What musical experience most set you on the path to a career in radio?
It wasn’t so much an “experience” as an epiphany. I was in grad school for journalism, yearning for a career writing about music. While I didn’t come out with an actual degree (long story), I did leave with the realization that I was a much better music appreciator than a music writer. More importantly though, I left grad school with an internship with the music team at (pre-KUTX) KUT. I just kept showing up, and they never kicked me out.
What’s your favorite Austin music experience so far?
I’ve lived here too long to have just one. Some of the flashier items include stage diving at a Riverboat Gamblers show at the o.g. Emo’s, seeing A Giant Dog play at The Grand to maybe 25 people, or watching a band from the UK break up on-stage (don’t worry—they weren’t that good anyway) at an after-hours party during SXSW. But on reflection, I think my favorite moments are the quieter ones—flipping through vinyl at one of our fine, local record shops.
Why public rather than commercial radio?
I’ll point you to the Peter Fonda clip used in the first 20 seconds or so from Primal Scream’s “Loaded.”
How do you spend your time when you’re not spinning records on the air?
Mostly catering to the whims of two of the sweetest, weirdest dogs I’ve ever met. Besides that, I love watching British TV with my wonderful wife Jessi. I’m also a man of many, many hobbies. I like cooking and generally making delicious eatable and drinkable things—up to and including brewing beer, wine and meads. I collect vinyl (rare soul, funk and Jamaican 45s are my jams), and I also actually spin those records out in the real, live world too.