Miller Bumps Bohannon To Midnight Hour

KXLY-AM (Newstalk 920) has juggled its lineup, in part to get more local talk on the air.

Judging by the listeners who have been ranting to Spotlight, not everybody wants more local talk on the air, especially if it means three recycled hours of Rick Miller.

The new schedule has something called “The Best of Rick Miller” from 9 p.m. to midnight. This turns out to be a tape of Miller’s morning show that day.

“If I wanted to listen to Rick Miller, I’d listen to him in the morning,” said one disgruntled KXLY listener. “I want to listen to Jim Bohannon at night.”

National talker Bohannon has been shoved back to the midnight hour.

Other changes in the KXLY-AM schedule: Mike Fitzsimmon’s show now begins at 12:30 p.m. and runs until 4 p.m.; Paul Seebeck launches a local sports-talk show from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Dr. Dean Edell (possibly the most sensible man on talk radio) moves to 7 p.m.

Our favorite baritone

Thomas Hampson, Spokane’s big-time Opera Man himself, is singing the title role of Jules Massenet’s “Werther” in the Metropolitan Opera’s current production in New York.

Here’s what Associated Press critic Mary Campbell had to say about our boy Tommy: “Based on his performance at the Metropolitan Opera, there’s no doubt that Thomas Hampson was born to sing Werther… . He is elegant, in voice and acting … Hampson emphasizes not Werther’s youth but his deep pain and refinement.”

We here in Spokane will get to hear all of that deep pain and refinement live, via the magic of radio on the Texaco-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network, Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on KPBX-FM (91.1).

KISS and tell

John Lodge was amused, if that’s the correct word, by the official KISC-FM (98 KISS FM) explanation for why the station has returned to the morning team lineup of Rob Harder and Mike Holman. The official line goes: What they were doing wasn’t working, so they are going back to what worked.

That’s not the way it was explained to Lodge when the station canned him as the morning man on Dec. 22. He said Harder told him it was strictly a budget problem, and that Harder, as program director and operations manager, was being forced back on the air as a cost-cutting measure.

Either way, the result is the same. Lodge has become “personally acquainted with the folks at the unemployment office,” he said. Meanwhile, he is talking to other stations in the area who might need some on-air help.

Met Opera auditions

Right about the time this Met broadcast ends, Spokane’s opera fans can run over to the Spokane Falls Community College Music Building for the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions.

The finest young talent from Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana will be competing to go to the regional auditions in Seattle. The auditions begin at 2 p.m. Saturday; the public is invited and there is no charge.

You might hear the next Thomas Hampson.

The monster mash

The Spokane Arena has booked an earthshaking show for February: The U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam.

Hey, it IS earthshaking. This will be the first Arena appearance of Gravedigger, a really, REALLY big truck. Monster Patrol and Bearfoot will also be appearing (those are big trucks, too).

The show runs Feb. 19-21 and tickets went on sale Friday through G&B Select-a-Seat, 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.

Is Alanis coming?

Remember that alleged Alanis Morissette show at the Spokane Arena on March 27? Not gonna happen.

At least not in that space on that date. The Arena has the Shrine Circus booked for March 27, so unless Alanis wants to stand in the middle of a circus ring dodging elephants, this won’t work.

Pollstar, the concert Web site, now has the words “to be announced” next to the Spokane date.

Those words are also next to many of the other stops on the Alanis-Garbage tour. Apparently, the return of the NBA has thrown a wrench into arena schedules and touring schedules nationwide.

So, Alanis and Garbage may still play Spokane, but it’s still up in the air.

Watch for further developments.

Kottke update

Here’s a show that’s certain: Leo Kottke, guitar god, March 10 at The Met. Tickets go on sale Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. through G&B.

Also, Patrick Ball, Celtic harper and storyteller, will play The Met the next day, March 11 at 8 p.m. He will perform his one man play, “O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music.” Tickets for that show also go on sale Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. through G&B.

McManus reminder

Were you one of the lucky people who received free tickets to the KSPS-7 taping of the two Pat McManus comedies, “A Fine and Pleasant Misery” on Jan. 25 or “McManus in Love” on Jan. 26 at The Met?

If so, actor Tim Behrens wants to remind you: Please show up. If not, give the tickets to somebody who can.

This will be taped for future broadcast, so Behrens doesn’t want the cameras to pan over any empty seats. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. but the producers want the audience there by 7:40 p.m.

All of the tickets were given away to attendees of December’s McManus shows at The Met.