E2TG 6/8/2020 - Music City Monday - Stay Mix (Happening Now Mix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


I like to think I was never racist. I like to think that I grew up sheltered from racial inequality, but that I over the years, my awareness has grown.  I think to think I have always known that systemic racism existed and that somehow, the world knew how I felt about that.

To be fair, I think on some abstract/conceptual level I did know, and that I tried to stand on the side of justice and equality.

But, what I am realizing is that I didn't understand systemic, institutionalized racism on any sort of gut level, and to be honest, I don't think I am there yet. But, I am listening and learning so that I can be an effective ally. It is up to me to learn. It is not up to anyone to teach me.

Social media is actually a great way to open a dialogue - you just have to push through the noise and try not to react the canned responses. Go behind and dig underneath the misleading narratives, the catch-phrases that may tend to elicit a visceral response. If someone posts an image or a meme or a post that says "Defund the Police" and your initial reaction is that that is too radical (I invite you to do some research into what that may mean and what it may look like in your own community).

If you post Black Lives Matter and someone (relative, classmate, ex co-worked) responds with "All Lives Matter' - fight the urge to defriend them or just to get in an argument. Take a breath and start a dialogue, but before you do that, make sure you understand why you are saying what you are and try to understand (not accept or agree with) but to understand their reaction.  You may have an uncle or classmate who is a "lost cause", but by engaging and having the conversation you may reach someone else... or you may just reach that uncle or classmate - who knows.

I believe that we are at a pivotal moment. I have been trying to learn, and I feel like there are something I understand better - and others where I still have work to do.

The problem that has exploded into the national consciousness did not begin with George Floyd or even with Rodney King. It is truly endemic in our society and so change will be difficult, but we can push forward and we can use this moment in time to change the direction.  I recognize that past efforts of "reform" have ended in failure and in shifting the problem around. And so, we must remain vigilant and we must push on.

That is where I stand today.




We continue the review of our Featured Friday Playlist with songs #7-11.  (Tomorrow songs 12-16)

7. "Mister Rat and Mister Flea" by David Olney

Many have wondered what the late David Olney would have to say about the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, we have this glimpse in a song from his archives about an earlier pandemic known as The Plague.

8. "Kite" by Megan Palmer

A brand new single from a Nashville favorite. Megan is a wonderful songwriter and a beautiful singer. This track was recorded with her husband Jason Quicksall with drums by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

9. "Kids" by Anti-Corn League

Next up, we have a track from Love it Or Leave it by this garage, bedroom pop band from outside of Pittsburgh. They follow a diy aesthetic, and I have to say this track sounds fantastic. It is the right measure of noisy and catchy.

10. "Inside the Endless Om" by Johnny Irion (feat. Jeff Bridges, Mikael Jorgensen, Robert DeLeo, The Mother Hips)

Next, we up we have a really cool new release. This one came to us via our old friend Brad Lauretti (This Frontier Need Heroes). Johnny Irion is Lauretti's producer and he has assembled an incredible line-up in a song to honor the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Ravi Shakar.  Mikael Jorgensen is from Wilco, Robert DeLeo is from Stone Temple Pilots, and yes, Jeff Bridges is "The Dude".  The song was co-written by Irion and John Goodwin who wrote for the Jeff Bridges film "Crazy Heart".

11."Those Were the Days" by TJ Walker, Don Gallardo

We close today's recap with a new release from UK singer-songwriter TJ Walker who is joined here by E2TG favorite Don Gallardo. The song was written by the two when Walker visited Nashville and met Gallardo in a publisher's office. They wrote the song in the few hours before Walker had to board a plane home. Great song!

    Featured Friday Playlist

Music City Monday Shuffle

"It's Happening Now" by Bill Lloyd (from It's Happening Now)

On the heels of a brand new Bill Lloyd album, we go back a couple of years to the title track of a previous album. It is Bill Lloyd at his pop-oriented best. 

"So Sookie" by Bebe Buell (from Baring It All: Greetings from Nashbury Park)

When I go back ten years, and I think about the things that ten years ago me would never believe, one big one is that I would ever get the chance to know the one and only Bebe Buell. I am grateful to have had the chance to cover one of her shows for No Depression, and then shortly after that to get to stand and dance beside her at a Blackfoot Gypsies show. What a life and what stories - glad she is in Nashville these days.

"Wonderful Feeling/Old Lang Syne" by Jars of Clay/SHEL (from single)

Why not a Christmas/New Year song in the middle of June? This was a single released last November. 

"Bonnie & Clyde" by Will Payne Harrison (from East Nashville Blues)

Next, up going back a few years with Will Payne Harrison.  East Nashville by way of Lafayette, Louisiana. 

"Stay" by Jon Byrd (from Byrd's Auto Parts)

What do you know? Another week and another track from Jon Byrd's debut album.  A great way to end today's shuffle.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

NEW AND RECENT RELEASES

This Week

6/11 - Luciano Illuminati - Terra Vision 2020 (LP)

6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)

6/12 - Andrea & Mud - Bad News Darlin' (LP)

6/12 - Teghan Devon - Little Lion (EP)

Last Week

5/30 - Sean Dampte - "Adura" (single)

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

6/01 - Bessie Smith - Get in Union (LP) (from the Alan Lomax Archives)
6/01 - Darwin - "Dance Alone" (single)

6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)

6/05 - People Without Shoes and Inkswell - Plasma Platter (LP)

6/05 - Short Haired Domestic - "A Song in Latin... A Song in Hindi..." (single)
6/05 - Turkeyfoot - Promise of Tomorrow (LP)

6/05 - Delta Maid - Katie (LP)

6/05 - KissDoomFate - "Innocence" (single)

6/05 - Lacey Williams - "Cut N' Curl" (single)

6/05 - Johnny Irion and Friends - "Inside the Endless OM" (single)

6/05 - Skanger - "Condolences" (single)

6/05 - Good Foxy - "Dust" (single)

6/05 - Merv Pinny - "I Feel Like a Prisoner" (single)

6/05 - Ghost Town Remedy - "Therapy" (single)

Next Week:

6/19 - Darlin' Brando - Also Too... (LP)

6/19 - Dolour - The Royal We (LP)

6/19 - The Microdance - Our Love Noire (LP)

6/19 - Mendoza Line - We're All In This Alone (reissue) (LP)

6/19 - Lady Couch - "Foolish and Blue" (single)

Upcoming:

6/?? - Learn to Fly - "Broken Nation" (single)

6/20 - David Starling - "Cowards" (single)

6/26 - The Special Pillow - World's Finest (EP)

6/26 - Dedicated Men of Zion - Can't Turn Me Around (LP)

6/26 - Serratone - "Groovy Lucy" (single)

6/26 - 8 Floors Up - "Roman Bones Make Good Glue" (single)

6/?? - Mighty Brother - The Rabbit. The Owl (Double LP)

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

7/03 - Paul Nelson - Birmingham Woman (LP)

7/03 - Matthew Frederick - "Laura Jones" (single)

7/07 - Afton Wolfe - Petronius' Last Meal (EP)

7/10 - Hurricane Ruth - Good Life (LP)

7/10 - Fintan McKahey - "Platinum" (single)

7/10 - Nocona - Los Dos (LP)

7/?? -  Learn to Fly - "Cherished Ruins" (single)

7/17 - The Bobby Lees - new album (LP)

7/24 - Tawny Ellis - Love Life (LP)
7/24 - Lee Gallagher - L.A. Yesterday (LP)

7/24 - Even As We Speak - Adelphi (LP)
7/24 - The Wild Blue - Anonymous Future (EP)

7/24 - The Danberrys - Shine (LP)7/31 - The Jason Daniels Band - Downloads from the Universe (LP)

8/07 - The Furious Seasons - La Fonda (LP)

8/07 - Jason Molina - Eight Gates (LP)

8/28 - The Northern Belle - We Wither, We Bloom (LP)

10/16 - Malin Pettersen - Wildhorse (LP)

Recent:

5/01 - BOAT - Tread Lightly (LP)

5/01 - Laura Cortese and the Dance Card - Bitter Better (LP)

5/01 - Cut Beetlez vs Nice Guys - CBNG (LP)

5/01 - Grenon - "Imaginary Friends" (single)

5/01 - Paul Nelson - "Dying to Forget" (single)

5/01 - Felixity - Love Sick (LP)

5/01 - Easy - Radical Innocence (LP)

5/01 - Griffin Winton - "Think of Me" (single)

5/01 - Ender Bender - EQ

5/01 - The Rad Trads - 99 in October (EP)
5/01 - J.R. Wyatt - "I'm Still Here" (LP)

5/01 - Lekan Tellal - "Emptiness" (single)

5/01 - Angela Easterling - "Hero" (single)

5/01 - Miss Rayon - "Small Life" (single)

5/04 - Black Needle Noise with - "Seed of Evil" (single)
5/04 - Killing Kuddles - "Too Cool" (single)
5/06 - I Like Trains - "The Truth" (single) 

5/06 - CLOUDNiNE - "I Know" (single)

5/07 - Julius and Julia - "Why We Are Here?" (single)
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury

5/08 - Watch Clark - Backscatter Effect (EP)
5/08 - Scenius - "Held" (single)
5/08 - Filthy Tricks - "Leah" (single)

5/08 - Vision Video - In My Side (single)

5/08 - The Attic Movement - "Truth Be Told" (single)

5/08 - Secret Bad Boy - "It Was Always Too Late" (single)

5/10 - Brett Ryan Stewart - "Let Her Know" (single)

5/11 - Sofia Talvik - "Broken (Steel Guitars in Heaven)" (single)

5/11 - Jonny Polonsky - "Sign in the Window" (single)

5/11 - Scott Howard - The Language of Clouds (LP)

5/11 - Julia Anrather - "Run to You" (single)

5/12 - Kory Quinn & Co. - The Blueroom (LP)

5/13 - Dru Flecha - "Cama" (single)

5/14 - Anti-Corn League - Love it or Leave it (LP)

5/15 - Special Consensus - Chicago Barn Dance (LP)

5/15 - Zach Aaron - Fill Dirt Wanted (LP)

5/15 - Secret Emchy Society - The Chaser (LP)
5/15  The Room in the Wood - We're the Martians, Now (LP) 
5/15 - Wicked Messenger - "Golden Eyes" (single)
5/15 - Lazerine - "There's Nothing in It" (single)
5/15 - Klashing Black - Thoughts on the Matter (EP)

5/15 - Aimee Steven - "Darling" (single)

5/15 - Wolfhounds - "Can't See the Light" (single)

5/15 - THË FŪÑŻØÑË® - "THË WËŁŁ (W/ MEKAGHOUL)" (single)

5/15 - BYSTS - "Runes" (single)

5/15 - Miss Rayon - "Regional Diction" (single)

5/15 - Party Nails - You Don't Have to Go Home But You Can't Stay Here (LP)

5/16 - The Electric Grandmother - Relaunch (LP)

5/18 - The Know - wearetheknow (EP)

5/20 - Town Meeting - Make Things Better (LP)

5/22 - Victor Wainwright and the Train - Memphis Loud (LP)

5/22 - Lazaris Pit - Conifers (LP) 

5/22 - Beauty in Chaos (feat. Steven Seibold) - "Almost Pure" (single)

5/22 - Beauty in Chaos - The Storm Before the Calm (LP)

5/22 - Ethan Gold - "Not Me. Us" (single)

5/22 - Nichole Wagner - Dance Songs for the Apocalypse (EP)

5/22 - Academy of Sun - Rose Devoid of Form (single)

5/22 - Blue Eyed Christ - World on Fire (LP)

5/22 - Electric High - "Waiting With a Gun" (single)

5/22 - FLEKS - "Mexican Standoff" (single)
5/22 - The Kondoors - "Good Times" (single)
5/22 - 2Square/ Mark Gardner - "Chained" (single)
5/22 - Adam "Ditch" Kurtz - Storms of Steel (LP)

5/25 - The Plastic Pals - "Hangin' in the Louvre" (single)

5/25 - Scarlet Drive - "Not My Problem" (single)

5/29 - Mick Hayes - My Claim to FAME (LP)
5/29 - G.F. Patrick - One Town Over (LP)

5/29 - Jack Stafford - "Background Worry" (single)

5/29 - Ryan Dishen - Whiskey for the Road (LP)

5/29 - Idle Noise - "Ghosts" (single)

5/29 - Altar of Eris - Isolation (EP)

5/29 - Merv Pinny - "I" (single)