Mustache March Rocks Santa Barbara

Every day, many Santa Barbarans tune their radios to KJEE on 92.9 FM to hear a trio of young DJs offer their eclectic mix of news, music, and-mostly-gags. Spencer Fischer, Adam Lundquist and Jenny Schlax hit the airwaves at the very early hour of six every morning to bring the show to the early risers of the workforce, and somehow are still able to keep the show lively and funny.

As Spencer moves his hands deftly along a mass of controls-creating sound effects, adjusting levels, and making sure songs come on at the right time, Adam quickly injects a constant stream of witty, sometimes crass quips into the microphone. Jenny serves to keep the testosterone at bay, and runs a few of on-air quiz shows while Spencer parries insults with Adam.

This month is a bit different than others, as it is March, the month of the mustache. Spencer and Adam started Mustache March three years ago, as a competition between the two of them, neither of which is able to grow more than a thick layer of peach fuzz. “Last year I went 23 days and nobody noticed,” said Adam. “People kept wiping my face with a napkin because they thought it was dirty, but me and Spencer just hit puberty this year.”

The second year of Mustache March saw stiffer competition. “There was a lot of mudslinging, and I actually lost because I had to shave it when I went to go meet Hannah Montana and Billy Rae Cyrus,” said Spencer. That was also Jenny’s first year of the mustache madness. “Jenny has grown to love it more and more,” he said. “The first year she was resistant, but now she loves mustaches.”

This year’s competition is different, though. Instead of the standard pre-pubescent mustache rivalry, the morning crew has stepped it up a few notches, prompted by their manager to “give it some legs.” “Our boss wanted us to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis walk,” said Jenny. “This gives us a really fun reason to get behind a great cause.” She was also quick to comment that she rarely gets involved in Spencer and Adam’s crazy contest ideas, preferring instead to offer balanced, outside commentary.

Sponsors have lined up to help support the cause, with support being offered by Haskell’s Designs, Jade Resta, Spicy Tea, The Cash Prophets at Whiskey Richards, Easy Chiefs, Bill’s Bus, the Velvet Jones, RJ Bottomtooth, and, according to Adam, St. Patrick. “Our boss is involved with this charity, so it kind of hits two birds with one mustache,” said Jenny.

Facing potential defeat in the mustache-growing arena this year, Adam convinced his mother to purchase a fake one for him at a costume store. It was then that Spencer knew he would have to employ outside help as well, opting for “mustache countermeasures.” Forming a mustache posse, composed of several mustachioed college students, Spencer had them all on the air in an all-out verbal assault upon Adam and his fake ‘stache. The main members of the crew were Zach McClellan, 19, a psychology student at City College who heard about the contest on the radio, and was seen in a restaurant by Spencer, Michael Bishop, 21, a City College philosophy student, and Roee Salem, 21, who is a fourth year pre-med student at UCSB.

“Our goal is to make $5,000 for the charity, and we’re at about a grand right now,” said Spencer. For more information about KJEE’s Mustache March MS drive, visit their website at www.kjee.com, or call them at (805) 962-4588.