CD of the Week: Smithereens Blast to the Past

If my high school class decides to hold its 25 year reunion this summer, I'll have to tell my classmates of the time in 1986 when I bussed the table of The Smithereens while working at a Columbia-area hotel restaurant.  Pat DiNizio and the boys were playing Merriweather in support of their debut album Especially for You and couldn't have been nicer (good tippers!). Being the professional busser that I was, I kept the proper distance and tried not to gush about my favorite song at the time, "Behind the Wall of Sleep."

A quarter century later Don Dixon is back in the producer's chair as he was for the first one.  The Smithereens 2011 is our CD of the Week.  Beatles/Byrds-inspired melodies drive the songs while power-chords provide the fuel. DiNizio's voice aches with the kind of romantic longing you'd find in old movies, though sometimes a little growling defiance comes through, as on the TMD favorite "Sorry."

Though they've dabbled plenty in nostalgia (a remake of The Who's Tommy and a Beatles' covers record) over the ensuing years, the new music from these Jersey boys feels relevant and time-tested.

Enjoy all the tracks from The Smithereens 2011 this week on WTMD. And compare 2011 to 1986 Smithereens (w. the alluring Suzanne Vega). What a blast!

See you in the Park

First Thursdays in the Park Tonight!

Damnwells
April Smith and the Great Picture Show
Harper Blynn
Details

Sonar Baltimore closes the doors, Some Shows move to Bourbon Street

Yesterday Sonar Baltimore announced that due to issues beyond their control they would be shutting down the club, effective immeadiatly. Last night's show with Talib Kweli and Saleem and The Musiclovers was moved to Bourbon Street. As of right now The New Deal will also be moved to Bourbon Street. The New Deal scheduled for a stop as Sonar tomorrow May 6th, will now be performing at Bourbon Street. There are a bunch of shows that were scheduled at Sonar that now stand on uncertain ground, including this Saturday's show with Jukebox The Ghost. We are not sure what the fate of some of these upcoming shows scheduled for Sonar will be but we will do our best to keep updates as shows try to find new venues.

The New Deal is on their farewell tour, and have announced that they will be finished at the conclusion of 2011. Here is a video to get you pumped for tomorrows show at Bourbon Street!!

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.

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.

All Weekend Long:

• Maryland Film Festival, various venues around town, check website for details


• Ocean City Springfest, Ocean City Inlet/boardwalk, check website for details


• Flower Mart, Washington Monument, Mt. Vernon, check website for details

Thursday, 5/5:

• First Thursday with The Damnwells, Washington Monument Mt. Vernon, 5:30 p.m.

Cinco de Mayo Venues:

• Recher Theatre


• Holy Frijoles


• Fish Head Cantina


• Zen West


• Howl at The Moon


• Luna Lounge

• ABBA: The Concert, Pier 6, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 7

• Kinetic Sculpture Race. American Visionary Art Musueum, 9:30 a.m.


• Free Comic Book Day, every comic book store in the country


• 70s Soul Jam, Hippodrome, 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 8: Mother's Day Events

• Medieval Times: Mom gets in free, Arundel Mills Mall


• Mother's Day at Boordy Vineyards


• Brunch, various fine establishments around town
  

WTMD now on Android

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First Thursdays Starts this Week

May 5th W. Mt. Vernon Park
The Damnwells

April Smith and the Great Picture Show

Harper Bylnn

Click Here for more Details!

There is still time
to get all the perks!

Between the Grooves: Consume Iron and Wine

Tune in Thursday at 2pm for a mini orchestra session with Iron and Wine. You'll hear a clarinet, bass harmonica, mandolin, the blended voices Rosie Thomas AND Oscar-winner Marketa Irglova of the Swell Season and the movie Once, and of course, the whispered, yet increasingly commanding vocals of mastermind Sam Beam.

The sonic panoramas on Kiss Each Other Clean, colored by jazz, 70's rock and other unorthodox styles, enliven the mystery of Beam's scripture shorthand. Repeated listens reveal the rewards. 

And what a treat it will be to hear these lushly layered new songs come alive in a new setting.  Iron and Wine on Between the Grooves Thursday at 2pm on WTMD. 

DOUBLE YOUR EP GIFT

From 3-7 pm Resurrection Ale is doubling all Executive Producer gifts in support of Live From WTMD Volume 4.  That's right! You can help us make this compilation of incredible Baltimore music stronger by making your $100 gift now.  

You'll Get All The Perks like having your name printed in the liner notes and WTMD can help spread the word about even more Baltimore bands.  Become an EP at 410 704 8970 or here on line.

Help Name Live From WTMD Volume 4!

Can't Hang playing at WTMD's Birthday Party

We're is getting ready to produce Live from WTMD Volume 4!  But this time there's a twist.  It's an all Baltimore Band CD!  Sam, Scott and Bug are scouring the hundreds of live performances from the Baltimore Unsigned archives to find the very best tracks for the CD.  The CD will be released this Summer.

We need your help in two ways.  First, help us name the CD.  Suggest a name by clicking here or posting it on our Facebook wall. Second, become an Executive Producer of Live 4.  By making a $100 gift in support of this first-ever CD, you'll have a vote in deciding the final name of the CD, the artwork and a bunch of other perks including your name in the liner notes thanking you for your investment in Baltimore Music.  See all the perks.

CD of the Week: Fleet Foxes Take Their Sweet Time

Three years of writing and re-writing, second guessing and consensus building pays off on Fleet Foxes'  sophmore album and WTMD'S CD of the Week, Helplessness Blues .

A combination of importing the winning hymn-like harmonies from their first record and adding new sonic depth on the second, strikes a perfect fresh/familiar balance.

There's so much sincertiy and emotion on Helplessness Blues. On the title song, lead vocalist and lyricist Robin Pecknold movingly bids farewell to family, or maybe a girlfriend, while setting off on a quest to find himself and his place the world, "And I know you won't keep me on the shelf. I'll come back to you someday soon, myself."

Someday soon is now on WTMD. Listen all week and be the first to get to know this beautiful record, which doesn't offically drop till next 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. In case you missed a detail about a specific event, click here.

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.

All Weekend Long:

• Bunny Bonanzoo, Maryland Zoo, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
  
• Universoul Circus, Security Square Mall, check website for showtimes
  
• Cherry Blossom Cluster Dog Show, Timonium Fairgrounds

Thursday, 4/21

• Environmental tourism discussion with Will Potter, Atomic Books, 7 p.m.
• Eco Hour, B&O Brasserie, 5-7 p.m.
• Appetite For Destruction, Ram's Head Live, 7 p.m

Friday, 4/22

• Rush, 1st Mariner Arena, 7:30 p.m.
• Heroes of Charm City. Pikesville Hilton (Also Saturday)
  
• Rain Barrel Workshop, Herring Run Park

Saturday, 4/23

• Tilted Torch, Creative Alliance, 8 p.m.
• Urban Farming Classes, Real Food Farms

Sunday, 4/24

• Go Ape! Treetop Adventures
• Earth Day Celebration, Maryland Science Center
• White House Easter Egg Hunt, The White House
  

CD of the Week: A Compact and Content Wye Oak

WTMD's CD of the Week, Civilian, features Wye Oak's apparent new fondness for shorter songs.

The Baltimore duo of singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner and drummer/keyboardist Andy Stack still build suspense through hushed and sparse beginnings to explosive crescendos- check out Wasner's guitar shredding in the title song.

But Stack's overall tighter arrangements maintain a mood, helping to balance his counterpart's conflicted lyrics about a relationship's end and her quest to find happiness in solitude.

Enjoy this video for "Fish," from Baltimore painter Katherine Fahey, who made the paper dolls, and photographer Michael O'Leary.