Indie Black Hills: Music is the Pulse of the World

We have a live broadcast radio show for Black Hills people by Black Hills people. As Mike Reardon said, "Cool !!" As Willy Grigg said, "Since it's radio, can I be naked?". As Gary Biggs said, "Ahhhhhrrrrgggg!!"

Photo Album of Historic First Broadcast

I also documented this historic moment in a photo album from the first broadcast of Indie Black Hills, September 7, 2000. I may or may not get a little bit of live video up at some point.

Official page at Biffs.com

Official Indie Black Hills page at Biffs.com. Check here for the latest news and updates on this evolving happening. Miss it at your peril. 

Panache Article

Below on this page is a reprint of the article from Panache Magazine outlining the Indie Black Hills goals and sections.. 

Yes, AM radio is alive and doin’ just fine, thank you

KDSJ - 980 AM will begin airing music by regional artists.

Reprint from Panache Magazine/PanachePages issue 142, Sept. 7, 2000

Steve Thorpe and Gary Biggs are developing “compilation” CDs of music by regional artists that will be provided to KDSJ - an AM radio powerhouse with a signal that reaches into five states and as far east as Chamberlain in SD. Music tracks on the compilation CDs will include introductions (by Steve) of the artist so the KDSJ audience will learn more about the great talent living “in the neighborhood”. If you’d like your music included just mail a copy to Biggs at PO Box 492, Deadwood 57732.

The Black Hills Society for the Appreciation of KDSJ

Are you maybe just a little weary with “robot radio” — those FM stations we seem to be blessed with in abundance around here that play the same few songs over and over all day long? Maybe Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard and Metallica aren’t what you have in mind to accompany your morning coffee? Wonder why Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, and a host of other classy (old fashioned?) acts, have been banished from country radio?

How often have you heard our area’s fine musicians on the radio around here? But travel to Chicago, Denver, L.A. and New York and you’ll probably have plenty of opportunity to enjoy Indigenous and Vince Converse (SD), Jonny Lang, Shannon Curfman and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (ND) and maybe even Kory and the Fireflies (SD).

We’d like you to join us in an effort to recognize a radio station that has been an active, loyal, involved member of our neighborhood for over 50 years. And that for over 50 years has defined its musical format as “stuff we like and hope you do too”. We’d also like to remind those who’ve forgotten that ‘YES, your radio DOES have an AM dial.’

The Black Hills Society for the Appreciation of KDS3 is a way to let the “Radio Free Deadwood” crew know that we do appreciate their efforts. Become a member by calling 888-445-17S0 and recording something like: “Hi, I’m (name) and I’m proud to be a member of The Black Hills Society for the Appreciation of KDSJ. Thanks KDSJ for being such a good neighbor for over S0 years!” K9SJ will play your message on the air.

Indie Black Hills - live on KDSJ

We’re proud to announce a new show we think will represent a great example of the kind of entertainment real radio can deliver. Indie Black Hills will be an entertaining mix of live and recorded music, entertainment features, interviews and music scene news. Rapid City Journal music columnist Steve Thorpe and KDSJ disc jockey Rhandei Burton will co-host the show.

Indie Black Hills is scheduled for broadcast live from Biff Malibu’s every Thursday night at 8:00. It will also be “simulcast” over the Internet from both KDSJ’s web site and Biff’s website. A live web-cam will be installed at Biffs so web surfers can view the stage from their computers.

In general, most Indie Black Hills shows will include:

• Live performances from the Biff Malibu’s stage.

• Interviews with featured guests” (musicians, poets and authors)

• Recorded selections from the featured guest’s CD.

• Commentary and music and from the library of Proffiesor L.P. Vinyl — he has rare and obscure recording you’ve never heard but should have.

• Music scene news from Panache Magazine

• Recorded music by “Indie” artists from CD’s submitted by the “studio” audience at Biff’s.

• Short interviews (and possibly examples of their recorded music) with bands scheduled to appear at Saloon #10, Durty Nellie’s and other area music venues.

• Commentary and music from the international scene, and maybe the weather report, provided by Nobutoshi Suzuki

• Reverend Nate with “words of inspiration for starving indie artists everywhere.”

KDSJ will donate a percentage of Indie Black Hits advertising revenue to JAM’n For The Kids, a charitable fund set up by The Deadwood Jam to support music-related activities for regional youth. Biff’s will also donate a percentage of its Thursday night’s sales to the JAM’n For The Kids fund.