Tuning In
Adventurous radio station celebrates five years
If you can judge a college in part by its radio stations, Middle Tennessee State University sounds like a great place to be these days. Nashville listeners are well acquainted with MTSU’s NPR-affiliate jazz station, WMOT-89.5 FM, one of the region’s best stations in any format. Less well known here, though, is MTSU’s other station, WMTS-88.3 FM. At 200 watts, the freeform station barely reaches across the Davidson County line. But for those who can pick up the signal, WMTS joins Nashville college stations WFSK-FM and WRVU-FM in offering a strong alternative to stagnant mainstream radio.
Despite its low wattage, WMTS’ mix of indie rock, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and other genres is making an impact on Murfreesboro’s club scene. Its monthly fund-raising shows are consistent draws at Murfreesboro clubs such as The Boro and Sebastian’s, and the station has provided steady airplay for hometown bands. Two of those acts, Glossary and Slack, headline the station’s five-year birthday bash Monday at The Boro on Greenland Drive, across from the MTSU campus. According to program director Jeffrey Lassiter, they represent WMTS’ commitment to finding music you can’t hear anywhere else on the dial.
“Our whole mission is to provide alternative programming in the true sense of the word,” says Lassiter, a Tulsa, Okla., native who came to MTSU in 1997. “We want shows that aren’t available elsewhere, in as many different styles as we can find.”
A scan through WMTS’ round-the-clock programming bears him out. Hardcore punk is represented by David Copeland’s “Preying Mantis Show” on Saturday afternoons. Midnight Sunday is DJ Tapehiss’ drum ’n’ bass show, followed later in the day by Ryan Bernard’s bluegrass “High Lonesome Show,” the “Barnyard Boogie” blast of hillbilly music, and the “Foundation” hip-hop show. Classic rock, jam bands, and turntabling all have a home on WMTS, as do the morning shows “Booty for Breakfast” and “The Big Rome Show.” Each bears the distinctive taste and personality of its host. Best of all, on WMTS, you’ll find a sampling of worthy acts that go unheard on larger rock stations with consultant-driven playlists: The Apples in Stereo, Versus, Grandaddy, Calexico, Sleater-Kinney.
Indie-rock radio fans had nowhere to turn in Murfreesboro before an early version of WMTS was founded by students in 1992. Called WNAR (“We Need a Radio”), it was broadcast over MTSU’s in-house cable channel, then over MTSU Channel 8 on Murfreesboro’s cable system. It wasn’t until the summer of 1995 that the station secured an FM bandwidth, as well as tower space and a transmitter from WMOT. According to Lassiter, the station now boasts some 100 student volunteers, including station manager Jon Joyce and music directors Elizabeth Hansen, Nyronn Bryant, Danahja, and James Palmer.
Although WMTS gets some funds from the university’s Student Government Association, it must supplement them with proceeds from its monthly fundraisers, such as Monday night’s show at The Boro. For the cause, Glossary and Slack will be joined by country singer Chris Scruggs, grandson of bluegrass great Earl Scruggs, and singer/songwriter Michael Acree. For loyal listeners, there will also be an appearance by station “mascot” Doug Devinski. For more information and a program schedule, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/~wmts.
—Jim Ridley
Upcoming shows
Banyan, the side project of Jane’s Addiction/Porno for Pyros drummer Stephen Perkins, pulls into Middle Tennessee for two gigs: Nov. 14 at The Boro and Nov. 16 at 12th & Porter. Garbage bassist Daniel Schulman will be filling in for Mike Watt, and the group will be supplemented by its “Memphis lineup”: Bluff City veterans Ross Rice on keys, Clint Wagner on guitar, and “Memphis Willies” Waldman on trumpet.
Tickets are on sale now for The Sea and Cake’s appearance Nov. 20 at the Belcourt. The Chicago quartet, featuring former Shrimp Boat singer/guitarist Sam Prekop and bassist Eric Claridge along with Tortoise drummer John McEntire, just released its fifth LP Oui on the Thrill Jockey label. Tickets are $12 day of show.
Platters that matter
What’s new in local record stores:
Fatboy Slim, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars (Astralwerks) Ad executives and motion-picture soundtrack assemblers are already salivating at the prospect of 11 new tracks to license. Meanwhile, music fans are eager to see if the addition of live vocals on a few numbers expands Slim’s joyous “big beat” sound.
R. Kelly, TP-2.com (Jive) The Chicago soul superstar believes he can fly as high as his sextuple-platinum two-disc set R. This 18-song collection features the single “I Wish,” a tribute to his late mother, along with “A Woman’s Threat,” “The Greatest Sex,” and “Like a Real Freak.”
Spice Girls, Forever (Virgin) Two years after the, um, triumph of the Spice World movie, Mel C., Mel B., Emma, and Victoria present the year’s most optimistic album title.
Various Artists, Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska (SubPop) The 10 tracks on the Boss’ four-track masterpiece, along with three songs that were left off the original album, are covered by the likes of Son Volt, Ani DiFranco, and Crooked Fingers, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.
Also arriving this week: Blink-182’s live album The Mark, Tom & Travis Show; Cher’s Internet-only release Not Commercial; and Coldplay’s Parachutes.
R. Kelly, TP-2.com (Jive) The Chicago soul superstar believes he can fly as high as his sextuple-platinum two-disc set R. This 18-song collection features the single “I Wish,” a tribute to his late mother, along with “A Woman’s Threat,” “The Greatest Sex,” and “Like a Real Freak.”
Spice Girls, Forever (Virgin) Two years after the, um, triumph of the Spice World movie, Mel C., Mel B., Emma, and Victoria present the year’s most optimistic album title.
Various Artists, Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska (SubPop) The 10 tracks on the Boss’ four-track masterpiece, along with three songs that were left off the original album, are covered by the likes of Son Volt, Ani DiFranco, and Crooked Fingers, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.
Also arriving this week: Blink-182’s live album The Mark, Tom & Travis Show; Cher’s Internet-only release Not Commercial; and Coldplay’s Parachutes.
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