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Had a great time the Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid CD Release Show last night at the Basement. Renee Wahl opened and she was fantastic as always. And as expected, Stone Cupid rocked the house. Julie Christensen delivered some powerful vocals and the songs - originals and covers by Darrin Bradbury, Tim Easton, and Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan hit all the right notes. A Sad Clown is a wonderful followup to The Cardinal and it finds this veteran singer/songwriter/performer continuing to grow and develop.
I got home and was able to load three new albums into the shuffle. Two of them show up here today. It is Tuesday and time to see what is "Trending" on E2TG. We do that by shuffling up the "New Music" playlist. Here is the result for today:
"Groceries" by Bill Eberle
Coincidentally, the first two songs in the shuffle are by Nashville songwriters and they both (more or less) deal in some way with the times in which we live. First up, we have Bill Eberle with a powerful song from his forthcoming Soft Light album. When the simple act of shopping for groceries leads to discussions about politics and life and death... Rolling Stone Country recently premiered the video for this song, and you can find it in the video playlist below.
"Gas Mask" by Reckless Johnny Wales
Long-time E2TG favorite, the legendary man of mystery, Reckless Johnny Wales, is back with a new album called Runaway Train of Thoughts. Reckless Johnny Wales is the alter-ego of Bob Saporiti who in a past life was a Music Row executive and a CMA Founding President's Award winner. Upon retiring, he took on the persona of a wandering troubadour with a checkered and mysterious past (or maybe it was vice-versa). Nevertheless, in the years, I have been a fan and friend of Reckless Johnny, he has released three increasingly better (and all great) albums. This was one I just - finally - got added to my playlist last night, and I can't wait to hear and write about the rest.
"The Blues Keep Fallin' Like Rain" by Eric Andersen
The Essential Eric Andersen is out now. It is a two-disc, 42 song career retrospective of one of the best living American songwriters. This is a track from Andersen's 1975 album Be True to You - which followed his 1972 album Blue River. In 1975, Andersen also played two dates on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour. We still have about 25 tracks left to feature which includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in 20th Century music.
"Ordinary Times" by Ben Arthur
Next up, we have another song "ripped from the headlines" so to speak. E2TG favorite Ben Arthur with a track from his latest album American Castles. Most of the songs on the album are responses to essays and poems and short stories. This track is comprised almost entirely of direct quotes from former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. The result is chilling and powerful.
"Dark Days" by Umbrella Bed
We previously featured Twin Cities ska band Umbrella Bed and their Refill EP. They are back with a new full-length album called Rotate. We have two tracks from that release in the shuffle today. I've always been partial to ska music and wary of bands that recklessly "borrow" the sound. That is certainly not the case with Umbrella Bed who have been making music for over twenty years. Rounded out by Horns of Mass Destruction, this band approaches their quarter century mark with a renewed sense of purpose. This was the other album I uploaded last night, and I am happy two songs came up today.
"Alibis" by Trent Agecoutay
Next up, we have a kind of lighthearted take on the potentially serious topic of waking up with no recollection of what transpired the night before. That sense of forboding while searching your phone and texts for clues all the while working on your cover story. Now.... and Then has become a favorite of mind. Trent Agecoutay joins a growing list of E2TG favorites from our neighbors to the north.
"Say Your Goodbyes" by Umbrella Bed
Our second listen to Rotate - by Minneapolis/St. Paul ska band Umbrella Bed.
"So Low" by Ronan Furlong
And we close out the shuffle with another track from Red Sun Rising by Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Furlong. I continue to be impressed by this album and artist.
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