Celebrating Sacramento's most independent radio station,
KWOD 106.5 (1977-2009)
Welcome to iKWOD, a tribute site devoted to the memory of KWOD 106.5, a Sacramento radio station
programmed by Alex Cosper.
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 the alternative format.
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 KWOD Playlists1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 |
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). |