The Lawn Gnome deserves some credit

MWmetalhead · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 5137

I am going to give the Lawn Gnome (Jerry Tarrants) some credit on a topic of interest to me.

WGRD was probably the first station in the entire country to embrace local band Pop Evil, played them for months, and ultimately the band went on to receive plentiful national airplay on rock radio across the country. A large number of active rock stations play some of their earlier singles in recurrent rotation (including SXM Octane) and are willing to add any new singles they release for airplay quite quickly. From an airplay standpoint, they rank very highly compared to other bands to hit the scene recently.

Was listening to SXM Octane a couple days ago, and lo and behold, I heard the current single from Wayland! They even front-sold the song with a stager. So, "Welcome to my Head" can now be heard on one of satellite radio's most listened to music channels. Probably only a matter of time before we hear them on terrestrial rock radio across the country.

So, while JT's ability to develop air talent for his stations generally sucks ass, I must admit he's done a remarkable job getting some talented local bands national recognition by playing them first on WGRD. So, for that, I give him props.

Biff · **Joined:** Sun Dec 26, 2004 9:59 am **Posts:** 340

Wayland is a very good band. Pop Evil is little more than a Nickelback clone IMO.

I hear their stuff and it's very professional sounding and fits right in with a lot of modern music. Unfortunately it doesn't stand out from a lot of the modern music either.

It's like all those hair bands that released basically the same songs before Nirvana thankfully put them out of their misery.

nomorepal · **Joined:** Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:57 pm **Posts:** 43

GRD is playing way too much of The Offspring's "Pretty Fly"...like it's the newest thing to hit the airwaves. :barf

MWmetalhead · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 5137

I, for one, wish they'd stop playing Trapt and especially Everclear. Two piss poor artists that don't deserve the time of day.

At least I haven't seen them play Skillet or Flyleaf lately -- certainly good news. Those two piece of shit bands get airplay on SXM Octane frequently.

quacky · **Joined:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:07 am **Posts:** 471

Sure JT gives air time to bands, but as a PD, i dont think he is that good. Time to change it up JT, your playlist is way beyond repair.

Radio1 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 6:06 pm

I don't think Wayland will do as well as Pop Evil. IMO.

A few years ago WGRD pounded Powerman 5000's Super Villian. They were not getting nearly as much airplay on that single in any other market including their home market in California.

MWmetalhead · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 5137

Quote:

Time to change it up JT, your playlist is way beyond repair.

Right. That's why they are #1 in P18-34 and top 3 in ages 25-54 nearly every book. Never mind the fact those results far exceed the typical performance of a station in the Active Rock format.

Quote:

A few years ago WGRD pounded Powerman 5000's Super Villian. They were not getting nearly as much airplay on that single in any other market including their home market in California.

I remember that. I liked the song. Definitely more to the story than meets the eye. I agree with you there.

grsportsguy · **Joined:** Fri Dec 10, 2004 7:47 pm **Posts:** 12

I actually heard Dio on GRD the other day. Give me a break.

MWmetalhead · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:23 pm **Posts:** 5137

They've been playing "Rainbow in the Dark" for a couple years now. Definitely a crusty song I could live without. What's really bizarre is I believe GRD added that song months before they started to play anything from Ozzy.

originalDave · **Joined:** Tue Dec 07, 2004 12:57 pm **Posts:** 52

So which came first, free beer and hot wings bringing Wayland on the road with them or the PD deciding to play their songs? Do FBHW deserve the credit more than the lawn gnome? Especially considering that they bring their music to a syndicated show across the county not just on station?

the matador · **Joined:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:37 pm **Posts:** 35

originalDave wrote:

So which came first, free beer and hot wings bringing Wayland on the road with them or the PD deciding to play their songs? Do FBHW deserve the credit more than the lawn gnome? Especially considering that they bring their music to a syndicated show across the county not just on station?

Fbhw first had wayland on their lose lose local music review.... Just saying.

wonderkid69 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:43 pm **Posts:** 137

Pop Evil was playing GRD events up to three years before JT was hired. Two years after his arrival he was forced to watch a well produced video of Pop Evil's and next thing you know they were his discovery.

bill walters · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:32 pm **Posts:** 67

I actually played Pop Evil during my last run at KLQ - part of our Wednesday night Stooge's local-band thing

always laugh when GRD claims to be the first station to play the band...........

48125er · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:10 pm

bill walters wrote:

I actually played Pop Evil during my last run at KLQ - part of our Wednesday night Stooge's local-band thing

always laugh when GRD claims to be the first station to play the band...........

did X96.1 Play them in their short run, i cant remember if they did or not.

format this · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:21 pm

48125er wrote:

bill walters wrote:

I actually played Pop Evil during my last run at KLQ - part of our Wednesday night Stooge's local-band thing

always laugh when GRD claims to be the first station to play the band...........

did X96.1 Play them in their short run, i cant remember if they did or not.

You confuse the old 96.1 and 89X with WGRD. They have hardly any similarity. WGRD is active rock, which is Pop Evil's genre. The other 2 are alternative, which is not their genre.

The Lawn Gnome deserves some credit

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