Fond of Fred

Fred is a fun five-piece out of Cork, Ireland with quite the refreshing sound- funky, psychedelic, shamrock soul.... and quite danceable.

There's lots of belted-out harmonies and humor on their third album Go God Go. Enjoy this little vid for "The Lights."

Rockin' the Block

Saw this on Sam Sessa's blog and couldn't resist: Tommy Tucker and the Supernaturals, who just recorded a Baltimore Unsigned episode, gets down with the seedier side of Charm City for this video and out of it....comes one of the ultimate universal truths- that music is a wrecking ball of any preconceived barriers between people. Also, it's a terrific "serenading the non-tourist areas of a city video" in the vain of the Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge" and U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (for LA and Vegas, respectively). Terrific spirit, guys! And there are some good dancers on the block- no, not THAT kind.

Wil(co)mington

Most of the WTMD staff flocked to West Virginia for All Good last weekend, leaving its interns with the heavy burden of rocking out to Wilco in Delaware. On their tour's East coast swing, Jeff Tweedy and company seemed to have snuck stealthily into Wilmington (tour bus nowhere to be seen), their sound stage like a fort in the middle of Frawley Stadium, primed for a night of guerrilla indie-rock-pop-alt-country. No one has ever seemed to know what to call their dextrous weave of styles, so it might be best to add Wilco (the genre) to Wilco (the band), Wilco (The Album), and Wilco (The Song).
And here the band seemed worthy of its own genre. At 3 o'clock on a scorching afternoon, they turned their sound check into a five song private concert for forty 40 of us WTMD listeners and interns. Tweedy , longtime Wilco maestro, lead singer and guitarist, cracked jokes between songs and took requests, including one for "Shake It Out" that had drummer Glenn Kotche pumping his fists. Five feet away from the stage, we watched Tweedy croon and Nels Cline work his spidery magic all over the frets of his (many) guitars. With their scraggly hair and ragged tee T-shirts, they looked like the members of my college house three months ago, the morning after a spectacular party, but as soon as they started playing, they were a rapid, seamless stream of sound, with an amazing knack for feeling smooth and jangly at once.
By the time of the official show at dusk, they had donned more dapper clothes and were sending out waves of lucid music, blending classics and new album cuts. Tweedy sang with his trademark wryness, sifting tones wistful, bitter, joyful, and bemused in song after song, dipping into every Wilco album since A.M. The self-assured ease of Wilco (The Album) rode alongside the restive tracks of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot ("I Am Trying To Break Your Heart"), the plaintive tracks of Summer Teeth ("Can't Stand It") , and the spooky wanderings of A Ghost Is Born ("Spiders (Kidsmoke").
Tweedy and his comrades have become masters of tightly constructed, hook-laden, wildly catchy pop songs, as they showed again and again Friday night with "Wilco (The Song)" and "You Never Know," off the new album, along with classics like "Jesus, Etc.," "I'm the Man That Loves You," and the glorious encore surfacing of "Heavy Metal Drummer." In its soul, though, Wilco is a champion of epic instrumental breakdowns, which it treats like meandering crusades for higher feelings of wonder. It was these jams of fancy that were most entrancing Friday night, in "Impossible Germany" and "Spiders (Kidsmoke)," where Cline's and Tweedy's entangling riffs and wails felt like a trek through the entire American landscape, paced by the steady groove of the rest of the band.
The amazing thing about Wilco is that its double personality of well-crafted pop and sprawling experimentation never feels like a split personality, just the wide ranging of one of America's greatest bands.

I'm Tired, Dirty and Need A Shower But...

IT'S ALL GOOD!!!

Hey everyone part of the WTMD crew has traveled to beautiful Masontown, West Virginia for the Annual All Good Music and Arts Festival. The weekend promises sets from jam band favorites like Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey's McGee, STS9, Tea Leaf Green, Dark Star Orchestra, and Bob Weir & Ratdog.  

Last night we started off with a mix of great music from Keller Williams who played an amazing version of "Freaker by the Speaker" as well as covers of "Barracuda" and the King of Pop's "Rock With You". Later on around 3am Lotus took the stage for a set that kept the fans moving all the way to the break of dawn, literally. 

Today's bands have included one of my new favorites Hill Country Review, Jackie Greene, and New Orleans' own Galactic has just finished up as I type. We're still looking forward to Robert Randolph and the Family Band, who are headed our way to Baltimore very soon for Artscape, Les Claypool and moe.

But keep checking in because i'll be updating you on sets from Baltimore's own, Lake Trout and The Bridge as well as the other sights and sounds. And for all of the fans of "Stuck In The Jam with Bug" he's been getting some great exclusive backstage content like a live acoustic set from Keller Williams. 

Depeche Mode on World Cafe

Here is Johnny Cash UNCOVERING Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
Catch Depeche ModeJuly 28th @ Nissan Pavilion

Stream The New Wye Oak

CD is out July 21st and the CD Release party is on July 21st at the Ottobar

Stream the new CD HERE

Stream The New Dead Weather

Stream the new album from The Dead Weather featuring Jack White.
Make sure you check them Live at the 930 Club, July 13th and 14th.

Mix Tape Thursday, 7/9/09

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

7 a.m. Sarah Johnson

These are songs that I'd like to learn to play on the guitar. Listening to them has inspired me to take guitar lessons and I hope that one day I'll be able to play them all.

* "Long Ride Home," by Patty Griffin
* "Never Going Back Again," by Fleetwood Mac
* "Don't Think Twice It's Alright," by Bob Dylan


9 a.m. Tristan Horrom

These songs are from an indie-ish leaning mix I made a little while ago. I was looking for catchy songs that go well together; I believe transitions are very important for a good mix tape. I really enjoy this sequence of songs.

* "It's Only Divine Right," by New Pornographers
* "Steady As She Goes," by The Raconteurs
* "July, July!" by The Decemberists
* "I Turn My Camera On," by Spoon
* "Kissing the Lipless," by The Shins


11 a.m. Josh Fink

* "No Depression," by Uncle Tupelo
A great upbeat yet depressing song to start your day with!

* "California Stars," by Wilco
For a bit of dreamy wandering.

* "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream, Part 2," by My Morning Jacket
Puts some rhythmic sex into your brain.

* "The W.A.N.D.," by The Flaming Lips
Wayne Coyne rocks!

* "You and I," by Wilco (w/ Feist)
A pretty and mature look at a relationship that many can relate to.


1 p.m. Jeff Bucklew

All of these bands represent not only the "now" but also where popular music is, thankfully, going. While all of these bands, like their predecessors, borrow from the past, this wave of artists has, in my opinion, brought the freshest, newest sensibility to modern music since Nirvana.

They represent the next Golden Age of Music.

* "Halfway Home," by TV on the Radio
* "Weekend Wars," by MGMT
* "It Don't Move Me," by Peter, Bjorn & John
* "Dragon Queen," by Yeah Yeah Yeahs


5 p.m. Laura Abel

With all the buzz about new super-group The Dead Weather, I wanted to pay homage to Jack White. He is remarkably talented; both a creative genius, and a musical chameleon. As a tribute to White's quirky style, here is the Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and... Something Blue playlist.

* "Old Enough," by The Raconteurs
* "Hang You From the Heavens," by The Dead Weather
* "Seven Nation Army," by Nostalgia 77
* "Blue Orchid," by The White Stripes


7 p.m. Alex Horrom

It's hard to believe it's July already. Here's a mix of some fun songs for the middle of summer.

* "July, July!," by The Decemberists
* "Einstein on the Beach," by Counting Crows
* "Constructive Summer," by The Hold Steady
* "On the Radio," by Regina Spektor
* "Nikorette," by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Relentlessly Amazing

Ben Harper has always been a favorite of mine since I saw him opening for the Dave Matthews Band in the summer of 2000. I'm always excited when I hear that he's putting out a new album and this year is no exception to that statement. When the full album with his new band Relentless 7, White Lies For Lies For Dark Times slid across my desk I was elated. On first listen I decided it would be a featured CD of the Week here at the station and with tracks like "Number With No Name", "Shimmer & Shine", and "Fly One Time" there was no way around it.

I stayed up late to see every performance by the group on the late-night TV circuit and even passed up Nine Inch Nails' performance at Bonnaroo to see R7's show at The Other Tent. All I can say is that it was one of the most powerful performances I got to see at the festival and I had chills for the entire set. They even tackled a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times" which left my face thoroughly melted.

Needless to say the band's set at the All Good Music & Arts Festival this weekend in Masontown, West Virginia, is one I have been looking forward to for a while.

Mix Tape Thursday, 7/1/09

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

6 a.m. David Ziffer

In honor of Weezer, one of this year's Freefest performers, and their debut album, "The Blue Album", I've included a song from that album, a track from 311's self-titled debut, also known as "The Blue Album," and The Beatles' "Blue Album, 1967-1970."

* "My Name is Jonas," by Weezer
* "All Mixed Up," by 311
* "Across the Universe," by The Beatles


8 a.m. Kathy Marr

There are artists I heard for the first time on WTMD and songs that moved me deeply.

* "Forever My Friend," by Ray Lamontagne
* "Be Here Now," by Mason Jennings
* "Pride," by Daniella Cotton
* "You Dance," by East Mountain South
* "Gravity," by Bob Sima


10 a.m. Mary Zajac
A while ago, David Dye had Moby choose a Top 5 on the World Cafe. Moby's theme was "5 Songs That Would Sound Good in a Desolate Parking Lot of an Abandoned Factory at 4 AM." This is my take on that theme.

* "Over the Hillside," by The Blue Nile
* "All I Need," by Radiohead
* "Love Letter," by Nick Cave
* "For the Turnstiles," by Neil Young
* "Famous Blue Raincoat," by Leonard Cohen


12 p.m. Susan Atwell-Keister

Songs of freedom and America for the 4th of July

* "Freedom," by Melissa Ferrick
* "America," from West Side Story
* "This Land Is Your Land," by Woody Guthrie
* "Free Fallin'," by Tom Petty


4 p.m. Melissa Artnak

This is a, hopefully, not too sappy, but still pretty endearing mix tape that is a modern variant on the "I Like You" mix tapes we are all guilty of making as teens.

All of the songs have a summery feel, so the title written on the label of this cassette could be "Grown-up Summer Camp Love Songs," if that's not too cheesy.

* "Rave On," by M. Ward
* "Slow Show," by The National
* "French Navy," by Camera Obscura
* "All My Mistakes," by The Avett Brothers

Dead Weather Forecast

Jack White is the rock equivalent of Ben & Jerry's. Every few months he swirls a few new ingredients into the mix, creating sonic concoctions that are always unique but clearly part of the larger White brand.

The latest tasty incarnation, The Dead Weather, finds White on drums and sharing vocal duties with The Kills' Alison Mosshart. Darker than the Stripes and Raconteurs, it's an interesting departure with Queen of the Stone Age's Dean Fertita handling guitar duties.

The U.S. summer tour kicks off at the 9:30 Club on Monday and Tuesday, July 13-14, which coincides with the release of the full-length, Horehound.

In the interim, they're giving away a free copy of the single, "Treat Me Like Your Mother," when you submit your email address for band updates.

Treat Me Like Your Mother (Alb...

Michael Jackson: Time Traveler

One of the things that strikes me about Michael Jackson was his ability to be relevant to three generations.

For Boomers, the late 60's and early 70's brought a little R & B levity to a turbulent time with "Rockin Robin" and "ABC."

Gen X'ers came of age during "Thriller" and not since Willy Wanka was magic so believable.

And for Millennials it's "Smooth Criminal" (and that includes the Alien Ant Farm version) and "Scream" with sister Jane (the most expensive video of all time) . Even Sri Lankan/Anglo rap star M.I.A. said that two of the first English words she learned was Michael and Jackson.

Unfortunately, we all can claim the era of the last decade when all the wacky behavior and legal troubles emerged.

I think the thing we'll all grasp someday, if not now, is just the way Michael spoke to our childhoods and the collective possibilities of each generation. No entertainer in history had that kind of power.

Below is a soft drink ad and some videos that speak to Michael Jackson's ability to span the decades and time forever.

Mix Tape Thursday, 6/25/09

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

7 a.m. Jill Bucolo

This is actually the first five songs of the mix tape my boyfriend at the time--who is now my husband--used to listen to on the way to All Good when it was at Wilmers Park

* "Carnival," by The Band
* "Hurricane," by Bob Dylan
* "Road to Nowhere," by Talking Heads
* "Dear Mr. Fantasy," by Blind Faith
* "One More Saturday Night," by The Grateful Dead


9 a.m. Jean Tansey

Girls and summer, celebrating the first days of summer!

* "Girls In Their Summer Clothes," by Bruce Springsteen
* "Vacation," by The GoGos
* "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," by Cindy Lauper


11 a.m. Beth Lacey Gill

Five songs I didn't know before Virgin Fest 2007. I still listen to them constantly!

* "Narc," by Interpol
* "Fidelity," by Regina Spektor
* "I Turn My Camera On," by Spoon
* "Young Folks," by Peter, Bjorn & John
* "Your Hand in Mine," by Explosions in the Sky


1 p.m. Sarah Morgan

Some of my favorite songs for summer.

* "Sausalito," by Conor Oberst
* "Fat Man in the Bathtub," by Little Feat
* "Salvation," by The Avett Brothers
* "The Underdog," by Spoon
* "Wagon Wheel," by Old Crow Medicine Show


5 p.m. Miranda Sinicrope

I chose these songs because I feel that they represent the diverse sounds of what is coming out of the indie genre. It's exciting for these artists who, for the most part have been around and touring for years, to be succeeding while bands such as Passion Pit and the Harlem Shakes are creating a new exciting sound.

* "The Reeling," by Passion Pit
* "High Lonesome," by The Gaslight Anthem
* "Two Weeks," by Grizzly Bear
* "1901," by Phoenix
* "Sunlight," by Harlem Shakes


7 p.m. Tom Geary

These five songs were my favorite performances of the past two Virgin Festivals in Baltimore. It's moments like these that remind me of how much of a blast I had in '07 and '08 at Pimlico and get me excited for this year's festival!

* "Honeybear," by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
* "Your Touch," by The Black Keys
* "Ain't No Easy Way," by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
* "Fortunate Son," by Cat Power
* "Pioneer to the Falls," by Interpol

The Headless Spektor

I always love seeing Regina Spektor as much as I do hearing her; her face is just as expressive as that scatty/quirky voice.

And that really comes through on the video to "Laughing With" which appears on Far (out tomorrow). Check out the scene where she loses her head.

Jacknife Lee and Jeff Lyne (though she reportedly didn't know who exactly who he was when she hired him) are among four producers for this effort, so I have a feeling this song is not representative of all we're going to hear.

Tune in all day tomorrow to listen to cuts from it.

The Show That Changed My Life

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to hear The Jayhawks scored so high in the 897 Greatest Artists Countdown.

I used to live in rural Massachusetts and, to put it bluntly, I was only exposed to bad music due to bad radio stations. I moved to New York and, all of a sudden, I heard amazing bands on decent radio stations.

One area station sponsored a free show with The Jayhawks. Having only heard "Waiting for the Sun," I went not expecting very much but some sun and fun. It turned out to be a show that affected me--and the way I listen to music--in the most positive way.

I had never been exposed to such good music, both lyrically and in terms of musicianship. The Jayhawks changed the way I listen to music. I left the show determined to expand my musical horizons. I am sure that each of us has a band we treasure.

For me, The Jayhawks' show led me to my musical epiphany. Thank you, Mark Olson and Gary Louris, for your greatness.


WTMD Volunteer Extraordinaire Fletcher is a regular at area shows, often supporting local bands by volunteering his time at their merchandise tables.

He'll be in the studio taking your calls during the Fund Drive, June 13-19. Tune in, give him a call and become part of the TMD 5,000.