Programmer Profile

Eric

The Show

Anything funky, greazy, groovy, or stanky. Also anything that's sweet, smooth, soars, or soothes. And everything else that twangs, buzzes, swings or moves. Bring your buzz, or not- but this is a show for those who listen deep into the music.

About Eric

Remember the night Buddy Guy and Junior Wells played on the lawn at the G.R. Ford Museum in '87 or '88? A hundred feet of cable trailed out behind Buddy as he walked through the crowd wailing out an impossibly heinous, face melting solo that threatened to perform a sonic lobotomy on anyone within earshot. That's the night I learned about WYCE. My friends and I wanted to hear more, but knew we wouldn't hear it on any of the stations we already knew. We asked around and got a hot tip about 'YCE. One phone call later, Buddy was screaming out of my radio, and I knew that things had just changed for me. Bigtime. I grew up in a house filled with all kinds of music, we saw live music all the time and attended fests such as Wheatland, Bliss, Spirit of the Woods, etc. Listened to a lot of CMU Radio and a ton of classical music too. So the idea that there was a station that played a lot of those things, plus a whole lot of things I hadn't even gotten to yet was amazing. I hope you will join me in expressing sincere gratitude to the people who made WYCE a reality in the beginning.

Over the next few years, I witnessed the soul being sucked out of Grand Rapids radio, as LAV became a corporate clone and JFM became B-93. When that happened, 'YCE, along with WGVU and Blue Lake, was one of the few remaining choices for real music, and it was time to get involved with this beautiful little volunteer driven oddity that had become my savior. The more people who help, the better it will be, right?

I called to ask what I could do to help, and Thom Bland who was Program Director at the time suggested answering phones during the upcoming fund drive. The last drive broadcast from the old Community Ed building with the converted locker room studio. Later, I took the programmer class and mentored with John Roberts. When I started, we had just moved the station across the parking lot at 28th and Clyde Park, to the yellow aluminum sided pole building we occupied for a few years before moving to our present location in the West Side Library building. I've never really kept track, but I think that means I've been on since fall of '93, maybe '92. As a point of reference, Capt'n Kurt once told me he and I were in the same programmer class. I don't remember, but since he's been around for about a million years, apparently so have I.

I am inspired to do the best show I can by:

  • The scarcity of other good radio stations.
  • The opportunity to give exposure to a world of artists who may not be heard anywhere else, and the chance I get to expand my own experience and knowledge.
  • The unfortunate choices made by people who select the music heard in stores, dining establishments, offices and other public and workplace environments where people are subjected to musical crimes against humanity daily. This one hits close to home for me, as the music which has been selected for me in my own workplace is exceptionally loathsome.
  • The inspired programming I hear on the part of some of my fellow volunteers.
  • Not least; you faithful, supportive, amazing listening audience. Together we are the community in 'community radio', thanks so much.

I've been on in a variety of time-slots over the years. True, this overnight show I've been doing for the past several years works with my schedule, but I wouldn't switch with anyone. This is the time of day when I want to be listening to music, so since the audience is of the same mind, I know I'm with my people. I love this shift for a bunch of reasons. The main one is the ability to stretch out- to explore the library and play things that length or some other factor would make impractical for other shows. Sets of music with which you can kick back and really be transported.

You'll also notice that the format is unique, as is the fact that I hit all five genres following the groove as it develops, before doing it again in some completely different order. This is not a show where you'll hear a lot from some genres and not so much from others, (not to mention hundreds of sub-genres and fusions). I'd be doing the audience a disservice and failing in my duty as a steward of this vast and broad collection by not digging deeply into all five corners of the music library. If you're looking for a show devoid of jazz, blues and world, this isn't it. Just because it's overnight doesn't mean this isn't serious radio. Check it out. It's cool.

Favorite Albums

Thanks for spending part of your Saturday morning with me, and with WYCE.
I don't like favorites lists- too limiting, so I'll refer you to the show description at the top of the page instead.

Also, (and this is big), with the exception of new music shelf items- if any song on a record has been played within the preceding three months, the record goes back on the shelf, in the interest of keeping things fresh. If you wanted to hear the same shit all the time, you'd be listening to commercial radio, right? There may be things I play that I never play again, but nothing will be anything you've heard lately if the logs are accurate. Exceptions may be made if I've got a jones.

One last thing. Please, please, do yourself a favor and listen on the best equipment at your disposal. Sure, computer speakers, earbuds or a bluetooth speaker with mp3's might get you by- but well recorded, lossless material on a real stereo, or at least some good headphones will provide a far more immersive and rewarding listening experience. It will also show you what you've been missing. We love music, right? Artists work hard, and pour their souls into their records, right? Let's respect that hard work. Shouldn't it sound as good as it can? Your eyes appreciate HDTV, don't your ears deserve the same quality? I don't expect everyone to be a hard core audio nerd like me, but we all deserve good sound. Don't know where to look to get started on an upgrade? Maybe we can talk about that. I'll help if I can, see below.

Want to make a request? Ask or answer a question? Comment or say hello? Try this: wyceeric@gmail.com

I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for tuning in.

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