01/13/2026
Play/Record:
I can still close my eyes and picture 15-year-old me, sprawled in my room, waiting by my stereo to hit play and record as soon as that infuriating AutoMan transmission commercial finally wrapped up. That jingle is lodged in my brain, and I could probably recite the address in my sleep: 🎶4801 Buford Highway🎶. Seriously, there was some cranial earworm wizardry going on behind the making of that damn ad.
Anytime I knew 99X Live X was about to start, I had a cassette ready, eager to capture those moments. I loved the Morning X with Barnes, Leslie, and Jimmy. Those guys had a way of making even the dullest mornings feel electric. Sometimes, they’d drop a line that the Live X would be in the early afternoon with Steve Craig, which threw a wrench in my recording plans while I was stuck in school. I had to settle for replays later, but it was worth it. Those sessions were the soundtrack of my youth, featuring legends and emerging artists alike: REM, David Bowie, Collective Soul (shout out Will Turpin), Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, Lenny Kravitz, the Indigo Girls—you name it.
Even though I never got to see one of those Live X events in person, the magic was palpable. It was like peeling back the layers, revealing the raw acoustic artistry beneath the buzz of amplifiers. I can still summon those unforgettable performances and interviews in my mind today.
Now, it feels like a full-circle moment as I prepare to be part of a new chapter for 99X Live X, recording an incredible up-and-coming band called The Stews. This time, I won’t be waiting in my bedroom for a commercial to end; I’ll be behind the console, hitting that red button. It’s a true honor, and I can’t express how excited I am to be involved with our Real 2 Reel Studios and Real People Music productions team at the helm.
Life has a funny way of leading you down unexpected roads. Who knows? I might just find myself back at 4801 Buford Highway someday—my truck could certainly use a new transmission at this rate.
So stay tuned, everyone! You won’t want to miss The Stews!
Cheers!
BC