KSER Weekend Mailbox

It’s the weekend. And time for another edition of the KSER Mailbox:

Dear Tom@KSER.org:   I hear you guys talk about your radio replayer. But what the heck is it?  There are some past shows I’d like to hear, but not sure how to do it. Help?   Robert, Arlington

Robert:  It’s easy. We archive all of our shows for two weeks. So anything you’ve heard in the past 14 days you can listen to again (or for the first time) online.  Just go to our website, www.kser.org. On the left side of the home page, click on listen live, to hear what’s on the air now or click on Radio Replayer to listen to past shows.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  A friend of mine says that all radio stations these days do what he called ‘voice tracking’ and the on-air people are actually recorded and not even in the studio. I told him it sounds like the KSER people are all in the studio.  Am I right?  What is voice tracking?  Diane, Everett

Diane:  You are right. And your friend is almost right. Many radio stations use a technique called voice tracking. The DJ records his ‘talking’ segments (the times he/she talks between records) in digital audio.  Then a computer program inserts those talk breaks between the songs being played on the station.  Sometimes there is no DJ in the studio at the time you’re listening.  Sometimes the DJ isn’t even in the same city or state.  Some DJ’s will voice-track shows on multiple stations.   We don’t use voice tracking at KSER.  Our DJ’s and local news hosts are all live.  And our local hosts are in the KSER studios.  

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I like how sometimes you guys have local bands in the studio answering questions and performing on the radio live. I just heard Austin Jenckes a while back, by accident.  Is there anywhere you can let us know in advance when you’re having bands on KSER?  Brad, Mill Creek

Brad:  Glad you like that. Austin Jenckes of Duvall (now living in Nashville) was on with Ron Taffi  on KSER’s Sunlit room two weeks ago.  Sometimes we find out on very short notice that bands/performers are going to be on the air.  But we’ll try to post a notice in advance online and on the KSERfm Twitter feed. Coming up next Thursday at about 1 p.m. Ron will have the Bellevue band Sightseer in studio.

Sightseer

Dear Tom@KSER.org: My husband and I love KSER and we like to contribute when you do your pledge drives. We love supporting local community radio.  But we were on vacation in July and we learned you did a pledge drive while we in Hawaii.  Can you tell us when you will have another pledge drive?  Doug & Sarah, Marysville

Sarah & Doug:  You are the first known humans to ever ask for a pledge drive schedule!! But, since you asked, the next KSER Pledge Drive starts Friday, September 28. But, you never have to wait for a pledge drive to support KSER. It’s fast and easy online and available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Heck, you can even go to the KSER website and purchase cool shirts and water bottles for your next trip to Hawaii!

Way Cool Water Bottle

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I drove by what I guess is the KSER building on Wetmore this week. Sheesh, what kind of place do you call that?  Nickie, Everett

Nickie:  Most of us refer to it as the KSER World Heaquarters or the KSER Compound. But, mostly, we just call it home. By the way, did I mention that you can donate to KSER online 24/7?

KSER World Headquarters

 If you have a questions, comments, compliments or even gripes you can leave a message below or email Tom@KSER.org.  Have a nice weekend!

Hibulb Center on Sound Living

It's truly a Northwest Treasure, the Hibulb Cultural Center.  It's a place of learning and civic pride for the Tulalip people and surrounding communities.

Canoe Hall photo by Hibulb Cultural Ctr

 

 

The incredible center is open to the public for conducted and self-guided tours.  But this week KSER's Ed Bremer gets an up close one-on-one tour and you can hear all about it today (Friday, August 10) at 4 p.m. on KSER 90.7fm.  You can also listen online live or listen later with our online radio replayer.

KSER's Ed Bremer

Ed will have insight about the remarkable history and culture of the Tulalip people and fascinating details about the exhibits, tours and details of the center.

Hibulb Cultural Ctr. Photo

The Hibulb Cultural Center is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM.  Don't miss Ed's special Sound Living today at 4 p.m. on 90.7FM.

While you're planning your weekend, you should consider this important event going on at the Sikh Center of Seattle.
  
Gurudwara Sikh Centre of Seattle (GSCS) is sending its condolences to those affected by the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gurudwara shootings.  GSCS will be hosting a vigil to honor victims of the shooting on Saturday, August 11th at 8:30 pm. All are welcome to attend, regardless of religious beliefs or cultural background. A donation campaign for the victims of the attacks and more information can be found here.

 If you want to learn more The Huffington Post had an informative article this week on 5 Things You Should Know about the Sikh Religion.


 

GREAT MUSIC; REALLY FAIR FOOD (AND BEER)!

KSER is proud to be a media sponsor for the upcoming Slow Food Roots Music Festival. It's Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26 at the Stanwood Camano Fairgrounds.

They've got their own healthy version of Fair Food.  There's also a schedule of great speakers and beer and wine gardens.  And, of course, great music featuring the Iguanas and Chuck Prophet.

The Iguanas

 

 

 

Chuck Prophet

KSER "Juke Joint" DJ Jon Noe will be there soaking up the music and staffing the KSER booth.

Jon Noe & Pal

Among the speakers at this years festival, will be Dr. Les Berenson. He's a doctor of internal medicine and a GMO specialist.  And chef Diane LaVonne of Diane's Market Kitchen.

Chef Diane LaVonne

Dr. Les Berenson

You can buy tickets here. And when you're enjoying the great music, healthy food (and beer) make sure to stop by and say hello to KSER's Jon Noe!

KSER SWEEPSTAKES DRAWING

What could be better than a weekend on Whidbey Island, staying at the Country Cottage of Langley and having dinner at Prima Bistro?!

One lucky KSER member is now planning such a weekend.  Today, we held our drawing from our recent KSER Renewal Sweepstakes.  Sunlit Room host Gwen reached into the CKGDB (Ceremonial KSER Glass Drawing Bowl) and fished out the winning ticket...

Gwen & the CKGDB

Cathy of Snohomish is the listener whose name was on the ticket, so we called her with the good news and we're getting ready to send out the gift certificates.

Thanks to the Country Cottage of Langley for providing us with the accommodations.

And thanks to Prima Bistro of Langley for helping to make the prize so special.

The deck at Prima Bistro

Cathy, of Snohomish, was entered in our sweepstakes when she responded to our recent renewal notice. Members with recurring memberships were also included.

So, special thanks to Cathy and all of our members who help support KSER and local community radio. And, remember, if you'd like to join Cathy and the other members who keep KSER pumping out great local news and public affairs and great local music artists you can sign up here.

One more reminder for our members. Chances are you've already returned your ballot for our KSER Board of Directors election. But if you haven't you still have time to mail it in or bring it to the station during our KSER Annual Meeting next Tuesday, August 14 at 7 p.m.  We're located at 2623 Wetmore Avenue in Everett.  Public invited!

KSER Has Gone to the Birds

We have microphones older than this guest on Sound Living...

                                                                  Lorenzo Rohani
 Lorenzo Rohani and his dad, Michael, have written this book on 'birding'...

Lorenzo got into birds at age 5 and started taking remarkable photographs when he was 9 years old, sitting for hours on end in marshes and swamps waiting for the right bird and the right photo.  And today he sat for an hour in the KSER studio with Ed Bremer...

                                                     Michael Rohani; Ed Bremer; Lorenzo Rohani

In addition to his book, Lorenzo has his own website, www.kidsbirding.com. and more than 400 incredible bird photos on Flickr.

Lorenzo took the pictures; his father, Micahel wrote the text for their book, A Kid's Guide to Birding. John James Audubon would be proud.


 

 

Austin Jenckes - Live in the KSER Studio

It's always exciting when a local music artist starts to hit the big time.
Austin Jenckes is just that.  He's still in his early 20's and grew up in Duvall. And now he's starting to get a lot of national attention and has moved to Nashville. 

But this week he's back in the Northwest and he took time out from a busy schedule of shows to stop by KSER and visit with Ron on the Sunlit Room...

                                                               Ron (left) and Austin Jenckes

Austin has a new EP coming out in late September and he already has a great recording from a live performance at Seattle's Triple Door.  You can preview or find out more about that 10-track album here.

And Austin is appearing this weekend at Whidstock on Whidbey Island.

You can hear Ron's interview with Austin and a few of his KSER in-studio songs on the KSER Radio Replayer for the next two weeks. Just search for the 1 p.m. hour on August 2nd.

                                                        Austin Jenckes in the KSER Studio
In a couple years, when he's at Key Arena or on Letterman, just remember that day he was in the KSER Studio.  Thanks, Austin!

The Amazing KSER DJ's

Chances are if you ever watched WKRP in Cincinnati, you remember Dr. Johnny Fever, Andy Travis and Venus Flytrap. Well, the KSER DJ's have never thrown turkeys out of a plane and they don't call me "Big Guy", but they do have every bit as much....uh...character.

I was reminded of this yesterday when one of our volunteers was talking about what a great time she had a few months back at Seattle's Triple Door for the Washington Blues Society's Best of the Blues awards show.  Every year they give out an award for Best Blues DJ.  And this year, for the first time ever, all three nominees came from one station: KSER!

Robin K, the host of KSER's Saturday night Audio Indigo was nominated.  So was KSER's legendary Clancy Dunigan. Clancy has already won the award twice!  She wasn't nominated this year, but Leslie, host of of Saturday night's Blues Odyssey has also won the Best Blues DJ award twice!

 
 But it's more than just blues DJ's that make KSER so special.  There's that incredible Saturday daytime lineup that includes the Big Bandstand with the amazing Steve Ward...

There's Jim Hilmar, who not only plays a great guitar but knows more about pickers than just about anyone and hosts the Saturday KSER Frettin' Fingers show...

Then the Juke Joint with Jon Noe (even more Blues included!).  And Dusties with Jeff Hofman.
And every Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. it's Pull the String with Van Ramsey.

Not only does Van do a great radio show, but he has a band, The Wild Snohomians. They have a hot new CD that you can preview and buy here.

And we're just scratching the surface.  There's a full lineup of great DJ's on Sunday, every night of the week, and hosts of the Sunlit Room weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And unlike Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap, the KSER DJ's are all volunteers.  Incredible Volunteers!

By the way, if you'd like to help keep this incredible lineup going strong, you can always join the family and become a KSER Member. You can make a tax-deductible contribution online. It only takes about 5 minutes

Or, if you have an old gas-guzzler that you've been thinking of getting rid of you can donate it to us here. We'll do all the work, and you get rid of your clunker and get a tax deduction.

The "Big Guy" will thank you!