The Top Songs of 2009: TMD Volunteer Edition

Volunteers make an incredible contribution to WTMD throughout the year. They help out around the office, represent the station at area events, and keep us sane during pledge drives.

Volunteers also share some of their favorite music with TMD staffers. (We're looking at you, Fletcher.) A few of our favorite volunteers weigh in on the Top Songs of 2009 below.

Check out the lists, vote for your own top songs by 12 p.m. Monday, December 21st, and then sign up to volunteer in 2010. We'd love to see you at the station.

Laura Beavers, Volunteer for 5 Years

• Wilco, "You and I"
• Bob Dylan, "Here Comes Santa Claus"
• Rosanne Cash and Jeff Tweedy, "Long Black Veil"
• Neko Case, "People Got A Lotta Nerve"
• Tom Petty, "Breakdown" (Live)

Musical Memory of 2009
The Beltways playing "Ring of Fire" at my wedding.


Pam Cohee, Volunteer for 3 Years

• U2, "Moment of Surrender"
  
• Matisyahu, "For You"
  
• Assembly of Dust, "Second Song"
  
• Trevor Hall, "Where's the Love"
  
• Eric Lindell, "Turnin' It Out"
  

Musical Memory of 2009
Seeing Trevor Hall at the Sound Garden music store with my kids. Trevor played a free show, for about an hour for maybe 30 people!!
The sound that these 3 musicians produced was unbelievable and Trevor's voice and message are just beautiful. Thanks, WTMD for introducing us to Trevor Hall!


Bridget Cooper, Volunteer for 3 Years

• Passion Pit, "Sleepyhead"
• Devendra Banhart, "Baby"
• The Avett Brothers, "January Wedding"
• J.J. Grey and Mofro, "Orange Blossoms"
• Blitzen Trapper, "Black River Killer"

Musical Memory of 2009
Seeing Ghostland Oberservatory--as well as many other fabulous bands--at the Austin City Limits Festival.


Beth Lacey Gill, Volunteer for 1 Year

• Animal Collective, "Summertime Clothes"
• St. Vincent, "Actor Out of Work"
• Regina Spektor, "Laughing With"
• Phoenix, "Listzomania"
• Tyrone Wells, "More"

Musical Memory of 2009
Actually, one of my favorite moments was volunteering with WTMD for one of their fund drives. It's so easy to find common ground when you look around a room, and see everyone singing along to the lyrics of "Lisztomania." Plus, I left with more than just a good feeling from volunteering. I also made some new good friends and got a few live pointers on some killer music before it was ready for the air. So, so cool.


Cindi Jansohn, Volunteer for 6 Years

• Creed, "Time"
• Enter the Haggis, "DNA"
• Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam, "Tear Down the Walls"
• Cheryl Wheeler, "Underbrush"
• Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"

Musical Memory of 2009
Seeing Victor Wooten up close and personal at Rams Head Tavern and seeing him perform with his kids. They were awesome!!!!


Chris Killam, Volunteer for 1 Year

• Snow Patrol, "Just Say Yes"
• Ingrid Michaelson, "Maybe"
• Imogen Heap, "First Train Home"
• Vampire Weekend, "Horchata"
• Lisa Hannigan, "I Don't Know"

Musical Memory of 2009
Going to see Ingrid Michaelson at the Recher.


Fletcher McNeill, Volunteer for 7 Years

• Portugal. The Man, "The Home"
• Wye Oak, "For Prayer"
• Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, "I'm Broke"
• Heartless Bastards, "The Mountain"
• The Bowerbirds, "Ghost Life"

Musical Memory of 2009
Hearing Wye Oak play new songs that would become "The Knot". It was amazing to hear these songs and know that they had really matured in both production and songwriting.


Elizabeth O'Shea

• Levon Helm, "When I Go Away"
• The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You"
• Levon Helm, "Stuff You Gotta Watch"
• Cage the Elephant, "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked"
• Neko Case, "This Tornado Loves You"

Jen Raffensperger, Volunteer for 1 Year

• Gomez, "Little Pieces"
• Spoon, "Got Nuffin'"
• Caleb Stine, "Eyes So Strong and Clean"
• Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"
• Mike Doughty, "(I Keep On) Rising Up"

Musical Memory of 2009
From the Young Dubliners in the TMD studio in February to the simply spectacular weather--and show--for Guggenheim Grotto at First Thursday in July.

2009 was a year of real ups and downs for me, but music was a constant comfort.


Randy Schreffler, Volunteer for 1 Year

• Ingrid Michaelson, "Maybe"
• Langhorne Slim, "Say Yes"
• Vandaveer, "Divide and Conquer"
• Guggenheim Grotto, "Fee Da Da Dee"
• One Eskimo, "Kandi"

Musical Memory of 2009
Ingrid Michaelson concert at the Recher. Walking in, I was not sure what to expect. Ingrid put on one heck of a show. The band came out after the show to say hello to fans and stuck around to take pictures, sign CD's and just get to know their fans. Very cool band and one that I will remember for a long, long time.


Mary Zajac, Volunteer for 4 Years

• Passion Pit, "The Reeling"
• Phoenix, "1901"
• Roman Candle, "Why Modern Radio is A-OK"
• Vetiver, "Everyday"
• The Duke & The King, "If You Ever Get Famous"

Musical Memory of 2009
I was fortunate enough to attend some fabulous shows this year: Butch Walker at the 930 Club, Elvis Perkins and Blitzen Trapper both at the Ottobar, the Hold Steady at the Recher, the Duke and the King performing at a house concet (my first). A great year for music.