From the ashes of Sublime, the Long Beach Dub All Stars rise, smokin'.

...[SNIP]...

It's no huge revelation that the loss of Radio Free Hawaii has had a ripple effect on live music here. The word needs to get out about shows like the Dub All Stars, The Roots,and Suicidal Tendencies - all of which take place in the next two weeks. Unless y'all want to go back to the days of street culture, without a regular source of music from the underground, now is the time to support these shows. Amen.

   Damn, Doc Z, if you can feel the funk listening to KOOL 102.7, then you are extremely funksensitive - you must be a funky psychic friend or something. Every time I turn to 102.7 (most people I know still have it auto-programmed on their car stereos), I hear Luther Vandross doing some of that "Awoo-woo" shit. But if you say they play old funk, I'll take your word for it, because I don't listen to the station, and I wouldn't know.
   Still, you have raised some interesting questions about current happenings in local radio, and I commend you for taking on the city underground's holiest of sacred cows - Radio Free Hawaii. I have always been a staunch supporter of Radio Free, but I didn't listen to the station even once in their last eight months on the air, and rarely in the year and a half before that. I quit listening regularly sometime in '95, when Sublmie's Date Rape song was on every 20 minutes. I thought the general play list had gone way too bubble gum: every time I turned it on, it was either some candy punk rock or No Doubt or RFH's favorite pet band (and California's most offensive cultural export), Dance Hall Crashers. I would listen to Franchon on Sundays and DJ Static on Saturday nights.
   But I supported, and still support, Radio Free for non-musical reasons. Rirstly, RFH was a total affront to the corporate media establishment that produces useless "cutting edge" stations like KPOI. And second, I liked the DJs. They were people that are members of the same community as their listeners, unlike babbling idiots of KPOI ("Wow, that Morrisey needs to cheer up, huh? Hey stay tuned; after this - the new INXS!") I hope Radio Free comes back, but I also hope that they make some changes if they do.
   As for your regrets about signing the petition, I wouldn't worry about it; if RFH comes back they will likely be on a different frequency, so you'll be able to boogie all you want, and switch to Radio Free when KOOL plays Kenny G. I'll check out KOOL myself; thanks for the tip.
   One reason I haven't listened to KOOL yet is because I'm hooked on 1OLDIES7.9 FM and KUMU 2 on AM. 107.9 rocks the oldies, from Frankie Valle to the Chiftons to Smokey Robinson. (I dig it - they play a lot of music I first heard on Sheriff Norm's "When Rock Was Young" show.) KUMU 2 is the big secret of Honolulu Radio: Tom Jones, Tony Orlando and Dawn, The New Vaudeville Band ... it's weird! (And I love that AM ambiance; it's so clock-radio.)
   As for your bootyvs. brain dilemma, Doc: Well, anyone who's heard the subwoofers booming in my lime-green minitruck will tell you how I'd answer that question. You gotta go with the booty, because when a fat bass line is kicking, how much choice do you have, anyway?

Mark Chittom
mchittom@hawaii.edu

Patrik says...

I find it pretty ironic that the best radio staion in Honolulu since the demise of 102.7 Radio Free Hawaii still is 102.7. Ok, it's KOOL this time around, but 102.7 is still the safest bet when it comes to music in Honolulu. I miss RFH, and I want it to return - but it won't happen by removing KOOL. KOOL knows where the funk's at, and that's not too bad. But, for a dose of punk, reggae, ska, techno (or electronica as the US press has dubbed it), rock, "alternative hip hop", hardcore, you name it. In other words if you want to hear new music that's not corporate, you'd better pray for the return of RFH (and God knows I'm not a religious man). And you've got to admit that you miss the Crashers now that they're gone...

patrik.hamberg@swipnet.se