The Washington Times reports WHFS-FM DC (now Spanish WLZL-FM) progressive rock radio legend Damian Einstein is partnering with Joe Lee, who owns the 30+ year old Joe's Record Paradise in Rockville, MD, to open a 550-seat club next door. It will feature bands playing everything from Reggae to Experimental to Blues to Cajun to Punk. Damian's father Jake started the much-missed free-form progressive rock WHFS on 102.3 in the late 60s, located in Bethesda, MD. Ironically, the station's studios were located directly across the street from the Psyche Delly, a venue for live performances by bands playing the club circuit. Many musicians crossed the street to do interviews and perform live at the station. Many cut WHFS-specific IDs.
The station later moved to 99.1 and was sold to CBS Radio in 1996, which promptly turned it into a more narrow-playlisted Alternative format. Until recently Damian was working at AAA WRNR-FM Annapolis/Baltimore, MD.
Our thoughts: could the old WHFS free-form/progressive/Indie mentality be coming back to the area via HD-2? Two original HFS DJs, Cerphe and Jonathan "Weasel" Gilbert, currently air on WTGB-FM DC "The Globe." WTGB's HD-2 format, "The Jam," may be ripe for a change. Perhaps Weasel, Cerphe and Damian could re-program with the blessings of the HD Radio Alliance? Probably just wishful thinking.
WHFS-FM's calls are now in Baltimore with a Talk format. Its HD-2 format kept the semi-edgy Alternative format WHFS had before switching to Spanish.
