KPFK morphs 'The Music Never Stops' into something newer

Barry Smolin's show devoted to the music of the Grateful Dead and beyond was on the air at KPFK from 1995 until slipping into hiatus a few months ago. The Music Never Stops won't be back on Sunday evenings — "put to rest," Smolin says. But Smolin will be back on the air starting this Friday night with a broader 10 p.m. to midnight show they're calling Head Room. Psychedelic still rules with Mr. Smolin:

Head Room is a wide-open venue for exploratory rock and roll, be it vintage pioneers such as the Grateful Dead, contemporary jam-rock, new music from myriad experimental, improvisational, accidental, avant-freak, wyrd-folk, and psychedelic cabaret artists or any other aural anomalies emanating from the nethersphere. Special emphasis is given to interesting offbeat local acts currently making the scene in Los Angeles.

Smolin is also a songwriter, performer and possibly the coolest English teacher at Hamilton High School.