Episode 92: Day in Eden or Day from Hell?

97X, Music, podcast

“Day in Eden 1993” was the first concert that 97X produced. Things did not go as planned. Goo Goo Doll meltdowns, tainted food trays, wrestling moves, copious amounts of cheap beer and cheaper smokes, folk music slam-dancing…

Former staffers Steve Baker, Phil Manning, Jae Forman, Rob Ervin, Steve Roemer, Joe Sampson and Aaron Borns share their memories of that ill-fated afternoon – and reveal a couple of secrets along the way.

97X staffers and volunteers… in the calm before the storm

“Day in Eden” was an event created by the Cincinnati Park Board, and held in late-Spring/early-Summer at Eden Park in Cincinnati. In an effort to broaden the appeal of the event, they ask 97X to book bands for 1993. The lineup was:

Wailing Souls (a Grammy-nominated reggae band)
Goo Goo Dolls (pre-meteoric “adult alternative” fame)
The Judybats (folk-inflected alt rock band from Knoxville, TN)

The temporary stage for that year’s show was set up near Mirror Lake in Eden Park.

Note the bare feet on Johny and Robbie

A slam-dancing favorite

Sharks don’t care if the meat and cheese are touching.

Episode 22: Aaron Borns, Record Biz Whiz Kid

97X, podcast

Aaron Borns started at 97X as a student intern (a.k.a. “co-producer”) for the Breakfast Club in 1993, then worked part-time shifts, answered the phones and worked with Julie Maxwell doing promotions. He wasn’t at the station long, but the lessons he learned there served him well during a 20-plus year career doing promotions and marketing at RCA Records. Dave and Damian talk to Aaron about his 97X days, his record label roles… and how he got a free car while he was at 97X.

Aaron is in the top row, far right, in this photo from the 1993 (or 94) Day in Eden concert featuring The Judybats and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Promo t-shirt from the 1993 Modern Rock 500