WTMD is listener-supported radio from the campus of Towson University.

Friday, January 15, 2010

The Seductive Harmonies of Sonos

The LA-based acapella group SONOS plays Jammin' Java tonight.

They're going to be in studio with me in just a little bit to record a future Morning Sessions. It should be a blast!

On their debut SONOsings, the sextet takes on Bon Iver, Imogen Heap, Depeche Mode, Rufus Wainright, and Radiohead among others.

Their harmonies are sensual and etherial.

Check out this version of a Jackson 5 classic!


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Jay Reatard, 1980-2010



Memphis garage rocker Jay Reatard passed away yesterday. He was 29 years old.

According to Memphis' Commercial Appeal, Reatard was found in his home at 3:30 a.m., where he reportedly died in his sleep.

Born Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. in 1980, Reatard became interested in music after seeing Nirvana on MTV. He started writing his own songs and released his first album, Teenage Hate, in 1998. His sound was crude and abrasive, with jagged guitar riffs, distortion, and noise. The distortion belied the pop melodies within.

He was a prolific artist, releasing 22 full length albums and over 100 singles. He signed to Matador in 2008 and broke through with last year's Watch Me Fall.

Reatard is survived by his parents and two sisters.

Credit: Rolling Stone, allmusic.com, jayreatard.com

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Our Video Presentation about The Senator Proposal

We wanted to give you an update on our bid to move WTMD to the Senator Theatre and create an arts center focused on movies, music and community.

Last week we presented our proposal at a community forum sponsored by the Baltimore Development Corporation at the Senator Theatre. We also made a formal presentation to the BDC.

At both presentations, we played this video to document our passion for the building and for what we believe the Senator could become with WTMD connecting dozens of movies, concerts and community events each month.

The video is full of testimonials from community leaders, music lovers, filmmakers and musicians. At the end of the video, our own John Mathews shows us what WTMD’s air might sound like if we are successful being awarded the project and create this very special place.



Many folks have asked us what they can do to help. Right now, we need your input and thoughts. We understand how much the Senator means to people who live close to the theater in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. We also understand how passionate folks are about its future.

Please feel free to email me at wtmd@towson.edu or leave a comment here. We’ll answer the questions we can at this point. It’s a long process and each step of the way we will keep in touch to inform you as things clarify themselves.

Thanks and we’ll see you at the Senator.

Help Wyclef Help Haiti

No surprise, Wyclef Jean has jumped right in and jetted down to Haiti to help his countrymen, women and children in the wake of that catastrophic earthquake.

Over the years, the former Fugee has become a tireless advocate for his homeland, raising awareness together with the United Nations.

Now, he has created the "Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund." It's been so popular on Twitter, that it's crashed several times today. At last check, it was working.

Never shy to show, not only the poverty and blight in Haiti to raise awareness, but the triumphant spirit of its people, here's s Wyclef video showing that and the land's lyrical language.



Spend a weekend with Butch Walker, eat his food

Back in 2007, singer/songwriter Jill Sobule made waves in the music world with a radical new idea. Instead of dealing with record company politics, she decided to raise the money herself through her website.

Each amount of money generated a different reward: A $10 donation for a digital download, all the way up to $10,000 and a duet with Sobule. Singer/songwriter and super-producer Butch Walker is taking Sobule's idea one step further. For the low price of $25,000, you will spend the weekend at Butch's house, write a song together and perform it onstage. He'll also make you breakfast the next morning.

The price is steep, but word on the street is that Butch makes the best vegetarian omlette in Los Angeles.

Music Made Round the World

This above video is a project of the Playing for Change project that benefits music education around the world. Bono sings on this Marley cover, which I think fits the mood of all of us this morning, who have Haiti in our heads and hearts.