by Meg McAllister
DJ Loud Patrick, aka the Boogerbear in the booth, can’t remember a time when KOOP radio wasn’t a part of his life. As an Austinite, raised (as many Austinites are) by music-loving parents, he grew up listening to KOOP. In fact, you might be familiar with his dad, Sonic George, of KOOP’s very own Guitar Picks. This past June, Loud Patrick himself took the leap from life-long listener to programmer, launching his show The Magic Box, which broadcasts on 91.7FM on Thursday afternoons from 3-4pm.
On The Magic Box, the Boogerbear delights in the “rockin’ sounds of jam, psych, funk, and fusion.” He plays everything from energetic afro-beat, to the eclectic sounds of Frank Zappa, to beloved jamband Widespread Panic. There’s an emphasis on live recordings, often from Austin shows or featuring bands that will soon be in town. In Loud Patrick’s book, if you find yourself at a show after hearing a track on The Magic Box, then he’s doing his (volunteer) work properly.
The name The Magic Box comes from a stage antic created by The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet (NRBQ). Patrick describes NRBQ’s sound as proto-jam bar music. “They’re really zany,” says Patrick. During their shows, NRBQ will pass around a “magic” box, which the crowd fills with song suggestions. When the time comes, the band pulls a song from the box and plays it (to the best of their ability), whether they know it or not. This is what Loud Patrick loves – improvisation and madcap choices – the energy, commitment, and spontaneity of a live show. This is what he’s bringing to the airwaves.
Loud Patrick’s hour buzzes with energy, just like a concert. When tuning in, you’re likely to hear long recordings that settle into heavy grooves before launching into an impromptu segue that takes the song in a whole new direction. Not something you hear often on the radio. In between tracks, as the Boogerbear chimes in, you hear the bed music of a cheering crowd in the background, which adds to the show’s lively feel and often seamlessly knits one song to the next.
Where does Loud Patrick’s moniker “the Boogerbear in the booth” come from? Outside the booth, Loud Patrick is a long-distance hiker. He’s thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (over 2000 miles) and the Camino Santiago Norte route (over 500 miles). One morning, early in the Appalachian Trail journey, campers were swapping stories about the black bear they had heard snarling in their camp the previous night. Loud Patrick, who was suffering a gnarly cold at the time, had slept through the whole thing and was listening attentively. That is, until another hiker started cracking up and pointing at Loud Patrick, “That was no bear! It was that guy!” Everyone started laughing, calling Loud Patrick a boogerbear. Loud Patrick swears he’s not typically a snorer; he was just so severely congested that night that he ended up rattling the entire campground. Nicknames, or trail names, are a big part of thru-hiker culture, and from that day on, the name stuck.
Is there any correlation between his love for long hikes and his love for long songs, like Phish’s 30-minute-long rendition of “Tahoe Tweezer?” The Boogerbear’s never thought of it that way before, but it was during a long road trip that he started listening to Phish, so maybe there’s something there. Sprawling, unpredictable songs for sprawling, unpredictable journeys.
When he’s not prepping for another hour of The Magic Box or knocking down pins with his local bowling league, Loud Patrick ventures into hip-hop, classical, and world music. He’s played the tuba most of his life and has a decent grasp on music theory. He’s drawn to musicians who have mastered their art and, therefore, are willing to break the rules. It’s no wonder he feels right at home with KOOP radio.
Next time you’re tuning into The Magic Box, give Loud Patrick a call! Especially if you have a recommendation. The Boogerbear loves a good rec.