Jeff Morad, Spinnin’ Tunes on WEQX

If you’re a fan of alternative rock, then you probably know DJ Jeff of 102.7 WEQX. He commandeers the early morning show that gets us out of bed and off to work. Check out Jam ’n Toast, his twice-weekly show that features the best of the jam bands. After listening to Jeff for years, I finally got to sit down with this teddy bear of a guy in the EQX studio in Manchester. He may just be the nicest guy on the planet.

What was your pathway to WEQX?

Roundabout! I started as a DJ at my college, Penn State. I spent the summer before my junior year on the Cape with a buddy of mine and landed a job at WKPE, a rock station in Orleans, Massachusetts. I stayed there for five years and never returned to school. I figured why pay money to earn a degree to get the job I already had? Then I visited a buddy in Colorado and fell in love with that area. I drove cross-country and got a foot in the door at a CBS affiliate. I was there for nine years but the whole corporate radio thing killed me. I ended up doing more talk radio than music. WEQX had always been on my radar—this is a truly legendary station, one of only two fiercely independent alternative radio stations left in the country. The other is CD102.5 in Columbus, Ohio. So I packed up again in 2007 and moved across country with the hope of landing a gig here. I got a job at the Sagamore and worked part time at EQX, mostly weekends and filling in wherever I could. When the morning show opened in 2012, I jumped on the opportunity. Hard to believe I’ve been in radio for 22 years now. If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.

Describe your morning routine.

I live in Albany and work in southern Vermont. That means I stumble out of bed at 3:45, grab a coffee and an apple and drive over to Manchester. It takes about an hour. I arrive a little before 5, read all the news, sports and weather I can to prepare for my show. I’m on air from 6 to 10am. Around 8, I get the most important text of the day: Mimi Brown, who’s owned the station since 1984, is our house mom and takes care of us. She tells me what she’s cooked for the day. Lasagna, chicken divan, ham salad and pea soup. She always brings in something awesome and I’ll come down and raid the fridge for my lunch—at 9 in the morning.

Behind-the-scene responsibilities?

I’m also the program director, so that means I oversee everything that goes on air. I spend hours on the phone with record label reps. We’re always looking to discover the greatest new bands, what’s hip and happening. Our goal is to build relationships with the label, get to know the bands so we can highlight their music and then connect them to a local venue and promote the hell out of them so a good audience shows up. I generally roll out of the studio around 1, grab another lunch, and head home to answer emails that came in during the drive. I’ll nap for an hour or two, then my lady friend Erin gets home and we start making dinner around 6 or go to a concert.

Coolest aspects of the job?

Everything?? It’s not like I’m going down into the coal mines—I get paid to listen to music all day! I saw 384 bands last year throughout the country. I go to South by Southwest in Austin each March. That’s 32 bands right there, plus amazing barbecue and tacos.

Any frustrations?

Dealing with people who complain. People will call and say, “This song sucks.” I’m like, just wait two minutes and it’ll be over. No one is forcing you to listen to this station, right? It seems like more people are becoming displeased with more things and more vocal about expressing their displeasure. Social media gives people the platform to say whatever they want, whenever they want. That bums me out because I want people to be happy.

Are you a musician yourself?

I tried to learn several instruments but wasn’t good at them. So rather than listen to my horrible swill, I decided to play the music of people who can do it well.

What appeals to you about the Capital District?

I’ve lived here for 11 years—Lake George, Troy and Albany. We’re a few hours from three of the greatest cities in North America: Montreal, Boston and New York. I also love the grittiness, the honest nature of the people here. There’s a sense of community and collaboration. “Local” is important to this area. And I love the four seasons and access to the Adirondacks and Green Mountains.

How about the cultural scene?

The Capital District consistently ranks in the top 10 on the national music scene based on number of shows and attendance. Bands will play Boston, Montreal or New York and route through Albany in between. We’ve got amazing venues from 150 seats to 25,000: the Low Beat and the Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Jupiter Hall, Cohoes Music Hall, Upstate Concert Hall, and then the Palace Theater, the Times-Union Center and SPAC.

Summer highlights?

My favorite day of the year is Pearlpalooza here in Albany, September 15. We close down Pearl Street in downtown Albany and set up two stages. I book the bands, and we have a mix of national and local groups. Ten thousand people, all free!

Describe yourself as a cook or eater.

As you can tell from my belly, I’m an enthusiastic eater. Besides music, there’s nothing I appreciate more than good food. As for cooking, Erin’s a phenomenal cook, and we’re getting more creative and experimental. My loft is in the Warehouse District of Albany, a food desert, so UPS delivers boxes from Blue Apron or Hello Fresh, with ingredients and methods I never would have tried otherwise.

Ideal weekend?

Hop on our bikes and take the bike trail right outside my loft over to Troy Farmers’ Market, load up on food for the weekend. That evening, we’ll open some wine, pick out albums to play and alternate who runs the turntable. Then we’ll cook together, enjoy the food and wine.

Interests beyond music and food?

We love to hike and camp in the Adirondacks or Vermont.

Advice to an aspiring DJ?

Persistence and passion. Corporate radio has really taken over this business, consolidating and eliminating jobs, so it’s harder to get a foot in the door. And don’t go into this field thinking you’ll make a ton of money. I love what I do, so my passion cup is full but my bank account isn’t. And I’m okay with that.

Five Rapid Fire

Breakfast today?

Hard cider. The folks from Indian Ladder Farms came over to the studio to do a promo and brought some of their hard cider and beers.

Favorite childhood meal?

Mom’s lasagna followed by her cheesecake. Can’t have one without the other.

Cake, pie or cookies?

Peanut butter cookies, with the crossed fork marks.

Guilty indulgence?

Erin and I are freaks for Freeze Pops. We buy them in bulk from Amazon.

Pre-bed snack?

I’m very into cheese. I can eat a chunk in bed, and no crackers means no crumbs to clean up.

102.7 WEQX | @weqx_1027
Jam ’n Toast
South by Southwest | @sxsw
Low Beat | @thelowbeat
Hollow Bar + Kitchen | @thehollowalbany_
Jupiter Hall | @jupiterhallalbany
Cohoes Music Hall | @thecohoesmusichall
Upstate Concert Hall | @upstate_concert_hall
Palace Theater | @palacealbany
Times-Union Center | @tucenter
SPAC
Pearlpalooza
Troy Farmers’ Market | @troymarket
Indian Ladder Farms | @indianladderfarms