JW Kennedy's Journal

Weird Radio, Richmond VA
I've been listening to the radio and have found some stations here that satisfy my craving for the unique and unusual.

On the FM band, 97.3 WRIR "Richmond Independent Radio" is probably best. has much of the flavor of college radio without so much of the awkward amateurishness. There's still some amateurishness - just not as much. I haven't figured out their programming schedule yet, but it includes lots of strange stuff. Odd, quirky music you won't hear anywhere else on FM .. local talk .. techno music sessions in the evening... one guy who's on late at night plays excerpts from 1950s musicals. Once I turned it on and heard a sound-collage of old movie clips. This station is low-power so unless you live in "the City" proper, you can't hear it. You can listen online, but ... I forget the URL. It's run in the nonprofit manner, DJs are volunteers, and commercials (excuse me, "underwriters' credits") are usually read by the DJ in the booth. WRIR carries a lot of NPR programming which - for unknown reasons - isn't on the Public Radio station or "Community Idea Station" as it's calling itself.

WCVE (originally stood for "Central Virginia Educational") 88.9 FM, is the traditional Public Radio station. Jazz, Classical, and news. Some talk, and of course Prairie Home Companion, Car Talk, and This American Life. It's pretty boring most of the time, but not nearly as annoying to listen to as any of the ClearChannel music stations.

For truly supreme wierdness you've got to flip over to the AM band.

1140 AM is the legendary WRVA, high-power beacon that can be heard across the state, with good equipment. They play Rush Limbaugh and other worthless conservative loudmouths, but they have Coast-to-Coast on at midnight, which is almost always fascinating.

1380 AM ... I don't know their call letters, but this is a Christian station called "Spirited Talk." I know you're thinking "Radio Ministry? YUCK!" But if you can believe it, a Christian radio station that actually criticizes George W Bush. The shows I have listened to on this station are surprisingly thoughtful.

1450 AM WCLM. This is the most amazing mishmash of "anything-goes" programming. There are black Gospel shows. Big John Trimble in the morning on weekdays plays old Country music (not the New Nashville crap, but the good stuff from the 50s, 60s and 70s) Saturday morning is DJ Barnett with his Bluegrass show, and weekday afternoons feature the AMAZING Bopst Show. Other radio stations claim "We Play Anything" but Chris Bopst is the only man who lives up to that promise. You never know what he's going to play next. It's fascinating.

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