Content area
Full Text
The familiar beat of "Killer Instinct," an underground hip-hop groove by Styles of Beyond, rumbles through Hogue Barmichael's sound system, compelling patrons to swarm the dance floor. Colorful spotlights dart through the smoky air. These college-age pleasure-seekers know this midweek party as X-Large, an event orchestrated by Cheapshot and Jester.
The two men first delivered this track to hip-hop fans during their Monday night radio show on 200-watt KUCI-FM (88.9). Behind the kooky pseudonyms that mark the on-air personas at the UC Irvine station are a band of music fiends determined to celebrate and cultivate the county's many subcultures. Bands Sublime, No Doubt, Coolio and Busta Rhymes all performed live on 88.9 before becoming MTV staples, though the station reliably reaches only the county's midsection.
Despite its lack of power, the station's influence ripples throughout the county, in L.A. and beyond. Pop's latest darling, ska, can thank among its early champions Tazy Phyllipz and his Saturday KUCI set, "The Ska Parade" (noon to 2 p.m.). Now in syndication, the show airs on three other stations including 91X-FM (91.1) in San Diego. The latest rockabilly and swing revival has been fueled locally in part by deejays Jeff Scott, Jesse and Russell. And a dozen or so shows surveying every electronica offshoot nourish O.C.'s burgeoning underground.
"KUCI is very supportive in building up scenes and creating interest in them," said club impresario Jaime Munoz. To sustain that momentum, and as a return favor to the deejays who plug his gigs, Munoz promotes the station on his ads and fliers.
Performances by touring and local acts have become a station trademark. With from four to eight a week--a high number for a station of any size--the staff is accustomed to the vibrations underfoot in the 2,000-square-foot trailer module that...