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Reminded again how inspired I am by people with bold creative ideas - not only in music but in other forms of art. People who have a vision of something - regardless of their experience with that thing - and who pursue that vision with all of their heart. I think one of my weaknesses is self-doubt combined with a tendency to put too much stock in naysayers - people who tell you why you shouldn't or cant' do something.
My goal is to follow my visions no matter what. I'd rather fail spectacularly while attempting something big than succeed mildly while settling for something small.
Just some thoughts on a Friday.
Now, time to see what's our Featured Friday playlist shuffled up!
"Hey Hey Mama" by James Scott Bullard
My first exposure to James Scott Bullard was at Americana Fest a few years ago when he was distributing a t-shirt that read, "Who the fuck is James Scott Bullard?" I didn't know, but it made me curious. Fast forward a few years, and I get an e-mail from one the publicists who has me on their mailing list - touting the forthcoming album Full Tilt Boogie which is due out April 27. On that date, Bullard will be performing at Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison as part of Magnolia Roads American Roots Hoedown III Pre-party. The hoedown will be the following night at the 5 Spot. The pre-party also features Allen Thompson, Boo Ray, Scott McMahan, Daniel Lawrence Walker and more. More on that event later. By the way, Bullard was also at Dee's last night, but my lame ass wasn't able to go. I plan to be there in April, though. Anyway, this is our first listen to Full Tilt Boogie, and it is damn fine.
"Messiah" by Eric Andersen
"Dusty Box Car Wall" by Eric Andersen
Two more tracks from the incredible The Essential Eric Andersen which is due out one week from today. "Messiah" was previously released on a collection called Exile: The Hidden Years Vol. 1 - which featured recording made in Canada between 1980 and 1984. "Dusty Box Car Wall" is an early track (1964) from his time as part of the Greenwich Village folk scene.
"Misterman" by The Foresters
E2TG Band of the Year (2017) - The Foresters are back in the shuffle with a track from their latest album House Stories. This is just a flat out great pop song - in the best possible sense of that much maligned term. I feel like Beatlesque is used too much, but honestly that is what came to my mind. 3/4 of The Foresters played our 5th Anniversary show in 2016. I really hope we can get the full band down here some time soon."Angel Symphony" by Ronan Furlong
Next we have a very lovely song from Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Furlong from his album Red Sun Rising. Furlong's music has been a very pleasant discovery for me in 2018.
"Honey Pie" by Big Shoes
Never too late in the shuffle to get a healthy dose of the blues. Big Shoes album Step On It! is out and they will be having a CD Release Party at 3rd and Lindsley next Wednesday (March 28). Big Shoes is a band made up of seasoned and in-demand studio session (and touring) musicians whose credits include Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Mel Tillis, and Chaka Khan - just to name few. The band's members share a love of the band Little Feat (their name is a take off of that band's name), and the CD Release Party is expected to include a set of Little Feat covers.
"Putting Things in Order" by Andrew Reed
And we close things out with a track from If All the World Were Right - by singer-songwriter Andrew Reed. This album has been a pleasant surprise. The press info indicates that Reed is based in Asheville, North Carolina, but his Facebook Page lists his current location as Nashville. Asheville or Nashville (or both), all I can say, is this introspective soft rock music hits all the right notes with me.
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