I’ve been in denial for a while, but I think the time has finally come where I need to admit that I’m no longer relevant.
Oooph! Right in the feels. This hurts, man.
You see, I’ve been tuning into JJJ for decades, and while Kingsmill and I have not always seen eye to eye *side eyes at ‘Skipping Girl Vinegar’*, for the most part it’s been a fairly harmonious relationship.
However lately I’ve been faking it.
I’m a fraud.
I mean, the dial is still always tuned to the ‘Jays’ but, more and more, I’ve been switching off. Because I don’t get it.
Oh man, I’m old. Fuck.
Long time listener …
I first truly committed to JJJ back in the ’90s. Remember when Paul McDermott was doing the breakfast slot? Then Helen Razer and Mikey Robbins? Ah, good times.
I know you started listening at the same time as me if you can quote, verbatim, entire routines by Flaco and The Sandman.
Back then I was living in a sharehouse with a bunch of dudes. I was studying Graphic Design in the city and they were all doing Engineering apprenticeships at QANTAS. It was a pretty odd mix of characters in that house, but one thing we did have in common was a love of Aussie music and, in turn, JJJ.
They’d have been listening to JJJ all shift, and often our conversations at home were about what we’d heard on the airwaves. We’d flick through issues of Drum and find out where bands like Tumbleweed and Spiderbait were playing each weekend. I wish I could remember the names of some of the other acts we used to catch back then, damn it #sorrybraincells
Live music and live living
I celebrated my 21st by travelling from Sydney up to Brisbane for ‘Livid Festival’. Something my mates and I would have had no idea about back then if it wasn’t for JJJ.
Festivals weren’t as common as they are now … Oh, sweet mercy, I’m Grandpa Simpson, aren’t I?
But LOOK! Cool bands #iusedtobecool
Garbage, Silverchair, Everclear, The Jesus Lizard, Regurgitator, Ash, Tumbleweed, Weezer, Powderfinger, Tiddas, The Mark of Cain, Ammonia, Toothfaeries, Snout, Turtlebox, Crop Circles, Blowhard, Precision Oiler, Fireballs, Lyngren, Paradise Motel, Gaslight Radio, Trout Fishing in Quebec, Dream Poppies, Mr. Blonde, Isis, CIV, Out of the Mud, iNsuRge, Pollyanna, Tim Steward, Louis Tillet & Charlie Owen, Ben Lee, Black Eyed Susans, Shock Fungus
My mate Jaclyn had her hens weekend there at the same time and we were interviewed for Recovery. If memory serves we were quite, errm … festive? Must have been the guarana *shrugs*
More than a radio station
Since then, many a pre-festival preparation has been spent listening to JJJ. Tuning in for interviews, catching sideshows, ramping up the excitement with killer playlists. Ah, happy days.
I still love tuning in to hear coverage of events like Splendour. Even if I’m actually going to the festival, I love feeling that festival magic through their coverage on the drive there and back.
Drive. Yep, I drive to and from festivals now. See? #old.
Big ups to the presenters
Merrick and Rosso, man, they were funny. Remember ‘Tightarse Tuesday?’ Ha! Hilarious.
Marieke Hardy, Myf Warhurst, Adam Spencer, Rosie Beaton, Lindsay McDougall … they’ve been some of my faves.
Zan Rowe, she’s my ultimate fave. I bloody love her. I’d like to be her when I grow up. That dynamic with Dr Karl on a Thursday? So good!
I love Hack with Tom Tilley, and there was that time Ash Grunwald was Roots N All? That was great, too.
Costa Zouliou: Awesome.
Lewis and Veronica: Also awesome.
Sarah MacDonald: Love! Oh, if you haven’t read her book, Holy Cow, you totally should. Particularly if you have been, or are going to India. Hilarious.
Notable freaking mention to the legend that is Nas Campanella. Do you know her story? Holy fuckballs … read it HERE. Legend.
It sounds like a farewell, right?
I really, really, REALLY never thought the day would come where I didn’t love JJJ as much as I always have.
But I just don’t. I’ve been trying to hang on for Hack and Dr Karl. Oh, and the drive show.
But just as I get into it, some rubbish by Confidence Man comes blaring out and I have to hit the off button with a rage usually reserved for women name Lois who are dissatisfied with the quality of a restaurant’s napkins.
Damn it.
And I know I’m not alone. Any time Andy has been in the car, the station is on another frequency altogether. He’s not for it anymore either. So much so that he has gone beyond just turning it off, but completely tuning out too.
The recent Double J ’90s weekend made me so freaking happy. So many good memories.
JJJ doesn’t make me happy like that anymore, and it’s heartbreaking because it’s not them, it’s me. I’m old. I’m not cool. I’m probably pretty fucking boring too.
Well, me and Confidence Man. What is that shit?
I realised I was old when I liked listening to ABC Sydney (702) for the conversation rather than listening to stations that play music lol …. And the only Announcer you missed was Angela Catterns but then perhaps you are too young to remember her on JJJ!