E2TG 1/11/2022 - Ones and Twos - Gospel Train Mix (Eat Sleep Repeat Remix)

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Today's Ear to the Ground Radio show is up on the archive at wxnafm.org.  You can listen to today's show HERE. 

6:00am Sonny Boy by Owsley on Owsley (Giant)

6:02am Let Me Be by Fancy Hagood on Let Me Be – Single (Fancy Hagood Enterprises)

6:05am Gadael y Dref (feat. Gruff Rhys) by N’famady Kouyaté on Gadael y Dref (feat. Gruff Rhys) – Single (Libertino Records)

6:09am I Don’t Want to Start a War by Will Kimbrough on I Don’t Want to Start a War – Single (Daphne Records/Soundly Music)

6:16am Hold You Down (feat. Morgan Bosman) by Suavee on Hold You Down (feat. Morgan Bosman) – Single (Da Factory Ent. LLC)

6:19am Fare Thee Well by Harrier Rose and Matt Peach on Fare Thee Well – Single (Harriet Rose)

6:22am Louisiana by Krantz on Louisiana – Single (1409017 Records DK2)

6:25am Comes a Time by The Wild West on Comes a Time – Single (Blackbird Record Label)

6:30am All Things Grow by Haley Harkin on To Heal Her (Haley Harkin)

6:34am Born in the Grave by The Two Man Travelling Medicine Show on Going Nowhere Fast (Musical Bear Records)

6:36am Come Whatever May by Ronan Furlong on Ataraxia (Ronan Furlong)

6:40am Hours & Days by The Chaw on Hours & Days – Single (747252 Records DK)

6:45am Time Traveller by My Friend The Chimpanzee on Time Traveller – Single (Chimpanzee Records)

6:50am Rat Shredder by Wet Tropics on Rat Shredder – Single (Friend Club Records)

6:54am Restart by Karhide on Abort (Trepanation Recordings)

We return to our normal shuffle of all the songs on my phone, and we have an appropriately eclectic mix today. 

Also, please check out this week's Featured Friday Playlist located down below. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 9/3/2021 - Featured Friday Funzone - Asheville Blues Mix (Dear Kate Remix)

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    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 4/20/2021 - 4our 2wenty - Live Forever Mix (Ghost Remix)

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A wonderful mix of songs today in both segments of music.  Let's get right to it. 

Featured Friday Recap Part 3 (songs 27-35):

27. "Powerful Pierre" by Skidders

First up today, we have the recent single (from the forthcoming Friends & Family - due May 4) from this veteran UK musician. The album is an acoustic follow-up to the 2015 album Skiddeerselectric. A great start to this segment of music. 

28. "Dignify Me" by Eddie Turner

Next up, we have the fantastic new single from this musical powerhouse. It is the first single from his forthcoming Change in Me which is due out May 14.  Eddie Turner was born in Cuba and raised in Chicago. The new album was recorded between New York City and his current home of Denver, Colorado. A great tune. 

29. "Wait in the Dark" by Hadda Be

Next up, we have the lead-off single from the forthcoming (April 30) Another Life by this post-punk meets Brit-pop band formerly known as Foundlings. The band name comes from an Allen Ginsberg poem and marks the emergence of the band with a new line-up and a new attitude. Cool stuff. 

30. "Preacher" by Heckyl

Next, we have the debut release from this emerging pop artist (aka Luke Potter). Catchy and a great sounding track. 

31. "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby" by Erika Grapes

Next up, we have the new single from the singer and songwriter from Milan. A wonderful atmospheric and sultry track.  

32. "The Gulf Between Us" by  Craig Cummings

We have the timely title track from the new album by this Washington D.C. singer-songwriter who combines a country rock sound with a solid pop sensibility.  The song has a powerful message about all the things that divide in these difficult times. 

33. "Bring Back the Love" by New Yank Yorkies

Next up, we have the fantastic recent single from a band whose members' roots run deep in the Canadian music world. Credits include Bryan Adams, Bruce Cockburn, Jane Sibury, Odds, Jimmy Barnes and more.  

34. "Shadow of the Pyramids" by Kristian North

Next, we have the first taste of the upcoming second album by this Montreal based indie pop singer-songwriter who previously fronted the garage punk band Babysitter. 

34. "Existor" by Sunlust

From Montreal, we move to Toronto with this track from the recently released debut album by this noisy geek rock band that formed in 2018.  A great way to close out this segment of music. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/05/2021 - Featured Friday - For My Health Mix (Better Way Remix)

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ICYMI - Earlier today, we premiered and featured the new video and single from Dolour.  You can chek it out, HERE. 

It is time for a new Featured Friday Playlist (which you can stream and "Follow" below and we begin our week-long recap with the first ten songs down below the jump. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Nalgas Mix

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Here goes... it's Thursday - this week has kind of flown by... I have quite a bit to say, but eh... I'll stick to music today....

It's Thursday, and I continue my exploration of my specially created E2TG playlist... artists/bands spanning the 6+ year history of my little spot on the web... enjoy!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - The Swirlies Mix

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First of all a quick check-in:  Almost two months in to this nightmare. A white supremacist is still holding a major position of power in the current administration.  Programs that benefit the most vulnerable of our citizens are being cut, the billionaire first family is costing the taxpayers exorbitant amounts of money, the proposed Republidontcare plan will give tax breaks to the wealthy while forcing the most vulnerable to choose between eating and healthcare - if that even is a choice for many.  The administration believes it is okay to make wild accusations without a shred of proof. I could go on.... I haven't even touched on Russia.  How long will this go on, and how much more damage will be done?
*******************************************************************************

Moving on.  I headed to The 5 Spot last night for the Smoky White Devils' residency show. Cody Brooks and Bee Taylor opened the show.  As I have written, I saw Bee Taylor last week, and I was blown away.  Cody Brooks played guitar with her for that show, but this was my first time seeing him do his own songs. I am a very big fan of these two.  Most excellent - rocking, soulful stuff.  A great start.

Smoky White Devils - well last week I mentioned the incredible combined experience of the members of this budding supergroup. Never mind all that, the fact is this guys rock! The music has elements of southern rock, roots music, blues, country and who knows what else.  What could be a clash of egos instead is a delightful combination of experienced and talented players.  Richie Owens, Peter Keys, Nick Kane with the rhythm section of John Reed and Shakey Fowlkes brought it hard and had The 5 Spot moving more than I've seen in a while at a live show. Word is they have been recording, so hopefully we will have some recorded music soon!  They close out their residency next week, and in two weeks is the anniversary show for Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau. Make Thursday at The 5 Spot part of your plans for the remainder of March.
 
Tonight is St. Patrick's Day.  Be safe and have fun.  If  you find yourself in East Nashville, consider The 5 Spot:  Tim Carroll's usual gig followed by a St,. Patrick's Day show featuring a few E2TG faces - (St.) Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars, Clark Paterson, and Ben de la Cour plus The Eskimo Brothers.  Also, Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers will be at The Family Wash.  Everyone else is in Austin - I think.

We have some Featured Friday music that starts now!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Blue Valley Mix

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Weird weather coming this weekend - warm, storms, cold, ice... and that is just Saturday...

Just a note about the Earies and the coveted Artist of the Year award.  Last year, I held off awarding an Earie to the ultimate winner, Jon Latham until the Golden Earie (Artist of the Year).  I thought about doing that again, but since I have not decided on an Artist of the Year yet and with several in contention, I have decided to forgo that.  So - what that mean is that just because someone wins an "Earie" does not mean they are out of contention for the Artist of the Year award.  Thanks for playing and stay tuned.  All will be made clear as mud.

By the way, the preceding announcement may or may not have anything today with today's post.

It is Friday.  Shuffling from our "New Music" playlist.

Wild Thursday Morning Shuffle - Someone Else Has That Number Mix

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So it is December. The last month of the year, and that means it is awards season. And that means it is time for the 2nd Annual Earie Awards.  "The Earies" - "They sound odd, but they really aren't".

Continuing a tradition that dates back to... well last year... we present our first "Earie Award" for 2016 on December 1. 

Just to explain for those new to E2TG, The Earie Awards are a completely subjective arbitrary way that I choose to honor some of the great music of the preceding year.  There is no eligibility period, basically, even if an album came out in 2015, if it entered my consciousness in this year, it is eligible. And it is not specifically or exclusively albums that I honor. An artist/band that grabbed my attention with live shows or in other ways... eligible. Basically, it is "Earie" eligible if I say it is...

In 2015, the very first ever "Earie" went to Darrin Bradbury, who happened to have been our Artist of the Year in 2014.  So, I thought I would continue that one year tradition by handing out the first award of 2016.  The "Nice Guys Kick Butt and Then Write Sad Songs About It" Award goes to the one and only Jon Latham!  Jon was our 2015 Artist of the Year.  And in 2016, he continually showed why he was the absolute best choice for that award. In addition to recording his new album, unveiling some incredible new songs, leading bands at some of the best tribute shows in town, making his official Americana Music Fest showcase debut, backing other musicians, and sharing stages with Kevn Kinney, Aaron Lee Tasjan,  and many more; Jon has continued to be one of the nicest and most humble people I have ever met. His new album, Lifers, is due in early 2017, and I predict it will be his breakthrough. I base that upon the bits I have heard and the songs that he has unveiled of late.

Congratulations, Jon!  Jon is or will soon be heading to the Holiday Hangout in Arkansas, so I am accepting this award on his behalf, and I will be hocking it later today to get some scratch.


On to the shuffle. I still don't have a Throwback Thursday playlist, so stop asking me about it, jeez!  I decided, just for the heck of it, to shuffle all the songs on my phone again.  So, it is Wild Thursday. Who cares if the letters don't match...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Sun's Coming Up Mix

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Okay. I'm a little short on time.  First of all, last night as I posted, I went to see Megan Palmer, Nellie Clay, and Courtney Marie Andrews at The City Winery.  They performed in the round, and it was a really great show.  I have been a fan of Palmer and Clay for some time, but I believe it was my first time seeing Courtney Marie Andrews.  I really dug her songs, and the three songwriters complemented each other nicely.

Tonight, I will be in the WXNA studios to help with the pledge drive. There is some cool stuff (as always) going on at $2 Tuesdays.  Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars are playing and promise some new material.

On to the shuffle...

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Gabba Gabba Hey! Mix

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And so it begins... you know, if my Americana 2016 experience ended last night, I think I would be pretty darn satisfied...

I decided not to risk getting shut out of the venue, so I drove straight from work to the Pub at The Basement East and hung out with friends and listened to Terry Rickards and Darrin Bradbury play music by East Nashville musicians.  Then, we joined the line to get into The Basement East.   Caught part of a set by a talented group of students from Nashville School for the Arts.

Later, Chuck Mead led a pretty amazing band with special guests through set that included Mead singing The Who's "Can't Explain", Sarah Gayle Meech singing Blondie's "Heart of Glass", and a cover of a song by The Pogues - plus Patrick Sweany... plus, plus... And that was the "opening act"!

So, I knew that Aaron Lee Tasjan and Friends was going to be epic... I mean, it's ALT and last year's set was epic so...   2014 E2TG Artist of the Year Darrin Bradbury kicked things off with a rocking rendition of his classic "Life is Hard (The Ballad of Jack Kerouac, Lenny Bruce, and Daffy Duck)"... Zach Schmidt - one of my favorites - was up next with one of my favorite songs of his, "Company Man", 2015 E2TG Artist of the Year Jon Latham did his song, "Waitressing Sucks" and there were suddenly a bunch of new Jon Latham fans in the house. Brian Wright did a face-meltingly good performance of "Glory Hallelujah" - I mean...  Brian Wright always blows me away, but this was next level good.  He and Aaron Lee have been playing together quite a bit and it really shows because they were incredibly tight throughout the set.  ALT did "Made in America" and "Ready to Die" which were both amazing. There was more, but I'm running short on time... Then, Jon Latham returned to the stage with the great Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites, Dan Baird and Homemade Sin, The Bluefields) and my mind was blown.  I could have just gone home right then and have been satisfied... but I didn't.

Lee Ann Womack was next with an incredible band and a bunch of friends... like Waylon Payne, Brent Cobb, Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Miller, Amanda Shires, Jason Isbell (who sang Todd Snider's "Play a Train Song"), Patty Griffin, and more.

Kind of sort of as we speak, Darrin Bradbury is joining Margo Price, Aaron Lee Tasjan and others for an NPR segment at The Country Music Hall of Fame.  I don't know if you can even imagine how it feels to have watch the ascension of Darrin Bradbury over the last two plus years. I am beyond proud of him and glad to know him.  I am at work and not able to be at the Hall of Fame, but I will be there when he takes the stage at The City Winery for his official showcase performance before James McMurtry takes the stage.  Other recommendations for tonight: Allen Thompson Band at ACME Feed and Seed at 11pm and Tim Easton at The 5 Spot at midnight.  My night will be begin at The 5 Spot for Amelia White's Residency show with guest Renee Wahl and the Sworn Secrets and an appearance by Jon Byrd. It will be nice to be back in the friendly comfines of The 5 Spot.

Let's get to the shuffle while I still have a few minutes to write... It is Wild Wednesday - let's get Wild!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Impossible Mix

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And just like that it is Friday!

Well, week 2 of Mark Robinson's Showband and Rhythm Revue Residency at The 5 Spot sure lived up to my expectations!

The core band of Robinson, Daniel Seymour, and Rich Schell were phenomenal. They powered through original and classic tunes.  I really dug guest #1, Mark Huff.  Great songs and that Beatles cover was so good!  Guest #2 was the legendary Webb Wilder.  Wilder played songs from the last couple of albums plus some really interesting and wonderful cover selections. I first saw Webb Wilder play live close to 30 years ago, and it great to see him still making great music and here backed by this incredible showband.  Robinson's run continues next Thursday with the one and only Davis Raines and the awesome singer/songwriter Tiffany Huggins Grant.

Let's just right into Feature Friday Shuffle - from the special "New Music" playlist.

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Buy Her Coffee Mix

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Wow, we've reached the last day of August.  We are approaching Labor Day weekend in the USA. Here in Nashville, the live music possibilities for the coming days is mind-blowing and overwhelming. Bottom line, get out and see some live music.  For tonight, my eye is on The 5 Spot for the Grand Finale of David Olney's 4 out of 5 Wednesday Residency.  Recommended if you want to hear one of the best songwriters this town (known for songwriters) has ever seen. A man praised by his peers who have included Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, and more.  Also, recommended if you want to hear top rated musicians and the occasional burst of dramatic poetry.

After David Olney, I will be sticking around for a late show line-up that includes Jon Latham, Don Gallardo, and Stuffy Shmitt.  Birmingham's The Burning Peppermints open the night.

And the great music continues throughout the rest of the week and weekend.

Now, it is Wednesday.  After slogging through the first two days of the work week, we reach mid-week and feel the need to get "Wild"!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Quiet Songs Mix

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It's a day early, but tomorrow night, David Olney kicks off his 4 of 5 Wednesday night residency for August at The 5 Spot.  (By the way the 5th week features Scott Miller).  Olney's shows are always incredibly good, and his residency shows tend to be filled with epic moments of poetry, song and surprises.  Late night tomorrow, is another edition of Joanna Barbera's Songs Not Silence showcases benefiting Thistle Farms.  This time around Barbera herself will perform!  Great time, great cause. Also at The 5 Spot.

Tonight: Tommy Womack (who we featured yesterday) will be playing The Family Wash as part of the weekly Short Sets series.  It is also Pint and Pie night. So yeah!

Here we are at Tuesday when we take a look at what the Shuffle says is trending...

Wild Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - With a Microphone Mix

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I'm just going to leave this right here...



It is Wednesday... time to dive into our Wild Wednesday Shuffle....

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Hipster Girl in the Old City Mix

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There are two parts of everyone of us.... well maybe more than two...

At this point, I can't see beyond this moment... one more time, one more time... it really makes no difference where or why.  There is an ugliness - I guess it has always been there... That ugliness does not discriminate. It really doesn't! Even though it may seem like it does.  The personifications of that ugliness - they discriminate - it is what they do... but the ugliness deep inside does not.  What I mean is that we all have some of the ugliness inside of us - the hate, the fear, the selfishness, the judgments.

Here's the thing... there is much beauty in the world... not just in special places or certain people. It is everywhere.  We all have the beauty inside of us - the love, the courage, the selflessness, the compassion.

The choice we have each day, each moment is to decide which of those we want to show to the world and more importantly which we want to manifest in the world.  Speaking for myself, I make those choices many, many different times every single day. Sometimes, I make what I think is the right choice and I show the world the beauty and I try to manifest that beauty.  Way too often, I fall short and little bits (or more) of the ugliness comes out.

So, today I am thankful when I allow the beauty to be what the world experiences.  But, I also have to thankful when I reminded that the ugliness is there, too.  Because, I  think that forgetting that I have that ugliness inside of me is far more dangerous than those moments when I show the world that ugliness.

Be good to one another -  I will try.

Anyway, I like sharing beautiful music of all kind.

Quick recap, I had a nice evening at The Country.  I was great to see Russell Thompson play for the first time in several months and to be reminded the beauty of his wonderful songs.   It was also great to experience Maynard and the Musties for the first time.  Really loved their sound and their songs.

Now, it is Friday and we shuffle songs from the Featured Friday playlist on Fridays.  Enjoy!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Who Needs a Song Mix

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I hope everyone in America had a happy fourth of July.  I know that other countries don't celebrate the fourth of July - I'm not sure, but I think it just jumps from July 3 to July 5 in those other countries... ;-)

I had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating Nashville's independent spirit as embodied by the amazing folks of WXNA-LP. The Family Wash and Garage Coffee was a great host location.  From all indications the event was a complete success.  I was there for nearly twelve hours and got to meet so many wonderful folks.  The night ended with a group of us lighting sparklers in the parking lot and watching the downtown fireworks from an East Nashville alley.  WXNA DJs were spinning cool tunes all day, and it was wonderful to see so many friends and supporters come out.  Hopefully a few Family Wash patrons learned about the station.

In the one month that WXNA has been on the air, it has been really exciting to see the energy level surrounding the station, and I am more than proud and pleased to play even a small part.  A gap has been filled and Nashville has been improved. I've heard people talk about buying a radio or downloading the TuneIn App (including some who never download apps).

If you haven't had the chance, tune in to 101.5 FM (inside the Briley - as I have heard people say) or via wxnafm.org or via the TuneIn app.  There are 52 original, local programs playing music selected by the individual DJs - not selected by a marketing firm or a corporate entity. The music runs an amazingly wide range of styles, genres, eras, etc.

Onward, it is Tuesday.  We play songs that come from the Trending Tuesday playlist.