News

Here we go again!  It’s summertime in Ocean City.  There are so many awesome events happing in this beautiful town, from Bikes to the Beach to the Dew Tour approaching this weekend! And we can't forget about all the awesome places to go for food and live music…venues with different national acts and the many people who visit from all over the world.  There is always something going on when the summer season is in effect.  From our ghost town winters to our busy summers, after all these years of me living here it still takes me a month to adjust and that's defiantly not a bad thing considering I get bored very easy.  Let’s enjoy our beautiful town! Please be safe and remember.....use the crosswalks!

~Marla

Ocean City is certainly a place where memories are made but, for me it's also a town that can make some pipedreams of youth come true.

As a kid growing up in Baltimore, early on Saturday mornings I'd go down to the local record store, The Radio Center on Greenmount & 32nd Street, and join the crowd of people that gathered to watch and listen as the local WCAO disc jockey gave a live, on-air show from the front window of that record store.  The speakers would be blaring out onto Greenmount Avenue, so very often the sidewalk turned into an impromptu dance party, all because of this guy in the window simply putting a needle on a record.  I wanted to be him.  I wanted to be the guy in the window.  Having no discernible musical talent (there's a drummer in me somewhere, but I've never quite been able to find him), I knew that this is what I wanted to do and needed to do.

Every so often as I'm behind the microphone during my "Hair of the Dog Show" I'll look out of the “World's Greatest Office Window” and see hundreds of people on the beach and bay and it takes me back to the days of dancing in the street in Baltimore on those Saturday mornings.  It took five decades, but the dream came true, I am the guy in the window.

~DJ Batman

This week, 06-15-2013, The Rock Outside The Hall Show will be looking at recordings that that started out on the "B" side and were not supposed to be very good but wound up being hits and, in most cases, bigger than the song that was expected to do well.  You might be surprised.

Well, hear is some news for you as we wrap up the month of May; we are happy to announce that DJ Wood will be taking over and he is now the host of Cool Runnings and the Tiki Hut every Saturday and Sunday morning here on Ocean 98.  After all who doesn't want a good dose of morning wood?  Seriously though we are happy to have him on board and we know that you the listeners will really enjoy "Island Time" as you always have.  The Cash Splash will continue this weekend and we've got plenty more prizes to give away.  Be listening for ticket giveaways, CD giveaways and more chances to win from the Best of Rock!  Thanks for listening to Ocean 98 and its going to be a great summer!!!

Ok, so it has been years since I have been to Baltimore for live music and just to hang out.  Although it was only for 24 hours, it was a blast!  Now, I have never been a big Rush fan (yeah I know, shame on me).  However, I've always appreciated their talent and music.  Well, finally I had the full-on Rush experience.  My seats were pretty awesome and the concert was amazing; 3 piece band sounding just like their record playing live.  Geddy Lee, the lead singer/bass/ keyboardist and synthesizer, playing not only with his hands (while having his bass strapped on) but with his feet too, which is called a Mellotron. He blew me away!  It was one of the best live shows I have ever seen (aside from Skid Row ;-).

The Hotel I stayed at was right in Fells Point called "The Admiral Fell Inn.”  Old, beautiful, historic and did I mention it's haunted?  Every bar in Fells had some live music happening.  I went to an awesome spot called The Horse You Came In On and let me tell ya, I will definitely be back to that bar soon.  It’s Baltimore's oldest saloon, established in 1775, and the last destination before the mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe.  Pretty cool huh? My oh my, what a great experience walking the streets of Fell Point and seeing the legendary Rush in concert…about time Marla!

~Marla

It is heartbreaking to see the devastation and complete loss many are suffering from after Monday’s massive tornado in Oklahoma.  Ocean 98’s thoughts are prayers are with the residents of Oklahoma and the town of Moore. 

~Ocean 98     

This week “THE ROCK OUTSIDE THE HALL SHOW” is spotlighting a female recording artist whose career in a group and her incredible solo career have produced over 40 top 50 hits and 140 million albums sold.  Her SOLO career has accumulated 8 Grammy nominations.

She started her solo career in 1981 and since then has out produced, in every accountable way the Hall of Fame group she joined in 1974.

I ask this question, has her solo career been ignored by the Hall of Fame because she is a female?  Tune in this Saturday at 9am to find out more.

Don’t forget The Rock Outside The Hall Show is now being replayed on Wednesday mornings at 2am.

~Billy Bruce

The Rock Outside The Hall Show is looking at the career of the great Carol King.  She is in the Hall of Fame as a co-inductee with her ex-husband Jerry Goffin as a non-performer.  Carol King as a "non-performer?"  Listen this Saturday at 9am to find out why this might be an incorrect category by the Hall of Fame.

Carol King has placed 118 hits in the top 100 during her career with 4 Grammy's and numerous other industry awards.

Rock Outside The Hall Saturdays at 9am.

~Billy Bruce

The Rock Outside the Hall Show is putting the “Monkees” in our spotlight this week as the latest nominee for my in-house Music/Entertainment Hall of Fame.  Find out why they are not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and why; if the reason is valid then The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis, Beach Boys, Byrd’s and many, many more should not be in there either.  We will also pay tribute to Ritchie Havens who passed away this week on April 22, 2013.

Rock Outside the Hall is sponsored exclusively by The Bull on The Beach 94th St. & Coastal Hwy, 2nd St. & The Boards and Crab Alley in West Ocean City, Md.

Saturdays from 9am-10am

~Billy Bruce

Being a child of the sixties, I obviously feel that the music of that era was the most innovative and revolutionary ever recorded.  It was - is - the music of my life.  Someone once said, "Music is just another way of keeping a diary."  I can certainly relate to that.

Many years ago when I began to put my weekend format together, I realized that over the thirty-three years of being a club DJ, I rarely (very rarely!) got a chance to play any of MY favorite music in the dance clubs (There's an old saying that "girls don't laugh at The Three Stooges - and don't dance to The Doors).
When the opportunity to go on the air with Ocean 98 came up, I was told that I could program my own shows.  I jumped at the chance!   

The music I play on Sundays during my first of two hours is almost always from 1963 to about 1974.  I research the charts of that era and try to find the songs that charted on Billboard from about #10 to #25.  There are so many great songs that didn't quite make it to the Top Ten only because - possibly - that the Beatles had topped the charts for such a long time.  Many of these songs could've easily been #1 hits, but stayed lower on the charts because some other artist was holding on to the top spot for so long.  I constantly get messages from people that tell me that they had completely forgotten about a particular song that I play - and they loved hearing it again.  That is exactly the response and reaction that I'm looking for!

Here's a bit of trivia: 

When I first started this unique Sunday format, I gave it the name, "Ten to Twenty-Five with DJ Batman".  Real creative, right?  Creative, except for the fact that it really didn't make any sense at all to mostly anyone except me.  The following week, Leighton Moore, the owner of Ocean 98, stopped by the studio before my shift and brought with him two Bloody Marys - one for him, one for me.  As we took the first taste, he said to me, "here's to the hair of the dog..."  From that moment on my show had a new - and appropriate - name.

Thanks for reading...and MANY thanks for listening to Ocean 98 and The Hair of the Dog Show!

~DJ Batman

This week the Rock Outside the Hall Show will be looking at the career of Jay and the Americans and will take a look at the difference between artistic value and creativues in music.  Plus, lots of great music!  Tune in Saturday from 9-10am.

~Billy Bruce

Summertime may have come before spring but I'm certainly not complaining.  This is the most exciting time of year in this area.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the 7th Annual Bloody Mary Contest next weekend.  We also can't wait until Mayday Playday 3 on Friday May 10th in Berlin, MD.  Put that one on your calendar and bring the whole family to Maryland’s coolest small town.  

Hope to see U Buddy.

~BK

This week, the Rock Outside The Hall Show will be honoring the career of Tommy James and The Shondells.  Also, some of this week’s music will feature a few of the artists who will be performing at The Freeman Stage in Selbyville, DE this summer and the rest will be by artists who were inducted into our in-house Music/Entertainment Hall of Fame.

See you Saturday 9am

~Billy Bruce

This is the craziest weather I can remember here, 85 degrees and sunny today when it was 30 degrees last week.  This all works into my master plan to conquer The Tour on the Shore this year.  Look out Bulldog, I'm gunning for you and I have Ray Toranto in my sights.  So get outside and do something but don't forget to take us (Ocean98.com) with you!

~Big Al Reno

With spring here and summer just around the corner Ocean 98 is busy with giveaways and events.  Here are some things you should mark on your calendar…

Friday, April 12^th – ZZ Top concert tickets giveaways

Sunday, April 21^st – 7^th Annual Best Bloody Mary Contest

Wednesday, May 1^st – Day one of our $1,000 Cash Splash Giveaway (details coming soon)

Friday, May 10^th – Mayday Playday III (details coming soon or check our Facebook page for additional info)

Good luck and hope to see you at one of our great events!

~Lesley

Now in stores or available for download is the new Black Crowes 4 LP/Disc release "Wiser For The Time."  This 4 vinyl release includes 8 sides of Plugged in and Unplugged rarities and some BC classics! Wiser For The Time dropped on shelves March 19th and is a must have for the Black Crowes fan.  The 4 disc release is available for download but, the true collector should pick up this collection in the form it was designed for...4 VINYL ALBUMS. With the recent surge on classic vinyl releases, The Dirty Birds have a timely release for the hard core collector or the beginner.  You can find out more about the Wiser For The Time release at www.blackcrowes.com and be sure to catch tracks from the masterpiece on our airwaves at 98.1fm or Ocean98.com.

~Skip Dixxon

This week the “Rock Outside the Hall” show is offering a trip back in time for a walk over the three bridges that closed and sealed the generation gap between early Rock and Roll and the masses. We will look at the turbulent waters beneath those bridges and possibly the single most important song in closing that gap.  We will also hear the most defining song in Rock & Roll or Rock music history.

This week’s music however will be mostly supplied by artists who have sold over 50 million records and are not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Don’t miss it; 9am Saturday on The Best of Rock Ocean 98.

 ~Billy Bruce

This week’s Rock Outside The Hall Show will supply music by recording artists who have sold no less than 75 million albums and will feature the career of this week’s nominee into our Music/Entertainment Hall of Fame, a form of recognition for musicians and entertainers from all forms of music entertainment regardless of genre.

The artist being recognized has been called “The Greatest Unknown Guitarist of All Time” the 27^th Greatest Guitarist Of All Time by Gibson Guitar and the 63^rd Greatest by Rolling Stone magazine.

Last week we looked the city of Cleveland, Ohio and I was going to look at the city of Detroit this week but I have decided that the show was founded about those not in the Rock Hall and I do not want to stay away from that format for too long a period of time.  I will interject different cities from time to time but will stick to the format that makes the show the only one in the entire world.

~Billy Bruce

This week the Rock Outside the Hall Show will start paying attention to recording artists from different cities around the United States.  Some are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and some are not, so I will be relaxing the restriction of not playing artists who are already in the Rock Hall in order to fairly represent each city.  Some are from these cities others claim these cities as the birth of their careers.

I have decided to begin with Cleveland for a few reasons.  First, it is the home of Alan Freed who is largely responsible for Rock and Roll getting its chance to be heard and Cleveland is the home to the Rock Hall. These aren't the only reasons I am starting with Cleveland but you will have to listen this Saturday at 9am to find out more.

We will be taking breaks occasionally between the “Cities Shows” in order to continue with my selections for nomination into our own in house "Music Entertainment Hall of Fame.”

This week from the Cleveland area we will be looking at a very, very special individual who was never a recording artist but his involvement during the 50's and 60's were also a major factor for the exposure and acceptance of Rock and Roll, almost as responsible as Alan Freed, and 98% of you or maybe 99.99% have never heard of him but you will if you listen this Saturday.

~Rock Outside the Hall with Billy Bruce

Saturdays 9am-10am

Hi there! I'd like to write about something that has been on my lil pea brain for a long while now, so here we go! Ya ready?  As a female in the entertainment business I have come to notice quite a bit and please keep in mind these are just my observations through witnessing and my own personal experiences…Anyway, on the side, I DJ in bars on occasion and have friends who, by the way are female and also are in bands or in the entertainment business…The topic I want to touch base on is how it's different for a female in the entertainment business than it is for a male.. One thing however that is the same is "The Fan" whether in radio, playing in a band, djing a bar everyone in the business has them and they are so appreciated.  From the female end of it, it's not always so easy and unfortunately some of us ladies have to deal with a little bit of "crap.”  There have been times I'm djing and some of the things that I've been asked are amazing. I won’t get into to it however, I will say" Yes, they are real.” Not sure if any of my male coworkers have run across the same kinda thing.  Seems to me a lot of what they deal with are groupies which are way different from fans although they have plenty of fans too.   When I go see my girls playing in their band it’s almost funny how the men stare my female guitar player friend up and down.  Of course she and I will laugh about it while it’s going on or after.  I have had a few conversations with some of  my coworkers here and I will say one of them said "I don't know how you girls do it" and btw he's a man who has been in the business a long, long time and has seen it all.  I'd love to have things turned around for just one night where the shoe was on the other foot so to speak.  Wonder how many slaps across the face us females would receive?  Yikes! It is what it is.  Keep in mind I'm writing from experience and in no way am I a feminist.  So just for the record because I've heard this all too often... Girls REALLY don't have it THAT easy ;-)

Until next time! XO

Marla

Look for us on the Beachcomber cover this week.  Thursday nights at the 28th Street Pit n Pub are lots of fun. Parade day is Saturday.   Happy St. Patrick’s Day folks!  See you at Seacrets after the parade and then it’s off to Buxy’s at 5pm for the best Saturday Happy Hour of the year!.  Erin Go Braugh!

~BK

The Rock Outside The Hall Show has had a great opening 10 weeks this year and we are not slowing down because of any speed bumps due to weather.  Coming up this week, we are looking at what country sounds like when it goes rock and what rock sounds like when it goes country.

Coming up in few weeks will be an interview with the band Foreigner who is performing May 5th during the Springfest celebration in Ocean City, Maryland and of course next weekend is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  You do not, no you do not, want to miss the parade but more importantly the winning Ocean 98 float.

~Billy Bruce 

There are many personalities in the town of Ocean City that are legendary and have been around for years but one that stands out in my mind is "Boardwalk Elvis.”  Today I was driving down the road and there he was...ELVIS, still riding his bike with the big old Elvis license plate on the front.  I'm not even sure how old he is but he has NO problem getting around that's for sure.  He actually needs to slow that thing down a bit.  Whew!  I remember in my younger years back in the 80's seeing him for the first time, dressed in his suit along with cowboy hat and boots carrying a boom box and singing along with Elvis songs just doing his thing.  He's been at it for over 50 years.  He has also made it to the local museum with an exhibit of "Boardwalk Elvis" which is in The Lifesaving Museum on the south end of the boardwalk in Ocean City.  He has been right here in the studio of Ocean 98 as well.  Now, the younger generation, my children know him too, remember the day my youngest son and I were in a store and there he was. I do believe my son and Boardwalk Elvis (Norman) had a conversation for over 20 minutes and when they were through talking Boardwalk Elvis gave him a little wooden cross and a hug.  That's something my son won't forget as I'm sure a lot of locals and tourists have had their own experiences with him.  When my girlfriend and I see him riding his bike, or no matter whom I'm with, you can bet we yell out "There's Boardwalk Elvis!  OMG!”  Just one of the many legendary icons right here in beautiful Ocean City.  So for those of you who haven't caught a glimpse of him keep your eyes peeled when ya come here to visit. Boardwalk Elvis is alive!

On Saturday, March 16^th Ocean 98 and the Town of Ocean City will celebrate the 32^nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  For those who have never attended the parade, expect to see not just lots of green but, parade enthusiasts lining the streets bright and early for the best seats along the route.  Arrive early and enjoy a day filled with beer, food, Irish music and dancers.  Of course, make sure to cheer loud as the Ocean 98 float makes it way down the street!  The parade route starts at 61^st Street and runs south down Coastal Highway to the 45^th Street Village.  Arrive early and expect delays if you are going to be traveling through Ocean City.  Have fun, be safe and make sure you have a designated driver.    

Here are a few things that are going on at Ocean 98…

www.Ocean98.com!  No more spelling IrieRadio.com for you.  Plug in our new web address and you’ll go right to our website.

We are in the final week of our Valentine Giveaway.  There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs for our Club 98 members.  Click here for all the info.

Coming next month…

If you missed out playing in our Big Game Pool (congrats to our winners James, Tim, Laurier and Tom!) you’ll have the chance to participate in our “Madness Pool.”  Prizes will be awarded for each half of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship game.

Of course, stayed tuned to Ocean 98 via www.Ocean98.com, Facebook, Twitter and 98.1fm for all upcoming events and contests.

~Promotions Department

It’s almost over, only one more week of football.  The long winter road will begin but at least we’ve got hockey back in the nick of time.  The football season goes out with a bang with lots of proposition wagers (who scores first, heads or tails, longest field goal).  I could go on forever and probably will this week.  So tune in and don’t miss a minute of the action until Bulldog turns off my mic.

~Big Al Reno

Wow!  January is almost over and there are students already coming to Ocean City for summer jobs.  Where does the time go?  Coming up this year, I am going to attempt to arrange interviews with some very interesting people whose careers were vital to the development of rock music.  I have been given permission to do more Rock Outside the Hall shows that will allow two hours for special subjects.

I get requests from the show listeners for songs and information and I always hear that they did not know how to reach me or that they thought Rock Outside the Hall was a national show brought in to Ocean 98. Well, no, I broadcast out of our location above Seacrets in Ocean City, Maryland and you can reach me at bill.bruce@irieradio.com

Request anything you like from songs, show information or suggest topics for future shows.

Please "keep nothing but safe and trouble free highways in front of you and I'll see you every Saturday at 9am."

Don’t forget, Foreigner will be in Ocean City performing at Spring Fest 2013 in Ocean City, Maryland!

~Billy Bruce

Straight out of Cincinnati, Ohio is the latest American 4 piece sensation WALK THE MOON. The band has just released their 1st major label disc which is self titled and on fire! The band has been compared to the likes of The Killers and The Bravery. A comparison that I'm sure the band is comfortable with. An alternative sound with a flare of British Pop would be a good reference.

The bands 1st single from their debut, "Anna's Sun,” sky rocketed up the charts immediately and the band found themselves on every major US market radio show. In most cases, a band in today's download world gets one song and that's about it. WOCM and other stations recently jumped on release number 2 from the band called "Tightrope.” A strong follow up and worthy of a top ten finish. In fact, when scanning through the "Walk The Moon" debut, you'll be hard pressed to find a bad track or even one that wouldn't be playable on the radio.

Great release and well worth the price of admission…WALK THE MOON!

~Skip Dixxon

This question was put to me during a barroom conversation by a 21-something listener who did not quite understand why I would, or even could, dedicate an entire hour every week to just one band.  My first thought was to blow off the question with "cause Justin Bieber is just too trendy..." or "Skip Dixxon won't let me play Thug Rap on Ocean 98."

The Beatles transcended music on a global scale throughout the 60's.  The effect this band had on political and social thoughts back then last even to this day.  They even changed the way we looked. They began “The Rebellion.”  Musically, they forever changed the way pop music was presented especially, in album form.  After The Beatles, very few popular artists put out an album with one or two hits and the rest "filler", as was the norm at that time.  It had to be the whole package.  They were the first to popularize what is now the modern music video.  They were the first to ever gather musicians together for a benefit concert.  They are the best selling band in history.  Rolling Stone (magazine) said, "no one will ever be more revolutionary, more creative and more distinctive."

Actually, that's what I WANTED to say, but somehow I knew that any explanation would be lost on my Jager-drinking friend.  I decided to explain it this way: "You had to be there.  Let me buy you a shot” and left it at that.

~DJ Batman

2013 looks like it's going to be a good year for everybody.  Lots of my friends have positive thinking, a couple of my friends have already purchased new cars and one of my friends just hit the Maryland Lottery jackpot.  So, hopefully, everybody's on the up and up if you're not, don't be a jerk.  Nobody wants to be around a Negative Nancy or a Debbie Downer.....

I'm always very motivated after the first of the year and happy to get through the holidays. I love the holiday season but it sure is a lot of work.  The events I'm looking forward to most in 2013 are Mayday Playday, the hot dog eating contest, Saint Patrick's Day Parade, the Red Eyes Dock Bar bikini contest series, and the World Series of Poker circuit events in Atlantic City in March.  Hope to see.... U buddy.

Hi there!  In the new year, be listening for many artists that are new to the show, playing live and unplugged on The Acoustic Lounge. Yes, I know I've said it before and I'm saying it again, I love Sundays and having live music in the studio.  I've been very lucky with the musicians that have walked into the studio to play.  From local Delmarva acts to musicians from the DC, Baltimore, Jersey and Philly areas.  From cover bands like our Ocean City locals Full Circle to original music from Paul Lewis, Nate Clendenen and Big Daddy Able from The Amish Outlaws.  It's always an honor to have them perform.  Experience this from my end of it …well lets just say, I feel like I'm getting a private show…kinda/sorta.

Hope you enjoy it and be listening for the legendary Baltimore talent Rob Fahey (Raynens…Raised on the Radio) joining us on January 20th.  In March, get ready for the return of Shaun Hopper, a friend of Ocean 98 who is currently on tour with B.B. King.  Whew!  If you’re a musician and you’re interested in being on the show then please email me at marla@irieradio.com.

The Acoustic Lounge with Marla on Ocean 98,every Sunday from 4 till 4:30.

Until next time!

Marla