Don't Know What It Is (About KDHX)

This one's for a good cause, to support efforts to save my favorite St. Louis indie radio station.

Impossible Bookings is my band with a rotating cast of collaborators. The latest release, "Don't Know What It Is (About KDHX)," was chosen for the Save KDHX: The Album benefit compilation. Check out track 17—and really, the whole thing, 'cause it's great. The album is available here.

Proceeds benefit LOVE of KDHX, a nonprofit working to save St. Louis independent music station KDHX-FM 88.1. Learn more here about the efforts to save KDHX.

Fun fact: The drum track on this song was our very last take in the studio, at like 3:30 a.m.

Artist: Impossible Bookings
Song: "Don't Know What It Is (About KDHX)"
Composers: limeonaire and Chef Lemons
Lyrics, Vocals, Guitar, and Bass: limeonaire
Drums: Chef Lemons
Recorded at Feral Girl Club and The Lemon Tree
Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Chef Lemons at The Lemon Tree

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posted by limeonaire (5 comments total)

I really dig the modulation to D♭ in the chorus.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:58 AM on November 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Oo, thank you! Yeah, I would describe this as a Guided By Voices riff, a Kim Deal bass line, an attempt at Neko Case harmonies, Cheap Trick drums, and a Dar Williams protest-song outlook.

Also, that makes me realize I forgot to share details like I usually do. Here y'go.

Don’t Know What It Is (About KDHX)

Key of B Verses, C# Choruses

[VERSE 1]
B E G#m F#
Don’t know what it is about this station
B E G#m F#
But it fueled my imagination
B E G#m F#
It played music no one else ever would
B E G#m F#
Made right in our own neighborhood


[CHORUS 1]
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….But now it’s in trouble
C# Bb F#
….The leaders in a bubble
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….Don’t know what it is we’ll do
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….To save KDHX for you

G#
….For you….

[PRE-VERSE]
B E G#m F#
KDHX made me want to make music
B E G#m F#
88.1—there’s nothing else like it

[VERSE 2]
B E G#m F#
Andy Coco is the nicest bass dude
B E G#m F# [go up on vocals]
And Roy Kasten’s voice is smoother than smooth
B E G#m F#
…Al Swacker kept me going midday…
B E G#m F#
…And Ital-K brought reggae our way

[CHORUS 2]
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….But now they’re in trouble
C# Bb F#
….Like half the DJs out the door
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….Don’t know what it is we’ll do
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….To save KDHX for you

G#
….For you….

[BRIDGE]
B D A G
When I Feel Like Going Home
B D A G
I just listen and I’m never alone
B D A G
…From Memphis to Manchester
B D A B [go up on vocal line]
Positive Vibes had my feelings all astir

[PRE-VERSE]
B E G#m F#
KDHX made me want to make music
B E G#m F#
88.1—there’s nothing else like it

[CHORUS 3]
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….The station’s in trouble
C# Bb F#
….And we really need your help
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….Here’s what we’re gonna do
C# [walk up] Bb F#
….To save KDHX with you

G#
….With you….

[MEGAPHONE OUTRO]
B E G#m F#
So we’re gonna…
We're gonna explain that donning the mantle of diversity, equity, and inclusion to hide station leaders' discrimination against DJs publicly disagreeing with their actions is not only a bad look, but also bad karma
We're gonna remind the press that volunteer DJs of all cultures, ethnicities, and musical tastes are united in solidarity against the actions of station leaders
You know something’s wrong when Dr. Jeff isn’t on your side
We're gonna ask, yet again, for station leaders’ resignation
We’re gonna ask ‘em to actually fill the board
We’re gonna ask ‘em to not sell the station to some fundamentalist group
There’s like three hours of non-robot programming a day now…
If all else fails, well…we’re gonna get Bob Reuter’s ashes out of the walls, man
He’s in the walls, and this is in our DNA
We’re gonna save KDHX
posted by limeonaire at 9:23 AM on November 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

This was very cool. I'm not used to hearing a station's frequency recited in a context that doesn't sound "fake"! The distortion-thick chords were a nice texture change that sort of signals "hey, this is a station where you might hear a lot of different things."
posted by ignignokt at 9:47 AM on November 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Thank you! Yeah, I think my favorite thing about the compilation as a whole, which is definitely worth listening to, is that it truly sounds like the station itself. KDHX is one of those stations where at least historically, you could hear a little bit of everything that you'd never hear elsewhere: reggae, ska, bluegrass, local indie rock, twang, hip-hop, local rap, rockabilly, absurdist noise... So yeah, lots of name-checks of specific DJs and shows and sounds in this one and a lot of the other tracks on the album.
posted by limeonaire at 4:24 PM on November 2, 2023

Update: The album is now on all the major streaming services!

Spotify | Bandcamp | Apple Music | Amazon Music | YouTube
posted by limeonaire at 2:42 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]