Friend of Shamu

When Chris Cantore signed off from his shift at 91X on December 14, 2007, he told listeners that he was unsure if he would be returning to the job after a two-week vacation. Cantore’s on-air partner of two years, Jennifer White, had departed a month before for her own morning show on Sophie 103.7. There were rumors that Cantore in the Morning, which had been on 91X for 11 years, would be replaced by another show.

Cantore returned to the airwaves via cyberspace on May 5, 2008, with a new show hosted by San Diego–based X1FM.com, broadcasting on both satellite radio and online as an audio-visual program. In conjunction with X1, he became house DJ at the W Hotel downtown. It was a short-lived return, as he was let go from X1 three months later after a format change. On his MySpace page, Cantore’s blog entry on the matter was titled “Déjà vu.”

In 2008 Cantore was on the ground floor of a new venture, LegitRadio.com, which proved to have the usual challenges in the dot-com realm, such as finding a solid audience, acquiring paid advertising, and dealing with bandwidth limitations. With some old 91X cohorts, Cantore relaunched LegitRadio in spring of 2009 and is on air daily from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In early 2009, Cantore opened an office in the East Village for Cantore Creative, a media PR agency with clients such as Street Scene, the Gaslamp’s Haunted Hotel, Sombrero Mexican Food, Ono Sushi, and the San Diego Film Festival. He also DJs every second Saturday of the month at the A/C Lounge in University Heights.

TOP FIVE IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?

1. Pinback, Autumn of the Seraphs. “My musical mantra before a surf session. Specifically, ‘Subbing for Eden.’”
2. Sigur Rós, Gobbledigook. “Dare I say it’s my favorite Sigur Rós album to date?”
3. The Hold Steady, Stay Positive. “Favorite album title of 2008, and another strong outing for the Hold Steady. J Mascis cameo? Nice.”
4. Beck, Modern Guilt. “My favorite Beck record since Sea Change.”
5. Thomas the Train, narrated by Ringo Starr. “Puts my son Nico right to sleep.”

SEXIEST LOCAL PERFORMER?

“John Reis of the Night Marchers. Because you were expecting me to say Tristan Prettyman, Anya Marina, or Kristin Gundred.”

ONE THING THAT SUCKS ON A LIVE SHOW...

“Now that I’m doing my show live on camera with instant-messaging from listeners and viewers, I’d say getting called out for pit-stains, man-boobs, and crotch-adjustments grows tiresome.”

EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY?

“Sitting in a big, comfy rocking chair and listening to my dad’s vinyl collection — original pressings! Specifically, the Beatles, the Doors, Jimi, and Janis. I was also fond of my Fisher-Price record player. ‘Puff the Magic Dragon.’ Go figure.”

MOST-RECURRING DREAM?

“My teeth crumbling in my mouth. I’m told it has to do with financial pressure. Damn recession.”

WHAT DID YOU DO PROM NIGHT?

“I did not attend prom. Depressed, I went to a strip club — April’s in North Hollywood — with another dateless loser.”

TOP-FIVE WORST JOBS?

1. “Glazing hams at Honeybaked Hams.”
2. “Rolling churros at the Valley Indoor Swap Meet.”
3. “Wiping sweat off tanning beds.”
4. “With a grout knife, scraping seagull crap off the benches at Shamu Stadium.”
5. “Caltrans. Donning an orange vest, picking up trash on the side of the freeway. Long story.”