Karly’s Thankful-For List & The Five Year ZROCK Poster!

Rochester has become a better place since ZROCK was born! Yeah, I may be a little bit biased, like a mom who thinks that their baby is the cutest little angel ever born on the planet, but, correct me if I am wrong, and I'm not...

ZROCK has changed Rochester forever.

I grew up here thinking how lackluster everything in town was, always wanting and wishing for something awesome, something fun to do, some form of entertainment that was not offered, and sadly, we always had to look to the bigger cities.   There was no local radio station that offered real hard rock.

There were few concerts and events that provided an outlet for a rocker gal such as myself.  I got to thinking about Thanksgiving, because we will soon be there.   I have noticed that many of you have been posting statuses on your facebook pages and tweeting countdowns naming off the things that you are thankful for in your lives, what a cool trend that is making the rounds as we get closer to our day to be thankful.

I am obviously thankful for life, health, and breath.   I am also thankful for my family, my friends, a roof over my head, food to eat, a car to drive, freedom, cheesecake, ice cream, chocolate, I am sure you follow, the basics, the awesome gifts of things and people who are special to us and all of that jazz.   I am extremely thankful for Jeff Cecil coming here, for ZROCK's birth, for all of the fun concerts and events that have taken place that ZROCK has been involved with, and for rock music, which keeps me moving, thinking, learning and loving as time passes.

I captured several photos and memories at events over ZROCK's history here in Rochester, some concerts and shows that I never imagined would happen in my hometown.   Most of the photos on this poster I have taken, some were captured by Terry Greenwaldt, some by Jeff Cecil.

When ZROCK was nearing the five year mark, April 1st, of 2013, I wanted to do something special for the station and for Jeff.   I started the project early, gathering and organizing the days, the events, the photos, of the entire history, I was able to gather up enough information to include at least one photo from every single event that ZROCK was associated with for the entire first five years.   I made 3 really huge posters and included all of my memories and gave one to the station, one to Jeff and one to myself.

It was so much fun to create, I had it done in October.   Six months before the five year birthday.  There were so many photos and things I had in the poster, and I arranged them all in order too, by date, there was no more room to add anymore anyways!   I could not just hang on to it and wait. Just like a kid who tries to peak at their Christmas presents because they have no patience, I could not wait to present my gift to the station.   I have zero patience.   Yes, I am very proud of the project I finished!

The stations poster is currently hanging in the ZROCK studio.

This poster is all of you, all of the rock that has ran through Rochester, Jeff and his awesomeness that has added fun to our drab city that is not drab anymore, and my memories.  

 

Thank you to ZROCK, to the ZROCK listeners who have attended the shows and events, Jeff, and the ability for this project to be completed well before the actual birthday!

After I presented Jeff and the station with my present, a facebook post thanked me for making it and for being me.   This is one of the things in my life I will forever be thankful for. I couldn't be a happier clam to be involved with ZROCK, nor could I ask for a better person to share it with, Jeff Cecil is a very funny, talented, and intelligent human being.

Together, Jeff and I have been lucky enough to pour ourselves into Rochester and rock out with bands like Sevendust, Korn, Rob Zombie, Seether, Pop Evil, Alice Cooper, Theory of a Deadman, Hinder, Hellyeah, Shinedown, Buckcherry, Saliva, Saving Abel, Seether, Halestorm, Drowning Pool, Rev Theory, Mudvayne, Papa Roach, My Darkest Days, Distrubed, and so many more!

We've even given Rochester opportunities to travel to see the Vikings/Packers, Rockfest, Nine Inch Nails (oh yeah! says me), Def Leppard.... Click to watch a short segment I filmed At RockFest

Jeff Cecil has spent some time on the jumbotron and on the RockFest stage...

The Veer Union stopped by and played a few songs for us.   I remember asking about the really unique mowhawk.   He let me touch it, because I had to.   You can watch a clip of them after this photo.

Pop Evil has played so many times here in town and in the ZROCK BASEMENT. They even did a listener appreciation party where the only way to get in was to win!

Pop Evil called to wish ZROCK a happy birthday on the day of our fifth birthday.

We've had Halloween Bash's, given away campers, a home bar, the down and dirty giveaway to lucky listeners, hosted benefits and given you chances to see comedians, races, sports, movies, there really has been so many fun things so far, and so much more is coming in the future!

There even was a marriage proposal at the Papa Roach concert at the Mayo Civic Center.

When I think back over all of the fun times and events, I would have to say my favorite memory, over all five of the years of ZROCK, would be our very first concert at the Mayo Civic Center, Puddle of Mudd.

I do not say that because it was my favorite show, I say that because it was surreal to look out from the stage and see everyone, so excited, so amazed we had a real rock band here in our town, to know that Rochester was going to be a cool place to be, and to be a part of it, from day one, and event one, still almost brings happy tears to my eyes.

Listen to audio from the contest we ran to get you in to ZROCK's VERY FIRST CONCERT IN ROCHESTER!

As the years went by, we have had several bands who have provided interviews and performances, even special intimate ones for ZROCK.   Disturbed sold out the civic center, Art of Dying opened for them. The guys pulled out their guitars and played in a tiny little closet, listen to them perform a quick verse and chorus, talk about MYSPACE, and all of that ancient dawn of social media.  Back in those days, we were only just ZROCK 1077.   We have since had the need to expand and grow and gain 1039!

Bodies performance backstage Art of Dying

Jonny Hetherington of Art Of Dying called on our fifth birthday to chat too, listen here!

Aaron Lewis from Staind called in for this interview you can listen to below; he just crushed me because he didn't remember the infamous Karly/Aaron Bathroom moment.  He talks politics a little and about his origins in music, and how he completely forgot our special moment.

Ted Nugent called me just before he was set to perform at Rockfest.  He is quite the character.   I believe I laughed the entire time we were chatting as I listen back.  This was a surprise, when the phone rang, on the other end, it was Nugent. That was a real interesting few minutes.

Dave Mustaine talked to ZROCK not just once, but TWO times AND stopped by our booth at Rockfest to take pictures, talk some more, and just hang out and be, Dave Mustaine.   I have included some of his  interviews with ZROCK for you....

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

And here is the call he gave from the ZROCK booth in Cadott.

Hear audio of Otherwise during their time in the ZROCK booth on radio row!

 

This is about all of the smiles and head-banging, and partying, and moments that we escape from the rat race and stressful parts of life.  It is an absolute passion for me to see all of these things happen to my city.   I could write an entire book, which I know I pretty much have, but this is something Rochester did not have years and years ago!

I know that so many of you have been to most, if not all of the events we have been involved with, and I thank you for the support, the memories, the fun times!   If you have a memory, a favorite concert, an event, or something special to share that has happened in your life during this time I would love to hear about it!