E2TG 2/20/2020 - Art for Art's Sake - City of Immigrants Mix (Showboat Remix)

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Art for Art's Sake:

I have a bad tendency to put things in a box - and consider it bad or good - when in reality things are almost always more nuanced and complicated.  

Last night, I attended a book signing for John Partipilo's new book Rancho Beyondo - his second book.  John is a true visionary artist and journalist (the two don't have to be mutually exclusive).  John and the book's designer Beth Inglish talked a bit about John's artistry, and the point was made (and taken - by me at least) of the importance to staying true to your vision as an artist.  We are all given many chances to compromise our vision. Advise from well-meaning friends and family, unappointed  arbiters of societal norms and literary (or other conventions).

(I need to point out that I am expounding on the words that were spoken - offering my own thoughts - not implying that either John or Beth said these specific things - just that their comments led my mind down these paths).  As an artist (of whatever medium) my job is not to help people remain comfortable.  I think the Cesar Cruz quote: "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable".  John's photographs are not staged and although he does sometimes photograph musicians, he does not usually capture them on stage but rather in quiet moments. 

So, the event last night was at a boutique hotel in East Nashville. This location was the inspiration for my first sentence. From the outside, I probably would consider this spot - fancy, expensive cocktails, pricey rooms (only eight total rooms) - to be part of the problem with all of the changes. But, it was a lovely event and the expensive cocktail I had was delightful. And the hotel seems really interesting (out of my price range but interesting).  John Partipilo in discussing his book - which contains images of ordinary and extraordinary people and situations.

John said that he loves Nashville and reflected on his responsibility to report everything he sees. It struck me, because it is so easy to reflect on all the changes and just to see the negatives or just bemoan the losses. Through John's lens, it is possible to see the glorious shades of grey (literal and figurative) that as a whole create the Nashville of 2020.

The crowd that gathered included some heavy-hitters from all walks of Nashville life, and also some of the people who appeared in the book (in some case both in one person). 

I kind of got side-tracked from my thoughts about art. The line between art and commerce are sometimes razor thin (or at least seem to be). I know, I see musicians struggling with making the art they want vs. trying to make some sort of viable living doing what they love and often what they are best suited to do. It is easy to sit on the outside and say, "always keep art pure, stick to your vision, don't compromise", but it isn't that simple and it is not fair to put that simplification on others.  I do know, however, that the pure pursuit of art (or as pure as possible) is important and needed in the world.  I guess I don't have an answer, but I am grateful for this book signing in a fancy, boutique hotel with delicious, expensive cocktails for triggering all of these thoughts in my head. 

    Featured Friday Playlist
Final day to check out this week's list 

Thursday Morning Shuffle:

A timely statement from Steve Earle, a few live cuts and more... 

"City of Immigrants" by Steve Earle (with Forro in the Dark) (from Washington Square Seranade)

"All of us are immigrants"

"Oklahoma Blues (live)" by Watermelon Slim (from Traveling Man - Disc 2 - The Depot)

The inimitable Watermelon Slim with our first listen to his forthcoming double live album. 

"The One" by Bridge 19 (from In the Afterglow)

"Hot Cha (live)" by They Might Be Giants (from Flood Live in Australia)

One of my favorite albums, Flood, turned 30 years old back in January.  This is from a live performance of the album released for free by the band (I don't think it is still available).

"Don't Do It (live)" by Mrs. Henry (from Mrs. Henry Presents The Last Waltz)

Another track from that The Last Waltz tribute by L.A. band Mrs. Henry. We have some new, original music from them. 

"Shootin' For The Moon" by Sonny Landreth (from South of I-10)

"Showboat" by Josh Ritter (from Gathering)

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Recent and Upcoming Releases:

Recent:
1/07 - The Singing Butcher - "Top 40" (single)
1/08 - Luis Mojica- Shaman Food (LP)
1/10 - Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single) (E2TG First Impression)
1/10 - Mary Bragg and Drivin' N Cryin' - "Don't Walk Away" (cover) (single)
1/10 - Them Airs - "Food Pyramid" (single)
1/10 -  Lilly Hiatt - "Brightest Star" (single)
1/10 - Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) (E2TG First Impression)
1/10 - Dean Fields - "Armadillo" (single)
1/10-  Chicago Farmer - "All in One Place" (single)
1/10 - RB Morris - Going Back to the Sky (LP)
1/10 - Guided By Voices - "Volcano" (single)
1/10 - Sunshine Boys - "Infinity Girl" (single)
1/11 - Dolour (Shane Tutmarc) - "The Snake Eye" (single)
1/12 - Francesco Mariano - "Nine Lives" (single)
1/13 - Lauren Anderson  - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (cover) (single)
1/14 - Drive-By Truckers - "Thoughts and Prayers" (single)
1/16 - Margo Price - Stone Me (single)
1/17 - Mark Hummel - Wayback Machine (LP)
1/17 - Jonny Polonsky - "The Weeping Souls" (single)
1/17 - Them Airs - Union Suit XL (LP) (E2TG First Impression)
1/17 - Innocence Mission - See You Tomorrow (LP)
1/17 - David Dondero - The Filter Bubble Blues (LP)
1/17 - MONO INC. - "Warriors" (single)
1/17 - Damen - "Americana" (single)
1/17 - The Singing Butcher - "Circus Girl" (single)
1/19 - Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single) (E2TG First Impression)
1/21 - Broads and Milly Hirst - "Happisburgh" (single)
1/22 - Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP) (E2TG First Impression)
1/24 - Kailey Nicole - Kailey Nicole (LP)
1/24 - Mrs. Henry - Live at the Casbah (LP)
1/24 - Aeronautical Pioneer - "Hop High" (single)
1/24 - Three Rivers Project - Confluence (LP)
1/24 - MONO INC. - The Book of Fire (LP)
1/24 - Dispel - Lore (LP)
1/24 - The New Nostalgia - "Nothing is New" (single)
1/24 - The Heliocentrics - "Burning Wooden Ship" (single)
1/24 - Electric High - "Harder to Justify" (single)
1/24 - J. Luke Cloutier - Drown (LP)
1/26 - Nik West - "Tears" (single)
1/28 - Motihari Brigade - Power from Below (LP)
1/29 - Remington Super 60 - NEW EP (EP)
1/31 - Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Daytime Highs and Overnight Lows (LP)
1/31 - Nick Pagliari - Midway (LP)
1/31 - Black Paisley - "Dreams" (single)
1/31 - Jolie Holland - Esconidida (Vinyl Reissue) (LP)
1/31 - John Dennis - Mortal Flames (LP) (E2TG First Impression)
1/31 - Emma Hill - How Could I Have Been So Wrong (EP)
1/31 - Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (LP) (E2TG First Impression)
1/31 - Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) + Danielle de Picciotto (Crime and The City Solution) - The Current (LP)
1/31 - Drive-By Truckers - The Unraveling (LP)
1/31 - Kristen Englenz - "Rebound" (single)
1/31 - Damen - "Disco" (single)
1/31 - Tinsley Ellis - Ice Cream in Hell (LP)
1/31 - The Singing Butcher - "Coming Home" (single)
2/01 - Glenn Jones - Ready for the Good Times (LP)

2/02 - Karabas Barabas - Degenerate National Anthem (LP)
2/04 - Mayflower Madame - "Vultures" (single)
2/05 - Joseph Mooradian  - "We all Work Too Much"/"Dash My Dreams" (single)

2/07 -  Palm Ghosts -  Wide Awake and Waiting (EP)
2/07 - Emily Zuzik - "Trouble" (single)
2/07 - Chicago Farmer - Flyover Country (LP)
2/07 - Surrija - "Barcelona" (single)
2/07 - The Flyin' A's - No Holds Barred (LP)
2/07 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single)
2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP)
2/07 - HMS Morris - "Babanod" (single)
2/07 - Tiny Fighter- "Strangest Thing" (single)
2/07 - Wynnm - "Fire on the Moon" (single)
2/07 - The Golden Cage Society - Mira (Mini EP)
2/07 - Alienbaby Collective - "Degenerate Moon" (single)
2/07 - Eric and the Anti-Vaxxers - Timeshare Girlfriend (EP)
2/07 - Sammy Brue - "Teenage Mayhem" and "Crash Test Kid" (singles)
2/07 - Lucille - "Kerikeri" (single)

2/07 - Jon Magnusson  - Always a Rebel (Live in Studio Silverräven) (single)

2/07 - Thomas Passon - "Über" (single)

2/07 - BisonBison - "Hover" (single)

2/07 - BisonBison - Hover (LP)

2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP)
2/14 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)
2/14 - Johanna Kuvaja - "Back for Good" (single)
2/14 - Sarah Reynolds - "I Need Love" (single)
2/14 - Afterimage - "Six Seconds" (single)
2/14 - Kalee Smyth - "Bring Our Love Down" (single)

2/14 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single)

2/14 - Kid Be Kid - "Blood" (single)

2/16 - Kas Havoc - "Light'em Up" (single)

2/18 - David J - "I Only Hear Silence Now" (single)
2/19 - Paisley Fields - "Ride Me Cowboy" (single)

Tomorrow:

2/21 - Sarah Morris - All Mine (LP)
2/21 - Kindergarten - Iphigenia (Reissue) (LP)
2/21 -  Hot Club of L.A.- Cinema Swing (LP)
2/21 - MUUK - Balbuceo (LP)
2/21 - Aaron Beckum - Songs from a Triangle Room (EP)
2/21 - Every 13 Days - Étant Donnés (Reissue) (LP)
2/21 - Seablight - High-Rise Mannequins (EP)
2/21 - Various Artists -Typical Girls Vol. 5 (LP)
2/21 - 12xPretty - 12xPretty (LP)
2/21 - Arkane Skye - "Don't Ask Me Out" (single)

2/21 - Easy - "Crystal Waves" (single)
Upcoming:

2/22 - Charlotte Eagle Sings - Embracing the Old Ways (LP)

2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP)
2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP)
2/28 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)

2/28 - Scenius - "Glass Rain" (single)

2/29 - Jimmy Who and the Night Creatures - Tinker's Blues (EP)

3/?? -  Strange Majik - 20/20 (LP)

3/04 - Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - Chameleon (LP)
3/06 - Surrija - "Sylvette" (single)
3/06 - Dean Fields - While the Baby Was Sleeping (LP)
3/06 - Broads and Milly Hirst - Ollust (LP)
3/06 - The Mastersons - No Time for Love Songs (LP)
3/06 - Ghostwood Development Project (Feat. Kool Keith) - "Gulley" (single)

3/06 - The Mystery Plan - Ballad of JC Quinn (LP)

3/09 - Marco Bonvicini - "Colors" (single)

3/13 - The Flatmates - The Flatmates (LP)
3/13 - Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ponyoak (20th Anniversary Edition) + BLP (demos and out-takes) (LP)
3/13 - Sandwick - Reconstruct (LP)
3/13 - Foley and the Fire - "Springsteen on the Radio" (single)
3/13 - Kalee Smyth - The Ceiling (EP)

3/13 - Sha Davis - Songs I Wrote When You Left (EP)

3/13 - The Losing Touch - "Through the Night" (single)

3/13 - Gerry Gareau - Feet Off The Brakes (EP)

3/18 - Marco Bonvicini - Colors (EP)3/20 - Matt Wilson and His Orchestra - When I Was a Writer (LP)
3/20 - Chris Moyse - Bitter Ballads and Cynical Prayers (LP)

3/20 - Samuel Boller - Kingdom of the Sun (LP)3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP)

3/20 - Jon Hassell - Vernal Equinox (reissue) (LP)

3/20 - Kid Be Kid - Lovely Genders (EP)3/27 - Mayflower Madame - Prepared for a Nightmare (LP)
3/27 - Alienbaby Collective - F I S H B O W L / T E R R E S T R I A L (Double EP)
3/27 - Mairena - "Weird All the Time" (single)
3/27 - Lucille - Come on,Fly (LP)

3/27 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "Money" (single)4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP)
3/27 - Watermelon Slim - Traveling Man (Double Live LP)

4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (LP)

4/09 - Ellison - "Sing" (single)

4/10 - Eliza Gilkyson - 2020 (LP)
4/10 - Dan Montgomery - Smoke and Mirrors (a phonographic memory) (LP)
4/10 - Pokey LaFarge - Rock Bottom Rhapsody (LP)

4/13 - Pilotcan - No More Shan Goodbye (LP)4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)

4/24 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart" (single)

5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury

5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)

6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)

7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)