Saxophonist LeRoi Moore 1961-2008

Dave Matthews Band Saxophonist LeRoi Moore passed away yesterday afternoon suddenly of unknown complications. LeRoi was injured in an ATV Accident on June 30th while taking a break in between shows at his farm, his last show was June 28, 2008 at Nissan Pavilion. For those who were there, it will be one to remember. This message was posted on the Dave Matthews Website last night:

"We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program."

Jeff Coffin, Saxophonist for Bela Fleck has been filling in since July with the band and LeRoi was expected to make a full recovery. Despite the loss, the show went on last night in Los Angeles and will go on for the remaining tour playing again tonight in Los Angeles at the Staple Center. During the show Dave Matthews Band and Fans expressed their love for LeRoi:

"We all had some bad news today," Matthews told the sell-out crowd. "Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on and gave his ghost up today and we will miss him forever." Fans then shouted Moore's name in tribute.

I had a chance to see Jeff Coffin on sax for the band at the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado and he brings a new sound and energy to the band. Most notably playing two sax's at once and frequently running around on stage. However I already began to miss LeRoi, who often stood still with his sunglasses on due to stage fright. Although in recent tours he had begun removing his sunglasses.

I invite you to share your memories of LeRoi, if you have pictures I'll post them on here for you e-mail them to alovett@towson.edu

RIP LeRoi, September 7, 1961 - August 19, 2008.

A Fan Tribute Video

Australian, Scottish & American

No, it's not the Olympics; although I have been enjoying watching other people exercise while I sit and critique their performance. But THIS is about the MUSIC!

Australia has Xavier Rudd, Amy MacDonald representing Scotland & the Americans are Ra Ra Riot. Erik will be judging their performance... Or rather talking about their latest albums on the New Music Sampler tomorrow at 6 & 8am on the WTMD Morning Show.

To get you psyched up for the sounds here's a preview of some songs.

Radiohead in Camden NJ

I still am taking in everything i saw tuesday night at the susquehanna bank center in camden NJ. After Grizzly Bear finished their set, the countdown to Radiohead had begun. A beautiful evening, much unlike the show at nissan where flooding caused many concert goers to miss the entire set. Tickets to tuesdays show were given to many of the fans that were un-lucky enough to miss the nissan show. For me, the two hour drive to camden NJ, the 45 minute wait to park, 8 dollar beers, and packed house were all well worth it as Radiohead took the stage and opened up with "15 step" from In Rainbows. Their entire set plus double encore was nothing short of amazing. They played a bunch of songs from In Rainbows, as well as older tunes like Kid A and many others. Here is a clip of the amazing light show and one of my favorite songs "Climbing up the Walls".

Jeb Loy Nichols to Headline September's First Thursday Concert

A musician, visual artist and member of the Fellow Travellers in the 1990s, Jeb Loy Nichols eventually set off on his own and released six albums as a solo artist, including Now Then (2005) and Days are Mighty (2007).

(He was also a featured vocalist on Groove Armada's 2007 album, Soundboy Rock.)

Jeb stopped by WTMD in June for an episode of Morning Sessions.
Listen to the interview.

And sample some of his recent songs at:
http://www.jebloynichols.co.uk/sound.htm

Songwriter Ben Taylor opens the show in support of his forthcoming album, The Legend of Kung Folk.

Jeb Loy Nichols and Ben Taylor will have CDs and other merchandise at the concert.
And be sure to stop by the WTMD Tent to say hello and grab a bumper sticker.

More information is available at:
http://www.towson.edu/wtmd/first_thursday.html

In the meantime, here's Jeb Loy Nichols performing "Days are Mighty" in New York City.

Learn Guitar From Rod and Gab

I still get chills when thinking about the performance by Rodrigo Y Gabriella at this year's Virgin Mobile Festival. Their music is absolutely groundbreaking! Who else have you heard that can take two acoustic guitars and turn them into melodic, machine-gun-fast stadium rockers- acoustic guitars that get as loud of a reception as any plugged-in rock band I've ever seen ?!

So, I'm sure the question everyone who has had the privilege of seeing them live is...."how do they do it?" Radio wasn't exactly the perfect medium for a guitar lesson, but below, you can see Rod and Gab reveal their magic tricks for budding guitarists.

Virgin Mobile Festival

Some more of what you may have missed or maybe just want to relive....

STP


Bob Dylan


Foo Fighters

Oh the Sweet Sounds!

Wanted to give you some of this incredible music from DC songstress Laura Burhenn taped at the WTMD studios. You can check out some of her Baltimore Unsigned interview in b tomorrow and hear songs Tuesday night at 8pm on 89.7 WTMD. And to get you psyched up for what’s to come here is Laura tinkling the ivories on this brand new song called “Not Your Fault”.

A little more Virgin couldn't hurt!

How incredible was Virgin Mobile Festival? So much so that we’re STILL taking it in the day after.
The WTMD crew’s field trip to Pimlico Race Course included a little bit of work - our Morning Show host Erik and producer Andrew checked out backstage to bring out artist interviews. Tough job, right? We’ve got your link to interviews - like KT Tunstall, Dan from The Black Keys, Rodrigo y Gabriela and more - right here.

Erik also acted as our roving reporter, checking out the service organizations that took place in the weekends’ merriment. But I have to ask, while you were at Virgin Fest, did you talk with Oxfam about poverty solutions or find out about Oceana’s stance on pollution in our local waterways? In essence, did the social causes at the festival make an impact?

Virgin Mobile Festival 2008

The Fighters of Foo played an amazing set on the south stage saturday night, throwing out old songs as well as newer material and even a few acoustic songs from their acoustic album, "Skin and Bones". The set was a crowd pleaser no matter who you were. Here is a peek....

Sunday School for Saints and Sinners for August

This month we look at suicides, untimely mass deaths and bridge jumpers. Plus Little Jackie is the newest sinner on the block. Check iTunes for an iMix of most of the songs we played this month.

Hour 1

Everytime I Feel the Spirit
Rev. James Cleveland & The Tabernacle Choir
The Great Voices of Tabernacle

Be With Me Jesus
The Soul Stirrers
The Soul Stirrers: Collector's Edition

The Long And Winding Road
The Beatles
1

I Wanna Be Free
The Monkees
The Monkees Greatest Hits

Ode to Billy Joe
Bobbie Gentry

Breaking Us In Two
Joe Jackson
Live 1980/86 (Disc 2)

Get the Message (2006 Remastered UK 7" Single Mix)
Electronic
Get the Message - The Best of Electronic

Invisible
Alison Moyet
Singles

Madam Butterfly (un bel di vedremo)
Malcolm McLaren
Fans

Set The Fire To The Third Bar
Snow Patrol Feat. Martha Wainwright
Eyes Open

Drops In The River
Fleet Foxes
Sun Giant [EP]

Paint
Galactic
W Hotels Warmth of Cool-Overture

Reason To Leave
Duke Spirit, Trevor Menear, And Neimo
Welcome to Shangri-La Music

Lesson 2 (James Brown Mix)
Steinski
What Does It All Mean?: 1983-2006 Retrospective

Finale: I Will Follow Him (Chariot)
Deloris & The Sisters
Sister Act

Hour 2
Stand Out
Tye Tribbett & G.A.
Stand Out

I Almost Killed You
Billy Bragg
Mr. Love & Justice

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Gordon Lightfoot
Summertime Dream

Wreck Of The Carlos Rey
Los Lobos Feat. Richard Thompson
The Ride

New York Mining Disaster 1941
Bee Gees
Their Greatest Hits: The Record [Disc 1]

Cemeteries Of London
Coldplay
Viva La Vida
Don't Let It Bring You Down

Annie Lennox
Medusa
Something The Boy Said

Sting
Ten Summoner's Tales

Your Own Worst Enemy
Bruce Springsteen
Magic

The World Should Revolve Around Me
Little Jackie
The Stoop - Little Jackie

Saints Medley: Just a Little Talk With Jesus, By and By, When the Saints Go Marching In
Gladys Knight
Many Different Roads

Mighty High
Mighty Clouds Of Joy
In the House of the Lord: Live In Houston

The Mighty Mighty Duke Spirit

Just got finished talking with Leila Moss of The Duke Spirit- they're playing the Ottobar tonight and they were kind enough to let us plug into their sound check for this Friday's Morning Sessions.

Their second album Neptune brings the melancholy and wetness of London (water is a recurring theme) to the Mojave Desert, where they layed down tracks. It's a thrilling paradox!

But, despite some subtle touches on some of the more ballady numbers- on "Wooden Heart," you can almost hear the dew glistening off guitar strings- Leila, Ollie, Luke, Dan, and Toby tear it up with their mystical, meaty rock. Leila Moss could have stood in for the Doors or the Cult, the way she lays it out- with her sensual "ooohs" and that commanding tambourine (have you ever heard of someone commanding a tambourine?) doesn't hurt either.

I wish you could have heard them sound checking, but you still can Friday at 9am!

Check out the brass on "Lassoo."

A New Look for Vampire Weekend

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

You Need a Free WTMD Bumper Sticker

Show your support for Radio for Music People while concealing that unsightly bumper, window or blemish. (It's a lot cheaper than fixing it.)

Get a free bumper sticker >>

Enter to Win Tickets to G. Love and Special Sauce at Pier Six

G. Love and Special Sauce visit the Pier Six Pavilion on Sunday, August 17th, in support of their new Brushfire Records release, Superhero Brother.

Visit WTMD.org through Monday, August 4th, to register to win a pair of tickets to the show.

Rothbury Festival goes off with a Bang!!!!

So..... Its been a few weeks since the first ever Rothbury Music Festival in Rothbury Michigan, but then again its taken me that long to recover. The festival, which spanned 4 days over July 4th weekend, included headlining acts The Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, and Phil Lesh & Friends, as well as many other incredible acts such as The Disco Biscuits, 311, Modest Mouse, and a surprise 3/4 Phish Reunion on Sunday afternoon. This trip was nothing short of amazing. For a first year festival you would think they had been doing this for years. I could not tell you a show i saw that didn't amaze me. The Sound at every stage was amazing, the stages looked so cool, and there was a forest completely lit at night with black lights and other various psychedelic lighting. I could never imagine picking my favorite performance, they were all amazing, but i will never forget Sound Tribe Sector Nine performing at The Ranch late Saturday night into Sunday morning. I don't know if it was the amazing set played, the hundreds upon hundreds of glow sticks thrown, or if it was the FREAKIN FIREWORKS!! being set off from the middle of the audience, but i do know this was one show I'll never forget!!! Here is a clip i found of these shenanigans....