The Limns: If The Beatles and Bob Marley Had Kids

By Doug MacRostie

Tonight at 6 on a special Centerstage MN on 91.7 KAXE, we'll spend the full hour with The Limns!

When The Limns performed at the Blue Ox in Bemidji for KBXE's Spread the Love party, I sat down with them before the concert and recorded a conversation about their new album "Move Around Robots".

From Minneapolis, with strong ties to the Bemidji area (Zacc and Zeke of The Limns are younger brothers of Caleb from Bemidji's Uncle Shurley), The Limns are hard to classify..., a high energy rock band with influences of reggae, pop and funk. Or as Javon said during our conversation, "...if The Beatles and Bob Marley had kids".

With a couple EPs under their belt, their first full length album "Move Around Robots," is an excellent piece of work that not only shows a maturity and cohesiveness in the band, but also great ears for writing catchy tunes. It's a fun and insightful conversation - don't miss it!

Also, we recorded the performance! CSMN will start off with selections from The Limns scaled-down acoustic opening set, and after the interview we'll end with highlights from the full band rockin' the night away.

Each week CSMN showcases the talents of MN musicians, and there are a LOT of them. From emerging artists on the Iron Range to the biggest artists out of the Twin Cities, from something new and edgy out of Duluth to the most experimental music ever out of Bemidji, we cover the music scene in MN better than anyone.

Listener support makes it all possible. People just like you, who appreciate MN music, who appreciate local features and stories. People who take that next step from listening to becoming a member. It's quick, easy and painless - please pledge and tell 'em you LOVE Centertage MN :D

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 Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org. 

The Depth and Mystery of Alica Corbett

This week on Centerstage MN we'll hear an intimate conversation that KAXE volunteer producer Charlie Pulkrabek had with Alicia Corbett at her home in Minneapolis.

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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.

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We'll also hear from Duluth's Two Many Banjos, Ian Thomas Alexy (of the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank) and Romantica.

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 Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.  

What's New on KAXE

Cake "Showroom of Compassion"
Iron and Wine "Kiss Each Other Clean"
The Wailin' Jennys "Bright Morning Stars"
Rolling Blackouts "TheGo!Team"
Social Distortion "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes"
The Mother Truckers "Van Tour"
The Civil Wars "Barton Hollow"
Huey Lewis and the News "Soulsville"
Cold War Kids "Mine Is Yours"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...

What do Bellchoir, Jazz, Gay Men's Chorus & Metal Music Have In Common?

by Doug MacRostie.

All of it will be featured on a special holiday edition of Centerstage MN.

KAXE Producer Jennifer Poenix produced an excellent piece about her love of hand bells - it's a lush, intimate view of what bellchoir is all about it.

Also, our sister AMPERS station KFAI produced a piece about the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, which has grown to be the fourth largest gay men's chorus in the country. As an organization they celebrate diversity and use music as a way to transform, educate and heal.

We'll also hear selections from a Xmas jazz concert by the Mr. Pumpkinhead Quartet, recorded live on KAXE last year featuring Sam Miltich on Guitar, Don Vidal on Sax, Pat Downing on Bass and Tim Wick on Keyboard.

And the icing on the cake? MN metalheads My My Misfire know it's better to give than receive, and are debuting/releasing a song from their forthcoming CD for download on Christmas Eve as a gift to their fans.

Plus there will be some non-traditional holiday tunes from Paul Metsa and Eliza Blue. And what MN holiday special would be complete without Bob Dylan's "Must Be Santa".

Metal to Polka this week on Centerstage MN.

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 Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Handbell Choir documentary by Jennifer Poenix

by Travis Ryder

Several KAXE staffers recently completed a training course on audio documentary storytelling.  We get to reap the benefits starting Thursday morning, December 9, in the 8 o'clock hour.  Member Services Manager Jennifer Poenix tells her story of involvement in a handbell choir.  

Says Jennifer, "When I tell people I ring hand bells, I usually get a questioning look in response. Since I was pretty comfortable with the subject, I chose to explore the topic when presented the opportunity to learn radio documentary. This turned out to be a little more personal than I thought it would be when I started. That’s alright though. I think my story really needed to be a part of it. I’m excited for others to hear it!"  

Tune in live, and find the audio archived on the Culturology page and at Ampers.

MN's Blues Man Big Walter Smith

by Doug MacRostie

Big Walter Smith is the lead vocalist with the Groove Merchants and has personified the blues in MN for 40 years. Winner of multiple MN music awards, his 300 pound presence and velveteen voice have graced nearly every blues and R&B stage in the Midwest and he joins us to talk about “Royal Blue Cadillac,” his new album with the Groove Merchants this week on Centerstage MN. He came to Minneapolis back in 1970 for a two week MC gig which lasted over a year and a half. He fell in love, both with MN and his future wife, and has been here ever since.

Big Walter Smith and Groove Merchants will be performing at the “Home is Where the Heart Is” dinner and Dance on Sat. Dec. 4th at the Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids starting at 5, music at 8, to benefit the GRACE House Homeless Shelter.

We'll also hear from Mason Jennings brand new album "The Flood" which came out this week. It's a return to his acoustic sound. It's a collection of unreleased songs that Mason re-recorded in March. On his website he says, "It was really fun looking through all my old tapes and finding these, some I hadn’t thought about for years."

All that and more this week on Centerstage MN.

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 Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Video: Mary LaPlant Performing In-Studio

How perfect that Mary played "Somewhere over the Rainbow" at our studios in Grand Rapids :)

Read more about Mary's visit on Centerstage MN.

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 Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org. 

Centerstage MN Goes Wild with The Beastman Band

by Doug MacRostie

Everyone once in a while you hear something that truly stands out; it'll get into your head and make your inner-animal instinct cryout with pure emotion.  That happened last week to me with Danny Friedman and the Beastman Band, a 3 piece hybrid of rockabilly, R&B, Country-folk and hard funk out of Duluth MN. They've just put out their self-titled, debut album. I'll be talking with Danny Friedman about the many layers to their music tonight at 6 on Centerstage MN.

Why the Beastman himself supports KAXE, "It's essential. Support of a station like KAXE is essential. It's really what binds us together; and I know I'm starting to sound like Obi Wan Kenobi from Star Wars, but really that's what it's about, right? It's about a group of people believing in a common way of being, and a common environment, and a common culture. And as a resident of Grand Rapids KAXE was huge for me. It was right down the street and I would listen all the time. And what you do is get a different voice in everything that you're hearing. Seems to be that the general voice doesn't want people to get together and doesn't want people to build community. KAXE flies right in the face of that, which is one of the reasons I support it and think it's such a vital part of north country living." ~Danny Friedman and the Beastman Band.

There's nothing to be scared of! Support KAXE! The first 5 pledges during Centerstage MN will get copies of Danny Friedman and the Beastman Band. In the last 3 years Centerstage MN has become a vital part of the MN music scene and you need to support independent local radio while we support independent MN musicians!

Tonight we'll also hear some excellent highlights of recent live performances on Centerstage MN incuding Mayda, Aaron Kaercher, the Urban Hillbilly Quartet and more.

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.

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.

Video: Danny Schmidt with 'Houses Sing'

From his yet-to-be-released album :) It was a beautiful performance!

On Friday, August 27th, KAXE brought back singer/songwriter Danny Schmidt to Grand Rapids for a concert at KAXE's Amphitheater under the Rotary Tent. Very seldom does KAXE bring back the same musicians two years in a row...but Danny Schmidt is brilliant - quite possibly one the country's best singer songwriters.

More info:
http://www.dannyschmidt.com/
http://www.KAXE.org

Mark Olson of The Jayhawks Closing the Tent

On Monday, September 13th, KAXE is very excited to welcome MN music legend Mark Olson to KAXE for our 2nd Annual Closing the Tent Event, under the Rotary Tent at KAXE’s Amphitheater in Grand Rapids starting at 7pm.

Mark Olson was founding member and principle songwriter with The Jayhawks, the most acclaimed band to emerge out of the alt-country scene in the 90’s, and you can still hear their impact and influence in music today.

Inspired by the daily struggles that everyday people face in their lives, Mark Olson’s music is both timely and timeless. He’ll be accompanied by world-musician Inguun Ringvold on harmonies and percussion.

That’s MN music legend Mark Olson of The Jayhawks live under the Rotary Tent at KAXE’s Amphitheater on the north bank of the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids on Monday, September 13th starting at 7pm for our 2nd Annual Closing the Tent Event. Tickets are $20, and KAXE members get a $10 discount.

Feel free to bring your own chairs and coolers. Call 218-326-1234 to reserve your seats and check out, or order your tickets here:

Visa/MC-
General Admission:

Members:

Youth (ages 13-19):

PayPal-

Select Ticket Type:

General Admission $20.00 KAXE Members $10.00 Youth (13-19) $5.00

Video: Eilen Jewell at the Mississippi River Festival

Eilen Jewell and her band put on an excellent show - this is one of the slower tunes, 'Boundary County,' which is the title track from her debut CD. Driving all the way from Massachusets to perform on the North bank of the Mississippi River, they are leading a new generation of roots music, part of her music is instantly recognizable, the other part is instantly fresh and innovative.

The 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival was on July 17th, 2010 featuring Pelican Railroad from Bemidji, Steve Kaul and the Brass Kings, Keri Noble, Eilen Jewell and Willie Murphy.

It was a great festival that also included local, handmade art/items from KAXE members.

Though it was looming from time to time, we only got some scattered sprinkles (all the worst weather drifted towards Brainerd).

More info:
http://www.kaxe.org
http://www.pelicanrailroad.com/
http://www.myspace.com/brasskings
http://www.kerinoble.com/
http://www.eilenjewell.com/
http://www.williemurphy.net/

Video: Keri Noble with "When It Don't Come Easy"

Keri Noble performing 'When It Don't Come Easy' - which we've heard from a good source is the title track to her forthcoming release! Her music falls into the pop category, but her vocals definitely have that soulful edge.

The 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival was on July 17th, 2010 featuring Pelican Railroad from Bemidji, Steve Kaul and the Brass Kings, Keri Noble, Eilen Jewell and Willie Murphy.

It was a great festival that also included local, handmade art/items from KAXE members.

Though it was looming from time to time, we only got some scattered sprinkles (all the worst weather drifted towards Brainerd).

More info:
http://www.kaxe.org
http://www.pelicanrailroad.com/
http://www.myspace.com/brasskings
http://www.kerinoble.com/
http://www.eilenjewell.com/
http://www.williemurphy.net/

KAXE Brings Back Danny Schmidt

On Friday, August 27th, KAXE is bringing back singer/songwriter Danny Schmidt to Grand Rapids for a concert at KAXE's Amphitheater under the Rotary Tent.

Very seldom does KAXE bring back the same musicians two years in a row...but Danny Schmidt is brilliant - quite possibly one the country's best singer songwriters and you can see him in person starting at 7pm on Friday, Aug 27th. His music is intelligently crafted and beautiful.

There will be an opening set with the very talented Bemidji singer/songwriter Lance Benson joined by Mark Bauer.

Tickets are $20, KAXE members get a $10 discount. To reserve your tickets call KAXE at 218-326-1234 and get more info at KAXE.org.

This is going to be an amazing and intimate show on the north bank of the Mississippi River in Downtown Grand Rapids (260 NE 2nd St), be here!

Video: The Brass Kings with "Tin Man"

The Brass Kings area an acoustic roots band operating out of the Twin Cities - singer/songwriter Steve Kaul is from Bemidji, MN. A trio of world-class musicians their performance includes washtup bass, washboard percussion, a butter dish, resonator guitars and more. Their sound and style goes deep into American Roots music with an edge of blues.

The 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival was on July 17th, 2010 featuring Pelican Railroad from Bemidji, Steve Kaul and the Brass Kings, Keri Noble, Eilen Jewell and Willie Murphy.

It was a great festival that also included local, handmade art/items from KAXE members.

Though it was looming from time to time, we only got some scattered sprinkles (all the worst weather drifted towards Brainerd).

More info:
www.kaxe.org
www.pelicanrailroad.com/
www.myspace.com/brasskings
www.kerinoble.com/
www.eilenjewell.com/
www.williemurphy.net/

T-Shirts: Check. Stage: Check...River Festival Tomorrow: Check Check Check!

The limited addition t-shirts for the 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival arrived today! 3 colors, 1 awesome design. They'll be available at the Festival tomorrow under the Rotary Tent at the KAXE Amphitheater in Grand Rapids from Noon-8:30pm for just $15!!!

Pelican Railroad from Bemidji will kick off the concert with their blend of styles - it's hard to describe, but I'll go with a jammin' blues-rock band. They do both originals and covers, when they cover a song they will change the style and tempo to make it their own.

Then at 1:45 it's The Brass Kings, operating out of the Twin Cities (singer/songwriter Steve Kaul is from Bemidji). A trio of world-class musicians their performance includes washtup bass, washboard percussion, a butter dish, resonator guitars and more. Their sound and style goes deep into American Roots music with an edge of blues.

At 3:30 it's Minneapolis soul-pop artist Keri Noble. Her music is critically acclaimed across the globe and falls into the pop category, but her vocals definitely have that soulful edge. She'll have a band with her and it's sure to be a riveting performance.

Then it's Eilen Jewell at 5:15. Leading a new generation of roots music, part of her music is instantly recognizable, the other part is instantly fresh and innovative. The only performer who isn't from MN, she does Massachusetts proud, and we are very excited to bring her to the stage.

Then headliner Willie Murphy and band takes the stage at 7pm, and be ready to dance your feet off! One of the three original inductees into the MN Music Hall of Fame (along with Dylan and Prince) Willie's career helped define the sound of Soul and R&B music, along with his prolific blues career. It's going to be awesome.

Not only that, but we'll also have a booth of local, hand-made items from KAXE members including clothing, birch bark and bead work, honey, wild rice, soap, gift cards and more, all made by supporters of KAXE. The stage is set, the weather is looking good and the excitment is definitely in the air - be here!

The 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival

by Doug MacRostie

OMG, this is going to be awesome! The 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival is THIS Sat. starting at Noon and the forecast as of Tuesday: partly cloudy/partly sunny with temps in the low 80s and only a 20% chance of rain. Be prepared - maybe have a raincoat or tarp just-in-case, feel free to bring your own chairs & coolers, there will be food & soda/ice coffee/root beer floats by the Grand Rapids Kiwanis Club. And there will be a table of handmade goods by KAXE members including wild rice, clothing, jewelry, honey, soap, wood-turned bowls and more.

And we haven't even talk about the music yet! I'm torn on who I'm most excited to see, but Scott Hall said on the Morning Show that, "Doug thinks Eilen Jewell will be the big surprise," so I'll go with that :p And yeah, I've wanted to see her perform since the first time I heard her new-style of roots music on KAXE. I'm also really pumped to see Willie Murphy, partly because who he is and what he represents (having helped define the sound of R&B and Soul music and a prolific Blues career) and also because I know he's going to make everyone dance. When I interviewed him on Centerstage MN last year that was one thing that he made perfectly clear, "I like longer songs because they're better for dancing, and my music is all about dancing." Hell yeah.

But wait, there's more. The day will kick off with Pelican Railroad from Bemidji, a rockin' blues band (or was it a bluesy rock band, lol) - they play regularly in the Bemidji area, and we are really excited to bring their good-time to Grand Rapids. And, another son-of-Bemidji will be performing: Steve Kaul and The Brass Kings. To quote myself, "Steve Kaul is the caliber of guitarist you compare with the likes of Doc Watson, Leo Kottke and Bruce Cockburn." Check out the video of Steve playing at our studios below :) The Brass Kings are a world-class roots/blues trio.

And we've also got Keri Noble, a soul-pop artist from Minneapolis - in her late teens she was inspired by Joni Mitchell's "Blue" to start writing her own music. Her music is about relationships (not just the romantic kind), "as a kind of closure...you have to feel music." She will be my guest this week on Centerstage MN - so tune in for that preview.

That's the 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival this Sat., July 17th from Noon-8:30pm. Tickets for this full day of excellent music are just $40 and KAXE members get a $10 discount. 13-18 year olds are $10 and kids 12 and under are free. Call 218-326-1234 to get your tickets and more info, or go to KAXE.org. See you Saturday!

Here's Steve Kaul of The Brass Kings performing in our conference room (the studio was being "upgraded" at the time, hehehe):

Video: Mayda with 'Little Ginkgo' Live on Centerstage

Her voice is clear, emotional, powerful. Her music is clever, engaging, intimate. Her name is Mayda, and she performed live at the KAXE Studios June 24th on Centerstage MN. An adoptee from Korea, CSMN host Doug MacRostie said, "her music is so emotional and consuming, so intimate and personal. It's like there is a wildfire blazing away inside of her, and it burns through her music setting anyone who listens ablaze."

More info:
Mayda: http://www.myspace.com/imaydasong
KAXE: http://www.kaxe.org

... (more info)

Mayda Live in Concert Tonight

by Doug MacRostie

Her voice is clear, emotional, powerful. Her music is clever, engaging, intimate. Her name is Mayda, and she'll be performing live at the KAXE Studios tonight from 6-7:30pm as part of Centerstage MN. You don't want to miss the chance to be part of our live studio-audience as we broadcast this beautiful concert all over Northern MN - be ready to be WOWED by Mayda.

An adoptee from Korea, "her music is so emotional and consuming, so intimate and personal. It's like there is a wildfire blazing away inside of her, and it burns through her music setting anyone who listens ablaze." Don't let the 4' 10" fool you - this is going to be huge!

Be at the KAXE Studios tonight at 6 to be in our live audience, 260 NE 2nd Street Grand Rapids. There will be a Rotary event happening outside - we'll be rockin' INSIDE the KAXE building. See ya then!

Mississippi River Festival Announced!

Mark your calendars for Saturday July 17th for the 6th annual festival on the banks of the Mississippi River at KAXE. The concert starts at noon with Bemidji's own Pelican Railroad followed by The Brass Kings, Keri Noble, Eilen Jewell and Willie Murphy. Advanced tickets are on-sale now and available until Friday July 9th. $30 for a day of entertainment - KAXE members tickets are $20. Youth ages 13-20 are $10 and children get in free. Thanks to our sponsors Hawkinson Redi Mix, UCare, Grand Rapids State Bank and Abstract Service Company. Call 218-326-1234 to reserve your tickets!!! Or you can Order Online and get more info here.