Chicagoist: Ask Chicagoist: No More Skafish?

guest

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:23:53 -0600

I lived in Gainesville FL. I lived in San Diego. I've lived in LA. And I have driven through from Chicago to all those places. Because WE are from Chicago, we expect more. Corporations "Fire" DJ's of MArs, Skafish, Fook, and Van Osdel caliber because they want young and cheap and hip.... not young and "hip". They took Thomas cause he's from the west coast and thouht that he could bring a fresh look to Chicago radio. These stations need to learn... we don't need west coasters. We don't need Mancows. Skafish did a stint at Q101 before he went back to XRT. Hemmert needs to retire, but Skafish is a class act. They never should have relieved Bobby or Johnny. All that XRT has now are Lin and Frank. But I am sure there days are numbered. But as somebody discussed earlier.... buy some music and play it in the car. It would be great if you could get Pandorasbox.com in the car.

lumber

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:18:41 -0600

First, you guys are spoiled. You don't have any idea what bad radio is until you go live in another city. I am in KC now and, except for maybe a public radio blues show on Fri. and Sat. nights, everything down here blows chowder. XRT is way better than anything on the air here. I love a wide mix of music and thats what XRT plays. Sure they play some classic rock but at least it's not the predictable top 40 classic rock playlist that makes me puke. Led Zeppelin is probably my favorite band but if I ever hear Stairway to Heaven again I'll lose it. The day Mel Karmazin was squeezed out at CBS and XRT started streaming was one happy day my friend. Now I'm sitting here on a Friday night drinking a fine ale and listening to Johnny Mars spin on XRT. Hard to beat that. Final thought: if you really want to hear "free-form" rock-and-roll, the way FM used to be, keep an eye on KLOS in LA. I know, I know, LA does suck, but it appears that they are going to be streaming their entire schedule (not just the Mark and Brian schtick) very soon. Jim Ladd is on that station weeknights 8pm-midnight (10pm-2am for us) and he gets to play what he wants, all the time. I hope to be listening to him very soon. Until then, it has to be, XRT.

Master Chef

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:39:49 -0600

So, it's now 8 months since I last posted and here's what I have to say about Jason Thomas. He's better these days. He's not stuttering and stammering so much anymore, but his delivery still needs a bit more polish. I'm not a Jason Thomas hater; I'm trying to give the guy a chance since he really does throw in a better mix of music than XRT has done in quite some time. Wwhen it comes to his commentary, he should say less and play more. Oh, by chance I tuned in to 97.1 The Drive this evening and found Skafish DJ-ing his first show on that station. So, I guess that answers the question as to where he has ended up.

Jack the stripper

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:02:51 -0600

Could you elaborate,please?Thank you. XRT has become such a horrible station. [2] Posted by: Mike | August 10, 2006 1:02 PM

Art

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:57:32 -0600

Jason Thomas is damned good. I think all the haters are just looking to vent. Listen to him and give him a chance, instead of just finding a way to be pissed at him because someone else was let go for him to come in.

Tony

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:56:17 -0600

Skafish was last hip 20 years ago or more before he left XRT in the early 80s to go to the Loop. Apparently they kicked him off for not playing enough AC/DC, and he went crawling back to XRT in probably '88 or so. He has been bad ever since. Everyone who appreciates hip radio should be fined 10 dollars for each time that you tune into XRT. Wait a minute, they already fine me by plaing Bill Idol ("White Wedding" or "Dancin With Myself") almost everytime I turn it on. Also, Peter Gabriel from the "So" album. They must play something from that album at least once a day. It does feel like 1985 all over again, but back then XRT was a independent radio station and played much more than Gabriel, Idol and the other stale stuff that they play every day. Someone mentioned KEXP above, and I am listening to that right now at work, streaming live. KCRW out of Santa Monica is also good. I like Jason Thomas, he sounds pretty fresh until he has to play a song or provide witty comment for playing something like Idol or Gabriel. Johnny Mars was on "Nine FM" but I have stopped listening to it. So can't tell you if he is still on that lameA$$ station.

Kevin Walker

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:02:58 -0600

anne - YOUR POST ABOVE ME IS GREAT. He's still telling the Ray story. Still Stammering. Still Stuttering. Still Pausing. No big deal in another job, but he's a DJ!

anne

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:08:48 -0600

a message to jason thomas: please stop telling the ray lamontange story, i've heard it seven times. i can't stand it anymore. i'm trying to have faith in xrt, but it's just not working. jason-- the stammering, the studdering--why? are you still nervous? i just don't get it. seems like you should know how to speak more fluently, you being a dj and all. just a thought....

jocelyn

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:18:25 -0600

hey! but john landecker AND dick biondi are back on the radio. it was dick biondi's first night back on 94.7 tonight. yay!

Marie

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:26:25 -0600

I think Jason is a breath of fresh air to Chicago radio. He has a great on air personality and plays excellent music. I don't know why everyone is bashing the new guy..I guess your just bored..

Rich Plotner

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 08:48:51 -0600

This Jason Thomas is quite awful. Bobby Skafish wasn't perfect but held his own. This mush head sounds like he was kicked off of college radio for being too slow. Anyone recommend any good current stations that somewhat progressive?

Peter

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 17:45:46 -0600

I agree We need Johnny Mars. Does anyone know where he is now? (10/06) Please email me Thanx!

Master Chef

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:36:01 -0600

Jason Thomas sounds like someone who's on the radio for the first time. I'm surprised to read that he's worked in a couple other stations prior to this. His delivery is amateurish. I do notice a slight difference in his choice of music compared to the old guard's. That's an improvement. To the dude that wonders why the hell we even bother with commercial radio, well I may be a cheap bastard, but I'd rather not pay for satellite radio, thank you. But when I'm online I do prefer KEXP radio (I like their morning show guy's choice of music) and L.A.'s KCRW. Songs I hear on those radio stations sometimes eventually get heard in other commercial radio stations, even XRT but it usually take several months. It's funny that lately, XRT is starting to play more of them, but a whole year later. Oh, well, it's a start. I'm on board with everyone else about losing Johnny Mars. HUGE mistake. And it's time to lose Terry Hemmert. Oh, and from what I understand, XRT didn't dump Jim Derogatis' and Greg Kot's show, Sound Opinions. They got lured to Public Radio with more funding and the chance to syndicate the show.

BRock

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 21:21:37 -0600

If Jason Thomas was the answer to XRT sounding new and fresh, I'm going back to my iPod. He sounds completely awkward on-air. It's like I'm listening to my college roomie after he took his lips off the bong. Not sure where he came from, but he sounds quite green. Good luck with that, XRT.

Chip

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 17:06:44 -0600

KEXP is actually a lot better than the WLUW stream and the woxy one for that matter because not only is ALL of it free but it has the most advanced streaming technology on the web meaning that everyone can use it almost regardless of computer or internet speed. They offer something like 4 or 5 different streeming formats including an uncompressed CD quality streem for those of you with a T1 and they archive every show (in studio performances and all) going back like 7 years! Plus podcasts by artists and dj's alike. Plus they produce really good concerts and events all over the country like the one comming here in September. Definatly look into it.

Bill

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:53:11 -0600

88.7 WLUW Loyola comes in pretty good, most areas of the city. Also has some sort of a webcast. Very good station, WOXY and KEXP might be a little better.

Dan

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:08:35 -0600

WOXY's higher quality stream (which is good) is $10 a month. You can still listen to the lo-fi stream for free. I will look into KEXP.

tankboy

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 12:34:43 -0600

Yeah, Northwestern's station is good if you can get the signal, and can deal with long pauses while DJs read CD/record sleeves to figure out what the hell they just played. i actually kind of dig that sort of vibe.

Chip

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 12:05:17 -0600

Doesn't WOXY charge a fee now? I've heard Northwestern has a pretty good station. Seriously though...KEXP -the BOMB. best webstream period.

steven

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:53:44 -0600

Holy crap thank god they got rid of Skafish. He spewed out every cliche in the book. And what was with his Baby Doll Polka Club schtick?

Dan

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:49:23 -0600

WXRT is incredibly tired. That said, it's still the best commercial radio station in Chicago. They still play scores of Los Lobos, Midnight Oil, Eric Clapton, Jack Johnson, etc. They even dumped the Dero and Kot show, which was sort of cool (though better on NPR now). I agree with the sentiment that it's foolish to expect anything from commercial radio. I listen to woxy.com all day at work and it's pretty good. Even when they play a few songs I don't like, they're usually breaking new music and the DJs know their stuff. I have gone to the free WXRT shows at Grant Park, but so what? That doesn't make me a hypocrtie for saying the station sucks. They host some good bands when they're in town (and some that aren't so good), but you would have to listen for 2 days to hear one of their songs on the station. And XRT has never broken a "new" Wilco song that I hadn't heard about a month earlier somewhere else.

Tony

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:00:50 -0600

XRT wouldn't be listenable if I were even 50 years old. It's boring and stale. And did someone just brag about the station playing Deathcab for Cutie or..jesus...Wilco???? Get Sirius and listen to real music.

Joel2

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:56:45 -0600

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have the lowdown on good college radio stations in Chicago? There's so many schools here that I assume that there must be at least one decent one, but so far, no dice. I grew up on KCOU at Mizzou (which totally rocks) and am going crazy here with the commercial crap in Chicago.

Matt

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:06:10 -0600

You hypocrites are probably the first ones to tune in when XRT plays new Wilco and Death Cab tunes or hosts FREE 4th of July concerts in Grant Park every year. But yeah, they suck.

Matt

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:05:56 -0600

You hypocrites are probably the first ones to tune in when XRT plays new Wilco and Death Cab tunes or hosts FREE 4th of July concerts in Grant Park every year. But yeah, they suck.

Mike

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 07:58:27 -0600

When I was back in town this spring I was amazed at how XRT sounds EXACTLY the same as it did 4,7,10 years ago. Same DJs, same playlist. It was sort of comforting in a way since I miss living in Chicago so much, but damn, its so weird to think what a time capsule that radio station is. In NE Ohio, we have WAPS which is an XRT-wannabe that sounds much much worse.

Siobhan

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:51:46 -0600

If they are trying to update the station by adding a new, younger DJ, why in the world is Skafish the one being axed? He doesn't sound half as dated as Terri H and Frank E. Lee. And I agree with everyone who said that XRT's first big mistake was getting rid of Johnny Mars. He was the only one who had a clue about new music, with the Big Beat, yet they let he go to keep people obsessed with the Beatles. The station has just really lost its edge and is now just way out of touch with anything new, and getting rid of Skafish won't change that.

Blooper

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:03:28 -0600

I gave up on XRT (and commercial radio) years ago, but I have to ask, do they still play Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil once a day?!!! I hated that song when it came out, and loathed it when XRT still had it on heavy rotation ten tears later . . .

curmudgeon

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:58:24 -0600

The saddest thing is that they still have the always whiney Bremer in the line up. He sounds like my best friend's Dad and I'm OLD. I miss Johnny Mars so much!

sarah

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:41:13 -0600

I would pay money for Eric and Kathy to be fired from 101.9 or for that station to be taken off the airwaves. They and the station could win an award for most annoying radio show ever. I am forced to listen to them chatter like brainless chipmunks everyday. I think I am growing stupider because of them...

Chip

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:59:17 -0600

Yeah XRT is wack, just like the rest of Chicago radio. But I guess when all your listeners live in places like Downers Grove you have to play a lot of Mellencamp to make sure mini van dealers keep advertising. WLUW is cool but their transmiter is weak and thier streaming is pretty lo-rez. I listen to kexp.org out of Seattle and I have yet to find a cooler more enlightening, high tech and versitile radio experience. It's all independant, the djs play what they want and they really know thier shit. I actually just found out that they will be comming to Chicago to do some kind of live remote broadcast with local bands in September and I think they are throwing a big party or show somewhere too. You would think someone in Chicago could start a company like that with all the music we have going on here. It's a shame.

Chip

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:55:29 -0600

Amy

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:41:43 -0600

God help us all. Skafish never fit into the XRT lineup and he was creepy-weird. What's going on with Marker now? If Marty takes the 9p shift - where does Marker go? This is a good thing. They should have never fired Johnny Mars. Really Norm - karma is a bitch.

Bill V

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:36:42 -0600

Comment from a music snob. Why does anyone bother with XRT or any other Chicago commercial station? I just don't get it with all of the other ways to get better music available. Personal music players, commercial free satellite radio, internet radio and college radio stations. I turn on XRT every once in a great while for shits and giggles, usually get a bunch of commercials or some crappy song from the 70's. Their idea of something new is an REM song from 15 years ago.

MLH

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:30:21 -0600

Why not fire Terry Hemmert? Anyone that makes people dislike the Beatles clearly should be dismissed.

Mike

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:26:19 -0600

people tune into XRT to hear something different but now it's all just the same crap.

Mr. Smith

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:15:22 -0600

A little freshening up of the playlist would be a good next step.

Mike

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:02:55 -0600

XRT has become such a horrible station.

jdg

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:35:08 -0600

who the hell is jason thomas? i think norm winer is an egotistical weirdo. wasn't skafish fired once or twice already? is that why his wonderful wife, wendy rice, was doing the shift on monday? god love her, but she sounds so weird and awkward and out of date on the air. probably why she's normally relegated to "flashback." norm needs to sit back, be a figurehead and not a dictator. it's getting old.