Between the Grooves: Walk the Moon's Dance Happy Sounds

From the city that gave us the Isley Brothers, the Afghan Whigs and a wacky, fictional radio station comes the energetic sounds of Walk the Moon.

A love of Talking Heads and The Killers gave rise to the Cincinnati quartets' rhythmic blend of 80's-flavored keyborads and poppy guitars.

Walk the Moon's new album I Want! I Want! has enough allure in the lyrics to make it more than a dance album, though not that there would be anything wrong with that!

On this week's Between the Grooves, Thursday at 2pm, Walk the Moon plug in for a full set of happy, non-sedintary music. Oh yeah, the band also likes to face paint their fans onstage. Feel the love this Thursday!

WTMD's EEO report for 2011

Become A WTMD Volunteer for our Summer Fund Drive

WTMD’s Summer Fund Drive is right around the corner and we are looking for fun, music loving-volunteers to answer phones and take pledges. Volunteering at WTMD is a great way to meet fellow listeners and your favorite djs, all while supporting the station you love.
Plus, meals and refreshments are provided by some of Baltimore’s best restaurants. Just fill out this form and we'll contact you about being a WTMD Volunteer!

WTMD wants to send you to Bonnaroo!

It's the biggest, and some say the best, of all the summer music festivals. Maybe it's the Woodstock like vibe, maybe it's where music history happens--but everyone should go to Bonnaroo at least once. Here's how you can enter to win this incredible trip. Just take a look at the lineup!

Just make a contribution by 11:59 pm May 29, 2011 and you're automatically entered. Of course, no donation is necessary to enter, just fill out the form as indicated. Your support is important to keeping WTMD powered up all summer long. We'll draw the winner and contact them shortly after the drawing closes. Please remember, only on-line contributions and entries are eligible--if you made a recent contribution by mail, please use the form to enter. Transportation to Manchester, TN is not included.

Winner will receive 1 pair of Guest Passes to all four days of the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN June 9th through 12th Including:

•4 nights of prime camping accommodations

•Access to premium seating and viewing areas at each stage

•Access to the backstage Guest Lounge and Restaurant

This ticket package includes access unavailable to the general public!

*No pledge necessary to win. Simply choose "Enter Me In The Drawing Only"

Weekend on the Radio Recap

Every Thursday morning at 6:20 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Sam Gallant of the Creative Alliance shares with you all the cool happenings around town on Weekend on the Radio. This week a Baltimore band that's been tearing it up around the country comes home to roost,  metalheads rejoice and knock back a pint with the animals! In case you missed a detail about a specific event, here's the list for this week. 

Weekend on The Radio Recap

Every Thursday morning at 6:20 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Sam Gallant of the Creative Alliance shares with you all the cool happenings around town on Weekend on the Radio. This week a Baltimore band that's been tearing it up around the country comes home to roost,  metalheads rejoice and knock back a pint with the animals! In case you missed a detail about a specific event, here's the list for this week. 

Thursday, 5/26

• Death Metal Fest, Sonar
• Play Lab Series @Canter Stage, Knife on Bone, 7pm  

Friday, 5/27:

• J. Roddy Walston and the Business, The Ottobar, doors @9pm, show @10pm 
• Play Lab Series @Center Stage, Knife on Bone, 8pm
• Death Metal Fest, Sonar 
• Baltimore Rock Opera Double Feature, Amphion/The Terrible Secret of Lunastus, Showtime Theater, 7pm (ongoing through June 12th)

Saturday, 5/28:

• Play Lab Series @Center Stage, Knife on Bone,  8pm
• J. Roddy Walston and the Business, The Ottobar, doors@9pm, show @10pm
• Death Metal Fest, Sonar 
• Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too!, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1-7pm

Sunday, 5/29

• Play Lab Series@ Center Stage,  Knife on Bone, 2pm 
• Death Metal Feast, Sonar 
• Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too!, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1-7pm
• SOWEBO Arts&Music Festival, Hollins Market ara 1100 and 100 blocks of Hollins Street, noon-8pm
• New Kids on the Block w. Jordin Sparks 730pm

 

First Thursdays Announcement

We'll be announcing the next First Thursday line up in just a couple of days.  Keep listening and checking back.

Between the Grooves: Katie Costello's Infectious Charm

If Katie Costello's cute, retro look doesn't captivate you right away, the quirky melodies from her new album Lamplight surely will.

The line "I wish there was a social excuse to make you a cassette tape" from the already irresistible piano bounce on the single "Cassette Tape"adds an extra smile.

Catch Katie Costello on the next Between the Grooves Thursday at 2pm.

Dylan Knocking on the Door

Can you believe the voice of not just a generation, but EVERY generation turns 70 today? We're celebrating by playing plenty of songs from the maestro himself plus some choice covers.

I stumbled across this one this morning from Baltimore's very own uke strumming mouth trumpeter, Victoria Vox.

CD of the Week: The Strokes Back On Top

The Strokes new file swapping approach to recording may be miles away from the live, Manhattan garage punk sensibilities of Is This It, but the signature bouncy beat and resigned swagger return nearly ten years later on WTMD's new CD of the Week Angles, albeit with some electronic and new wave flourishes.

Perhaps solo efforts stoked some competitive fires (for the first time, the rest of the band gets co-writing credit with Julian Cassablancas, who recently derided the band's new found democracy) or maybe it was the sheer time it took to make the new record that created the well-documented tensions within the band, and thank goodness!

The wailing, double guitar attack and jagged percussion on "Under Cover of Darkness" sounds melodic and incendiary and make all the false starts worth it.

What Will You Win in the WTMD Spring Online Auction?

The WTMD Spring Online Auction offers you a unique opportunity to support WTMD while receiving some of the most amazing thank you gifts we could gather up.  Hundreds of artists have come through the studios and many of them have left special gifts that you can display on your office wall (great for bragging to clients!) or have as keepsake in your home.

We've also created some experiences--since music is the original interactive activity--like sharing some time with a WTMD DJ while they prepare and host their show.  Or go record shopping with Weasel! Now what an amazing that experience will be and the opening bid is just $50.

Click Here and get started!

Weekend on the Radio Recap

Every Thursday morning at 6:20 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Sam Gallant of the Creative Alliance shares with you all the cool happenings around town on Weekend on the Radio. In case you missed a detail about a specific event, here's the list for this week. This week, Megan Hamilton takes over the reins for Sam.

HEY EVERYBODY, IT'S PREAKNESS WEEKEND!

Weekend on The Radio Recap

Every Thursday morning at 6:20 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Sam Gallant of the Creative Alliance shares with you all the cool happenings around town on Weekend on the Radio. In case you missed a detail about a specific event, here's the list for this week. This week, Megan Hamilton takes over the reins for Sam.

HEY EVERYBODY, IT'S PREAKNESS WEEKEND!

• Preakness 2011, Pimlico Racetrack, Gates open at 8 a.m., Saturday, March 21


• Preakness 2011 InField Fest, Pimlico Racetrack, Gates open at 8, Saturday, March 21


• Preakness Crab Derby, Lexington Market, noon, Saturday, March 21


• Preakness Balloon Festival, Turf Valley, all day, Friday, March 20

Thursday, 5/19

• UMBC Gallery Reception and Awards Ceremony, UMBC Center for Art Design and Visual Culture, 5 to 7 p.m.


• Rogers and Hammerstein at the Movies, Music Center at Strathmore, 7 p.m.


• The Radiators, Ram's Head Live, 8 p.m.

Saturday, 5/21:

• Wine in the Woods, Symphony Woods, noon to 6 p.m. (Also Sunday)


• KarmaFest, Oregon Ridge, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday)


• Songs on the Wind First Nations Gathering, Creative Alliance, 6 p.m.

Sunday: 5/22:

• Maryland Animal Shelter Benefit, 8x10, 2 p.m.


• Sugarland, Merriweather Post Pavillion, 6:30 p.m.


• Annapolis FreshFarm Market, Donner Parking Lot


• Baltimore Farmers Market, Under the I-83 Bridge

Between the Grooves: JJ Grey's Swampy Soul Solo

You just won't hear a groovier summertime tune than "The Sweetest Thing" by JJ Grey and Mofro. Toots Hibbert's soulful grunts and a laid back kick drum make the track from the Jacksonville, Florida band's latest, Georgia Warhorse something to savor on a hot day with a cool sunset.

Hear Grey's potent blend of funk, rock, gospel, Southern rock and homespun lyrics stripped down to its acoustic basics Thursday at 2pm on this week's Between the Grooves.

CD of the Week: Raphael's Rockin' Retro Rolls Into Future

You could forgive Raphael Saadiq for feeling giddy. The Tony! Toni! Tone! frontman, producer (Joss Stone, D'Angelo) and multi-instrumentalist started out the year playing guitar alongside Mick Jagger at the Grammy's during a rollicking Solomon Burke tribute.

So why not aim high on his new record? Right out of the gate, on "Heart Attack" from WTMD's new CD of the Week Stone Rollin', Saadiq ambitiously channels the Jackson's "Shake Your Body Down (to the Ground)" with a dirty guitar riff that boogies with the best of them.

And whether it's Motown he's channeling or early rock and roll,  Saadiq brings so much zeal and love to his influences that the music sounds as contemporary, cool and snazzy as the suits and sweaters he favors.