Currently WPGU, Champaign Crisis Nursery and Parent Wonders of Rantoul are embarking on the 16th annual Operation Santa. The objective of Operation Santa is simple: to make the Holidays brighter for children in need.

Operation Santa will allow us to raise money for gifts and toys for children in need. Some of the children we are buying gifts for need very basic items such as diapers and clothing, while some of the older children would simply love to have a new toy to play with (something they seldom have the opportunity to do).

You can help WPGU make the Holidays brighter for these children by donating to Operation Santa. There are several ways in which you can do this:

1. Call WPGU at 217-337-1071 and make a donation with one of our DJs

2. Go to the217.com/santa and make a donation online

3. Come into WPGU at 512 E. Green between 8am and 5pm to make a donation in person

4. Adopt a child’s wishlist by visiting the217.com/santa

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey guys!

With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror Christmas is now just around the corner. You can help make Christmas brighter for families in need in the Champaign area. This holiday season, WPGU in coordination with Champaign Crisis Nursery and Parent Wonders of Rantoul, is embarking on its 16th annual Operation Santa and we want your help to make Christmas brighter for families in need. You can help out right now by pledging a donation to Operation Santa and there are 2 ways you can pledge. Call in a and talk to the DJ at 217-337-1071 or go online at the217.com/santa. Donations end December 10th!

Also, the Laughing Prairie Dog Festival is this Friday! Get your tickets and get pumped!

E.Tiger

Hey guys!

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I had a killer time at the WPGU tailgate (the last of the year) and I went to Ohio State University for a fencing tournament. We had a club team here and I can vouch for the Fencing Illini–we fared pretty well. Unfortunately we did lose to Michigan…sorry! They were jerks as expected.

Thanksgiving is a just short week away! I know I’m excited and looking forward to some massive helpings of turkey and stuffing. And then….a week after that…..its the Laughing Prairie Dog Festival at the Canopy Club. Get your tickets now at the Canopy Club Website!

E.Tiger

Hey all,

OK Go will be stopping by at 3pm before their Canopy Club show tonight. I’m curious to see what they’re going to bring/wear. Of course, you can check it out via 107.1, the217.com/wpgu, or just stand outside the Green St. Studio and be mere feet away from the Grammy Award winning folks (hell we paid a hefty price for those big glass windows!)

Tickets for their show tonight are on sale and are $10 in advance. Concerned about that? WPGU is giving away 5 pairs of tickets today!!!!! Princeton will be opening (if you don’t know who they are check out “The Waves.”) Tune into the interview and performance and we’ll see you at the show!

….Tickets to see Big Holiday Show featuring The Flaming Lips, Phoenix and Pete Yorn at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont on December 11, 2009!

I like Pete Yorn…
I really like Phoenix….
I am dying to see The Flaming Lips!

Tickets went on sale October 30th, but I was too busy celebrating my favorite holiday to realize that I was missing my chance to order tickets to one of the best shows of the season! Damn! So now I am pouting because I know if I want good seats, I’m going to have to pay a fortune for them. Grrr!

The Flaming Lips are at the top of my list of bands to see live. I’ve seen almost all the bands I love including DMB, Bob Dylan, Modest Mouse, R.E.M., The Killers, Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend and many more. From what I’ve heard The Flaming Lips are excellent live. They have an elaborate live show including puppets, costumes, balloons and a fantastic light show! Also, lead singer Wayne Coyne rolls around the crowd in a plastic bubble! The bottom line is - this is a show I DO NOT want to miss.

Another show I don’t want to miss is Laughing Prairie Dog Festival here in Champaign-Urbana on December 4, 2009! Performers include: Headlights, Pet Lions, Santah, Common Loon, The Smoking Popes and The Hood Internet.

KISSES!

Howdy all!

This past weekend was simply fantastic for Illinois Sports! Ron Zook’s football team actually looks like more than a bunch of high schoolers now after beating Minnesota at Minnesota. That brings the season to total to 3 wins. A win this weekend at home against Northwestern might make us seem like a legitimate threat. The basketball team also won in their final exhibition match against Quincy. Although the score indicated a blow-out, it was far from it. Illinois was up by merely one point halfway through the second half. Look for a stronger performance from Illinois veteran starters next time. Illinois Hockey also swept 2 games against Iowa. Great Weekend for sports.

And perfect thing for Illinois sports is…..a flatscreen TV! Send your name, age, and phone number to flatscreen@wpgu.com for your chance to win a 31.5 inch flatscreen this Friday and a 42 inch TV next Friday November 20th. Remember, you have to listen in order to win!

E.Tiger

In case you haven’t heard, WPGU was nominated for 10 CMJ College Radio Awards this year. CMJ is essentially the authority on new music, college radio, and music industry charting, so these nominations are a really big deal. The award show was held on October 22 in New York City and while the station didn’t win any awards, the nominations themselves are a huge testament to the overall quality of work that goes on here as there are there are literally thousands of college radio stations across the country.

WPGU was nominated for:

Radio Station of the Year
Music Director of the Year -Cannata!
Specialty Music Director of the Year - Grego
Biggest Community Resource
Best Use of Limited Resources
Best Group Effort
Best Website
Most Doing Something No One Else is Doing
Best Student Run Station
Most Supportive of Local Scene

Kudos to the station! More importantly though, thank you to all of our listeners. Certainly none of this would be possible without you!

BP

Hey Gang!

Post Halloween Blues…
Hope everyone had a great Halloween and I hope you had the chance to see local band Headlights at Iron Post on the 31st. Unfortunately, I missed the show because I was out of town at a costume party. But I’m looking forward to seeing them when they’re back in town for the Laughing Prairie Dog Festival on December 4!!!!

More Great Bands in C-U…
There are some great bands coming to town this week!
Generationals are playing at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union this Thursday at 8pm! Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/generationals

Neko Case will be playing at Canopy Club on Friday at 10:30pm! I haven’t seen her live but I know she is great! She’s a member of the Canadian indie band The New Pornographers and right now she is on a solo tour. She played at Lollapalooza this summer along with 130+ of the greatest bands of 2009 including Depeche Mode, The Killers, Kings of Leon and many more. While I was walking around Lollapalooza this August I talked to several people who said they were “there is see Neko Case” over all the other bands.

Laughing Prairie Dog Festival is just around the corner! The concert extravaganza is only one month and one day away!!!!! Mark your calender and prepare to see Headlights, Common Loon, Santahh, The Hood Internet, Smoking Popes and more! See ya there!

KISSES!

Well, Champaign-Urbana what a weekend it was. Started off Saturday with a mud-filled WPGU tailgate, which was, despite the obstacle, still a complete blast. Then to everyone’s surprise the Illinois Football team actually showed up and beat Michigan. That was enough to make my day. Then I got around to going around to various places Saturday night, checking out a wide range of costumes. Then Sunday I got to watch the showdown between Brett Farve and the Packers. Being a Packers fan it was very frustrating. But we’ll see who winds up on top at the end of the season.

Now thats it’s November, it’s time for the Christmas Spirit! I’m gonna try to throw in as much Christmas esque cheer that I can into my show. Hope you will enjoy it.

Also, its November 2nd. That means the Laughing Prairie Dog Festival is only a month away! Get excited!

E. Tiger