Peel Out...Pyles In

FM 94.9 DJ Tim Pyles is teaming up with producer Alan Sanderson (Weezer/Rolling Stones) for a series of live-in-the-studio recordings. Inspired by the late BBC DJ John Peel's legendary music showcase "The Peel Sessions," this series has been dubbed "The Pyles Sessions."

Taped at Sanderson's Strate Sound Studios, the recordings will air once a month as part of Pyles's Sunday-night show on FM 94.9, The Local Pyle. Art-rockers the Prayers taped the series' initial installment on December 21, which was broadcast on Christmas Eve.

Live music on the air from area musicians remains a rarity. 91X's local show, Loudspeaker, has occasionally recorded groups in studios; however, it doesn't have a regular live-music segment. Meanwhile, KPRI-FM's upcoming weekly local-music showcase will avoid in-studio performances altogether.

"It is a lot of work to get something like this together," acknowledges Loudspeaker host Al Guerra. Asked if he ever considered hosting a music series under his own name, Guerra laughs, "Out of respect for John Peel, I'd never put my name on something like that."

Although there are some trade-offs for participation in this project, such as on-air mentions for both band and studio, "No money is exchanging hands, period," says Pyles. Criteria for inclusion on the show come down to both Pyles's and Sanderson's tastes, with an emphasis on new artists. There are no plans to release the recordings, but Pyles is open to the possibility.