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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)
If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.
E2TG January 2018
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E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)
E2TG September 2018 (coming soon!)
I will say once again, different beliefs are NOT the problem. We are a country, which by our nature, has historically been a beacon to people with differing ideas and beliefs.
In my life, I have experienced several Presidents whose policies and agendas have clashed with what I believe is best or right. What all of those Presidents have done is at least give lip service to the idea they are representing all of us. They have spoken to all of us and presented this case and announced their decisions. Sometimes, I have liked or accepted their explanation and something I have hated it. Sometimes both with the same President. My own political beliefs have developed and changed over time.
What I have witnessed these last two years is something different. Something horrifying. A president who speaks only to his base and considers other citizens to be the enemy. A president who speaks and tweets like a cheap radio talk show host. Who share conspiracy theories and who lies constantly and seemingly with immunity. A president, in short, who acts like an asshole. And the result is that it has emboldened assholes to behave like assholes even more so than typical. I experienced this - again - this weekend. I knew the man was trouble when he talked in with his confederate flag hat. Sure enough, he acted like an asshole. Throwing insults and taunts, and when he was called on his behavior, he pouted like a little child. Like his president.
I am dismayed and discouraged, but for now, I still believe that light will overcome the darkness, and I still believe that there is more good than evil in this world. I just hope good will get up off it's ass and do something - and do something soon.
Music is still my balm. And, it's Monday, so we have our usual Music City Monday shuffle to get the week off on the right foot.
"Young Black James Dean" by Justin and the Cosmics
I keep saying that Justin and the Cosmics are one of my favorite live bands in town. Justin Collins is a fearless performer who leaves everything on the stage (or he doesn't leave anything on the stage - I forget how that expression goes). Bottom line, he is totally uninhibited on stage, and that makes for consistently high-energy performances. PERF was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis - produced by Pat Sansone. It is one of my favorite albums of 2018 and this is one of my favorite tracks and a favorite to see live."Snap Your Fingers" by Mike Farris
Next up, we have a track from the brand new album by Nashville legend Mike Farris. We have been featuring some Screaming Cheetah Wheelies songs on Music City Monday. Farris was part of that band, and since they broke up, he has been building a successful solo career. His music is filled with soul and heart.
"This Land is Calling" by Madeleine Besson
Next up, we have another brand new release. Madeleine Besson comes to Nashville by way of Paris (France not Tennessee or Texas). I got to see her perform at a recent Madison Guild Monday at Dee's, and she will be back there next Monday. We just released her album Journey Home. This is a beautiful song.
"The Southern Shore" by Tom House
Next up, we go back a little ways, Inside These Walls was released in 1996, and the cover features a young Tom House standing outside Springwater Supper Club - the back wall before the patio was built. The album was reissued a few years back. From what I can tell this track was not on the original release but was added to the 2010 re-release. Tom House is one of my favorite local songwriters primarily because he marches to the beat of his own unique drum."Jesus Rides a UFO" (Live) by Royal Court of China
This recording is from the album Return to Elliston Square: Live 2008 at Exit/In. The live performance was the release show for the Return to Elliston Square compilation which gather some key recordings from Nashille's 1980 Rock boom. The live performance reunited some of the bands of that era including Royal Court of China. In the late 1980s, the consensus opinion was that Royal Court of China were going to be the "Next Big Thing" to emerge from Nashville. Led by Joe Blanton, Royal Court of China emerged from earlier bands - most notably the thrash rock band The Enemy. The Enemy were, perhaps, best known for their local hit - "Jesus Rides a UFO" which was played almost constantly on WRVU for a long while. The song is permanently hardwired into my memories of that time.
"You Can't Fail Me Now" by Loudon Wainwright III
I have been re-watching the classic television series M*A*S*H recently. In the early seasons of that show, Loudon Wainwright III made a few appearances as a singing surgeon. Since seeing those episodes, I have been on a Loudon Wainwright kick. He is the father of Rufus and Martha Wainwight, and a towering figure in American music. Wainwright spent some time in and recorded in Nashville - so he qualifies for this playlist. This is from a recently released compilation called Years in the Making.
"Came to Your Song" by Julie Christensen
Next, we have a track from Julie Christensen - from one of her pre-Nashville albums Weeds Like Us. Christensen is now an established part of the Nashville artistic community. A gifted and trained vocalist - her history includes years touring with Leonard Cohen as a featured vocalist. She was also part of the proto alt-country/punk band Divine Horsemen.
"Company Man" by Zach Schmidt
In one of those coincidences that seems to happen all the time at E2TG, I saw - after this song came up in the shuffle - that today is the 2 year anniversary of the release of this excellent album. Schmidt is set to release the follow-up early in 2019. He will be at The 5 Spot this Thursday singing old and new songs - including maybe this one.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
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