Drooling fanatic enthuses over new KDHX schedule

KDHX makes me glad to be, it makes me glad to be in St. Louis, it makes me glad to be in a car with a car stereo, it makes me glad to be in a skull with ears that work ...

A significant program schedule overall on FM 88.1 St. Louis is very much the buzz around town (and, I'd imagine, among the station's many online listeners around the world). It's working for me! Every time I tune in, I hear something that fits my mood, or improves it.

But, then, I would have said the same thing before the redesign. In fact, I did. I was one of the many people the consultants consulted when they were plotting the changes, which were intended to let the vibe flow better from slot to slot on the schedule.

The consulants met me at The Tap Room. I said, "I love KDHX! It makes me glad, it makes me glad to be, it makes me glad to be in St. Louis. The only thing I like better than that insanely detailed Polish music show is the laconic genius that is Doug Morgan. The only thing I love better than Doug Morgan's show is getting Elvis Costello or Camera Obscure for free from Steve Pick or John John Wendland. And don't EVEN get me started on Josh Weinstein ..."

I think I was called in for the drooling fanatic opinion. I don't think I disappointed.

This morning, I was happy to be, I was happy to be in St. Louis, I was happy to find Roy Kasten on the radio this morning, right where I would have expected him, blasting my favorite comfort music (Centro-matic), followed - now - by BobbEE Sweet, whose Mekons segue did make more sense coming after "Feels Like Coming Home" than that insanely brilliant Brazilian show, which lives on Saturday evening now.

"Andrea's show will probably sound great on Saturday evening during an outdoors party," BobbEE offered this morning, as if to cheer up any Brazilian music fans disappointed to find him on the air and not her. And it will sound great Saturday night, I am sure of that. I'm invited to a clothing-optional swimming party. We'll have to test-market the new Radio Rio slot!

But, again, I liked that Brazilian show right where it was, too. The great Irish poet Paul Muldoon (now based at Princeton) once met Roy at the station after "Feels Like Going Home" to do some recording with us, and was pleasantly surprised to find Andrea there, preparing to do her show. They have some sort of family friendly connection. That was an unlikely and cool confluence.

But it's not always about the exciting turbulence of a confluence, of different things crashing together suddenly, of Brazilian pop coming after American roots. Sometimes, it's best just to let the river smoothly flow. That's the idea behind the new KDHX format.

I like it. It makes me glad. It makes me glad to be. It makes me glad to be in St. Louis. The only thing they can do to improve this station is to add hours to the day. Or empower me to stay up later. Or get up earlier. Now, at least I'll be able to stay awke for Josh! All Souls, No Border: all confluence, all the time.