KMAG

Closing out 2022 with 20 "mixes." Not bad, when it was tapes, about 18 hours of music instead of the 20 hours this method is. Let's see what 2023 holds and remember to send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

This year's Xmas mix incorporates seven "new" movies to add to the holiday canon since I'm tired of Diehard and Scrooged. The songs are a mix of standards, gags and whatever!

My friend, the Rev. Kathy Russell unleashes a collection of Tiki-themed originals, standards and other goodies as the first guest Holiday DJ.

KMAG began 30 years (originally as WMAG) and all it took was getting dumped by a nice young lady (I was a young man then too). The longer story is more complicated yet emotional pain is unfortunately a major energy source of creativity. Good thing I can do almost as well without it. Remember to send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

The Red Wave of '22 may have been put on hold but as Starship Troopers warns us, the spectre of Fascism is always at our doorstep via militarism and jingoism. He still made one of the best political satires of the Stupid Ages!

This concludes Farewell Grandpa Rabbit, the best of 1997. Hope you enjoyed it and discovered stuff we've all overlooked in the last 25 years! Even at the end of his life, Grandpa did have questions about the computers I supported at work. I bet he would've loved podcasting too.

Yeah, I panicked. Moved to Really-Dullum, NC with the first job offer I got. A decision I regretted within a couple weeks and about every other day since. It was a tough decision to leave Austin but I feared it was in my DNA to keep moving from city to city and this was the next installment. At least these cats remembered me!

I amended the vandalism PowerComputing's engineers or Webmaster did to the site when the rug was pulled out from under us all. Things did look pretty bad though. What Apple did appeared stupid but it was the right move for itself as licensing was cannibalizing, not expanding the market. Now I had to figure out what was my next move.

Viva Las Vegas! Twenty-eight crazy days I spent there, unknowing how my employer was undermining my co-workers. It wasn't all bad. Saw Tom Jones, Cirque (when there was only one show), three movies and The Simpsons' House; the cartoon, not OJ.

Back to the heaviness! After this intermission of a true alternative viewpoint on what was great in 1997, we return to the things I liked and this side is more researched, so more odd choices will start appearing.

…and now for something different. My friend Mark chipped in to provide tape-side's worth of hits I didn't think about. Selected and mixed by him! Enjoy! I sure did!

Oddly, this match didn't end Mike Tyson's career or what we'd say today, cancelled. What's weirder…no, maybe not, he doesn't exactly have adults advising him, he sells a snack shaped like an ear.

Hale-Bopp will be better remembered for the Heaven's Gate people because I don't recall it being very visible in the night-time sky.

Esther's Follies! Live comedy and magic but if you're expecting stand-up or SNL level skits, you will be sorely disappointed. Is it worth seeing? Maybe once a decade and after 25 years, I guess I'm overdue.

King of the Hill was an awesome addition for adult animation such as myself. It also proved that Mike Judge wasn't a one-trick pony. He could produce a show (with Greg Daniels' assistance) with an ongoing narrative highlighting a more realistic, yet incredibly funny world, version of the world Beavis and Butt-Head came from.

My PhotoShop skills have only improved in the 25 years since I made that joke but I think the software has had more to do with it. Celebrating a free Happy Hour at Top of the Marc with friends and getting to be a team meeting for work was a great memory.

With merely two months to go, here's the first installment on "The Best of…" for 1997. It's dedicated to my Grandpa, nicknamed Rabbit. He passed away that year and he loved music. Not the same kinds, believe me. I remember him losing his shit over seeing .38 Special on MTV. Yet at the DNA level we were the same. Ditto for humor.

Dedicated to one of the greatest foods created by Italians and developed further by Americans! The celebration turns 35 this month. Meanwhile, don't forget to send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com.

No, this episode isn't really spooky despite Count Floyd and Dr. Tongue being on the cover. It's just dedicated to the great Comedy-Horror hosts who made many crap films fun to watch. Don't forget to send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com.

KMAG Halloween is back! For 2022, the theme involves the Halloween episode of obscure shows…because they only lasted one season. Fear not, good songs in the spirit of the season are there too.

If only Helga got to belt out such ballads and power anthems. Enmjoy this month's only variety mix. Don't forget to send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com.

Back to School with one of America's favorite families being seen with one of America's biggest war criminals! Great tunes though! Meanwhile, send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

This episode is dedicated to Gen Con 25. The only convention I attended as someone on the other side of the booth. Permeating throughout the music are examples of D&D's influence in popular culture. Meanwhile, send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

This episode is dedicated to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan which I saw 40 years ago at White Oaks Mall! Meanwhile, send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

Hope you all are enjoying these since the metrics tell me stuff is happening, not as much as there was but I'll take it. Requests are to be sent to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

Eeked out a second entry for June! However I hope you find it worth it due to the elaborate opening. Remember to send your requests to…giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com. Don't be shy!

Summer. It turns us upside down! Now that we're past the official start (after Memorial Day) and most kids are out of school, let's kick back and enjoy some jams. Remember to send your requests to…giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com. Don't be shy!

Yeah, yeah, publish much? The long, longer overdue third episode is a great choice, Elizabeth Coleman. Not only is she related to famous people, we have many things in common as we discuss celebrities, MST3K/Riff Trax, college, law school, our famous relatives and the benefits of bi-lingual education.

Summer gets a rollin' via this Memorial Day! Kick back and enjoy the latest 17 from KMAG.

For the first time, a guest DJ! My friend and comrade-in-arms at concerts along with introducing me to new stuff…Mark! Check out his 17-track take on KMAG with some calm picks or what the Mills call Chillaxin'.

Summer is here as far as I'm concerned. Here's the kickoff because I'm going to take a little time off and hand the reins to a guest DJ for the upcoming mix. If you're interested, contact me just like a request…giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com. Don't be shy!

Twenty-five years ago, a good comedy involving Gen X was released and it's mostly held up despite spawning another compilation of crap already played on the radio. Enjoy this bonus April episode! Remember, please send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com. Don't be shy!

Before Idiocracy, before Americathon, there was Soylent Green and in honor of this dystopia that everybody knows the ending to, I dedicate the episode to because it takes place around this very same time. Remember, please send requests to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com. Don't be shy!

Beware the Different Styles of March! April Fools Day is a comin'! Doing it again because I'm not out of funny songs and routines to go with them.

Third time's a charm! Plus KMAG's first request from a co-worker/friend who has good taste. I know this episode is early but April Fools' Day is coming and maybe 2022 will get a Baker's Dozen. Remember, requests are sent to giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

Two in a row isn't much of a roll but after 25 years, a victory is a victory. The database which stores what has been played is now done so send an e-mail with a request and we'll see if it can be worked in: giftsofthemaggi@gmail.com

This celebrates my first radio show without a net and it all started 35 years ago! Hence the goofy "college radio" image. I also took the crappy Friday 10 PM to 1 AM shift because the alternative (pun intended) was no opportunity at WMUR. The new also adds some additional polish and experiments.

Xmas is upon us already? Let's go back in time to the Eighties since the Twenties are really still sucking!

KMAG Halloween is back! For 2021, the focus is on elements from the holiday as you'll figure them out through their troikas of songs and comedy snippets. It all concludes with the 35th anniversary of a beloved Chicago TV institution saying goodbye.

Thus concludes the first 20 (or 40?) WMAG - KMAG mixtapes from 1992-96. I hope you enjoyed them. New ones will be returning in Rocktober!

I managed to squeeze out one last tape in May 1996 to play in rental car trips to Houston. Enjoy this next to final mix.

It's been a while, sorry. Finally got my second guest, Paul Silder. We've been friends for 35 years as of September 2021. We discuss Marquette, Milwaukee, Chicago, sports, journalism, his two sons and his move to the Washington DC area after 28 years as a full-blooded Southsider (the h is silent).

While a new Gifts of the Maggi, KMAG, Halloween 2021 or the Best of Whatever Year is next is well overdue, check out my friend and engineer's show…Cyclops Wheelbarrow for something really differen.

Here's the 25th Anniversary Addendum to Power On! The "Hits" of 1996 from KMAG.

The original finale for the first compilation about 1996. It encompasses how much better life in Austin was feeling with a decent job, a car, two vacations and laughing about the modified Butt-Head pickup line, "I see you have overalls, I have overalls too."

Twelve additional songs and oddly, a little heavy on soundtracks which were still decent then. Plus, a funny, retro cover.

Twelve good songs to kick off my tenure with PowerComputing via their slogan, Power On!

Trainspotting remains the best movie of 1996 after all these years. Enjoy this next sampling of 10 tunes for the year!

My brief reunion with Sheila was the Summer Highlight of 1996. We had a great day going around Houston which concluded with seeing two of the bands on this list 13 songs. If you can tell me which, I'll give you a prize.

On the cusp of Summer, especially the stifling heat that would be easy compared to 25 years later. But we pulled off cloning a food-and-clothing-based animal. Meanwhile, check out these 13 tunes!

For the debut, my first guest is Mark Brunner. We discuss our 40+ years of playing D&D, how we met, Houston in the Eighties, law school and everything else we can think of in an hour.