JULY 24-30, 2014 ------------------------------------------------Cover Story • WXKE ----------------------------------------------- Walking the Rock Down the Dial By Michele DeVinney manager/music director for WXKE and pro- gram director/music director for the oldies In this day of satellite radio and digital station, so now being put in charge of three music options, those of us who grew up lis- stations in our cluster isn’t really a shock to tening to the radio can be made to feel like the system at all, just a new set of challenges dinosaurs. But at the heart of the love for that I look forward to.” the AM or FM dial was a love for the voices For West, the biggest change has been to who brought music to life for us, personali- his system, requiring him to rewire his inter- ties who became part of our daily lives. That nal clock after years of early mornings. aspect of radio remains a strong pull and ul- “I think this is good for me, but my body timately explains why radio refuses to die. clock is definitely upside down. It changes Locally, few stations can tout the strong everything – when I eat, when I sleep – and and loyal fan base of WXKE, and no deejay I’m still getting used to it. It’s funny because on that station has a more devoted follow- when I first came here, no one wanted morn- ing than Doc West, consistently named as ings, but that eventually became the most Fort Wayne favorite radio personality. When important time. Now, apparently, midday is the recent acquisition of WXKE, along with the most important time, at least that’s what several other area radio stations, by Adams the Nielsens say.” Radio Group was announced, there Having fought successfully for WXKE’s were immediate concerns. Notably, WXKE on-air personalities J.J. Fabini, Doc West return just a few years ago, West does admit WXKE would move to a different and Jason Lee, production manager for all eight that the new spot on the dial is a hard adjust- spot on the dial, 96.3 and would no Adams Radio Group stations in Fort Wayne. ment, but whatever trepidation he may have longer be Rock 104. felt when the changes began a few months In the days that followed, epi- ago slipped away when he met Adams CEO taphs were shared on social media, and it was also new in town, having just arrived the shift, 9-3, instead of his iconic early morning Ron Stone. became clear that the ties that bind people August after I did. But what I did know was show. But both men, veterans of the media “When I talked to him over dinner a to their favorite station and disc jockey were that I had found a new home. If Fort Wayne world, are philosophical about those chang- few weeks ago, I realized we had a lot of still strong. Nearly everyone had a story to didn’t feel like it yet, Doc’s show sure felt es and optimistic about the future. the same attitudes about life. These are good share. I have my own. When I moved here in like it. “This is the fourth ownership change people, and they exude a positive energy.” late June 1979, I struggled to find my niche The good news is that, unlike previous I’ve been through, so going through changes West has already been part of many ra- in this city. I had moved here from western radio wars, WXKE did not go away, nor is something I’ve become quite accustomed dio changes over the years, and he has faced New York and music had been my obses- has Doc West. In fact, the upshot of the new to,” says Fabini. “Everyone has a differ- much bigger challenges. Aside from the sion, so it seemed clear that I needed to find ownership is that now more people can en- ent way of doing things, and the future of uncertainty a few years ago when he was a source which would take the place of my joy Rock 104 – er, 96.3 – than ever before, WXKE is the brightest it’s ever been. The bounced around to different stations after beloved WCMF in Rochester. After a couple thanks to a much stronger signal. While it’s ability to reach such a large portion of north- WXKE’s demise, he was part of a much big- of months of experimentation, I stumbled true that Rock 104 is now a thing of the past, east Indiana is truly an honor and an honor ger upheaval when he was still a rookie in upon WXKE one afternoon and heard a guy WXKE is in a better position now. There are we take very seriously. Columbus, Ohio. named Rick West – or, as he was also known, notable changes, with J.J. Fabini now pro- “As far as changes to my job description, “Doc” West. I had no idea at the time that he gram director and Doc manning the midday I had previously acted as co-GM/operations Continued on page 4 July 25 JD Wilkes & Rock The Dirt Daubers Old and Dirty Botanical Roots Aug 1 Zion Lion Reggae U.R.B. Concert Series Aug 8 John Németh Blues Todd Harrold Trio Friday Nights at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory Aug 15 Jessica Hernandez 1100 S. Calhoun St, Fort Wayne Indie Soul & the Deltas Trackless 'RRUV2SHQ2SHQHU Admission $6 (12 and under free) Aug 22 Orgone Funk Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra Food/Beverage Available from Mad Anthony Brewing Company Aug 29 Nikki Hill Lawn Chairs Encouraged Blues Swick & Jones www.botanicalconservatory.org 260.427.6440 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com -----------------------------------------------------------------July 24, 2014 whatzup Volume 18, Number 49 ighteen years ago next month, right after we published our very first issue of whatzup, the folks at WXKE Rock 104 called us to say, “We like what you’re doing, and we want to be part of it.” Over the course of the next two decades,E WXKE has seen more than its share of tragedy, has been sold a couple of times, has gone away altogether and has, literally, come back from the dead – all this in an industry that has seen tremendous change during the same span of time. Through it all, they’ve stayed true to their spirit of rock n’ roll and held onto their intensely loyal fan base, and they’ve done it with a signal so weak that it can’t be heard in parts of Allen County. That’s all changing now, as Michele DeVinney’s cover story on page 2 explains. But what’s not changing is the dedication and per- severance of the three guys who grace our cover this week – J.J. Fabini, Doc West and Jason Lee. We appreciate the support these guys have given whatzup over the years, and we wish them every success at their new home on the dial, XKE 96.3. Besides our cover story, this week’s issue features stories on: Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Zion Lion who will be bringing their reggae music to the Botanical Conservatory; Karen Gibbons-Brown who has helmed the Fort Wayne Ballet as executive and artistic director since 1998; and the acoustic duo of John Forbing and Chelsea Erickson who you can hear at Columbia Street West, a pairing that unites one of the area’s most respected talents with one of his most talented stu- dents. All this comes to you free, whether you’ve picked up a hard copy at one of our 350 or so distribution points in and around Fort Wayne or are reading this online. Either way, we hope you’ll make the most of it and go out and have yourself some fun. While you’re out and about, please tell everyone who sent you: whatzup. • features FLIX ................................................ 14 Sex Tape DIRECTOR’S NOTES ...................... 16 WXKE ............................................................2 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Walking the Rock Down the Dial ON BOOKS ..................................... 18 ZION LION ....................................................4 Dad Is Fat Happily Making Reggae Roar SCREENTIME ................................ 18 KAREN GIBBONS-BROWN ......................5 A Short List of 2014’s Best Films Making Future Stars JOHN FORBING & CHELSEA ERICKSON .........6 Student-Teacher Duo • calendars • columns & reviews LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ...................8 KARAOKE & DJS ...........................11 SPINS ...............................................7 MUSIC/ON THE ROAD ...................12 Plaxton and the Void, Sea Wolf ROAD TRIPZ ..................................13 BACKTRACKS ..................................7 MOVIE TIMES ................................14 Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy (1973) STAGE & DANCE ...........................16 OUT & ABOUT ...................................8 Food Trucks Converging Downtown ART & ARTIFACTS .........................16 ROAD NOTEZ ................................. 12 THINGS TO DO ..............................17 Cover design by Greg Locke; Cover and page 2 photos by Cody Heckber July 24, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------ www.whatzup.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 BROUGHT TO YOU BY: --------------------------------- Feature • Zion Lion -------------------------------- 3 Rivers Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli ...................9 20 Past 4 and More ................................................19 ACPL/Rock the Plaza .................................................5 The Alley Sports Bar/Pro Bowl West ......................3 Happily Making Reggae Roar Botanical Roots Concert Series .............................2 By Debbie Kennedy attendees won’t just leave with a smile on sorbing what they were about, learning from their faces. Chances are good they’ll also them, watching and listening and sometimes C2G Live/The TV Show ............................................19 When it comes to roots music, few have learned something, too. sitting in on jam sessions in someone’s yard genre’s roots go quite as deep as reggae’s, “We take the time to explain what kind or on someone’s porch – it was all wonder- Calhoun Street Soups, Salads & Spirits ...............8 and when it comes to reggae, few bands have of music we’re playing and to give our audi- ful and important in teaching me about the the history, cred and passion as Kalamazoo’s ences a little background about that music’s people who served as the originators of the CLASSIFIEDS ...........................................................19 Zion Lion.