Kathleen Cei Photos

Listener supported: “Local Bands” show co-hosts Rick Allison & James Velvet. (To process through the photo gallery below, click on the right-hand side of each image.)

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Wow. We saved "Local Bands." Now what can we learn from this remarkable moment? Think of the number of local music institutions we haven't been able to save, from The Tune Inn (deemed a nuisance by City Hall) to the New Haven Advocate's own Grand Band Slam (orphaned when the street festival it supplemented died). In this context, the resurrection of an illustrious yet ill-fitting half-hour of local music on a monolithic mainstream FM rawk powerhouse seems just plain fantastic.

When the news rapidly spread last week that James Velvet & Rick Allison's long-running "Local Bands" show had been cancelled by WPLR, the story was quickly framed as a David vs. Goliath story. Yet neither side got knocked down and both emerged stronger for the ordeal. The better model is "The Odd Couple," unlikely partners whose differing tastes and styles may baffle each other (and many PLR listeners) but who gain respect for each other through the simple act of airing one's differences.

I've been a guest on "Local Bands" several times. It's recorded far from the din of mass-market radio, in the basement studio of Rick Allison's home. The show's one appreciable link to the rest of the PLR schedule is Rick's voice; he's the guy who intones those menacing "99 Rocks" station IDs. Otherwise, it's outsiderville.

When PLR finally did take an active (dis)interest, "Local Bands" was nearly 21 years old, a good age for rebellion. (For a look back on the show's history see James Velvet's cover story from last summer.) Rather than go gently into that good nightclub and leave the airwaves they never really comprehended being on, the hosts rallied the troops, including the many local media mavens who'd guested on the show ("Local Bands" prefers to chat up those who book or write about the scene).

Kim Guthrie is the regional Vice President for Cox Radio. She's been in charge of the company's Connecticut operations since 2003 and due to a recent restructuring has added a new hat: General Manager of WPLR. Hers was the name affixed to the decision to ax "Local Bands," and she bore the brunt of the fans' anger. Reached last Friday at her WPLR office, the day after the news of "Local Bands"' miraculous resurrection hit area blogs, Guthrie was happy to talk about the brouhaha.

"It was a premature decision, done in a quick way, without discussion. Then we discussed it." Guthrie says "it only took a day or two" for the station to see the error of its way. Fortunately, she says Cox "really believes in allowing a lot of station-level decisions." Reversing course was thus easy; as Guthrie puts it, "we never did skip a beat."

Having seen the outpouring of support for the little local show that could (Guthrie says she personally responded to all the comments she received), PLR is apparently looking at "Local Bands" in a new light. Thanks to its vocal followers and the undeniable passions of its hosts, "Local Bands" has earned the public support of its host station.

In an e-mail, Velvet (who knows whereof he DJs, having served the music scene as leader of the much-missed Mocking Birds and currently as part of The Ivory Bills trio, The Lonesome Sparrows duo and sometimes solo) gushed:

"At the risk of stating the obvious, it feels great to be able to continue 'Local Bands'! We would have continued somewhere else anyway, most likely with a reduced range. But it's satisfying to know that so many listeners would plead the case for local programming and local music on the FM giant. And satisfying to know that the giant listened. I send sincere thanks to everyone who pitched in to help keep us on the air. And to everyone who listens to the show."

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