Unless you are unemployed, drunk or an insomniac, by the time you are reading this, 106.5 KWOD is gone. As of 9AM on Friday 5/22/09, the commercial home to alternative music in the Sacramento Valley since 1991 is off the air. Be careful not to step in the pools of black mascara left by mourning fans of the holy trinity of mope rock (Morrissey, The Cure and Depeche Mode).
The irony is, according to rumor, it will be replaced by a station called The BUZZ, which will specialize in 90’s rock and alternative music. That’s right. KWOD may very well be replaced by a station that will be using KWOD’s exact format, but from 15 years ago.
For you alternative music fans who still listen to music on the radio, I recommend making the slide down the left side of the dial to student run radio. U.C. Davis’ 90.3 KDVS has the most eclectic playlist in the region, while the C.S.U.S. station KSSU has a more urban feel with more punk, hiphop and electronic. El Camino High School broadcasts at 91.5 as KYDS, which has the closest format to the deceased KWOD with a playlist largely populated by newer alternative rock acts. When KYDS is not broadcasting, it simulcasts KSSU, which can also be heard on-line 24/7.
The Sac Rag 
Miss you, KWOD.
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So sad! What’s odd is that I just awoke from a dream that I met Andy Sims (insert onomatopoeic sound here that I’m not sure how to spell) in real life and asked if he was like the fictional Jack on Jack FM, as it seems that Andy Sims (insert onomatopoeic sound here that I’m not sure how to spell) is/was always on the air.
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Wow, what a bummer. Hey, a station that plays all 90s doesn’t sound that bad though.
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Hmm…I love the Smiths, Cure, and Depeche Mode, but never heard them on KWOD. All I ever heard was 90s, harder stuff. RIP, I guess–but it sure didn’t seem to be the Church of Mope Rock.
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I guess it’s a good riddens IMHO. Alternative music has been getting to emo for me. I really don’t want to hear whiny men with soft voices singing about their girlfriends. KYDS (91.5), Pandora, and KRXQ (98.5) are all I have left. On 98.5 I only really listen to Rob Arnie and Dawn, and Resurrected on sunadays. However, I’m hoping that KRXQ will try to scoop some of the Modern Rock into their play lists after this.
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Yeah, IMNSHO they needed MORE Cure, Depeche, and Morrissey, not less. And emo is fine is it’s done well and clever, but there are too many less-talented wanabee bands. But their big mistake was too much grunge (sludge), ala Nickelback, Hoobestank, and other crud-rock. I’d love more electronic rock/pop, bent-pop, and alt-folk even (Ani DiFranco, Regina Spektor). And don’t complain about today’s music. I’m in my mid-50sa and there’s plenty of good music today. But just like every other decade, there’s a lot of crap too!
As for KWOD, they weren’t perfect, but they were the only commercial station playing anything resembling alternative/modern rock and will be missed. If you are adventurous, though, check out the El Camino student station (KYDS, I think, at 91.5 with a sometimes weak signal) and of course KDVS in Davis, if you can get it without too much static and put up with some truly weird stuff sometimes π
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Yeah, this was pretty depressing. Great way to start off my morning, for sure… And the unceremonious signoff was pretty weak too… For the record, last song played by KWOD was “Short Skirt, Long Jacket” by Cake, preceded by some new-ish Green Day song that I forgot the title of, and Bad Religion’s “Ball And Chain” before that.
See ya’, KWOD.
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Wow, Cake to end it all. What a miserable band! Yeah, apparently some people love them which is why there were popular. I’d say Joy Division or Social D would have been a good way out. Wait, “Ball and Chain” is by Social D, not so bad I guess, ‘cept the Cake part.
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This really took me by surprise, as a drunk insomniac who recently lost his job. No wait, none of those things are true (at the moment). The car radio was broken for a long long time.
I’ll definitely miss KWOD, though as Stickie points out we have some great non-commercial stations on the dial. As a fan of traditional music, I of course rely on the existence of KVMR. But KWOD has just always been there. I personally think it’s great they went out on “Short Skirt, Long Jacket”!
Mad Dog – I thought we were calling Nickelback, Hoobastank et al “buttrock”
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>>Mad Dog – I thought we were calling Nickelback, Hoobastank et al ΓΒ’Γ’βˆ βbuttrockΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬ΓΒ
Haha! Maybe butt-head rock.
And another vote for Cake being cool and unique. Like ’em!
Mad Dog
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PS — I should add that KWOD has been on the air as KWOD since 1977, but has had the ‘alternative’ format since 1991. Did not mean to slight the 80’s heyday under the helm of Tom Chase.
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The Buzz playlist. No Diggity. Barf.
http://www.tunegenie.com/onair/kwod/
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It’s time for the KWOD fans to start looking outside the box. This has to be a good thing for the youth of Sacramento!
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TheChadd: Wouldn’t Joy Division be more appropriate on a 70’s themed radio station?
Althought that would be pretty neat…a station that played the underground music of the 70s! Germs, Joy Division, Ramones, Stooges, Velvet Underground, CAN, Kraftwerk, Devo, Throbbing Gristle, New York Dolls, Television, Richard Hell and the Voidoids…
sorry, got carried away there for a minute.
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I turned on KWOD this morning and heard Boyz 2 Men, I damn near crashed my car. What the hell is this world coming to?
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wburg – that station sounds like heaven to me!
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Stickie, I agree. wburg’s suggestion sounds “Just Like Heaven.” (OK, I’m a little off with the timing of the song, but the reference is still KWOD appropriate.)
I’ve switched to Live 105 on iTunes for listening in the office — KWOD’s stream on iTunes just went completely dead at 9am.
While flipping across 106.5 on the way home, I heard Sheryl Crow and Warren G.
//.- {
(That’s my emoticon of a sad mod guy wearing Robert Smith-inspired lipstick with his long bangs covering one eye — not sure if WordPress will automatically convert it into something different.)
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Sad mod guy emoticon is pure genius!
I’m all about Boot Liquor on SomaFM these days…
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I couldn’t figure out how to do guyliner emoticon style for this or how to depict TUK Creepers and clove cigarettes.
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I,too woke up the boyz to men and had to find out what the hell happened. I’ll be fifty three (female) on Monday and I loved KWOD. Will damn sure miss the music. Where can I go to listen to Ruben? Loved him. Witty and sassy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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P.S. Where’s another alternative music station? Will Ruben have his own station and format?
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That BUZZ playlist is like taking the iPod of a person who has atrocious musical taste, or none, and hitting shuffle.
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Laurie, the three stations that I listed are probably the only three stations in the Sacramento area that could remotely be considered to be “alternative”.
Or, if you want to listen to internet radio, the two California stations that I would recommend for more “mainstream alternative” (how’s that for an oxyomron?) would be Live 105 (as Runnergirl mentioned) or KROQ. Even LA is not immune to losing alternative radio, as their Indie 103 folded earlier this year.
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For internet radio, check out KEXP in Seattle.
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For those of us who primarily use our stereos to listen to music (odd, isn’t it…..) but who would prefer to listen to someone not going through puberty nor dealing with a hangover from the hemp party the night before….is there another station ‘on the dial’ that closely matches KWOD?
Wasn’t there another station around that was also alternative/competed for KWOD listeners? Did they fold or dive into the deep end in one genre (heavy/metal, rock, polka, etc…)?
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Missy, the only thing that is ringing a bell is 93.7, the current JACK FM. Before the format switch, they were kind of a cross between 98ROCK and KWOD from 2004 – 2005, claiming their format to be “classic alternative” (another fantastic oxymoron).
I suppose your closest pick might the 100.5 The Zone, but that is kind of like being hungry for Sushi and deciding that Korean BBQ is “close enough”.
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I kinda grew to hate KWOD due to working in an art supplies store where we were forced to listen to it at all times – but it’s still a shame to see a non-Lady GaGa peddling station go under. Hopefully the 90’s station will be decent and not feature primarily Sister Hazel.
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tell me what you think: http://www.tunegenie.com/onair/kwod/
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As a public service, I am working my way through the alternative radio stations on iTunes and will provide a report back on my findings.
Unfortunately the Classic Live 105 station consists mostly of the overplayed ’80s stuff, many tunes which are now part of car and Swiffer commercials — I take this as a sign that I’m officially getting old.
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Speaking of internet radio, WOXY Vintage is running through the Modern Rock 500 right now, the top 500 modern rock songs of all time. They are about halfway through right now (#234 – Screaming Trees, “Nearly Lost You” — one of the awesomest songs of its era)
http://woxy.com/vintage/
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Ah- the good ol’ days. I lost my virginity during a Swiffer commercial…
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I can’t believe KWOD is gone. I am 29 now, I grew up on KWOD. I’ve listened since i was about 12 or 13 religiously. Since Entercom took over a few years ago the station started to suck. I remember going to the 27th floor may times to pick up prizes I had won on KWOD, and looking over the Sacramento skyline. It now feels like a part of me is gone. KWOD got me through Jr High, High School, many years of Jr College and up until now. I miss the old KWOD this 2.0 version was garbage as soon as it began but still better than most Sac radio. I still have the KWOD 106.5 “51 minutes of non stop KWOD” banner I took from a No Doubt concert in 1998 at the Crest hanging up proudly in my garage. KWOD (version “1.0”) may be gone but never will be forgotten. THANKS FOR MEMORIES KWOD.
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The Buzz is taking liberties with the all ’90s concept, playing songs released in 1989 like “Roam” from the B-52s and “I Remember You” by Skid Row. This is nit-picky, but I want KWOD back. This sounds like a case for Judge England.
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So.. 106.5 went from bad to worse. Good going!! F**k these marketing yuppie low-flying douche rockets who wouldn’t know good music if it grabbed them by their faux-hawks and violently shook their head until their bluetooth ear piece fell out!
Whew! glad I got that off my chest.
Now that KWOD is gone, what do we have left? 98 Rock? For all we know, that dude-bro fist-pump station is probably not too far behind for a reformat — So, raise your PBRs as they play “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC for the 30th time today. WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Because tomorrow, they’ll be an all 80’s station playing “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger followed by “True” by Spandau Ballet.
Good Riddance, KWOD.
At least we still have the hit & miss aural box-of-chocolates (you never know what you’re gonna get) known as KDVS!
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I do hate this station sucks now but have to admit hearing MC Hammer on the way to work made my day. I’m a total loser though.
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In the wise words of Lucy, wahhhhhh. *sniffle*
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=.[
my friends and i miss KWOD
the buzz is HORRIBLE
they play like the exact same music as zone (kinda)
*sniff sniff*
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How can we bring them back!!! This stupid 90’s station is just so 90’s. I grew up with that music its not all bad but a ENTIRE STATION FOR THE 90’S AND THEY PLAY THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!
PLEASE KWOD IF YOU READ THIS COME BACK WE ALL MISS YOU!!!
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Here’s how to bring back good radio:
Step 1 – Buy a satellite radio
Step 2 – The end
Terrestrial radio is dead just like the newsreels played before feature films is dead. The technology and market have moved on. It’s time for you to move on too.
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its the tragedy of the decade. i am still upset and its been like 5 months. i hate the new station it sucks. they play the same songs every hour and way to much 90’s hip hop. i want the real KWOD back.
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Stop whining KWOD is online now:
x1065.com
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