November 21 – Thanks (702)

[audio http://personal.stthomas.edu/drgjelten/shows/GRR702.mp3]

Within the circles of our lives
we dance the circles of the years,
the circles of the seasons
within the circles of the years,
the cycles of the moon
within the circles of the seasons,
the circles of our reasons
within the cycles of the moon.  

Again, again we come and go,
changed, changing. Hands
join, unjoin in love and fear,
grief and joy.  The circles turn,
each giving into each, into all.
Only music keeps us here,

 each by all the others held.
In the hold of hands and eyes
we turn in pairs, that joining
joining each to all again.  

And then we turn aside, alone,
out of the sunlight gone

into the darker circles of return.
Wendell Berry
      

Today, Great River Radio will offer a pre-Thanksgiving cornucopia of music, songs that will “keep us here, each by all the others held.”  I know this is a busy day for many, as we prepare for family get-togethers tomorrow, family reunions, repeating traditions that have gone on for years, all the cycles of our lives playing out again. Bobby Womack will kick off the show with today’s river song and then we’ll hear from Bat For Lashes, The Civil Wars, Sweden’s El Perro Del Mar and The Raveonettes.  We’ve got new local music from Haley Bonar and Ben Kyle, as well as from Joshua James and Los Angeles band Lavender Diamond.  We’ll wind up GRR with some music about giving thanks.

Tune in this afternoon, or later on the blog. Maybe as you are doing your cyber shopping this weekend – that might be a good time to listen!

Details:
Great River Radio – Wednesdays 4:15-5:45 p.m.
Stream it live: http://www.stthomas.edu/ustclubs/kust/live/liveStream.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GreatRiverRadio
iChat/AIM: kustradio

Playlist
Deep River-Bobby Womack
Tracks in the Snow-The Civil Wars
Walk On By-El Perro Del Mar
All Your Gold-Bat For Lashes
A Perfect Place-The Raveonettes
Bad Reputation-Haley Bonar
The Turf-Ben Kyle
I’m Not Waiting Anymore-Field Report
Everybody’s Heart’s Breaking Now-Lavender Diamond
Ghost in the Town-Joshua James
Ghost (Live from Laurel Canyon)-Ingrid Michaelson
Help-Cloud Cult
We’re Alright Now-John Hiatt
Turn Me On-Meshell Ndegeocello
Long Way Home-Tom Waits
Thanks for the Joy-Ruthie Foster
Thankful N’ Thoughtful-Bettye LaVette
Thanksgiving-Mary Gauthier
What a Wonderful World-Stacey Kent
Amazing Grace-Shelby Lynne

Oct. 6 – We Used to Wait

…and I am perpetually waiting
for the fleeing lovers on the Grecian Urn
to catch each other up at last
and embrace
and I am awaiting
perpetually and forever
a renaissance of wonder
From “I Am Waiting” (Lawrence Ferlinghetti)

The Great River Radio playlist always represents the mood of your hosts and the thoughts that are on our minds in the days before the show.   This week has been a thoughtful one for Brian and Dan.  We are in the midst of another stunning autumn day, apparently caught in some bubble of glorious weather.  In Minnesota we do not take days like this for granted, especially at this time of year.  We know what comes next…in the words of DeVotchKa –  “you already know how this will end”… so we find ourselves both savoring the present and waiting for what is around the corner.  We humans do spend a good amount of time waiting:  waiting to grow up, waiting to commence, waiting for that good thing to happen, waiting for that bad thing to stop happening, waiting for dawn to arrive, for peace, for a child to come home.

Today on Great River Radio, we’ll be doing a set of songs on waiting, from some of our favorite bands: Dawes, Delta Spirit, Steve Earle (and his sister Stacey), Arcade Fire, Mavis Staples and Patty Griffin.  We’ll also be listening and talking about the new Sufjan Stevens album “The Age of Adz”.  There’ll be a set of songs about letters (the kind you write to people, on paper…remember those?) from Arcade Fire and Wilco and others and some songs with horns – tune in to hear three of the greatest horn solos of all time.  Finally, you think you’ve heard the old Stephen Foster song “Oh Susannah”?  Think again!

We are always excited about GRR, but today will be special. (In fact, we can’t wait!)

We hope you join us.

Great River Radio – Wednesdays 4:15-5:45 p.m.
Catch the live stream
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iChat/AIM: kustradio

Brian & Dan

Playlist
Big Sun Falling in the River-Richard Thompson
How It Ends-DeVotchKa
Futile Devices-Sufjan Stevens
Solitude Is Bliss-Tame Impala
Before I Die-Roma di Luna
Penny Lane-The Beatles
Shipbuilding-Elvis Costello
What Does It Take To Win Your Love-Junior Walker and the All Stars
When My Time Comes -Dawes
I’m Waiting-Delta Spirit
Waiting-The Feelies
I Can Wait-Steve Earle
Waiting-Stacey Earle
Waiting For My Child To Come Home-Mavis Staples and Patty Griffin
Oh! Susannah-Ruthie Foster
Pilot Light-Chris Koza
We Used to Wait-Arcade Fire
Box Full of Letters-Wilco
Letter Never Sent-REM
Conversation 16-The National