WLVQ-FM 96.3

Every city has it’s «Best Rock» or «Home of Rock» radio stations, but few survive the tumultuous competition that exists among our nation’s FM airwaves.
QFM96 is my first favorite Columbus radio station. WLVQ hasn’t changed much sine the 80’s when I arrived in Columbus. That’s actually a «good thing» in a world filled with and expecting change. Yeah, a few DJ’s have come and gone, but the quality and diversity of Rock classics and future classics continue to fill cars and homes all over Central Ohio.
I’m not impressed at all with the empty hype or crass humor. Unfortunately, QFM has to include some of this in their marketing and entertaining. Otherwise, the music is the main attraction for me. I’d give them 5 stars if they were cleaner in their approach to the public.
I am a connoisseur of «classic rock». I like «new rock» as well. Whaddya know? QFM has both! There’s always a «Travelling Wilberry» song or a new, lame Ozzy tune that bug me to death. But, when I hear some classic Zepplin, Deep Purple or Allman Brothers, nothing gets me going more! They play the tunes that nobody else dares to play anymore!
For example, just the other night I went out to pick up some milk. I turned on the radio and there it was…“The Cowboy Song” (studio version). I thought to myself, «I’ve heard this before, but I can’t remember when. Man, it’s been forever!» Then I recognized the lead singer’s voice and I said, «No…it couldn’t be!» It was the best Irish band ever to grace the Rock’n’Roll stage (prior to U2, of course) Can you guess who?
Yup…“Thin Lizzy”! Man-​Oh-​Man, they don’t make ‘em like this anymore! And QFM is the only station to play ‘em. My other old-​time favorites exclusive to QFM: tender Ted Nugent, Black Sabbath, Crosby-​Stills-​Nash and sometimes Neil Young, Judas Priest, Pearl Jam and the list goes on and on and on.
KEEP IT ROCKIN’, QFM! CENTRAL OHIO’S FUTURE DEPENDS UPON IT!

I was inspired by Roy H to follow up with a review, because I rarely listen to this station and have no basis for a «proper» review– aside from the fact it reminded me of a super drunk lady we bumped into at the Sycamore Café in German Village last week.
She RANTED on and on about winning tickets on the Magic Bus to see Journey play in Cincy about 25 years ago… Just call 821−9696… I recalled that number off the top of my head!
Funny stuff… but apparently, a testimony to the station’s longevity,

QFM is pretty much all I listen to because, I’ll admit it, I love classic rock. There, I said it. I’m getting old and I like it mellow. Chill, dude.
QFM would be perfect for me except for a few things. One, the machismo, degrading-​women-​playfully shtick is such a rock cliché that it’s amazing that it still gets such airtime. If the regular audience loves that stuff then, I guess, more power to them– if not their unfortunate wives. I could also do without their «Rogaine Rock» block, which is devoted to the least-​lamented genre of music ever created under God’s sky, 80s hair metal.
Still, if I’m not listening to NPR I’m listening to QFM. They tend to replay stuff a little too often but most of it is good ol’ rock, so I can deal. The real problem is the occasional Metallica. I can’t stand Metallica and I don’t appreciate their incursion into «classic rock.» Time for a new genre. «Dinosaur Rock» or something.
Excuse me, I have to go chase kids off my lawn.