I just got the news from a friend. Here it is, from the WaPo online:
The Washington-area FM radio station WHFS, long a pioneering purveyor of alternative rock, did a programming U-turn at noon today by ditching the genre for a Spanish-language, Latin music format featuring middle-of-the-road superstars such as Marc Anthony and Juan Luis Guerra.
This is amazing!
WHFS was the soundtrack of my high school and college years. I recall listening to DJs like "Neci", "Weasel", "Bob Here", Rob Timm and Aq.
Weasel used to do the post-drivetime show in the morning. It was one of many slots he had before the station went mainstream and they started cutting his hours. He had that high-pitched naselly voice that helped you know that you had just tuned into a different type of listening experience. He used to say, "Weeesel, playin' some rock 'n roll!"
I recall that the old 'HFS used to do a rundown of every artist playing at every area club. It would take like 10 or 20 minutes. Back then, they had the kind of listeners who were cool with stuff like that.
I recall the very first 'HFStival, July 4th, 2001. It was at Lake Fairfax Park. The Violent Femmes headlined. Robyn Hitchcock wasn't on the set but surprised us and played an acoustic rendition of his then new single, "So You Think You're in Love". King Missile was the new flava and they were really cool live!
'HFS introduced me to so many artists, everything from Richard Thompson to Jane's Addiction. For a long time it hadn't been the same station, but this makes the demise of the old quirky 'HFS final and removes yet another vestige from my past.
Listen to the last minute of WHFS here.
Let's make this a forum for those who knew 'HFS to share their memories.
