Presidents' Day

Presidents' Day. The Hub Radio Show for Monday February 17, 2020. View the completely honest playlist for 2-17-20 (CLICK HERE)

The Frights, Ezra Furman, Joshua Radin, Nik Freitas, Puss n Boots

Presidents' Day is officially known as Washington's Birthday, and is a holiday to honor the first president, George Washington, who was born on February 22, 1732. It is a federal holiday, as well as a state holiday in many states. In 1800, the year after Washington's death, the day became an unofficial day of remembrance. The centennial of his birth was a particularly important day of celebration, and the Washington Monument went under construction in 1848. Congress and President Rutherford B. Hayes made Washington's Birthday a holiday in 1879. Originally only federal offices in Washington D.C. were closed, but this was expanded to all federal offices in 1885. At this time the holiday was observed on Washington's actual birthday.

Oatmeal Monday

Oatmeal Monday. The Hub Radio Show for Monday February 19, 2020. View the completely steel cut playlist for 2-10-20 (CLICK HERE)

M. Ward, Son Little, The Lone Bellow, Nada Surf, Polica

Oatmeal Monday, also known as Meal Monday, was a holiday that was traditionally celebrated at Scottish universities. From the seventeenth to the late nineteenth centuries, students at Scottish universities were required to bring their own food and fuel to campuses, such as oatmeal and firewood. Their homes, where they got these supplies, were often far away. Sometimes they were given long weekends so they could travel to get the supplies. Early on, these long weekends happened quite frequently. For example, the University of Edinburgh had them each month, giving students the first Monday of the month off. But in 1896, Edinburgh made the long weekend a once a year event and made it officially celebrated on the second Monday of February.

The Day The Music Died

The Day The Music Died. The Hub Radio Shoe for Monday January 3, 2020. View the completely fiery playlist for 2-3-20 (CLICK HERE)

Algiers, Wolf Parade, Mitski, Torres

A long long time ago I can still remember how That music used to make me smile And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver Bad news on the doorstep I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride Something touched me deep inside The day the music died

So go the lyrics to the first verse of Don McLean's 1971 folk rock song "American Pie," which went to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 the following year. What was this music that made him smile, when was this February day that made him shiver, and what did he mean by "the day the music died?" McLean is singing of rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson (known professionally as the Big Bopper), and Ritchie Valens, who died in a plane crash in the early hours of February 3, 1959. On The Day the Music Died, we remember their passing and honor their legacy.

Thomas Crapper Day

Thomas Crapper Day. The Hub Radio Show for Monday January 27, 2020. View the completely transparent playlist for 1-27-20 (CLICK HERE)

The Weeklings, The Petals, The Orange Kyte, Algiers, Celestial Shore

"Where's the crapper?" you've likely said or heard someone say. But did you know that you weren't just using a slang word for excrement, but were actually mentioning someone's name? Although Thomas Crapper did not invent the toilet—that is usually credited to John Harrington in 1596—he did help perfect and popularize it. We celebrate him today, on the anniversary of his death, which happened in 1910. So how did the word "crapper" become a common slang term for the toilet? American soldiers in Europe during World War I saw the word "Crapper" emblazoned on toilets, and thought it was pretty funny that crap was going in them, so they started calling them that. As for "crap" itself? It appears to be a form of the Middle Dutch word "krappe," which means "anything cut off or separated."

Dream

Dream. The Hub Radio Show for Monday January 20, 2020, MLK Day. View the completely hopeful playlist for 1-20-2020 (CLICK HERE)

Tame Impala, Wold Parade, of Montreal, Field Music

Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for equality and human rights for African Americans and all victims of injustice. He used nonviolent direct action and peaceful protest to achieve his goals and was influenced by Gandhi and Jesus Christ. He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia. At the age of 15, he went to Morehouse College and studied medicine and law. He then attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He completed a doctorate program in systematic theology at Boston University and met and married Coretta Scott while in Boston. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for equality and human rights for African Americans and all victims of injustice. He used nonviolent direct action and peaceful protest to achieve his goals and was influenced by Gandhi and Jesus Christ. He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia. At the age of 15, he went to Morehouse College and studied medicine and law. He then attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He completed a doctorate program in systematic theology at Boston University and met and married Coretta Scott while in Boston.

Clean Off Your Desk

Clean Off Your Desk. The Hub Radio Show for Monday January 13, 2020. View the completely organized playlist for 1-13-20 (CLICK HERE)

The Wedding Present, The Orange Kyte, Rose City Band, Stereophonics

National Clean Off Your Desk Day was made "to provide one day early each year for every desk worker to see the top of the desk and prepare for the following year's paperwork." Having a clean desk helps us focus on the tasks at hand without getting distracted. The goal of the day is to thoroughly clean your desk and have a system in place to keep it clean year-round so that there isn't need for a deep clean until next year's Clean Off Your Desk Day. First, you should literally clean off your desk. Take everything off of it and out of the drawers. Dust, wipe down, and disinfect your desk, both inside and out. Sort everything from your desk into four piles, giving everything a spot right away. Make a pile for things you will keep with your desk, things you will throw away, things that belong somewhere else, and things you aren't sure if you need or not.

We Three Kings ~ 16th Anniversary The Hub

We Three Kings ~ 16th Anniversary The Hub for Monday January 6, 2020. View the sweet playlist for 1-6-20 (CLICK HERE)

Lana Del Rey, Andrew Bird, Beirut, Spoon, Beck

For the past sixteen years, hosting The Hub on 91.3FM KXCI Tucson has been the best two hours of my week. Period. Being a volunteer programmer on KXCI is an incredibly gratifying experience. The opportunity to preview a weekly stream of new music, pick thirty or so interesting songs, and assemble them into interconnected sets is nirvana for a music nerd like me.

The Hub is my hobby and it allows me to be creative. It’s something I do that I love. It brings me joy, peace, and relaxation. And that’s the best reward a person could ask for.

Thank you KXCI for The Hub, and thanks to all of the listeners for your enduring support of new music.