Monday, August 31, 2015

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Something to Chew Mix



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Nashville really is a beautiful wonderful city for live music.  There is way too much awesome stuff for one person to see anywhere near it all.

Friday evening, I hung out the WXNA folks.  They are working a really cool thing. 




Then, I spent a rare evening in Midtown and saw Taylor Alexander and Lindsay Ellyn, The Gasoline Brothers, and Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau and hung out with friends.

Saturday night, I went to The Basement for Pony Boy's CD Release Show - her new album Blue Gold is amazing by the way. Lilly Hiatt opened the show and was awesome.  Pony Boy was spectacular and Robyn Hitchcock joined to play harmonica on Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", and yes, I did get to introduce myself as the goofy guy who made the Soft Cell joke. :-)  Justin Collins and the Cosmics closed the night with some really great high energy rock.  Justin and Adam Landry produced Pony Boy's new album. They are the duo behind Deer Tick and Diamond Rugs and Black Vincent (who we have been featuring here of late). I got to meet Adam, too. 

Sunday night, a great night at Bobby's Idle Hour on Music Row.  Julie Christensen and Patterson Barrett performed some of Julie's awesome songs.  Russell Thompson played with Megan Palmer, and then Megan did her own set and reminded me again of just how awesome she is.  For the last song, she and a chorus of great female singers (Julie Christensen, Ariel Bui, Nellie Clay, and more) closed the night with a rip roaring rendition of Palmer's "Knife Twister".  Oh and Victoria Williams was in the audience, too.

Tonight, I am going out to see my friends Zach Red Stacy and Taylor Alexander playing 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - The Black Bruce Wayne Mix



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Well... another work week is just about done... Since it is Friday, it means it is time for Featured Friday in which we shuffle songs from a smaller subset of our usual playlist. This subset includes mostly songs from albums released this year which have been sent or given to me to include at Ear to the Ground.

Let's just do it....

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - The Holiday's Complete Mix



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I got to see and hear some of my favorite East Nashville songwriters last night and I was home before 9:00.  Brian Wright opened up Joe Fletcher's final residency at The 5 Spot, and he had Aaron Lee Tasjan play with some, and then Darrin Bradbury and Brian did Darrin's song, "Blue Highway" which is one of my favorites.  And, Joe Fletcher played his amazing songs and had Brian Wright and Aaron Lee and Margo Price join him, and at the end they all did "I'm Waiting for My Man" - the Velvet Underground song, and it was a pretty awesome moment... plus I got to see and hang out with some of my favorite people.

I'm staying in tonight and gearing up for a very busy end of August into a crazy busy September. 

Today in the shuffle, we have some really cool songs from a variety of genres - including a couple that I didn't even know existed....

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Champagne Eyes Mix



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The mid-week point has been reached... A fun night at The 5 Spot last night for $2 Tuesday.  Got to meet and hear  Angela Easterling.  Her new album, Common Law Wife - which we have featured a few songs from - is one of the best I've heard this year.  She has a very unique and beautiful sound.  Joe Nolan played a full-band set.  It was the first time I saw him with a drummer, and it sounded great!  Host Derek Hoke played a short set backed by Paul Niehaus on pedal steel, Steve Latanation on drums, and Mark Robertson (of the Legendary Shack Shakers) on upright bass.  Then, Carl Anderson played a long set of his wonderful songs.  Not a bad $2 show...

Tonight, Brian Wright opens up the last week of the Joe Fletcher residency at The 5 Spot.  I had to miss the first two weeks, but I will not miss this one.  Two of East Nashville's finest writers.

Onto the shuffle:

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Pretty Vacant Eyes Mix



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Okay... so I'm running late with today's shuffle, but I have a good reason.  At lunch, when I usually finishing writing this thing and get it posted to the Ear to the Ground Facebook Page (which you should "Like" if you haven't but I digress), I went to the Downtown Public Library to see a songwriting round with Marshall Chapman, Mary Gauthier, and Malcolm Holcomb - because that is what we do at lunchtime in Nashville....

Onward, I have to be quick - I'm heading out in a bit to see three people I've featured on Ear to the Ground at $2 Tuesday at The 5 Spot in East Nashville - Joe Nolan, Angela Easterling, and Carl Anderson are all on the bill.  Did I mention it's $2 Tuesday?

Monday, August 24, 2015

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Strangest Cargo Mix



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Just as the weather is showing it's first signs of cooling off, the music around town is heating up.  Shows are stacking up, Americana Music Association Festival is just a couple of weeks ago, outdoor shows are starting to ramp up...

Meanwhile, the E2TG Random Music Shuffles roll along.  We have a good one that covers quite a bit of musical ground... shall we? We shall!

Friday, August 21, 2015

Featured Friday Music Shuffle - Young Enough Mix



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Guess what? We've reached the end of another work week!  Here's to the weekend! 

Last night, I had the great pleasure of experiencing the second ever Aqua Velvet - Exotic Sounds in Country Music show.  It was pretty fantastic.  For a more detailed account. Check out my review over at No Depression.

Since it is Friday, we have a featured Friday Shuffle to take us all into the weekend... sit back and enjoy the "show"....

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Ding-Dong Mix



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First of all I have to give a huge shout out to everyone who helped make the inaugural The Finger and Ear to the Ground Presents: The Most Dangerous Game Show a huge success! Big props go to John McCollum and Darrin Bradbury without whom this would not have been possible.  Thanks to everyone who came out.  Thanks to The Building. Thanks to DJ Warbles for spinning great tunes between sets.  To Russell Thompson, Lindsay Ellyn, George Terry McDonald, and our very special guest Bob Dylan I mean Darrin Bradbury.  Let's do this thing again!

We have a short but sweet shuffle. Only five songs thanks to the seventeen minute opening track... Jump

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - The Junkyards and The Highways Mix



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TONIGHT! It is on! https://www.facebook.com/events/1483554211961459/




Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - #300 Tim Carroll Mix



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We've teamed up with The Finger to put on what we hope will be the first of many showcase events... it's going down tomorrow (Wednesday August 19, 2015) at The Building in East Nashville.  Details can be found at the Event Page on Facebook!

Yesterday, our Facebook Page crossed a milestone yesterday when we reached 300 followers.  Thanks to a groundswell, we are a mere 94 away from 400! Seriously, it means more to me than you will ever know.  When I started E2TG in May 2011, I honestly didn't know if anyone would read it.  Anyway, I promised surprises for the lucky 300th Follower.... in an incredible stroke of luck - the awesome Songwriter/Guitarist Tim Carroll was the lucky one!  It's kind of funny because when we reached 200, another great Songwriter/Guitarist, Richie Owens, was the one! 

So... You can see, that the Tim Carroll's name graces the post title.  I think this is the first time a real person has had that "honor".  Who knows, now that I am big time, maybe I will start selling naming rights.... or maybe not...

It would have been cool if a Tim Carroll song had come up in the shuffle, but alas... still, I know there are some songs in today's shuffle that Tim will dig.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Every Minute Mix



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So, I'm back after a few days of R&R. It was much needed, and I'm ready to do this thing!

A couple of things, I returned to Nashville on Saturday in time to catch Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen deliver a powerful performance at their album release celebration.  Then, I headed to Bobby's Idle Hour to see Amelia White, Renee Wahl, and Rich McCulley trade wonderful songs for a couple of hours.  After that, my long day caught up with me.

LIVE MUSIC ALERT!!!!!!  I've announced this on Facebook (if you haven't already be sure to give us a "Like" - you can get there via the link up top.  The next "Like" should be number 300 and a surprise is in store for that lucky follower.  Anyway, two days from now or Wednesday August 19, we will be kicking off what I hope will be a long running series of shows.  We will start off at The Building in East Nashville with local favorites Lindsay Ellyn (plus her awesome and well-dressed band) and Russell Thompson (one of my favorite songwriters) plus all the way from North Carolina, we have George Terry McDonald.  It should be a fun night, and I hope if you are nearby that you will come on out.  (Here is the Facebook Event Page).

I think I have mentioned before the role that college radio and specifically (WRVU) played in the development of my musical interests and passion. As you may know, WRVU went off the air a few years back after Vanderbilt sold the license to the local public radio station.  Some of the people who made WRVU what it was and some of the people who loved what it was are in the midst of raising funds for a new Community Radio Station called WXNA.  They have a Kickstarter campaign going and could use some support.  So much of media is in the hands of a few large conglomerates who are "tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel" (Elvis Costello, Radio Radio).  Community Radio is the voice of the people, and it is a good thing.  If you can support WXNA, you should. Here is the link to the Kickstarter (Give and/or Share this).  Who knows, someday, you may hear me on the radio... but only if you support the station.

On to the shuffle:

Monday, August 10, 2015

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Comes in Torrents/Sink or Swim Mix



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Welcome to the week... it looks like this is going to be a short week for me, so expect some inconsistent Morning Shuffles... check back periodically and I know I will be back as soon as possible.

First, I had a great time at The Tomato Art Fest in East Nashville on Saturday.  Saw some great music and got to hang out with a bunch of great friends.  Sorry to everyone I missed.

In the shuffle we have some cool tunes... so let us not delay...

Friday, August 7, 2015

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - A Pretty Decent Crowd Mix



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Well... collectively we have made it through another work week.  If you are reading this, I assume you at least like music, so if you can, get out and see some live music this weekend.  I know I will...

It is Friday which means another edition of the Featured Friday shuffle of a playlist of music I wanted to highlight and pull out from our usual active playlist.  They full list currently has almost 1,100 songs in it, and I have more to add.   This subset Featured list stands at about 250 - still substantial but manageable.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Man Can Be Mix



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It was great to see three great local artist with their awesome bands last night at The Basement (Classic not New).  Andrew Leahey, Mac Leaphart, and Sara Syms. Fun night!

Jumping right into the shuffle...

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Look Into Stone Mix



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Well here we are at the mid-point of another work week... time marches on... doesn't it?

We have another outstanding shuffle featuring classic tunes and some new and newish music... JUMP!

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Vapor Trails Mix



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Okay - first off - I have sort of put the Ear to the Ground Events back up.  It is a work in progress.  I need to do some formatting and stuff.  I will continue to work on it and hopefully improve it.

Let us jump directly into the shuffle... it's another good one....

Monday, August 3, 2015

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Long Black Train Mix



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Okay - two quick announcements.... 1.  I am going to put the Events Page on hiatus until I am able to make some changes.  It was an experiment, and to be honest the effort/effectiveness ratio of the current format wasn't really working for me.  I am going to look into some alternative formats etc., and look to re-launch hopefully sooner than later.

Last nights, Traveler show was amazing. Traveler is Cory Chisel, Robert Ellis, and Jonny Fritz.  They brought out Dave Rawlings for one song. The whole show was fabulous.  The always awesome Aaron Lee Tasjan opened.