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Hey, I've done the math, and I can get through the year recap and still do this week's and next week's Music City Monday shuffle. So, we will detour from the Earies - just a bit - but there may be some embedded Earies in this shuffle.... so you better read up...
"Carrboro" by Tom House
First out of the gate is the one and only Tom House with his song about Carrboro, North Carolina. Carrboro is known as one of the most progressive cities in the Southeastern U.S. This is from House's album Inside These Walls which features a cover photo of House standing outside the legendary Springwater Supper Club. House is a former Earie winner, and this year, he gets the 2018 Independence of Spirit Award from E2TG.
"Cold Tennessee Rain" by Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid
Two cool things about doing E2TG and living in Nashville: 1. Meeting people who played on some of your favorite records and performed with some of your favorite artists and 2. Making lots of wonderful friends. It's all the better when those two things happen at once. Stone Cupid - led by Julie Christensen have been an E2TG favorite for some time. They played our 5th Anniversary Show back in 2016. 2018 saw the release of their latest album, A Sad Clown. This song seemed appropriate after the weekend of cold rain. In additional to Christensen, Stone Cupid - the band features the amazing 1-2 attack of Sergio Webb and Chris Tench on guitar - plus the amazing Steve Latanation on drums. Stone Cupid are also past Earie winners. This year, they have earned the "Sad Clowns make me Happy" Award.
"Hollywood Hopeful" by Loudon Wainwright III
Timing can be a funny thing. Earlier this year, I started re-watching the television series M*A*S*H, and during the third season of the classic series, Wainwright made three appearances as the singing surgeon, Captain Spalding. This got me interested in really digging into Wainwright's music. Then, coincidentally, at almost the same time, he released Years in the Making - a compilation album. This song is from that new album - it originally appeared on his 1975 album Unrequited.
"Hearts and Bones" by Wild Ponies
Wild Ponies music just makes me feel better - about myself, about the world, and about my community. These are important things and they can be rare. Their 2017 album Galax was an amazing achievement that shows that simplicity can lead to the extraordinary. The formula: Take some of Nashville's best musicians to Galax, Virginia. Bring in some of the old-time music makers from that fertile and foundational music area. Set up the recording equipment and just make music. The result - maybe one of the duo's best albums and a piece of work that defies time and place.
"Dive Bar Sweetheart" by Becky Warren
Becky Warren released her new album Undesirable in 2018. The last couple of years has found her touring with The Indigo Girls and others. This is a favorite track from her previous album War Surplus.
"I Ain't Got Time" by Steve Forbert
I've been a fan of Steve Forbert since his Jackrabbit Slim about - mostly his hit song, "Romeo's Tune" which came out about the time I was 13 years old. In 2018, Forbert released his 19th Studio Album - The Magic Tree. He sounds better than ever.
"While I'm Young" by Allen Thompson
There are a lot of intangibles when it comes to my appreciation of the music community of East Nashville in the mid to late 2010s. People whose spirit overshadows all the b.s. around the realities of the music world in this era. Even as East Nashville celebrates the Grammy nomination of Margo Price, it is easy to get discouraged about the financial realities of trying to make a living making music now-a-days. As fan, however, I am consistently blown away by the talent in this town. I guess Nashville is known for its songwriters. The fun part is watching a talented songwriter surround him self with world class musicians and singers and make magic. Seeing Lady Couch - Allen Thompson's newest band - fill the stage at The 5 Spot or Basement East and make huge music. To me, I feel like I am getting to experience a once-in-a-lifetime thing - up close and personal. Like people who saw The Dead or whoever way back at the beginning. I have no way of knowing what the future holds, but I know that I will never forget the magical music I have the opportunity to experience almost every day. I put Allen Thompson in the center of music of that magic.
"Thank You, Mr. Hubble" (Live) by Loudon Wainwright III
Our second visit with Mr. Wainwright today is a live recording. It is Wainwright's backhanded thank you to the space telescope and the man who's name is attached to it.
"Sunkissed" by Justin and the Cosmics
We close things out with a repeat track from Justin and the Cosmics PERF album. We have been featuring this album both from our "New Music" playlist and our "Music City Monday" playlist - which is how this song came up twice. One of Nashville's best live bands, The Cosmics led by Justin Collins released one of the best albums of 2018 - with their long anticipated PERF. PERF was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis. I am giving them the "Leave It All on the Stage" Award for their no-holds-barred live performances - which translate well to this recorded work.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG. So far, I have completed nine - January - October 2018. These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months. If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below) and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.
JUST ADDED! October 2018 Playlist!
E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018
E2TG September 2018
E2TG October 2018 (NEW!)
E2TG November 2018 (Coming Soon!)
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