Mark Sovel departs KCSN for KLOS, resurrects local music show

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Mark Sovel, on a recent trip to his native Detroit
Mark Sovel, on a recent trip to his native Detroit

Mark Sovel, the music director at KCSN (88.5 FM) since 2012, is leaving the Northridge-based station to join KLOS (95.5 FM), where his “Check One … Two” local music program will be rise from the ashes beginning tonight.

“Check One … Two,” which will air from 11 p.m. to midnight on Mondays, was a staple for L.A. bands and fans during Sovel’s six-year run as music director at Indie 103.1 (2003-09). It was during that period that Sovel worked as producer for Steve Jones’ “Jonesy’s Jukebox” show and earned the nickname “Mr. Shovel” from the Sex Pistols guitarist. Jones’ show, which ran on KROQ from 2010-13, returned to the FM airwaves in October on KLOS, with the Detroit-reared Sovel back as his partner.

During Sovel’s run at Indie 103.1, he gave several eventually prominent L.A. bands their first radio play, including Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids, Warpaint, the Airborne Toxic Event, Everest, She Wants Revenge, IO Echo, Giant Drag and more.

A statement from KCSN general manager Sky Daniels said the search has begun for a new music director, with he and assistant program director Jeff Penfield serving in the interim.