Do you like radio?…

I mean really good, commercial-free, kick-ass, community-based radio? Well, I do. I can remember working at Pacific Coast Cycles in Carlsbad, CA and we’d play music we all liked and all of our friends liked it and we wondered why, if we all liked this eclectic range of music, did a radio station not exist that played all kinds of great music?

Well, I moved to a community that had such a radio station. I remember, shortly after moving, listening to the station and hearing a Robert Johnson song followed by a Bob Dylan song. My ears perked up and I was hooked. The station is KWMR and I’ve been involved with it for a little over two years. I am lucky to co-host a program called Bakersfield & Beyond and I’m a rotating host on another called Ridin’ The Rails: The Americana Express. Super fun. There are other programs that play a great mix of music. We’ve got a great blues program, a super fun funk show, and an awesome lounge/jazz/pop show.

With congress threatening to cut funding to public broadcasting, we need the support of fans and listeners more than ever. Today is the start of the bi-annual pledge drive. The goal of $30,000 is enough to support the station for about a month.

Tonight, I’ll be on the air from 6:30 to 9:30 co-hosting Bakersfield & Beyond with my friend Amanda. We’d love to get folks calling in at 415-663-8273 with a monetary pledge of support. I know there’s a lot of you with “discretionary” Paypal accounts and it’s easy to donate to KWMR through your Paypal account. All you need to do is go to the KWMR home page and there’s a link right there. I would really appreciate it. Everyone who donates after reading this, I will send you a water bottle. Just send me an e-mail with your address and I’ll send one out.

Thank you!

(What’s playing: The Who Won’t Get Fooled Again)