Eddy Owt's blog

Musicals! On Audio Ecotone, Feb. 14, 2025

In the 1930s and 1940s, musicals provided a weary world a little bit of respite and reminders of joy to help revive and recharge the spirit. Sadly and incomprehensibly, this is needed again. On this Valentine's Day,  my valentine to you, faithful Audio Ecotone listeners, is a little bit of escapism, with favorite selections from musicals from the 1920s to 1980s as well as a surprise appearance by the Nicholas Brothers! Listen live at 3 p.m. Pacific on KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis or online at kdrt.org. The show replays at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Tuesday, and is archived for two weeks at https://kdrt.org/program/audio-ecotone.

For more show and music announcements, follow me on Bluesky at @eddy-owt.bsky.social.

Resist! The Audio Ecotone for Feb. 7, 2025

We've managed -- barely --  to make it through another week of the kakistocracy. However, there have been a few gimmers of light in these dark days. Thousands turned out across the country in the first of what will likely be many acts of protest against the undemocratic and unconsititional usurptation of power by this administration and the courts (at least those that have not yet been co-opted) have begun to hit back at the overreach. We here at The Audio Ecotone HQ are doing our small part in providing a soundtrack for the Days of Resistance, with selections this week from Billy Bragg, Nina Simone, the Bug Club, Danny Elfman, Les Breastfeeders and more. We'll also be highlighting tracks from two compliations released today benefitting Los Angeles fire relief. You will want to jump on these quickly, especially as the Good Music compilation is only available on February 7th!

Listen live at 3:00 pm Pacific on KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis or online at kdrt.org. Replays Saturday 6:00-7:00 pm and Tuesdays 7:00-8:00 am.

Rain! The Audio Ecotone for Jan. 31, 2025

Rain ... oh, you're a fickle visitor. Sometimes you stay too long; sometimes you don't come at all. In the Davis area, we've gone nearly a month without the wet stuff, much to the chagrin of farmers, gardeners and water managers. That's about to change with this weekend's storms and we'll be doing some celebratory rain dances on the Audio Ecotone to the music of Bessie Smith, Madness, the California Honeydrops, Old 97s, Chyi Yu, the Brangs, Tom Waits and more! Listen live Friday at 3-4 p.m. Pacific on KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis or online at kdrt.org. Replays Saturday 6-7 p.m. and Tuesday 7-8 a.m.

Escape! on the Audio Ecotone (January 24, 2025)

Have you ever had a week where you just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge? Yeah, this was one of those weeks. This week's Audio Ecotone features songs of Escape from Taj Mahal, Ella Fitzgerald, Oblivions, T-Bone Walker, The Inciters, Hot Club of Cowtown and more! Listen live Friday 3-4 pm PST on 95.7 FM in Davis or kdrt.org anywhere!

Women Rock! -- The Audio Ecotone for January 10, 2025

Women Rock! We all know that, but how many of us are aware of Women Rock! Day? On January 3, 1987, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since then, Women Rock! Day celebrates that event and the achievements and contributions of countless women artists and female-fronted bands to popular music. Although the Audio Ecotone missed the actual day due to the holidays, we will kick off 2025 (and the new KDRT studios) with a belated celebration of some of our favorite female artists and bands: Sleater-Kinney, Ex Hex, the Bangles, Dog Party, L.A. Witch and more! Listen live Friday at 3:00 pm Pacific on KDRT 95.7 FM or online at KDRT.org. The show replays Saturday 6:00-7:00 pm and Tuesday 7:00-8:00 am.

Happy Holidays! The Audio Ecotone – Dec. 20, 2024

Yes, it's that time of year when everyone and their grandma (at least those who have radio shows) play all of their favorite Christmas songs. Here at the Audio Ecotone Laboratories, we are not immune from celebrating the annual solstice-adjacent holidays, but we do things differently — so no Mariah, no "Santa Baby" and, for gawd's sake, no "Wonderful Christmastime"! Instead our holiday audio fruitcake is studded with morsels from Sufjan Stevens, Shemekia Copeland, Low, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Duke Ellington, BeauSoleil, and more surprises. Listen live on Friday, Dec. 20, at 3:00 pm on KDRT 95.7 FM or online at KDRT.org.

Fundraiser! on the Audio Ecotone (December 6, 2024)

It's the season of gifting once again and although KDRT is definitely on the Nice list, we can't rely upon Santa to keep us on the air. Therefore, we ask for your donations to help us continue to bring your the finest in low-power community broadcasting. Please visit our Winter Fundraiser page to make your tax-deductable contribution. Plus if you donate $75 or more, you get our limited-edition Great Blue Heron logo t-shirt as thank-you gift. So be sure to add KDRT to your holiday shopping list and be sure to tune into this week's Audio Ecotone to enjoy a mix of appropriately themed music and a very special guest! Listen live on Friday, December 6 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time on KDRT 95.7 FM or stream live or anytime at KDRT.org.

Día de los Muertos! on The Audio Ecotone for November 1, 2024

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a the Mexican holiday in which families welcome back and honor the souls of their deceased loved ones. In the spirit of the day, we will be honoring the memories and music of many of the musicians who left us this year, especially those whose names may not have made headlines, but whose vision and contributions are memorable: Family Man Barrett, Damo Suzuki, Doug Ingle, Martin Philipps, James Chance, Duane Eddy and more. Join us live Friday 11/1 at 3:00 pm Pacific on KDRT 95.7 FM or stream via the web at kdrt.org.

Cover Songs! on the Audio Ecotone (October 25, 2024)

’Tis the season for everyone to dress up as their favorite ghoul, superhero or sexy <insert random professional here>. This week on the Audio Ecotone, we will be highlighting the musical equivalent of “dress up” — cover songs! Please join us as we feature some well-known and some more obscure covers by Faye Wong, Richard Thompson, Bettye LaVette, Robyn Hitchcock, the Kronos Quartet and more on the October 25th edition of the Audio Ecotone. Listen live Friday at 3:00 pm Pacific on KDRT 95.7 FM or online at kdrt.org.