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10 Questions with ... Jonathan L
March 28, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. It is a step by step process when recording a show because so much is involved. Lucky for me that I learned how to record back in 1994-1995 with my last version of KUKQ the punk rock version I call it—using a system prior to all the newer systems. We were the first rock/alternative station to go 90% recorded. I went live when we wanted to. I told all the jocks they had 1:50 to talk. For me that translated into the last 13 years of being confident of short breaks but getting in enough for the listeners.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
From 1974 I have done pretty much everything to the music industry. Damn 52 years. Magazine and Radio and plenty of other related to industry.
1. You just announced that Lopsided World Of L is going on hiatus after 18 years. Tell us about your final episode and how hard it is to step away.
The last edition was the 53rd edition of She Show, one of the most popular specials over the years. As I end 18 years with 615 editions from Berlin, and add the over 500 editions from Phoenix, I think it was the correct way to stop now till the future.
2. Lopsided World Of L has been a labor of love! Take us through the process of a typical week of putting together your one-of-a kind 2-hour show.
Much different than being live like I did for most of my career. It is a step by step process when recording a show because so much is involved. Lucky for me that I learned how to record back in 1994-1995 with my last version of KUKQ the punk rock version I call it—using a system prior to all the newer systems. We were the first rock/alternative station to go 90% recorded. I went live when we wanted to. I told all the jocks they had 1:50 to talk. For me that translated into the last 13 years of being confident of short breaks but getting in enough for the listeners.
This is how I do/did a radio show. Each one takes about a week to finish. Everything I did was just me with none else.
I begin with 3 files on iTunes. Always working on 3 shows at one time. I have no desire to be the first one to play any artist on purpose. If it happens, so be it. The show was never time sensitive. For the past 7 years I stopped playing any songs with "fuck" in it. Got tired of editing the word out. There are 3 files because I move the songs that I have downloaded and will most likely play -- I move them around while I am working on that first one. I keep moving till I have the mix I am looking for. That takes time. On each edition I have 1 Hour and 59 seconds or just less. Never ever go to 2 Hours or more. Screws up stations. But in the final I have 1 Hour 53 seconds to allow for my 7 talk breaks. Not always easy but i do get there. Then, it is to put the songs in the order I want each set to sound like. Next I write the show in order with all the artist ID's and music on a pad. When that is done I then type the show from the pad to a document called "Schedule." Next is to type the "script" on a document called 'script'. As I listen over and over to the one show I am working on, I type what I am going to say. Always positive about the artists. That takes time and real thought because what I am typing has to be me natural. I might change a word here and there but the script pretty much is what is on the document. That takes about 3 to 4 hours. With a small time away from computer to think about the next talk break. I wait a day because I am exhausted from so much typing. The next day I open up my Windows 75 which has Adobe Audition 3.0 and that computer is only for recording. Then to record my voice which I have set at level 5. Maybe a half hour and after any edits I am done with that part. Next is to start the system again and take my voice and add the music underbed. My voice level at 3.6 and underbed at -11.5. By the way I do not use headphones at all. I learned years ago recording in my quiet little area (see photo) that I can hear my voice the way it is without the headphones. Now it is time to record the show. Part one takes about 30 minutes. Part two is the careful one. That is why I play a long song at the end - just in case I have to slightly edit to get to 1 hour and 50 something seconds.
Okay, the show is done, but that is not the end. Then I restart the system again and take Part one and upload it. Same for Part two. Then restart again and take both and upload. It takes time and then put them together to make a full show, which most of the stations wanted. Then I put them on a USB stick. Shut down that computer. Back to the Mac and put all three parts on a file that has all the shows. That is also not the end. I then go to a "2023 backup" file which earlier I had put the schedule of that show on. On to my Playlist blog- and put on the graphic and the playlist. Then go to HTML and get the code which I put on the backup file for my playlist. I have been doing all the promo graphics for each edition myself. Usually do them in advance. Could be 3 on my desktop. So, that is the show. Thoughtful, precise, and not thrown together. But- that isn't where it ends. It is all the Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter promotion. That frankly with 10 stations, a drain on me. I never cared about how many likes-promoting the show is important and a constant reminder. But tiresome extra work. Look, I know that many of my peers will understand all of the above in some ways, but not to be egotistical, I am not, but I don't see many or anyone doing all this themselves with no help. I do/did and so if you think you can replicate me, do it. I just told you how to do a professional radio show. Who else would do that? Give their secret away.
3. You have so many great memories from radio. When is the memoir coming? Please share something that would blow people away.
I do have so many memories. I would like to think that throughout my career I made real friendships beyond the radio musician relationship. Charles Thompson (Frank Black Francis), Joan Jett, Ronnie Spector and husband, John Easdale (Dramarama), Howe Gelb (Giant Sand). True friendships mean much more than just getting to meet someone and a photo op.
My memoir will take maybe a year-maybe less- maybe more. I am going to concentrate and incorporate my life stages and changes to give readers more about my life than just the music. I look so forward to not only writing but all the stories and memories that I have. Hmm. Blow people away. I worked with mobsters during my Mack Truck years. When I booked bands and made Nino's my hangout. The owner had a machine gun in his trunk and used it. He was related in his years to the mob.
4. So proud to call you a great friend/mentor for the past 35 years. I still have some "Virgin Vinyl" playlists you used to send me. In fact, I think I shared one with you recently. You truly are the Grandfather Of Alternative Radio. What does that mean to you?
I take that as a compliment my dear friend and a best friend for life. As one only a handful of pioneers and founders of the original format I am not fortunate, but rather worked very hard to achieve so much that has impacted radio and listeners all those years. My tentacles spread very far with many peers in radio and label persons. At my age I can accept "Grandfather."
5. What has given you the drive to help break so many bands over the last 5 decades?
Simple: From the very start all I played was new artists and songs on Virgin Vinyl, and that set the mode of what I would do primarily. Same for all my stations and Lopsided World Of L. I personally enjoy breaking artists and bands that-ok- maybe many never heard again, or some go on to become known. But it wasn't my priority.
6. Time to name drop. Tell us about some artists that you think should be on the radio's radar in the U.S.
It would be unfair for me to single out particular artists or bands. So much good to great music is out there that gets unfortunately ignored. I will say though, American radio should not step on each other to discover the newest United Kingdom artist or band. Other Countries sing in English. Ok, here are a few. Frenchy and the Punk -gal/guy from New York City. Dea Matrona 2 gals Belfast, Ireland. Veronica Fusaro -Switzerland. Muddy What? -Nürnberg, Germany. Rez The Rapper -Los Angeles. Pure Obsessions & Red Nights- France. Plastic Soul Boys -New York/London. Out of thousands that I have played I decided to throw in just a teeny tiny amount of what I played. Not fair to make a long list, but you should check them.
7. You have covered all the bases in Alternative from music magazine publisher, radio programmer, record promoter, trade editor, specialty show host, and you even wrote a song. What was your favorite?
Programming and hosting a radio show. Nothing compares to the accomplishment of each individual edition. The feeling cannot be described, it is what it is. All the others I did well and gave me more wisdom and knowledge how the industry worked. The show was the favorite because it was me, music and quite personal. I should add in that I booked, and put everything together for KUKQ festivals from 1989 to 1993. Twice a year. In the late 70s and early 80s I co-promoted with Newsreal shows in Tucson. Violent Femmes, Suburban Lawns, The Fall and a number of others. In Phoenix mid 80s booked all the artists for the club Nino's. Johnny Thunders, The Church, Soul Asylum, Living Colour, among others, and many local artists.
8. Explain your legendary catch phrase, "Pleasantly Annoying."
I am glad you asked me this. It will be the title of the book. It began in early 80s as a remark that I said about a song. It wasn't meant to be negative. When I said it, it tickled me and so it began to be part of the show all the years through Virgin Vinyl, and all 4 stations I founded and created. When I moved to Los Angeles and was Head of Alternative, I wrote a weekly column in Album Network for 7 years, as well as the monthly column in virtuallyalternative. In addition, that was the name of the weekly show I did on Spike Radio internet in 2000. The phrase became more than just that.
9. What may surprise people most about you?
Tough one. That I can be Likable? Maybe. I love still using a phone. I do have dark humor.
10. Of all the things you've accomplished in Alternative Radio, what are you most proud of?
To be one of the founders and pioneers when it wasn't yet a format and then in 1989 it did. Exciting up and down times to the end result. We had a format and it was for all of us involved a victory.
Now, let's do some fun BONUS QUESTIONS:
What are your favorite places to eat in Germany?
Here in Berlin, many good Italian. Like Enzo. Also my favorite Deutsch restaurant is Cafe Rik's. Super environment. 75 years old and the wood inside is real and quite impressive. Sandwiches or breakfast is the best. Favorite food?
Honestly a food I cannot get here. MEXICAN! Miss it sooooo much.
Favorite drink?
Just water and Blueberry juice. Haven't had alcohol since the end of 80s.
Favorite movies?
Some examples. Nobody (Bob O is phenomenal). All Daniel Craig Bond movies. Atomic Blonde. Book Of Eli, True Romance. Films that I have watched numerous times, so I guess call them favorites. Action films mostly. Not into animated films. Finally broke down and have Netflix. Watching a lot of films and series. Finally got to see Peaky Blinders 6. Great series.
It's baseball season and you love fantasy baseball. Tell us about how you manage and follow your fantasy baseball teams living in Berlin?
Great question, because we both love Baseball Shawn and we celebrate 20 years in the same Fantasy League with most of the same managers. I have been subscribing to MLB.TV since 2008. Think one of the earliest. So I can watch all games with no blackouts. The only games I really can't watch are Pacific Coast games that start at 4am here. But, there are a number of earlier games most days. Love it. Can't go without Baseball.
To this day I bleed Dodger blue since Brooklyn and Los Angeles. When I lived in LA for 10 years, went to so many games. You and I went a number of games together over the years. I have to also mention that the year we were both in the first year of our fantasy league, 2003, you and I flew to Chicago, rented a car and visited numerous Midwest radio programmers. I bring this up because we went to two Stadiums and watched two ball games. One in Cincinnati and the other in Cleveland. I know you and I can never forget that trip.
Let's flashback to The Ramones and The Monday Morning Music Meeting Live.
Running The Ramones half hour—with no jock-just Joey's intro-middle and goodbye twice a day Monday through Friday was highly popular -The Ramones Southwest Headquarters.
And I created "The Monday Morning Music Meeting Live." Two and a half hours of playing new songs that might be added on that day with listeners, and record promoters calling in live, and of course listeners. Pretty wild and Billboard did a piece on it. Numerous other programmers tried to simulate, but charged labels for play and no end result of if a song got added.
First record ever purchased?
1957. A 45 of Tom & Jerry "Hey Schoolgirl". They went on to become Simon and Garfunkel. Bought it at Woolworths.
First concert?
Burt Bacharach with opener Captain and Tennille. Westbury Music Fair in the round. (Should I be embarrassed?) Heck no. Was a great concert. Did see Richie Havens at The Bitter End in New York City 1969, but not a concert. Him and maybe 30 people including me. I did not go to Woodstock. Was at a friend's barbecue listening to the radio for the first time that the Giants and Jets played an exhibition game.
Favorite band of all-time?
Earlier years. The Ramones. Period. Later years Pixies (why are they not in the R&R Hall Of Fame?)
Anything else you would like to add?
Yes. My beautiful understanding wife Gaby putting up with all the show music and work into it. She is strong and just ignored by putting in her ear buds.
Winning the award twice 2015 and 2017 for International Radio Personality at the
Worldwide Radio Summit in Los Angeles is something that will always be close to heart. The trophies sit on a shelf right above my desk. And, also from now on you all can listen to any show from the archives on this link and stream on your own time whenever you want. oedipus1.com Listen to what I consider shows you might have missed and might really enjoy that is different then what you will ever hear in America.
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