New T-shirts for membership drive

Laurapalooza T-shirts with a new design are being produced now and will be ready by the end of the current membership drive. They are black with white lettering and include a large KPFT logo on the back and a motto below the program name on the front -- Music for Pacificans. This is the best way I can briefly describe what type of music I feature on my show. I'm sure it will get people asking, "What are Pacificans?"

Usually, when people ask me what type of music I play on my show, I tell them it's not any one type of music. It ranges from roots rock, contemporary folk and blues to spoken word and sometimes some jazzy kind of stuff. Rarely, I'll even include a country-sounding song. But, it isn't really the type of music that makes me choose a song. It is the lyrics that matter. Does the songwriter have something to say? I choose songs with lyrics of social or political importance or that tell an interesting story about people and the hardships people have to overcome to get along in this world. Since I can't put all that on a T-shirt, they will just say, Music for Pacificans.

The current KPFT membership drive will continue through the end of May. I exceeded my dollar goal and new member goal during last Thursday night's show and I hope to do the same again this Thursday.

We have many wonderful thank-you gifts being offered as pledge incentives, including, but not limited to:

Reusable KPFT Grocery Tote Bags made from recycled plastic. With these, when the grocery checker asks, "Paper or plastic?" you can proudly reply, "No, thanks. I brought my own."

CDs (my top picks of the new releases) -
Mudcrutch (Tom Petty's new band): self-titled
James McMurtry: Just Us Kids
Frank Carillo and The Bandoleros: Someday
Chip Taylor: New Songs of Freedom

And last, but should have been listed first because it's the most important, "From The Vault" - 100 hours of Historical recordings from the Pacifica Radio Archives on CDs (in MP3 format).

We always also offer the KPFT logo items -- T-shirts, caps, and mugs.

I recommend the From The Vault recordings and, of course, the new Laurapalooza T-shirt. The T-shirts, by the way, are available in all different sizes, even youth sizes. I look forward to your phone call during the show this Thursday night at 11 p.m. with your pledge of support for the station. The phone number is 713-526-5738. Alternatively, you are welcome to email me with your pledge or do a secure online pledge through http://www.kpft.org/.

Be a Pacifican. Support Pacifica Radio KPFT Houston with your donation.

Willie Nelson special airs on Laurapalooza

I don't usually include country music on my program (or I feature very little country, only on rare occasions), but, since it was Willie Nelson's 75 birthday last week, I decided to air the Willie Nelson special, True Outlaw Stories: On the Road With Willie Nelson, hosted by Rodney Crowell. It featured stories about lots of funny things that happened as Willie Nelson and The Family Band toured together over the past 40 years. Quite a few listeners called in to say thanks for featuring it. Those of us who heard it, no doubt, feel like we know Willie and his band members a lot better now. There were interviews with, not only Willie Nelson, but also Paul English, Mickey Raphael, Jody Payne, Bobbie Nelson and Poodie Locke. I gave away two 23-song samplers from One Hell of a Ride, the new Willie Nelson boxed set, to a couple of very lucky listeners who called in.

New time slot

Laurapalooza has moved to Thursdays at 11 p.m. I'm sure there are a lot more listeners at that time, so I certainly appreciate being able to do the show beginning at 11 p.m. every Thursday night. It's still a three-hour show, so it's over at 2 a.m. now instead of 3 a.m.

Schedule change

Laurapalooza currently airs on Fridays from midnight to 3 a.m. (now weekly; it was previously bi-weekly).

Thanks for supporting KPFT

Thank you to everyone who made contributions to KPFT during the recent membership drive. The station relies on you to remain commercial-free, as it has for 38 years. Thanks for listening and for supporting your community radio station!

Sideshow Tramps to appear as Laurapalooza guests on Feb. 29

Sideshow Tramps will perform live on-air Friday morning, Feb. 29, soon after midnight in the KPFT studios on Lovett Blvd. in Houston.

KPFT Winter Membership Drive runs Feb. 17 through March 6

New issue of KPFT Voice published

The KPFT Voice is published quarterly by the people, for the people and there are thousands of copies in the KPFT conference room waiting to be distributed. If you can help with distributing copies, please contact the station at 713-526-4000 and pick up some bundles to deliver to businesses that agree to display them.

The pictures below are of the people who work in the KPFT Music Library. They must kind of like it because they keep coming back. They each work at least a 2-1/2 hour shift per week. John and Bennie work two shifts per week. It really is interesting to learn about recording artists and bands while doing online research to categorize the CDs into music genres. I get a big part of the music I play on my show from the station's library. We have a few open slots for people who can regularly donate at least 2-1/2 hours per week of their time and energy. If you're interested, let me know (laura@kpft.org) and I'll hook you up with Eddie Garcia, KPFT Events and Outreach Coordinator. You will need to submit a completed volunteer application to him.

Dave Dauterive, Music Department Assistant

Leila Navon, Music Department Assistant

Bennie Slavik, Music Department Assistant

KPFT has a new website

If you haven't already, please take a look around at the new www.KPFT.org. It has a lot of changes for the better. One new function is that the song that is currently playing is listed on the home page. It also shows the program that is currently being broadcast and the program that is up next.

Schedule change working out great

Thanks for your phone calls and emails about the program being moved to Friday morning. I'm receiving lots of positive feedback.

Program schedule change

Laurapalooza has moved from Sunday to Friday morning, beginning December 7, and will now be a three-hour program instead of two. The program will air on the first, third, and fifth Friday mornings from midnight to 3 a.m. I'm very excited and happy about the change!

Minium number of ballots received to hold elections!

Finally, the KPFT membership came through with enough ballots to make a quorum, so we will indeed have Local Station Board elections. We have a membership of about 9,000 and we were barely able to get the 861 ballots needed to have a quorum for elections. I'm thankful that enough of us exercised our right to vote, but I am still disappointed in the low number of members who cared enough to vote and that the deadline had to be extended to get enough ballots in to have a quorum.

Voting for Local Station Board

We are so privileged to have a democratic system for electing board members at our community radio station. It is disappointing that, even after extending the deadline for ballots to be received, not enough eligible KPFT members are exercising their right to vote. As of this morning, we still didn't have enough ballots received. If you have put your ballot aside and didn't think it an important thing to vote for board members, please reconsider and bring your completed ballot to the station on Saturday, December 1. That will be the last possible chance for your vote to be included.

Fall Membership Drive

KPFT is in membersihp drive mode from October 22 through November 11. The station does not advertise or accept corporate underwriting and instead relies on its listener-members for its operating funds. Please support KPFT, your community radio station, with a donation. You can do a secure online pledge at http://www.kpft.org/ or call in during the show on October 28 or on November 11, between 4 and 6 a.m. Alternatively, you could email your pledge to me at laura@kpft.org and I will be happy to submit it for you. Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting free speech and the concept of radio program hosts making their own choices as to what music to play, what to talk about, and who to have as on-air guests. The phone number to call in and make a pledge is 713-526-5738.

Gunshot hits KPFT control room window

On August 13, 2007, at about 1 a.m., a gunshot came through one of the windows of the KPFT control room, narrowly missing Mary Thomas of Zydeco Pas Sale. A bullet was extracted from the wall a few days later. Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. Houston's Crime Tips Hotline is 713-222-TIPS.

Summer Sizzle - August 4 - 12

Summer Sizzle

The KPFT Summer Sizzle pledge drive is right around the corner. It's planned for August 4 through August 12. That's only eight days, so I'm sure it will go by quickly. Actually, pledge drives are a fun time around the station. We get to spend some time getting to know our fellow listener-sponsors who come in to answer the pledge phones.

Laurapalooza's day to raise money to support KPFT will be the last day of the drive -- August 12. So, even if you support other programs too, remember to save a pledge for Laurapalooza and call in between 4 and 6 a.m. on Sunday, August 12, to make a financial pledge to KPFT in support of Laurapalooza. Alternatively, feel free to contact me at laura@kpft.org before August 12 and I will be happy to accept your pledge via email and submit it for you.

In addition to the regular KPFT logo items we offer as premiums during pledge drives -- t-shirts, ball caps, coffee mugs, etc., we have a 3-CD set of Jerry Lee Lewis music and a DVD of some of his performances. It's a collectors' item that any rock and roll music fan would like to own.

Nathan Moore visits KPFT

Nathan Moore, Pacifica Foundation National Program Coordinator, was visiting KPFT this week. I attended his Interviewing Skills workshop. He works with all the Pacifica program directors on national programming issues. He's a great guy and it was a pleasure having him around. As of today, May 18, he's off to visit another Pacifica Radio station.

And the winners are ...

I had a fun time participating as one of three judges at the Worldfolk Battle of the Bands on March 25 at Papa's Ice House in Spring, Texas. All the bands were good, but there could only be three winners! See below for photos.

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - First Place winners: Breanna Fye Band

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - Second Place winners: Skepticynic

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - Third Place winners: Drout Boyz

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - March 25

I have been selected to represent KPFT as one of the judges at the Worldfolk Battle of the Bands on Sunday, March 25, 2007, at Papa's Ice House in Spring from noon to 8 p.m. The bands will be play original music and they will be judged on their musicianship, visual presentation, originality, audience response, songwriting, professionalism and overall entertainment value.

The Worldfolk Foundation is a grass-roots, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting people, music and culture in the world.

The Battle of the Bands festival began in June 2006 and will end this month. The contests have taken place in many locations. It's a national competition with national prizes. For more info, www.worldfok.com.

Black History Month

I'm planning some special music for tomorrow morning's show for Black History Month. Whatever it is you're expecting, it won't be that. So, at 4 a.m., reach over and push the button. You don't have to get up. You do have to wake up, sort of.

Thanks so much for supporting KPFT. We're now back to regular programming. The next membership drive will be in May 2007.

Membership drive in progress through Feb. 11

The Winter Membership Drive is still in progress. It's such a busy time, but is fun and exciting. This week, we have four students from British School of Houston with us (Mike, Melis, Rianna, and Bosse). They're busy doing various things at the station, such as answering pledge phones for the membership drive, music research in the library, writing new music reviews, helping Robin in the membership department, and recording segments for the Saturday evening youth program. They're working, but it's fun work. I'm pretty sure they're having a good time.

The Feb. 11 edition of Laurapalooza will be on the last day of the membership drive, so, if you haven't renewed your membership yet for 2007 or if you have never pledged, please call in at 713-526-5738 during my show on the 11th or do a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org.

Thank you!

Winter Membership Drive

We are gearing up for the KPFT Winter Membership Drive, which will be from January 24 through February 11. If you appreciate the music I bring you twice a month during Laurapalooza, please call 713-526-5738 and pledge your support. You will have two opportunities -- January 28 or February 11 between 4 and 6 a.m. Another option is to do a secure pledge online at www.kpft.org during those same hours. You need to select Laurapalooza as the program you are pledging in support of for it to count towards my program's goal.

Laura has a new position with KPFT

After 3-1/2 years as a volunteer Music Department Assistant, I am now a part-time member of the paid staff at KPFT. My new position is Midday Operations Coordinator, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, facilitating noon Open Journal, the 1 p.m. programs and then filling in at the front desk from 2 to 3 p.m. Even though it's only 3-1/2 hours a day that I am being paid, I'm very happy to have been selected for the position. I will continue my volunteer work in the Music Department doing new music data entry and will also continue doing my music program, Laurapalooza, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month from 4 to 6 a.m.

During the last show on Nov. 26, I received several phones calls from listeners who tuned in to Laurapalooza for the first time and said they enjoyed the music and to keep up the good work. Since then, I have also received email from regular listeners with positive comments and thanked me for doing a great job. It means so much to me that you really like my selections of music. Having the freedom to choose the music for a program is a privilege and such a pleasure.

Mike Katsus assisted with Laurapalooza during the Fall Pledge Drive on 11-12-06. He's also a regular volunteering in the music library. Thanks, Mike.

Pledge Drive show was successful

Thank you for pledging your financial support on November 12 and helping us meet the program's goal! Thanks also to Mike Katsus for assisting. The Fall Pledge Drive is finished and we're back to regular programming.

Pledge Drive in progress

This Sunday's program (Nov. 12) will be on the last day of the KPFT Fall Pledge Drive. If you listen, you care about listener-supported radio for peace. So, please show your support for KPFT and for Laurapalooza by making a financial pledge. It's quick and easy. You can phone in your pledge during Laurapalooza between 4 and 6 a.m. at 713-526-5738 or do a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org. If you pledge online, please be sure to designate Laurapalooza as the program you are pledging in support of. Alternatively, you can email me your pledge and I'll fill out the form and submit it for you (laura@kpft.org).

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting KPFT!

KPFT Music Library as of 10-06-06. New lighting will be installed this weekend.

Music Library update

The other Music Library volunteers and I have been hard at work getting the library organized since the new shelves were installed. We merged more than 2,000 new CDs with the old CDs. There is still plenty to do, so, if you would like to volunteer in the library, please email me at laura@kpft.org.

KPFT Music Dept. volunteer opportunity

We need volunteers to assist with re-shelving thousands of CDs after the new shelves are built in the KPFT Music Library.

We'll begin on Monday, Sept. 18, at 8 a.m. If you would like to get involved with the KPFT Music Dept., the library re-shelving project is a great way to get your foot in the door.

Please contact me at laura@kpft.org or call KPFT (713-526-5738) during business hours (Mon. through Fri., 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and leave a message for me including your phone number. I'll call you back and get you scheduled.

Laura to fill in on Howlin' The Blues Sept. 24

The Blueshound has asked me to fill in as host of Howlin' The Blues on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. Of course, I accepted. After I am finished with Laurapalooza early that morning, I'll come back later and present some contemporary blues music for you.

If you're a blues fan, be sure to listen to Howlin' The Blues on KPFT 90.1 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, to hear the music I have been planning.

08-13-06 Pledge Drive goal met

Thanks to everyone who pledged this morning. Because of you, Laurapalooza's goal was met for the Summer Pledge Drive (woo-hoo)! Please try to spread the word about non-commercial, listener-sponsored KPFT Houston. The same listener-sponsors are pledging for my program again and again and I haven't been meeting my new member goals recently.

KPFT's future depends on new members joining, so please try to help by encouraging your family and friends to become new members.

08-11-06 Summer Pledge Drive Aug. 12-20

If you dig Laurapalooza and still are not a full-fledged KPFT member, then Sunday, August 13, is your chance to remedy that unfortunate situation and join the ranks of proud KPFT listener-sponsors. Just call me at 713-526-5738 during the show and I'll take your pledge.

I'm offering a couple of special CDs as thank-you gifts for pledging during my show on August 13 (between 4 and 6 a.m.) -- Todd Snider "The Devil You Know" and Will Kimbrough "Americanitis." Of course, all the regular KPFT logo items are available. Or you could request the popular wind-up radio for your hurricane preparedness kit.

I still have a few CDs, DVDs, and books in my box of goodies that I had offered during previous pledge drives, so, if you're interested in any of those, just ask me about them when you call.

Whether or not you request a thank-you gift, the main thing is that you do become a listener-sponsor. The station relies on listeners just like you and me for financial support.

If you're already a member, how about buying a first-year membership for a friend or family member? There are still so many people who listen to KPFT and don't support. Maybe all they really need is a nudge from you in the right direction to become a new KPFT listener-sponsor.

So, call 713-526-5738 between 4 and 6 a.m. on Sunday, August 13, and let me know you care about KPFT and want to support free speech and freedom of choice in broadcasting music. You can also pledge online at www.kpft.org. If you do, please designate Laurapalooza as the program you are pledging in support of.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting!

07-23-06 Laughing Freemen interview and live music

Jam band, Laughing Freemen (Ethan, Russell, Tom, Drew and Peter) were my guests in the studio. They rocked KPFT's early morning listeners with three live songs ("Bonnie Mae's Blues," "Silver Slide," and "The Loneliest Tom") and I played one recorded track, "Tom's Blues," from their CD.

We talked about the band and their new self-titled CD. They recorded some of it in Austin and Ethan recorded some solo acoustic songs for it in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jordan, the previous drummer, is moving to Hawaii and referred his friend, Drew, to replace him in the band. Peter is also an old friend and now adds his violin to the mix.

They will be playing a live show at The Last Concert Cafe on August 11 at 8 p.m. and at Mojo Risin' Coffee House on August 26 at 9 p.m. For live show updates, www.laughingfreemen.com.

Laughing Freemen at The Last Concert Cafe, 07-07-06

I took my daughter, Lindsey, and her boyfriend, Justin, out to see No Kings perform last night at The Last Concert Cafe. The band has added a percussionist and a horn player for a much fuller sound (see more photos below). Halfway through the show, I found out they have changed their name to Laughing Freemen. I look forward to having them as guests on my show on Sunday, July 23, at 5 a.m. Pictured above are Laughing Freemen Russell Pruett and Ethan Kennedy. For more info about Laughing Freemen, www.laughingfreemen.com.

Laughing Freemen at The Last Concert Cafe, 07-07-06: Ethan Kennedy, Steven Force

Laughing Freemen at The Last Concert Cafe, 07-07-06: Tom Ross, Russell Pruett, Drew d'Entremont, Ethan Kennedy, Jordan Rose

Thanks for supporting Pacifica Radio

Thank you for supporting Laurapalooza on KPFT. I met my dollar goal on the membership drive edition on May 14, although no new members joined during the program, so I did not meet my new member goal.

New members can join at any time during the year. It doesn't have to be during the membership drives. If you missed my membership drive program on May 14, you can give to KPFT at any time throughout the year by contacting Robin Lewis (713-526-4000) or membership@kpft.org or you can do a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org.

Please tell friends and family about KPFT and all the great programming they can enjoy. When I tell people about KPFT, I make sure to mention the program schedule at www.kpft.org that they can print, along with the alphabetical list of program descriptions. I keep a schedule at my desk, another one next to my home stereo and one in my car.

My next program will be Sunday, May 28, at 4 a.m. I am already planning the music for it, so be sure to listen.

05-10-06 It's time to pledge your support

This Sunday, May 14, in addition to spinning the music you like to hear, I will be asking you to pledge your financial support for Pacifica Radio KPFT. Please call me in the studio at 713-526-5738 between 4 and 6 a.m. on May 14 or do a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org to help keep free speech and freeform independent radio on the air.

The best thing about producing and hosting a non-commercial Pacifica Radio music program is that programmers have the freedom to select the music that goes on the air. There is no corporate big shot calling the shots. I select songs for the songs, themselves -- not to promote particular artists like the 1200+ CC stations do.

If you want to support Laurapalooza on KPFT, but can't call in on May 14, another easy way to pledge is to contact me by email at laura@kpft.org before May 14 and I will be happy to complete your pledge form and submit it for you.

Ask me about thank-you gifts if you are interested. I have some great CDs and books available, starting at the $90 (credit-card) pledge level.

As always, thanks for listening and thanks for supporting non-commercial community radio.

04-23-06 First weekend program

I did my first Sunday program this morning and everything went pretty smoothly. The playlist for today's show is posted at www.kpft.org (see link to Playlist Archives on the right of this page). I'm very happy to be one of the weekend crew now. If you have questions or comments about Laurapalooza or about the music presented, feel free to leave your comments on this blog or email me at laura@kpft.org.

Since I'm alternating Sundays with another program and I'm doing the 2nd and 4th Sundays, my next program will be on May 14. At that time, the KPFT Spring Pledge Drive will be in progress. It's scheduled to begin on May 8 and end on May 26.

Please show your support for your community radio station and for Laurapalooza in particular by calling 713-526-5738 during the program on May 14 between 4 and 6 a.m. Basic annual membership is $35, but pledges in any amount are welcome.

04-14-06 Schedule changed to 2nd & 4th Sundays

The schedule has been changed and Laurapalooza will air on the second and fourth Sundays each month instead of the first, third, and fifth.

Thanks for all of your email comments about the show's name change and move to alternating Sundays. Everyone who commented likes the new name, except one person. As I expected, there are commuters who will miss the weekly show on Friday mornings.

04-10-06 Wake Up And Rock gets a new name

I have decided to change the name of my radio program from Wake Up And Rock to Laurapalooza. The name is derived from lollapalooza, which means "something outstanding and unusual."

The new name will allow me the freedom to play other types of music occasionally if I want to, although it will still be basically a rock music show. If you are interested, my previous posts are at www.wakeupandrock.blogspot.com. The name change will go into effect officially the afternoon of April 16, 2006, when some other changes are being made on the KPFT program schedule.

Laurapalooza will be a good name for the program whether it airs in the daytime or nighttime. I don't want a name that sounds like it can only be a morning show. It is my hope that, at some point in the future, the program will move into an afternoon or evening time slot, but I'm willing to be as flexible as is needed.

On April 6, I was informed by the KPFT program director that my program will move to every other Sunday morning from 4 to 6 a.m. I'm not opposed to Sunday mornings, but I'm not happy with the decision to move my program to biweekly. I have sent an appeal to the program council. I was told they will discuss my appeal at their next meeting and get back to me.