As I set off to hang up my headphones for the last time on Thursday, I am hoping that you, listeners of weird music and followers of weird people, truly appreciate what KJ does for the music and university community.

The first thing that people typically think of in regards to college music (of which KJ is in the upper-echelon) is bizarre and experimental music. This type of broadcast is incredibly important. When I turn on commercial radio I am always struck by the ballsiness of what some people term ‘music’. These ‘faux’-DJ’s are simply marionettes, who for 24 hours a day, have their strings pulled by old, lame, white motherfuckers, and  simply press ‘play’ on automatic regional playlists that somehow render bands like Puddle of Mud relevant and noteworthy, even though the single they’re playing came out in 2001. But the reality is it’s all a very strategic business model that forces you to be a consumer of shitty ‘music’. The benefit to listening to college radio is when you listen to something similar to KJ, most of the time you are getting art. And as art, some of it sucks and some of it is amazing. But I will take horrible but original art over commercial and acceptable art. Bands like Puddle of Mud are following a well-scripted path that major-label record executives know pushes album sales and concert bookings and it may be a lot of things, but it ain’t art. At KJ, you also get the benefits of distinct student DJ’s picking and selecting music for the airwaves, spinning classic vinyl, looking through the stacks of tens of thousands of CD’s and bringing their own eclectic preferences to your eardrums.

If you didn’t know, KJ is licensed to purify the airwaves at a 2600W range, which ends just inside I-435. And Lawrence is a tiny city with a cool history. And this tiny station and tiny city repeatedly bring in some of the best indie-rock in the country. There is a venue on every block and bands repeatedly skip Kansas City to play in Lawrence. This city has built very talented bands and legendary venues that are supported by musicophiles and Kansas counter-culture hipsters. Lawrence is a nationally renowned music town, and this is all driven by the love for awesome and unique music.

More importantly, KJ, beyond the music played, is a learning resource. There is an award winning sports talk show, excellent sports broadcast teams, great arts and culture shows as well as a phenomenal news show. These are all headed and staffed completely by students that volunteer time and energy to create content, meet deadlines and demonstrate it all live and over the air. There are student staffs responsible for booking shows, programming the website, finding underwriting and producing live in-studio music acts. The whole station, with the exception of the general manager and engineer, are driven university students.

I have been involved with KJ for two years, starting off with an early morning rotation rock shift. I wanted to become a DJ simply to play awesome gypsy music. I ended up spending five semesters playing rock music and, finally, this semester, I was able to get my gypsy music show. As the assistant music director for the past year, I’ve seen how important KJ is for a talented group of executive staff members. It’s also rewarding to see other people on other staffs mature, certainly headed to be a future talented member of the executive staff. For me, my show was a nice diversion from the craziness of trying to earn a PhD. For some of these people, KJ provided very important experience for a post-graduate career.

So when you listen to crazy rock music on KJ, appreciate that what you’re listening to is, at the least, unique, and at the most, probably some of the most beautiful music and art imaginable. Also appreciate the work that students put in to keep a station going 24/7 on the local FM airwaves. I will also suggest becoming a member of the station; it certainly was a blast for me. But, alas, all good things must come to an end. And before I retire and glide away, here is a guide that I hope will help build your gypsy music catalog.

Gypsy Brass
Fanfare Ciocarlia
Boban Markovic
Kocani Orkestar
Besh o Drom
Slavic Soul Party
Traditional Gypsy
Esma Redzepova
Kolpakov Trio
Kek Lang
Poza
Rom Sam Ame
Kalyi Jag
Acquaragia Drom
Romano Drom
Romashka
Yuri Yunakov
Csokolom
Taraf De Haidouks
Klezmer
Melech Mechaya
Golem!
Di Naye Kapelye
The Klezmatics
Awesome Contemporary Indie Bands
Gogol Bordello
Melech Mechaya
Golem!
Beirut
DeVotchKa
Balkan Beat Box
DeLeon

from zachery graham

In the final episode of PJ 2 CJ, the guys discuss some NFL headlines, the NBA Playoffs and reflect on memories at KU during the 2011-12 year.

Headlines

NBA

Memories

by megan hazelwood

After a recent separation from his former band, Escape The Fate, Green is back on the scene with The Natural Born Killers. In this exclusive interview, Green finally breaks his silence and shares his side of what happened between him and Escape The Fate. Stepping away from the past and focusing on what everyone is dying to know, Green excitedly shares information about his new band, The Natural Born Killers. He lets KJHK in on the sound and line-up of The Natural Born Killers and shares when fans can expect more music. Watch the three part interview for all of the details!

 by jason bennett

Downtown Lawrence was alive with the sound of clapping, cheers and Rammstein on April 18, as the 85th annual Kansas Relays kicked off with its opening event, attended by more than a thousand people, of a world-class shot put competition featuring some of the biggest – and I mean the BIGGEST – throwers in the world.

It was an event that bore a strong resemblance to a pro-wrestling competition, with its massive, muscle-bound men wearing skin-tight spandex and stepping into a ring to the sounds of rock and heavy metal. But this was no WWE match. Officials with Kansas Athletics and the Kansas Relays had transformed Eighth Street, between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, into an Olympic-sized shot put arena.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, competitors stand inside of a ring 7 feet in diameter as they try to heave an 18-pound ball of solid iron the farthest without stepping outside of the ring; a feat more difficult than you might imagine, as they often spin in a circle to gain momentum before throwing.

There was something for everyone. An inflated bounce house for the kids to play in, live music, an excited atmosphere, and a nearby tavern, the Sandbar, serving beer in the street. But don’t expect every track meet to be this exciting – Lawrence is the only city in America that hosts an outdoor, downtown shot put.

It’s not just the fans who enjoy it, but also competitors like Ryan Whiting, who won first place in the Indoor World Championships in March. Although he finished 5th in Wednesday’s competition, Whiting said he enjoyed the downtown atmosphere.

“I love it, “Whiting said.”It’s a lot more engaging for us and the crowd actually gets to see what we do instead of us just being on the infield of the track. We do a meet like this in Stockholm and I hope it catches on over here so we don’t have to travel as much.”

History of the downtown shot put

It was in Stockholm, Sweden, that the idea for a shot put event in the middle of the city began. In 2008, track meet organizers DN Galan, tried an innovative marketing strategy and moved the shot put event out of the stadium and into a park in the heart of the city.

Since then, the Stockholm event has grown in popularity. In 2010, it became part of the Samsung Diamond League. Competitors who break a stadium record in Diamond League events win a 1-carat diamond worth about $10,000.

While no diamonds are awarded for the Lawrence event, Kansas Athletics and the city of Lawrence came together to re-invent the sport’s perception. But not only have they copied Europe’s example, they might have improved on it, according to Reese Hoffa, who won the event with a throw of 71 feet, 3 3/4 inches. So far, that’s the longest throw in the world in 2012.

“Doing it here is 100 percent unique. You don’t get this in Europe. They usually put us in a park somewhere, just a ruckus, just as exciting… I think that’s what makes this a good event, is the fans are right on top of you, you can give them a high-five, it’s awesome.”

Hoffa always makes sure to engage with his fans and get them on his side. He’s even been known to don a hood and cape when he throws in the ring, dubbing himself “The Unknown Shot Putter.” Before his sixth and final throw to win the event, Hoffa was in second place behind Olympic silver-medalist Christian Cantwell. It just might have been the backing of his fans that propelled him to victory.

“You know honestly, they give you that little bit that helps you get over the edge in terms of getting that good distance,” Hoffa said. “Especially when you’re really close.”

from sara sneath
originally aired on ad astra radio thursday april 19th, 2012:

For more information, check out http://www.ghosttoursofkansas.com/

Top 30!!!
1.) Part Time – What Would You Say?    (Mexican Summer)
2.) Yann Tiersen – Skyline    (Anti)
3.) Devin – Romancing    (Frenchkiss)
4.) Dinosaur Feathers – Whistle Tips    (Ernest Jenning)
5.) Bear In Heaven – I Love You, It’s Cool    (Hometapes-Dead Oceans)
6.) M. Ward – A Wasteland Companion    (Merge)
7.) Kaiser Chiefs – Start The Revolution Without Me    (Co-Op)
8.) Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light    (Fat Possum)
9.) La Sera – Sees The Light    (Hardly Art)
10.) Mars Volta – Noctourniquet    (Warner Brothers)
11.) Fake Natives – Fake Natives
12.) Clark – Iradelphic    (Warp)
13.) Woods/Amps For Christ – Woods/Amps For Christ    (SHRIMPER)
14.) Cold Specks – Winter Solstice [EP]    (Mute)
15.) Suckers – Candy Salad    (Frenchkiss)
16.) Lee Fields And The Expressions – Faithful Man    (Truth And Soul)
17.) Battles – Dross Glop    (Warp)
18.) Dan Web And The Spiders - Oh Sure
19.) Wire – The Black Session    (Pink Flag)
20.) Up The Academy -  “Gimme Gimme” [Single]     (Replay)
21.) Fungi Girls – Some Easy Magic    (Hozac)
22.) Gemma Ray – Island Fire    (Bronze Rat)
23.) Trampled By Turtles – Stars And Satellites    (Thirty Tigers)
24.) Yukon Blond – Tiger Talk    (dine alone)
25.) Love On A Real Train – Love On A Real Train    (Aeronaut)
26.) Anathema – Weather Systems    (The End)
27.) Toro Y Moi – June 2009    (Carpark)
28.) AU – Both Lights    (Hometapes)
29.) Dry The River – Shallow Bed    (RCA)
30.) The Men – Open Your Heart    (Sacred Bones)

Coming Soon!!!
1.) Death Grips – The Money Store    (Epic)
2.) Guantanamo Baywatch – Chest Crawl    (Dirtnap)
3.) Ty Segall And White Fence – Hair    (Drag City)
4.) Lower Dens – Nootropics    (Ribbon)
5.) Blasted Canyons – 2nd Place [EP]    (Castle Face)

by zack marsh

Join us Monday from 9-10 PM and bring your inquiries! I’ll be joined by a sexpert – you know, an expert about sex – as well as women’s health issues who will be taking questions from callers and offering insight, advice, and resources for all of those questions that you’ve always wanted answered. And don’t worry – we’ve got some sexy tunes to go right along with it. Mmmmmm yeahhhhh.

So come on, I know you’re feeling RANDY! But, here’s hoping you don’t need this kind of help… (click here, baby).

Keep it locked on KJHK!

from dj evie

K.O.,also known as KiNG, is just that guy from Kansas City doing big things. The young entrepreneur has set forth to take over “The Game” with his own musical style and sense of fashion.

Swag is all he knows. Look out for his main clothing line “Dope City Apparel” which was started by his big homies @Staxxfromthefam & @Ezefromthefam. Also look out for the kings on separate line of clothing which is “Long Live The King” a brand, motto and way of life thought by the king himself.

KiNG O$iRi$ has been doing music all his life, a drummer since the age of nine and a guitarist for about a couple years. Hip-hop/rap is his main focus even though he’s an all around artist. That’s the best part of this legacy. KiNG O$iRi$ has a movement called “The Fam”. It’s deeper than just a bunch of guys trying to make it –it’s a brotherhood that’s gonna sweep the nation.

by kanwar singh
tune in may 5th, 2012 at 4:20 p.m. to hear the interview

Twice in Kansas’ 8-1 loss to Oklahoma the Jayhawks had the Sooners in damage control — and both times the Jayhawks came up empty.

In the bottom of the second inning, Kansas was able to load the bases with two outs. The Jayhawk lineup had been shaky all season — batting .248 on the year — but the top half of the order has been productive at getting men on base, and leadoff batter Tucker Tharp was strolling up to the plate. Tharp wasted little time in the batters box, ripping the first pitch he faced and sending it straight to the shortstop who promptly tossed the ball to first.

Inning over.

“It’s been a struggle for us all year,” coach Ritch Price said of the Jayhawks clutch hitting.

James Stanfield went 3-5 in the Jayhawks loss

Kansas was, however, the first team on the board after a Jordan Dreiling sac-fly to right field in the third inning scored Kevin Kuntz from third, putting Kansas up 1-0.

Yet the lead wasn’t safe for long. In one of his only blunders on the day Wes Benjamin gave up a two-out, three-run homer to Max White after walking two batters before him in the top of the fifth.

“We talk with Wes about reducing his number of walks,” Price said.  “He can be more effective.”

The 3-1 lead wasn’t daunting, but the offensively challenged Jayhawks have had troubling getting on base, let alone scoring. Fortunately, Kansas had another opportunity to put more runs up.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kansas exploited the Sooners on a couple of mistakes. After Michael Suitor singled to start the frame, he was able to advance to second on a passed ball.  One out later, Tharp reached on a walk and Kuntz followed with another single. Again the Jayhawks had the bases loaded, this time with two outs of breathing room and the power-hitting catcher — James Stanfield — up to bat.

A quick meeting on the mound with Oklahoma’s staff saw starter Jonathan Gray pulled in favor of lefty Steven Okert. The switch not only worked, but paid dividends. Stanfield took a 2-1 offering and grounded it right to the shortstop for a double play.

“They’ve brought in lefties a lot against me this year,” Stanfield said. “He threw me a fastball, which is what I was looking for, it just got in on me a little bit. It could have been big.”

Inning over, again.

The Jayhawks weren’t able to recover from the wasted chance, and Oklahoma took full control. The Sooners scored five runs on six hits in the top of the ninth putting the game out of reach for Kansas.

“There’s no doubt double plays destroy rallies quicker than anything,” Price said of the Jayhawks folly with bases loaded. “They talk about a pitcher’s best friend and that’s why right there.”