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Wow! So much to talk about, and so little time. The finale of the Brian Wright and the Sneakups residency was nothing short of spectacular. A large crowd filled with so many amazing musicians and songwriters. All of the shows were amazing. Brian Wright is an incredible songwriter and performer. His album Lapse of Luxury is guaranteed to be in the top tier. When I named him E2TG Artist of the Year a couple of years back, he already had a long and successful career behind him. In some ways, he didn't fit the mold of my usual artists of the year (if I even have a mold), but I did it because at that point, he was busy backing other people and working behind the scenes at Cafe Rooster Records, and yet every time he played his own music (either solo or with a band), I was completely blown away. I am glad to see him working on his own music. Special guests last night were Nikki Barber of The Minks who performed one of her own songs, and Aaron Lee Tasjan who covered a classic Brian Wright song.
After that, I had the unexpected but wonderful opportunity to go to the Bluebird Cafe for a round featuring Stacey Earle, Mark Stuart (who is her husband), and two people represented in yesterday's shuffle (Jason Ringenberg and Peter Cooper). I feel compelled to point out that my shuffles are all random, so it was pure coincidence that they were in the shuffle and that I got to go to the show. Turns out, it was Jason's first time playing the storied venue. Kind of hard to believe that one of Nashville music's most iconic figures had never played one of Nashville's most iconic rooms. It was also a super rare chance to see Jason play while sitting down (you could tell it took effort for him not to bounce around). Peter Cooper demonstrated not only his incredible skills as a songwriter but also his deep understanding and appreciation for Nashville music. Stacey Earle is a name I've been following for decades in the Nashville music world. She is an wonderful songwriter, has a lovely voice, and is - as Jason said - one of the best rhythm guitar players around. I wasn't familiar with Mark Stuart's music before last night, but now I want to be.
One final note, I was a huge Atlanta Brave's fan back in the 1980s and early 90s. I watched almost every game on TBS and knew all the players. Turns out that the daughter of the Braves' centerfield and base stealing phenom from those days - Brett Butler - was working the door at the Bluebird. Peter Cooper announced that and then did a song he wrote that mentioned the double play combination of Ramirez to Hubbard to Chambliss. He also performed possible my all time favorite baseball song - "Opening Day".
Onward into the shuffle!
"Ordinary Memory" by Ajay Mathur
First up, we have a track from one of my favorite albums we featured last year. Little Boat by singer-songwriter Ajay Mathur of Switzerland by way of India.
"Racecar Joe" by Adam Carroll
Next up, we have a track from the debut album - Looking Out the Screen Door. Carroll's latest album, I Walked In Them Shows. Adam Carroll is one of the best and most consistently great songwriters around."Trick" by Noctorum
Next up, another track from The Afterlife - by Noctorum which features Marty Wilson-Piper.
"Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash" by Big John and the Buzzards
Another classic tune from that recently released Brexit inspired compilation - Gonna Make It Alone - with all older songs that sound like they might be about Brexit.
"Almighty Nature Spirit" by The Scrags
Another from last year, a track from Anything by Swedish punk band The Scrags.
"Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads
A classic from 1979's Fear of Music. One of my all-time favorite songs.
"It's Just Like That" by The Mouse Outfit (feat. Black Josh and TrueMendous)
Another track from one of my favorite albums of last year. Manchester Hip Hop collective - The Mouse Outfit.
"Sweet Dreams" by Jubl (A.R. Kane)
A.R. Kane was part of the MARRS collaboration that recorded Pump Up The Volume in 1987. The new incarnation - Jubl released the Thinking Sweet EP last year.
"Free Slurpee Day" by Girl Scouts
From the depths of the E2TG archives comes this song which was part of a split single released in December 2011 by Philadelphia punk/emo band Girl Scouts along with the band Old Gray. Girl Scouts were among the early bands we featured on E2TG. The very young band fizzled out sometime around 2013-2014. Cool song to end this Wild shuffle.
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