Established in 2012, with a solid and growing base of local, national, and international artists and listeners, SFUTF hopes to explore the many streams and tributaries of post-punk/darkwave et al, with a committed emphasis on the local scene as well as an always (rabidly) curious eye and ear on the scenes in Spain, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Russia, Eastern Europe and everywhere else the revival spirit has taken hold. Locally, back in the day, this would have included local stalwarts like The Estranged, Arctic Flowers, Lunch, Vice Device, Shadowhouse and many more but by now, in late 2022, there are so many that even listing a small percentage would be a list several dozens long. Same holds true as well for other North American bands, of course (back when this was first written it included the likes of Forever Grey, Shadow Age, Soft Kill, Drab Majesty, Spectres, etc etc) and for bands from around the world. The point is, there are quite literally tens of thousands of artists/bands spanning the globe that make this particular DJ gig both utterly rewarding and very challenging. Co-curator Victor Montes and I have joked about doing a 24-hour show but the thing is I could be on the air for a solid month, never repeating a single band and STILL not exhaust the list. There was a time when I'd always save a slot or two for some original post-punk/DIY to get thrown into the mix, which was sort of a tradition back in the first years of this show (now on the air for over a decade, believe it or not) but by now it's just not possible, and anyway, there are at least a couple shows on XRAY, brilliantly curated, where that content is available. Our goal here has developed to a point where we just want to give exposure to as many of the deserving acts as we can manage. There is still a particular passion to bring exposure for local bands - a priority - but along with that comes the driving desire to bring dark sounds from every corner of the world to the Portland airwaves and, if I may say, I believe we're doing a pretty good job in that regard. Thing is, this music never goes away, never ages, and, to put it simply, as your host I only want to share the excitement, share the results of what, for me, is a ceaseless search. Oh, and have a great time doing it. Wednesday nights 9-10pm. 

But, we know this platform exists because of the people who give their time or money to make sure it stays on the air. At XRAY, there’s no endowment, no property, no angel donors to lean on. We’re on the air right now because people like you sustain our work year-round.

Without you, there is no XRAY. And without you, conscious community media might not exist. We’ve learned over the years from our peers across the country that a lot of people can be listening, but that doesn’t make the radio run unless a significant portion of those listeners pitch in to make the thing run.

Make sure XRAY continues to be a constant in your life. Not all of us can give, but for those of us who can spare $15 a month for a cultural institution—you’re doing your community a favor. Invest in your community today—and the people who make it—support independent media like XRAY.