Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Lost Cause Mix

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A great week of live music continued last night: the count: Darrin Bradbury with Aaron Lee Tasjan and Cameron Carrus backing him up, Carl Anderson, and Holy Sheboygan (an awesome band from Wisconsin) all at Foobar.  Then, Tim Carroll and Luella Wood  and a solo Darrin Bradbury set at Fran's Eastside.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Later Than You Think Mix

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You know the Nashville Conundrum I mentioned a couple of weeks ago?  Well the is a addendum to that conundrum (or something like that).. that is... there are amazing things happening every single night of the week, and (especially if you work a day job), there are nights that you just have to stay in to recharge, refresh, and do some of your own work...  Last night was one of those nights, and yes, I missed some amazing things happening around town, but I am glad that I stayed in, and I got something accomplished...

Case in point, I added a couple of things to my Soundcloud... bits and pieces from my novel-in-progress which you can check out... (there may be some NSFW language/themes, depending where or if you work...)





On to the shuffle:

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Oldest Story Mix

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As I was walking back to my car from an absolutely amazing Bob Dylan show last night, I was reflecting on what an amazing month of live music this has been...  Did I mention that Dylan was amazing.  I saw him first and last in 1988, and he was simply going through motions. Back then, his set including some of his all-time classics, but it didn't matter.  That show left me flat.  Flash forward 27 years, Dylan's set was very heavily weighted toward his last few albums, many of which I wasn't that familiar, but the sound was great, Dylan seemed to be having a blast, and as a result, I put the show up among the best I've seen.  I feel like I can finally say that I have seen Dylan.

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Bouncing in to Graceland Mix

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Last night, I took in a fine show at 3rd and Lindsley with East Nashville songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan opening for the legendary Ray Wylie Hubbard.  And, yes this was as badass awesome as it sounds like it would be... but don't take my word for it... okay, take my word for it... read my review at No Depression...

Tonight I am seeing some up and comer named Bob Dylan. Heard some good things about him...

Shuffle-wise, we start off the week with some good stuff.

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Best as I Can Rember Mix

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So I few things.... I added a bunch of music to my playlist night including 3 mutli-artist compilation/samplers/mixtape deals. Several of those new songs showed up today in the shuffle... speaking of which, I had a little glitch in the middle of the shuffle and lost the history of the first several songs in today's shuffle, so I had to recreate from memory, I may have missed a song (but if I did it will come up again) and the order is almost certainly not correct.  Now, I do realize I could have just posted this with the disclaimer, but in the spirit of authenticity, I needed to let you know that.  I hope this will not impede your enjoyment of the shuffle.  

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - We're Going Downtown Mix

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Had a great night of music last night.  Saw legendary songwriter Don Schlitz again at The 5 Spot (he has just one more week in his residency - if you are in Nashville and have not seen this show yet, I highly recommend it).  Then, I headed over to the City Winery - Nashville.  It was my first time in the big room, and I was impressed.  Saw Brian Wright and Liz Longley - a pair of very different, but both amazing songwriters/singers.  My review of their show is posted to No Depression.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Those Who Do Not Play to Lose Mix

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Made it to mid-week.  I am seriously thinking about finally producing Volume 2 of Ear to the Ground Presents... details coming soon...

Shuffle!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Eats Like a Horse Mix

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It was kind of a cool morning here in Nashville, but it felt great.  The certainty that Spring is in full effect, and that Summer is barreling down the turnpike hot on Spring's tail. Spring seems as good a time as any (maybe better?) to step back and reassess and think about what comes next.  Ear to the Ground has exceeded my wildest expectations (mainly because I didn't have many), and I am happy that nearly four years on, I am not feeling any real desire to stop.  Still, from the beginning, Ear to the Ground had frequently (or infrequently) evolved (usually due to some external pressure).  The Shuffle was originally about 3-5 songs, then for a while I had the "pre-shuffle" which kind of expanded the shuffle to upwards of 20 or more songs. We've settled into a groove of 8-12 songs per day, and it is good, but I feel an itching to do something more, something different.  I don't know what that is yet, but I have some ideas.... until then... let's hit the shuffle....

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Who Knows? Not Me Mix

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It's apparently some holiday which you should celebrate as you see fit... 

In honor, today's shuffle hits only high points...

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Get up and Do Something Mix

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So... I'm having trouble thinking of  a profound intro to this shuffle...  So... it is Friday! The weekend is upon us.  Get up and Do Something!  I snatched that song from the Soul Asylum song in today's shuffle.  Good advise, that I need to take myself sometimes...

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - A Rusted Fork in the Road Mix

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A modest proposal to deal with the problem of people talking during music performances: Just let John Moreland play.  I saw John Moreland play twice last night. The first was at Music City Roots where he wowed an audience mostly unfamiliar with his music.  Later, he played a full headlining set at The 5 Spot in East Nashville in front of a packed house.  The minute John Moreland began to play, the crowd (a bar crowd after 11:00pm) fell silent almost immediately.  A friend of mine asked what it was about his music that had that effect.  In the moment, the only words that came to me were the emotional vulnerability of his songs.  I don't know if that is the answer.  But, it got me thinking about vulnerability, and how our society sees it as a weakness, but how in the hands of someone like John Moreland - it can be such a powerful thing.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Boys Like Me Mix

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If trudging through the work week is like climbing a mountain, then my question has to be is Wednesday really the day we get over the hump or is it just a day that finds us clinging desperately to the sheer face of a rocky cliff and wondering how the hell we are going to make it the rest of the way?  Food for thought... happy Wednesday!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Sunburn at Night Mix

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It is Tuesday.  A bit tired today after a night of great music. The Nashville Conundrum was in full effect, but one thing I didn't say yesterday, is that I've learned that it is okay to feel bad for the shows you missed - especially when it means missing the show of a friend, but in the end, when you've made your choice, you should expend more energy appreciating the show you did see than you do regretting the show(s) you missed.  Life is kind of like that, too, I think.

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Stupid Boy Mix

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There is a phenomenon that I like to call the Nashville Dilemma or the Nashville Conundrum depending on my mood... It is basically this, a friend or hero or hero/friend or friend/hero announces a show.  You readily and enthusiastically indicate on Facebook that you are either Going or Interested... meanwhile, others of the same category(ies) also announce shows and you again readily and enthusiastically Join the event.  Then, the day or week of the event arrives and you check your calendar and realize that two or more of the aforementioned events coincide with one another, and you have to use some complex algorithm of friendship, location, cost, in-town show frequency, etc. to decide which show you are going to see.  And so, you decide and you have a blast and it's a great show - like you knew it would be and then you see pictures from the show(s) you elected not to attend, and there are surprise special guests and puppies and stuff, and you rework you algorithm for next time and the process repeats.  It's really a nice problem to have....

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice Mix

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I try really hard not to pay attention to things like page views - I really do, but a couple of things have happened in the last 24 hours that I am pretty happy about.  My total Page Views since I switched the blog to Blogger a little over 3 years ago reached one of those milestones with lots of zeros. The number isn't really important because it is all relative. I mean, I know some of those brand x music blogs probably achieve the same number is a month or week or day or hour or whatever, and that is the part I don't really care about.  It's just nice to see those zeros and know that among those site views are people who come to enjoy the music that I am so happy to feature.

The other thing (and rather inexplicably) but the daily site views for the current 24 hour period has exploded. I know I owe a big thanks to the people who share my posts across the webbernets....  It's still not that important because I have a great shuffle today and for all I know something like 12 people will look at it, and if I don't get too worried about that, I can't really get to excited for the higher numbers... but I do.  And I thank everyone for it. 

As I said, we have a great shuffle with some old friends and some newer ones and some classic tunes...

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Rich After Than Before Mix

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One of those moment where music connects me to a moments in my life: I went to The 5 Spot last night to see songwriting legend Don Schlitz, who has written so many great songs including several Mary Chapin Carpenter songs and Forever and Ever, Amen.  He was pretty phenomenal and funny, but when he sang The Gambler which was the first of his songs to be recorded, I literally felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck.  I was twelve years old when The Gambler was released, and you heard it everywhere.  When I was in seventh grade, a girl asked me out (a first for me), and when I called her we talked about a lot of things and I asked her what music she liked and we talked about Kenny Rogers and this song. Later, when I turned 21 and went to buy beer and get carded, that same girl was working in the convenience store where I went and she didn't even card me.  A few years ago, I heard that girl (woman) had been killed in a car accident.  Anyway, all those thoughts went through my head as I sang along to the words I still knew so well. Oh and I got to "fist bump" Don Schlitz last night.  Pretty cool...

To the shuffle:

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - The Pause That Refreshes Mix

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Had a good time hanging out at The Basement and watching Darrin Bradbury with Tim Carroll and Cameron Carrus wow the crowd...

To the shuffle...

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - He Jumped So High Mix

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Okay... here we go... life is kicking my butt today, but music always helps...   we have a pretty fun and diverse set of songs to smooth out the rough patches...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Hangin' Downtown Mix

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After a long, productive weekend, I am back at the work week - shuffle thing....

ICYMI: my latest two live reviews are up on No Depression.   You can read the first part of my recap of the Safety Harbor Song Fest. (Part II coming soon)  And my Review of Friday nights Humming House hometown record release celebration.

On to the shuffle:

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Check Maybe We Can Go to Arby's Mix

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Well now, how about that?  2013 Ear to the Ground Band of the Year, The End Men dropped the first two songs from their forthcoming new album, Terms and Conditions (due 4/21/2015).  The bands' signature sound enhanced by the saxophone stylings of Matthew Elia.  You can name your price and get a hold of "Morning Birds" and "East of West" and get some absolutely killer artwork for your desktop.  Do it!



Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Freaked Out for Another Day Mix

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I have a major announcement.... truth is that even if I did have a major announcement, I would probably wait until tomorrow to make it... Truth is, though, as the weather is heating up so is the music scene here in Nashville (and probably in your city, too).  Tons of great shows are coming, so get out to your local venues and festivals and whatnot and support real music made by real people.