WMPG SOUNDBITES
Greater Portland Community Radio
Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine since 1973
Listen Live at 90.9 FM, 104.1 FM and http://www.wmpg.org

March 2010 Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WMPG NEWS

2. PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. DEVELOPMENT CORNER

4. CAN'T MISS CD & LP PICKS

5 . WMPG CHARTS

1. WMPG NEWS

SPRING BEGATHON

BEGATHON March 9 to 15! “Listen Local”

Some of the busiest times for us here at the station are the weeks just prior to Begathon. So much preparation is required to make the Begathon campaigns go smoothly and successfully. The most fun part is when the t-shirts and bumper stickers and magnets begin to arrive! It is so exciting to see how the art came out on our items! This season, our artwork was created by our own Gail Wartell, of the Sunday Simcha and Tuesday Night Talk Radio. I can’t wait for you to see the items with her artwork with our theme… “Listen Local.”
Read more about this below in the Development Corner section…

WMPG’S SPRING FASHION SHOW

Help us spread the word in the community.... Do you make original fashion items or know someone who does? The WMPG Fashion Show needs local fashion designers. Clothing, jewelry and accessories are needed for the WMPG Fashion Show, which will take place on April 17 at SPACE GALLERY.

This is a fabulous event with lots of local spirit and enthusiasm – and plenty of exposure online and on the air… The Fashion Show and the ensuing Online Auction are fundraisers for WMPG Community Radio. Local designers, original creations! For more information, visit wmpg.org, or email wmpgfashion@gmail.com

WOMEN”S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

Tune in Saturday March 27th for an all day tribute by Women for Women celebrating Women's History Month. From 6:30 am until 9 pm. If you are interested in submitting something for this event please contact Ruby at irmasfriend2002@yahoo.com or Michele at mudpie96@maine.rr.com Thanks!

WMPG’S FRED GREENHALGH FEATURED ON THE COVER OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

We're happy to report that WMPG volunteer Fred Greenhalgh and his production company FinalRune was featured in the Wall Street Journal on February 25, 2010. The article, entitled "Return With Us to the Thrilling Days Of Yesteryear - Via the Internet," heavily focused on his signature field recording style and director Fred Greenhalgh's passion for reviving audio drama in an age of the iPod.

Fred's WMPG show, Radio Drama Revival, features new audio drama each week from all over the globe. And with all the attention, visits to the website and podcast have been off the charts! Listeners have been writing in from as far away as Austria and India expressing their love for audio stories.
Stay tuned for info on what Fred will be up to next - he hopes to have another live radio drama broadcast from USM similar to Halloween with a local theme this summer. He'll also be releasing several field-recorded dramas soon.

A few good links:
The Wall Street Journal article
FinalRune's website
Archives of Fred's radio show

2. PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mondays have gotten a major overhaul on WMPG since our last programming update...three new shows have made their debut, all in that day.

First on the bill is our new early morning show Where the Sidewalk Ends, hosted by Ben I Be, Mondays 1:30 to 4am. Ben writes: “This show is a kaleidoscope of rhythms, ambient sounds, and spoken/sung word. The music selections will include jazz, hip-hop, electronic, reggae, rock, world, indie and whatever YOU want to hear. The songs/sounds are blended, cut up, and rearranged live in the studio while making use of vinyl, CD, and audio files.”

Then, starting exactly twelve hours after Ben’s show, we welcome Xander for Vox Pop Radio, Monday afternoons 1:30 to 3pm. “People have always made music,” writes Xander, “anywhere you might choose to look. Spanning continents, genres, and epochs, and focusing on the artists who may have been overlooked by mainstream tastes, you will hear the voice of the people.“

And, immediately following Xander, we are proud to feature Hip Hop is Alive, hosted by Ben (a different Ben from our new early morning host): “A rap-heavy tour of the hip hop nation from old to new, local to national,” is how he describes his offering, which continues the tradition of a daytime hip-hop show on Monday afternoons on WMPG.

And finally, we welcome back Chris Lee to his old slot on Thursday mornings, 1-4am...he took a year off, but is now back with a new show title, Elevator Music (formerly A Fan’s Notes), which he describes as “An exploration of 20th Century classical music from Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler to Phillip Glass and John Cage, with everything in between: Harry Partch, George Crumb, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Alban Berg, etc., etc., etc.”

SPECIAL PROGRAMS THIS MONTH:

BLUNT YOUTH RADIO (Mondays, 7:30-8:30 pm)

3/8 – Teen Pregnancy
3/15 – Authors of Our Youth
3/22 – Death and Rebirth
3/29 – Long Creek
4/5 - Protests

RADIO DRAMA REVIVAL (Thursdays, 1:30-2 pm)

Hot on the heels of Wall Street Journal attention, Radio Drama Revival focuses on serialized audio dramas. In these inventive podcasts, independent artists are building their audience with ongoing storylines. From zombies to outer space, we invite you to taste some addictive audio drama! Miss an episode? Catch up online at http://www.radiodramrevival.com

3/11 - Begathon! Here some fun short dramatic vignettes between Begathon pitches, and put some dollars towards keeping WMPG alive and local!

3/18 - Wormwood - This incredible Twin Peaks-esque drama has been running for nearly two years now. Where do the writers keep getting material and where are they going? We'll play a recent episode and talk to the creators.

3/25 - The Leviathan Chronicles - Talk about audio on a grand scale! The Leviathan Chronicles has international conspiracy, immortals, aliens with mixed agendas, globe-trotting characters and much more to love. We'll play an indicative episode and talk to the creator about where this world came from and where it's all headed

STUCK IN THE 80’s (Sundays, 7-9 pm)

Celebrating 14 years of Sundays on WMPG, every week your host Ron brings you a lexicon of the great 80s music you remember, new music from your favorite 80s artists...and everything inbetween.

3/7 - A NIGHT AT THE (80s) OSCARS...AND THEN SOME... As Hollywood celebrates the best in movies from the past year, STUCK IN THE 80s celebrates the best in 80s movie songs, with songs that were nominated for Academy Awards, some that won...and some you might have forgotten about.

3/14 - STUCK IN BEGATHON! Twice a year we ask for your support to keep WMPG STUCK IN THE 80s going. Please call in with your pledges and your requests during this important week at 874-3000!

3/21 - ALL-REQUEST SHOW! Is there an 80s song you're itching to hear? Ron will do whatever he can to get your favorites on for you on this all-request show!

3/28 - ROAD TRIP: BOSTON! Previous road trips have taken STUCK IN THE 80s to places like Canada, Minneapolis and Manchester, U.K., and this will be the closest one yet! Featuring music from the likes of The Cars, The Pixies, 'til Tuesday, Throwing Muses, Galaxie 500, Human Sexual Response, The Lemonheads, Donna Summer, Del Fuegos, Aerosmith and, um, Boston :)

SUNDAY SIMCHA (Sundays, 6:30 - 8:30 am)

3/14 - The special guest will be Kari Wagner-Peck, the Executive and Artistic Director of the Maine Jewish Film Festival. This is the 13th annual fest- some great films including some local features. MJFF starts March 20- don't miss it! www.mjff.org

TUESDAY NIGHT TALK RADIO CLUB (Tuesdays 8-8:30 pm)

3/9 - Host Orion talks food security with USM Muskie School grad student Randy Lautz of MEfoodtrader.org and Alida of Cultivating Communities.

3/16 – Host Gail speaks with Emily Graham from the Portland Food Co-op. Get the latest on the Buying Club, member ownership and plans for a storefront.

3/23 – Host Chris has Michael Cutting (as a guest) to talk about BringOurWarDollarsHome.org

3. DEVELOPMENT CORNER – By Dale Robin Goodman, Development Director

Some of the busiest times for us here at the station are the weeks just prior to Begathon. So much preparation is required to make the Begathon campaigns go smoothly and successfully. The most fun part is when the t-shirts and bumper stickers and magnets begin to arrive! It is so exciting to see how the art came out on our items! This season, our artwork was created by our own Gail Wartell, of the Sunday Simcha and Tuesday Night Talk Radio. I can’t wait for you to see the items with her artwork with our theme… “Listen Local.”

Begathon is the way we raise a good chunk of our operations funding. Separate from the Power Up! campaign, Begathon helps us pay the modest costs of running the station.

As a WMPG listener, you probably already know that the on-air personalities are volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make radio for you. Listen in to your favorite shows during Begathon and please donate what you can. If everyone who listens gave us a gift within their budget, WMPG would be healthy and robust! Please complete the circle of Community Radio and help your fellow WMPG-ers keep us strong.

There are four ways to donate:
~ Drop a check in the mail: WMPG, 96 Falmouth Street, Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104
~ Stop by the station and bring your donation: 92 Bedford Street, USM Portland Campus
~ Click on the donate button at wmpg.org and make your donation online!
~ Call the Begathon hotline 207 874-3000 from March 9 through 15 and support your favorite shows!

4. CAN'T MISS CD & LP PICKS
Some recommended albums from WMPG's volunteer DJs

GLOBAL
Razia – Zebu Nation (Madagascar)
Various Artists – My Name is Khan (India)
Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate – Ali and Toumani (Mali)
Laxmikant Pyarelal – Bollywood Remembers (India)
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba – I Speak Fula (Mali)
The Spy From Cairo – Secretly Famous (US/Middle Eastern)
Nneka – Concrete Jungle (African)

ROCK
Jimmy Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune (A previously unreleased studio album)
Sade – Soldier of Love
Various Artists – Minimal Wave Tapes: Volume 1
Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
Editors – In This Light and On This Evening

METAL
Van Canto – Tribe of Force (A cappella metal!)

RPM (Electronica)
Groove Armada - Black Light
Temposhark – Threads
Xiu Xiu – Dear God, I Hate Myself
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Four Tet – There Is Love In You
My Robot Friend – Soft-Core
________________________________________

DJ Jeff Wax’s Picks:
Bomba Estereo - Bomba Estereo Estalla
Shout Out Louds - Work
Shemekia Copeland - Never Going Back
The Raveonettes - In and Out of Control
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young

5. WMPG CHARTS

CHARTS

WMPG RADIO 200 CHART for CMJ, as reported 3/2/10 by Adinah Barnett, WMPG Rock Director.
1 MAGNETIC FIELDS Realism
2 SPOON Transference
3 HOT CHIP One Life Stand
4 SHOUT OUT LOUDS Work
5 SOFT PACK The Soft Pack
6 TOM WAITS Glitter And Doom Live
7 HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL Postcards From The Friendly City
8 TWIN TIGERS Gray Waves
9 ROGUE WAVE Permalight
10 WINSTON AUDIO The Red Rhythm
11 NNEKA Concrete Jungle
12 GROOVE ARMADA Black Light
13 BETTIE SERVEERT Pharmacy Of Love
14 UNTIED STATES Instant Everything, Constant Nothing
15 KILL TO KILL Fighter
16 PHANTOGRAM Eyelid Movies Barsuk
17 JOANNA NEWSOM Have One On Me
18 ANTISEPTIC Antiseptic
19 SOUNDTRACK CRAZY HEART
20 QUASI American Gong
21 GALACTIC Ya-Ka-May
22 FLOGGING MOLLY Live At The Greek Theatre
23 FOUR TET There Is Love In You
24 VAMPIRE WEEKEND Contra
25 WATSON TWINS Talking To You, Talking To Me
26 LOS CAMPESINOS! Romance Is Boring
27 DILLY DILLY Of Art And Intention
28 CLEM SNIDE The Meat Of Life
29 ANGELO SPENCER Angelo Spencer Et Les Hauts Sommets
30 BEACH HOUSE Teen Dream

WMPG RPM CHART for CMJ, as reported 3/2/10 by Kelsey Perchinski, WMPG RPM Director.
1 HOT CHIP One Life Stand
2 FAN DEATH A Coin For The Well [EP]
3 FOUR TET There Is Love In You
4 MASSIVE ATTACK Heligoland
5 GROOVE ARMADA Black Light
6 XIU XIU Dear God, I Hate Myself
7 SI*SE Gold [EP]
8 ERNEST GONZALES Been Meaning To Tell You
9 DJ HELL U Can Dance [EP]
10 VARIOUS ARTISTS Fabriclive 49: Buraka Som Sistema

WMPG LOUD ROCK CHART for CMJ, as reported 3/2/10 by Steve Cain, WMPG Loud Rock Director.
1 FEAR FACTORY Mechanize
2 SLAYER World Painted Blood
3 W.A.S.P. Babylon
4 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Addicted
5 CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED Charred Walls Of The Damned
6 BARONESS The Blue Record
7 ROB ZOMBIE Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls And The Systematic Dehumanization Of Cool
8 OVERKILL Ironbound
9 MNEMIC Sons Of The System
10 SIX FEET UNDER Graveyard Classics 3
WMPG JAZZ CHART for CMJ, as reported 3/2/10 by Bob Cochran, WMPG Jazz Director.
1 BOB SNEIDER AND PAUL HOFFMAN Serve And Volley
2 ABSOLUTE ENSEMBLE Absolute Zawinul
3 VW BROTHERS Muziek
4 MIKE LEDONNE The Groover
5 DAN WEISS TRIO Timshel
6 PINNACLES OF RIGHT-ON-NESS Pinnacles Of Right On Ness
7 NEW YORK ART QUARTET Old Stuff
8 HAMILTON STERLING AND JIMMY HASLIP Migration
9 JOHN BASILE No Apologies
10 SHERMAN IRBY QUARTET Live At The Otto Club

WMPG NEW WORLD CHART for CMJ, as reported 3/2/10 by Kelsey Perchinski, WMPG Global Director.
1 NNEKA Concrete Jungle
2 CHIEFTAINS FEATURING RY COODER San Patricio
3 SPY FROM CAIRO Secretly Famous
4 BASSEKOU KOUYATE AND NGONI BA I Speak Fula
5 DAVID STARFIRE Bollyhood Bass
6 VIEUX FARKA TOURE Fondo Remixed
7 RAVI SHANKAR Rare And Glorious
8 TOMMY T Prester John Sessions
9 DELA DAP Sara La Kali
10 NICKODEMUS Sun People Remixed

This newsletter is a work in progress and, as with everything at WMPG, we're relying on your feedback and input to create a fun and useful update each month. If you like something or want to see something added, let us know. If you dislike something, let us know. WMPG is community radio, YOUR radio. And this is YOUR newsletter.

For comments email Kelsey.

“WHAT’S A SOUNDBITE?”

WMPG Definition: A bite of news informing you of cool music, community events, and goings on here at WMPG.

WIKIPEDIA Definition: A very short piece of footage taken from a longer speech or an interview in which someone with authority or the average "man on the street" says something which is considered by those who edit the speech or interview to be a most important point.