George Gimarc

DJ Woodtronic Knows a Good Oddity When He Sees One, and He Sees Plenty in DFW

Photo by Allan Hayslip Known for his sophistication as a DJ, Reid Robinson (a.k.a. Woodtronic) gets groovy, laid back gigs spinning at spots like the Perot Museum and outdoor shows in Dallas Arts District. Not to say he can't pump (and punk) it up if needed...you can also see him spinning pretty reg ... More >>

For 26 Episodes in 1966, WFAA Played Host to the Funkiest, Most Soulful TV Show in America

​Last night, I got a text from Peter Schmidt, who could not believe I've never written about a short-lived 1966 TV show called The !!!! Beat, hosted by iconic Nashville deejay Bill "Hoss" Allen. Wrote Peter, who'd come across it yesterday after a lunchtime discussion about Etta James turned up an ... More >>

The New Library of Laughs: George Gimarc's All-Comedy Station Hits Dallas Radio February 1

From long, long ago, George Gimarc with Iggy Pop, who's a pretty funny guy.​If anyone would know the answer to the question, "Has there ever been an all-comedy radio station in Dallas?" it would be George Gimarc, who has spent most of a lifetime on Dallas radio whilst also collecting its related e ... More >>

For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure: Classic Rock, Covered in King Biscuit Flower Hour

​George Gimarc confirms what I thought I remembered: Early on the King Biscuit Flower Hour aired on KZEW, before, some time in the early '80s, it jumped over to Q102. Makes sense: Blondie's 1979 KBFH appearance, recorded at the original Palladium, and mid-'70s Clapton, with Freddie King at the Dal ... More >>

From the Stoney Burns Archives, A Look at the Birth of Buddy Magazine

Courtesy George GimarcBuddy Holly as sketched by Stoney Burns​George Gimarc called the other day, said he'd just been rustling through stacks of paperwork left behind by Brent Stein -- better known as Stoney Burns, father of Dallas's underground press. Stein died in April, and in recent days those ... More >>

The Obscure 45-Year-Old Song by Some Oak Cliff Kids That Sold Yesterday For $3,122

Via.At the Studio Club on Sherry Lane in Preston Center, The Gentlemen were, from left to right, Tommy Turner on keybs, a kneeling Tim Justice on drums, Mike Kelley on guitars and vox (on "Cry'n Shame"), Bruce Bland on bass and Seab Meador on lead guitars and vocals.​Fans of the Dallas garage-rock ... More >>

Finally, KZEW-FM Founder Ira Lipson Will Take His Place in the Texas Radio Hall of Fame

98kzew.comIra Lipson​I was talking to George Gimarc last night (more about that later ... ish) when he mentioned that the Texas Radio Hall of Fame has announced its 2011 class of inductees. Among them is a local great who won't be able to attend the October ceremony: the great Cuzzin' Linnie, who ... More >>

After 18 Years At The Station, Josh Venable Is Named Program Director at 102.1 The Edge

Josh Venable​Just a couple months after celebrating 17 years on the air as the host of KDGE-102.1 FM The Edge's Sunday night staple, "The Adventure Club," Josh Venable can now add another notch to his belt: This morning, he was named program director of the station. It appears for now as if he'll ... More >>

Thanks to George Gimarc and His Ginormous Stax o' Wax, You Can Now Do "The Dallas Push"

​The great George Gimarc called yesterday to talk about ... look, I forget what. But at some point, the man who introduced me -- and a generation of kids who would have otherwise been stuck listening to Boston and Styx and Kansas in the early 1980s -- to punk rock suggested I take a look at the ph ... More >>

Gini Mascorro Sneaks Local Acts Into KXT's Rotation, But Knows She Can't Please Everyone.

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans , where we meet some of the people behind the local music scene -- those who aren't necessarily members of local bands, but more the people who make the scene move.Gini Mascorro​Gini Mascorro's humble musical beginnings came as a shy East Fort Worth junior high ... More >>

Before He Celebrates 17 Years of Hosting The Adventure Club, Josh Venable Looks At Its Past

Josh Venable​Halfway through our talk with KDGE-102.1 FM The Edge radio host Josh Venable, he excuses himself from the conversation."Hold on for one second, I've got to do a break real fast," he says, before pausing to clear his throat as the last notes of Jane's Addiction's "Jane Says" play in th ... More >>

Does JOT the Dot Jog Your Memory, Oh, Longtime Local? Because Its Cels Are For Sale.

A close-up look at one of the JOT the Dot cels about to hit the auction block​I called Heritage Auction Galleries PR man Noah Fleisher about something we'd mentioned long ago when he asked, out of nowhere, "Do you remember JOT the Dot?" Oh, sweet fancy Moses. Barely."Is that the Presbyterian Perio ... More >>

This Is What Became of The Hands of God

Photo at left, Dallas Municipal Archives; at right, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum​Yesterday, in the comments accompanying the item about the old central library on Commerce, George Gimarc asked this of the sculpture Dallasites once knew as Youth in the Hands of God: "Anyone recall th ... More >>

If You Ever Wanted to Play Disc Jockey For George Gimarc, Tomorrow Night's Your Shot

From the Vinyl Preservation Society of Texas Facebook page​Just last night I was telling the wife about how, like, about 20 years ago I was part of a small group of music freaks and geeks who'd gather 'round the turntable every so often to drink bourbon and swap songs and stories about why this gu ... More >>

A Christmas Miracle: On Eight Track Museum's Opening Day, Big Bucks Lives Up To His Name

James "Big Bucks" Burnett in the back room of his Eight Track Museum, sitting in the egg chair filled with stereo speakers​By the time we arrived at the Eight Track Museum, James "Big Bucks" Burnett's tribute to myriad dead media, some 60 or 70 folks had already come and gone, each one gladly fork ... More >>

For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure: Elvis Costello Pumps It Up on Cedar Springs in '78

Joe Prock, courtesy George GimarcElvis Costello on stage at Faces, on Cedar Springs, on January 28, 1978​I asked George Gimarc this evening: Where oh where was Faces?"Faces, Faces, Faces," he said, trying to knock lose his memory. And there, amidst his estimable KZEW ad archive, was the precise ad ... More >>

News & Notes: "Please Keep Oak Cliff Dry," A Blockbuster Battle and ... Moody Flashback!

​A few very random notes while trying to wash the Magic Time Machine out of my clothes after last night ...Saw first thing this morning that Barry Kooda is admin-ing a brand-new Facebook page: "Please Keep Oak Cliff Dry." Left and sent the Nervebreaker a few messages to discuss and will follow wit ... More >>

Not Donkeying Around, George Gimarc's Laughing It Up With His Latest Radio Format

George Gimarc, like you didn't know​Almost four years ago, the great George Gimarc introduced us to his then-latest rock and roll alternative: a would-be syndicated format called Radio SASS, which stood for "Short Attention Span System" -- as in, no song lasted lasted longer than two minutes. Said ... More >>

Ron Chapman on the State of Radio and Why He'll Never Make a Comeback

The great Ron Chapman​On April 13 in Las Vegas, Ron Chapman will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Radio Hall of Fame -- a momentous occasion that comes exactly one month after the Citadel Broadcasting Corporation pulled the plug on Platinum 96.7 and replaced it with an FM ... More >>

This Week In Dallas Music History: The Toadies Look To MTV For A National Breakthrough.

A photo lifted straight from our March 5, 1992 archives.​Gilbert Garcia covered a busy week for the Toadies in the March 5, 1992 edition of the Observer, in an article detailing the band's upcoming trip to the finals of an MTV-hosted battle of the bands. Aimed to help get unknown bands get some na ... More >>

Out of the KBOX and Into the Past: Was This the Very First Dallas Cowboys Theme Song?

​The great George Gimarc has been extremely generous with his estimable collection of goodies -- so much so he's agreed to partner with Unfair Park on a North Texas Food Bank fund-raiser a la Danny Hurley's Mods vs Rockers book we auctioned off at Christmas. More details to come next week. Till th ... More >>

A Friday Flashback: Building the Statler Hilton

​The great George Gimarc sends word: "I was playing around with a new scanner and decided to test it on some old slides. Here's some pix of the Statler Hilton under construction in September of '54 and May of 1955. Thought you might enjoy." Why, George, whatever gave you that idea? Love you.

KAFM Wishes You a Happy New Year

KNUS99.com​Woke up this morning to find in the in-box this six-minute blast from the past courtesy -- who else? -- the great George Gimarc, who's got a treat for every occasion. It's a New Year's Day in the life of KAFM in 1973, shortly before the then-year-old progressive-rock outlet perched at 9 ... More >>

This Week From the George Gimarc Archives: Waking Up in 1953 With The Early Birds

Far as George knows, this binder contains the only surviving recordings of The Early Birds. There may be others. But ... where?​No Roky Erickson freak-outs this Friday; no KNUS odds, sods or seeds and stems for you, dear Friends. Instead, George Gimarc offers something even more lost from the Dal ... More >>

Your Second Friday (Acid) Flashback: A Saturday in the Life of KNUS, Ads Included

KNUS99.com​We wrap our broadcast week with yet more from the KNUS vaults currently in the possession of one George Gimarc. What you'll find below are few minutes of what aired on Gordon McLendon's FM freak-out on August 22, 1970 -- some of the sounds and some of the smells, dig? The best part: the ... More >>

Don't Bogart This Rare (Roach) Clip From Jose Feliciano, Performed Long Ago in a KNUS Haze

​So, yes, this is a weekly feature now -- your Friday acid flashback, courtesy the copious collection of one George Gimarc, with whom we're awfully proud to partner. A brief recap so far: KNUS news tuned up with sitar, followed by A Very Roky Halloween. Now, it gets even better as George continues ... More >>

A Very Spooky Friday Flashback: George Gimarc Interviews Roky Erickson in 1981

​One week after providing Unfair Park with the KNUS acid flashback ca. 1970, rock-and-roll alternative George Gimarc has dug into his own vaults -- how awful generous. And he submits for your listening pleasure this most appropriate kick-off for the Friday before All Hallows' Eve: a lengthy interv ... More >>

A Friday (Acid) Flashback, or: Local Radio Newcasts Could Still Use a Little More Sitar

​The great George Gimarc bestows upon the Friends of Unfair Park quite the neat treat this Friday eve: a few minutes of a newscast from the late, great KNUS-FM (98.7). George, who could find a needle in a thousand haystacks in the pitch black whilst wearing a blindfold, just picked up hours' worth ... More >>

Flashback Friday: Genesis's Moody Blues

​I have some hazy memory of my slightly older cousin going to SMU in March 1977 to see Genesis, then touring behind A Trick Of The Tail, the band's first album with Phil Collins as lead singer. My cousin -- who, earlier today, threatened a libel suit if I printed his name -- also has a vague recol ... More >>

On October 9th, Lakewood Theater to be Transformed into The Hot Klub

​Just got sent this cool link from Gerard Dirkx, former (and future) leader of The Telefones. Seems the band's upcoming reunion gig that I blogged about a couple of times a while back has since turned into a pretty major event. Now, a total of nine bands will play The Lakewood Theater on October 9 ... More >>

Telefones Reunion Update: It's On--And It Looks Like a Hell of a Gig

Yesterday, Gerard Dirkx, leader of the legendary Dallas new wave band The Telefones, sounded a bit unsure if the rumored reunion of his band was going to take place.But today things seemed to have changed for the better. Turns out there's great news in my inbox this morning from Dirkx concerning the ... More >>

So, the Dallas Observer Music Awards Are, Like, In an Hour. Guess We Should Get Going.

Only a few of us left at the office -- most everyone else is already down at the Granada for tonight's Dallas Observer Music Awards, where doors open at 8 p.m. following the VIP shebang. Pete's got all the details here for those considering the last-minute rally. Me, all I got is a 19-year-old clip ... More >>

The Edge's 20th Anniversary Reunion

Friday, July 3, at the Lakewood Theater

Echoes and Reverberations: Our Radio Heads Are Waxing Nostalgic

The staff of the Zoo, as seen on Liles' bedroom wall poster.I was twelve years old and up way past my bedtime. The headphones were on and I was hiding underneath the blankets. The stereo was tuned to a Dallas radio station called "The Zoo". A DJ named JD was playing a track from The Beatles' W ... More >>

Echoes And Reverberations: Hitchhiking Along Post-Industrial Boulevard

Noise is not for everybody. Some people hear a jackhammer on the street corner and promptly cover their ears; others hear a subsonic melody and random harmonic movement in the staccato repetition of mechanized machinery. “Industrial music” is the umbrella term used to describe artists who e ... More >>

Inside George Gimarc's Post Punk Diary

The Awards Show That Took Us

U2 Can Revisit Bono's 1983 Visit to the Rock and Roll Alternative

Arresting Development

Wired is Right on the Gimarc

A Trip to The Last Record Store

Gimarc Has Another Alternative

Signing Off

Radio Free Dallas

10 years ago, The Edge actually lived up to its name

Junk rock

George Gimarc and an ex-Pistol make for some Rotten Television

All the catchy songs

There was no bigger or better Texas band in the 1980s than The Judy's, who are long gone but not forgotten

Aged in the can

Vanity, thy name is cheese

Home front

Local bands strike out from the World Wide Web

Noise annoys

Compilation of "experimental music" skirts the line between art and nausea