What a great start to summer in Champaign!

If you think you have what it takes to be a part of the staff, you may be in luck. Tune in throughout the next few weeks for information on how you can be part of our WPGU family. No experience needed…trust me.

Today, Tuesday May 12th, be on the Quad at NOON to win some money! Some of the WPGU staff will be there along with 99 Red Balloons containing 98 $1 bills and 1 Balloon with a crisp $100 bill!

All you have to do is show up!

We’re so money, we’re giving it away! Hang out with the staff, pop balloons, and get something for nothing!

This week’s episode of Inside WPGU goes to extreme lengths to entertain, and by extreme I mean going through an excessive amount of pain all for your viewing pleasure.

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the newly created Zyggy roll challenge at Zyggy’s on Green Street in campus town. Although it seemed quite straight forward: eat 4 Zyggy rolls at a spice level not even available on the menu. In the process I would perhaps achieve fame, maybe fortune, but for all practical matters a rough case of heartburn when all was said and done.

I’m quite familiar with eating challenges near and far so I saw it as an opportunity to add to my wall of accomplishments. Last summer I completed the Alexander’s beefeater challenge in 18 minutes and 55 seconds (that’s a 3 - 3 1/2 pound steak mind you). Additionally I’m well versed in the realm of spicy and hot foods so I saw this as a fitting challenge.

How wrong I was…

Upon watching the video you’ll see what went down, and the sabotage incurred by my fellow DJ’s Noodles and Justin. Now I won’t give anything away but let me say, it was far more then I ever bargained for, and surely something to be enjoyed from the spectator’s point of view…

Click Here to see the video!

Have no fear, WPGU has just the cure for you! TICKET TUESDAY!

Today we’re giving away tickets to two concerts going on THIS WEEK! Nappy Roots this Friday, May 1st and Joe Pug this Sunday, May 3rd! Both shows are at the Canopy Club.

The Nappy Roots show starts at 10:30PM, tickets are on sale for $20, but you can avoid that by tuning in today. Also playing, The Funky Monks, a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band.

Joe Pug, Horse Feathers, and My Dear Alan Andrews, will all be performing this Sunday! The show starts at 9PM, tickets are on sale for $8 in advance, but why pay anything when you can win them!?

Tune in all day for your chance to win free tickets, brought to you by your friends here at WPGU 1071!

It is Wednesday today, and I am back from my adventure to interview the latest band to come out of Glasgow, Scotland…GLASVEGAS! This was quite an adventure, tune in today from 6-9AM for the details and maybe a few clips from the interview. Exclusively brought to you by James of the Odd Couple and WPGU 107.1!

After a nice little vacation, WPGU is back in full force!

Make sure to come out to the Canopy Club tonight for your chance to be on a live game show! That’s right Trivia Diner starts at 7, but make sure to get there early to sign up your team!

If 7PM is too early for you, head over for The Piano Man at 9PM!

Tune in here on the217.com or 107.1 for all of your music news and local show updates!

Hey guys! I’m just going to remind you all about something very important…

Vote for the LM5 Local Music Showcase categories. It’s fun. I promise.

Categories include:

-Meanest band
-Best use of leather
-Best stage banter
-Sweatiest band

Now I know it seems silly, and maybe you’re normally too cool to vote on stuff like this. I get where you’re coming from. But keep in mind the bigger picture- we need to applaud the efforts of our local musicians and give them some credit/recognition. If voting for silly categories means participating in LM5, then do it!

Oh, and also head on down to the Highdive (in downtown Champaign) on April 9 for some live performances! LM5 at the Highdive!

-Liz

Sadly as the Fighting Illini Men’s hockey team admitted defeat yesterday, and they are no longer the national champions, there is still something to look forward to on Friday Nights…

The Mad Hatter’s 8 O’clock Rock Block!

I’ve been sharing a cozy space with live hockey coverage on Friday evenings over the past year and when I get my chance, the best classic and current rock cuts rule the airwaves. In the past We’ve heard the likes of Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin IV, Boston (self titled), Muse - Absolution, and many more. Commercial free albums in their entirety brought to you courtesy of WPGU 107.1!

This Friday the 20th of March, look to bring the rock once again and tune in for:

Metallica - Master of Puppets

I’ve got the best way to start your night right at 8 PM, if you have any requests or suggestions for what songs to follow the album when we’re still rollin’ from 9-10 PM please comment below on the blog! I’ll do my best to make you happy, just make sure it rocks, and if it does I’ll play it…

That’s right, today is both Ticket Tuesday and St.Patrick’s Day! For that reason, we have a special treat for you, JASON MRAZ TICKETS!

Tune in all day long starting with the morning show from 6-9AM and ending with the Mad Hatter for your chance to win one of the 5 pairs we have for you.

Happy St.Patrick’s Day from your friends here at WPGU!

Phoenix - “1901″ - Three years have passed since the release of It’s Never Been Like That, Phoenix’s remarkably solid third album. The newest single is much more electronically-driven than much of what they’ve previously put out, but it still has the same hooky vocals and funky guitar swagger to give it that same “Phoenix” sound. The new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, won’t be released until May, but this should help hold us over for now. This is definitely a band worth checking out if you’re not familiar with these guys. (The lead singer is also Sofia Coppola’s babydaddy, in case I haven’t yet peaked your interest.)

Violens - “Spectator & Pupil” - Another band from the bustling New York indie music scene, Violens distinguishes themselves with a very New Wave sort of sound. Think The Smiths with quirkier instrumentation, but still on the darker side of indie pop. This band has gained a great deal of attention from the indie music web giants and prominent music blogs such as Brooklyn Vegan. They recently released an eponymous four song EP, which also includes “Violent Sensation Descends,” another song we played the tar out of a couple months back.

Also listen for:
Bishop Allen - “The Ancient Commonsense of Things”
White Lies - “To Lose My Life”