WTJU

Anybody who reads this blog I'm sure already knows about this (partly because most of the people who read the blog are in the Hilarious Posters) but I thought I'd give a shout anyway to WTJU in Crisis, run by Tyler of Posters faves Mss. Lots of changes are being proposed at TJU, and while the changers have been justly accused of mismanaging the transition, and the changees have been justly accused of some alarmist rhetoric, I think we can all agree that more (and more inclusive) discussion needs to happen at the station before any plan in finalized.

[Edit: Tyler has also started a forum.]

I did a weekly show on WTJU from 1998 until 2005, though I've kind of lost track of what's been going on there over the past five years, partly because I don't listen to the radio. (I'm too self absorbed.) From 2002 until 2005 I was in a band in which all four members were TJU djs, one of whom was rock director for part of that time. So while I'm one of the people who doesn't listen to the station, and therefore am I guess part of the reason the proposed changes appear necessary to some, TJU has been a major part of my time in Charlottesville, and a major part of my musical education. I can only assume that if it's true for me it must be true for many other people, and messing around with something that means so much to so many -- or even to a small crew of particularly dedicated folks -- is not something to be done quickly or lightly.

I hosted the last rock show at Peabody, I'm pretty sure. I was subbing for Paul Wilkinson, if I remember right. Chuck was standing behind me the whole time waiting for the dudes to call and nervously pacing. He said I might have to shut down quickly -- with only a minute's notice -- and that there were already people over at Lambeth waiting to power up the thing. He said the transition would be basically seamless, which blew my mind. But the call didn't come until 6 or so, about two ours after my show was over, and I think jazz was on or something.