Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
3 more shuffles left in 2017. Feeling kind of ready to kick this year to the curb, but we have some business left to do.
I have a few more out of shuffle Earies to hand out.
First, the "New Kid(s) in Town" award: we have a tie! Congrats to WXNA and to Cafe Rooster Records.
WXNA - words cannot express how happy I am that this station started about a year and half ago. Not only because it has given me to incredible opportunity to have a show with Sue Havlish, but also because it is such a valuable to asset to the city of Nashville. The founders were all long-time DJ's at Vanderbilt's WRVU. When their bid to save that station fell short, they went to work and man did they work! That work has paid off in spades. A couple of months ago, WXNA was voted Best Radio Station in Nashville by the readers of the Nashville Scene. To some, it may not be clear just how amazing an accomplishment this was. Nashville has a celebrated radio history. In terms of terms of "alternative" music - WRLT Lightning 100 has been an institution for nearly 30 years. For WXNA to be voted best radio station in this town after just over one year of operation reflects the void that the station has filled in this community. As I have said, I am still flabbergasted to be able to play even a small part in this station.
Cafe Rooster Records - Not long after WXNA went on the air, Brian Wright, Sally Jaye, and Darrin Bradbury decided to create Cafe Rooster Records to release their records and other worthwhile releases. Their Americana Music Fest parties are already legendary (after just two years). Their line-up includes releases by Brian Wright, Ladies Gun Club, Darrin Bradbury, and Jon Latham (his latest album, Lifers is one of the best of 2017. They also released the incredible Strange Freedom: Songs of Love and Protest compilation. Cafe Rooster Session Vol. 2 was released a couple of months ago and features not only the aforementioned artists, but also some very special guests. In May, Cafe Rooster Records hosted one of the E2TG Residency Nights and put on an epic show that I will not soon forget.
I can't wait to see what the future holds for both of these Nashville treasures.
I would be remiss if I didn't give the "Co-Conspirator" award to Collins de la Cour. Collins was the first ever guest contributor to E2TG - contributing some insightful coverage of the Americana Music Fest back in September. Look for more from Collins in 2018!
This is the time of the Earies when I start stressing out over who I may have accidentally omitted.
Anyway, after today, we have two more days of Earies and still a fair number of awards to hand out. Next week, the "Golden Earies" for Band(s) and/or Artist(s) of the Year for 2017.
Today's shuffle (as we do on Wednesdays) comes from all of the songs in my phone's memory. Things can get wild - so let's shuffle:
"Milltown" by Jeb Barry
We start things off with a wonderful song from Massachusetts singer-songwriter Jeb Barry from his 2015 album Milltown. As sometimes happens, the song got added to my phone without some of the metadata being included. But, I'm really happy this turned up today.
"Sometimes I Lie (Awake)" by Ben Arthur
Sometimes, on Wild Wednesday, recent releases show up - that's the wild part of it (you just do not know). This is a track from American Castles - the latest album from Earie Award winner Ben Arthur.
"Not Cool" by Tim Easton
Tim Easton is a Nashville treasure. His album American Fork was one of the best albums of 2016. This is the title track from his 2013 album - which was still relatively new when I first met him.
"Wild Wood" by Jan Needle
So, I had to do some research on this track, but then I remembered when I got it. So this song is actually by folk singer Liz P., and it was released along with The Rise of Ronald T. Rump - a satire by th English author Jan Needle. Wild Wood - an alternative take on The Wind in the Willows was published by Needle in 1981.
"Use Your Words" by Devon Gilfillian
I mentioned Strange Freedom: Songs of Love and Protest earlier in talking about Cafe Rooster Records. This is one of the awesome tracks on that album by one of Nashville's brightest stars on the rise. I think I posted this track before, but I really don't mind. It's worth shouting out now former Nashville resident Matt Haeck who envisioned and produced this compilation.
"Something in the Water" by Kids on Bridges
Next, we have a track from UK band Kids on Bridges with a track from their recent album Kidology.
"Dreams of Clay" by Dwight Yoakum
Next, we have a track from Dwight Yoakum's 2015 album Second Hand Heart.
"What Might Get Out" by Freaks for Geeks
And we close out the shuffle with the return of Chicago band Freaks for Geeks with a track from their 2016 album TIN.
No comments:
Post a Comment