WTMD Asks You to Support Doctors Without Borders

Over the past few days we've seen the untold devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Americans have responded generously, and today we’d like to ask you to make a contribution to Doctors Without Borders' Haiti Rescue Response Fund.

Doctors Without Borders is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. They recruit and place qualified medical personnel in countries where the need for medical attention is great.

Their teams are working to provide surgery and basic care to as many patients in Haiti as possible, but the need continues to outstrip available resources.

WTMD listeners understand music can change the world; today we need more than music. We need you to support Doctors Without Borders.

Tune in all day Tuesday as we feature music and stories from Haiti and the Caribbean. And learn more about Doctors Without Borders at wtmd.org.

Sincerely,

Stephen Yasko
General Manager

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!

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

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.

Mark The King's 75th in DC

We can only imagine what The King would look like, would sound like if he were alive today on this, his 75th birthday.

Would he play the Super Bowl halftime show in February? Would he and Paul McCartney do a Face 2 Face tour of their own (with guitars instead of pianos)?

One thing that IS possible, though, is to head down to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery from now through August and catch, “One Life: Echoes of Elvis."

The one-room exhibit (chich opens today) is devoted to the evolution and influence of Presley’s image after his death and features portraits, images from Graceland and tons of Elvis memorabilia.

Long live The King!

From Americana to Electronica: Lissie

Lissie Maurus hails from Rock Island, Illinois and makes rustic, yet soulful Americana music on her debut cd, Why You Runnin, which was produced by Band of Horses bass player Bill Reynolds.

She plays the 930 Club tonight (1/7/10) with City and Colour.

But, her first taste of noteriety came from her guest vocals and video appearance on "Why You Runnin' " by electro-house DJ, Morgan Page.

Check it.

Dave Matthews Band's Joy

...of making music is gloriously shared in this video for You & Me with some friends.

I also think Leroi's spirit is summoned and that, maybe, just maybe, the lyrics are imagined from his point of view, singing to a loved one.

One of Dave Matthews Band most moving tracks. Just enjoy!

WTMD's Senator Theatre Proposal Video

Here is the video we played at the public meeting at the Senator Theatre. It details the history of this beloved landmark, reactions from residents, listeners and business people to our proposal, and what you might hear on the WTMD airwaves to tell folks about whats happening at the Senator. 

We welcome your comments and questions and hope to see you .....At the Senator.

Rock on, baby.

At WTMD, we really enjoy music. Babies are cool, too. When the two come together, as they did for our TMD 5,000 Fund Drive with our youngest member Chloe, we tend to giggle around the office and click Replay numerous times.

Here, this youngster takes a break from nap time for some fist-pumping, head-bashing, rocking-out. Enjoy.

Baltimore Unsigned's Top 30 of 2009

Once again, Baltimore musicians had a great year of releases. With a handful of bands getting signed to major labels this year, including Beach House, Double Dagger and most recently, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Charm City is further establishing itself as the next big scene in the country for music.

1. Vandaveer – “Divide & Conquer”
2. Tommy Tucker – “Keep Good Time”
3. Wye Oak – “Dance My Pain Away”
4. Beach House – “Norway”
5. The Oranges Band – “Ottobar After Hours”
6. Middle Distance Runner – “The Unbeliever”
7. Double Dagger – “No Allies”
8. The Everlove – “You’re the Sun”
9. Title Tracks – “Every Little Bit Hurts”
10. Arty Hill and the Long Gone Daddies – “Church on Saturday Night”
11. Justin Jones And The Driving Rain – “California”
12. Sticky Mulligan – “Recipe”
13. Nelly’s Echo – “Young Man”
14. Young Sir Jim – “Stick Shift”
15. Laura Brino – “The Biggest Meteor I've Ever Seen”
16. ellen cherry – “1864: A Civil War Bride”
17. Caleb Stine – “Comes From the West”
18. Ms. Sara and the Help – “Try”
19. Jason Dove – “Big Red Truck”
20. Dan Deacon – “Get Older”
21. Jagged Hearts – “Merlequin”
22. The Seldon Plan – “Lost and Found and Lost”
23. Paul Masson – “My Girl Baltimore”
24. Can’t Hang – “Strangers at Your Funeral”
25. DNA – “Take Your Time”
26. Jah Works – “Twisted”
27. Shook – “Feel Alright”
28. Earthtone – “Old Manhattan”
29. John Mancini Band – “Don’t Go Easy”
30. SoulStice --- “Bird’s Eye View”

Top 89 Songs of 2009

1. The Avett Brothers, "I And Love And You"
2. One Eskimo, "Kandi"
3. Animal Collective, "My Girls"
4. Phoenix, "1901"
5. Sea Wolf, "Wicked Blood"
6. Blitzen Trapper, "Black River Killer"
7. Silversun Pickups, "Panic Switch"
8. Wilco, "You And I"
9. Langhorne Slim, "Say Yes"

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10. Grizzly Bear, "Two Weeks"
11. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Home"
12. Monsters of Folk, "Say Please"
13. Gomez, "Airstream Driver"
14. Regina Spektor, "Eet"
15. Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"
16. Portgual. The Man, "People Say"
17. Ben Harper and the Relentless7, "Shimmer and Shine"
18. Company of Thieves, "Oscar Wilde"
19. Rosanne Cash, "Sea Of Heartbreak"
20. Guggenheim Grotto, "Fee Da Da Dee"

Support Radio for Music People


21. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "40 Day Dream"
22. The Avett Brothers, "Kick Drum Heart"
23. M. Ward, "Never Had Nobody Like You"
24. K'Naan, "Waving Flag"
25. Charlie Mars, "Listen to the Darkside"
26. Neko Case, "This Tornado Loves You"
27. Brandi Carlile, "Dreams"
28. Erin McKeown, "Santa Cruz"
29. Serena Ryder, "Little Bit of Red"


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30. Guggenheim Grotto, "Her Beautiful Ideas"
31. Elliott Brood, "WIADFY"
32. Fleet Foxes, "Mykonos"
33. 7 Worlds Collide, "Hazel Black"
34. Ingrid Michaelson, "Maybe"
35. Bob Schneider, "40 Dogs"
36. Umphrey's McGee, "Cemetery Walk"
37. Wilco, "Wilco (The Song)"
38. Wilco, "You Never Know"
39. Levon Helm, "When I Go Away"


Support Radio for Music People


40. Imogen Heap, "First Train Home"
41. Rodrigo y Gabriela, "Buster Voodoo"
42. Vandaveer, "Divide and Conquer"
43. Lisa Hannigan, "I Don't Know"
44. Brett Dennen, "Heaven"
45. Brendan Benson, "A Whole Lot Better"
46. Passion Pit, "The Reeling"
47. Neko Case, "People Got a Lotta Nerve"
48. Andrew Bird, "Fitz and the Dizzyspells"
49. Dan Auerbach, "My Last Mistake"


Great music on WTMD is made possible by support from listeners.
Pledge now to become a member.


50. Joshua James, "Coal War"
51. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, "Nikorette"
52. Miike Snow, "Animal"
53. Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons, "Born Again"
54. Bell X1, "The Great Defector"
55. Chuck Prophet, "Let Freedom Ring"
56. Depeche Mode, "Wrong"
57. Heartless Bastards, "The Mountain"
58. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, "Gunpowder"
59. The Noisettes, "Never Forget You"

Support Radio for Music People


60. Metric, "Help I'm Alive"
61. The Decemberists, "The Rake's Song"
62. Camera Obscura, "French Navy"
63. Bat For Lashes, "Daniel"
64. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, "Sugarfoot"
65. Vampire Weekend, "Horchata"
66. Tegan and Sara, "Hell"
67. Death Cab for Cutie, "Meet Me on the Equinox"
68. Phish, "Backwards Down the Number Line"
69. Pearl Jam, "The Fixer"


Great music on WTMD is made possible by support from listeners.
Pledge now to become a member.


70. Dave Matthews Band, "Funny The Way It Is"
71. Wye Oak, "For Prayer"
72. Great Northern, "Houses"
73. Cage the Elephant, "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked"
74. Swell Season, "Low Rising"
75. Lily Allen, "The Fear"
76. The Felice Brothers, "Penn Station"
77. Chris Isaak, "We Let Her Down"
78. Jupiter One, "Flaming Arrow"
79. Derek Trucks Band, "Down in the Flood"

Support Radio for Music People


80. The Big Pink, "Dominos"
81. Death Cab for Cutie, "Little Bribes"
82. Sara Watkins, "Long Hot Summer Day"
83. Phoenix, "Lisztomania"
84. Cold War Kids, "Audience"
85. Matisyahu, "One Day"
86. Bruce Springsteen, "Working on a Dream"
87. Monsters of Folk, "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)"
88. The Dead Weather, "Hang You From The Heavens"
89. Manchester Orchestra, "I've Got Friends"

Bono and Buds Deliver X-Mas Surprise

Can you imagine if you went for a stroll on Christmas Eve and saw....BONO....busking with Damien Rice and Glen Hansard?

Well, that's exactly what happened to some lucky holiday revelers in Dublin.

The three musicians along with pal Mundy put out the hat for Simon Community, a charity that helps the homeless of Ireland.

The performed U2's "One", "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, and "Falling Slowly" from Glen's movie ONCE.