Airwaves for the People

When I tune in to college radio station back home, I know the risk involved.

Sure I've finally found a place where "Beverly Hills" can't get me, but is that really worth listening to some stoned kid mumble about how Weezer sucks so bad? I mean, if I really wanted that I'd clone myself, y'know?

So yes, college radio can get pretty terrible. But this is Berkeley folks. We have amazing record stores. Our homeless people rule. Does it not follow that we'd have an awesome radio station as well? Enter KALX, which resides in the bowels of Barrows on campus and at 90.7 on your FM dial.

With not much more than a dream and a mixing board made out of a cigar box, four engineering students (and MacGyver, apparently) brought KALX to life somewhere in Ehrman during the early 60s.

Today the little station that could has grown into one of the nation's top college radio frequencies. In a recent issue, Rolling Stone included KALX on their list of the top five stations to listen to on the internet. Wait, Rolling Stone arbitrarily listed something? No way!

But I digress. Boasting more than two hundred passionate volunteers and over 80 thousand records and CDs, KALX programming is consistently fresh and surprising.

In an effort to broaden the listener's musical horizons, deejays are asked to adhere to the Grandmother Rule: That is, each program must contain at least three genres readily distinguishable to the general nursing home community. So no, freak-folk (Devendra), sleep-folk (Iron and Wine) and Polk-folk (James K.) don't count.

In addition to musical eclecticism, live performance also constitutes an integral part of KALX programming. Local indie folkster Jon Vanderslice will sing and talk with DJ Disco Shawn today at four, so be sure to check that out. Supersystem and Fruitbats are both rumored to be on future editions of the station's live performance program, which airs Saturdays at nine. Sweet.

Regardless of what aging hippies would have you believe though, KALX isn't just about the music, man. Numerous arts and news talk programs find a home at 90.7.

In addition to specialty shows like the science oriented Berkeley Groks (airs Wednesdays at noon) and the sports themed Bear Talk (Wednesdays at nine), KALX also produces the female issues program Women Hold Up Half the Sky, and is currently the only college radio station in the nation with a Women's Department.

Sound like something you'd like to be a part of? Well gentle reader, KALX is holding an unprecedented student-only orientation seminar on Sept. 8th at 7:30 PM in 145 Dwinelle. Don't worry, you don't have to prove your cred or pass any indie quiz if you want to deejay. As DJ Mack wisely stated, "The beautiful thing about KALX is that anyone can be a deejay if they really want to."

Being a KALX deejay, in addition to getting you lots (and lots) of play, also proves rewarding for those seeking unfettered creative freedom. Disco Shawn, who also runs Subsonic and Soundcheck over at Live 105, says he loves Berkeley college radio because he "can literally play whatever I want, whenever I want", a statement that certainly doesn't apply to the larger station across the bay.

Still, college radio in general remains a lot like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry buys bad fruit. Fruit's a gamble. If its bad, deal with it. Nevertheless, be sure to check out KALX. The station's a whole lot of fun to listen to, and their cantelope is totally excellent. Or something.

A Brief History of KALX

1962 - KALX is born in a cigar box in the residence halls of UC Berkeley. The broadcasts started airing classical music weekdays on 850 KHz.

1966 - Radio KALX is relocated to Dwinelle Hall. UC Regents showed interest in applying for a broadcast frequency.

1967 - KALX delivers its first broadcast with a stronger transmitter. Their license was officially issued on Halloween Day.

1972 - Because of vandalism to the transmitter, theft of equipment and FCC regulations, KALX is forced to go off the air for 7 months.

2005 - KALX is a 24-hour freeform Radio Station powering 500 watts of stereo located in Barrows Hall. Their music collection is one of the largest on the West Coast.

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