Christmas Trees on Between You and Me

DJ the DJ's 2010 remembrance tamarac tree

This week on Between You and Me we're talking about Christmas trees.  DJ the DJ has a tradition with Christmas trees - he gets a tree without needles to represent the people who are missing at Christmas time.  What a great tradition!

We received this email from Harvey from Bemidji:
I enjoyed the conversation between John Bauer and Marshall Helmberger this morning (Dec 10).  The awkwardness that developed during their discussion of Christmas trees and people who don't observe that tradition reflected the reality that members of cultural minorities live with daily.  To hear this transpire on live radio seemed more real than any staged discussion could get.  It made me smile and say, "YES!"

What's your family's tradition?  Do you use the same decorations every year?  Do you have a new theme every year?

Why do we have Christmas trees anyway?

The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820's.

DJ the DJ talks tattoos on Between You and Me

Tune in tomorrow (6/11) for Between You and Me from 10-noon.... DJ will be taking your stories of your tats. What's the story behind yours? A love affair? A big birthday? A brother who is a tattoo artist? Call or email 218-326-1234.

It's Vinyl Ni/It's Vinyl Ni/It's Vinyl Ni/It's Vinyl Ni/...

Sorry about that, the keyboard was skipping ;) It's the first Monday night of the month and that means it's ALL VINYL tonight on KAXE during On the River from 7-10 with DJ the DJ and the elusive Bebo. "We will 'Blame It On The Stones' and 'Get The Led Out'." In this day and age when CD's are going the way of the 8-track for digital libraries, it just makes that soft, warm and inviting vinyl sound that much sweeter - tune in tonight and enjoy!

DJ the DJ Declares War!!!

DJ the DJ is hosting music On the River on 91.7 KAXE from 7-10, "I'll be declaring war tonight, listen for Carbon Leaf and 'The War Was In Color', Drive By Truckers, 'Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken)' and Patti Smith, 'Radio Baghdad.' Also featuring music from Minnesota artist Kerri Noble and Eilen Jewel, who will be performing at Kaxe's Mississippi River Fest, July 17."

This picture is of one of DJ's comrades 'humpin' a 60' back in 'Nam. Tune in and rock out with DJ the DJ On the River, our mix of music in various styles including folk, rock, jazz, blues, world music and more.

Vinyl Night: Spinnin' It Old School

It's the first Monday of the month, and that means the crime rate will drop by 53% and citizens can safely roam free from 7-10 tonight because DJ the DJ and the Elusive Bebo are playing all vinyl on KAXE!!! Like we do every first Monday night of the month, everything you hear will be old-school analog recordings carved into polyvinyl chloride...the ways it's meant to be!

Two Turntables and a Microphone

On the first Monday night of every month, something magical happens at the KAXE Studios. And it has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals, hallucinogens, or unicorns... Something that defies the modern mindset of iPods on random...it's Vinyl Night from 7-10pm. That doesn't mean you have to wrap yourself in plastic to listen to the radio...just listen to the radio, plastic optional (as usual) and enjoy the warm wobble, scintillating scratch and perfect pops of of DJ the DJ with the elusive Bebo with all vinyl tonight On the River.