Twang Nation » Blog Archive » Country Radio Lives!

Country Radio Lives!

July 9th 2007 in Americana, From where I sit, Radio, alt.country

Just got back from seeing the family in Dallas for the 4th. While tooling around in Mom’s Merc I checked out the local flavor and tuned into Lone Star 92.5, the Clear Channel radio station I previously had posted on. Sure I could stream them online and enjoy the tunes here in Manhattan but it’s not the same as cruising around the rain soaked streets of my youth.

I one sitting I heard The Allman Brothers, Dylan, Reckless Kelly, Johnny Cash, The Drive By Truckers and Todd Snyder. This, in my mind, is heaven.

On the plane home we too AirTran Airlines. They are always good and, from my experience, mostly on time. Most importantly, the servers on board are always nice to my daughter and they get major points for that.

The airline offered XM Radio on board the plane and while my daughter was absorbed in Miyazaki’s superb animation feature Spirited Away, I checked out what XM had to offer. I stayed a while at “Willie’s Place” and was pleased to hear the old school outlaws represented – Merle, Ray, Leftie – legends you don’t hear enough of on commercial radio. I then headed over to X (cross) Country and it sweetened the deal with John Prine, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle. I was sold. When I get out of the city and buy and truck the very next day I’m getting XM Radio. But when I drive it through Dallas, it’ll take a back seat the Lone Star 92.5.

7 comments to...
“Country Radio Lives!”

Kelly
wrote on July 10th, 2007

Hello,

Unfortunately, 92.5 is already leaning towards more classic rock (its previous format) with each passing day. While you heard some reckless kelly and todd snider, that is now the exception, rather than the rule it was when it reformatted a couple of months back. Hopefully it doesnt abandon altogether the alt-country genre. They have played both The Drams and Slobberbone, Uncle Tupelo and Wilco/Son Volt, along with Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown. Next time you’re in town or on-line check out 95.3 khyi. It is a good mix of XM’s “Willies Place” and “X-Country”. Its independently owned, so it can get away with that I guess.

Baron Lane
wrote on July 10th, 2007

Well it is a Clear Channel station. I’m sure they are watching the numbers like a hawk. If there’s one thing I learned form growing up in Dallas it’s that, as a community, there is a tremendous amount of apathy. With the risk taken and the excellent artists being played it would be a shame if the format shifted to the typical classic format again.

nffcnnr
wrote on July 12th, 2007

Great blog, btw. Lonestar 92.5 also plays Uncle Tupelo, Slobberbone, The Drams, Old 97’s, Son Volt, and Whiskeytown. While it is nice to hear some of my favorite bands on the radio, i have to agree with a previous commenter that since the welcomed format change a few months ago, i do hear more and more of Bob Seger cheese, generic white-boy blues and other played-out unpleasantness available on many other radio stations in DFW. i’ll keep my ears open to see if this trend continues. http://awesomeometer.blogspot.com/

bluebackslider
wrote on July 13th, 2007

If you get the chance, check out Sirius’ Outlaw Country. One of the best investments i have made.

Linda
wrote on July 15th, 2007

I love your blog.

I was an xm radio hold out (I’ve got cds, Willie and the Dead loaded heavy on my ipod — why pay for xm?) But, Willie calls in to Bill Mack’s xm Open Road show on Wednesday, and that and Willie’s Place is worth $10.00 a month. I don’t listen as much as I should; I have so many live shows taped and they are my favorite.

Have I told you lately that I love you(r blog)?

Baron Lane
wrote on July 15th, 2007

Shucks Linda, your sweet to day so. I’m a Texan in New York and having no car for four years going still gives me the sweats, but ’til I get one I won’t get the XM. Maybe it’ll be a whole new beat by then and I can system internet radio through my truck…a man can dream.

Chip
wrote on July 17th, 2007

I love XM Cross Country and Willie’s place I hear alot of great music there. Also, Clear Channell is the great satan. i don’t live in Dallas but I am sure they will turn to mindless commercialism again.

Steve Earle Readies Washington Square Serenade

Rock and country singer/songwriter Steve Earle has readied his New West Records debut, Washington Square Serenade, for its September 25 release date. Produced by the Dust Brothers’ John King, the 12th studio album for Earle features his cover of Tom
Waits’ “Way Down In The Hole,” a track that doubles as the theme song for HBO series The Wire, on which Earle guests. And speaking of guests, singer/songwriter Allison Moorer, Earle’s seventh wife to date, makes an appearance on second-to-last track [...]

Steve Earle Readies Washington Square SerenadePrevious Entry

Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch (New West) – Review

The Drive By Truckers built their reputation on the fine Southern tradition storytelling. In the Truckers tales the noble and notorious inhabit the homes, streets and woods of the deep South America living life and dealing with hardships and, many times, just getting by, or if situations arise just getting even. Using what country artists call “three chords and the truth” the DBT distilled it all down with a potent tri-axe attack mixer by way of Rossington/Collins to create great [...]

Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch (New West) – ReviewNext Entry