Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Wheel Well Mix




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Wow. This is last day of November! How the heck did that happen. Well 2016 has been a tough year for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons.  November has definitely had its challenges for me personally.  But, just for today, things are looking up.  I feel completely unprepared for the onslaught of December.  Look for my 2nd Annual "Earie Awards" posts to begin soon.

Well after several days off, it's time to jump back into the shuffle. It is Wednesday and once again I am shuffling from all of the songs on my phone.  Here is the final shuffle of November 2016.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - When the Darkness Takes Control Mix




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Hey ho!  It is the last day of my work week.  I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving or if you are outside the US I hope you have a great Thursday.

Since it is Thanksgiving time, I want to take second to say that I am extremely thankful for you - my constant reader, and I am thankful for all of the blessings that my obsession with all things music-related have brought into my life. I can truly say that the course of my life has been altered because I decided to start writing Ear to the Ground in May 2011. It is just about inconceivable for me to try to imagine my life without the people I have met directly or indirectly because of E2TG. So Thank You all!

Let's take this week out in style and get wild on a Wednesday!  Shuffling from the entire list of music on my phone.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Satellites Fade Mix



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Well it is Tuesday or since it is Thanksgiving week, I like to think of it as Thursday.

Recorded a future Double Shot show last night that will air the first Saturday of December. It is going to be a good one.  This Saturday, we will be live playing songs dedicated to holiday travelers. Called "Highway and Bi-Way (or To Grandmother's House We Go).

Staying busy and trying to think about this years' Earie Awards without getting overwhelmed - it has been an amazing year for music (don't let anyone tell you different). 

Shuffling today from the "New Music" playlist for Trending Tuesday.  Let's go...

Monday, November 21, 2016

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Like Laughing Mix




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Well, it is Thanksgiving week in the US.  And over the weekend, the temperatures finally dropped down to seasonally appropriate levels... aka it was frigid this morning. 

I took my daughter to the Family Wash Saturday to see BARK and Stone Cupid.  She had a blast and loved both bands, as do I.  She got tired half way through Stone Cupid's set but we had a great night.

By the way, I really try not to pay too much attention to Page views and the like, however, I have noticed that October 2016 was our biggest month ever in that regard, and as of November 21, 2016, November has topped October.  I am not completely sure if I believe that that many more people are reading this, but if you are welcome. 

On Monday, we shuffle tunes connected to Nashville (at least by my estimation/or sometime erroneous assumptions - as you will see).  Let's jump to it!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Wild Living Mix



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Greetings from the end of the working week...  Last night, a really great night of music at The Basement East.  Harrison Whitford, who I have been impressed with since the first time I saw him - opened.  His music has really matured (I think that is the word I am looking for) since I first saw him nearly a year and a half ago.  Not that it was immature. Just that he has grown as an artist since then.

Next up, reigning (or about a month more) E2TG Artist of the Year, Jon Latham absolutely destroyed with a full band set that included Andrew Leahey and Sean Quinn on guitar and Raun Schultz on drums. Moving through songs from his debut, Real Bad News and newer songs including songs from his forthcoming album, Lifers.  As he always does, Latham commanded the stage.

And what can I say about Bobby Bare Jr.. Joined by Harrison Whitford on guitar - Bare Jr ripped through an incredible set that included some old favorites plus a new song he wrote for the forthcoming Guided By Voices album, an older GBV song, and he closed with a rip-roaring version of "Cover of the Rolling Stone".

It is Friday and we have a shuffle from our "New Music" playlist.  Let's jump in...

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Throwback Thursday Morning Shuffle - Stagger Lee Mix



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And just like that, it is Thursday. Last night, an excellent early show at The 5 Spot. With local band, Harpooner. Why oh why am I just "discovering" this band now?  They were awesome. Followed by the always amazing Allen Thompson Band with lots of special guests.  A really fine early evening of music.  Later, I was at WXNA for the Pledge Drive - hanging out with Kon for Freaking Out the Squares.  Austin from Sound, Mind, and Proxy was hanging out, too.  Remember, if you love what WXNA has done for Nashville over the past six months, now is a good time to show your appreciation by making a one-time or recurring donation to keep us going.  615-933-9962 or on-line at WXNAFM.ORG.

Tonight, E2TG Artist of the Year 2015, Jon Latham will be opening up for Bobby Bare Jr.. Harrison Whitford is also on the bill. This is at The Basement East.  Get there!

Okay, it is Thursday when we normally throw it back.  I still haven't gotten around to creating a throwback playlist, so today, I am shuffling songs from the built-in Recently Added playlist.  Throwing back to the days before I had playlists at E2TG.  I have to keep it short and to the point today.


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Fly Fly Away Mix



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Well, it is mid-week.  After helping out with the WXNA Pledge Drive (jump on that if you haven't), I headed out to $2 Tuesday.  Derek Hoke was out of town, so DJ Tim Hibbs was hosting.  Highlights: Jennifer Nicely, Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars, The Stoop Kids, plus special surprise guests - Caitlin Rose and Daniel Romano.

Tonight, Allen Thompson Band are playing the early show at The 5 Spot, and I have a late night shift at WXNA.

Tomorrow Night: Jon Latham and Harrison Whitford open for Bobby Bare, Jr.

On Wednesday, we go wild... I think this shuffle meets that criteria. 


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Sun's Coming Up Mix



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Okay. I'm a little short on time.  First of all, last night as I posted, I went to see Megan Palmer, Nellie Clay, and Courtney Marie Andrews at The City Winery.  They performed in the round, and it was a really great show.  I have been a fan of Palmer and Clay for some time, but I believe it was my first time seeing Courtney Marie Andrews.  I really dug her songs, and the three songwriters complemented each other nicely.

Tonight, I will be in the WXNA studios to help with the pledge drive. There is some cool stuff (as always) going on at $2 Tuesdays.  Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars are playing and promise some new material.

On to the shuffle...

Monday, November 14, 2016

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Voice in the Parking Lot Mix



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Well had some technical difficulties today, so this post is late, and it going to be a little quick because I am going out later to see Megan Palmer, Nellie Clay, and Courtney Marie Andrews at City Winery.  You should, too, if you are in Nashville and free.

The WXNA Pledge Drive is underway.  For those of you not in Nashville, it is hard to describe how important this station is to the city.  There was a huge gap in the Nashville landscape, and WXNA has filled that gap. If you are in Nashville and by any chance haven't tuned in it's on 101.5FM or anywhere at WXNAFM.org or via the TuneIn app.  And if you feel so moved, join Team WXNA. You can do so by calling 615-933-9962 or by going to wxnafm.org and hitting the DONATE button. 

It is Monday, and we have some Music City centric music to get the week off to a good start.


Thursday, November 10, 2016

Featured Thursday Morning Shuffle - Let Them Rupture Mix



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Music is good for whatever ails you... that has been my philosophy for some time now. In recent years, I have been fortunate enough to be able to add "and the community around it" after the word music in that philosophy.  Last night, once again, that I idea was reinforced.

Between my vacation and other things, it had been about two weeks since I set foot in my favorite East Nashville hang, The 5 Spot.  Although, there was a part of my that wanted to stay in - I am very glad that I went out.  I ended up being there for over six hours and heard a ton of amazing music beginning with Wild Ponies just after six o'clock and ending with Tommy Womack just after midnight.  In between, I heard and saw, Amy Speace, Stelle Amor, and Andrew Adkins.   The early show was Wild Ponies and Speace - and billed as a Happy Hour of Healing.  Which is was in the most uplifting and amazing way possible.  It was especially healing to be able to hang out with lovely, compassionate, passionate people who were hurting in the same way that I was (and am).

Musical highlights included Wild Ponies being awesome as always - loved their song "Love is Not a Sin" and their cover of Katy Perry's "Roar", Amy Speace's cover of The Waterboys' "Strange Boat" and her set ending sing-a-long of "This Land is Your Land" (all of the verses) which featured Speace, Megan Palmer, Allen Thompson, Julie Christensen, Amelia White, Stacie Huckaba, Kira Small and more.  I dug Stelle Amor's relentless joyful soul music, it was great seeing Andrew Adkins with a full band - doing several tracks from his Glass Castles album which we have been featuring on here.  Tommy Womack was joined by his son Nathan and the awesome rhythm section of Daniel Seymour and Pete Pulkrabek. He opened with "Like a Rolling Stone" and ended with "A Cockroach After the Bomb" - and in between played some of his incredible songs like "Alpha Male and the Canine Mystery Blood", "Nice Day", and the Government Cheese songs, "C'mon Back to Bowling Green".

Onward,  tomorrow I am off work - so likely there will not be a shuffle.  Partially for that reason and partially because I have not yet created a Throwback Thursday Playlist on my new phone yet, I decided to shuffle today from the "New Music" playlist.  Let's go!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

WTF Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Planet Earth Mix



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Like many (but not all, I know) of my friends, I am devastated and saddened and confused by what has transpired.  I am kind of, but not totally, at a loss for words right now. I do know this... I am not moving to Canada or anywhere else because of what has happened. (As tempting as that thought may be). And I hope none of my friends who feel so compelled do either (although as I said, I understand the thought). The fact is that right now, the very people who feel so compelled are needed now more than ever. Anyone in a minority (racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, disability) needs us.

Here is a little truth bomb.  That factors that lead to this outcome (be that ignorance, fear, bigotry of any kind, anger) those factors did not begin with one man - they were exploited and revealed.  Those who reject all of those things... we now have a better idea of how big a fight we have.

And for the record, to me, this is not about politics. I understand and respect that we all have different out looks.  I may not support fiscal conservatism, but I understand it and accept that it is a valid viewpoint. What I cannot understand or accept as a valid viewpoint - is misogyny, mocking the disabled, xenophobia, homophobia, racism, etc.).  Maybe, I am an eternal optimist, but I choose to believe that the majority of people who voted for that candidate (who opening displayed and supported those things) did not do so for those reasons directly - but rather for reasons I cannot begin to fathom but which I could at least accept on some level.

I also understand that not everyone who reads E2TG will agree with what I have just written. E2TG has always been and will continue to be about music and the power it has to uplift and move and comfort and to transform.

So, again, I turn to music.... I have not created (and may not create) a "Wild Wednesday" playlist.  Rather, today's shuffle includes every single song currently residing on my phone memory card.

Also, just for today, I changed the name of the shuffle... because, seriously, WTF!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - The Sprinklers Wept Mix



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Well, it is election day here in the US.  I say, go vote.  E2TG will remain a safe space from politics today.  Not because this election is not important.  I think it is. Not because I am apolitical. I'm not.  I just think right now, there is enough political "stuff" around - if you are seeking that out, I think you will find it.  I believe in love and I believe in music. And if you think by saying "I believe in love" that I am being "political" then you may have identified the problem....  Be good to each other. Not just today.

We have some music from our newly reconstituted "New Music" playlist. Let's do this!

Monday, November 7, 2016

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Sat on My Hand Mix



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Did you miss me?  Let's see if I remember how to do this whole shuffle thing.

I had a great time in Memphis (briefly) and Mississippi last week.  A couple of interesting musical things of note.  I left Nashville on the day before Halloween and listened to a shuffle of all of the songs on my phone.  Randomly, along the way, I think at least three songs which arguably could be considered Halloween songs came up in a row.  Then, just as I was arriving in Memphis, Dan Penn's version of his song, "Memphis Women and Fried Chicken" came on.  Later, when I was about to cross the border into Mississippi, a song by Tim Lee 3 (Tim and Susan Lee used to live in Mississippi) came up.  By the way, today is Tim and Susan's 35th anniversary - so a big E2TG Happy Anniversary shout out to them.

After visiting Oxford and Holly Springs, I spent a couple of nights in Clarksdale.  Stayed at a cool place called the Shack Up Inn. Took in some local blues music and visited the Delta Blues Museum and other sites.

I am officially on my new phone, and all of my music has been transferred.  I have not yet completely recreated all of my playlists, but I did complete the Music City Monday playlist - so that seems like a great way to dive back into this thing....

By the way, E2TG can be considered a "safe space" from political rhetoric this week.