hey ms. dj...

I have been in a nostalgic mood lately.

I've not only found my cassettes from my old radio WMUR - Marquette University Radio shows, I find myself listening to them. There are moments I miss being a DJ, but I opted against radio as a career because there's no money in it. For some reason I thought Sociology/Social Welfare would rake in the bucks. Ha ha ha. Talk about college junior wisdom. Despite only being involved with radio as a listener, my time at WMUR has had a bigger impact on my life than I would have expected.

The obvious influence would be musical. In high school, I liked some of what would be called "alternative" but I was pretty much a rock girl with some new wave and pop infusion. During my time at WMUR, this genre called "grunge" started a music revolution of sorts...and I was there in the middle of it. Nirvana, AIC, Pearl Jam...you name it, we likely played it. MUR was also big on Wisconsin's own, the BoDeans. I also heard of the Goo Goo Dolls long before "Name" and that song off "City of Angels". In fact, their debut CD is somewhere in my CD stash and the song "Just The Way You Are" (no, NOT a cover) is still awesome. Of course, there was the not-so-common and the obscure...the Dead Milkmen and the Rainmakers, for example.

Looking back, the music I once spun has influenced the music I listen to today. I will maintain that the early-to-mid 1990s was the best span of music created in our lifetime (thus far). However, my main genre continues to be alternative music - both classic and current. You'll still find me listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM and older U2; bands who are around today due to college radio. I also love hearing new and emerging artists such as Billy Talent, Rise Against, MGMT and Alexisonfire...and I wonder how the music scene will evolve. Hopefully, it's back to the artistry and individuality of the 1990s, but only time will tell.

The other main impact is not so apparent. You wouldn't know it today, but I was shy in high school. Sure, around my friends I was fine but otherwise I could barely give a three minute presentation in speech class. I couldn't tell you why. Maybe I didn't feel I fit in (which was probably true). Maybe I wasn't comfortable with myself at that awkward puberty stage, and for a late bloomer, it was even worse. For these reasons and others, I decided to high-tail it out of Maryland and attend college elsewhere. Elsewhere ended up being Marquette.

Upon arrival as a freshman, I knew absolutely no one. While it was daunting, I realized that almost everyone else was in the same situation. I figured the best way to meet people outside my floor was to join some sort of student organization. As with any college, there were a plethora of clubs, organizations, etc. and radio piqued my interest. Let's face it, as a shy person I still liked to talk if I was comfortable with the situation. So I joined the radio station. The first semester was just learning the ropes and maybe doing on-air stuff. Second semester I was paired with an upperclassman to teach me the ropes so I could have a show of my own.

Well, it was a freakin' blast...and I fell hook, line and sinker. With radio it's just you, a mic and a remote audience. Since no one actually saw me, it was easy to put myself out there. It was a perfect fit for someone who will still joke that she has a face for radio. Radio also allowed me to express my individuality through music selection, studio guests, DJ babble, etc. Furthermore, I learned my brand of rumor (in moderation) translates well to radio. But really, my time as a DJ served as a platform for me to come out of my shell...although I'm sure some people wished I would have stayed in.

Back to those radio show cassettes...I still dislike my voice. My Maryland "o" is prevalent, and I'm strangely happy about that. I discovered that I still am amused by the content of the shows and my dorkiness, which much like the Maryland "o", hasn't wavered. And most importantly, I learned (in front of those ten listeners) that I can indeed be comfortable in my own skin.

So if you give this girl a mic, you never know what might happen...

summerfest = bummerfest

Music. Food. Friends. The Lakefront. Sounds like a recipe for a fabulous time, right?

Well, yes..in theory. The Big Gig, aka Summerfest, has touted itself as "the world's largest music festival". This indeed is true. I mean, where else will you find an event that runs for 11 days with 11 stages filled with all different genres of music.

I myself have been a frequent goer to The Big Gig (including one year where I went seven of 11 days) since my early 20s when I adopted Milwaukee as my "home". Yearly, I had the obligatory Saz's Sampler (sour cream & chive fries, mozz sticks and cheese curds) and a cold, frothy beverage...well, maybe more than one. My college roomies would converge on the fest for at least one day, and likely find others we knew along the way.

But really, Summerfest is all about the music! In my early fest-going days, you could get "hand-stamped' for the main stage - meaning you lined up outside the gates, paid general admission (about $10 at the time) and rushed the Marcus to get that coveted stamp. What did it get you? "Free" grass seat admission to the main stage. As a result, I've seen the following for $10 each: Prince (2x), BoDeans (2x), Violent Femmes/Goo Goo Dolls, Stone Temple Pilots, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Smashing Pumpkins...to name a few.

With the firing of Bo Black (RIP) as Executive Director and the hiring of Don Smiley (coincidence, seeing the logo of Summerfest), this fine tradition died - and the music died as well.

Don't get me wrong, there is still music at Summerfest. However, the music aimed at the mid 30s to early 50s crowd (plus their expendable income) and their children - aka classic rock, pop and country. Case in point, I give you the 2010 headliners:

Classic rock: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers w/ZZ Top, Eric Clapton w/ Roger Daltrey, Santana w/ Steve Winwood, Rush

Country: Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn w/ Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood

Poppy Crap: Justin Bieber w/ Sean Kingston, Usher (sans "Yeah"), American Idol tour

I realize that Tom Petty loves Summerfest and vice-versa, and I understand (per my brother who incidentally falls in the target audience) he puts on a great show. But think about it...all the classic rock main stage acts were making music/touring before I was born. Really? The only "new" acts (or at least acts that came of age this millennium) you could find were able to book country and this poppy crap trying to pose as music?

Now I realize that not everyone likes alternative/new rock genre (even though it's the best in my opinion), and that for some odd reason, the general populous likes country music. I also realize that Summerfest as a business needs to make money, and apparently the classic rock and country acts will rake in the dough more than the others. But I ask...where the hell is the alternative genre represented?

I would say on the side stages, but nope. In perusing the schedule most of it is made up of classic rock/80s music including: Night Ranger, Wang Chung, Kool & the Gang, Blue Oyster Cult, 38 Special, Moody Blues, YES, Scorpions and Peter Frampton. True, there are some good songs in this group of aging acts which I like - and I totally rock "Burnin' for You" by Blue Oyster Cult at karaoke. But I seriously thought Wang Chung and Kool & the Gang were dead. And none of these acts have had anything new since about 1990.

I did find some bona fide "new" alternative music, which by Summerfest standards, means their first hit occurred after 2000: Toyko Police Club, Cage the Elephant, Puddle of Mudd, The Bravery and Against Me! That's a mere five of hundreds of acts.

I believe my genre of music just got bitch-slapped by a smiley face.

there's no nice way to say it...

Kicking the bucket.
Going six feet under.
Having the angels ask you to fly.

No matter how metaphoric or flowery you put it, death is not a fun or happy subject nor is there a nice way to say it. I realize this blog is (or at least is so far) about more frivolous and less life-altering subjects, but once in a while, a trip down a darker road is deemed necessary.

Let's face it, there's been quite a bit of death in 2009. Personally, my Grandmom and my dog, Tiger Lily, passed on.

Grandmom's death was somewhat expected and "a relief" (as my dad put it) as her health was failing. She also wasn't her usual feisty, spunky self; which was quite strange and sad as she was always busy running around and quick with a sassy comment. Grandmom was also the relative who always told me I was so creative and should really doing something with those talents. Well, it took a few years but I finally listened...thanks Grandmom.

Tiger Lily's passing was completely unexpected which makes it a little sadder on some level. She was also my first pet as an adult, so she'll always hold a special place in my heart. Lily was a good dog that sometimes did bad things (such as eating couch cushions) but overall had a good and happy life. Her mom and her brother Caye also miss her very much.

However, death has affected almost everyone on some level this year as a number of high-profile "rich and famous" people have passed. Not that celebrities overshadow our families, friends or pets passing because that is certainly not the case. But in this years "class of 2009", at least one of them has had some impact on each of us (whether it be directly or indirectly).

Ed McMahon: Carson's sidekick - thus making him the most well-known sidekick in history. The former host of Star Search - arguably the precursor to American Idol (and all the other reality talent competitions). I don't know if I can forgive him for that.

Farrach Fawcett: I remember playing Charlie's Angels as a kid but since I was a brunette I always ended up as Kate Jackson. Honestly, that's probably why I wasn't huge fan of hers in the day. However, the way she publicly and courageously dealt with her battle with cancer speaks volumes. For that alone, she should be admired.

Michael Jackson: Personal life aside, MJ truly was "The King of Pop" and one of the few all-around entertainers of the 80s. Sure he was certifiably bizarre and whiter than I was, but we can only speculate on the "inner" demons. He will be forever recognized (and rightfully so) for his contributions to the music and entertainment industry.

Billy Mays: Maybe a pseudo-celebrity, but the world would be a much dirtier place without Oxy Clean and Orange Glo.

Walter Cronkite: As a broadcast minor, we watched early footage of Mr. Cronkite. Amazing. The man could almost transport you to the live action to the point where you felt like you were experiencing it yourself. How could he do it? "That's the way it is". There is no other way to sum it up.

John Hughes: Perhaps of all the celebrities, this one hits the hardest as his movies were a fabric of our lives in the 80s. We may have forgotten (until recently anyway) that he was involved in Uncle Buck and Home Alone (and thus largely responsible for Macaulay Caulkin's career)...but movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sixteen Candles and my personal favorite, The Breakfast Club remain true classics. Each one of us could relate to at least one of the characters in The Breakfast Club, and the film helped us to realize that no one social sect in high school had it easy. Hughes effectively tackled the highs and lows of growing up in a humorous way, yet made you think at the same time. I doubt anyone in the near future will come close to capturing the essence of adolescence quite the way Hughes did.