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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)
E2TG January 2018
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E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)
Wow! It's October now! The month starts on a Monday, which means we have our first Music City Monday of October. Music City Monday is when we explore the rich and varied music made by people who have, do, or will call Nashville home. Okay, not really the "will" part - if I included people who could potentially move to Nashville at some point, I could literally included any living musician... hmm... but no! Just those who do or have called Nashville home. The songs included are new and not so new and cover a wide variety of styles.
Let's shuffle!
"She's Crazy for Leaving" by Rodney Crowell
We start things off with a #1 hit country song from Diamonds and Dirt - the first Rodney Crowell album to be recorded in Nashville a aimed at a country music audience. It was Crowell's second number one single. The song was released right at 30 years ago. The song was co-written by the late Guy Clark.
"Honey, Let's Go To Town" by Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid
Next, we have a track from the latest album by Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid. The album is called A Sad Clown. The song is described by Christensen as her answer song to Darrin Bradbury's "Exile on Myrtle Beach" (which we also covers on the album).
"Always the Stranger" by David Olney
Having David Olney play an E2TG Anniversary show last year is and will always be a highlight for me. The Nashville songwriting legend recently released his latest album - This Side or the Other, and this is the lead track from that album. Olney is still on top of his game. He is going to be touring in Europe this month, so if any of my European contacts read this and if David Olney comes near you, do yourself a favor and go see him.
"When the World Doesn't Love You" by Stuffy Shmitt
If you don't know, Nashville is in the midst of a boom (unless the bubble burst and we just don't know it yet), but to my point, the number of people moving to Nashville in recent years has been astronomical. The number of musicians, singers, and songwriters has also been remarkable. Many of those music folks have become favorites of mine. This included Stuffy Shmitt. When it comes to Nashville's music world - these days, it is important to stand out, and he has a big and quirky personality. Even before I heard his music, Stuffy stood out (he is tall with hair standing straight up on the top of his head. Then, I heard his songs and he really stood out. His off-stage demeanor belies the strength and sincerity of his songs. This is taken from an album called Twelve Songs.
"Out of Hand" by Griffin Winton
I first encountered Griffin Winton as part of the Nashville band, The Big Dumb. Over the last year or so, he has grown to become of my favorite musicians and songwriters, and I think a rising star in the Nashville music community. At Americana, I got to see him several times playing with different folks - and standing out in a supporting role. He is starting a month-long residency at Phat Bites tonight. This is an instrumental track from his debut solo release called I'm Not Trying to Flirt With You Or Anything."The Drake" by Sergio Webb
Coincidentally, we have another instrumental track up next. This is the one and only Sergio Webb with a track from his album Bolivar Blues which dates back to 2009. Webb recently released a new album Los Cuates. Sergio Webb has been a long-time figure on the Nashville music scene. He is the kind of guitar player than even a non-player like me can watch and be in awe of. As a sideman, he is unparalleled. He subtly adds so music to the music he backs up. You can hear his work on the Stone Cupid song we featured first in this shuffle. In recently years, he has turned more of his attention to his own music, and I could not be more thrilled."Honey Bee" by Brigitte DeMeyer and Will Kimbrough
Will Kimbrough and Brigitte DeMeyer are an Americana dream come true, their 2017 album, Mockingbird Soul was stunningly beautiful. Kimbrough has been a Nashville resident since the late 80s, when he brought his band Will and the Bushmen up from Alabama. DeMeyer is a more recent transplant. Together they are a vital part of the fabric of this town's rich musical tapestry.
"Mom's 70th Birthday Song" by Jason Ringenberg
A sweet one from the lead singer of Jason and the Scorchers. From Best Tracks and Sidetracks: 1979-2007 - the compilation released in 2008 in Yep Roc records.
"When the Hinges Give" by Andrew Leahey and the Homestead
Next up, we have a track from Skyline in Central Time by the best of the current crop of Nashville songwriters. This is the song whose lyrics provided the title for the album. It is a wonderful song, and a great example of why Andrew Leahey is one of the best Nashville has to offer.
"In the Woods" by Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons
We close things out with another of Nashville's finest. Fletcher, like Andrew Leahey are what I (as a old guy) thinks of as mid-period Nashville residents - just meaning that they have both been around longer than many in the current crop. But, in the new math of growing Nashville - they are both old-timers, and more to the point, they are both making some of their best music. Most recently, Joe Fletcher has been making music as part of the band Hotel Ten Eyes. This is from the 2010 album White Lighter.
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