KNRK Turns 20 With A Waterfront Concert

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Jesse Cornett, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Normally one would expect to have their big blowout birthday party on their 21st birthday. Not when you are Portland radio station 94/7 KNRK. This weekend they are celebrating their 20th in style. They’ll be down on the waterfront by OMSI with an all-day concert on Sunday that features many of the acts currently receiving regular airplay and even some from the past (Cake, who knew they were still around?).

Hearing the promotions for the show in recent weeks took me on a path down memory lane. My timeline in Portland is tied to theirs. I moved here in 1995 just a couple months after the station launched.

One of my earliest, most vivid memories was driving up Burnside in my buddy Ray’s GTI trying to find a suitable station. We were just down for the day to visit the Burnside Skate Park. That day turned into three or four and suddenly 20 years had passed. I hope KNRK planned their stay for this long. I sure didn’t.

Having come from Seattle, the 107.7 The End bumper sticker adorned the rear bumper and soon the knob stopped on 94.7. We were heading West just passing Powell’s. Heroin Girl by the new Portland band Everclear was playing. It took years to bother finding other stations. It was a hit with us and apparently many others.

I remember the early years so vividly. Stephanie and Mike were the morning show. Their schtick was pure shock jock. In fact it was even called the “S&M” show. I loved it. In fact, I won tickets one morning by having the station call my grandmother to ask sex related questions on the air. She was a good sport, even when Mike referred to he and my grandmother as star crossed lovers.

The station’s youth was displayed on the air much of its first decade. Stephanie was eventually replaced with Daria O’Neill who earned her spot through a contest. Both Mike (Chase) and Daria remain on Portland radio. When I hear their voices it brings back memories. Fortunately, both have given up any hint of shock in their shows.

During the early years I won several go away Thursdays from KNRK. It was a mainstay prize back then. I went to Memphis to see Blur and met Fiona Apple. I went to Las Vegas for a music festival in the desert. I barely even remember winning one trip. I had my molars taken out that morning. I was dialing in from my couch at home as the fog of valium and the effects of the anesthesia wore off and the euphoria of pain meds started to kick in. Barcelona. The trip was to Barcelona. I couldn’t go because I didn’t have my passport but still got the $1000 spending money to go with it. They didn’t have to pay me to be a fan but it was a nice bonus.

As KNRK’s audience aged, the programming seemed to mature with it. For a several week period in 2004, the station took all its personalities off the air to re-vision itself. Once they were back, the music selection had expanded and the programming had cleared adolescence. As I went from one age bracket into the next, the station progressed with me. The music continued to scratch a certain itch.

Today a couple things remain the same. Program Director Mark Hamilton (whose distinct voice is on the air plenty) and DJ Gustav remain at the station. Other than that, most things are day and night different from the first years. Now the morning show is led by Greg. Greg, who seems to have a lot more affinity for our home state of Alabama than I do, talks about music, his cats, current events and more. There is nothing remotely shocking about this show. As they turn 20, I am turning 40. If there was still shock in their programming, most of us would probably not stop there on the dial any more.

The other thing that has not changed about the station? Great new music. While it may not be the only station I listen to these days, it remains a favorite. It probably always will. Back then it was Everclear, Garbage and Mike Watt playing the station concerts. Now it’s Of Monsters and Men, Chet Faker, Joywave and many more. I’m looking forward to Sunday.

The event will take place August 16 on OMSI's Waterfront. $55 general admission. All ages.