The End of Indie, 103.

The best radio station ever conceived went off the air this week. L.A.'s Indie 103 - the keeper of the flame, where you could tune in at any given time to hear the very best of Punk, Alternative, Reggae and, of course, the completely random awesomeness that was Jonesy's Jukebox hosted by the great Steve Jones, late of the Sex Pistols.  I'd snap on my radio for the morning drive (back when I was employed, sigh), and start off my day with something tasty and razorsharp from"Barely Legal" with Joe Escalante. "Harmony in My Head" from Henry Rollins gave me goosebumps and made me certain I could still mosh, groove and hear, really hear - if only in my head. If I wanted to rock out, dark Metal style, there was "Chaos" from Full Metal Jackie. In terms of radio, it was revolutionary. It  truly was "Indie, one-oh-free" in the words of Jonesy.

But over the past few months, I'd begun to notice something troubling wiv my listening pleasure. Apart from Steve Jones' show, there was playlist creep - you could hear the same Snow Patrol song possibly half a dozen times in one day! And the artist choices were slipping perilously close to pop. And further and further away from alternative and punk.

I'm sorry, I thought. I even like Snow Patrol. Sometimes. But to hear "Take Back The City" on my morning errands, when I pop out for lunch, later that afternoon, on my way to Trader Joes to pick up some dinner, and later on my way home from a meeting??? W.T.F.??  I began to wonder. What's happening to the wonderfulness that was my station? Because I loved their rebel hearts so much, I'd welcomed them into my home, my car, my family, my heart. But Indie wasn't sounding so ... indie anymore. I found myself punching back to my old standby, KCRW, more and more.

And then, yesterday, there it was. I turned on Indie and they were playing X's "The New World"! And then the Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K."! And then a couple other really kick-ass songs. I pumped my fist in the air. Indie was back! But my happiness was short-lived. Because after about 5 songs, there was a dramatic, somber announcement,
"An important message to Indie listeners: Indie 103 has been pressured by the powers that be (money, what else) to play pop, Britney, Puffy and worse. And rather than cave to these wishes, Indie 103 is ceasing to broadcast on the radio, effective immediately. We will continue to be heard on the internet, where we can have the freedom to play what we want, how we want, when we want. Just the way you loved us. So farewell, Indie listeners, we now leave the terrestrial airwaves."

And then the five songs I'd just heard, the emblematic rebel anthems, began repeating. It was a continuous loop. 5 rebel songs, announcement, 5 rebel songs, announcement... And just like that old commercial with the Indian confronting the disgusting, dirty world that could only result in smashed hopes and great dreams destroyed, a single tear made its way down my cheek.

So to Jonesy, Joe, Henry, Jackie and all the rest you lot. You made history, and we got to come along for the ride. Fanks for listening, fanks for playing. 

Comments

[Florinda]

I was never a big Indie listener, mainly because of the issues with signal strength that were part of what kept their ratings down, but they'll definitely be missed. I've been listening to The Sound (100.3 FM) a lot - they've got s great variety, and I like them a lot. You might want to check them out.

[Lucia]

Wow, Florinda. I never knew Indie had a transmission problem. Hmm, that explains probably a lot of their decision. Too bad. I will definitely check out your rec. Fanks.

[Chy Lin]

yes, that's really sad since there are NO good radio stations in l.a.

[Claudia]

I can't believe this! It was MY station while it lasted and I lived in L.A. I can't imagine driving through L.A. without Indie on. And I loved their free summer concerts at the HAMMER. Oh, i am so sad...