Mix Tape Thursday, 7/16/09

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

6 a.m. Kaitlin Schrote

The 2007 Virgin Music Festival created a musical bonding experience between my mom and me. I went to the festival with my college roommate. After returning home the first day, we sat in the kitchen discussing the musicians and bands with my mom.

When we mentioned how we saw so many people of her generation arriving to see the Police, she told me that she had seen the Police back when she was young and single. I was shocked. We had never talked about the concerts she had gone to when she was young. How could my mom have been this cool?

I asked her about other concerts she had been to and all of these musical memories from the late 70s and early 80s poured out. The Police, Peter Gabriel (twice), Billy Idol, U2 (when the Edge had hair!), the Who, the list went on and on.

This mixtape is composed of songs that my mom saw in concert and reminds me of the night I became aware of just how amazing my mom is.

* "So Lonely," by The Police
* "Solsbury Hill," by Peter Gabriel
* "I Will Follow You," by U2
* "Who Are You," by The Who
* "Dancing With Myself," by Billy Idol

8 a.m. Meg Bowen

My playlist theme is WTMD Baltimore Unsigned Artists that should be playing at Virgin Fest. They are all excellent musicians whose music is best enjoyed live on a big stage with the beats of their songs pumping through you from those giant speakers.

* "The Therapy," by Fools & Horses
* "It’s Painless," by Tim Kaye
* "Equity" by Tears of Mars
* "Talk to Me," by David Andrew Smith

10 a.m. Kenny Friedman

In honor of the Virgin Mobile Music Festival, I have chosen songs/artists that feature the words Virgin, Mobile, Music and Festival. The added bonus is that Good Charlotte hails from Maryland and got their big break on the locals stage at the now defunct HFStival.

* "Rich Girls," by The Virgins
* "Stuck Inside of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again," by Bob Dylan
* "Exit Music (For a Film)," by Radiohead
* "Festival Song," by Good Charlotte

12 p.m. Jessica Hanson

I have a very fond memory of driving to NC with three of my pals visiting from Scotland and we just belted out songs the entire way. It was a great wee sing-song.

* "Take Me Out," by Franz Ferdinand
* "Mardy Bum," by Arctic Monkeys
* "She Moves In Her Own Way," by The Kooks
* "These Streets," by Paolo Nutini
* "Chelsea Dagger," by The Fratellis

4 p.m. Natalie Neill

These are some of my favorite Canadian artists.

* "Rebellion," by The Arcade Fire
* "Look Up," by Stars
* "I Feel It All," by Feist
* "Burn Your Life Down," by Tegan And Sara
* "Tessellate," by Tokyo Police Club


6 p.m. Zoe Wais

These songs represent what WTMD means to me. It's because of this radio station that I even know the bands on my playlist exist, and even more than that, they've become some of my favorite bands. All the bands in my playlist are totally original and under appreciated!

* "Old, Old Fashioned" by Frightened Rabbit
* "Orange Shirt," by Discovery
* "Make Light," by Passion Pit
* "Jenny, Don’t Be Hasty," by Paolo Nutini
* "Looking for Shelter," by Good Old War

Virgin Day Two: Wu, Yahu and You!

Just wrapping up things at V-Fest 2007 enjoying a little Wu Tang Clan.

In trying to gauge the vibe, I'd say the unofficial impression indicates spectacular music moments were had by festival-goers, artists, promotors and the numerous organizations represented.

Sources are telling us now that over 42,000 concert-goers attended Saturday and another 30,000 on Sunday.

So when you add it all up...that's over 70,000 concert-goers blistering in the sun at Pimlico for a festival that's just in its second year. Not bad at all. And the concept of having just two stages, versus the 5 or even 12 at, say, an Austin City Limits or Bonnaroo, respectively, I think puts V-Fest in a niche' market for fests; it's more compact and makes it easier to choose between artists.

We'll try to find out what kind of commitments Virgin Mobile has to future V-Fests in Baltimore later this week. Word on the street, though, is the company is very, very happy with Baltimore as a music city!

Top 5 highlights of V-Fest 2007 for me:
1. Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals performing the best outdoor music set...I've ever seen.
2. The Police getting their act together and sounding, well, like The Police! I saw them at another show this summer, and as Stewart Copeland pointed out himself, he, Andy and Sting were not on the same page musically. On Saturday night...ALL the kinks were worked out and the band that got me loving music in the first place, reminded me of why.
3. The closest thing to a gospel tent: Matisyahu bringing a much needed dose of spirituality to the throngs of fans lined up very far back in the infield.
4. Regina Spektor: "Summer in the City"
5. Meeting everyone who stopped by the TMD booth! Thanks for that!