Celebrating Sacramento's most independent radio station,
KWOD 106.5 (1977-2009)
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Welcome to iKWOD, a tribute site devoted to the memory of KWOD 106.5, a Sacramento radio station
programmed by Alex Cosper, the creator
of Sacramento's video tour website SacTV and radio/music history site
Playlist Research.
The station shifted formats over the years from contemporary jazz to top 40 to eventually alternative rock. The station enjoyed its most sustained success in the 1990s at the height of the alternative radio revolution. KWOD was one of a handful of West Coast major market stations that influenced and inspired stations across the nation to embrace music from outside the narrow boundaries of mainstream hits. KWOD became a leader in helping elevate local musicians with the Sunday night show The Sound of Sacramento (later renamed Sounds of Sac) and giving airplay around the clock to select quality acts such as Cake. The station played a major role influencing other stations across the nation to play "The Distance" in 1996, which led to the band becoming a million-selling national act. KWOD StoriesKWOD Staff in the 80s (Top 40 Era)KWOD Staff in the 90s (Alternative Era) The Rise of Alternative Radio Interviews with Recording Artists Played on KWOD KWODumentary: A Video Documentary Shawn and Jeff Morning Show Local Sacramento Music Played on KWOD Sacramento Radio History Secret to KWOD's Success Local Sacramento Music Scene History Movie Mondays and Premiere Contests on KWOD KWOD's Relationship with Tower Records Sacramento Concert History 1990s Interview with 80s/90s KWOD Jock Rick Foster at Cal Expo KWOD Playlists1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996KWOD Airchecks
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Countless Interviews and Studio PerformancesLike several other alternative stations across America in the 90s, KWOD placed a heavy emphasis on acts that could perform their songs in the studio with just acoustic instruments or minimal sound setups. This type of minimalism that still delivered high-quality live music opened the door for more artists stopping by the station than if the station never aired in-studio performances. Furthermore, paying attention to live performance led to the station's series of concert festivals featuring major acts like The Jesus & Mary Chain, Everclear, No Doubt, Jewel, Love & Rockets, Cowboy Junkies, Crash Test Dummies and Our Lady Peace. Since KWOD was one of the few stations in America of any format to play the international environmental awareness hit "Saltwater" by Julian Lennon in 1991, Lennon did a special listener's party for KWOD. It was his only United States concert appearance that year. This very touching and meaningful song reached the top ten across Europe and number one in Australia, but only got airplay on KWOD in America due to its deep social message and unique melody. It also sounded like a modern Beatles song. Some of the many artists to visit KWOD and perform live included Inspiral Carpets, Big Country and They Might Be Giants. Others who gave memorable studio interviews included Joey Ramone, Social Distortion singer Mike Ness, Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke and XTC singer Andy Partridge. Artists who phoned in for interviews included Depeche Mode singer David Gahan, "Weird Al" Yankovic and Julian Lennon. KWOD also recorded interviews backstage, such as with Alanis Morissette, The Cure singer Robert Smith and Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Keidis. Cake - Rock and Roll LifestyleOne of KWOD's biggest accomplishments was helping elevate local bands to the national level. KWOD gave airplay to countless local bands, emphasizing the ones that were stirring up big reactions in the local scene. Cake was the most successful band that came from this era. They rose in prominence, first with the Casablanca Records release of the 1994 album Motorcade of Generosity, featuring "Rock and Roll Lifestyle," "Jolene" and "Ruby Sees All." Then the 1996 follow-up album Fashion Nugget contained the smash, "The Distance," which KWOD helped break nationally. The album went on to sell over a million units. |
KWOD's Devotion to Local BandsKWOD also gave airplay to Deftones, signed to Maverick Records. The band's early single was "7 Words," played regularly at night on Ally Storm's show. Other local and regional bands heard on KWOD in the 90s included Jack, which became Oleander, signed to Republic Records, Cause and Effect, signed to Zoo Entertainment and Chance The Gardener, signed to Warner Brothers. Papa's Culture, signed to Island Records, was played on the local show The Sound of Sacramento on Sunday night hosted by various station personalities such as David Conley. Papa Roach also got early airplay prior to getting signed. One of the local scene's hit songs regularly heard on the station was "Jet, Jackie and J.C." by Little Guilt Shrine (LGS).  |