Like many cities, San Diego has a good music scene, with lots of clubs to play and ample opportunity for artists to make it into print media. Unlike most other locales however, the local community is lucky enough to have a weekly television show that champions both local and national music, Fox Rox. It airs Thursday nights on Fox affiliate Channel 6, and then re-runs on Saturdays, as well as an airing on UPN’s Channel 13, In its five years, the show has become essential viewing by hipsters, and one of the most important ways to spread the word about new music in Southern California.
A mix of talk show and concert, the show is shot on location around town, with bands ranging from punk legends The Buzzcocks to Johnny Cash tribute band Cash’d Out, to up and comers The 88, performing a pair of tunes in their Kearny Mesa studio. On May 18, the show will host a party at the Casbah in celebration of their fourth year on the air, with entertainment from some of the area’s hottest groups, including Transfer, Gram Rabbit, and the Bloody Hollies.
The exposure for new music has made the program important to the whole local music community. “It’s really nice to have a show with a local point of view that a lot of people can see,” said Rookie Card frontman Adam Gimbel, who has performed on the Fox Rox. “It’s sorta surreal, they let great bands that might never get seen on television to do something really professional looking.”
For local DJ and Art Fag Record label founder Mario Orduno, the show’s championing of underground artists is the key to its popularity. “I think Fox Rox is important to the music community because there is no [other] media outlet that gives underground bands such as Some Girls or The Plot any exposure on TV.” He notes that challenging music might not always be what people are expecting from local television. “[Somebody] that just got done watching the sports roundup gets to see those bands and hopefully get his mind and ears blown. Or just got irritated, which is almost better,” Orduno laughed. Power popper Mark DeCerbo summed up many artists feelings for the show when he remarked, “The live performances are great, and the gossipy news segment is a favorite, but what it comes down to is the immense support that the show and its creators give to local music.”
“I’m surprised every day that we still have a job, because so many music programs have the life span of a Chevy Chase talk show,” joked the shows host Troy Johnson. He has helmed the show since its inception, with co-host Patrick C. Sheehy and the show’s current producer Scott Richison coming aboard later in its run. Johnson attributes part of the show’s success to “the fact that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” but also takes great pride in being cutting-edge. “I’m a music geek,” explained Johnson. “I’m constantly searching for new music, always looking for things that are new. If a band is touring for the first time, or releasing something interesting, I’ll know.”
“We really cover underground music. People have come to realize that Fox Rox is really way ahead of the curve,” he continued. “Most music media isn’t as quick to pick up on things.” The show was recently renewed for another year, and Johnson considers himself fortunate to be able to spread the word about new music for almost half a decade now. “Any day I’m able to wake up and talk about music like Peaches or whatever the latest is, on a non-cable TV show, I count my blessings,” he quipped.