Welcome to the fancy new Blog page. My hope is that it will allow me to update the site a lot more easily and frequently, and that you will leave comments as you see fit. You can also subscribe to this page and have postings sent directly to you. Please let me know what you think.
August 24, 2008
I’m taking part in the MS Society Biking to the Viking event where I’ll be riding from Stonewall to Gimli on Saturday and then back again on Sunday. Although I do plan to be back by 2, you just never know, and I have a feeling I’ll be a bit tired, so I won’t be in the studio. There will be a pre-recorded episode for you to enjoy (it’ll be posted on the downloads page before then, so check back soon).
August 17, 2008
As I’ve mentioned to some of you, again this year I’ll be taking part in the MS Bike Tour to raise money and awareness for the MS Society. It’s a very worthwhile cause that hits very close to home for me. I could really use your support. I am humbled and honoured that some gracious friends/listeners have supported the cause already. Their generousity is so much appreciated, but I’m looking for as many folks to help out as possible.
This week on Tell the Band to Go Home, I’ll be having my first (and probably last) charity radio auction. I have a whole bunch of CDs, some DVDs, VHS, books, etc that I’ll be giving away in return for pledges to the MS Bike Tour. There are some great CDs (yeah, there’s some mystery junk too) that I’ll be auctioning off on the air this week. You can call or email in a “bid” on any of the items listed, and the highest bid gets the item (hopefully others will still be willing to pay…). ALL of the money goes to the MS Society, so no matter how much you pledge, it will help out. You can bid as much or as little as you want for as many items as you want. It’s all going to a really great cause.
Get in your bid now at: https://msofs.mssociety.ca:443/2008Bike/Sponsor.aspx?PID=1060132&L=2&GC=ORS
Folks who have already given a pledge can request anything they like. I’m still hoping to bring in some new pledges, but those kind and generous folks who donated previously will be looked after somehow, someday.
We’ll be hearing music from some of the discs being given away, including Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Dustin Bentall, Scott Nolan, Teddy Thompson, Lyle Lovett, and much more. I’ve also got a ton of new stuff to share with you, so whether you’re able to bid or not, tune in.
Thanks!
August 3, 2008
I have returned from far off lands with tales to tell. OK, so it wasn’t quite as far as it sometimes seemed, but still, my trip to Ontario for the Hillside Festival (and much more) was a big success, and a lot of fun, but I’m glad to be back home and back on the air, live this Sunday. To celebrate (and because I’m putting off all of the many, many other things that I have to do…), in addition to the usual jam-packed exciting edition of Tell the Band to Go Home, this week we present two special bonus hours of A Collector’s Guide to Jeff’s Musical Universe. Marc Giguere, who normally hosts A Connoisseur’s Guide to Jigger’s Musical Galaxy from noon-2 isn’t coming in this week, and although I’m absolutely sure it isn’t what he had in mind, I’m going to fill in for him. He normally does an hour of blues and then an hour of psychadelic/prog rock, and I’m going to do my best to suit the format (although Rheostatics are likely as psychadelic or prog as I get). Tune in to see what happens.
Then on the usual Tell the Band to Go Home, I’ll run down some of the music I’ve heard and bought over the past couple of weeks on my travels. There were some great moments at the festival and some great new CDs fell into my hands in Minneapolis, and I’m eager to share those.
Don’t forget, coming up is the Trout Forest Music Festival next weekend, so I’ll be away and pre-recorded once again next week. Congratulations to loyal listeners Oly & Laura for winning a pair of weekend passes, but thanks to all who expressed interest. Hope to see many of you out there, or out in Gimli this weekend.
I try not to be too self-serving or personal in these emails, but I do have a personal plea for support/assistance. I’ll leave that at the bottom, so you can ignore it if you see fit.
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When I was younger, I thought that cancer was about the scariest thing in the world. I’ve seen far too many people afflicted with that horrible disease, and I never want anyone to have to live through that again. But the thing about cancer is that it is treatable, it is somewhat preventable in some cases, and usually, you can see it coming and deal with it somehow. Recently, I’ve been learning a lot about a disease that I think might be even more scary. It’s called Multiple Sclerosis, and someone close to me is affected. Luckily, this person is for the most part as happy and healthy as you and I are, but that could change at any time, and in a number of different ways. MS is highly unpredictable, and it can strike at any time. The MS Society has this to say:
“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord. In its most common form, MS has well defined attacks followed by complete or partial recovery. The severity of MS, progression and specific symptoms cannot be predicted at the time of diagnosis.
MS symptoms are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. Symptoms may include: vision disturbances such as double or blurred vision; extreme fatigue; loss of balance; problems with coordination; stiffness of muscles; speech problems; bladder and bowel problems; short-term memory problems, and even partial or complete paralysis. Please keep in mind, not all people with MS will experience all symptoms and often the symptoms will improve during periods of remission.”
Basically, although there are things you can do to help your chances, and treatments you can undergo when the disease strikes, you really have very little control over how and when it strikes, or what happens after that. So basically you live knowing that someday, somehow, you will likely have to go through the fight of your life, and you don’t know what the outcome will be. Although MS doesn’t usually kill people, it does make life really, really difficult, and it’s always really frightening.
And when I see someone important to me worrying about something like that, it bothers me. Apart from being as supportive and helpful as I can, there’s not a lot that I figured I could do to help directly. Luckily there are great people working hard on prevention, treatment, support, and maybe someday a cure. But those people are, of course, under-funded and struggling for whatever support they can get. That’s where I can help.
Again this year I’ll be participating in the MS Bike Tour where I and a bunch of other folks will (try to) cycle from Stonewall to Gimli on Saturday, August 23, and then back again on the next day. Last year I took part in this great event. The ride there was certainly a challenge, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t feel like I was really suffering for the cause too much. Sunday was another story. I suddenly felt for all of the people who have real struggles in life, because a crippling head-wind was making it almost impossible to keep my bike up straight. I’ve never worked so hard in all my life or been so frustrated and tired. I did what people with MS can’t ever do, I said enough’s enough and got a ride home in a comfortable car and didn’t have to fight any more. This year, that wind isn’t going to get me down. I’m going to make it all the way there and back (or so I plan…).
But in order to do that, I need your support. By making a pledge to the MS Bike Tour, you’re helping me to support someone I love, and you’re helping the almost 75,000 Canadians living with the disease, as well as their countless friends, family members, and supporters. I’m asking you to give whatever you can so that someday these people can live more peacefully, not having to worry about this devastating disease. If you think you’re up for the challenge, join me on the ride. All of the cool kids are on a “team” and someday, I’d love to be a cool kid. Let me know if you want to ride along. Or, if you’re not a rider and don’t have a few bucks to spare, you can volunteer to help out. You can email candace.gower@mssociety.ca if you’d like to help out.
Please take a moment to read more about the disease if you like by visiting the following links:
http://www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm
http://www.mssociety.ca/ORS/PDF/MS-Facts.pdf
And then, take a moment to make a pledge if you can. Any size of donation is appreciated and will help me to reach my goal, and will help the MS Society to continue on with its important work.
Here is the link to sponsor me online: https://msofs.mssociety.ca:443/2008Bike/Sponsor.aspx?PID=1060132&L=2&GC=ORS
Or, let me know and I’ll collect a pledge from you in person.
Thanks for reading, caring, and your support. It’s much appreciated.
January 1, 2007
Today marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Townes Van Zandt. Sadly, I was not aware of Townes until after his death, although I’m not sure why I didn’t get there sooner. I was attending the Winnipeg Folk Festival for about 4 years by that point, so I’m sure I’d heard one or two of his songs, and I know I’d heard the infamous Steve Earle quote, because we’d talked about it at the festival, but I never took the time to find out who he really was, or what he was all about.
Then in maybe 2000 or 2001, my girlfriend and I were at the music store and we decided to buy a Townes CD, because we both knew that we should know more about him. We picked up the great High Low and In Between compilation of two of his greatest albums. We brought it home and listened to it. We agreed that there was something special about it, but neither one of us really fell for it then. I recognize now that I didn’t give it enough attention, didn’t really give it the time that it needed to really sink in. Or perhaps I just wasn’t ready for it yet.
A couple of years later I received the fantastic “Legend” compilation as a gift. I had been hosting my singer/songwriter show for quite a while, and I’d certainly become familiar with Townes, although still not fully immersed in the Van Zandt magic. I had been playing some of Townes’ music, but I was probably more familiar with covers of his work. Around this time I found the Live at the Bluebird Café disc featuring Townes, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle.
I had been a big Steve Earle fan for years, so I knew that because he was such an influence on Steve, I should like Townes more. I doubt at the time I knew why Townes was so great. Heck, I didn’t even know why Steve Earle was so great. I liked Steve Earle for all the wrong reasons (I jumped on the bandwagon around Copperhead Road, largely because my music loving aunt was a fanatic, and I trusted her opinion more than I trusted my own.) The things that I loved about Steve at the time, great melodies and energy and a rockin’ band, were not evident in the Townes stuff that I’d heard.
Townes’ music, like that of so many of the true greats, is not easily digestible. It’s not meant for mass consumption. Whenever other folks have taken Townes songs and made them more friendly to the ears (Willie, Emmylou, etc.), they’ve watered them down somehow. They’ve sort of stripped out the pain and the beauty and the majesty. But no matter, whatever gets Townes wider recognition has to be a good thing.
I’m not sure what song really got to me first, but listening to his greatest songs on the Legend albums impressed upon me what an amazing body of work this man had. I was really starting to get into songwriters that I really had to listen to in order to enjoy, John K Samson of the Weakerthans being the best example. I was finally taking the time to focus on the words, and work at understanding the meanings and the emotions.
You can’t really blame me for being slow to catch on. I was raised on soulless 80s pop music. The stuff that I grew up loving was so easy to enjoy. It’s catchy, polished, and does not require any kind of investment of time or attention. You get it right away, and there’s not much more to it than that. I loved that stuff for so long (still do), but it gets old so quickly. Also, even though I have been a fan of great songwriters for years, I don’t often spend time analyzing lyrics, or paying much attention to them at all, for that matter. I was raised on tv and video games, so I have a healthy attention deficit that I come by naturally.
Funny, but when I first listened to Townes, I thought he sounded so old. I thought it sounded like classic country music (which I also hadn’t learned to love until later). I thought it sounded like a voice from the past. That is funny, because as I listen to Townes today as I write this, it sounds so timeless. It sounds to me like it could have been recorded today, because the words and meanings are still so relevant and so powerful. It’s so simple, so beautiful, and so powerful that it couldn’t possibly get “old” or sound dated.
I watched “Be Here to Love Me” today for the first time in many months. I actually ended up watching it as an after-thought. To be honest, the thought had never occurred to me, until Kristi suggested it (she was originally going to put in Fight Club, but it was too long.) If you haven’t seen that film, stop reading this and go find it. Only if you watch it will you know what the hell I’m talking about.
Sometimes music and messages reach you that way. By accident. They come to you when you most need them or are most susceptible. When they can have the most impact. I’d watched the film before, and I’ve been absolutely moved by it every time. Obviously it highlights what amazing songs and words Townes wrote; that movie is full of just one amazing song after another, and there are so many that were left out.
I have some reservations with the film. It’s loosely threaded together footage and interviews. On one hand, I like the fact that there’s no real narrative making it a clear documentary, but on the other hand, it presupposes that the viewer knows a fair bit about Townes and the people in the movie. It doesn’t really tell the whole story that clearly.
But for its relative shortcomings, the movie is still one of the most powerful films I’ve ever seen. It vividly paints a picture of a man who started out looking like he had it all. Townes came from money and education and status, but ended up living so much of his life broke and drunk and seemingly hopeless. I’m never sure how to feel about Townes. It seems so tragic that someone who had all of the opportunity in the world would end up a victim of vices and demons. It seems like with his family and background, Townes should have lived a happier, more secure life. It seems like he lost out on so much. He didn’t really know or appreciate his children. He alienated his family, his friends, his loves. He took great opportunities and gifts and seemed to squander them all. He never became as famous or as rich or as strong as he deserved to be.
But had he been rich or famous or strong, how could he possibly have written the songs that he wrote? How could he have sung with such conviction? How could you write such haunting and sad songs if you’d never lived with pain, loss, and addiction? The truth is that Townes lived a seemingly tragic life because he wanted to, but really, because he had to. Would Townes have had the kind of impact on songwriting and music and me if he had lived a clean life, or even if he were still alive today? Would he have really impacted the world (as I see it) as strongly if he had been more subtle or built to last?
Like other great prophets through history (fill in your own names)Townes lived a humble life, but did such great things. Like other great prophets, he was persecuted, misunderstood, and abused by others who didn’t see what greatness was in him. He died tragically, and left this world too soon. But luckily, he left behind a body of work and a legion of believers that ensures that he will never be forgotten. The real power of his messages only amplifies as time goes on. Those messages will never go out of style or stop being relevant.
The music of Townes Van Zandt is not for everyone, although I honestly believe that there’s something for absolutely everyone in his body of work somewhere. His is a music that requires the kind of patience and attention that most of us aren’t willing to devote regularly. Even me. I am absolutely blown away every time I really sit and listen to Townes, but I don’t do it very often at all. For me, listening to Townes Van Zandt is like eating dark chocolate or cheesecake or something; it’s too rich to be consumed every day. If you ate super rich deserts every day, they would lose their power and their appeal. It’s only after being away from cheesecake for a while that you can bite into a piece and really go, “Damn, that’s good!” And the same can be said for Townes. Although he is without a doubt my favourite songwriter, and surely my favourite recording artist, I won’t ever listen to him daily, because I don’t want to lose that sense of amazement and wonder that I feel when I take the time to sink my teeth into a big helping of his music.
Townes, it’s been 10 years since you left us, but you’ll never really die. Folks like me will make sure of that. We owe it to you for all that you’ve done for us, and we owe it to others to share your work with them. Thanks for all that you did (well, not all of it. Some of it was downright stupid and selfish) and all that you mean. I’m sorry that you had to suffer and die so soon, but in a way, I guess that’s just the way it was meant to be. But thanks for all that you left behind.
Your fan,
Jeff
Sunday, July 3, 2005:
This is the time that I wait all year for. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is very soon upon us, and it is my favourite weekend of the year. When I first discovered the Folk Festival, it changed my life forever. I had no idea what amazing music there was out there, because I hadn’t been hearing most of it anywhere else. And that’s why I got interested in doing a radio show like TTBTGH, because other than the festival, you just don’t hear great artists like the ones we’ve got on the show today. And with all of the artists and excitement, you won’t get to know many of the festival performers as well as you’d like or as well as you should, so we’ll have a look at the lineup this week on TTBTGH and introduce you to some folks I know you’re going to love, and somehow, we’re going to help each other decide what to see at the festival. It’s not going to be easy.
First up, a dear friend who’s been on the show before, but that I haven’t seen or heard from in quite some time. I first met her when she came on UMFM with two other friends, Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta, in 2002, to talk about two shows that they were planning together. I knew it was going to be something special, but the girls had no idea that within a couple of short years, they’d be touring the world and winning a Juno. But before then, Cara “Lovely” Luft was a solo artist with a promising future. The call of that freedom and independence was strong, so in 2004, she decided to focus on her solo career once more. SInce then, she’s been hard at work on new material, and has done some touring on her own. She’ll reconnect with many friends and fans in Winnipeg at The Folk Fest this year, but first, she’ll drop by to sing, chat, and catch up with us this Sunday.
Absolutely the best thing about the Folk Festival is getting to discover amazing new performers that you weren’t familiar with before. I like to think that I’ve got a pretty good sense of what’s going to hit and what’s going to miss at the festival, and this week, I’ve scheduled chats with a couple of the performers that I know are going to be huge hits at this year’s festival.
Whatever happened to country music? When Hank invented country music, he intended it to be something powerful, personal, and genuine. Since then, we’ve seen the sad state of country on radio and TV, but Wayne “The Train” Hancock proves that some folks are making country music as it was intended. Hancock is clearly a disciple of Hank’s tradition, and he displays it well. His brand of country/honky tonk/swing, although schooled in old-tyme tradition, is so refreshing and exciting that I just know Winnipeg Folk Fest attendees are going to eat it up. It will only take one song for you to see what I mean. Tune in this week to hear a little taste of what you’re in for when this amazing performer steps on stage at the festival.
I suspect maybe you’ve heard of a little singer/songwriter named Tom Waits? Yeah, thought so. He’s one of the most unique and influential singer/songwriters of our time, so when he talks, people tend to listen. So when he called our final guest, Jesse DeNatale “a unique and original American voice,” I knew that I had to find out more. When I first heard, DeNatale’s disc, Shangri-La West, it became an instant favourite. His voice is gritty and powerful (it owes much to Waits), his melodies are memorable and inviting, and his lyrics are vivid and powerful. Again, it won’t take long for the whole festival site to be buzzing about this guy, so get the early jump on all of those other folks by hearing his music and stories this Sunday.
We’re surely in for one of the most amazing Winnipeg Folk Festivals in a long, long time, so tune in to this week’s Tell the Band to Go Home for a preview and some help finding your way around the busy schedule.
Sunday, May 1, 2005
There’s something so powerful about the way different voices can blend into one sweet sound. And today, TTBTGH presents some of the sweetest harmonies around.
First up, a visit by my good friends, the internationally renowned, Juno award winning Wailin’ Jennys. They’ve come a long way in a short time, and I’ve been along for the ride every step of the way. I’ve had the pleasure of having the girls in a number of times, but this was the first time with the new Jenny, Annabelle. We chatted about the Juno, the past, the future, and even Disco Grover. It’s always a bit silly when the girls stop by, and this was certainly no exception, but it was also very interesting and enlightening also.
In hour 2, a look back at one of my favourite in-studio interviews of all time. Last December Michael Johnston and Reid Jamieson came in and totally wowed me. I was already a big fan of them individually, so there was no reason to expect anything to improve upon my already high opinion of them, but hearing the way their voices blended was pure magic. In my eyes, this is a combo that deserves to be recorded and heard by all, and even if they don’t make it onto CD in the near future, at least I have a recording of their great live visit where they sang and played and talked for almost a full hour, and in honour of Reid’s upcoming visit to Winnipeg, we took a listen back to this magical appearance.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Now that all of the Juno shenanigans are over, it’s back to celebrating great Canadian music every week, not just celebrating mediocrity once a year. And this week, Tell the Band to Go Home returns from the Juno break with an action packed spectacular, showcasing some amazing Canadian talent that is award winning, in our eyes. And once again, we’ll prove that there are very different types of singer/songwriters.
On Monday night at the newly saved Dregs Cafe, a wonderfully talented songwriter named Anne Louise Genest pays us a visit. Anne Louise is from the Yukon and has an insight into the human condition that is rare and special. Her songs are wonderfully vivid snippets of life that continue to astonish me. A true folk singer who writes about true folk, Anne Louise is one for fans of heartfelt songs. On her way to town, Anne Louise will give us a ring and let us know how she comes up with those wonderful songs.
http://www.caribourecords.com/algenest/
Yeah, we like the folk music just fine on this show, but everyone knows I’ve got a love of a great pop song, and we’ll hear from one of Canada’s finest up and coming pop/rock songwriters, Andy Stochansky. Andy’s been perfecting his craft over the course of his previous three full length discs and a couple of EPs, not to mention his work as Ani Difranco’s drummer for a number of years (back when she was cool and great), but his latest CD threatens to turn him into a star. With marvellous melodies and thoughtful lyrics, not to mention a dynamic stage presence (and the ladies think he’s dreamy, too), 100 is the kind of album that I love, and I know you will too. Andy plays at the West End on April 13. I know I’ll be there, and after hearing him on the show, I hope you will too.
http://www.andystochansky.com/
But the big headliner of this show is big indeed. Everyone knows that I’m a passionate music nerd, and that is largely thanks to the very special guests that are scheduled to stop by after 3:00. Everyone knows that the greatest Canadian band of all time is the Rheostatics. When I first heard them, my life changed forever. Well, actually it took a while for me to “get” that band and come over to the bright side. But as I was warming up to them, I was introduced to a band that was much more accessible and seemed to sing songs that were tailor made for me as I came of age. The Lowest of the Low are one of the greatest Canadian bands of all time, and I’ll believe that until the day I die. Largely thanks to the insightful and intelligent lyrics of Ron Hawkins, The Lowest of the Low have made some of the most important albums in Canadian history. If you don’t believe me or haven’t been won over yet, tune in this week for a very, very special live, in-studio appearance by The Lowest of the Low, who bring their awesome live show to the Pyramid that same night. And if you weren’t going to tune in just to hear this great band, tune in to hear how badly I embarass myself when confronted by some of my idols in the flesh.
February 15, 2005
Hi folks,
A little while back, I got out all 10 fingers and all 11 toes and tried to figure out exactly how many shows I’d done on Sunday afternoons. According to my always questionable accounting, on March 20 of this year, I will be airing my 100th Sunday afternoon broadcast. That’s roughly equivalent to 250 hours (I often have an extra hour or more), and that’s just on Sunday afternoons. I do it for plenty of reasons, including the selfish ego stroke and it gives me a reason to spend so much freakin’ money on CDs, but I also like to think that I do it for you. There’s so much great music out there that people just aren’t finding out about, and if I can do my part to introduce folks to some of that great talent, then I’m a happy man. Every time someone tunes in to my show and hears someone like David Francey, JP Hoe, Stephen Fearing, or Willie P Bennett for the first time, I know I’ve done a good thing. Even if nobody listened and nobody cared, I’d still do it for my own selfish reasons. But I’m lucky enough that I’ve had wonderful support from the listeners over the past few years, and I really do appreciate that.
One of the main reasons that I started to do this show is because of my old pal Stu Reid at CKUW. I used to listen to his show long before I had mine, and I wondered where he was getting such great music from, and how come I hadn’t heard it anywhere else. I also really got to like his personality and on-air style, and I used to secretly wish that we could be friends, because I knew I could sit and talk music for hours on end with him, and I didn’t know many people who’d let me do that at the time. Well, call it fate if you will, but eventually I lucked into a volunteer gig at UMFM where I could share my music, and soon after, I got to meet Stu, and am lucky enough to consider him a friend. I still listen to his shows every chance I get, and most of my good ideas are stolen from Stu, or designed in some idiotic testosterone fuelled way to impress or one-up him. But it’s good natured competition and thievery, and I try to give him credit once in a while (even though he loooooves to take shots at me. Have you seen page 5 of the new Stylus Magazine? I’ll have him know that I own far more Bob Dylan records than there are David Lee Roth solo albums (although I don’t listen to Dylan much and don’t give a hoot), although I own no Woody Guthrie, and if you factored in Van Halen, well…) My point is that if you like my show at all (thank you!), you will naturally love Stu’s TwangTrust, which airs Wednesdays 6-8pm on CKUW 95.9 fm (www.ckuw.ca).
Of course, there are plenty of other reasons that I love CKUW, including the amazing Tuesday night line-up of bluegrass, alt.country, and great blues, there’s people like Tawny the Brave and Mike Furnish who do great shows, there’s great talk, pop, and even kids’ programs, and more. CKUW has a great sense of community, which is sadly lacking at UMFM for the most part. I get asked all the time why I don’t do a show at CKUW and stop going all the way to the U of M twice a week (even CKUW staffers ask me that and say that they’d love to have me, which is very kind.) Well, there are plenty of reasons that I stick with UMFM, including the awesome toys and the absolutely invaluable support and assistance that our Assistant Station Manager/Program Director/Music Director/Good Friend/Do Gooder Jared McKetiak gives. I wouldn’t trade those for anything.
But one of the best reasons for me is that I don’t have to ask you for money every year. We at UMFM are lucky enough to not have to do a FunDrive, and I am always thankful for that, because I HATE asking people for money. But somehow I end up doing it every year anyway… How does that work? The only difference is that I don’t have to devote a whole show to it, I can send this one little email and hope that you might do the right thing and show your support.
On now until Friday February 18 is CKUW’s Fundrive on 95.9 fm (www.ckuw.ca on the web) Tune in and see what mayhem and madness it’s all about, and check out the great prizes and incentives at their website. Know that your support is bringing great music and ideas to the radio, and that without CKUW, my life would be meaningless, because I wouldn’t have this opportunity to be so self-indulgent. I will never believe that there is a competition between UMFM and CKUW. Having both stations is a blessing. Your support of CKUW, I believe, shows support for campus/community radio everywhere. Every dollar raised at CKUW shows that shows like Stu’s and mine are important to people, and it encourages us to keep doing what we do. Support them if you can. If not, just tune in and hear Stu’s fine program some time.
Of course, that does not mean in any way that you should stop supporting UMFM. We’re still better, because we’ve got golden microphones, and those make better radio. Plus: natural sunlight!
Oh yeah, here’s Stu’s email:
—– Original Message —–
From: “Stu Reid”
To: “Stu Reid”
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 9:42 AM
Subject: I’m baaaaack
Well, it’s that time of year again, but I have to say, I’m considerably more sheepish this year than I have been over the last five years. Thusly, I’ll keep this as short as I can. Yes, once again it is CKUW FunDrive time. The time when I try to persuade friends and family to donate a few bucks via my Wednesday night radio show to a non-profit radio station that means the world to me. Hopefully it does to you too. If not directly, then on some spiritual level, anyway.
The uniqueness of the programming and what CKUW stands for in it’s community is something that can’t be denied, regardless of whether or not you want to hear me play the Beat Farmers singing their Led Zepplin medley for the umpteenth time. Generally speaking, CKUW speaks to and for an element of our community that has been deemed ‘fringe’ by the powers that be. We could debate that whole concept forever, but we don’t need to get into that now. Suffice to say, CKUW has no political strings to pull or sleezy plans that ultimately make the public responsible for it’s bills. Close to half the annual budget comes from this perrenial fundrive and any growth the station makes comes via the degree of generosity of it’s supporters each February.
Of course, there are a couple of causes out there at the moment that any good hearted soul would rightfully deem more important than supporting a bunch of music geeks need to hoist their obsession onto the public. And this year, the growing Reid family has managed to be one of those causes. The generosity of so many great friends and family members has been overwhelming since Kathy and I have adopted little Brittany Magnolia. I know that for me to outright ask for a few more bucks for my little obsession so soon after you’ve already shown me your love and support, is more than a little obnoxiously bold. But of course the realities of keeping the world turning still exist. So I ask. And remember – I can’t host The TwangTrust forever. Someday I’ll have to pass the torch on to Brittany, so we need to make sure that fire is still burning for that far-off day!
As always, The TwangTrust airs tomorrow – Wednesday evening – from 6:00-8:00pm (central). Tune in to 95.9 FM (or on the internet at www.ckuw.ca) to hear me go on about all this even more. In the midst of playing all your favourite Roger Miller and Gurf Morlix songs, of course! And who knows what other FunDrive mayhem will occur this year! Will we phone Bruce Springsteen live on-air? Will celebrity guests phone or stop by? Who knows!? The TwangTrust has been CKUW’s #1 pledged show for the last three years during FunDrive and hopefully we can keep that record going. If you do want to offer support and donate, but can’t be around Wednesday evening to call in, let me know in advance and I’ll hang on to your pledge and announce it during the show, so it counts towards my grand total.
Any donation, no matter how small or large, is very much appreciatted. But as always, the more you give, the more you receive, and we have an embarrasement of musical riches to give away this year : CD packs of 5 or more discs including the likes of: Chuck Prophet, Johnny Dowd, Peter Case, Elliott Brood, Carolyn Mark, and the local Guess Who Tribute CD among many others… DVDs of Steve Earle, The Flatlanders and Jackie Green… the annual Neko Case prize pack including her most recent live album, a t-shirt and much more… a special pack of TwangTrust mystery discs… and the big grand prize – the special interactive Simpsons playset (still mint-in-box!) featuring Colonel Homer and country music superstar, Lurleen Lumpkin! Also, tickets to the Guess Who Tribute Weekend in March at the Pyramid Cabaret and much, much more! (CKUW office staff hates me, by the way).
T-shirts for all at the $60 level – not designed by me this year, but I did colour it! And I haven’t even mentioned this year’s official TwangTrust FunDrive Art Print yet! This year featuring a rare photo (autographed, of course, as autographed posters look better) of 2 of our most oft-played artists – check it out here: http://www.ckuw.ca/fundrive/TwangTrust_2005.jpg It is available (with bonus wool cap!) only at the premium $90 level, which if you go on the special monthly automatic-withdrawl payment plan, only amounts to $7.50 a month. That’s $1.70 per TwangTrust episode! And anyone who regularly listens to the show and doesn’t think it’s worth $1.70… well… I love you, so we won’t go there…
Your old pal,
Stu
February 15, 2005
Thanks to everyone who supported UMFM’s highly successful “Season of Giving” promotion in December. Look for an even bigger and better donation drive in 2005.
Thanks again to the following amazing sponsors. We wouldn’t have gathered so much food for Winnipeg Harvest without you!
Nathan – copies of their album Jimson Weed and a t-shirt
Reid Jamieson – copies of The Unavoidable Truth
Ross – Radical Heart
Barry McLoughlin – Pieces and a t-shirt
Rod Picott – copies of The Girl from Arkansas
Lynn Harrison – copies of: Lynoleum and Learning Curve
Warner Music Canada – copies of:
Luke Doucet – Outlaws: Live & Unreleased
Ron Sexsmith – Retriever
True North Records – copies of:
Rheostatics – 2067
Paul Kelly – Ways & Means
Andy White – Boy 40
John Martyn – Classics
Petra Haden and Bill Frisell
Bruce Cockburn – Anything, Anytime, Anywhere: Singles 1979-2002
Colin Linden – Big Mouth
Tony Furtado – These Chains
Nojo with Sam Rivers – City of Neighbourhoods
Ben Arnold – Calico
Joel Kroeker – Melodrama
Festival Distribution & Jericho Beach Music:
Maria Dunn – We Were Good People
Various Artists – Many Blessings: A Native American Celebration
Carlos Maza – Salvedad
Susan Crowe – Book of Days
Lisa Patterson – Roam
Sandy Scofield ‘n nitsiwakun – Ketwam
Oliver Schroer – A Million Stars
Shirley Eikhard – Stay Open
Arto Lindsay – Salt
Bitch and Animal – Sour Juice and Rhyme
The Wailin’ Jennys – 40 Days
David Francey – The Waking Hour
Killbeat Music, Black Hen Music, Saved By Radio, and the artists:
Bruce Knauer – Allnight Breakfast Special
Vailhalen – Becs d’oiseaux
Bocephus King – All Children Believe in Heaven
Ulysses – .010
The High Dials – A New Devotion and Fields in Glass EP
Jim Byrnes – Fresh Horses
Old Reliable – Pulse of Light Dark Landscape
Bottleneck – Bottleneck and Late Nights, Early Mornings
Falconhawk – Hotmouth
Swank – The Survival Issue
Zubot and Dawson – Chicken Scratch
Shuyler Jansen – Hobotron
OX – Dust Bowl Revival
GreenTara – Music for a Mixed Nation
Mary Ancheta – Live Life
My apologies to any generous sponsors that I’ve missed on this list;.