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Quiet: new talent on the air
FM station in Marshfield offers musicians outlet

By Rich Fahey, Globe Correspondent | August 24, 2006

WEYMOUTH -- Steve and Bobbie Sands of Weymouth have already picked out the small token of appreciation they hope to receive when one of ``their artists" finally hits it big.

``All we want is two front-row center seats when they play the [TD Banknorth] Garden," said Steve Sands, a 62-year-old electronics technician.

Maybe it will be the Tutti Fruitties from Scituate, the Ginamark Band from Plymouth, or vocalist Ken Keller from Stoughton who strike gold. They've all been featured on ``Tomorrow's Dreams," a weekly radio show the Sands es produce and host on WATD-FM (95.9) in Marshfield Sundays from 9 to 10 p.m.

``Tomorrow's Dreams" highlights independent artists from the New England area. Since hitting the air in January, the show has, as of late last month, aired some 300 tracks from 120 musical artists, all waiting for their big break.

Digital technology has made it simple for aspiring musicians to record CDs, so there is no shortage of material for the Sands es to choose from.

``We are the vehicle between the artists and the listeners," said Bobbie Sands, 59, a legal secretary.

The idea for the show sprang from frustration over failing to advance the career of the Ginamark Band, headed by songwriters Gina DiMia and Mark Alexander.

``We tried everything," Bobbie Sands said. ``We filled out petitions with 1,000 signatures from fans and sent CDs to all the Boston stations. Everything fell on deaf ears."

Assuming there were countless talented musicians struggling to be heard above the crowd, they posted a request on Craigslist, asking musicians to send them samples of their work. The CDs started pouring in, some from as far away as Belgium.

The couple is the first to admit they aren't polished broadcasters, though that gives their show a homespun charm. And for the bands and singers featured on the show, the two are a godsend.

``They are bringing thus far unrecognized talented musicians a little closer to their dream," DiMia said.

The jury that decides what will make the cut and get on the air consists of the Sands es and two of their friends in the music business. The couple's musical tastes run mostly to oldies, but they are open to anything for the show except rap and heavy metal. The Sands es aren't big fans of either genre and they say the music would clash with WATD's usual musical format.

Profanity also disqualifies a CD, even if it's a single word in one track.

``I can't be telling people to buy a CD if I know there's profanity on it that would offend someone," said Steve Sands.

Original music doesn't necessarily have the edge over someone doing ``covers" of other songs.

For the rock group Mad Sessions -- vocalist/guitarist Jennifer Nelson, bass guitarist Dave Ryan, and drummer Tory Moulton, all of Plymouth, and lead guitarist Eric Moulton of Abington -- the Sands es are, pardon the pun, an oasis in the desert.

``Trying to make it in the music world is a lot of dead ends, frustrations, let-downs, and almosts," Nelson said. ``Having people behind you helps keep you going."

Mad Sessions has been featured on ``Tomorrow's Dreams" and another WATD show, ``Yesterday's Memories," an oldies show hosted by DJs Ed Bowen and George Denham.

``All of us who struggle to be heard will be forever in debt to people like Steve and Bobbie and Ed and George," Nelson said.

Steve Sands, who used to market ``Yesterday's Memories," hasn't been able to sell enough commercials to finance their show, and has turned to live shows to raise money. For example, an April 2 show at the Weymouth Elks Club drew almost 200 people.

``For some of the artists, it was their first time working in front of that many people. Many of them were used to 10 to 20 people at coffeehouses and open mikes," he said.

Another live show is slated for Sept. 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Weymouth Elks Club. The roster will include Boston vocalist Flynn, the Ginamark Band, cabaret artist Suzan, and the Moondance Blues Band, featuring 13-year-old drummer Daniel Banks, who has appeared on the David Letterman show. Tickets are $25.

The Sands es are delighted when an artist they've helped promote makes a splash. Sharky, who will also appear at the Sept. 17 show, performed recently in front of 100,000 people at a NASCAR race in Loudon, N.H. Flynn's song ``Lost Child" is the theme for the movie ``The Legend of Lucy Keys," which will be released this fall.

``These people are all stars in our eyes," Steve Sands said.

For more information on the ``Tomorrow's Dreams" radio show and the upcoming concert, visit www.loveourmusic.com.
© Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

Local musicians are focus of couple’s new radio show

Steve and Bobbie Sands of Weymouth are launching a radio show on WATD. (LISA BUL/The Patriot Ledger)

By JAY N. MILLER
For The Patriot Ledger

Steve and Bobbie Sands are devoted fans of local music, and over the years they’ve been perplexed at the way so many deserving local talents seem to fall by the wayside.

Now the Weymouth couple has taken a step to help remedy that situation. They’ve created their own radio show, ‘‘Tomorrow’s Dreams,’’ which launches this Sunday on the Marshfield-based station WATD-FM (95.9 FM).

The show will run from 9-10 p.m. every Sunday, and spotlights local and regional musical talent.

The Sands’ have put their money where their heart is, spending $4,000 to produce the first few months of the show, and working hard to find sponsors and advertisers.

‘‘My model was the old ‘Community Auditions’ show on TV,’’ said Steve Sands. ‘‘Nobody since then has given the little guy a chance. We’ve done everything we could for some of our favorite acts, like Plymouth’s Gina-Mark Band, even sending petitions with thousands of names to radio stations. But even a group as good as the Gina-Mark Band can’t get airplay without a big, major-label record contract. The best thing about this show is that WATD is available worldwide on your computer, at www.959watd.com, streaming audio.’’

The Sands’ idea is to showcase one regional act weekly, with several other local bands given exposure, too. There will be occasional in-studio interview segments, and a chance for every deserving musical group to be heard.

‘‘The only limits are that the station wants no rap or hip-hop, and no heavy metal,’’ Sands said.

‘‘Beyond that, we are aiming squarely at the adult contemporary market, and jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, folk, show tunes and even classical are all within our grasp. There are millions of adult contemporary listeners out there, and they spend millions of dollars, yet there is not a lot of stations playing music they can appreciate. We also know, of course, that if we put junk on the air, no one will listen, so we are very serious about choosing only the best bands and musicians to showcase here.’’

The Sands are even now sifting through a mountain of submissions, since their idea was first announced on the Craigslist web site.

Interested bands or musicians can submit their work; Sands suggested e-mailing him at steve@cckid.net first to get more details.

‘‘Every so often we will spotlight one guest and play several of their cuts,’’ said Sands, ‘‘but the general idea is to showcase about 10 different acts every week. Our first night will be focusing on Everett songwriter Howie Newman, with about three songs by him. We’ll also have the Chris Canty Band that night, along with Gina-Mark, Al LaRusso from the South Shore band Wing-It, and a marvelous 80-year-old artist, Dolly Baker, who will be a real revelation for listeners.

‘‘We are planning our shows about two to three weeks in advance right now, listening to CDs and choosing the best tunes off of them.’’

Even the show’s opening and closing credits play into the overall theme of boosting local talent.

The opening theme will be ‘‘The Impossible Dream,’’ while the closing theme will be by Plymouth’s own teenage ’50s revival group, the Tutti Fruttis.

‘‘We are trying to help deserving artists fulfill their own ‘Impossible Dreams,’’’ said Sands.

‘‘The Tutti Fruttis are a great example of the superb talent we have right in our midst, that so often goes unrecognized. This show is a major effort to help these people get to the next level, and find the kind of popular support they truly deserve.’’

Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Saturday, January 07, 2006