DJtheDJ idle thoughts of an idle dj

RFTW 2009 Day 7 Meridian to Chattanooga cont'd

2009-05-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Our mission today is VAMC Tuscaloosa. This is a day of excitement for patients at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center. There is a police escort to the campus. It's a huge facility and the road leading in is lined with flags and patients and staff. They even make patches to sew on your vest. We visit with the residents and they, those who can, walk around and look at the bikes and ask about our mission. There is also time for lunch and conversation. It's wonderful to see the nice facilities and professional help available to our Vets.

A pleasant surprise at the next fuel stop is Ashville, Alabama. It's a small community with a big heart. They have available for approx 500 riders; hotdogs, chips, pop, water, porta potties and warm hearts...its held at a strip mall with a Piggly Wiggly store and its called Thunder at the Pig and they even gave us buttons.

At the end of the day we arrive safely through rush hour traffic in Chattanooga, TN Harley Davidson Dealer who has also provided a meal of burgers, dogs, drinks, chips, slaw, etc and plus they keep the service dept open for anyone who needs it. Krash's starter and battery went bad and they fixed it fast and fairly priced. Sgt Slinky and Hawk have rejoined the fuel crew. Slinky's bike was down and they thought they might have to ship it home and take the bus, alas the god's smiled....

Never forget our warriors....not all wounds are visible

RFTW 2009 Day 7 Meridian MS to Chattanooga TN

2009-05-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

298 miles today and uneventful. Last year we ran into hail and it was ugly. Still enjoying temps in the 70's and clear blue skies.

RFTW 2009 Day 6 Monroe LA to Meridian MS contd.

2009-05-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Before we get started got a great story. The Fuel Crew is traveling from Odessa TX to Weatherford TX and a trike throws up a big chunk of shredded tire and hits The General who is on his way down...at that moment Hoppy, our Fuel Team Leader, hits him in the saddle bag and actually knocks him back up and they both stayed upright and stopped. Some elevated pulses and one broken saddle bag and it was all good. Hoppy did the great ride through the ditch last year he,s got brass ones like only a Phantom pilot would.

Entering Mississippi is a highlight of the trip. As the main group crossed the Mississippi River a Vietnam era Cobra gunship popped up out of the trees and swooped over. The Cobra lead the group to Harley Davidson of Central MS campus. The whole group was greeted with a free tank of gas and a meal. There were also many dignitaries including Lt Gov of Mississippi and Two generals and three Medal of Honor recipients, Navajo Code Talkers and a Navy Band. On the grounds of the H-D dealer was an era Huey Slick and you could get a ten minute ride for $50 or $40 if you were a Vet. A CH-47 Chinook brought members of The Black Daggers, an Army skydiving team. It was announced that there were 650 bikes there and 6000 bottles of water were given out. The H-D dealer clears its floors to bring in tables and chairs to feed everyone.

The advance team left early to place a wreath and pay our respects at the grave of Sonny Montgomery, Army veteran and Congressman from Mississippi. He was responsible for many veteran related bills including the Modern GI Bill. we were escorted by MS State Troopers on motorcycles. It was hard riding with them as they tend to maintain legal speed and we like it at 80 mph.

I was in my hotel room unpacking when I could hear the whoop, whoop of a helicopter and I looked out my 3 rd floor window to see that Chinook at a couple hundred feet leading 650 motorcycles down I-20 into Meridian. That was followed by Korean era jet fighter and 3 prop driven aircraft. Meridian is a fabulous community and they go way out of their way to make you feel at home...they even give you a laundry bag and wash and dry you laundry and delivered at five in the morning.

1888 total miles so far.

Love you Scooter, Sceeter, Telly and DJ. Miss you also Josh and Jeanna. Especially Zoe and Hershey

RFTW Day 6 Monroe, LA to Meridian MS

2009-05-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

Only 208 miles today, but one of the most exciting days of RFTW. 1880 miles since I left home. More tomorrow...too big a day and not enough time to describe. Tomorrow the ride to Hail and Back...Last year we ran into a major hail storm on our way to Chattanooga TN and Skippy almost bought the farm.

Favorite quote from 2008....Life, liberty and the pursuit of those who threaten it.

RFTW 2009 Day 5 Weatherford TX to Monroe LA

2009-05-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

350 Miles today and three fuel stops. It's great to see so many of last year's fuelers here. Pennsylvania Phil (West Point 69) is my fuel partner this year. Irish is here and Speedy and Pooh and Longhorn. Sgt Slinky dropped out with a broken bike yesterday. Over all ridership is down by a 100 but there are still enough riders to make it interesting. Numbers picked up at our first stop in Terrell TX. Maybe a 100 more bikes. Many are day riders and will turn around tomorrow. Lots of FNG's (Funny New Guys) and it is so uplifting to talk to them and pump them up. Our first fuel stop was a freebie. Somebody picked the tab for a couple of thousand dollars worth of gas. I think it might have been Too Tall and Too Small like they did last year.

There are about 25 bikes in our advance team. We are rollin like last year, 80 mph and tight. It requires a lot of concentration so you don't get to think like when you are riding alone. It is a rush to ride in that pack and we have a certain leeway with law enforcement and we try to not hinder traffic as best we can. Last night at supper I sat down with Sub Rat and Oscar and another guy. We got to talking and the other guy's initials are DJ and he is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had been camping and I had a room by myself so he split it with me. Last year I ended up with Music Man as a fuel partner...DJ the DJ and Music Man...cosmic. All three of us are sharing a room tonight and they are asleep all ready and snoring. Music Man is an artist in the snoring category and DJ has his own special sound...I'll be up half the night.

Our second stop was Longview TX and a lunch provided by the local VFW. We fueled the bikes and ate and hit the road for Minden which was just a fuel stop. We can still do it....300 bikes in 20 minutes. We round off numbers and don't give change. The extra money goes for fuel for chase vehicles that trailer bikes that breakdown or have a flat, etc. The money left over at the end is divided amongst 4 schools we visit. Last year those schools got about $4000 each.

Monroe LA was our destination for the day. Local groups like the VFWS, American Legion and Sons of Confederate Veterans put together a great meal and program. There was catfish, fries, hush puppies, slaw and gumbo. The desserts are all homemade, including pecan pie and banana cream pudding that is fabulous.

Time for bed. Tomorrow is a short ride, 208 miles, from Monroe LA to Meridian MS, but a huge day packed with some incredible displays by the military and private citizens. Last year we met with 3 Medal of Honor Recipients and walked the Trail of Honor in Jackson MS at the H-D Dealer. We end the day in Meridian MS with another great meal, some flyovers and talk with some very fine and gracious folks.

To die for freedom is not the worst thing. Being forgotten is. We will never forget.

RFTW 2009 Day 4 Weatherford TX

2009-05-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Woke up about 9:30am to rain and I am glad I got here a day early. Too late for the free continental breakfast so I headed to the truck stop next door for something to eat. Breakfast buffet was $7.99 and a little high I thought. They had my favorite breakfast on the menu for $8.19, chicken fried steak, eggs anyway, toast and hash browns. I thought that was a little high also until they brought out the platter, it would feed a family of four easily. It looked like they gave me an extra steak and two servings of hash browns...it was worth every penny and more.

The rain has finally stopped and things are starting to dry out and clouds are breaking up. The rest of the day I'll clean the bike and rest and wait for the group to arrive. Looking forward to seeing Sub Rat, Oscar, Hoppy, Skippy, $5 Marty, Enigma, Krash and all the rest of the Fuel Crew. Supper and ceremonies tonight at the local VFW. Tomorrow we head to Monroe, Louisiana and Music Man will join us there. Music Man was my fuel partner last year...cosmic thing Music Man and DJ the DJ.

The excitement is building............We Ride For Those Who Can't.......Our POW's and MIA's and promoting healing for all....Last year's ride was for Matt Maupin MIA Iraq. His remains have since been recovered and returned to his family...God Bless Matt and his family and thank you for your service to our country. The name of Barry A. Olson is close to my heart. MIA Vietnam and remains are unrecovered. His mother died not knowing. Barry A. Olson, Albert Lea, MN, we remember you.

RFTW 2009 Day 3 Emporia KS to Weatherford TX

2009-05-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Another 500 miles today. Woke up Friday morning 7:30am and looked out hotel window to see that it had rained over night. The sky was still dark and it was very windy. I thought I would let things dry off before packing up and hitting the road. At 9am it was already 70 degrees and weatherman said sunny, windy and and temps in the 80's and wet on Saturday so my plan is to go all the way to TX and get there a day earlier, but dry. Yee ha. . .t-shirt weather! I-35 is the road I've been traveling and the next section is the Kansas Turnpike and that means you pay. The road was a beautiful and smooth section with no bumps nor cracks. It also cost $5.25 for a motorcycle to ride that 100 miles...kinda high I thought. It was like night and day when I left the KS Turnpike to regular old I-35. Right at the boundary there was a big bump and pothole. The wind was working against me all day. It was a steady 30mph with gusts to 40mph and kept you working the whole time. By 10am it had hit 80 degrees. Had not seen a roadkill deer all through Kansas, but many a skunk. And then near KS-OK border I saw a roadkill armadillo. They soon became quite common. I next crossed into Oklahoma for the first time in my life. One of the reasons I picked this route was so I could check OK off my 50 state list. I have now been to all states west of the Mississippi River including Alaska and Hawaii. Still working on east coast have Florida and New England states left.

Gas prices have been very consistent the whole way, $2.05 to $2.29 for regular and diesel has been lower than gas all along I-35. Last year everything was doubled and diesel was more expensive than gas...no wonder the truckers are smiling.

Stopped in Ardmore, OK to see a friend from high school. She had moved to OK in 1972 to ranch with her family. She now works with an agency that helps children with dyslexia. They diagnose and help these children overcome their dyslexia. Thanks B & D for a great time. After 3 hours of catching up it was back on the road to TX.

Glad I stopped in Ardmore because I avoided rush hour in Dallas-Ft Worth area. Gorgeous drive through Ft. Worth and they have an awesome Interstate system there with overpass over overpass over overpass, higher than most amusement park rides. The temp was in the mid 80's and way hot for me...70 is optimum.

Got to Weatherford about 9pm and headed for RFTW HQ motel to get a room and luck was with me. I got a single smoking room for Friday and Saturday night. Thank you Lord. The desk clerk was Ray, same guy that checked me in last year. Shower and an adult beverage and a couple of phone calls and it's off to bed.

So far no crazed squirrels

RFTW 2009 Day Two Albert Lea, MN to Emporia, KS

2009-05-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

500 miles today. 38 degrees and windy when I left Albert Lea at 8:40am. About 10 minutes on the road I was wishin I had stayed and had some more coffee. I had on long johns, wool socks, jeans, chaps, sweatshirt, jacket, vest, gloves and stocking hat and was still freezing. At Ankeny, Iowa I could see blue skies ahead and the hope of warmer temps. 10 miles later I was approaching Des Moines and the blue skies. It started to warm and when I stopped to gas up it was 60. After a couple of cups of coffee I warmed up and headed for Kansas City. Hit KC at 2:40pm and missed rush hour . . . yipee . . . and it was 70 degrees. It was a great ride to Emporia, Kansas where I stopped for the day at 4:30 and it was 75. I am headed for Oklahoma tomorrow. Weather forecast mid 80's and thunderstorms and tornado watches for OK City and surrounding areas. Maybe I'll see Tornado Bob...in fact I think he may have passed me today. A car with MN plates passed me at Iowa/Missouri border with a contraption on the roof with a propeller on it. I have plenty of time to get to Texas so I might delay in OK and see a friend from high school. Glad I'm not in Minnesota anymore. It was 28 degrees this morning in Grand Rapids and it snowed. Also snow predicted for Saturday. I hope to be in TX and riding in a
t-shirt. Stay tuned

RFTW 2009 Day 1 Grand Rapids to Albert Lea

2009-05-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Only 280 miles the first day. Juice rode with me from Grand Rapids to Moose Lake. It was a windy but beautiful day for a ride. After lunch and topping off the tanks Juice turned around to head home and I headed south. A block after separating my shift linkage broke. Ironically, last year in Moose Lake my shift lever came loose. I was all set to turn around and go home (damn Cupid) and call the whole thing off. I stopped and did a temporary fix on the linkage knowing I would be in Albert Lea and a H-D dealer by 4pm. Weather stayed nice until Forest Lake and then I ran into rain and got soaked from rain and road spray. In St. Paul at the River it stopped and the sun came out and I dried off. Then south of Owatanna it rained again and I got wet again. The rain stopped after about 10 miles, but I was watching another system moving in and I was hoping to get to A.L. before it hit. I pulled into the H-D dealer and they said drive it in and just as I was driving into the shop it let loose and it poured for the next 1/2 hour. By the time the bike was done it had stopped raining and I called it a day.

Play List On The River Monday 7-10pm 11 May 09

2009-05-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

It's 70 degrees in Emporia, Kansas tonight and tornado watch for Oklahoma tomorrow. Guess where I am headed??? yup, OK. Here's the play list for Monday's OTR. Thanks for listening.

Dan Auerbach - I Want Some More - Keep It Hid
Eleni Mandell - Artificial Fire - Artificial Fire
Dan Auerbach - Real Desire - Keep It Hid
Eleni Mandell - Tiny Waist - Artificial Fire
Diana Krall - So Nice - Quiet Nights
Honeyloaf - Ring of Fire - The Honeytone EP
Eilen Jewell - Shakin All Over - Sea of Tears
Little Willie G - She's About A Mover - Keep Your Soul Doug Sahm Tribute
Link Wray & the Wraymen - Rawhide - Whistle Bait
Kings of Leon - Knocked Up - Because of the Times
Waylon & the 357's - Waymore's Blues - Waylon Forever
Hank III - Workin Man - Damn Right Rebel Proud
Eleni Mandell - I Love Planet Earth - Artificial Fire
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid - Keep It Hid
Eleni Mandell - Needle and Thread - Artificial Fire
Dan Auerbach - When I Left the Room - Keep It Hid
Big James & the Chicago Playboys - Expect the Best - Right Here Right Now
The Insomniacs - Broke and Lonely - At Least I'm Not With You
Jason Ricci & New Blood - Done with the Devil - Done with the Devil
Roy Rogers - Requiem for a Heavyweight - Split Decision
Govt Mule - Catfish Blues - The deep End Volume 2
Charles Wilson - It's Love that Really Counts - Troubled Child
Kelly Hunt - Love - Mercy
Dan Auerbach - Goin Home - Keep It Hid
Eleni Mandell - It Wasn't the Time (It was the Color) - Artificial Fire
Dan Auerbach - When the Night Comes - Keep It Hid
Eleni Mandell - God is Love - Artificial Fire
Amy Speace - Storm Warning - The Killer in Me
The Wooden Birds - Believe in Love - Magnolia
Elliot Matsdu - There was a Time - The Value of Power
Chris Cornell - Time - Scream
Camera Obscura - The sweetest Thing - My Maudlin Career
Chuck Mead - In A Song - Journey Man's wager
Pat McGee - Maybe It's Time - These Days
Rhett Miller - If It's Not Love - Rhett Miller
Los Straitjackets - Nocturnal Twist - The Further Adventure of

Well, that's it for awhile. I'm on The Run for the Wall now and won't be back to KAXE until May 27. Stay tuned to KAXE and follow my blog for day to day adventures on RFTW and also check out rftw.org.

We Ride For Those Who Can't

Play List Blue Collar Power Hour Wed 6Apr09 9-noon

2009-05-06T16:33:00.001-07:00

Bona fide gorgeous day On The River today clear skies and 70's. I am going to feature the Dan Auerbach CD Keep It Hid next Monday.

Show Goats / Lift Off / Lift Off
Dan Auerbach / Mean Monsoon / Keep It Hid
Los Straitjackets / Cal Speed / Further Adventure of ........
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears / Big Booty Woman / Tell Em What Your Name Is
David Grissom / Sqwawwk / 10,000 Feet
Astrid Williamson / Falling Down / Here Comes the Vikings
Deena / You Are The Sweetest Dram / Somewhere In Blue
Jenny Owen Youngs / If I Didn't Know / Transmitter Failure
Maria Taylor / Cartoons and Forever Plans / Lady Luck
Cracker / We All Shine A Light / Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
St. Dominc's Trio / Bike Ride on 35W / Switch
Meat Puppets / Love Mountain / Sewn Together
Rhett Miller / If It's Not Love / Rhett Miller
Jason Lytle / Here for Good / Yours truly, the Communicator
Amy Speace / I Met My Love / The Killer in Me
The Believers / You've Got Another Thing Comin / Lucky You
Eilen Jewell / Sea of Tears / Sea of Tears
Colleen McFarland / Without a Heart / Let It Shine
Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks / Subterranean Homesick Blues / Tangled Tales
Luminescent Orchestril / What the Water Said / Neptune's Daughter
Bombay Jayashri / Zara Zara / Putomayo Presents India
Maria Parker / Waterwheel / Sangria
The Pawn Shoplifters / Shameless Agitated Blues / Rifle & Flask
The Mystix / Walkin the Dog / Down to the Shore
Damon Fowler / VFW / Sugar Shack
Jerry Jeff Walker / Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother / Night after Night
Ray Wylie Hubbard / screw You, We're from Texas / Growl
Crowfield / Jesus in my Pocket / Goodbye, Goodnight, So Long
The Toy Hearts / Sly North Wind / When I Cut Loose
Blame Sally / Hurricane / Night of 1000 Stars
Katie Melua / It's All in My Head / Pictures
Jill Sobule / Bloody Valentine / California Years
Hanne Hukkelberg / Bygd Til By / Blood from a Stone
Hill Country Revue / Alice Mae / Make a Move
Ben Harper & Relentless 7 / Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart) / White Lies for Dark Times
The Tragically Hip / Love Is A First / we are the Same
Cary Judd / The Apocalyptic Love Song / Goodnight Human
Los Strait Jackets / Kapt'n Krunch / Further Adventures of ..........

Stay Tuned

to KAXE 91.7 Grand Rapids 89.9 Brainerd 105.3 Bemidji

and audio streaming at kaxe.org

Become a member by calling 218-326-1234

Play List On The River Monday 4May09 7-10 All Vinyl

2009-05-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you for listening and the calls for All Vinyl Night. The Elusive BeBo is off on fire duty fueling the birds. Dug Baker was on a junket and it didn't feel right going to overnight at 10. Dug will be back next Monday.

Taj Mahal Candy Man Giant Step
Taj Mahal Further On Down The Road (You Will Accompany Me) Giant Step
Crosby Nash Mama Lion Live 1977
Steve Goodman Roving Cowboy (Ballad of Dan Moody) Words We Can Dance To
Michael Murphy Geronimo's Cadillac Geronimo's Cadillac
Poco Angel Seven
Kris Kristofferson Blame It On The Stones Me & Bobby McGee
Rolling Stones Down Home Girl Now
Rolling Stones Mercy Mercy Out of Our Heads
Rolling Stones Look What You've Done December's Children (and everbody's)
Rolling Stones Goin Home Aftermath
Jerry Jeff Walker Desperados Waiting for the Train Live Luckenbach TX
Joe Ely Maria Down on the Drag
Sir Douglas Quintet At the Crossroads Best of
Grateful Dead He's Gone Live Europe 1972
Homer & Jethro People Who Like People The Old Crusty Minstrels
Grand Funk Railroad Into the Sun Live Album
Chicago I'm A Man At Carnegie Hall Vlll & Vlv
Lovin Spoonful Rain on the Roof Best of v2
The New Seekers A World of Our Own A World of Our Own
Sonny & Cher Baby, Please Don't Go Super Star Super Hits v1
The Buckinghams Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song Super Star Super Hits v2
Noel Harrison a Young Girl The Greatest Hits from England
Led Zepplin Bring It On Home ll
Led Zepplin You Shook Me l (screwed up here should have followed with Dazed and Confused)
Led Zepplin Tangerine lll
Misty Mountain Hop ZoZo
Blood, Sweat and Tears Variations on a theme by Eric Satie/Smiling Phases BST
Isao Tomita Snowflakes are Dancing Debussy
Blood, Sweat and Tears Variations on a theme I by Eric Satie BST
Bee Gees Jive Talkin Main Course
ToTo Hydra Hydra
Stevie Nicks Edge of Seventeen Bella Donna
Led Zepplin Bron-Y-Aur Stomp lll
Hound Dog Taylor & the House Rockers Let's Get Funky Beware of the Dog

See you On The River Wednesday morning for The Red Neck/Blue Collar Power Hour....helping you get through the work week and I hope you still have a job.

Stay Tuned to KAXE

917FM Grand Rapids 89.9 Brainerd 105.3 Bemidji

audio streaming at kaxe.org

Play List for On The River Friday 1May09 10-1am

2009-05-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

I love Friday night radio and rockin and rollin............thanks for listening and especially the calls!!

Martin Zellar All I Need Best of the Brewhouse V1
Chris Loid Light This Mother Up Back Road Home
Kings of Leon Pistol of Fire Aha Shake Heartbreak
Little Willie G She's About a Mover Keep Your Soul Doug Sahm Tribute
Dan Auerbach Street Walkin Keep It Hid
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears Boogie Tell Em What Your Name Is
Link Wray & the Wraymen Rawhide Whistle Bait
Eilen Jewell Shakin All Over Sea of Tears
The Blasters Dark Night Dusk till Dawn Sound Track
Shemekia Copeland Dirty Water Never Goin Back
Ernie & the Automatics Low Expectations Low Expectations
The Mystix I've Been Scorned Down to the Shore
Colin Linden The Heaven Me From the Water
Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Looking for Somebody Blue Again
Judy Wright Sammy's Song True to Me
Eleni Mandell Right Side Artificial Fire
Deena I Wish I Could Be Enough Somewhere in Blue
Katie Melua Dirty Dice Pictures
Keri Powers Trying To Make My Way Back To You Faith In the Shadows
The Believers Lucky You lucky You
TV On The Radio Heroes War Child Presents
Eric Burdon & Billy Preston Power To The People Steal This Movie Sound Track
Michael Franti & Spearhead All I Want Is You All Rebel Rockers
A. C. Newman All of My Days and All of My Days Off Get Guilty
Boiled In Led Puking In The Heather Alloy 15 Year Collection
Blue Rodeo 5 Days In May Blue Road
Black Angels You On The Run Directions To See A Ghost
Zachery Richards Fire in the Night Last Kiss
Astrid Williamson The Stars Are Beautiful Here Comes the Vikings
Alela Diane My Brambles To Be Still
Sharon Isbin Go Away From My Window Journey to the New World
Alana Fugate & the Yarn Novels Oh Me, Oh My Imaginary Boats
The Decemberists Prelude/The Hazards of Love (the Prettiest Whistle Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)/Bower Scene The Hazards of Love
The Floating Men Prelude: The Sighing Hour Tree No Clouds No Calendars
Jay Slims Real Money Half Souls and Heals
The White Buffalo Sweet Hereafter Hogtied Revisited
Kelly Fairchild The Last Fair Deal Goin Down Queen Fareena

Stay Tuned To KAXE

91.7 FM Grand Rapids 89.9 Brainerd 105.3 Bemidji

audio streaming at kaxe.org

Play List On The River Wed 29 Apr 09 Blue Collar Power Hour 9-noon

2009-05-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Los Strait Jackets Cal-Speed Further Adventures of Los............
Jeff Beck/Imogene Heap Rollin and Tumblin You Had It Coming
Mystix Yolanda Blue Morning
David Olney Wheels - Big Cadillac The Wheel
Hayes Carll Bad Liver and A Broken Heart Heart Trouble
Laika & the Cosmonauts Surf's You Right Cosmopolis 1988-2000
Three Fantastic Skateboard Life Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
Beach Boys Surfer Girl Summer Love Songs
Simon & Garfunkle For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her Live 1969
Danny Schmidt The Night's Beginning To Shine Instead The Forest Rose To Sing
Slaid Cleaves Black T-Shirt Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
Wayne Hancock Throwin' All My Money Away Viper of Melody
Bearfoot Single Girl Doors and Windows
Whitetop Mountain Band Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy Loafer's Dream
Flatlanders Sowing On The Mountain Hills & Valleys
Jake Dilley & The Color Pharmacy Giants Are Falling Red Balloon
Brian Jonestown Massacre Swallow (Live) Tepid Peppermint Wonderland
Eleni Mandell Two Faces Artificial Fire
Deena Rambling Dave Somewhere In Blue
Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers She Makes Me Pandemonium Ensues
Luminescent Orchestrill Kombucha Monster Neptune's Daughter
Mariah Parker First Flight Sangria
Webb Wilder Too Cool For Love More Like Me
Pat McGee Guess We Were These Days (The Virginia Sessions)
Commander Cody Lone Ranger Dopers, Drunks and Everyday Losers
Shawn Sahm Mendocino Keep Your Soul A tribute to Doug Sahm
Scott Miller Cheap Ain't Cheap (For Crying Out Loud) For Crying Out Loud
Hill Country Revue Dirty Shirt Make A Move
The Mystix That's What You Do To Me Down To The Shore
Nickie and The Ruemates Burning Up We All Live Together
Clarence Bucaro Take My Love til Spring
Chris Isaak & Michelle Branch i Lose My Heart Mr. Lucky
Too Slim & the Taildraggers Been Through Hell Free You Mind
Buckwheat Zydeco with Sonny Landreth When The Levee Breaks Lay Your Burden Down
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Master Sold My Baby Tell Em What Your Name Is
Rebekah Pulley & The Reluctant Prophets Dirty Tales of Lust and Longing
Eilen Jewell Shakin All Over sea of Tears
The Panics Something in The Garden Cruel Guards
Fastball How Did I Get Here? Little White Lies
Eulogies Day to Day Here Annonymous
Los Strait Jackets Sasquatch The Further Adventures of Los............

Thanks for listening and thanks for the phone calls and glad to help you through Hump Day.

Got delayed on this blog after reading about our U.S. Rep James Oberstar in the newspaper. He wants to add a mileage tax to our burden. I think we already pay a mileage tax based on the gasoline tax we already pay. But the really frightening idea he proposed was to install GPS devices on our vehicles so Big Brother could track our mileage on Interstate or other roads. It is not too big of a leap to use that info to determine if we were speeding or not, rolled through a stop sign and keep track of our travel and when and where. Is anybody else getting scared now? 1984 was 25 years ago and yet Big Brother lives on in the form of our Congreeman Oberstar.

Stay Tuned

KAXE 91.7 FM

kaxe.org

Play List OTR Monday 27 Apr 09 10-1

2009-05-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

I love it when Dug and I switch and I get to do 10-1. Less Talk-more music, 7-10 more songs than 7-10 OTR

Soho Happiness Is A Warm Hippy Hippychick EP
Eilen Jewell Shakin All Over Sea of Tears
Dan Auerbach Heartbroken, In Disrepair Keep It Hid
Little Willie G She's About A Mover Keep Your Soul trib to Doug Sahm
Black Angels Vikings Directions To see A Ghost
Diana Krall So Nice Quiet Nights
Beach Boys Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) Summer Love Songs
Hot Apple Pie Hillbillies Hot Apple Pie
Eric Church Pledge Allegiance to the Hag Sinners Like Me
Apple Pie Redneck Revolution Hot Apple Pie
Sometimes Why Joey Your Heart Is a Glorious Machine
Jamey Johnson Mowin Down the Roses That Lonesome Song
Fred Eaglesmith Tinderbox Tinderbox
Jamey Johnson Women That Lonesome Song
The Ditchflowers Love, the Conqueror Tales of Lust and Longing
Byrd & Styreet Love Broke the Fall Love Broke the Fall
Keri Noble Red Wine Til Daylight Keri Noble
Guy Davis Hoochie Coohie Man Sweetheart Like You
Roy Rogers Little Queen Split Decisions
Rusty Wright Band What A Ride Playin with Fire
Los strait Jackets Teen Beast Further Adventures of Los...........
George Thorogood Who Do You Love Remix
Janis Joplin Down On Me Greatest Hits
The Smiths The Weight Easy Rider Sound Track
Sarah Borges Better At The End of the Day Stars Are Out
Melvin Taylor Even Trolls Love Rock and Roll Bang That Hell
Slaid Cleaves Run Jolee Run Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
Dallas Wayne I'll Take the Fifth I'll Take the Fifth
Janis Jopplin Me & Bobby McGee Greatest Hits
Mason Jennings Some Say I'm Not Boneclouds
Ernie and the Automatics The Best Is Up Ahead Low Expectations
Hill Country Revue Let's Talk About Me and You Make A Move
M. Ward Never Had Nobody Like You Hold Time
Fastball All I Was Looking For Was You Little White Lies
Deena Mr. Midnight Somewhere In Bllue
Andy Dee All Night Lover Sweet Soul Sewage
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Sugarfoot Tell Em What Your Name Is
Eleni Mandell God Is Love Artificial Fire
Astrid Williamson How You Take My Breath Away Here Comes the Vikings
Zachery Richard Come To Me Last Kiss
Buckwheat Zydeco When The Levee Breaks Back In Your Arms
St Dominic's Trio She Loves You Anyway Switch

Next Monday is the first Monday of the month and is all vinyl. Bebo is off fighting fires and will return. Thanks to Juice for helping with the selections tonight.

Stay Tuned

Play List Blue Collar Power Hour Wed 22Apr09 9-12

2009-04-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Diana Kral - So Nice - Quiet Nights
Sinhead O'Conner - I Want Your Hands On Me - EP
Eilen Jewel - Shakin All Over - Sea of Tears
Golden Animal - The Steady Roller - Free Your Mind and Win A Pony
Hayes Carll - Drunken Poet's Dream - Trouble In Mind
Little Willie G - She's About a Mover - Keep Your Soul Doug Sahm Tribute
Michelle Malone - Restraining Order Blues - Debris
Dylan - Maggie's Farm - No Direction Home ST
David Grissolm - Dover Soul - 10,000 Feet
Chris Isaak - Baby Baby - Mr. Lucky
Fastball - All I was Looking For Was You - Little White Lies
Lucinda Williams - Honey Bee - Little Honey
Ruthie Foster - Thanks for the Joy - The Truth According to Ruthie Foster
Robert Plant/Alison Kraus - Stick with Me Baby - Raising Sand
Cyril Neville - I Found Joy - Brand New Blues
Buckwheat Zydeco - Let Your Yeah Be Yeah - Lay your Burden Down
Joe Bonamassa - Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter - Ballad of John Henry
Pearl Jam - Alive - 10 From Ten
The Knitters - Born To Be Wild - The Modern Sounds of The Knitters
Too Slim and The Taildraggers feat Lauren Evans - The Light - Free Your Mind
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unbit - Cigarettes and Wine - Jason Isbell . . . . . .
Rufus Wainwright - Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk - Poses
Wayne Hancock - Working at Working - Viper of Melody
Danny Schmidt - Happy All the Time - Parables & Princes
True Nature - Truth I Have to Steel (Simple Heart) - Feels Like Centuries
Bell X-1 - How Your Heart Is Wired - Blue Lights On the Runway
Three Fantastics - Hot Summer Day - Life Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
Scott Miller - Wildcat Whistle - For Crying Out Loud
Chris Loid - Light This Mother Up - Back Road Home
Deena - Mr. Midnight - Somewhere In Blue
Judy Wright - True to Myself - True to Myself
Shake Russell - What This Heart Holds - Shake Russell
Old School Freight Train - Heart of Glass - Promo Single
John Doe and The Sadies - Help Me Make It Through the Night - Country Club
Dylan - She Belongs To Me - No Direction Home
The Tragically Hip - Honey Please - We Are The Same
Sam Robert - Love at the End of the World - Love at the ...........................

Thanks for Listening and Stay Tuned

Play List OTR Monday 20Apr09 7-10pm

2009-04-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Songs from sound tracks are the feature of tonights show and the Beatles started us off. . .

Beatles - I Need You - Help ST
Beatles - And I Love Her - Hard Day's Night ST
Beatles - Flying - Magical Mystery Tour ST
Tome Petty/Heartbreakers - Climb That Hill - She's The One ST
Lou Reed - What's Good - Until the End of the World ST
Ray Charles - (Night Time Is) The Right Time - Ray ST
Elvis Costello - Days - Until the End of the World ST
Slaid Cleaves - Oh Roberta - Unsung
BoDeans - Arms - Still
John Lee Hooker - No Substitue - The Healer
Eilen Jewel - Shakin All Over - Sea of Tears
Silos - The Only Love - When The Telephone Rings
Martin Zellar - All I Need - Best of the Brewhouse Vol 1
Lucinda Williams - Rightously - Live at the Fillmore
Aimee Mann/Michael Penn - Two of Us - I Am Sam ST
Lionel Hampton - Flying Home - Malcom X ST
Al Green - Lets Stay Together - Pulp Fiction ST
Rufus Wainwright - Across The Universe - I Am Sam ST
Roy Orbison/Friends - In Dreams - Black and White Night ST
Modest Mouse - Miss the Boat
Cure - The Same Deep Water As You - Disintegration
Kasey Chambers - The Captain - The Captain
Chris Isaak - Wrong to Love You - Heart Shaped World
Asie Payton - I Love You - Big Bad Love ST
Truckstop Souvenir - Rodeo - Under A Big Blue Sky
Mary McBride - No One's Gonna Love You Like Me - Brokeback Mtn ST
The Derailers - The Glory Will Never Get Old - Bull Riders Chasing the Dream ST
Finn Brothers - Won't Give In - Because of Winn Dixie ST
The Loose Nuts - Wishen - American Pie ST
The Mermen - Honeybomb - Blazing Longboards ST
Jimi Hendrix - If Six was Nine - Easy Rider ST
Dan Auerbach - Heartbroken, In Disrepair - Keep It Hid
The Blasters - Dark Night - from Dusk till Dawn ST
Juniour Kimbrough - Junior's Place - Big Bad Love ST
Sinehead O'Conner - I Want Your Hands On Me - EP
BoDeans - Go Slow Down - Joe Dirt Car
Fever Tree - San Francisco Girls Return of the Native - Another Time Another Place
John Lennon - Jealous Guy - The John Lennon Collection

Thanks for listening...If you would like to be a member of KAXE call 218.326.1234 or go to our home page kaxe.org

Stay Tuned

Play List Blue Collar Power Hour Wed 15Apr09 9-12

2009-04-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day On The River...Juice was able to join me this morning ironically because he is laid off. He was the inspiration for this Wed working people's show. He introduced KAXE to a whole new audience. It took awhile and eventually they begin to like our mix of music and at least it invited discussion about music....that doesn't happen when you are hearing Stairway To Heaven for the thousandths time...Plus we sure seem to have a country twist to our music at KAXE...Thanks for listening and I hope you still have a job.

Eilen Jewel - Shakin All Over - Sea of Tears
Too Slim and the Taildraggers feat Lauren Evans - The Light - Free Your Mind
Shemekia Copeland - Dirty Water - Never Going Back
Damon Fowler - I Hope It's Gonna Rain - Sugar Shack
Wayne "The Train" Hancock - Midnight Stars and You - Viper of Melody
Cyril Neville - I Found Joy - Brand New Blues
Jamey Johnson - Released - That Lonesome Song
Jamey Johnson - High Cost of Livin - That Lonesome Song
Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried - The Foundation
Steve Earle - Copperhead - Essential
Hank Jr. - If Heaven Ain't Like Dixie - That's How They Do It In Dixie
Wayne "The Train" Hancock - Working @ Working - Viper of Melody
Sara Watkins - Long Hot Summer Days - Sara Watkins
Commander Cody - Tennessee Plates - Dopers, Drunks, & Everyday People
Doves - Lifelines - Kingdom of Rust Kingdom of Rust
The Ditchflowers - Love, the Conqueror - Tales of Lust & Longing
Eleni Mandell - God is Love - Artificial Fire
Amadou & Mariam - I Follow You - Welcome to Mali
Sanjay Divecha & feat Kailasn Kher - Naino Sey - Putumayo Presents India
Rakia Traore - The Man I Love - Tchamantche
Ari Hest - Cranberry Lake - 12 Mondays
Hill Country Revue - Lets Talk About Me and You - Make A Move
Sometimes Why - Joey - Your Heart is a Glorious Thing
Willie & the Wheel - Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon - Willie & Asleep at the Wheel
Neil Young - Johnny Magic - Single Radio Version
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles- Ride With Me - The Stars Are Out
Charlie Sexton & the Mystic Knights of the Sea - You're Doin It Too Hard - Keep Your Soul a Tribute to Doug Sahm
Kinky - Those Girls - Barracuda
Luminescent Orchestril - Nasty Tasty - Neptune's Daughter
Chris Velan - Hardway Learner - Solidago
Ana Egge - New Tattoo - Road to My Love
Jay Sims - Real Money - Halfsouls & Heels
Hank Jr. - Family Tradition - Essential Collection
Jamey Johnson - In Color - That Lonesome Song
Steve Earle - Hillbilly Highway - Essential
Manda Mosher - Blue, Red & Grey - Everything You Need
Jamey Johnson - Mowing Down the Roses - That Lonesome Song

Thanks Juice for the Jamey Johnson and sitting in this morning On The River.

I'll see you Friday night 10-1 for more OTR with DJtheDJ

STAY TUNED

Play List OTR Monday 113 Apr 09 7-10

2009-04-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

Started out with double plays on new cd's and it just seemed to work so that was the feature for the night, 2 cuts off of each of the newest at KAXE. How about that new Eilen Jewel cd? I just love her version of Shakin All Over...............see you On The River Wednesday morning for the Red Neck Blue Collar Hour........I hope you still have a job!!!!!

O + S New Life O + S
O + S Permanent Scar O + S
Cantinero Go Getter Better for the Metaphor
Cantinero Safe Better for the Metaphor
Doves Jetstream Kingdom of Rust
Doves Kingdom of Rust Kingdom of Rust
Three Fantastic Hot Summer Sky Life Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
Three Fantastic Skateboard Life Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
Colin Linden Sinking Down Slow From the Water
Colin Linden The Heaven Me From the Water
Tony Furtado The Bawds of Euphony Deep Water
Tony Furtado Deep Water Deep Water
Michelle Malone Marked Debris
Michelle Malone Restraining Order Blues Debris
Eilen Jewel Sweet Rose Sea of Tears
Eilen Jewel Shakin All Over Sea of Tears
Amy LaVere Killing Him Anchors and Anvils
Gretchen Peters & Tom Russell If I Had A Gun One to the Heart One to the Head
Gretchen Peters & Tom Russell Prairie Melancholy One to the Heart One to the Head
Eleni Mandell I Love Planet Earth Artificial Fire
Eleni Mandell Two Faces Artificial Fire
Kings of Leon Molly's Chamber Youth and Young Manhood
Kings of Leon The Bucket Aha Shake Heartbreak
Black Angels Prodigal Son Passover
Black Angels You In Color Directions to See A Ghost
Elvis Perkins Send My Fond Regards To Lonelyville Dreamland
Elvis Perkins I'll Be Arriving Dreamland
Jim White Stranger Candy A Funny Little Cross to Bear
Jim White Jailbird A Funny Little Cross to Bear
Too Slim and the Taildraggers Free Your Mind Free Your Mind
Wayne "the Train" Hancock High Rolling Train Viper of Melody
Kerri Powers Trying To Make My Way To You Faith in the Shadows
Kerri Powers Nobody Minds My Drinking Faith in the Shadows
Wayne "the Train" Hancock Midnight Stars and You Viper of Melody
Beatles Goodnight Anthology 3

Look for more Wayne the Train and Eilen Jewel and Eleni Mandell in future shows.

Become a member of KAXE by calling 218-326-1234 and pledging $5/month or $60/year

Stay Tuned

Playlist Wednesday 8 Apr 09 9-noon

2009-04-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day On The River with the Power Hour....all three for you the working people.....hope you still have a job!!!!!

Manda Mosher Lay Me Down Everything You Need
The Believers Ring Ring Ring Lucky You
Chris Isaak Baby Baby Mr. Lucky
Jimmie Vaughn Why Why Why Keep Your Soul A Tribute to Doug Sahm
Caitlin Crosby Love Love Love Flawz
The Decemberists The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge) The Hazards of Love
Dan Auerbach Heartbroken In Disrepair Keep It Hid
Doves The Greatest Denier Kingdom of Rust
Dexter Freebish Prozak The Other Side
The Panics Creaks Cruel Guards
Bell X-1 The Great Defector Blue Lights on the Runway
Morrisey I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris Years of Refusal
Glenn Tilbrook and the Fluffers Still Pandemonium Ensued
Angus and Julia Stone Choking A Book Like This
Kathryn Williams & Neil MacColl Shoulders Two
Johnny Cash Give My Love To Rose The Legend of Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash Four Strong Winds American V A Hundred Highways
Johnny Cash Cry Cry Cry Johnny Cash's America
Ian Tyson Estrangement Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories
Gretchen Peters & Tom Russell Blue Mountains of Mexico One to the Heart One to the Head
Byrd & Street My Airplane In The Backyard In The Sky Love Broke the Fall
Larry Keel & Natural Bridge Mother Nature's Son Backwoods
The Green Cards Water in the Well Fascination
Indigo Girls What Are You Like Poseidon and the Bitter Bug
Guy Davis Words to My Mama's Song Sweetheart Like You
Cyril Neville I Found Joy Brand New Blues
David Egan Love, Honor and Obey You Don't Know Your Mind
Colin Linden From the Water From the Water
Mick Fleetwood Band with Rich Vito Looking For Somebody Blue Again
Rusty Wright Band You Ain't Thinkin About Me Playin With Fire
Cracker Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
Lex Land Sweet Orange Days on Lemon Street
O + S Knowing Animals O + S
Eleni Mandell It Wasn't the Time (It was the Color) Artificial Fire
Amy Trail You Kissed Me So Soft Luscious Life
Amadon & Mariam Batoma Welcome to Mali
Sam Roberts The Pilgrim Love at the End of the World
Bell Orchestre Dark Lights As Seen Through Windows
Pearl Jam Black 10 from Ten
Elvis Perkins 123 Goodbye Dearland

See ya On The River Monday Night from 7-10 and stay tuned for Dug Baker and 3 more hours of great music on KAXE 91.7FM or audio stream at kaxe.org

Play List Friday 3 Apr 09 OTR 10-1

2009-04-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Quote for the day "you don't buy art, you make art". Thanks to the caller who requested the Steve Earle. I asked for specific songs and she said pick some. I love his music and am deeply puzzled by his politics. My favorite version of Copperhead Road is onn the Just An American Boy cd.....and its the longest version and live. The new O + S cd is really good and a future feature artist along with Dove's Kingdom of Rust's cd.

Shangri-Las Leader of the Pack 60's Number One Hits
Andy Dee Lovin in the Automat Sweet Soul Sewage
Too Slim & the Taildraggers One More Gallon of Gasoline Swamp Opera
Too Slim ................................ King Size Troublemaker King Size...................
Too Slim................................. Bad Boy Blues for EB
Howlin Wolf Taildragger Zillion
Ray Wylie Hubbard Love in Vain Lost Train of Thought
The Pretenders Biker Viva El Amor!
Michelle Malone Black Motorcycle Boots Sugarfoot
Mike Ness I Fought the Law Under the Influence
The Pretenders The Last Ride Break Up the Concrete
Weezer Troublemaker Weezer
Pearl Jam Just a Girl 10 from Ten
Beck Where it's At Odelay
Elvis Perkins I Heard Your Voice In Dresden Elvis Perkins
Steve Earle Satellite Radio Washington Square
Steve.......... Copperhead Road Just an American Boy
Steve.......... My Back Pages Sidetracks
Steve.......... Pilgrim The Mountain
Steve.......... John Walker's Blues Jerusalem
The Believers Lucky You Lucky You
Cracker I could be wrong, I could be Right Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
Raul Malo Lucky One Lucky One
Chris Isaak Very Pretty Girl Mr. Lucky
Sam Roberts Lions of the Kalahari Love at the end of the World
Mark Olson & Gary Louris Chamberlin, SD Ready for the Fllod
Bob Dylan Maggie's Farm Dylan
Black Joe Lewis Sugarfoot Tell em what your name Is
Rusty Wright Band Last Days of Whitey Malone Playin with Fire
Michelle Malone Traveling and Unraveling Sugarfoot
Freddy Jones Band The Puppet Time well Wasted
Booker T Warped Sister Potato Hole
Cyril Neville Slavr Driver Brand New Blues
Doves Kingdom of Rust Jet Stream Doves...............
O + S Permanent Scar O + S
Phish Wilson The Clifford Ball Live

See you On The River Monday 6 Apr 09 and its All Vinyl Nite

Stay Tuned

Play List Wednesday 1 Apr 09

2009-04-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Part of the mystery over the authors of the song If I Had A Gun has been solved. Rebecca Folsom and Celeste Krenz are members of a group called Rhythm Angels. They included the song in their release Girls Like Us earlier this year. The other two authors on the song are Liz Barnez and Diana Jones are solo singer/song writers and sometimes tour together. Best song of 09 in my book.

James Taylor Oh, What A Beautiful Morning Other Covers
Willie Nelson Bring Me Sunshine Naked Willie
Rob Heath One More Day Above Ground One More...........
The Believers I'm Only Dreamin Lucky You
Ted Russell Kamp Poor Man's Paradise Poor Man's............
Kathryn Williams & Neill McCoil Innocent When You Dream Two
Vienna Tang The Last Snowfall Inland Territory
Gretchen Peters & Tom Russell If I Had A Gun One To The Heart One To The Head
O + S Survive Love O + S
Fred Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels Spookin' the Horses Ralph's Last Show
Chris Isaak Wicked Game Best Of
Chris Isaak Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing Eyes Wide Shut ST
ZZ Top She's Killin Me From Dusk till Dawn ST
Dominc's Trio Outta Bullets Switch
Fastball Soul Radio Little White Lies
Bell X-1 How Your Heart Is Wired Blue Lights On The Runway
Elvis Perkins 1 2 3 Goodbye In Dreamland
Byrd & Street Love Broke The Fall Love Broke The Fall
Slaid Cleaves Twistin Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
Danny Schmidt Leaves Are Burning Little Grey Sheep
Jesse Harris State Of The Union Watching the Sky
Sometimes Why My Crazy Your Heart Is A Glorious Machine
Marion Loquidice w/ Cindi Lauper My Song God's House
Caitlin Crosby Freedom Flawz
Courtney Fairchild Banjo Shaker 11 Chances
Cindi Harvell Anchor The Night Turned To Song
Manda Mosher Not What Love Is For Everything You Need
Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers Devils In Boston Everything You Need
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Sugarfoot Tell 'em What Your Name Is
Booker T Hey Ya Potato Hole
Freddy Jones Band Waitress Time Well Wasted
Scott Miller Double Indemnity For Crying Out Loud
John Doe & The Sadies I Still Miss Someone Country Club
The Flatlanders Sowing On The Mountain Hills and Valleys
Hill Country Revue Lets Talk About Me and You Make A Move
Cyril Neville Mean Boss Blues Brand New Blues
Colin Linden From The Water From........

See you On The River Friday night from 10-1

Stay Tuned

Playlist OTR Monday 30 Mar 09

2009-03-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

I like the 10-1 shift because less breaks more music, but it also means I didn't get to listen to all of Dug Baker's show...how was it??...great as always I bet. Our feature artists, The Decemberists and Fastball have two excellent new cds and we'll be hearing more of them on future shows. Had to play If I Had A Gun again just cuz it's a great song....note to self...research find out who Rebecca Folsom, Celeste Krenz, Elizabeth Barnez and Diana Jones are and the story about the song. The Rhythm Angels have a version on their latest but I like Gretchen one better because its longer. Love the new O + S cd too. Had a caller request some Ben Harper and he didn't know him well enough to specify and I don't know Ben either but grabbed a handful and found 3 VG ones for the caller. WEDNESDAY and its the working class hero's show ...see you On The River then

Decemberists Prelude/The Hazards of Love (the prettiest whistles won't wrestle the thistles undone) The Hazards of Love
Decemberists A Bower Scene The Hazards of Love
Decemberists Won't Want for Love (Margret in the Taiga)) The Hazards of Love
Decemberists The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All) The Hazards of Love
Gretchen Peters/Tom Russell If I Had A Gun One to the Heart One to the Head
Mick Fleetwood Blues Band feat Rick Vito Black Magic Woman Blue Again
Too Slim & the Taildraggers feat Laura Evans The Light Free Your Mind
Booker T Space City Potato Hole
Rusty Wright Band Make a Liar out of Me Playin with Fire
Fastball Little White Lies Little White Lies
Fastball All I Was Looking For Was You Little White Lies
Weezer Hash Pipe Weezer
Weezer Trouble Maker Weezer
Stevie Ray Vaughn Willie the Wimp (and his Cadillac Coffin) From Dawn till Dusk ST
Michelle Malone Debris Debris
Courtney Fairchild My Eyes Adjust 11 Chances
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals Younger Today Lifeline
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals Forgiven Burn to Shine
Ben Harper Faded The Will to Live
Decemberists The Queen's Approach The Hazards of Love
Decemberists Isn't It A Lovely Night? The Hazards of Love
Decemberists The Wanting Comes In Waves The Hazards of Love
Fastball How Did I Get Here Little White Lies
Fastball We'll Always Have Paris Little White Lies
Fastball Angelie Little White Eyes
O + S Haunts O + S
Vienna Teng The Last Snowfall Inland Territory
Sometymes Why The Sound Asleep Your Heart Is A Glorious Machine
Marion Loquidice The River (Mother Love) God's Home
Damon Foster I Hope It's Gonna Rain Sugar Shack
Lynne Hanson Cold Touch 11 Months
Elvis Perkin I'll Be Arriving In Dearland
The Believers The Day the Circus Left Town Lucky You
Phish Chalk Dust Torture the Clifford Ball Live 1996

Stay tuned

KAXE

Monday On The River

2009-03-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dug Baker and I switch shifts Monday night because of KAXE Board Meeting. My feature artist will be the Decemberists decemberists.com and their new new cd The Hazards of Love. I've listened to a few of the cuts and they are all good and are to be listened to in order and as a total package...its kinda mope rock, think Cure.

Also new music from Fastball fastballtheband.com...you may remember their hit from 1998, fire escape. The cd was called All the Pain Money Can Buy. Fire escape is a great song and even though there wasn't one to match it on the cd I'm still glad I bought it. Looking forward to another hit from Fastball's new cd Little White Lies which will be released 14 Apr 09

Wanna be an on-air volunteer (dj) at kaxe? Call KAXE 218-326-1234 and sign up. Training sessions start Tuesday 14 Apr 09 at 6pm and run 3 consectutive Tuesdays. Its a great way to build community.

Stay tuned and see ya On The River

Play List Wed 25 Mar 09 9-12 OTR

2009-03-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

How did your work week go??? Still got a job?? I don't have tv or read newspapers. I check yahoo headlines and the occasional story. Best thing I have done for my health and well being since I stopped smoking and retired. The other best thing I did for myself was to volunteer. Use your time and talent and treasure to build community where you live. Again great music out there on KAXE.

Charlie Parr Last Payday at Coal Creek Roustabout
Colin Linden The Heaven Me From the Water
David Egan Smile You Don't Know Your Mind
Seth Walker Dig A Little Deeper Leap of Faith
Mick Fleetwood Blues Band feat: Rick Vito Love That Burns Blue Again
Lex Land Sweet Orange Days on Lemon Street
Asa (Asha) Fire on the Mountain Asa
Vienna Teng Radio Inland Territory
Courtney Fairchild Ginsberg 11 Chances
Joe Cassady and the West End Sound Heavy Poems The 47th Problem
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles I'll Show You How Stars Are Out
The Believers Lucky You Lucky You
David Grissom Keep A Rollin On 10,000 Feet
The Alternate Routes Toe The Line A Sucker's Dream
Dominc's Trio I Thought We Were Friends Switch
Great Lakes Swimmers Still Lost Channels
Morrisey Sorry Doesn't Help Years of Refusal
The Panics Something in the Garden Cruel Guards
Uma Mohan Shiva Panchak Shara/Shiva Shadakshara Putumayo Presents India
Amadon & Mariam Cen'est pas bon Welcome to Mali
Kinky Hasta Quemarnos Barracuda
Chris Velan A Year Can Change A Lot Solidago
Kings of Leon Be Somebody Only by the Night
Danny Schmidt Better off Broke Instead the Forest Rose to Sing
Serena Ryder Sweeping Out the Ashes Is It Ok
O + S New Life O + S
Cantinero Sometimes Better for the Metaphor
The Decemberists The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid The Hazards of Love
Bob Frank Red Neck Blue Collar Red Neck Blue Collar
Joe Pitts Sealed Inside Good Intentions Just A Matter of Time
Charles Burton Band Fat, Dumb & Happy Everbody's Talkin'
Rusty Wright Band A Change in the Weather Playin with Fire
Booker T Pound It Out Potato Hole
Old and in the Gray Pancho and Leftyy Old and . . .
Old Crow Medicine Show Lift Him Up Tennessee Pusher

See you On The River Monday 30 Mar 09 1900-2200 I'm thinkin Decemberists will be our feature artist...get ready for long cuts

Play List OTR 7-10 Monday 23 Mar 09

2009-03-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

More great new music in the studio for our listening pleasure tonight. Music from Morrissey, and The Decemberists and Rich Matson at Sparta Studios brings us Minnesota group Dominic's Trio

Morrissey All You Need Is Me Years of Refusal
Joe Cassady and the West End Sound Thin Ice The 47th Problem
The Best of Dexter Freebish Leaving Town The Other Side
Dominic's Trio Out of Bullets Switch
Great Lakes Swimmer She Comes to Me Lost Channel
The Believers Higher Ground Lucky You
The Decemberists The Hazards of Love-A Bower Scene-Won't Want for Love The Hazards of Love
Mandy Mosher Lay Me Down Taste of Triple A Sampler
Caitlin Crosby Freedom Flawz
David Egan Title Cut You Don't Know Your Mind
Rusty Wright Band Lost Souls Playin With Fire
Mick Fleetwood Blues Band with Rich Vito Looking for Somebody Blue Again
Pat McGee Come Back Home These Days
Courtney Fairchild Nowwhere In Texas 11 Chances
Maria Taylor Its Time Lady Luck
Cyndi Harvell Strongest Man Alive The Night Turned to Song
Booker T Title Cut Potato Hole
Freddy Jones Band And She Cried Time Well Wasted
Three Fantastic You Will Have An Accident Life Just Keeps Getting Better
Cantinero My House Better for the Metaphor
Ventiver On the Other Side Tight Knit
Sometimes Why Aphrodisiaholic Your Heart is a Glorious Machine
Eleni Mandell Bigger Burn Artificial Fire
Sufjan Stevens Blood Dark was the Night
Bell Orchestre Dark Lights As Seen Through Windows
Bell X-1 The Curtains are Twitchin Blue Lights on the Runway
The Alternate Routes featuring Patty Griffin Desdemona A Sucker's Dream
The Panics Title Cut Cruel Guards
Ari Hest I'll Be There Twelve Mondays

Play List Wed 18 Mar 09 Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour

2009-03-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

David Grissom True Love Don't Work That Way 10,000 Feet
Christopher Taylor Love's Around The Corner Remains To Be Seen
M. Ward Never Had Nobody Like You Hold Time
Make This City (Oh No) Here We Go Again Live, Love & Lies
Bell X-1 How Your Heart Is Wired Blue Lights On The Runway
Vetiver Everyday Tight Knit
Lex Land Sweet Orange Days On Lemon Street
North Twin Roll On Stronger At The Broken Places
Michelle Malone Marked Debris
The Raconteurs Top Yourself Top Yourself EP
Mark Olson & Gary Louris Chamberlain, SD Ready For The Flood
Sam Roberts Fixed To Ruin Love At The End Of The World
The Panics Creaks Cruel Guards
Serena Ryder Brand New Love Is It OK
Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers You Never Know Songs In The Night
Cotton Jones Gotta Cheer Up Paranoid Cocoon
Geoffrey Keezer Una Bruja Buena Aurea
Luminescent Orchestril Nasty Tasty Neptune's Daughter
Kinky Papel Valando Barracude
Rajeshwari Sacdev Maavan Te Tiyan Putumayo Presents India
Elbow U2's Running To Stand Still War Child Presents
Pavement And Then Brighten The Corners
Ryan Adams And The Cardinals Like Yesterday Cardinology
A.C. Newman The Heartbreak Rides Get Guilty
Joe Bonamassa From The Valley The Ballad of John Henry
Steve Forbert Simply Must Move On The Place And The Time
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy There Is Something I Have To Say Beware
The Alternate Routes Ain't No Secret A Sucker's Dream
Herman Dune On A Saturday Next Year Zion
Anthony And The Johnsons Everglade The Crying Light
Morrisey Black Cloud Years Of Refusals
Megan Munroe Good Fight One More Broken String
Angus And Julia Stone Choking A Book Like This
Shemekia Copeland Broken World Never Going Back
Toby Walker Mind Your Own Business Hand Picked
Joe Pitts Sublime Angel Just A Matter Of Time
Alex Wilson Lookin Good Tell Me Why

Play List Monday 16 Mar 09 7-10pm

2009-03-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

John Nemeth was our featured artist with his new CD Love Me Tonight. John was also on 4/12 tracks on Elvin Bishop's Fall 2008 CD The Blues Roll On. Besides the vocals on these cd's John also plays harmonica on most of the songs.

John Nemeth Love Me Tonight Love Me Tonight
Elvin Bishop and John Nemeth Night Time Is The Right Time The Blues Roll On
John Nemeth Just Like You Love Me Tonight
Whitey Johnson Jacksboro Highway Gary Nicholson Presents Whitey Johnson
Clarence Bucaro For When You Arrived 'til Spring
Gretchen Peters/Tom Russell Billy 4 One to the Heart One to the Head
Jessica Lea Mayfield I Can't Lie To You, Love With Blaspemy So Heart Felt
Shemekia Copeland Dirty Water Never Going Back
Ruthie Foster Truth The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
Mark Olson & Gary Louris Kick The Wood Ready For The Flood
Clem Snide Me No Hungry Bird
Angus and Julia Stone Private Lawns A Book Like This
John Nemeth Fuel For Your Fire Love Me Tonight
Elvin Bishop and John Nemeth Who's The Fool The Blues Roll On
John Nemeth ??????????????? Love Me Tonight
Joe Pitts Just A Matter Of Time Just A Matter Of Time
Alex Wilson Rockinitis Tell Me Why
Michelle Malone Yesterday's Make Up Debris
Danny Schmidt Go Ugly Early Little Grey Sheep
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles Better At The End Of The Day Stars Are Out
Julia Brown In Hurt's Arms Strange Scars
Luminescent Orchestrll Nasty Tasty Neptune's Daughter
Kinky The Night I Lost The Beat Barracuda
Satish Vyas Homeward Journey Putumayo Presents India
John Nemeth Daughter of the Devil Love Me Tonight
Elvin Bishop and John Nemeth I Found Out The Blues Roll On
John Nemeth My Troubled Mind Love Me Tonight
Elvin Bishop and John Nemeth Honest I Do The Blues Roll On
John Nemeth She's My Heart's Desire Love Me Tonight
Sara Luv Just Beneath The Cords Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings Inspiration Information Dark Was The Night
North Twin Hope It Goes Away Stronger At The Broken Places
Cotton Jones Up A Tree (Went This Heart I Have) Paranoid Cocoon
Lilly Allen and Mick Jones Straight To Hell War Child Presents
Vetiver Rolling Sea Tight Knight
Cantinero Lights Went Out Better For The Metaphor
M. Ward Rave On Hold Time
Dan Auerbach My Last Mistake Keep It Hid

See ya Wednesday morning for On The River, The Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour, 9-noon.

Play List Friday 13 Mar 09 10-1

2009-03-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

Too much fun Friday night...it is fun talking on FB and getting pumped up...thank you for tuning in.

Martin Zellar All I Need Best of the Brew House Vol 1
Iron & Wine Boy with a Coin The Shepherds Dog
M. Ward Never Had Nobody Like You Hold Time
Daniel Lanois Sleeping In The Devil's Bed Until the End of the World Sound Track
Taj Mahal Queen Bee Tonmani Diabate
Kate Bush How To Be Invisible A Sea of Honey A Sky of Honey
North Twin Wreck Stronger at the Broken Places
Neko Case Don't Forget Me Middle Cyclone
Cantinero Lights Went Out Better for the Metaphor
Vetiver Strictly Rule Tight Knit
Shemekia Copeland Big Brand New Religion
Julia Brown Pieces of Species Strange Scars
Beatles Dear Prudence The Beatles
Moanin Michelle Malone Weed and Wine Debris
Dan Auerbach Goin Home Keep It Hid
The Turkeys Love Song for the Dreamer Its Gonna Rain
Bloodkin Wait Forever Baby They Told Us We Would Rise Again
Beatles Dig A Pony Let It Be
Ryebenders Whiskey and Caffeine Hollow & Drifting
David Bowie Ziggy Star Dust Changes
Cotton Jones I Am the Changer Paranoid Cocoon
Angus and Julia Stone Silver Coin A Book Like This
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles Symphony The Stars are Out
Bloodkin The Viper Baby They Told Us We Would Rise Again
Weezer Trouble Maker Weezer
David Grissom Dover Soul 10,000 Feet
Golden Animals Steady Roller Free Your Mind and Win A Pony
Bell X-1 A Better Band Blue Lights on the Runway
Christopher Taylor My State of Mind Remains to be Seen
Ted Russell Kamp Poor Man's Paradise Poor Man's Paradise
Rob Heath Why Not Stand Out One More Day Above Ground
Chris Stuart & Back Country Thirteen Steps Crooked Man
Jeff Kral Your Lover This Road
Black Angels Doves-Science Killer Directions To See A Ghost
Doors When the Musics Over Strange Days

Also played If I Had A Gun in there somewhere by Gretchen Peters and Tom Russell.

See you On The River Monday night from 7-10 and then stay tuned for Dug Baker and 3 more hours of great music.

The Playlist for Wednesday 11 Mar 09

2009-03-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

I picked out way more music than I had time to play so tune in Friday night, 13 Mar 09, from 10-1 for more great new music....There are a lot of people who get to hear fabulous music because of KAXE...become a member.

Tony Furtado Lighten Up Your Load Deep Water
Rob Heath Title Cut One More Day Above Ground
Missy Raines & The New Hip Stop, Drop & Wiggle (For Kitty Boy) Inside Out
Angus and Julia Stone Wasted A Book Like This
Danny Schmidt The Nights Beginning To Shine Instead The Forest Rose To Sing
Gretchen Peters and Tom Russell Prairie Melancholy One To The Heart One To The Head
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper I Know A Bird You Don't Have To Like Them Both
Becky Schlegel Hills Of South Dakota For All The World To See
Fred J. Eaglesmith Rocky Milly's Cafe
Fred J. Eaglesmith I Pray Tinderbox
Special Consensus What A Beautiful Day (For The Lord To Come Again) Signs
Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley And The Clinch Mountain Boys Boat Of Love Lost In The Lonesome Pines
Charlie Parr God Moves On The Water Roustabout
Chris Stuart and Back Country I See God Comin Down The Road Crooked Man
Shemekia Copeland Never Going Back To Memphis Never Going Back
Julia Brown Hole Strange Scars
Rhythm Angels If I Had A Gun Girls Like Us
Jeff Kral So Many Tears This Road
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Afraid Aint' Me Beware
Beck Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat War Children Present
Davis Grissom Sqwawk 10,000 Feet
TV On The Radio Heroes War Children Present
Dan Auerbach Real Desire Keep It Hid
North Twin Wreck Stronger At The Broken Places
Ryebender Your Time Has Come And Gone Hollow And Drifting
Moanin Michelle Malone Debris Debris
PSAPP Marshrat The Camel's Back
Gin Wigmore These Roses Extended Play
Sara Lov Tell Me How Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming
Neko Case This Tornado Loves You Middle Cyclone
Cure Pictures Of You Disintregation
Sufjan Stevens Blood Dark Was The Night
Lex Land What I Want From You Orange Days On Lemon Street
Cantinero Lights Went Out Better For The Metaphor
Ari Hest and Amy Kuney Cranberry Lake Twelve Mondays

Thanks for listening and stay tuned

Playlist for Friday 10-1 6 Mar 09

2009-03-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

Lotsa great new music in this show. Thanks for your pledges during our Stay Warm Fund Raiser

Kinky Those Girls Barracuda
Radio Citizen with Bajka The Hop Putumayo New Groove
Some Loud Thunder Satan Said Dance Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Cure Hot Hot Hot Extended Mix Mixed Up
Doyle Bramhall Lost In The Congo Is It News
Joe Pitts Funked Up Just A Matter Of Time
Barbara Pittman I Need A Man Good Girls Gone Bad
Lucinda Williams Honey Bee Little Honey
Jeff Beck and Chrissie Hynde Mystery Train Good Rockin Tonight
Robert Plant and Alison Krause Rich Woman Raising Sand
Sheryl Crow Who Will The Next Fool Be Good Rockin Tonight
Moanin Michelle Malone Restraining Order Blues Debris
John Lee Hooker Baby Don't Do Me Wrong Putumayo Mississippi Blues
Guy Davis Slow Motion Daddy Sweetheart Like You
John Nemeth Love Me Tonight Love Me Tonight
Gretchen Peters and Tom Russell If I Had A Gun One To The Heart One To The Head
Dead Can Dance Circumradiant Dawn 2008 Sampler
Julia Brown Sunday Streak Strange Scars
Serena Ryder Dark As The Black Is It Ok
David Grissom Ain't No Other Way 10,000 Feet
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy You Are Lost Beware
TV On The Radio Heroes War Child Presents Hero
Angus and Julia Stone Just A Boy A Book Like This
Lex Land How Often Orange Days On Lemon Street
Ted Russel Kamp Let Love Do The Rest Poor Man's Paradise
Pearl Jam Alive 10 From Ten
Joe Bonamassa Last Kiss Ballad Of John Henry
Dan Auerbach Heartbroken, In Disrepair Keep It Hid
Sufjan Stevens Blood Dark Was The Night
North Twin Loaded Stronger At The Broken Places
Ari Hest Cranberry Lake Twelve Mondays
Cantinero Medicated Better For The Metaphor
Robert Poe Your Voice Robert Poe
Amy Speace The Killer In Me The Americana Agency 2009

Thanks for listening and stay tuned

Playlist Wednesday 4 Mar 09

2009-03-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

Just like Christmas this morning..................big stacks of new music.....................use the formula.....
and some instinct.................
and go for it..............

Moanin Michelle Malone Feather In A Hurricane Debris
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles I'll Show You How The Stars Are Out
John Nemeth Just Like You Love Me Tonight
Cotton Jones Up A Tree (Went This Heart I Have) Paranoid Cocoon
Shemekia Copeland Dirty Water Never Going Back
Lex Hand Could've Had Me Orange Days On Lemon Street
David Grissom Keep A Rollin On 10,000 Feet
The Panics Get Us Home Cruel Guards
Bell X-1 The Ribs Of A Broken Umbrella Blue Lights On The Runway
Joe Bonamassa Happier Times The Ballad Of John Henry
Natasha Borzilova Cheap Escape King Easy Radio Sampler
Angus and Julia Stone Wasted A Book Like This
Gretchen Peters & Tom Russell My Last Go Round One To The Heart One To The Head
Ryebender Radio Dial Hollow and Drifting
The Turkeys Idiot Its Gonna Rain
Cantinero Go Getter Better For The Metaphor
Chris Isaak Very Pretty Girl Mr. Lucky
M. Ward Never Had Nobody Like You Hold Time
Kerri Powers Do You Hear Footsteps Faith In The Shadows
Brigette De Meyer Wicked To Win Red River Flower
Megan Munroe Moonshine One More Broken String
Majek Fashek Man Of Sorrow Putomayo African Reggae
Kinky Those Girls Barracuda
Elvin Bishop & John Nemeth Who's The Fool The Blues Roll On
Bobby Jone with The Mannish Boys Tired of Your Jive Comin Back Hard
Saffire The Uppity Blues Women I Can Do Bad All By Myself Havin The Last Word
Joe Pitts Lonesome Boy From Yesterday Just A Matter Of Time
Charlie Parr Warmin By The Devil's Fire Roustabout
Moanin Michelle Malone Restraining Order Blues Debris
Clarence Bucaro Tirelessly Blue 'Til Spring
Jeffery Foucalt Sings The Songs Of John Prine He Was In Heaven Before He Died Shoot The Moon Between The Eyes
Sara Lov Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming Seasoned Eyes..............................
The National So Far Around The Bend Dark Was The Night Sampler

See you On The River Friday night 6 Mar 09 from10-1............Stay Tuned....................

All Vinyl Night Monday March 2

2009-03-03T09:18:00.000-08:00

The Elusive Bebo was just that...Opening song inspired by Josh H. Ummmmmmmmmmmmm

Moody Blues The Word....Om In Search of the Lost Cord
It's A Beautiful Day White Bird It's A ........

Birthday George Harrison February 25, 1943

3. Ravi Shankar & Friends Bangla Duhn Concert For Bangladesh August 1, 1971
4. Beatles Taxman Revolver
5. Beatles Piggies The Beatles
6. Beatles I Want To Tell You Revolver
7. Beatles Savoy Truffle The Beatles
8. Beatles For You Blue Let It Be
9. Traveling Wilburys End of the Line Traveling Wilburys
10. Beatles Birthday The Beatles

Blame It On The Stones.................................................................................Chix Mix

11. Kris Kristofferson Blame it on The Stones Me and Bobby McGee
12. Rolling Stones (I can't get no) Satisfaction Got Live If You Want It
13. Leon Russell & Don Preston Jumpin Jack Flash/Youngblood Medley Concert for
Bangladesh
14. Rolling Stones Live With Me/Little Queenie Get Yer Ya Ya's Out
15. Jefferson Airplane Fat Angel Bless Its Pointed Little Head
16. Marianne Faithful As Tears Go By Marianne Faithfull
17. Rita Coolidge Mean To Me Its Only Love
18. Melissa Manchester Better Days Happy Ending
19. Jessie Colter Storms Never Last I'm Jessie Colter
20. Fleetwood Mac Albatross English Rose
21. Jackson Browne These Days For Everyman
22. Jackson Browne That Girl Could Sing Holdout

Get The Led Out

23. Led Zepplin That's The Way III
24. Led Zepplin Over the Hills and Far Away Houses of the Holy
25. Led Zepplin In the Light Phsyical Graffiti
26. Led Zepplin Nobody's Fault But Mine Presence

27. Spirit Mechanical World Spirit
28. George Harrison & Eric Clapton While My Guitar Gently Weeps Concert For
Bangladesh
29. Bob Dylan Hard Rain's Gonna Fall Concert For Bangladesh
30. Van Morrison Caravan Last Waltz

Stay Tuned and see ya Wednesday morning for Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour 9-12.

Ooops forgot George's Birthday

2009-02-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Yer Birthday and My Birthday too...........

Last Wednesday George Harrison would have been 66 years old. Jennifer forgot to remind me and so I didn't play any of his songs on the Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour. We will make up for that little error by playing some George and the Beatles on All Vinyl Night March 2. It'll be sitars and Concert For The Bangladesh..........All Things Must Pass..................Traveling Wilburys

Favorites????????/Requests???????????Comments?????????

Until The End of the Line.......

Playlist for Wednesday 25 Feb 09

2009-02-25T20:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks for listening and also pledging during our "Stay Warm Pledge Drive". It is the best bargain around and also a great investment in your community.

Showgoats Lift Off Lift Off
Young Dubliners Saints and Sinners Saints and Sinners
Bruce Springsteen My Lucky Day Working On A Dream
Vetiver More of This Tight Knit
Neko Case Prison Girls Middle Cyclone
Benjy Ferree Whirl Pool Of Love Come Back To The Five And Dime Bobby Dee
Clem Snide Born A Man Hungry Bird
Cotton Jones Gotta Cheer Up Paranoid Cocoon
PSAPP Somewhere There Is A Record Of Our Actions The Camel's Back
Samantha Crain And The Midnight Shivers You Never Know Songs In The Night
Chris Loid Son Of The Sticks Back Road Home
The Gourds Country Love Haymaker
Damon Fowler I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal Sugar Shack
Connor & Christian One Toke Over The Line Southern Gothic 90 Proof Lullabies
Flogging Molly Between A Man And A Woman Float
Buddy & Julie Miller What You Gonna Do LeRoy Written In Chalk
Ryan Adams And The Cardinals Go Easy Cardinalogy
Emith San Bernardao 13 Seasons
Megan Munroe Angel On My Shoulder (devil on my back) One More Broken Store
Toni Childs Mama's In The Kitchen Keep The Faith
Dex Marshall Kitchen Table Kitchen Table
Elvin Bishop Yonder's Wall The Blues Roll On
Rolling Stones Under My Thumb Hot Rocks
John Nemeth Daughter Of The Devil Love Me Tonight
Joe Pitts Blue Light Rain Just A Matter of Time
Delbert McClinton Squeeze Me In Nothing Personal
Guy Davis Hoochi Coochie Man Sweetheart Like You
Alex Wilson Looking Good Tell Me Why
Bobby Jones featuring the Mannish Boys I Must Be Crazy Comin Back Hard
Sam Roberts Love At The End Of The World Love AT The........
Tony Furtado Raise Em Up Deep Water
Kings Of Leon Sex On Fire Only By The Night
Dave Alvin Wanda And Duane Best Of The Hightone Years
Back Porch Mary The Girl Time Of The Broken Heart
Tejas Brothers Sweet Lolita Selftitled
Robin Rogers Treat Me Right Treat Me Right

Stay Tuned and see you Monday night for THE ALL VINYL SHOW

Any Requests?

Playlist for 23 Feb 09 10-1 OTR

2009-02-24T08:54:00.000-08:00

Soho Happiness is a Warm Hippy Hippychick
Bloodkin Wait Forever Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again
True Nature My Freedom Lies Behind the Sun Feels Like Centuries
Bloodkin The Viper Baby They Told Us We .......................
True Nature Woman Feels Like........
Safire, the Uppity Blues Women Goin Down To the River Havin the Last Word
Robin Rogers Can You Hear Me Now Treat Me Right
Bex Marshall Stand Up Kitchen Table
Ruthie Foster Truth The Truth According to Ruthie Foster
Tribute Artists Hot Toddy's Snake Oil Hornography
Bloodkin My Name is Alice Baby, They..............
True Nature Too Close to See Who We Are Feels Like........
Bloodkin Rhododendron Baby, They...............
True Nature Truth I Have to Steel (Simple Head) Feels Like..........
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 I'm Falling Goodnight Oslo
Serena Ryder Blown Like the Wind at Night Is It OK
Caroline Doctorow Reno, Neveda Another Country
Emith Let's Live for Today 13 Seasons
Brigid Kaelin Watch Out West 28th Street
Goodbye to Pretty Annabelle Self Titled
A. C. Newman The Heartbreak Rides Get Guilty
Portastatic Not The Same Some Small History
Beck Where It's At Odelay
Bloodkin A Place to Crash Baby, They...............
True Nature The Color of Daylight Feels Like........
Bloodkin Ghost Runner Baby, They...........
Sam Roberts Fixed to Ruin Love at the End of the World
Bacon Brothers Wild Life New Years Day
Tony Furtado The Fools Progress Deep Water
Joe Bonamassa The Ballad of John Henry The Ballad of John Henry
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Folsom Prison Blues Swinging From the Chains of Love
Stephanie Chapman Train of Love This Song is to You
Big House Never Ending Train Never Ending Train
Dan Auerbach Street Walkin Keep It Hid

Next Monday, 2 Mar 09, is the first Monday of the month and that means All Vinyl Night with The Elusive Bebo, DJ the DJ and Dug Baker. It'll be Blame It On The Stones, The Chix Mix, Hairband Half Hour and 3 Sides Live, some 45's and some comedy cuts. Stay Tuned.

Playlist Friday 20 Feb 09

2009-02-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

1. Gram Parson & The Fallen Angels Drug Store Truck Drivin Man Live 1973
2. Johnny Cash Thirteen American Recordings
3. Clash Straight to Hell Combat Rock
4. Social Distortion Bad Luck Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
5. Pearl Jam Alive Ten
6. Link Wray Rumble Jenny McCarthy's Surfin Safari
7. Social Distortion Story of My Life Live at the Roxy
8. Yo La Tengo Big Day Coming Painful
9. Three5Human Disco Ragdoll A Swig from the Acid Bottle
10. Martin Zellar All I Need Best of the Brewhouse
11. The Jeff Beck Group All Shook Up Beck Ola
12. BR5-49 Little Romona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts) Self Titled
13. George Thorogood Long Gone Baddest
14. X Soul Kitchen Los Angeles
15. Sex Pistols Holidays in the Sun Never Mind The Bollocks
16. Stone Coyotes Bang Bang Bang Bang Rise from the Ashes
17. Kings of Leon Holy Roller Novocaine Youth and Young Manhood
18. Joe Bonamassa Last Kiss The Ballad of John Henry
19. Bobby Jones/Mannish Boys Mystery Train Comin Back Hard
20. Heartless Bastards Sway The Mountain
21. Julia Brown Low on Jays Strange Scars
22. Ruthie Foster Love in the Middle The Truth According to Ruthie Foster
23. Amy Trail Its Time Luscious Life
24. Mitch Kashmar Song for my Father Live at Labatt
25. Blue Rodeo 5 Days in May Live at Massey Hall
26. Umphrey's McGee Cemetery Walk Mantis
27. Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 Goodnight Oslo Goodnight Oslo
28. Guy Davis Hoochie Coochie Man Sweetheart Like You
29. John Nemeth Blues in my Heart Love Me Tonight
30. Goodbye to Pretty Wrong Self Titled
31. Damon Fowler I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal Sugar Shack
32. Andy Friedman & the Other Failures The Friedman Holler Weary Things
33. Powderfinger Who Really Cares (featuring the Sound of Insanity) Dream Days at the Hotel Existence

See you On The River Monday Night 23 Feb 09 from 10-1

Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour Playlist

2009-02-19T19:29:00.000-08:00

Showering before or after work doesn't have the same ring as Red Neck Blue Collar..... Started off the show with the Bloodkin's new cd, Baby, They Told Us We Would Be Saved and the song Rhododendron and True Nature and Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart), our featured artists for Feb 23.

Playlist for 18 Feb 09

Bloodkin Rhododendron Baby, They Told Us..........
True Nature Truth I Have................ Feels Like Centuries
Pavement And Then Brighten The Corners
The Dears Dream Job Missiles
Julia Brown In Hurt's Arms Strange Scars
Amy Trail Girl With Out A Heart Luscious Life
Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers Rising Sun Songs In The Night
Heartless Bastards Could Be So Happy The Mountain
Blue Rodeo Bad Timing Live at Massey Hall
Split Lip Rayfield I'll Be Around I'll Be Around
BoDeans Willin Still
Sam Roberts Love At The End Of The World Love At The.................
Tony Furtado Raise Em Up Deepwater
Deleted Waveform Gatherings Tiger Rider Self Titled
Umphreey's McGee Red Tape Mantis
Pillbugs Soundman Everybody Wants A Way Out
Enchanted Ape 27 Miles Off The Ground
What Bird Highway Song Good Night, Good Riddance
Kaiser Cartel Okay Okay...and Other Things
Honeyhoney Come On Home First Rodeo
Serena Ryder Is It Ok Is It Ok
Brandon Jenkins Faster Than A Sone Faster Than...........
The Gourds Fossil Contender Haymaker
Damon Foster Some Fun Sugar Shack
Jeff Kral Live Again This Road
John Nemeth Daughter of the Devil Love Me Tonight
Steve Herberman Trio I Want To Be Happy Ideals
Joe Bonamassa The Great Flood Ballad of John Henry
Alex Wilson You Used To Know Me Tell Me Why
Bobbi Jones w/Mannish Boys How Long Will It Last Comin Back Home
Ruthie Foster (You Keep Me) Hangin On The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
Gin Wigmore Under My Skin EP
Bex Marshall Bad Bad Girl Kithcen Table
Robin Rogers Drunkards Alley Treat Me Right
Los Campesinos Miserabilia We Are Beautiful We Are Doomed
Portastatic All I Need Is You Some Small History
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 What You Is Goodnight Oslo
Goodbye To Pretty Somethings Gotta Give Self Titled

See You On The River Feb 20 10-1 for a rockin good Friday Night

Next Feature Artists

2009-02-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

While playing Jason Isbell, Mother Truckers and Bettye LaVette last night I came across two new cd's that will be our next feature artist Feb 23, Bloodkin and True Nature. Bloodkin is from Athens, Georgia and their new album is Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again. I played the song Rhododendron because it fits my criteria, its a long song and it rocks. Patterson Hood of The Drive By Truckers is a big fan of them. Bloodkin.net

True Nature is Lou Barlow NYC based singer/songwriter, Tony Levin Bassist (John Lennon and Peter Gabriel), Aaron Comess Drums (Founding member of the Spin Doctors) and Gerry Leonard Guitarist (David Bowie and Rufus Wainwright). Their new 5 song EP is called Feels Like Centuries. Tune in next week for Monday Edition of On The River with our feature artists True Nature and Bloodkin. truenatureband.com

Dug Baker will be on from 7-10 and I will follow with 10-1. Did you stay tuned last night till 1am to hear the song Dug closes every show with?

Play List Monday 16 Feb 09

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Good Self Titled
Drive By Truckers Daddy's Cup The Dirty South
Drive By Truckers Outfit Decoration Day
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Cigarettes and Wine
Bettye LaVette I Guess We Shouldn't Talk About That Now The Scene of the Crime
Ashleigh Flynn Last Chance Saloon American Dream
Keri Noble Redwine till Daylight Keri Noble
Bex Marshall Black Guitar Kitchen Table
Brandon Jenkins Probably Die Alone Faster Than A Stone
Damon Foster James Sugar Shack
Ernie and the Automatics Low Expectations Low Expectations
Brian Molner and the Naked Hearts I Did What I Did Temperance and the Devil
Split Lip Rayfield Fallen I'll Be Around
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Seven Mile Island
Drive By Truckers Danko/Manuel The Dirty South
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Soldiers Get Strange
Bettye LaVette Talking Old Soldiers The Scene of the Crime
Drive By Truckers That Man I Shot Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Ruthie Foster Tears of Pain The Truth According to Ruthie Foster
Amy Trail You You You Lucious Wife
Golden Animals The Steady Roller Free Your Mind and Win a Pony
Mitch Kashmir Whiskey Drinkin Woman Live at Labatt
John Nemeth Love Gone Crazy Love me Tonight
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit The Last Song I will Write
Drive By Truckers Daylight Blessing and a Curse
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Streetlights
Bettye LaVette I Still Want to be Your Baby (Take Me Like I Am) The Scene of the Crime
Drive By Truckers Hell No, I Ain't Happy Decoration Day
Drive By Truckers Buford Stick Dirty South
Bloodkin Rhododendron Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again
True Nature Too Close To See Who We Are Feels Like Centuries
Honeyhoney Come On Home First Rodeo
Blue Rodeo 5 Days In May Live at Massey Hall

Exquisite Corpse

2009-02-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

Exquisite corpse is a collaborative poetry game. To write a poem writers agree on a sentence form before beginning. For example adjective, noun, adverb, verb, adjective, noun. Tenses and articles are added later. The only real rule is each writer is unaware of the previous words. So as the words are written the paper is folded and passed to the next writer. Hilarious and beautiful poems can result. Here are some results from the Valemtines Party:

The pretty lady slowly fished out a salty swimmer.

I was quickly blue in this city till I danced with a moody basketball.

The boy quickly jerked the disgusting puppy.

The beautiful flower quickly hunted shiny Mr. Taylor.

The smooth chainsaw slowly staggered towards the tall bear.

The flaming sky felt sassy, not grumpy, as it begin to run ooze.

Gentle moment of purple sky, the snotty nosed skier climbed upwards.

The sleazy Banana Slug slowly ran and kissed the sassy rat.

The bad Baboon stinking, jumped on the supper table.

The little bicycle slowly went smiling home.

Friday the 13th and Love Bites

2009-02-13T12:06:00.000-08:00

These are entries to a Washington Post Competition for a two line rhyme with the most romantic first line and the least romantic second line:

My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you has screwed up my life.

I see your face when I am dreaming.
That's why I always wake up screaming.

Kind, intelligent, loving and hot;
This describes everything you are not.

Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss,
But I only slept with you 'cause I was pissed.

I thought I could love no other
--that is until I meant your brother.

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.

I want to feel your sweet embrace;
But don't take that paper bag off your face.

I love your smile, your face, and your eyes
Damn, I'm good at telling lies.

My love, you take my breath away.
What have you stepped in to smell this way?

My feelings for you no words can tell,
Except for maybe 'Go to hell.'

What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.

Your turn now: two line rhyme----first one romantic----second line least romantic

Jason Isbell and The Drive By Truckers

2009-02-12T23:47:00.000-08:00

Monday 16 Feb 09 On The River 7-10 and our featured artist will be Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Formerly a member of The Drive By Truckers Jason has broken away and formed a new group that has released a great new cd. I'll include some music from The Truckers too. I love The Truckers and the song "Daddy's Cup"....about the son of a stock car driver, not a hockey player.

And then stay tuned for Dug Baker and three more hours of OTR. Stay with him until one o'clock to hear the song that he ends every Monday night with........

STRAC

2009-02-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

STRAC

Back in my day when you said a soldier was STRAC that meant he had his spit and polish together. He was squared away. He was sharp, smart and well prepared. It wasn't an official term but has since been officialized and means Skilled, Tough and Ready Around the Clock. Today I saw the honor guard at CWO Windorski's funeral and they were STRAC. These guys know what they're doing and they do it with great pride and perfection. Their uniforms were perfect. They moved with precise perfection. Their presence was awesome. I am impressed with the level of professionalism in our military today. They did CWO Windorski proud. RIP

Qualifications

2009-02-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

All week we have been hearing about appointees dropping out because they forgot to pay their taxes. Former Senator Daschle forgot to pay over $150,000 in taxes. It would take most of us several years to make that amount of money let alone the taxable amount he forgot. Then he forgot to tell us about the driver and limo he was given for free. Oh yeah, there is also the $5,000,000 like in $5 million he got from the health care industry in 3 years for speaking engagements. These do not sound like qualifiers to me but more like disqualifiers. I am sorry folks, but when does the CHANGE begin??? The audicity I am seeing is the audicity of the same old politics. The more things change the more they stay the same.

See you On The River tonight.

2009-02-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

A moment of silence for a Fallen Hero, CWO Philip Windorski, Jr.

Chief Warrant Officer Philip Windorski was killed in his third tour of Iraq when two helicopters collided Monday, January 26, 2009. CWO Windorski is survived by his mother, two brothers, wife and three children.

Visitation will be at Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids Friday, February 6, 2009 from 4-7pm. His funeral service will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 1:oopm.

2009-02-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Lots of music comes into the studios of KAXE every week and my job is to play it. Here's a little secret, my shows are based on these principals, 1. pick the newest 2. pick someone you know 3. pick the longest song 4. pick someone you don't know 5. repeat step 3. How does it work? Because Mark Tarner, Program Director and his alter ego, M. T. Hedd screen the music before it gets in the grubby hands of the on-air hosts. Here are 6 of the best new stuff I have been playing based on my criteria:
Pillbugs-Everybody Wants A Way Out
Umphrey's McGee-Mantis
The Showgoats-Lift Off
Heartless Bastards-The Mountain
Deleted Waveform Gatherings-Baby Warfare
Pavement-Brighten The Corners
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit-(self-titled)
Tune in Friday night 10-1 to hear more from these new releases.

All Vinyl Night

2009-02-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

Every first Monday of the month is All Vinyl Night with DJtheDJ, The Elusive Bebo and Dug Baker. Join us for "Blame It On The Stones", "Get The Led Out", The Chix Mix, "The Hair Band Half Hour" and "Three Sides Live". We even have some 45's to play and humor from Steve Martin, George Carlin and Cheech and Chong. So get ready for us to drop the needle on the record.

The Hunting Shack

2008-10-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Lions and tigers and bears there are girlz at the hunting shack. Not just any girlz, but my girlz. They love it at the shack and pitch into help and don't whine about the out house. They love to sauna and haul water and kindling and wood to make it happen. Breakfast is always Chef Charlie's Panokauken with maple syrup and one time blueberries with whipped cream, yes real whipped cream. No one starves at our shack. Friday night of opening deer is a turkey, mashed potatos, squash and dressing with pumpkin pie for dessert. Can't wait. Girlz at the shack? I brought it up a couple of years ago and the answer was no wimin! I think they will get to hunt cuz they aren't girly girls at the shack and they help. They are in favor of gun control because you can get tight groups with proper gun control.

A weekend project recently was putting a deck on the sauna. What'd ya think? Time to have an adult beverage and enjoy the view.

Take the poll in the upper right corner should girlz be allowed at the shack?

Flood Run 2008 and not the best way to make a smiley face in an energy concerned world

2008-09-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Fall Flood Run, the 3rd weekend in Sept, became a tradition a few years ago because the Spring Flood Run, held on the 3rd weekend in April, (and we all remember last April) was fraught with cold and wet weather. This had to be the nicest weather for even a Fall Run. It was 85 and hot. Lotsa bikes out. I was invited by an old friend from high school and living in Rochester to join him and others to do the Fall Run. Bob is a H.O.G. and Patriot Guard member and knows the back roads and off we went. Our destination was Red Wing and across the bridge into Wisconsin and to the Harbor Bar for lunch.

The group from l to r; Steve, Lorrie, Cycho, Tracie, Barry, Bob and Vickie.

HEY, Look it's Superman!!!!!!!!

The next stop is Maiden Rock, WI and the bikes are lined up in traffic for a mile waiting to find a parking spot. The Flood Run had begin in the 1960's when there were some spring flooding and bikers came down to help and it has become a tradition to remember those who helped and those in need.

Maiden Rock is a beautiful little town on the river. Next stop was Nelson, WI for an ice cream cone made with the BEST ice cream in the world. Traffic again was bumper to bumper and backed up when some guys on Boss Hoggs left in a sorta show. A Boss Hogg is a motorcyle with a hopped-up Chevy V-8 in it. It is wretched excess and entertaining. Anyway one of the guys does a burnout and about a block ahead of him is a cop car that can't be seen. Well, as soon as the cop heard it and saw it he just pulled into the oncoming lane blocking his path and pointed him over to a side street to write the ticket. I'm glad there is always some dumass around to do that stuff....I really like to watch. I don't know what the fine is in WI but in Sturgis it's a $100. My cousin was in Sturgis w/her husband and the crowd talked him into doing a burn out on Main Street and he did and he was nabbed by the cops before the smoke cleared. I don't know what he was thinking because there is ten cops at every intersectionin Sturgis.

From Nelson it was back across the Mississippi and into MN and to Wabasha for gas. Then it was the back roads to Elba, MN, in Whitewater State Park. It was almost like coming home. When I was a student at Winona State my main hobby was trout fishing anf this was one of the most beautiful places I had visited. Elba was hit hard in last year's flooding and the bridge had just been completed. Mauer Brothers' Tavern is still there. They always awarded weekly prize for biggest trout and also the season's biggest trout. There was a new bar in town called Jerry's Saloon where the majority hung. While we were sitting outside an old, really old, like 40 years ago, neighbor of Bob and Steve and Barry's met up again.

Steve, Bob and old friend.

Vickie and Vicky and Bob

At the end of the day the guyz were doing burnouts

and

some only trying to do burn outs

and then the pros came and began their handi-work.

What's he doing???

Is it a peace sign?

Ohhhhhhh, I get it now.

it's a smiley face :-)

Another damn Boss Hogg!!!!!!!!

Vickie

wants a

H-D!!!

Tracie wants one too.

As the afternoon came to a close a calm settled on the scene, but it was not a real sense of calm, it was actually fear...........we could feel the presence of them........................evil squirrels had come... for our nuts. Everyone begin to slowly move to their bikes and start them quietly and then ghost out of town and into the setting sun.

Patriot Guard Mission to Aitken and Deer River Legion Riders to Ely

2008-08-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Friday August 22, 2008 I went on my first Patriot Guard mission. You may remember that the Patriot Guard came about because of some people claiming to be Christians protesting at funerals of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some veterns and non-veterans said we will not allow those people or any other groups that wish to disrupt the funeral of a fallen American soldier. Their plan was to form a wall of supporters with American flags to shield the family and others from the pathetic protestors. There were allegations that the protesters were really doing it to provoke someone to attack them so that they could sue the municipality for not protecting them and their right to free speech. Are you starting to boil alittle here??? The response was overwhelming and The Patriot Guard is now a national organization represented in every state. You do not need to be a veteran to be a member of the Patriot Guard. It is a great way to support the troops with something tangebile rather that a bumber sticker, magnet or yard sign.

In its early days there were many missions for the fallen from Afghanistan and Iraq and then requests came for the Guard to attend funerals of veterans from all wars. Our mission to Aitken was for a former Marine who was killed in a motorcycle accident. His family requested a mission and the call went out. It was a last minute request during the time of the State Patriot Guard Gathering in Rochester. My calendar was clear and I had yet to go on a mission.

I met a group of bike riders and cage drivers (I drove my cage cuz it looked like rain) numbering around 30.

There was a veteran of Korea who had both legs frozen in the Chosin Resovoir in Korea and a young man who was a Combat Medic and wounded in Iraq. Guess what his nickname was?????? Yup, Doc!

The Guard was led by the bikes with the flags on them. At the funeral home we then stood in a flag line for two hours as people arrived to pay their respects and attend the service. Doc didn't have a flag so I gave him mine and became relief man and held their flag while they took a break. The family came down the flag line and hugged every Patriot Guard and shook their hand and thanked them before the service. Plenty of tears to go around when a veterans goes down.

Semper FI Donald "Duck" Smeby. 6-24-62 - 8-22-08. Thank you military service from a grateful nation. RIP

Staurday, August 23 a group of about 30 riders led by the Deer River Legion Riders Chapter #1 headed to Ely and The Veterans' Resort on Fall Lake, actually closer to Winton than Ely. For some reason when we met in the GR L&M parking lot the metric bikes parked seperately from the Harleys.

They were a great bunch of people and it just seems that riding on a mission for veterans brings out the best in everyone. One young couple from Stillwater were on their second ride to Ely and told me how they had become a part of the ride. A coule of years ago their battery died on the side of Hwy 38 and while they were wondering what they were going to do Mike and Candy pulled over and offered to help. They ended up taking them into town to get a new battery and then staying over night and becoming best friends and participants in the ride..ROOL 62 is don't take yourself so damn serious...a message from a friend of Bill.

This year the Legion Riders from Deer River raised over $3200 and the couple from Stillwater over $1800 for the Veterans' Resort.

What a beautiful facility and staff. They have a full service resort for all veterans and very reasonable in price.

Next year I am booking a cabin and staying for the Ely Blues Fest. Thank you from a grateful veteran for your support. God, I love this country. PS Overheard conversations. After the service people were thanking the PG people on the flag line and the man next me was thanked by a couple and he replied "My privilege!" and I thought how appropriate. It reminded me of another recently overheard conversation on "The Run For The Wall" in Jackson MS where we were greeted by three men who had been awarded the Medal of Honor and one person was talking about how what a honor it was to be addressed by three Medal of Honor winners and a retired Sgt Major was walking by and he said ever so politely "Gentlemen these men did not win the MOH, they were recipients of the MOH, it's not a contest."

Sundance, WY Burnout Contest

2008-08-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

My favorite Wyoming Wednesday event is the Dime Horseshoe Saloon Burnout Contest in Sundance and yes that's where "The Kid" got his name. Actually the Street Drags in Beulah, WY was my favorite. The last year they held the street drags a guy on a bagger was racing all day. He gave a lot away because of the weight, but he had a big motor in it and he managed to win quite a few. Win or lose he would turn around and do a giant wheel stand with sparks flying off the fish tails. It did start to get a little out of hand though when the races were close. The idea was to be the first one to the bridge, but some guys would just stay in it and go out of town for the the top end. It had all the elements required, speed and danger because "if it isn't dangerous you ain't doin it right."

I saw my first Sundance burnout contest in 1996. First prize was a beautiful leather jacket. Only four or five bikes entered, but afterwards guys were doing burnouts all over the streets. The first guy to go in 1996 had been sitting waiting for water for his burnout and he was adamant that it be water and not beer, guess he was a purist. He finally got his water and fired his bike up and and started his burnout when all of a sudden the front brake let go or it just hooked up and took off with people jumping out of the way literally. As the crowd parted he noticed the flimsy wooden barricade blocking the end of the street less than a hundred feet away. He laid the bike down to avoid going through the barricade and the highway going through town. The bike went one way and he went another. When he and the bike stopped the crowd helped him to his feet and picked up his bike and he jumped back on and went back to the starting line and said with blood running down his arm, let me try it again, I can do a better one this time. They did....he did.

Last time in Sundance for me was 2001 and it was a great one. They had an abundance of bikes and at that point people were still using their street bikes for the contest and didn't go all the way until the tire popped. Two memorable contestants that year. The first one was a Hamster with his "chopper" and he couldn't get the tire to spin and he kept killing the motor. The crowd was starting to heckle him and finally he got the tire to spin but then immediately dumped the bike and the crowed went wild and started dumping their beers on him, it was disgusting and a terrible waste of hops.

The second rider was from Florida and had a way cool Heritage two tone cream and mint green that was slammed (lowered) to the point of impracticality. He had side by side fish tails and did not use the kick stand... he could just lean it over on the exhaust. This guy was good and had done a few burnouts before because he immediately started smokin the tire and then got off the bike and stood beside it and went through the gears smokin that tire through every gear. He didn't win the contest but he won a place in my heart.

We had stopped earlier in the day at the Dime Horseshoe to find out the starting time and wouldn't you know it the young woman said her mother lived in Minnesota and so we were talking and she apologized that the Saloon had raised their prices for the day to $3 per drink/beer. A bottle of water in the San Francisco Airport cost $4.

One thing I noticed was that the burnout contest was no longer on the street but on an especially made stand. It did take away the danger element or so it seemed. The first contestant installed flame throwers on his bike just in case anyone thought this was going to be easy to win. He fired up and got her smokin and stayed in it until the tire popped and it took an especially long time, maybe he had a fairly new one on and it actually got boring it took so long to pop. Timing is everything.

Everyone who entered today stayed in it till the tire popped so that meant you must do something to top that and everyone had their own little show. It was performance art in the truest sense. A pattern started to develop and it went like this: get the tire smokin, set the throttle lock and jump up on your seat and surf until the tire pops.

Then another contestant when his name was called started his bike and started spinning the tire and drove it like that through the crowd and up the ramp and into the wheel lock leaving a skinny black patch all the way. Yeah, they lock the front tire in a clamp so it won't take off and go through the crowd. He popped his tire and it killed the motor so he fired it up and got the shredded tire spinning and it started ripping his fender apart (fiberglass) and eventually shredded the tail light too sending pieces out into the crowd. They must have different liability laws in WY because if this would have been most any other state there would have been more than a passel of lawyers at the scene.

The tires can last so long before they pop that the motors get pretty hot so they have a garden hose and spray the cylinders to cool them down. The guy who won last year blew his motor and it cost him $4000 to rebuild it and he was back with his new motor and determined to win again. He is from Gilbert, MN area and should have won but he got robbed because they wouldn't let his bikini clad girlfriend stay on the bike with him.

It went to another level when one of the male contestants lifted his t-shirt and flashed the crowd and that inspired one of the later entrants to have his "ol lady" flash the crowd from the back of his bike during the burnout and he did eventually win. I was astounded at the willingness of people to destroy stuff to win $750 first prize...just down a couple of blocks a guy is set up to put new tires on for you and that is usually about $200-$250, but to blow up a $4000 motor is crazee.

Another contestant from MN did his burnout on the bike he rode out so he didn't pop his tire and then after he rolled down the ramp he looked at the tire and said what the heck might as well pop it and so he went back up the ramp and popped his tire.

The next event after the burnout contest was a wet t-shirt contest so we got the heck out of there because there is no danger in that unless you take pictures and your wife or girlfriend sees them. Besides that was when the evil squirrels started trailing us just waiting for their chance to steal our nuts.

DJ & JJ"s Most Excellent Sturgis Adventure

2008-08-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Monday afternoon we arrived in Murdo, SD our first stop. We stayed at the Super 8 and while we were sitting outside relaxing a young man walked by and looked at our bikes and noticed my KAXE sticker. He was a student at UMD at one time and had a friend from Grand Rapids who turned him on to our station and he loved it. He was working with a threshing crew or is it combine crew?

Tuesday morning we made the first stop for most everyone going west to Sturgis, The Badlands of South Dakota, yes there are The Badlands of North Dakota too. My favorite time to see the Badlands is at night and under a full moon. The shadows and stillness make it seem like a lunar landscape. Of course after traveling through The Badlands the next stop is Wall, SD and the most famous tourist trap in the U.S. and maybe the world, Wall Drug. We stopped at a local watering hole, it was 90+ that day, and noticed again an unusual phenomena, for us anyway, Russian waitresses. Young girls with very little English working in South Dakota!!! Also South Africans!!! They are temporary workers and we're not sure why and for how long because we don't want to pry and they speak and understand very little English.

Wednesday during Rally Week is Wyoming Wednesday and several little towns in WY put on special events. On the way we stop at Beulah, WY site of the famous street drags down main street, well actually there is only one street. The drags have been shut down for years by the Wyoming Highway Patrol because that main street is also Hwy 16. The drags were even on an episode of Cops. Here at the Dime Horseshoe Saloon we check out the time for the Burnout Contest in Sundance, WY. It starts at 4pm so we head to Devil's Tower.

Traffic is beginning to build and it is 90+ again and we take some free ice cold water from this young man who has for years been preaching and giving water to thirsty people. I just noticed the irony of The Cross and Devil's Tower in that picture.

Next stop is Hulett, WY for the Ham n Jam. It is also "No Panties Wednesday" in Hulett. I don't know if this is only during Wyoming Wednesday or every Wednesday, but it is a quaint custom nonetheless and hopefully restricted to just Wyoming Wednesday. Thankfully there are porta potties everywhere because Hulett's normal population is just a few hundred people and the thousands that are there for the fun would swamp them literally. We parked our bikes on the outside of town and walked in across the bridge and looked around and it was time to head back to Sundance and the burnout contest.

On the out skirts of Sundance we ate at the Chop Shop and I ordered a pork tenderloin and got something less than I was expecting, but it was cheap and hot and they also had lemonade. You need to keep hydrated because of the high temp, clear skies and low humidity. The burnout contest was awesome. My next blog will be all about it. All I can say is you needed to destroy equipment and go topless to be in the top 3.

We had many clear nights and it was a beautiful sight to see the moon over the Black Hills. We stayed at Black Hills State College in a dorm room. It is a great deal, $400 for four nights and five days for two people.

Thursday is set aside to ride the Black Hills and see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Lake Pactulo, Keystone, Custer and ride the Needles Highway as well as The Iron Horse Road. We ride up Spearfish Canyon on our way and stop to take in the beautiful scenery. Scenes from Dances with Wolves were filmed here and as well as Black Lock Falls.

We also stopped in Lead, SD to see the Homestake Gold Mine. No activity going on even with gold prices at a record high. Well, they have already mined millions and millions of dollars worth of gold.

Next on our list is the town of Rochford, SD. It is a beautiful fifteen mile ride on gorgeous blacktop. Two other roads lead out of Rochford, but they are gravel. We also find the Moonshine Gulch Saloon and learn that The Hamsters were here yesterday and held their own burnout contest and hence the four Sheriff Deputies in town. No butnouts today. More later on the Hamsters.
From Rochford it is off to Lake Pactulo, a beautiful lake created in the fifties to provide water for Rapid City. Today at Veterans' Point a group has scattered the ashes of a loved one on the waters of the lake.

Mount Rushmore has changed so much in the last ten years. Before you just pulled into a parking lot and go look. Now you have to pay admission and there is even a parking ramp and stoplights. We took the Needles Highway to see this side view of George and ride the switchbacks. The Needles Highway has several of these extremely tight turns and you can look down and see the bikes coming up the same road....no place for novices.

Next on the list is Crazy Horse. I first saw it in 1970 on a road trip. It was a family operation and Korshak's wife actually gave us a tour. Their plan was to have it ready for the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 and obviously didn't make it. Now as you can see it has a multi-laned road with ticket booths.

From Crazy Horse it's a short ride to Custer, SD. We stopped at the VFW and they had a Veterans' Program in progress that included a fly over down main street by a B-1 bomber and a young veteran who has learned to play the bagpipes. He was fabulous, hey, I love bagpipes and accordians, what can I say? He played three or four songs for us and finished with the standad "Amazing Grace" and it brought a tear to my eye he was so good.

On our way back we stopped in Hill City, SD and engaged the locals in conversation. I knew the moment I walked in I was gonna like the place because they were playing Ring of Fire by Social Distortion. We also got to see the sun set over Lake Pactulo.

Deadwood, SD and Old N0. 10 Saloon is a must see for everyone. This is the site where Wild Bill Hickcock was shot. The chair he was supposedly sitting in when he was shot is hanging on the wall. Wild Bill wasn't there but Santa Claus and one of his elves was inside relaxing before the busy season starts. He said some kiddies won't be getting any present because of their behavior during Rally Week. The main street in Deadwood is brick and very attractive. I first saw Deadwood in 1966 when prostitution was still legal and gambling was illegal. It was a sleepy little town with one main street and a railroad running next to it. It was like going back into time and the old west. Now gambling is legal and there are several casinos one of which is owned by Kevin Costner.

Friday was our last full day in Sturgis. We went to the Full Throttle Saloon in the morning and it was all but deserted. As the day builds and night begins this place fills up and has many activities going on including bands, burnout contests and other mayhem. Friday is also a great day to bargin shop because The Rally is almost over and vendors will bargin. T-shirts that cost $15 are now $5 because they say Sturgis 2008, leather can be bought for halfprice sometimes. One more year and still no tattoos. We talked about getting one, but we ran out time and besides there are evil squirrels in SD and they were after our nuts so it was time to get out of Dodge.

RFTW

2008-06-19T11:45:00.001-07:00

Here's the group from Minnesota the rode together to California and DC. From l to r Subrat, DJ, Rueben, Chatter, Wheezy, Oscar and Felix.

Here's part of our Fuel Crew including Subrat, Hawk, Squeeky and Irish.

More of the Fuel Crew including Speedy, Pooh Hoppy, Oscar, Skippy and Subrat again.

Fuel Crew at Morning Meeting Irish again, Sgt Slinky, Musicman, Krash, and Enigma, our leader. Krash's bike brokedown in Texas and it cost $500 to fix. He was headed home because he was out of money so we passed the hat got more than $500 so Krash stayed on and went all the way.

RFTW Day Last

2008-05-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

Friday we got to DC and Saturday went to The Wall. Mission accomplished. This has been so hard. As the trip went on....too tired and too sweaty to blog at night. I don't want to be a reporter..........they observe and record all day and then must report. So many stories.............I think I'll need to get home and run it through my mind and report some great stories.

My main man "Road Hog" left for Texas this mornin. He was the first guy to greet me in California and he extended his hand and said in his best Texas gravely growl, my name is "Ground Hog" and they call me that because my Hog is on the ground all the time because I can't get the kickstand down. Sure enough in Chattanooga, TN at the H-D dealer, Musicman and Ms. Musicman and I are last to leave the party and here comes "Ground Hog" and he says, Hey DJ can I talk to you for a minute over here and there was his Hog on the ground. Thanks for the memorey Ground Hog, you will live forever in my mind.........

See you on the radio Friday night and remember it ALL VINYL NIGHT on Monday May 2.

L+P
DJ

RFTW Day 6 Monroe LA - Meridian MS 208 miles

2008-05-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Check out rftw.org Southern Route......lotsa pics and stories. The fuel crew isn't in many of the pictures because we are gone. THere are so many stories on this ride. Yesterday, Jim H., born in Rapids graduated Hibbing HS, 101st Airborne Vietnam, was at a ceremony in Monroe LA talking to another guy from MN and a guy comes up to him and says, Jim H.? and Jim asked him how he knew his name and the guy said 101st Airborne Vietnam and Jim said, Barney? Sure enough 40 years had separated them and despite the extra pounds and gray hair they recognized one another. Barney asked Jim if he remembered who carried his rucksack and gun off the mountain in the Ashau Valley(a very bad place)? Barney had been so thirsty that despite warnings he drank some questionable water and got amoebic dysentery. Jim carried the rucksack and someone else carried his rifle. They also remembered the time going down another mountain in the Ashau and hearing the NVA coming up the mountain. They hit the ground and Jim pulled out a grenade and threw it down the slope and his buddy pulled a grenade and lobbed it and THUNK! it hit a tree and bounced back towards them........the slope was at such an angle that they just got a dust bath. Jim is in another place today after meeting Barney after all these years. At the Mississippi River we were greeted by a Vietnam era Cobra gunship and a Huey slick circling overhead. Over the next miles to Jackson people were on the overpasses and waving flags and holding banners reading THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM, THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION....Our noon stop was at H-D of Jackson MS. They had a Chinook sitting out front which eventually fired up and corkscrewed up to a 1000 ft and flew off. Eventually it returned and skydivers leaped out the back. A jet fighter flew over at what might be considered too low. H-D of Jackson MS fueled all the bikes for free and provided a BBQ chicken lunch. There were also three Congressional Medal of Honor recipients (you do not win the MOH, it is awarded), POW's from WWII-Vietnam, a Navy band performed and also many people in character for The Trail of Honor. There were 21 stations with people in character and costume depicting the wars the U.S. has been a part of starting with French and Indian War through Vietnam. Many organizations worked together to make all this happen. We also visited a VA hospital in Jackson to talk with the residents. We went inside in case there were people who couldn't go outside. It was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to be outside talking. The Fuel Team also got to escort the Traveling Wall to the next city. I was part of a missing man formation that lead The Wall on it's journey. What an honor. Our stop for the evening was Meridian MS. We were at the Meridian Ag Pavilion waiting for the main group to arrive. There was a fire dept ladder truck flying a giant American flag over the road and the main group was met at the MS state border by what appeared to be every motorcycle officer in MS and escorted to Meridian. It was pretty impressive to see 30-40 motorcycle officers with blue lights flashing and sirens wailing leading 400 motorcycles. People parked their bikes and were taking off gear and talking when right on the deck a jet fighter goes over and pulls up into a vertical climb and flies off. Everyone was going cool man and then three jets come flying over and doing some fancy maneuvers and fly off and by now everyone is pumped and then a single jet flew over and dropped its landing gear and zooms off and flys back over us wagging its wings. The people of Meridian are fantastic. We had the best catfish, fries, hush puppies and slaw meal ever and all you could eat. Sorry Monroe LA, but you had the best desserts and second greatest catfish meal. Then they said if anyone has dirty laundry someone will take it home and wash and fold it and return it by 10:00pm that night. They even gave you a laundry bag to keep. After the speeches and awards the speaker asked if any Meridian police officers were present. Up walked what looked to be the Chief of Police and there is a little off mike conversation and the speaker says, There will be no arrests in Meridian tonight.........this is your hometown tonight people thank youa for your service to our country. The crowd roared with approval. Safe pledge to make with this group of veterans....after they take their meds and shower they are in the racks by 10pm sawing logs. Had a great conversation with a local historian. He told how Sherman or Grant had burned Meridian to the ground and ripped up the rr tracks and twisted the rails and three weeks later the rr was back in operation. We also talked about the Battle of Vicksburg..........Vicksburg surrendered on the 4th of July and every year since on the 4th of July the flag is flown at half staff at the capital in Vicksburg.

RFTW Day 11

2008-05-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Day 5 RFTW Weatherford TX-Monroe LA 350 miles

Long run today. Started with about 350 riders and at our first stop in Terrell TX we picked up another 100 day riders. The people of Terrell had a tent set up with free refreshments and sandwiches for all of us. Fuel Crew doesn't get to stay for many festivities because we go in advance of the group to get the fuel stop set up. We got it down now. We can fuel 350 bikes in about 20 minutes. Working as a team now and things are going good when we can find the gas station. Our next stop was Longview TX and we drove all over looking for the gas station and once again we drove by it 2-3 times before we figured it out. I should say before our leader figured it out. He sure is no path finder. Longview VFW provided a meal and refreshments for all 450 riders. We didn't get to eat there because we were behind so we got some gut bombs and hit the road. Finally got to slow down when we left Texas. Louisiana's speed limit is 70mph and we all asked things to slow down. Only hit 80 a couple of times and mostly kept it at 70 or 5 over. No clouds until late afternoon....temp was in high 90's and I fried. Didn't get sun block on until afternoon so I look like lobster boy now. I coudn't count all the overpasses that had people standing on them waving flags and banners welcoming us to Louisiana. Flags were stuck in the ground every mile for 10 miles into Monroe LA. Someone picked up the fuel tab for our stop in Minden LA. In Monroe LA the people put on a fabulous dinner including catfish, hush puppies, salads, tater-tots and pies and cakes. People shake our hands and say thank you for your service every where we go. I'll never forget the old cowboy at the end of his driveway leaning against his pick up and waving to everyone that went by.......

RFTW Day 8 9 10

2008-05-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

Things got pretty busy after the first official day of RFTW. We need to catch up here. Like I said I'm on the fuel crew and for day 2 and day 3 we kinda looked like the FOOL CRU. Our leaders were wonderful to step forward and try to organize us, but then they half-stepped when faced with the volunteers (ARMY MEAN GREEN). Most of the volunteers are retired military (or conscripts like us)and are use to giving orders, so if you don't take charge right away they start complaining and griping and holding back to see if it is worth it. The guyz in charge are Air Force and they were/are all specialist, not leaders of groups of individuals. One leader was a backseat man on Phantoms so all he has seen has been from 35,000 feet looking at a screen (and besides he rides a BMW) and the other leader was an Air Force NCO sent to help the ARMY in Song Be (r u followin me BEAV???) while the rest of us had our feet on the ground. Now, 35 years later on the ground he likes to go super sonic. Most of Texas is legal 80MPH on the interstate. That means we can go 90MPH to the lead guyz. Besides jet jockeys, there are chopper pilots that like the rush too. Somewhere in TX before the DEA check point we were riding 80MPH in the rain....that's a no brainer, there is stuff on the road that can hurt you. We made it out of the rain and the check point because our guardian angels can fly as fast and high as we can...............

Day 2 we rode 390 miles from Phoenix to Las Cruces like a bunch of crazy gringos...........faster than a speeding ticket. Two FREE fuel stops on day 2 that cost donor's $1,500 aprox and two meals provided with programs by communities we visited. We ask for donations at the FREE fuel stops and any money over and above what we owe goes to a fund that helps a child or children of a VET who dies. Time for a true story.....VET returning from Iraq to Dallas..........his wife and two children are driving to the airport to meet him and a drunk driver hits them............when he got off the plane he was greeted with a message........his two children were gone and his wife was in IC.............all gave some............some gave all...........what did this guy give????????.

We looked like fools in Wilcox, AZ because last week the truck stop we were lookin for changed names and we drove by it twice before the local cops pulled us over and said follow us dumb asses. Day 1 and Day 2 we had 2 free fuels and 2 free meals and 2 free MOMENTS. There are people out there building memorials to VETERANS out of pure love for VETERANS and a lot of them are VN vets We have seen more hand built and maintained memorials and the most beautiful thing is they did it to honor us and in turn we honor them when we stop.........I was listening to Prairie Home Companion tonight and after there was a program about a son taking his father, a Purple Heart Vietnam Vet, back to Vietnam to see where he was attacked and wounded..........fab program until the next program which was about somebody and their struggle to end the war,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it musta been hard carryin those signs and doing those panty raids. Last night I saw a guy who I kept seeing in the fuel line. I asked him if he wuz havin fun still? He said, "I'm from California and my faith in America has been restored"........he is coming back next year with his wife.

DAY 3 Las Cruces to Odessa, TX. More high speeeed pursuit......Things were AFU...........some of us got left behind at the noon pump and munch and so we had to catch up. Music Man and I did 90MPH for 90 miles to catch up in Pecos, TX. When we got to the exit my front tire went flat.......good newz......I put it on the trailer and road in the back seat to Odessa. Two free fuels and two free meals and two programs honoring veterans.

DAY 4 Odessa TX to Weatherford TX.......New leaders and new flight plan.......90MPH in a tight pack and once in awhile 95MPH....yikes.....I know my Road Glide can do 110MPH now tryin to keep up.....Hoppy, a front seater on Phantoms in the day did an amazing evasive manuever at the Colorado City, TX exit when he saw some gravel in the corner and amazed us ground pounders when he kept it up right and over the berm and into the ditch and back onto the ramp. The best day and fuel stop we had so far. We have got it figured out now if leadership will stay out of the way. GOD, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. Tomorrow we finally get outta TX and can slow down for some MS and LA down home stylin. Every day is better than the previous and every day I get closer to home.

L+P DJ II Cor 1:8-11

RFTW Day 7

2008-05-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

Today is the 7th day into my journey and the 1st official day of Run For The Wall. We ride for those who can't and to make people aware of POW and MIA issues. Barry A. Olson was a classmate and neighbor of mine growing up. Barry dropped out of high school and eventually joined the Army. On September 26, 1968 he was riding on an APC (armored personel carrier) which was hit with a B-40 rocket fired by VC or NVA. The APC caught fire and Barry was sitting over the claymore mines and other ammo. After the attack was over all personel were thought to have been evacuated. At a later head count it was discovered Barry was missing. A search was launched and he was not found. He had been seriously wounded and was thought to have died yet no remains were found. Local villagers or the NVA or VC know what happened to him. Posters were distributed in the area and rewards offered. No remains have ever been found or turned over to the U.S. Barry's mother died never knowing what happen to her son.

We left Rancho Cucamonga this morning in 75 degree weather at 07:30. By 08:30 we were in the desert and at 95 degrees. I am part of the advance team and our job is to help fuel the bikes at the fuel stops. Our fuel team heads out before the main group to get things ready and we hand them the gas hose and collect the money. We round up to the nearest dollar to speed things up. We can fuel 200 bikes in 20 minutes to the pleasure of the station employees and customers because we could tie things up for a long time. To be part of the advance team you have to have been a previous participant in RFTW so we have an experienced group of riders. We ride tight and it is so exciting to ride with about 30 bikes at 80 mph across the desert. Even 30 bikes take up a lot of highway so we have to be aware of traffic and not block its flow. Maybe we are all adreline junkies and love the high you get. On our second fuel stop was in Blythe, CA and as we pulled into town we were escorted by local police and firemen and greeted by people lined up on the streets waving flags and cheering and saluting us. This is part of the healing process for the FNG's (Funny (or F#$%*ng)New Guys) this is the parade they never got when they came home. I still get choked up and this is my second time. The fuel for everybody was paid for by donations from the people of Blythe. After fueling we headed to the fairgrounds where a BBQ lunch and refreshments were provided again by the people of Blythe. The local school band was there to play the National Anthem and other music. People were lined up shaking hands and thanking the riders for their military service and mission. Probably won't see that on the big three news channels, but it will be in our hearts forever. If you are ever driving by Blythe, CA stop and spend some money there on gas and food. At our next fuel stop a trucking company paid for the fuel and we are talking about $1500-$2000 worth of fuel. The Arizon HP motorcycle patrol gave us an escort into Phoenix and to the Veterans' Home. We met with the residents and they were thrilled to see us as they remembered last year's visit. I talked to 3 or 4 residents and they were so glad to have visitors. One resident I talked to, Frank, was a WWII Vet and after the war went to college on the GI Bill. He was the head computer guy for the lunar missions of the 1960's. Still sharp and proud of his country and supportive of those who fought for it. God Bless you Frank. After the visit we headed to the host hotel and a free steak and chicken meal from Outback Steak House. Saw a bumper sticker today that I just loved, it said Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of those who threaten it, USMC. Hooray for the Green Machine. I know it sounds trite, but FREEDOM ISN"T FREE.

Never forget Barry A. Olson and all MIAs and their families.

RFTW Day 5 and 6

2008-05-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

We got to Rancho Cucamonga a day early so Monday we relaxed and did laundry. The weather was a cool 60 and misty and drizzling on and off all day. Tuesday the Santa Anna winds kicked in. It was a warm 80 with strong winds, the flags were snapping in the 40-50 mph winds. Gas here is $4.13/gal for premium and diesel was $4.59. I have been trying to find postcards since Sunday and have yet find them. Anybody want to start a business??? Maybe they don't get many tourists here. It is beautiful here, many plants are in bloom and lawns are green. One thing I noticed was signage. There are no big billboards or signs on the road for McDonalds or Target or Walmart or any businesses. It is difficult when you do not know your way around and are trying to find a business. I am used to MN where you can see the signs blocks away and get in the correct lane to make your turn. Here you are driving 50 mph and trying to find your store and then go by it and have to turn around and go back. One important piece of business we completed Monday night was giving people their road names, it's a biker thing. Al, who is the guy who organized our group from MN is known as "SubRat" because he was a submariner in the Navy. Jim I became "Chatter" because he is always telling stories. Tim is "Wood Butcher" because he was a carpenter in the SeaBees. Bob is Oscar and I can't remember why now. Jim II is known as "Wheezer" because he has emphsyma. Curt is called "Reuben" and I can't remember why. I confused everybody because my license plate reads "CYCHO" because I am crazy about motorcycles. My official road name is of course "DJtheDJ".

We had a blessing of the bikes and riders tonight and a meal was provided for us. We had a couple of speakers, one of whom was John Bacca. John was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. He gave a very short speech and he said Thank you, love one another and watch out for each other. Guess that says it all.

Tomorrow we begin our mission and that mission is to remember those who were/are POW's and MIA's and to Never Forget the sacrifices that so few made for so many. We ask for a full account of all POW's and MIA's and to never leave them behind. The remains of Matt Maupin who was MIA in Irag for the last three years were just returned to his family last month. The second part of this mission is to heal those who are wounded..........PTSD...........not all wounds are visible. There are some young faces on the ride this year. Iraq and Afghanistan has created a new generation of veterans. One Vietnam veteran riding with us lost a son in Iraq last year.

Pray for all our sons and daughters in harms way around the world. Plato said, "Only the dead have seen the end of war."

RFTW Day 4

2008-05-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Finally got to ride with just pants and a t-shirt and a vest. Talked to my brother the truck driver and he said traffic will be heavy heading into L A because of all the people heading back from Vegas on Sunday. We decided to get an early start to avoid the traffic. Lots of sun screen needed because there is not a cloud in the sky and we didn't expect any all the way to L A. It was already 70 at 8am and off we went. Saw Vegas for the first time and it is impressive to see the huge casinos. Nevada is a helmet state. You can buy fireworks there, gambling is legal as well as prostituion, but you gotta wear a helmet. People drive fast in Nevada. The posted speed limit in some places was 55 mph and we were going 70-75 and getting passed by most people. Harleys need premium gas and it is $4/gallon and more at every stop. One of the guys rides a Honda Valkyrie and has to stop every 100-120 miles for fuel. That makes for frequent stops which allows my right arm to get some rest. Now that we are out of the mountains I am leading and using my cruise control so today it didn't hurt, but it is still numb. Couldn't squeeze the nail clippers to trim my finger nails. The temp was rising steadily. I have an air temp gauge on my bike so I was watching it climb as the day grew longer. Going across the Mojave Desert it hit 100. But it's a dry heat. Ha! Traffic was heavy but not jammed up. Everyone is going faster than we are. With the cruise set at 75 mph we were still getting passed by everyone except truckers who must drive slower. The posted speed for trucks was 55 mph in many places and yet they were going much faster than that, but not as fast as us. I think some truckers are slowing down to save on fuel because diesel is so expensive. Talked to one trucker who said to make the most money he runs about 1200 rpms which translates to about 57 mph when he is hauling. Glad I am not a trucker. We got to HQ Hotel about 4pm and there were about 50 bikes here already. Most are from Texas it seems and are part of the advance team. Now we can rest for a couple of days and wash clothes and bikes and prepare to leave on Wednesday morning. I am part of the advance team as a fueler. Our job is to go ahead of the group and get things ready for the main group. We need to organize it because there will be 200 bikes to gas up and we need to do it in an orderly fashion.

RFTW Day 3

2008-05-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Cool again this morning and I put my long johns on. More mountain riding today. The guys I am riding with love riding in the mountains and going fast. I am getting use to it now. I have not rode much in the last five years because of back problems and I was a little rusty. My right arm and hand are numb from all the throttle work you need to do riding in the mountains. We stopped at Salina, Utah for gas and lunch and again people are admiring the bikes and asking us about our trip. One man asked if we would like to see a Vietnam Memorial that is being built in their small town. We followed him to Redmond, Utah population about 500 people. They stopped by one house and yelled something to the people in their house. When we got to the memorial all of a sudden about ten other people showed up, one of whom was a brother of the man who lead us there. He was a Vietnam Vet and humped a radio in the infantry. Only job worse was carrying the M-60 machine gun. The radios then had antennas and Chuck loved to shoot the radio man first because that guy could call in artillary and air support. I didn't know what to expect for a memorial in a small town. It was beautiful. It had two bronze life size statues. One was of M-16 with bayonet stuck in the ground with a helmet on the butt plate and a pair of jungle boots representing a fallen soldier. The other was a life size statue of a soldier in jungle fatigues on one knee and holding his M-16. There were flag poles for each branch of the services and plaques listing the fallen soldiers from Redmond, two in Vietnam, two in Korea and about a dozen in WWII. The VFW had built this memorial through donations. After hugs and handshakes all around we continued on. If you are ever in Redmond, Utah stop and see this memorial. We were still at altitude and cool temps. We had decided to make it to Mesquite, Nevada and stay at the Oasis Casino. We dropped down about six thousand feet and all of a sudden it was 90 degrees, but it was a dry heat. Ha! Got to Mesquite and a room for four was $44 and half the price of our previous motel. It was good to get out of all our clothes and be warm. Tomorrow we head for L A and headquarter's hotel for RFTW.

RFTW Day 2

2008-05-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

Today we are heading for Colorado and I-70 and Eisenhower Tunnel. Very cool this morning, 40, so we have all our leather on. Chaps, jackets, vest and gloves. I didn't put my long johns on because I thought it was going to warm up. Nebraska is a helmet state so I wore it under protest. I thought that's what the wars have been about.........freedom. It did warm up and when we stopped in Ft. Morgan, Colorado I took my jacket and helmet off and rode with just a t-shirt and vest. It was 75 in Denver and very comfortable. As soon as we headed up I-70 it begin to cool down and so we pulled over and gassed up and added my jacket and stocking hat. We were standing around and as usual someone will come up and look at the bikes and ask us where we are going. In Ft. Morgan a gentleman told us that he had come on I-70 and through the Eisenhower Tunnel the previous day and it had snowed hard. Now I wished I had put my long Johns on. At a higher altitude we could see the snow falling and sure enough we drove into some snow flurries. Luckily it was about 35 so it was melting on the road. Got spoked coming around a curve and I saw a wet patch and prayed it wasn't ice, prayer answered, no ice. It was beautiful in the mountains but when you are on two wheels you need to pay full attention. Nothing like going down a 6% grade at 80 mph around a 55 mph curve. We got to Rifle, Colorado about 6pm and had supper and again people are looking at the bikes and asking where are you going and we asked about rooms for the night. They said good luck, the oil and gas fields are going nuts and rooms were bought up by the companies for their workers. I thought something was up because regular gas was $4.09/gallon and a three peice meal at KFC was over $9.00. We found one room with one bed and it was starting to drizzle. The room weas not big enough for all of us so we headed for the next town, Grand Junction, 60 miles away. The drizzle soon turned to a full blown rain and we had to keep on going and luckily it quit raining after about 20 miles. The only thing spookier than 80 around a 55 mph curve is doing it at night at 55 mph. There was a big high school event going on in Grand Junction plus it was a Friday night and once again we couldn't find a room for all of us. One clerk started calling around and found us two rooms at a downtown motel. Now it was raining again and off we went to our motel. There are seven of us on the trip, Jim, Jim, Tim, Bob, Curt, Al and myself. Jim and I are are Army Vets. Jim was a Grunt with the 101st Airborne in the Ashau Valley and a Purple Heart awardee. Bob, Al and Tim are Navy Vets. One was a Seabee in Vietnam, another was blue water vet and another was on submarines off the coast of Vietnam. Jim was a member of the Marines, Air Force and National Guard. Curt is not a Vet, but his brother was in Vietnam and he knows the other guys and wanted to make the trip. Tim, Jim and Curt have never been to the Grand Canyon and so they are splitting off tomorrow and joining up with us in Los Angles on Monday night. The rest of us are heading to Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

RFTW 2008

2008-05-09T04:54:00.000-07:00

Day 1 Kearney Nebraska. Met my guys in Albert Lea yesterday. Beautiful day for riding and temps started out in the 30's and by the time we got to Omaha it was 75. Sun burned and t-shirt weather. 60 miles out of Kearney we could see rain and sure enought 7 miles from Kearney it started to rain. Didn't bother to put rain suits on, just kept riding to knock the dust off. One Honda and six Harley's. The Honda gets terrible mileage and we have to stop every 120 miles for gas. Breaks the trip into nice little pieces and we get a chance to stretch our muscles. Next up Denver and the Rockies.

Rude and Crude

2008-04-30T06:54:00.001-07:00

Josh and I have been working on this pick up for the last year and a half. Growing up in my Southern Minnesota hometown was like growing up on the set of "American Graffiti". The downtown main street was called Broadway and it was 3-4 miles long. On the south end was the A&W and a perfect place to turn around and cruise back north on Broadway. At the north end was a park and a turn around to head back south to the A&W and you get the picture. People out cruising looking for some fun. There were a handful of stoplights interspersed on Broadway and this made perfect conditions for streetlight drags. Not real high speed because it was only a block to the next light and it was red so stopping was as important as going. One time two friends, Bob and Ronnie were at the stoplight revving their motors and doing brake locks because both cars had slush boxes, automatic trannies, not the very desirable 4 speed rock crushers. Ronnie was staring at Bob when the light turned green and Bob took off and Ronnie took his foot off the brake and punched it. Ronnie had forgotten the VW in front of him and climbed right up it's back. Ronnie also thought he was invisible if he turned his lights off at night and drove by moon light. There were 3 major car clubs in town, The Ram Rods, oldest and most elite, The Scavengers, the coolest cars and guys and chicks, The Ventures because there wasn't room in the Ram Rods or Scavengers and a couple of wanna-be's, The Clutchmen and The Talismen. We all had a garage and paid dues to pay the rent, lights and heat. The garages also had cribs for hanging out in. Many of us gear heads have carried on the tradition of hot-rods and street-rods and now nostalgia drag racing is back and hence our 61 Ford PU. Gassers and the gasser look were the trend in the 60's and early 70's. A gasser was jacked up high in the front for weight transfer and traction. They had straight axles in the front and big ladder bars on the rear. Often these cars were driven to the drag strip and then raced and then driven back home. We picked the 61 PU because it came with a straight front axle that we will drill out. Also pick ups are cheaper than cars. Since Barret Jackson went to TV everybody that has an old car thinks they have a treasure. Plus the PU comes built truck tough with a strong frame and drive train. We did put four inch blocks in the front to jack it up and put Torque Thrust TTO's with 5:60x15 www's for the nostalgia look. The pick up also comes with a Ford 9 inch rear end that is very desirable for racing because it has a 4:11 and built strong and easy for working on. Also with the PU we got the big rear fenderwells so we didn't have to do any cutting to fit the Firestone 10:00x15 www's cheater slicks. Finding rims for the rear was a challenge. The look back then was mixed rims and often the back ones where steel rims with the slicks mounted for racing. You had another set with street tires for the road. One thing many guys did was paint the steel rim the body color or half white and half black so you could see what kind of wheel spin you had. Now bare steel rims cost more that "mags" or chrome rims. We ended up with a 15 inch chrome reversed rims with 3 1/2 inch back space. They fit perfect and only cost $53 each. Another nostalgia item is the rear bumper. The gassers often had a big rear bumper made from black pipe. It was heavy and hollow and guys often filled them with lead or cement or sand to put more weight on the rear for traction. They usuall had a push bar on them too. Josh is working on the bumperin the red neck blue collar picture. Notice we already have our KAXE bumper sticker on. The PU had a 351c2v and a rebuilt C-6 when we got it. We have since found a 429 Ford and are putting that in with headers and rebuilt carb and we are gonna see what happens. Have a very nice 351c and 351m motors for sale and a rebuilt C-6 if anyone is interested. Our goal was to have it ready for the Shifters' Car Show in Hibbing on the first Sunday in June. It ain't gonna happen because I am leaving for California and The Run For The Wall. Next goal is to have it ready for "Back To The Fifties" show at Minnesota State Fairgrounds Fathers' Day weekend. I think we can do it. If not we will have it ready for the Show and Go July 4th weekend at Brainerd International Raceway. Our goals are to do a nice burn out, a low 13 or high 12 time and maybe a little wheelie. It is a rude and crude race vehicle and that's its name..."RUDE & CRUDE". Our old friends, The Scavengers, are racing a 53 Stude called Rude Stewed. They have deeper pockets and a ready to race vehicle. Look for us out on the streets with the 61 when it is finished and at the strip or a car show. If we have any money left we hope to find an old Dodge PU and paint it orange and put a Rebel Flag on the roof, dump a 440 and torqueflite in it and race it. Josh grew up with the Dukes of Hazard and the General Lee.

On The River 1969

2008-04-30T06:53:00.001-07:00

Early 1969 and DJ is looking for a community radio station in Vietnam. Lucky for him Radio Lai Khe is there for his listening needs and Machine Gun Kelly is spinning the vinyl and reel to reel. Lai Khe was home base for The 1st Division, The Big Red One, and also for HHC for 168th Eng (C) BT. It was a big base camp and home to thousands of soldiers. It was also part of the Michellion rubber holdings in South Vietnam being French and all that. Much of Lai Khe was row upon row of rubber trees and we were charged with maintaining them and ourselves. Lai Khe was also known as Rocket City as was was most of the base camps in RSVN. Pictured is Rick Sieling from KC, MO and Smitty from Alabama. Jack Ostrander and DJ helped Smitty get his GED in Vietnam. Rick...........we didn't do much except be thankful we were in his presence....best friend and buddy you wanted to be with when it hit the fan. Love you 4 ever buddies.

Down in the Delta

2008-04-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to remember this guy's name for the past couple of years. He was from RI or NH and his family owned an excavating company. He was the Hearts champion in our platoon and I don't remember how many times I ate that Queen of Spades because of him. This picture was taken in the Delta during monsoon season. The Army in all it's wisdom decided that we were going to rebuild some roads in the Delta during the Monsoon season. The Delta was basically loon shit and we spent most of the time trying to repair the damage our stuck vehicles and heavy equipment caused. From the looks of him we are going on a road recon. Not as cool as it looks. It means he is carrying an M-60 machine gun and the ammo. Great target cuz Chuck wants kill that guy with the fire power plus that 60 is HEAVY plus extra ammo. A couple of interesting things occurred while we were in the Delta. One day we had to load up on Navy landing craft type boats and travel The Mekong to get to Rach Kien where our base camp was. It was pretty cool going down the Mekong. Also I was introduced to Ramon noodles there. Noodle shops all over the place. They added chopped scallions and some HOT little peppers and it cost about a dime. The amoebic dysentery was free. Our platoon sgt warned us but hey what did he know. You think you have had bad diarrhea I would have given you my combat pay for the month to just have the squirts. Oh, bye the way combat pay was $50/month. I was an E-5 and with combat pay and no taxes or ss taken out I made $303 a month. One very hot sunny day we were mine sweeping a road and clearing brush back from the sides and we found in the road a very detailed diorama made of mud of US troops with dump trucks and dozers and bucket loaders. Also included VC aiming guns at the US troops. We figured it was booby-trapped so we blew it up with some C-4. Could have been some kids playing too, you never knew. Later that day one of our dozer operators was pushing the brush back from the sides and a booby-trap went off and he got a nick and a Purple Heart, lucky dude. While in the Delta we shared an area in the compound with some National Police from Thailand who were training the South Vietnamese National Police. Those guys like to party and eat native food. We had dog, monkey and a rice whiskey that tasted like gasoline. One of the guys from our platoon was a native of Guam and he looked Vietnamese or Thai. He was small too and the Thai's gave him one of their uniforms and he use to go to the village with them. Ron, still remember his name. The Delta had two strange creatures the f#%k you gecko and a croaking catfish that walked on land. The gecko got its name because all night long it made a sound that sounded like it was saying f*%k you. The walking croaking catfish were not very big, but when you were on guard duty at the edge of a rice paddy or canal at night you could hear these things wiggling and sliding along the mud and croaking, it was a little unnerving. There were regular probes in the perimeter and flares were common as well mortar fire. The flares were sent up from mortars and when they burst the flare floated down on a little parachute and what ever carried that parachute and flare up would come back down to earth making a whoop whoop whoop whoop sound all the way down like a tube tumbling end over end. We also had Starlight Scopes for perimeter guard. They were early night vision scopes. Really strange and actually kind of psychedelic to look through them. I almost forgot about the rats there. At night we slept in some old corrugated tin barracks that were full of bullet holes. We did have cots and some lucky guys had racks with mosquito nets. The nets were more important to keep the rats off of you because at night they would run through the hooch and over your bunk and your face or arm or leg. If you had a mosquito net you could hang it and tuck it in around you to keep the rats off. Some guys had hammocks and they were high enough that the rats didn't bother them. We were working with the 9th Division in the Delta mid 1969 at this time and they were the first unit to leave Vietnam under Nixon's (speaking of rats) troop reductions.It was a joke because they filled the 9th Division's ranks with guys going home anyway from other units and sent the guys from the 9th to other units to serve the remainder of there tour.

Stay tuned....................................................DJtheDJ

RFTW 2008

2008-04-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

In seven days I continue a journey that began on this date in 1968. On April 29, 1968 our plane was circling to land and deposit us at Ft. Campbell Kentucky for U.S. Army Basic Training. Flash and I looked at each other as the plane descended and we said together, "What the hell have we gotten ourselves into now?" Flash was a friend from my hometown and we had been running together for some time. The previous week we had gone to the local draft board to see when we were going to be called up and they said not until the end of May. Our next stop was the Marine Corp recruiter and thanks be to God, he was out to lunch, so we went back to the Draft Board and they said try the Army recruiter, they have a new two year enlistment plan. The draft was a two year commitment and that was all we were willing to give was two years. You could avoid combat for the most part if you joined the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or the Army with a safe job for four years. When you are twenty, two years is a damn long time, four years is an eternity. We went to the Army recruiter and sure enough they had a two year enlistment program with no promises other than that. It would most likely be two years as an 11Bravo, which was combat infantry man, a twelve month tour in Vietnam and if you survived you were free. We signed up and asked when we left and he said next Monday and that was perfect as it gave us time to have a going away party. Buzzy, another friend signed up also and was set to go, but he got arrested after the going away party for minor consumption and the Army wouldn't take him. They did draft him though a couple of months later.

We survived Basic Training and at the end you get your MOS, Military Occupational Specility, which determines which AIT, Advanced Individual Training, school you will go to. The guy next to me who was married, had a family and a college degree got 11Bush and orders to Jungleland at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. He literally fell to the ground and cried. My orders said 62Mike and Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri. I asked my Drill Sgt what 62Mike was and he said, "You're a f*&^%#, engineer get on the bus." My buddy Flash ended up getting orders for Ft. Huachuca, Arizona and clerk typist school, he was going to be a Radar O'Reilly. We thought we hit the jackpot, no combat infantry man for us. At Ft. Leonardwood I was trained as a heavy equipment operator and at the end of training everyone got a thirty day leave and orders for Vietnam except those who were seventeen years old and couldn't be sent until they were 18 and me. I got orders for Ft Carson, Colorado and a thirty day leave. I couldn't believe my luck. After my thirty day leave I reported to Ft. Carson and was assigned to a heavy equiptment battilion. I was a grader operator on a Cat 12 and we graded roads at Ft. Carson, which was the second largest Army fort in the U.S. In the winter we cleared the roads of snow. I also was being groomed to be NCO Training Officer which was a cushy desk job. I needed to get to twelve months or less left in my enlistment and I would be safe from the Nam. Meanwhile, Flash, had finished clerk typist school and been given a 30 day leave and then sent to Vietnam. He had a safe job as a medical supply clerk and worked at a huge supply depot in Cam Rahn Bay. One day he thought that as long as he was in a combat zone he might as well be in the action, so he volunteered to become a door-gunner on helicopters with the 281st Assaault Helicopter Company click on this link for more about Flash aka Michael Olson and his Recollections about John A. Ware. Cool job and you're not foot pounded the jungle and you get to wear a prestigous set of wings on your uniform. The down side was door gunners' lives were measured in minutes. My luck ran out in February 1969 when I got orders to Vietnam and a thirty day leave. I went home for thirty days and spent much of the time with friends who were attending Mankato State. Interesting arrangement....they had to set their alarm clocks to get up for a noon class and I was up every morning for reville at 5:30. Said my good-byes, convinced myself that Vietnam was worth dying for and got on the airplane. I was leaving Minnesota in the winter and going to the jungles of Vietnam. The flight over was long and boisterous with stops in Alaska and Japan. We had a lot of time to think and most of us thought about surviving and reconcilied the fact that we were likely to get wounded and maybe even killed so get over it and accept it otherwise you will just drive yourself crazy with worry.

When the plane landed at Ton Son Nut and I stepped out into the heat I thought I'm not worried about getting shot because the f*&^%$g heat and humidity was going to kill me in just a couple of days anyway. After a couple of days waiting I finally got orders for D Company 31st Engineers (C) in Lai Khe. We loaded up on trucks to go by armed convoy to Dion and then from there by Caribou, an Army transport plane, to Lai Khe because the road was too dangerous to travel. I reported in to the First Sgt and he said I'll get your platoon sgt and he will square you away. In walked Sgt Anderson, an instructor in a leadership school I attened in Ft Leonardwood and I was kind of his adopted son. He had 8 daughters and his wife said no more. Here's this white boy from the Midwest taken under the wing by an African-American. Well, Sgt Anderson helped me carry my things to our hooch and introduced me to the guy I was replacing so he could go home. Sgt Anderson introduced me to Buzz and we looked at each other and said have we met before? He said I'm from Sioux Falls. SD and I said I'm from southern MN but that's not it and then it dawned on us...............I had replaced Buzz on the Chrysler assembly line in Belividere, IL during the summer of 67 because he had been drafted. Buzz was glad to be replaced again by me. Small world and not the last case of serindipity in Vietnam for me. Sgt. Anderson made me his driver and so for the first few weeks I had a cush job and a vehicle at my disposal. On one of those first days as a driver we were driving past the hospital and dustoff pad. A large number of dustoffs had landed and were off loading the wounded and dead and two guys with a stretcher trotted in front of us causing us to stop. The stretcher had a body on it covered with a poncho and the guy in front of the stretcher tripped and fell. When he fell the torso of this body fell off the stretcher and the legs remained on the stretcher. I was horrified and watched as the guy tried to put the torso back on the stretcher, but it kept slipping off because of all the blood and fluids. That scene will be in my head till the day I die. Most days now it is a small picture, but always there. I didn't appreciate it at the time but Sgt Anderson probably saved my life on a couple of occaisions. Once there was a firefight going on across the rice paddy from a road we were reconning and we wanted to join the action, but Sgt Anderson said it's not our fight let the infantry, artillary and air support take care of it. The big thing that he did was not let me transfer to the 281st AHC as a door gunner to be with Flash. Flash had been writing me and saying we need more door-gunners and you can transfer and we'll be together, etc. Good ol' Sgt Anderson said we need you here and request is denied. I was mad and upset with him and later I realized what he had done, saved some dumb asse's life because he wanted to wear wings and fly. Thank you Sgt Anderson. Next bit of serindipty involving me, but I wasn't there. Flash was looking and waiting for me to arrive at the 281st AHC and one day he was leaving the PX and he thought he saw me. He was yelling "Dennis" at this guy who looked like me walking by and when the guy turned around Flash saw that it wasn't me. They started talking and comparing notes. Flash told that he thought he was me and told him the story. The talk quickly turns to where you from and the guy said California and Flash said Minnesota. The guy said I was born in Minnesota, where in Minnesota are you from? Flash replied Albert Lea and the guy said That's where I was born, where in A.L. do you live and Flash said 715 Blackmere Ave and the guy about flipped, he said I was born in that house. What are the chances????????????? Well, this story has one more bit of serindipity at the end of my tour in Vietnam and KAXE 25 years later.

In seven days I leave for California and The Run For the Wall. I went half way in 1998 and now with retirement I am going all the way and I hope to blog during the trip each day. Check out RFTW.org

Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour

2008-04-02T14:11:00.001-07:00

All you hard workin red neck (is redneck one or two words?) blue collar bro's and sis's have your own special show this Friday April 4 On The River with DJtheDJ starting at 09:00. Back in BC (Before College) and BA (Before Army) I did my time at many blue collar jobs from auto assembly line (50 cars per hour), meat packer (more about this later), construction worker, warehouse worker, heavy equipment operator, farm laborer and building laminated rafters for barns, but the worse job ever was working in that meat packing plant BREAKING BEEF JAWS. You stood at an elevated stainless table and it was about 40 degrees and very humid. There was a big chute down which came the heads of the slaughtered beef and the job was to sever the jaw muscles and pull the jaws from the skull (they were skun) and pass them onto people who cut off the meat and tongue. Then the skulls were split and the brains were removed (pre Mad Cow dayz) and shipped to Japan mostly. I severed those muscles with a sharpening steel and pulled them apart all day long and my fingers were curled so that I couldn't straighten them out for weeks. That was on a good day. Every once in awhile there would be mostly milk cows slaughtered. Beef are raised for a few months, being fed easy to chew food. Milk cows lived a long time and they had been chewing their cuds for years and had very well developed jaw muscles (Arnold Cows). I hated those days because they were so hard to separate and I was always behind. So one day I went to the foreman and said I can't keep up on this job and he said do your best, no one else will do that job (it was unionized) and I was a (I didn't know it at the time) red neck blue collar workin man. That was the worst job ever! Second worse job, auto assembly line worker doin the same thing 50 times an hour for 8 hours 4-12 Mon-Fri night....mind killing work to me. Well, Unkle Sam came along and offered me a career opportunity as a combat engineer for two years and I couldn't refuse so I earned a degree at the U of South Vietnam, I think it was a BS. The good news I got the GI Bill and went to college. Thanks to all you hard workin red neck blue collar guyz and galz.....you keep this country going...God Bless You All....post your worst job story and we will read it on the air and give a free cd to the best story. No embellishing please. See you on the radio for the Red Neck Blue Collar Power Hour featuring requests from you including The Hag, Johnny, Hank 1, 2 & 3, Rodney Atkins, and Luke Bryan Friday April 4 during On the River with DJtheDJ.

Stay tuned............................................

All Vinyl Night

2008-04-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

The first Monday of every month On The Riverfrom 7pm-1:00am and The All Vinyl Show. Hosted by DJtheDJ, Dug Baker and sometimes the always elusive BeBo. The next show is Monday April 8. By definition it's going to be 99.9% classics from the 60's thru the 80's. It is hard to do requests during the show because the vinyl comes from our private collections and it would be impossible to bring it all to the station. I need to thank Pete of the Rapids for donating a lot of the vinyl that your hear. Thanks Pete. I love you listeners....back in the old studios on ICC campus someone wanted to hear White Bird and I didn't have it. By the next show I had a copy of David LaFlame doing White Bird. Another treasure found and donated by a listener was Jamie Brockett and the SS Titantic. If you have a rare or favorite piece of music on vinyl and would like to share it with KAXE listeners bring it to the station and we will play it. You will get it back if you want.

Stay Tuned................................

DJ's top ten favorite artists

2008-03-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

1. BoDeans their newest release is "Still"****rated and "Joe Dirt Car" 2cd set***********rated
2. The Cure my favorite cd is Disintegretion*****rated
3. Lucinda Williams my favorite cd "Live at the Fillmore" 2cd set*****rated
4. Kasey Chambers my favorite cd "The Captain"*****rated
5. Stone Coyotes my favorite cd "Rise from the Ashes"*****rated
6. Fred Eaglesmith my favorite cd "Milly's Cafe"***************rated
7. Black Angels only one cd so far "Passover"****************rated
8. Kings of Leon only 3 cd's so far and all are****************rated
9. BoDiddley any cd or tape or record I can find are***********rated
10. John Lee Hooker my favorite cd "The Healer"*************rated

Who are your top 10 favorite artists? Post your list and you will qualify to win the BoDeans newest CD "Still" or The Stone Coyotes newest CD "VIII"

Stay tuned.................................