I haven’t spoken at length with Dustin Wilmes. In fact, I’ve never met him in person. But we have talked a couple of times on the phone for his projects, including the ’zine Save the Crumbs, a DIY publication with submitted poetry and other musings.
So, based solely on maybe 30 minutes of verbal communication, it’s a bit hard to imagine Dustin on the radio.
Don’t get me wrong. He’s observant. Witty. His Facebook status updates certainly paint a picture of an intelligent, alternative-thinking young chap.
But he speaks plainly in a low tone of voice. His humor is a bit dry, without much of a hint of silliness. There’s none of that “radio voice,” that way mainstream djs try so hard to sound smooth when they’re saying really stupid things.
So, backing up here, when I said it’s a bit hard to imagine him on the radio, I meant that in a good way. Whatever his style is, it’s working for him, considering he and his co-hort, Juston “Ton” Cline, are celebrating the fifth anniversary of “The Five Count” on 89.7 KMSU Radio.
Wilmes started the show in 2004 after starting out on his buddy’s show, “The Curfew,” on KMSU. Juston wound up on “The Five Count” when he would stay after his own show, “The Mothership Connection,” to hang out with Wilmes on his show. Eventually, Juston ended up as co-host.
Wilmes isn’t sure what the secret magic ingredient has been to keep the show going for five years with a pretty loyal following. Maybe just playing a good, eclectic mix of music — all of which is from his own collection — and funny commentary almost always prompted by the kinds of colorful callers one gets at 11 on a Saturday night.
He also breaks the rules, which he seems to really enjoy doing. Someone told him the No. 1 rule in radio is not to play two songs back to back that clash or somehow don’t belong together.
“Now, I purposely set out to do that just to spite him,” Dustin said.
One show, for example, included the tune “Glory of Love,” by Peter Cetera (no, he is not ashamed to own this), followed by “Oh Bondage! Up Yours!” by X-Ray Spex. Every show opens with “Tippi Toes,” by Primus.
“I like a lot of different types of music,” Dustin said. “That’s kind of the point. We play the most eclectic mix of any show on KMSU for sure.”
The co-hosts pride themselves on doing live shows, Dustin said, which is becoming more rare in radio these days. They also appreciate a station where they don’t have to play song after song and censor their personalities. They can talk for 12 minutes about what they had for lunch, Dustin stated as an example.
The guys have had some good guests over the years as well, including Bill Moseley, an actor in such films as “Repo! The Genetic Opera” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.” Dustin’s ultimate guests would be Little Richard, Randy “Macho Man” Savage and The Fat Boys, he said.
They even received an award, having been named “Funniest Local Radio Program” by the former Centered Magazine of Mankato.
“We kind of just sort of (have) a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ style,” said Wilmes, who will keep doing the show as long as it stays relevant and fun. “It’s pretty great radio.”
If You Listen
What
“The Five Count,” with Dustin Wilmes and Juston “Ton” Cline
When
11 p.m. to midnight Saturdays on 89.7 KMSU Radio
Call-ins are welcome at 800-456-7810. Live stream at www.kmsu.org.
For more information, visit www.thefivecount.com.
Amanda Dyslin is the Free Press Features Editor. E-mail her at adyslin@mankatofreepress.com. She also writes Katotainment, a Free Press entertainment blog.
