This week on CenterStage Minnesota - Charlie Pulkrabek sits in

This week on CSMN KAXE volunteer extraordinaire Charlie Pulkrabek interviews Alicia Corbett.

Alicia Corbett by Charlie Pulkrabek

When I first saw Alicia Corbett play, it was about 1993, soon after she’d arrived in Minnesota from northern Michigan. She was the lead performer, along with Jay Basso, in Tea and Sympathy, a band that she still fronts today. The show was at The 24 Bar - 24 Hennepin Avenue - in the bowels of the now razed Berman Buckskin Building on the south end of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge next to the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. It was one of the first of what would be many, many live music events I eventually attended. I quickly began to pay attention to this band.

Through much seasoning of my sonic sensibilities, the impact of Tea and Sympathy’s songwriting and live performances have never paled. Alicia Corbett writes songs that paint partial pictures into mosaic-like stories with the depth of both detail and mystery. In listening to Tea and Sympathy, one is first taken by Alicia Corbett’s exceptional voice. Her range is stunning, from a sweetness that makes the spine tingle, to depth and power that might have made another singer by the name of Janis Joplin a little envious had she been able to bear witness.

It is my pleasure to present this interview with Alicia Corbett to KAXE listeners. It is a pleasure to introduce the music lovers amongst our listeners to a musician who would be in the top five of my list of the most underappreciated musicians in Minnesota. In terms of talent, depth, and professional presentation, there is no reason that Alicia Corbett shouldn’t be on the roster of a great music label like Red House Records. Tune in Thursday at 6 pm to Centerstage Minnesota to discover whether you find Alicia Corbett’s music as striking as I do.

This Thursday’s Centerstage Minnesota will also feature live recordings recorded earlier this summer from rapidly rising reggae band The Limns.

Hot Ticket:

by Scott Hall

The undefeated Brainerd and Bemidji high school football teams meet tonight at Chet Anderson Stadium at BSU. Brainerd coach Ron Stolski always has a good squad.  His teams have won more games than any other 5A team in Minnesota history. This Fall, the Warriors are 3-0 with wins over Ricori, Willmar, and Sartell-St. Stephen.  Bemidji coach Troy Hendricks' team is also 3-0, with impressive wins over Moorhead, Fergus Falls, and St. Cloud Apollo.  Rain and wind should let up by game time. Temps around 50. We'll have results Monday morning at 7:40.

Learning Ojibwe: Gaawin

From Chelsea Annette's book, "Discovering The Little Brothers"

Gaawin: No

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Last time our word was "Eya", Ojibwe for Yes


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What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?

by Jennifer Poenix

This Saturday, on Between You and Me, the topic is anger. What makes you angry? What do you do about it?

I've always been a fan of Mr. Fred Rogers, and now that I have a preschooler, I've watched some episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood recently

It's hard to imagine such a gentle soul like Mr. Rogers ever getting angry, but I'm sure he did. We all get angry at times.

There's a song that Mr. Rogers used on his show from time to time, which he wrote himself. Speaking from experience, I think it's really helpful for getting young kids to understand that it's ok to be angry, as long as you don't hurt yourself or others. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics:

What do you do with the mad that you feel,

When you feel so mad you could bite?

When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong,

And nothing you do seems very right?

What do you do? Do you bunch a bag?

Do you pound some clay or dough?

Do you round up friends for a game of tag?

Or see how fast you go?

Tune into Between You and Me with Heidi Holtan this Saturday morning from 1o til noon. We'd love to hear from you on ways you deal with anger. Call 218-326-1234 during the show, or you can leave a message on our Talkback line: 218-999-9876, or email heidi@kaxe.org.

I'm Gonna Run Away and Join Kazyak

by Doug MacRostie

A couple months ago, three young guys came strolling into the KAXE studios with a new CD they'd just recorded and produced. Introducing themselves as Kazyak they left a copy of "A Beautiful Brontosaurus" and continued on their trip from visiting family in Northern MN to the Twin Cities.

They struck me as being very friendly and down to Earth, and also very passionate and proud of the music they'd produced. The cover artwork was great and I put the CD in right after they left and loved it instantly. The first song, "Join the Band" kicks it off perfect and it just builds and grows from there - one of my favs is the 11+ minute "Don't Let's Be Silly". It's folk music at it's core, with elements of jazz, soul, rock and jam.

I remembered them mentioning they would be back in the area in Sept. and invited them to come to the studios to talk about their music, and I am very excited to have Jed, Peter and Danny in-studio this week on Centerstage MN. We'll talk about their lives and their music, and they'll be performing some acoustic tunes - and while the CD is based mostly around electric instrumentation, the scaled-down acoustic set-up only makes their 3 part harmonies shine even brighter. They've got a bunch of gigs in Northern MN and beyond, so check out their schedule!

Talking with them, they'll go from some lighthearted humor to something profound in the blink of an eye - which is also represented in their music. Many different styles, influences, emotions, thoughts and ideas all coming together as one thing: Kazyak.

Next week KAXE Volunteer Producer Charlie Pulkrabek talks with Alicia Corbett, and we'll hear a live recording of The Limns - so we'll also hear a song from each of them this week.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls, and on KMSU in Mankato. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul and WTIP in Grand Marais. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Morgan's new photos, Jug Band Boogie

by Travis Ryder

Vivienne Morgan is from England, but she has lived in the US for over thirty years. Her latest photography project explores the line between visitor and native resident through images of her home area of Beltrami County with a similar region in England called Cumbria.

See her work at http://lakestolakes.com and hear from her this morning on KAXE. Find the story of her work in progress archived at kaxe.org and ampers.org.

I was at the Effie Jug Band Boogie a couple weekends ago, and my girlfriend snapped these shots of the Procrastinators out of the Twin Ports area.

Hear about the Boogie, and from a member of this group, this morning on the Morning Show or pull up my story at KAXE.org and ampers.org.

Are You Anxious? Is That Okay?

by Heidi Holtan

This week on Realgoodwords I talk with Dr. Henry Emmons. He's a psychiatrist based in Minneapolis who has written a new book called "The Chemistry of Calm".

The Grand Rapids chapter of NAMI - the National Alliance of Mental Illness - is bringing him to Itasca Community College on Thursday October 7th. See here for more information on that.

Dr. Emmons and I spoke about how having stress and anxiety in your life is not necessarily a BAD thing. For instance, you SHOULD be worried about your children when you drive a vehicle - and that should push you to make sure they are always in car seats and wearing seat belts. This is GOOD anxiety. But worrying day in and day out that your child could be harmed in a car accident at any time is not so good. Dr. Emmons had this to say:

"The problem for so many people is not that they have too much stress in their lives - it's that it never lets up. And that's the big difference between what we experience nowadays and the way that I think that things used to be. People have always experienced huge stresses in their lives in some ways probably WORSE stress than we live with now. The difference is that it used to come and go - people would have a chance to completely recover from it... their bodies would reset. Their brains would have the chance to get completely back to baseline and now that doesn't happen as often. For so many reasons our brains and our bodies and our stress hormones are activated all the time and we never really have a chance to get back to our healthy baseline."

Tune in Wednesday from 6-7pm or Sunday from 9-10am. If you miss that, check the archive here.

What's New on KAXE

Kyle Andrews "Kangaroo"
James Cotton "Giant"
Green Whiskey "Triple Shot High"
Leonard Cohen "Songs from the Road"
Los Lonely Boys "Keep on Giving: Acoustic Live!"
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper "Master Sessions"
Head Like a Kite "Dreams Suspend Night"
Gin Blossoms "Chocolate Cake"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...

Video: Scott Hall in High Heels

Morning Show host Scott Hall wore high heels to raise public awareness for the "Walk a Mile In My Shoes" project sponsored by Advocates for Family Peace and the Itasca Alliance Against Sexual Assault.

"I felt like a monster, like Frankenstein or something..." said Hall.

Get more info at kaxe.org.

Behind the Music: Lance Benson and Mark Bauer

by Doug MacRostie

Lance Benson and Mark Bauer are two Bemidji musicians who have been musical all their lives. While they were friends and knew each other for a long time, it was within the last 3 years that they consistently started performing together.

Lance writes personal music inspired by experiences in his life in a friendly, acoustic style. From the subject of an email to failing Art class, Lance's music is a window with a crystal clear view of life, love, friends and emotion. His voice rings true with honest and soulful lyrics and his fingers slide effortlessly and lovingly on his guitar.

When Mark first started joining Lance for sets on stage, it was just as much as a fan than friend. They're musical relationship has grown and Mark is now definitely the foundation of Lance's music. Left to his own devices at a construction site, Mark is the kind of percussionist who will start banging on studs searching for notes to turn the entire structure into one huge drum. Cool.

Around our conversation, we'll hear a recording of Lance and Mark's opening set for the Danny Schmidt concert at the KAXE Amphitheater earlier this summer - a great performance as the sun set with Lance on vocals and guitar, and Mark on percussion.

We'll also hear another song from Kazyak's debut CD "A Beautiful Brontosaurus" - an 11 minute instrumental roller coaster ride, to be exact :D This trio, operating out of Minneapolis, will be my guests in-studio next week.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls, and on KMSU in Mankato. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul and WTIP in Grand Marais. Often featured on MNartists.org.

What Is Your Quest?

by Heidi Holtan

This week on Realgoodwords it's all about the quests. Whether it's traveling the world, paddling every lake in Itasca County or joining a women's roller derby team, we all have a passion for something that can lead to a quest of some sort.

My guests this week are authors Mary Shideler and John Shors.

John is back on Realgoodwords; this time to talk about his new novel called "The Wishing Trees". It's the story of a father and daughter and their quest to travel the world to honor their late wife and mother. Their first stop is Japan where Maddi, the 10 year old, finds out about wishing trees. Wishing Trees are where you write down your wish in life and hang it on a tree. They are thought to be spiritual and mystical places. Maddi and her father Ian not only put their wishes in wishing trees, they follow the plan and itinerary that was left for them. Ian and Maddi's quest is at times heartbreaking but is filled with transformation and redemption. Writer Wally Lamb called it "Poignant and life-affirming".

John's novels have been bestsellers and translated into many different languages. This is due in part I think, to his dedication to his readers. John has visited with over 2400 different book clubs across the country (mostly through speakerphone) - sometimes speaking to up to 3 of them in an evening. Check his website for more information.

Itasca County resident Mary Shideler is also on this week - talking about the completion of her quest to kayak ALL the lakes of Itasca County. She's published a book about this quest called "Mary the Kayak Lady - One Woman, One Kayak, 1007 Lakes." Mary talks about where she got her sense of adventure and how she put together her beautiful new book. Duluth News Tribune writer Sam Cook wrote, "Mary Shideler possesses both a sense of wonder and a sense of purpose. Her kayaking quest should be an inspiration to all of us who dare to follow our dreams."

Mary is at the Grand Rapids Area Library talking about her quest on Thursday September 15th at 7pm.

What's your quest? What drives you? Are you like me and feel the pull of the 8 wheels and knee pads of roller derby?

You can hear Realgoodwords every Wednesday on KAXE from 6-7pm and Sunday mornings from 9-10am. Archived interviews can be found here.

Now Hear This! Recent Audio Highlights from KAXE

Here are some recent highlights from 91.7 KAXE:

Art from Wood

Jarrod Stone Dahl talks about the ash baskets, snowshoes, toboggans, birch bark canoes, and other “Goods From The Woods” he and his wife, April, make at their business, Wood Spirit. www.woodspiritgallery.com

Edible Landscapes
Maggie Montgomery talks with University of Minnesota-Duluth Building and Grounds Director, Candace Richards, about converting areas of the campus to growing food and reviving the school orchard. www.d.umn.edu/unirel/homepage/10/ediblelandscape.html

The Scene at Hawk Ridge Observatory in Duluth
Education Director at the Hawk Ridge, Debbie Waters. www.hawkridge.org

The Overlooked Iron Range

The Overlooked Role of the Iron Range in US History: Vermilion Community College History Instructor, Pam Brumfeld.

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins talked to Heidi this week on RGW. He remembers trying to impress his parent’s friends by pretending to read the encyclopedia. Sometimes upside down. Words and poetry were what he wanted to do when he grew up. What did YOU want to be when you grew up? You can get tickets to Billy Collins appearance in Bemidji on Sept. 25^th. http://www.billy-collins.com/. Hear more author interviews on the RealGoodWords page.

Aaron Brown on Jokes

There's one rule about starting a speech with a joke: NO JOKES!

Check out more in Aaron's blog www.minnesotabrown.com. Get more contributions and stories at the Between You and Me page.

Aurora Baer in-Studio
I had been hearing about this really good songwriter from the Iron Range. A young girl. Musicians who stopped by the station would mention her name. From Aitkin. Promoters of festivals would be excited to have her. Also plays the harmonica. Producers would expect her to, "not be around here long, this girl is going places". And they were right. Read More...

Another Series of Pix Posted

New pix in our Photo Album, including Hawks from Sandy Roggenkamp, adventures in New Zealand from Brigette 'Geet' Jorgensen, Cape May Warblers from Shawn, the first ever Green Cheese picnic and crew of Making Sausage in-studio and MORE! See the pictures here. Got pix to share? Email them to photo[at]kaxe.org! Many of the pictures are sent to us by listeners - please include your name and location.

What's New on KAXE

Buxter Hoot'n "In Another Life"
Jenny and Johnny "I'm Having Fun Now"
JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys "Fidelity!"
Kim Richey "Wreck Your Wheels"
The Black Angels "Phosphene Dream"
Mavis Staples "You Are Not Alone"
Elizabeth McQueen "The Laziest Girl in Town"
David Bowie "Station to Station"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...

Learning Ojibwe: Eya'

From Chelsea Annette's book, "Discovering The Little Brothers"

Eya': Yes
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Klueg, Molberg Create New Ceramic Work

by Travis Ryder

UMD art and design professor and ceramics area head James Klueg spoke with me at the opening of his exhibition, "Weapons of Mass Seduction," last Friday. The work features layers of glazing scratched back to match the graphics he creates digitally and projects onto the flat-sided vessels. The deliberate and highly-contrived nature of Klueg's work contrasts nicely with the stark concrete, steel, and weathered wood of Marie Schrobilgen's sculpture, also on display at MacRostie Art Center in downtown Grand Rapids through the end of September. See more of his work here.

Roald Molberg lives and produces pottery north of Duluth. He talked with us recently about a new technique he learned that involves creating aesthetic vessels from the inside of a temporary shell. The result is striking to the eye, creating a remarkable level of relief without the usual pitfalls of a traditional applique method. More images of Molberg's work are located here.

The audio from these stories is available on the front page of kaxe.org and via the AMPERS.org arts and culture archive site.

These segments are made possible with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Get Awestruck by Aurora

by Doug MacRostie

I had been hearing about this really good songwriter from the Iron Range. A young girl. Musicians who stopped by the station would mention her name. From Aitkin. Promoters of festivals would be excited to have her. Also plays the harmonica. Producers would expect her to, "not be around here long, this girl is going places". And they were right. I am very excited to have Aurora Baer in-studio this week on Centerstage MN. Trust me, you're going to love this :) And, she will be opening for the Mark Olson (of The Jayhawks) concert we have here this Monday night!

On her way to 22 years old and still new to the being a professional musician, Aurora is breathtaking. She has a very emotional and powerful voice and writes a unique style of acoustic soul-blues. When asked about music and songwriting as a form of therapy, she said, "Definitely I consider it for me and for the listener. But isn't that the point, isn't that the point of music? I mean, that's kind of a broad question but: what is the point of music? Isn't it... to help people deal with things and process emotions, you know. Big part of it. Why do you go see live music? Because it makes you feel better and allows you to move stuff in your mind and deal with things. Or teach lessons, tell stories, you know. "

And she's not the only Northern MN artist we'll hear this week. I'll also be playing Trampled by Turtles and Lance Benson. Also a new band to Centerstage MN, Saint Anyway's new album Two, they're from Cloquet.

I am really excited to have a master copy of the upcoming release from Sela Oveson called "Rogue Lightning". The artwork isn't even done for this album yet and it isn't available anywhere, but Sela stopped by the station to drop off :D Sela is one of my favorite MN musicians - she has a fire that burns within her, a voice that's powerful and songs with meaning. She sings in a unique style that can carry you away to the heart of her music, and she has many Iron Range musicians joining her for a thicker presentation on this CD.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls, and on KMSU in Mankato. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul and WTIP in Grand Marais. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Billy Collins is Coming to Northern Minnesota!!!

by Heidi Holtan


I'm not someone who complains that there isn't enough to do up here in northern Minnesota, but I do miss opportunities. But this one I WILL NOT MISS! Coming up Saturday September 25th Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins will be in Bemidji. A poetry reading? Sounds stuffy! But here's the thing: it's Billy Collins. The farthest thing from stuffy. He's real and funny and smart and has this way of making you forget that what he's doing is reading poetry. The New Yorker wrote "What Collins does best is turn an apparently simple phrase into a numinous moment.... a poet of plenitude,irony and Augustan grace."

You can hear Billy Collins on Saturday September 25th at the Bemidji High School Auditorium at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts 218-444-5606 or at KAXE 218-326-1234.

You can also hear Billy Collins this week on Realgoodwords - Wed. September 8th(6pm) with a rebroadcast on Sunday September 12th (9am). Also on the show this week is Christopher McDougall author of "Born to Run - A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen". McDougall's book has become an international movement - with an idea at the center that the answer to pain free running and endurance is to run barefoot. YES, run barefoot. Stay tuned!

Christopher McDougall will be in Minnesota - in Wayzata at The Bookcase on Wednesday September 15th.

Glass Blowing and Jug Bands at the Edge of the Wilderness This Weekend

Minnesota artist, Jon Offut, brings his exhibit of glass-blown art to the Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork this week. The exhibit opens Thursday, with a reception for the artist Friday evening at 5. Offut will also demonstrate his glass-blowing art all day Friday and Saturday.

The 11th Annual Edge of the Wilderness Jug Band Boogie is this Sunday, September 12th, under the Big Top, rain or shine, at the Neighborhood Tavern in Effie. The music starts at 3. Jug bands of of all kinds from all over Minnesota will compete for the famous Fish Scaler Trophy.

Learning Ojibwe: Dibikoon

From Chelsea Annette's new book, "Discovering The Little Brothers"

Dibikoon: Nights
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Rolling Down the River to the West Bank

by Doug MacRostie

"The West Bank" has historically been a hotbed for music in Minnesota. Part of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis, it's bordered by the Mississippi River to the north and east. This creative community is fueled by the close proximity of various cultures; there are urban poor of diverse ethnic backgrounds, college students, and middle-class urbanites. Back in the 60's, when some kid named Bob Zimmerman was learning folk music and some young chick named Bonnie Raitt recorded her debut CD, one of the most influential blues and folk trios formed: Koerner, Ray and Glover. The two surviving members, Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover performed in early July at Mill City Museum on the West Bank and we'll hear that performance this Thursday night at 6 on Centerstage MN, with a big thanks to our sister-station KFAI for capturing the concert for us, made possible by the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

To set up that concert, we'll hear a new CD from Darryl Holter called "West Bank Gone," which takes us back to the West Bank in the 60's. We'll hear the title track which chronicles some of the West Bank personalities that are no longer with us.

We'll also hear some modern music coming of the Minneapolis music scene: Brother Ali and More Than Lights - we'll hear songs relating to the life, struggle and power of women. I am working on getting both of them on Centerstage MN sometime... it WILL happen, I just don't know when :)

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls, and on KMSU in Mankato. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul and WTIP in Grand Marais. Often featured on MNartists.org.

September 1: A Memorable (and Disasterous) Day in Minnesota History

by Scott Hall

Cass County was established on September 1, 1851, seven years before Minnesota became a state. There were some forest fire disasters this time of year, usually the culmination of long periods of drought.

1894	A forest fire kills 413 people and burns 160,000 acres of timberland around Hinckley. Railroad engineer James Root saves more than 100 people by loading them onto train cars and driving through the blaze. The devastation of this fire convinces many of the importance of forest conservation. Want to explore this and other events? Go to Timepieces.
1918	Residents of Hibbing begin moving its buildings so that the iron ore deposit located beneath the town can be mined.The site of old Hibbing is now part of the huge hole in the earth known as the Hull-Rust mine (at right).
1941	Workers begin dismantling the Duluth and Northeastern Railroad, the last logging line to operate in Minnesota.

The Events displayed are from The Minnesota Book of Days compiled by Tony Greiner and published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.