever Zombie decides to play on Monday's, Chaos, with host Jackie on Wednesday makes sure metal lovers get their fi ll. If ska or old-school punk is more your taste you can take a risk with the Mighty Morning Show hosted by Dicky Barrett from the ska band the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Giving KROQ competition, Indie is slowly making a name for itself as the fi rst place to hear the next hot band or song. Playing bands before anyone else, such as Louis XIV and The Mars Volta, helps Indie separate itself from the rest of radio fans of music. Many times the hosts or their guests will play music straight from their car CD player or personal iPod.

With all of the things Indie has contributed to Southern California radio in the past year, Steve Jones, former guitarist for the Sex Pistols, and host of Jonesy’s Juke Box every weekday is the favorite DJ. This is true within the station Indie 103 fm TK is one of the many popular Indie 103.1 DJs. His show airs Monday thru Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

and with the listeners alike. Barrett was not scared to make known his feeling of awe when around Jones.

“I feel like a little girl,” he said. “If Steve Jones walked up to me, kicked me in the balls and spit on me, it would still be the greatest day of my life.”

Equally excited about working with the rock legend is one of the less notorious deejays TK.

“I’m amazed to walk through the doors everyday,” he said. “Today I saw him [Jones] talking on the phone…and it’s like, that’s Steve fucking Jones, you never take it for granted.”

Jones seems to be enjoying the resurgence of popularity he has gained from the daily show he hosts on the station and has chosen to remain modest about it.

“It’s good to be king,” he said in his dusty British accent, when asked what it was like to be the superstar of a station full of superstars. As much as he may have been joking, the self proclaimed “Sire of Wilshire” or “Ayatollah of Rock `n’ rolla” may just be Southern California’s Jesus of the rock `n’ roll religion.