I use to live there in redbank with my brother back in the mid nineties and i loved modern rock at the jersey shore what a awesome alt station it was!!!There is a similar station to it now in los angeles at www.indie1031.com they stream it.I come up and visit my brother from time to time and listen to g rock radio it is okay but nothing like it was back in the day but better then some so called alt stations out there today.90.5 the night is pretty good but i really miss moden rock at the jersey shore!!!!!!! :-[
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I really miss the old whtg back before the suits bought it in 2000 anyone else
- Thread starter hotpatrick2004
- Start date
I couldn't agree more. The folks at Press that currently run G Rock Radio think that the audience wants to hear nothing but hit music 24/7 - hence the reason why they've pounded Coldplay, The Killers, Green Day, etc. into our subconscious. Well, we do get the occasional surprise, but you have to sit through a lot of the "same old same old" to hear it.
This station has been through several incarnations since Press acquired and re-branded it as "G 106.3". It started out as a Modern AC masquerading as Alternative (Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow - none of them are Alternative, sorry) before it morphed even further by playing acts like Guns N' Roses & Bon Jovi (playing a bit too much into the "New Jersey hair metal" stereotype). Then it went into the "Be Different" phase, which was nice, although they didn't break away from playing the aforementioned Top 40 / Hot AC acts completely. For several months, close to a year, they dropped all Alternative branding and became a Hot AC that actually went so far as to play the likes of Sting, Sarah McLachlan, Santana, and even Norah Jones! Now, as G Rock Radio, the station is at its most focused and sounds as good as it has since Press bought it. At least they don't deviate from the Alternative format too much (but let's be honest, what Alternative station still plays No Doubt and The Black Crowes?). My primarily criticism is that they feel the need to use chessy radio edits on songs such as cutting the first couple of minutes on Tool's "Vicarious", editing the screaming from AFI's "Miss Murder" and replacing it with a really cheesy new part, and cutting the outro from RHCP's cover of "Higher Ground", among myriad others. They are very edit-happy over there, those G Rock Radio folks.
It's a shame that under the new ownership, the trailblazing FM 106.3 seems to have been almost completely forgotten. The only link to the station's past is the acoustic show Common Threads, currently hosted by current PD Mike Gavin. There's no Garage Rock show, no Punk show, no Reggae show, and not much of anything else that stands out from the often vanilla mix. They do play lots of good music and the personalities are good, but they rely too much on hits that have been driven into the ground endlessly. It's also unfortunate that unlike other stations in the area, they eschew special programming during the weekend for the same predictable hit-driven music mix that they use during the week - the only break comes in the form of The Underground (a "new music" show) on Sunday night along with Common Threads and the Breakfast Club ('80s Music), both of which are on at the crack of dawn ... come on, besides aging fishermen, who is up at 6 AM on Saturday and Sunday?. They really should have more special weekend programming, like an '80s weekend, a '90s weekend, a punk rock weekend, a few specialty shows, etc. It would be wise for the station to incorporate something different into the mix, because the same old hits will eventually become tiresome to even the most casual listener.
I don't dislike G Rock Radio - it's a good station. However, it's a station that I can really listen to for only 10-20 minutes at a time, until I hear something bloody awful (like Seether & Evanescence's sappy ballad "Broken", or something by G Rock's beloved No Doubt, Nickelback or Switchfoot) or something that's been played way too many times (take your pick). I just think that the station pales in comparison to its bolder, more exciting predecessor, FM 106.3, and I would like to see G Rock Radio become more daring with its selections - after all, this is an "Alternative" station ... that has to stand for something, doesn't it? If we wanted predictable hits, we could just turn on Z-100, WAYV or WPST.
This station has been through several incarnations since Press acquired and re-branded it as "G 106.3". It started out as a Modern AC masquerading as Alternative (Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow - none of them are Alternative, sorry) before it morphed even further by playing acts like Guns N' Roses & Bon Jovi (playing a bit too much into the "New Jersey hair metal" stereotype). Then it went into the "Be Different" phase, which was nice, although they didn't break away from playing the aforementioned Top 40 / Hot AC acts completely. For several months, close to a year, they dropped all Alternative branding and became a Hot AC that actually went so far as to play the likes of Sting, Sarah McLachlan, Santana, and even Norah Jones! Now, as G Rock Radio, the station is at its most focused and sounds as good as it has since Press bought it. At least they don't deviate from the Alternative format too much (but let's be honest, what Alternative station still plays No Doubt and The Black Crowes?). My primarily criticism is that they feel the need to use chessy radio edits on songs such as cutting the first couple of minutes on Tool's "Vicarious", editing the screaming from AFI's "Miss Murder" and replacing it with a really cheesy new part, and cutting the outro from RHCP's cover of "Higher Ground", among myriad others. They are very edit-happy over there, those G Rock Radio folks.
It's a shame that under the new ownership, the trailblazing FM 106.3 seems to have been almost completely forgotten. The only link to the station's past is the acoustic show Common Threads, currently hosted by current PD Mike Gavin. There's no Garage Rock show, no Punk show, no Reggae show, and not much of anything else that stands out from the often vanilla mix. They do play lots of good music and the personalities are good, but they rely too much on hits that have been driven into the ground endlessly. It's also unfortunate that unlike other stations in the area, they eschew special programming during the weekend for the same predictable hit-driven music mix that they use during the week - the only break comes in the form of The Underground (a "new music" show) on Sunday night along with Common Threads and the Breakfast Club ('80s Music), both of which are on at the crack of dawn ... come on, besides aging fishermen, who is up at 6 AM on Saturday and Sunday?. They really should have more special weekend programming, like an '80s weekend, a '90s weekend, a punk rock weekend, a few specialty shows, etc. It would be wise for the station to incorporate something different into the mix, because the same old hits will eventually become tiresome to even the most casual listener.
I don't dislike G Rock Radio - it's a good station. However, it's a station that I can really listen to for only 10-20 minutes at a time, until I hear something bloody awful (like Seether & Evanescence's sappy ballad "Broken", or something by G Rock's beloved No Doubt, Nickelback or Switchfoot) or something that's been played way too many times (take your pick). I just think that the station pales in comparison to its bolder, more exciting predecessor, FM 106.3, and I would like to see G Rock Radio become more daring with its selections - after all, this is an "Alternative" station ... that has to stand for something, doesn't it? If we wanted predictable hits, we could just turn on Z-100, WAYV or WPST.
SoulCrusher said:
That, right there, is sacrilege. They actually do that? Sheesh.
Now then, ignoring their well-wielded (virtual) edit knife, I do believe they sound better now than they have at any point since 2000. During the afternoon show, I've found myself listening for up to 20 minutes before having to change the station.
It's true that they hew very close to the well-tested. It works for them, and when we remember that commercial radio is commercial first, and radio second, and we see that everything they do confirms that, there's no reason to criticize. They are what they are - and a very successful model of that, too.
However, I'm speaking as one who has abandoned commercial success (and how!) in favor of programming something that fewer people appreciate, but are more likely to love if they do appreciate it. As such, I find their slogan, "The Only Alternative", a bit grating, especially after they spent so long abandoning all mention of their "alternative"-ness. There *are* MANY other alternatives, and you know they know it. A slogan like that kind of reeks of desperation.
Saying you're alternative doesn't make you alternative, especially when, really, you're not.
-Sean Carolan
Altrok Radio
7x24 at http://www.altrokradio.com
Fridays, 10PM at 90.5 The Night
C
Chuck Wagon
Guest
Oh, look...another SoulCrusher rant. Just like the past 3 years.
First of all, I've heard this "outro" that you've been complaining about on RHCP "Higher Ground." I have no idea what you're talking about because the ending w/the drums IS THERE. Maybe you should listen a little more before b--tching to the same 15 people. Next, EVERY other station that I've heard Tool "Vicarious" (with the exception of satellite) plays the edit with the first minute cut off. The song is SEVEN minutes long. The edit is SIX minutes long. It's COMMERCIAL RADIO. Meaning, COMMERCIALS NEED TO BE PLAYED. This is something that it seems you NEVER understand in your uninformed posts that you repeat over and over and over again. Third, the AFI edit for "Miss Murder" was released by the record label. Again, most stations that are playing the record are playing THAT version.
Maybe it needs to be explained to you again, SoulCrusher. Radio has changed. Just because YOU like certain versions of songs, doesn't mean that everyone else does. You are not a casual listener, no matter what you may say or think. You are someone who listens to radio all the time, critiquing things that the casual listener would have NO idea about.
Seether and Amy Lee, RHCP outros, edited songs, "the old FM 106.3"...WILL IT EVER END FROM YOU? For the record, alternative stations usually play their most played songs 35 times a week...whereas top 40 stations play theirs 95-100 times a week. The reason that it seems like they're "OVERPLAYING" everything is because you're LISTENING ALL THE TIME.
Stop complaining, no one really cares. And be happy that there IS a rock station in the immediate area. There's always satellite if you don't like what you hear on FM radio. I'm sure their ratings will prove that what they're doing is right. That's why YOU aren't working at the station. Because if you did, it would go the way of K Rock and Y100 and WYSP. A "male-oriented", testosterone driven station that fails miserably.
Please just stop. We've been reading your mindless drivel for 3 years. You provide nothing new to the discussions.
First of all, I've heard this "outro" that you've been complaining about on RHCP "Higher Ground." I have no idea what you're talking about because the ending w/the drums IS THERE. Maybe you should listen a little more before b--tching to the same 15 people. Next, EVERY other station that I've heard Tool "Vicarious" (with the exception of satellite) plays the edit with the first minute cut off. The song is SEVEN minutes long. The edit is SIX minutes long. It's COMMERCIAL RADIO. Meaning, COMMERCIALS NEED TO BE PLAYED. This is something that it seems you NEVER understand in your uninformed posts that you repeat over and over and over again. Third, the AFI edit for "Miss Murder" was released by the record label. Again, most stations that are playing the record are playing THAT version.
Maybe it needs to be explained to you again, SoulCrusher. Radio has changed. Just because YOU like certain versions of songs, doesn't mean that everyone else does. You are not a casual listener, no matter what you may say or think. You are someone who listens to radio all the time, critiquing things that the casual listener would have NO idea about.
Seether and Amy Lee, RHCP outros, edited songs, "the old FM 106.3"...WILL IT EVER END FROM YOU? For the record, alternative stations usually play their most played songs 35 times a week...whereas top 40 stations play theirs 95-100 times a week. The reason that it seems like they're "OVERPLAYING" everything is because you're LISTENING ALL THE TIME.
Stop complaining, no one really cares. And be happy that there IS a rock station in the immediate area. There's always satellite if you don't like what you hear on FM radio. I'm sure their ratings will prove that what they're doing is right. That's why YOU aren't working at the station. Because if you did, it would go the way of K Rock and Y100 and WYSP. A "male-oriented", testosterone driven station that fails miserably.
Please just stop. We've been reading your mindless drivel for 3 years. You provide nothing new to the discussions.
The few times i come up to visit my bro i do for the most part like g 1063 i mean what are you gonna do ipod okay but how you gonna hear new music.i do have to say i like the fact they don't play much active rock.only the most popular.like wlrs here in louisville the so called alt station they play buckcherry which in my opinion is a decent tune butany alt station has no business playing that it ain't alt guys and gals!!!g1063 also played kaiser chiefs louisville never played that.Theer was a station in phoenix playing a common threads type show on sunday mornings not sure if they still are since new owners took over to tweak the station.www.theedge1039.com- Suits seem to ruin things now and again!!!
Chuck Wagon said:
I listened to G Rock Radio at night all the time around March or so, and they did remove the outro from the song back then. Maybe they stopped doing it, but they did at one time.
I've heard Tool on the radio for years. Songs like "Schism", "Forty Six & Two" and "Aenima" are about the same length, and no station that I've ever listened to has chopped off any part of the song. Come to think of it, the only Tool edit I've ever heard in the past was K-Rock cutting off the intro to "Eulogy".Chuck Wagon said:
Well, I've heard the normal version of the song on WYSP (94.1, Philadelphia) and WJSE (102.7, Atlantic City). I've also heard it on satellite radio and other out-of-market Alternative stations as well. I'll take your word for it, but I think G Rock thinks their listeners are a bunch of babies that can't handle a little bit of screaming.Chuck Wagon said:
Wrong. How about a balanced Alternative station that doesn't cater too much to the males or the females? Believe it or not, there are stations out there that play both The Cure and Depeche Mode along with the likes of Korn, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin and Slipknot. In fact, I know that some bands in the latter group and other similar acts cite the former bands as influences. Wouldn't that mean that they fit in better with the Alternative format than, say, a bunch of Rolling Stones-imitating blues rock flunkies like The Black Crowes? Don't answer that - it's a rhetorical question.Chuck Wagon said:
I do not dislike G Rock Radio - I think it's a good station that gets better every day. I just think they're making a mistake by pandering a bit too much to the female audience. Do they honestly think that people are going to panic if they play a song that has just a little bit of screaming? This isn't exactly a station that targets small children or senior citizen women. It's also not a station that you're going to hear in the dentist's office (they're more likely to pick WOBM, WFPG or WJLK depending on their location). I just don't understand the complete aversion to screaming. That's all.
Re: I really miss the old whtg back before the suits bought it in 2000 anyone el
Just listened to Ween's "Push th' Little Daisies" and it made me nostalgic for the FM106.3 days, leading to a stumble across this discussion. A few random points of clarification:
(a)
In the fall of 1991 when the mania for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was just starting up, I was told by the PD to start playing the song during my morning drive show. But I was to cue the track up past the "buzzsaw intro" (e.g., right before the lyrics started). It sounds sacrilegious now but S.O.P. then, as now. Playing length, sonic, or language edits is nothing new to any radio format, alternative included.
Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Red Hot Chili Peppers--you name the band, the old WHTG probably played edits of their music. And not simply for FCC reasons.
(b)
The old WHTG played Sheryl Crow, Sting, No Doubt, The Black Crowes, Sarah McLachlan--even Guns N' Roses.
(c)
When people glorify the punk/rap rock/nu-metal aspect of alternative rock's history they tend to forget that Blondie was alternative rock... 10,000 Maniacs was alternative rock... Marshall Crenshaw was alternative rock... Tracy Chapman was alternative rock... These were most definitely part of FM106.3's glory days.
The above statements are not to comment on any current radio station's programming, only to point out a few historical facts.
~~Mike Sauter
WHTG morning drive DJ, 1991-1999
WHTG PD/MD, 1998-2000
(currently happily ensconced as MD of WYEP/Pittsburgh: www.wyep.org)
Just listened to Ween's "Push th' Little Daisies" and it made me nostalgic for the FM106.3 days, leading to a stumble across this discussion. A few random points of clarification:
(a)
In the fall of 1991 when the mania for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was just starting up, I was told by the PD to start playing the song during my morning drive show. But I was to cue the track up past the "buzzsaw intro" (e.g., right before the lyrics started). It sounds sacrilegious now but S.O.P. then, as now. Playing length, sonic, or language edits is nothing new to any radio format, alternative included.
Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Red Hot Chili Peppers--you name the band, the old WHTG probably played edits of their music. And not simply for FCC reasons.
(b)
The old WHTG played Sheryl Crow, Sting, No Doubt, The Black Crowes, Sarah McLachlan--even Guns N' Roses.
(c)
When people glorify the punk/rap rock/nu-metal aspect of alternative rock's history they tend to forget that Blondie was alternative rock... 10,000 Maniacs was alternative rock... Marshall Crenshaw was alternative rock... Tracy Chapman was alternative rock... These were most definitely part of FM106.3's glory days.
The above statements are not to comment on any current radio station's programming, only to point out a few historical facts.
~~Mike Sauter
WHTG morning drive DJ, 1991-1999
WHTG PD/MD, 1998-2000
(currently happily ensconced as MD of WYEP/Pittsburgh: www.wyep.org)
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