Tears of Mars perform "Unfeigned" Live at WTMD

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The four brothers from Joppatowne, MD, stop by WTMD (http://www.wtmd.org) to perform new tracks during a Baltimore Unsigned performance.

Mix Tape Thursday, 3/26/09

WTMD listeners take over the airwaves with three-to-five song sets on Thursday.

Submit your own mixtape and enter a drawing to win a pair of tickets to see Depeche Mode and Peter, Bjorn and John at Nissan Pavilion!

7 a.m. Anna Cohee

These are all artists that both my parents and I love.

I am a freshman at Carver Center and I think it's awesome that my parents and I don't fight over radio stations. There are so many people my age who listen to music because it's popular, and not because they connect with it.

Aside from the fact that my parents and I can enjoy music together now, your station has given me such a unique collection of music that I am really proud of. I don't know the words to any popular songs but play some Matt Costa or Ingrid Michaelson and I will definitely sing along.

Thank you so much for giving my whole family such great music that all of us can relate to.

• "The Story," by Brandi Carlile
  
• "Bullet and a Target," by Citizen Cope
  
• "Mr. Pitiful," by Matt Costa
  
• "The Hat," by Ingrid Michaelson
• "We Get On," by Kate Nash
  

8 a.m. Patrick Quinn

My favorite songs to listen to. I Love WTMD and want to thank you for playing awesome music. I especially love no commercials; it makes my late-night listening a blast.

• "Mr. Spaceman," by The Byrds
  
• "Hey, Good Lookin'," by Roy Buchanan
  
• "Tattoo'd Lady," by Rory Gallagher
  
• "Learn to Fly," by Foo Fighters
  
• "White Room," by Cream
  

9 a.m. Kate Csakvary

All of these songs put me in a great mood. After losing my job, I turned to music to remind me that good times can be had without money. Great music makes the world a better place.

• "I'll Let You Borrow My Four-Leaf Clover," by Badly Drawn Boy
  
• "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," by Vampire Weekend
  
• "Hold It In," by Jukebox the Ghost
  
• "Let Me Go," by Cake
• "Octopus' Garden," by The Beatles
  

11 a.m. Tieran Flaherty

Recent digs. Plus, one for both bands touring!

• "Summertime Clothes," by Animal Collective
  
• "Pink Stream," by Sonic Youth
  
• "Sissyneck," by Beck
  
• "Precious," by Depeche Mode
  
• "Young Folks," by Peter, Bjorn & John
  

1 p.m. Elizabeth Gall

Since this is for a Depeche Mode contest, I figured I should start off with them. I also realized that most people don't want to hear 5 DM songs, so I decided to make a playlist of some of their 80s contemporaries.

Because I love covers, several of these songs are done by more recent bands; The Be Good Tanyas take a minimalist Prince song and make it even more minimalist with just a single singer and an acoustic guitar, and the Hold Steady does something wonderful to the #2 'Bruce Springsteen song most likely to make me cry' (after The River).

Poppy early Depeche Mode is followed by open-mic Prince, and "Born Under Punches" jazzes things up before they take a turn for the manic with "Love Will Tear Us Apart," ending with a lovely poignant cover. Hope you enjoy!

• "Just Can't Get Enough," by Depeche Mode
  
• "When Doves Cry," by The Be Good Tanyas
  
• "Born Under Punches," by The Talking Heads
  
• "Love Will Tear Us Apart," by Joy Division
  
• "Atlantic City," by The Hold Steady
  

5 p.m. Jenesta Matthews

• "Home," by Depeche Mode
  It explains the atmosphere of my life, and I enjoy the way the vocals blend with the music.
  

• "Insight," by Depeche Mode
  I got married to this song -- a good expression of love's discovery within oneself.

• "New Life," by Depeche Mode
  A great reminder of where Depeche Mode started. Reminds you how long they've been around as a group (though members have changed).

• "Perpetual," by VNV Nation
  A song that inspires my triumphant new existence despite living.
  

• "Chrome," by VNV Nation
  A novel critique on the outside world and what it hides behind.

7 p.m. Amber Kilcoyne

• "Drunken Lullabies," by Flogging Molly
  I quit smoking and started running after New Years and signed up to do the St. Pat's 5K. I found this song perfect and kick butt to run to.
  

• "Eurotrash Girl," by Cracker
  The first song I crowd surfed to in high school, also the last with braces.
  

• "Do You Realize?," by Flaming Lips
  There are people in my life who are beautiful and don't know it, they never will.

• "Me and My Arrow," by Harry Nilson
  Great story.
  

• "Lost in the Supermarket" by The Clash
  It's usually the song stuck in my head at least once a day, besides, "Happy Holidays."

Arcade Fire Get Wild

My favorite childhood book of all time has got to be Where the Wild Things Are ....and it must be Spike Jonze's too, as he's directing the upcoming film due out in October based on the classic.

Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be scoring the soundtrack, but check out this trailer with a tender version of the Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" as the backing music.

Can't wait!

A Quiet Surf For Neil Halstead

One of the most curious, but oddly-sensible musical pairings recently has got to be Brushfire Records putting out 4AD artist Neil Halstead's latest solo project.

The Slowdive and Mojave 3 guitarist's breathy, deadpan delivery on Oh! Mighty Engine recalls Nick Drake and Syd Barrett. The emotions run the gamit.

It's a quiet disc, full of British-isms (look up "Elevenes"), deeply felt lyrics and cool melodic acoustic riffs.

Like Jack Johnson, Neil surfs (now you're getting the picture) albeit in cold Cornwall, England and he's got a warm, laid-back vibe to his music and personality.

Neil plays Talking Head tonight and joins me for Morning Sessions on Friday.

What's Eating Neko?

The Pacific Northwest-based, red-headed siren has always used her formidable pipes as a pre-emptive weapon to mask vulnerabilities lurking beneath the surface. But, on WTMD's CD of the Month Middle Cyclone, Neko Case charges head on by singing less in the abstract.

Though on "People Got a Lotta Nerve," I'm sure there are still a few double and triple meanings.

Check out how Canadian animators Paul and Julie Morstad imagined the song and see if you can guess which animal gets her in the end.



Neko plays two sold out shows at the 930 Club 4/8 and 4/9. Hope you've got tickets!

Victor Wooten: Amazing Bass

The incredible bass virtuoso and composer Victor Wooten (founding member of Bela and the Flecktones) plays Rams Head in Annapolis tonight.

Check out how he turns a gospel standard into this majestic, jazzy beauty of a song!