Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Take Me to Los Angeles Mix

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My heart is overflowing....  Last night's Friends of Jon Latham show at The 5 Spot was better than I ever could have imagined.  Overall, we raised over $600 to help with Jon's expenses. The spirit was lively and joyful and filled with love - just like Jon.  The music was top-notch.  Thanks to Kristen Englenz, Nick Nace, Darrin Bradbury, Matt Benjamin, and Sean Quinn and the Tremblers. Thanks to everyone who came out.  I still would have preferred to have Jon up their playing, but this was the next best thing.

If you could not make it out or didn't have cash to donate, there is a GoFundMe account set up.  Give and share freely...

Next, I gear up for next week's show featuring David Olney (Band) + Sergio Webb (Band). I am super excited for this show.

Being about to be a part of something like last night is just another reason that I so grateful that I started doing E2TG six years ago. It is Thursday, and this month, I am using Thursdays to highlight some of the music I have featured or presented in some way over the last six years.  Some of these bands are no longer active, some I have lost touch with, but they are all a part of the E2TG Story. Enjoy....

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - I'm Wide Awake Mix

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Today I'm mostly gonna let my Topical Thursday playlist speak for me.  I will say that the world and history and many Americans are watching.  We are seeing those who are in positions to do something about the corruption and nepotism and dishonesty and... - and who are doing nothing.  Meanwhile, many, many people who are not in positions of power are actively resisting.

Last night, another really excellent night of music at The 5 Spot. Beginning with a full-band set from Adrian + Meredith followed by TV Mike and the Scarecrows (who were fabulous), Quinn Deveaux (who is now local - after leaving LA) also wonderful, and ending with the triumphant return of Buck n Stuff. I even got a shout-out from the stage before they did their version of "A-11", This will likely be the last time I see this band for a while - as 2/3 of the band are headed to Europe next week.  The American Legion recordings are being worked on - so maybe some Buck n Stuff recordings are out on the horizon somewhere.

Well... Nashville is staring down the barrel of some potentially bad storms this afternoon and evening.  But...

Tonight at The 5 Spot. Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau are celebrating 25 years of great music with appearances from the many members over those years.  As an added bonus, The Movement are said to be reuniting to open the show.  The last - and only time I saw The Movement live was Labor Day Weekend 1985, when my friends Boyd and Ron along with a younger guy named Greg drove from Cookeville to Cat's Records on West End (there is a bank or something there now) to see The Movement, Tim Krekel and the Sluggers, and Jason and the Scorchers.  I sure hope the weather cooperates and that I am not huddled in an interior space.

After that show, the Family Wash is to be my destination to see Russell Thompson, Megan Palmer, and Sergio Webb.

Okay - time to move on to the Topical Thursday shuffle.  Usual disclaimers... I have a topic in mind, but I'm not explaining it.  The songs may only fit due to an alternate interpretation of the title, or some loose connection in my mind, or they may explicitly fit the topic.  In all cases, I am not implying in any way the artists/writers/performers share any particular view point.

Also, I think there may be some repeats from previous Thursday shuffles - I refreshed the playlist and may have added some songs back - whatever- they are all good songs and they all still fit the topic. Other than that - enjoy.

Theme Thursday Morning Shuffle - No Surrender Mix

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Well here we are at Thursday again, and the second ever edition of "Theme Thursday". In case you missed last week's post, here is the low-down:  Each month, I am going to create a playlist with songs that somewhat loosely or tightly fit a specific (but again loosely defined theme). I am not going to reveal the theme - I will leave it to you, my dear reader, to extrapolate the theme. By the way, in some cases the theme of the song is what makes it fit the topic - sometimes it is the title (perhaps interpreted differently than the song suggests - for example if the theme were "Condiments", I might pick a song called "In a Pickle" even though the song is not about a Kosher Dill.) (The theme this month is not "Condiments" just to clear). Also, the inclusion of any song/artist does not intend to suggest that they hold any viewpoint which may be suggested by the theme.

Now that I have over-explained, in typical E2TG fashion, let's get to the music shuffle!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Wild One Mix

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I have been so inspired of late, watching friends having their dreams come true in so many ways....  The Americana Music Association announced their final group of artists for next months festival, and I was so happy to see some good friends on the list (many of them making their debuts as official showcase artists). Several people who may have read about on E2TG are on the list including the most recent two Artist of the Year!

Seeing the Foresters and others from the Dord Music Group - absolutely killing it at Athens PopFest and getting an amazing opportunity to play alongside their heroes from the Elephant 6 collective.

See friends releasing new albums and getting the opportunities to play "big" shows...

It moves me to do more with the opportunities I have been given.

Hey ho! Let's go! Tuesday - what's "trending" at E2TG?  Find out!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Just for One Day Mix

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We move on... 

Last night was Week 2 of the Darrin Bradbury Residency at The Basement East. It also happened to be Stop 2 of my Birthday Week excursions. A great night of music spent with some amazing friends...

Tim Easton opened the night with a cover of David Bowie's "Five Years" which was really good. He followed with a set of old and new songs some of which featured Megan Palmer on fiddle.

Zach Schmidt backed by Adam Kurtz on pedal steel were next.  Zach's song and voice get to me every time.

Darrin Bradbury closed the night with a spirited set that included a new arrangement of his classic song, "Swordfish".  He brought out guest Margo Price and Adam Kurtz again for a couple of songs before closing the night with an amazing cover of "Ziggy Stardust". 

Tonight: There are two stops on my Birthday tour. First, I will be at The Basement for an industry showcase featuring Sara Syms.  From there, I am going to move over to The 5 Spot for $2 Tuesdays - Derek Hoke's weekly extravaganza.  This week's lineup includes Ashleigh Flynn and Jon Langford. Langford is best known as a member of the bands The Mekons and The Waco Brothers.

On to the shuffle...

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Glorious Sound Mix

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(All though he probably won't read this): Thanks for Kevn Kinney for raising the bar for the 5 Spot residency, for putting on four very different and very awesome shows, and for reminding me once again why I love this town. (took someone not from town to do it, too!).  Last night was phenomenal with Kinney generously sharing his time with Todd Snider, Rorey Carroll, Tom Clark, Chuck Mead, and Warner Hodges (who was backed by Dan Baird, Joe Blanton, and Brad Pemberton). There were so many amazing moments.

Tonight should be another amazing night of music... did I mention I love this town?  The Basement East will be my destination tonight for Nancy Terzian and The Leg Men and Stone Cupid (starting at 7:00)  and then four full band sets from Darrin Bradbury, Brian Wright, Raelyn Nelson, and Lauren Farrah (starting at 9:00)

Now to the shuffle... and we have a great one today....

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom Mix

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As I stumble, unwillingly and unwittingly into another work week, I am grateful for a pretty sweet music shuffle to get things rolling...  In this shuffle are some classics, some obscure stuff, and some pretty new stuff.  It is all worth your attention.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Why Do You Care? Mix

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I'm back after a day off.  Still tons going on.  Check out my review of the re-release of the self-titled only album by Haynes Boys.

Also - at press time, my review of Friday night's Matthew Sweet show at City Winery Nashville is on the front page of NoDepression.com.

On to the mid-week shuffle:

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Weirdo Mix

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Yesterday, I posted a listing of the live music I have seen this week.  Last night, I had the opportunity to visit the famous Cash Cabin in Hendersonville to meet and hear some really awesome music from a San Diego band called Talk Like June.  They have been recording at the cabin with John Carter Cash producing.  The music was great, and they stories and people were truly incredible. The spirit of Johnny and June Carter Cash is so present in that relatively small space.

Please understand, though, I gather no pleasure from seeing incredible live shows and meeting legendary music figures and all of that... I do it all for you dear reader - so that I may bring all of those experiences back with me and make Ear to the Ground the best it can be,  It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it...

Please don't feel too bad for me, though....

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - We're Going Downtown Mix

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Had a great night of music last night.  Saw legendary songwriter Don Schlitz again at The 5 Spot (he has just one more week in his residency - if you are in Nashville and have not seen this show yet, I highly recommend it).  Then, I headed over to the City Winery - Nashville.  It was my first time in the big room, and I was impressed.  Saw Brian Wright and Liz Longley - a pair of very different, but both amazing songwriters/singers.  My review of their show is posted to No Depression.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Two Pack Habit and a Motel Tan Mix

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Let's jump right into today's shuffle - shall we...

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Snow Day Live Mix

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Off work today -  I thought I would semi-live blog today's shuffle....

Numerologists will note that before today's shuffle, my active playlist stands at six hundred sixty six.  Make of that what you will, but beside any other connotations, the playlist is a large as it has ever been, and I hope it generates an interesting mix of music.  I don't know if it will, but I have high hopes because I know the songs that make up the playlist.  I just don't yet know the order they will come out... so without further ado...  let's get ready to shuffle...