lohud’s Jeanne Muchnick speaks with “Coach,” the Peak’s morning DJ
Coach, a.k.a. Chris Rodriguez, had been the morning radio host at the Peak for almost 12 years.
Chris Rodriguez — “Coach” on WXPK 107.1FM, aka The Peak — is all about bringing music culture back to Westchester. It’s why the assistant program director and morning show host started The Peak’s Summer Beach House at The Barley Beach House in Rye four years ago, where bands like The Heavy Heavy, Noah Kahan and Marshall Crenshaw play live, at no cost to listeners. It’s also why he hosts a weekly trivia night at Run and Hide in Port Chester (it’s one reason to get exposure; plus he loves useless facts).
In an age when traditional media is dying, or at least losing its hold, The Peak is going strong.
The Westchester radio station, known for discovering new artists and playing “world class rock,” celebrated its 21st birthday last May (and is already planning it’s 22nd). It also recently moved — as in June — to new offices on the top of the Arts Westchester building in White Plains. Previously, the radio station had been in Port Chester and before that, in North White Plains.
Community is a key ingredient at The Peak
They key to The Peak’s staying power, at least according to Rodriguez, is having a good product. The station prides itself on delivering music “from New York’s backyard” but more than that, they’re committed to the community. For 20 years, they’ve been media partners for both the Pleasantville Music Fest and, more recently, for the two-year-old Sleepy Hollow Music Festival.
Radio, he stressed, offers something other platforms don’t, namely live in-studio talent that’s educating you about the music as well as what’s going on in the community. “Spotify will never come to your local park and do an event for you,” said the Port Chester native. “But we do.”
Along with the numerous festivities the station is involved in — they just co-hosted an end of summer beach party in Rye and have a Halloween party at Captain Lawrence in Elmsford Oct. 25 — nothing has been as well received as their summer home, a concept Rodriguez initiated based on his love for the MTV beach house he watched growing up.
“My motto is ‘get things done,'” he said. His other is to make himself valuable, a lesson passed down to him from the late Caroline Corley, his mentor at The Peak.
He approached the owners of The Barley Beach House four years ago without ever telling the powers that be at the company; he figured he’d act first and explain later. At the time, The Peak was looking for a summer promotion so knowing the beach well — “I’ve been going there my whole life” —and seeing the restaurant had built a deck on the sand, he had a lightbulb moment.
Growing up in the 90s — Nirvana’s “Nevermind” is still his favorite album — his goal was to mimic the MTV beach house where bands came to jam, eat, drink and sometimes, jump in the water. With the Rye restaurant, they have the same vibe, with weekly or sometimes twice weekly performers like Rhett Miller, Molly Tuttle, Eggy, Harper Grace and Franklin Jonas entertaining listeners either on the sand (folks can bring their own beach chairs) or, in case of inclement weather, under the pavilion at Rye Town Park.
Adding to the community service aspect, they’ll often have local artists play beforehand when bands need opening acts (Dan Zlotnick and Christine Chanel are recent examples).
Rodriguez said it’s been great getting feedback from Peak listeners but that this is just the beginning. “My goal with beach shows and with the radio station in general is to bring a music culture back to Westchester.” He said he was too young when major bands came through the county before they were famous — acts like the Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors. At the time, in the late 80s/early 90s, they often played at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester or smaller venues like the long closed Willow Street.
“I missed that era but I hear lots of stories about it,” he said.
“The Cap coming back was tremendous. And I’m seeing more and more venues with local music so that’s a good thing.”
The Peak’s new music discoveries
Rodriguez is also committed, as are his colleagues, among them program director Chris Herrmann, Jimmy Fink, Dina Dessner, Pam Landry, Meg White and Yasmin De Soiza, to discovering new music. Rodriguez and his team are particularly proud of being among the first to play Mumford and Sons, The Record Company, The Luminaires, The Killers, Cashuius Culpepper and Wet Leg on air.
“I’ve never lost my enthusiasm for new music,” he said. “It brings me back to my childhood bedroom when I’d unwrap an album and spend the rest of the day listening.”
Rodriguez, who bought his own stereo at the old Caldor in Port Chester when he was in sixth grade, has been the morning show host for 12 years and program director for 10. He started as an intern at The Peak in 2004 and said he knew, from a young age, that he wanted to be in front of the mic entertaining people. He even used to try and imitate the DJ’s he heard on New York radio, one of whom is now his colleague (shout out to Westchester native Fink who for many years worked at WPLJ before moving to K-Rock, WXRK).
Rodriguez was so committed to learning the craft he used to tape an hour of programming at night and listen to it on the school bus the next day.
When Corley suddenly died in 2013, he took over the morning show, waking up at 4:30 a.m. and then leading listeners in music (and a bit of banter) weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. He also hosts a Saturday show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Avid fans will know he likes talking about junk food, his recent obsession with making the perfect pizza (you can see his creations on Instagram) and going back and forth with De Soiza over slice of life topics such as his dating life, what it means to drive in the fast lane, his mom’s obsession with the Royal Family, and other “nonsense.”
“We like to make it lively and interesting and give you things to think about,” he said.
That said, don’t try contacting him after 1:30 p.m. weekdays. That’s when, most likely, he’s taking a nap.
Jeanne Muchnick’s rapid fire questions with ‘Coach’ of The Peak
Favorite album: Nirvana Unplugged in New York.Favorite band: Nirvana.What I’m listening to now: Wet Leg; the album is Moisturizer.Best part of the job: Freedom and creativity.
What folks might be surprised to know: I’ve never had a sip of coffee in my life.
Another fun fact: He often plays the ukelele during commercial breaks.
Where the moniker “Coach” comes from: Coaching youth basketball in college.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter
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