“College radio” probably conjures up images of walls of records and pimply faced geeks gently dropping a needle on a Ramones record with WWII-era radar operator headphones on. For me it’s hard to update the image I have of college radio from the cliché from the ’80s and ’90s, even having worked at one for the last three years.
Some of the bigger college radio stations have found success within their communities by offering programming that commercial radio does not. Whether it’s the advantage of having their thumb on the pulse of what students in college are listening to because the jocks and programmers are students, or just offering musical options a little off the beaten path—introduced by people who may not be professionals but are passionate about it—can gain these stations a rabidly loyal fan base.
WFDU on Fairleigh Dickinson’s Teaneck, NJ campus is one such station. Over the last year the station has pivoted its main terrestrial programming to a “Retro Radio Oldies” format, filling the void left by other stations who decided to move their “oldies” cuts up to the late ’70s and ’80s, leaving stacks of hits to gather dust.
While artists like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Sam Cooke were getting a new life on New York radio, many of the specialty programs that made up WFDU remained, including the weekly indie-rock extravaganza “Signal To Noise” hosted by Al Crisafulli.
Crisafulli is no stranger to independent music. As the chief force behind Dromedary Records and the current Sugarblast Music label, and as a veteran of the northern New Jersey music scene once anchored by Maxwell’s in Hoboken, he’s had little trouble in attracting acts to not only come up to his show and talk shop, but to perform. Some have stripped down and performed acoustically giving the audience another layer of what they have to offer, others have crammed as much gear and people into the studio as possible and plugged away. Some of these performances can be heard on the recently compiled and aptly titled Signal to Noise: Live at WFDU Vol. 1.
Crisafulli has also put these skills to use in order to set up a series of fundraisers for WFDU this month, the first of which saw Brixton Riot and the Anderson Counsel headline at the Asbury Park Yacht Club. He has also managed to get the freshly reformed Monsterland to headline one of a pair of shows at the Mercury Lounge on February 24th along with Fruits and Flowers and Savaak. The final show is with Antietam, Honey Badger, and Big Bliss on February 25th. I spoke with Al about his radio show, its niche, and putting together these shows, and our conversation can be streamed above.
February 24th – “Signal To Noise,” The Sugarblast Music Company and Cake Shop Presents are pleased to present the return of MONSTERLAND, along with SAVAK and Fruit & Flowers. Tickets are on sale now. All proceeds benefit WFDU-FM, the long-running noncommercial radio station at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.
February 25th – “Signal to Noise,” The Sugarblast Music Company and Cake Shop Presents are pleased to present Antietam, along with Honey Radar and Big Bliss. Tickets are on sale now. All proceeds benefit WFDU-FM, the long-running noncommercial radio station at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.
For more information on how to get Signal to Noise: Live at WFDU Vol. 1—head here.
