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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)
We are back after the weekend. Busy week ahead.
Let's just right into this Music City Monday shuffle. This shuffle comes from a constantly changes and growing Spotify playlist which features a broad cross-section of Nashville-related artists/bands from the past and present. Well-known and should-be well-known.
"The Message" (LIVE) by Walk the West
From the Return to Elliston Square Live at Exit/In 2008 album, we have Walk the West doing their take on the Grandmaster Flash classic, "The Message". A lot to unpack here. We have a band that rose to prominence in the 1980s in Nashville playing country/western flavored rock and roll music - reunited in 2008 - doing a cover of one of the first hip-hop songs to provide social commentary. Also worth noting, the Walk the West spin-off group, The Cactus Brothers will be reuniting this October 13th at Exit/In - opening for White Animals and playing both Cactus Brothers and Walk the West songs with Joe Blanton filling the huge hole left by the late Paul Kirby.
"River No More" by Promised Land Sound
Promised Land Sound are one of the best examples of recent bands that are carrying on the tradition of the 1980s Nashville rock scene led by bands like Walk the West. This is from the debut album by the band. I have looked and can find no official announcement of the band's break-up, but they seem to at least be on extended hiatus.
"Say Goodbye" by J. Marco
Last week, we played a song from J. Marco's debut album Myth. This time around, we have a track from his 2017 follow-up called Days of Surrender. J. Marco just released a new single called Truth. One of my favorite local artists working today.
"Fuck Face Unstoppable" by The Mumzees
Last year, I saw The Mumzees on a bill at Betty's Grill. I had gone out to see my friend Sam Braverman of Logan X who was touring with the Brooklyn band NO ICE. It was a great night all around with awesome sets by Nashville band Sad Baxter, and New York band The Regrets who were touring with NO ICE. I remember loving the energy and sound of The Mumzees. This is a track that goes back to their 2015 album Heavy Desert. They have a 2016 EP called Teal on Spotify. Looking forward to following the see where this band goes.
"Red Light Blinking" by Kane Welch Kaplin
Changing things up considerably, we have a wonder Kieran Kane penned song from the 2007 album Kane, Welch, Kaplin. This super-trio features the extraordinary talents of Kevin Welch and Fats Kaplin along with the aforementioned Kieran Kane. The "red light" in the title refers to the message indicator light on a motel room phone. It's a wonderful song that resonates even if the reference might be out-dated.
"Wandering Habits" by Promised Land Sound
Another track from Promised Land Sound. These two tracks are from the self-titled debut album by the band (2013) which was co-produced by William Tyler, Jem Cohen, and Andrija Tokic.
"It Takes Time" by Webb Wilder
Next up, we have the last of the full-grown men, Webb Wilder - with a track from his 2015 album Mississippi Moderne. Wilder just released a new album featuring some recordings from his archives - called Powerful Stuff. The video for "It Takes Time" is a live performance from a few years back featuring Wilder and Patrick Sweany.
"My Little Pearl" by Tom Mason
Next, we have another track from The Blue Buccaneer - the album by Nashville's Tom Mason which gave rise to his band. Tom Mason and The Blue Buccaneers are a wonderful pirate band. What some people may not know is that Tom Mason is a first-rate guitar player and songwriter. He is also one of my favorite people around Nashville.
"I Want to Be Free" by Tim Carroll
If you regularly attend Tim Carroll's weekly Rock and Roll Happy Hour (if you don't you should), you know that he has been adding new songs to his already impressive repertoire at an incredible rate. Some of these new songs take on heavier topics than Carroll may be know for, and I think they include some of the best songs he has written. Carroll just released a new album that features many of these new songs. Keeping Time is out now. This is our first listen, and I highly recommend it.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
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