E2TG 5/12/2020 - What,Me Worry? - Wings of Love Mix (Smoke More Pot Remix)

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Near as I can recall and tell, E2TG began on May 15, 2011. So, Friday will be the official ninth anniversary of this blog.  I find it a little hard to believe in some ways, but in others it is hard for me to remember when E2TG wasn't a part of my life. 

I have featured a lot of music here over the years, and I have been fortunate enough to meet a ton of awesome folks either directly or indirectly because of E2TG.

So, as we move into the tenth year of the blog, I think I want to focus on making what I do be better rather than focusing on what I don't do. I have had ideas for 2020 that for various reasons have not come to fruition. Some, I still hope will come when the time is right, some I have reexamined and am going a different direction.

I have a process down for sorting through the dozens of e-mail inquiries I receive every day. It is not perfect, but it is manageable for me. I generally do not reply to e-mails - unless a specific question is asked that seems like it needs an answer. I would prefer to answer all, but this was a decision based upon the time I have available. 

I do hope you will check out the Upcoming and Recent Release list at the bottom of this e-mail.  There is a ton of new music being released, and I can't always specifically highlight it all. I do get a lot of inquiries for album reviews and song and/or video premieres. I don't really do full album reviews, and while I have done a few song and video premieres, it is not something I do on a regular basis. I love to them, but again time is the enemy. 

Anyway, on to the Wednesday shuffle.

    Featured Friday Playlist

Wednesday Morning Shuffle:

"Criminal" by Ships Have Sailed (from Moodswings)

We start with a track from the 2015 release by the L.A. band who we featured about five years ago. 

"Hell is a Teenage Girl" by Aimee Steven (from single)

Next up, a recent single and recent Featured Friday Playlist add - from this UK singer-songwriter. Dig this song.

"Smoke More Pot" by Ali Handal (from That's What She Said)

A 2017 release from the Texas based singer-songwriter who we first encountered a while back when she was singing with Raindoggs. Handal has become an E2TG favorite.

"Ludwig Meidner" by Mayflower Madame (from Prepared for a Nightmare)

Next up, we have another 2020 release, and I think we have had them in the Featured Friday playlist before. Mayflower Madame are from Norway. The released their debut in 2016, and I really dig their sound.

"Wings of Love (Alas Del Amor)" by Stuffy Shmitt (from Dog Steal the Moon)

We close with the lead off track from former MTV personality Stuffy Shmitt's 2002 album Dog Steal the Moon.  A beautiful song from a beautiful person to close out the shuffle. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Recent and Upcoming Releases:

This Week
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)

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

5/11 - Scott Howard - The Language of Clouds (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)5/16 - The Electric Grandmother - Relaunch (LP)

Last Week
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) 
5/07 - 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)

Next Week:

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 - Ethan Gold - "Not Me. Us" (single)

5/22 - Adam "Ditch" Kurtz - Storms of Steel (LP)

Upcoming:

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)

5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)
6/01 - Bessie Smith - Get in Union (LP) (from the Alan Lomax Archives)

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

6/05 - People Without Shows 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)6/11 - Luciano Illuminati - Terra Vision 2020 (LP)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

7/10 - Fintan McKahey - "Platinum" (single)7/10 - Nocona - Los Dos (LP)

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

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

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

10/16 - Malin Pettersen - Wildhorse (LP)

Recent:

4/01 - HMS Morris - "Poetry" (single)

4/02 - I Am A Rocketship - "My Nature" (single)

4/02 - Steve Forbert - "Rand" (Pandemic song) (single)

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

4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP)

4/03 - Stumbleine - Sink Into the Ether (LP)

4/03 - Neutrals - Rent Your House (EP)

4/03 - Clwb Fuzz - "No Heaven" (single)

4/03 - Weeks Island - Droste (EP)  

4/03 - The Mystery Plan - Zsa Zsa (LP)

4/03 - Tiny Fighter - Going Home (LP)

4/03 - Hallows - Subtle (EP)

4/03 - Ferdous - "Counting Stars" (single)

4/03 - Stick Crickets - "Eternal Suck" (single)

4/03 - Borrowed Chords - "Let Me Go" (single)

4/08 - Zilverbacks - The Dark Horse; At A Time When Time Was Irrelevant (LP)

4/06 - Sean Alan - "The Day That Brought the Whole World to Its Knees (single)

4/08 - ex-mothers - arrhythmia (EP)

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)

4/10 - The Dream Syndicate - The Universal Inside (LP)

4/10 - Nikavo - "Yummy Miami" (single)

4/10 - Soul Creole - "Trois Rangs" (single and dub mix)

4/10 - Lady Moon & the Eclipse - "Relationship" (single)

4/10 - Jovi Skyler - Jovi Skyler (EP) and "Gia" (single)

4/13 - Pilotcan - No More Shan Goodbye (LP)

4/15 - Je'Melody - Jaded (EP)

4/15 -Lobelia Lawson - Positive Song Project (EP)

4/16 - Destijl - Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (LP)

4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)

4/17 - Le String Noise - Live Album (title ???) (LP)

4/17 - Aimee Steven - "Hell is a Teenaged Girl" (single)

4/17 - Monks Road Social - Humanism (LP)

4/17 - The Academy of the Sun - "The Parts That Need Replacing" (single)

4/19 - Ugggy - "Bicycle Day" (single)
4/20 - Tate and Silas- Rock and Roll (LP)

4/20 - Dopeknife - Breakbeats n' Vandalism (EP)
4/22 - Marco Bonvicini - "Where the Streets Have No Name" (single)

4/23 - The Kecks - "Modern Girls" (single)

4/23 - The Microdance - "Lovesick Kisses" (single)
4/23 - D.G. Adams - "Dangerous" (single)

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

4/24 - Ben Bostick - Among the Faceless Crowd (LP)

4/24 - Kyle Lalone - Somewhere In Between (EP)

4/24 - Lazaris Pit - "You Don't Tag Me in Memes Anymore" (single)

4/24 - Goldman Thibodeaux and the Lawtell Playboys - title unknown (LP)

4/24 - Petter Carlsen - "Dogs" (single) 

4/24 - Chris Milam - Meanwhile (LP)

4/24 - Felixity - "Twisted Love" (single)

4/24 - The Kings Pond Shantymen - Hold Your Course (LP)

4/24 - 6TH CROWD - "You're Not An Island" (single)

4/24 - Sean Dampte - "Loose Guard" (single)

4/24 - The Northern Belle - "Gemini" (single)

4/24 - Anna Claire Loftis - Happy on TV (EP)

4/28 - Savannah Pope - "He Sees Me" (single)

4/?? - I Am A Rocketship - Ghost Stories (LP)

4/01? - Ten Penny Gypsy - Fugitive Heart (LP)

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)

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Daisy Shotgun Mix

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This is just a couple of days away!   Make your plans now!

Check out Rayvon Pettis on Spotify
Check out Clark Paterson on Spotify 
Check out Griffin Winton (of The Big Dumb) on Spotify


Once your plans for June 7 are set - go ahead and mark your calendar for the rest of the E2TG Residency!

June 14 - We have Ben de la Cour opening, plus The End (Brooklyn) making a rare Nashville appearance, and Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus. 

June 21 - Brian Milligram will open for Microwave Mountain and The Coalmen. 

June 28 - Joanna Barbera opens for Eli Cook (Virginia) and Bee Taylor.  

These shows will be the most fun you are legally allowed to have before the sun goes down!  

I plan to have copies of my novel, The Drift, available for sale, and I will be reading short passages each week. 

$5.00 21+ (bring a valid ID - even if you are old like me). The 5 Spot is located in East Nashville at 1006 Forrest Avenue.  Doors should be open by 5:45pm or so.  Come early - we are jam packed with great stuff so we will aim to get started by 6:15 or so. 



Now, let's jump into this Trending Tuesday shuffle and see what it has in store for us!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Southbound Ghosts Mix

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As I mentioned yesterday, my debut novel, The Drift is available via Amazon.

For those who read on Kindle, it is now available in that format!  If you buy the physical copy of the book, you can get the Kindle version for just $0.99. 

I'm happy to say after one day on sale, The Drift is already the best-selling novel of my career! Did I mention it's my debut novel. ;-)   But seriously, thanks everyone who has expressed interest and/or bought it. It means a lot.


While I am in a promoting mood, I want to remind you that E2TG will take over The 5 Spot in East Nashville every Thursday in June from 6-8:30.  Tons of great music and fun.   Details below:

Week 1:  Clark Paterson, The Big Dumb, Rayvon Pettis
Week 2: The End Men, Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus, Ben de la Cour
Week 3:  Brian Milligram, Microwave Mountain, The Coal Men
Week 4: Joanna Barbera, Bee Taylor, Eli Cook

Onward.... It's time for another Trending Tuesday shuffle on E2TG...  I added a ton of new music to the New Music playlist since Friday.  That playlist is up over 650 songs.  Truth is, I am adding music faster than I can feature it. I know I need to do a clean up and move some older "new" songs out, but I have trouble doing that for some reason.

In any event, we have some cool tunes to get to - so let's not dawdle.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Exotic Calls Mix

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A little over a year ago, I first began posting an occasional "political" commentary on E2TG. As I stated then, it was not something I wanted to do and that I did not really consider most of what I wrote as "political" (although it can be a fine line sometimes). As I intimated then, and still feel strongly today, there should be room at the table for people who hold a wide variety of political and social positions. At it's ideal and best, the United States (and our leaders) should be a shining example of lively debate and measured compromise.  Where we find ourselves now is embroiled and entrenched in hyper-partisanship and obstruction. Our elections are compromised in so many ways. The effects of Citizen's United (an Orwellian named law) are devastating to democracy and harmful to the republic. Voter suppression, gerrymandering, and unchecked foreign influences are the nails in the coffin.

I am cautiously hopeful about the mid-term elections, and I still cannot imagine that the current president will last his full term - but even if everything goes the way I want it to, we will still have miles to go...

I try not to let it get me down.  I do what I can, but the results are mostly not within my control. Life can still be a beautiful thing. Friendships and family and the beauty of the world. The mysteries of science and time and space surround us.

For me, music remains a source of strength. Songs that comfort, songs that excite, songs that motivate action, songs that inspire....

E2TG has provided me with an incredible opportunity to hear a ton of music that I might otherwise never hear, and to meet talented people who are pushing against long odds and seeming disinterest at times - to do what they feel compelled to do....

So, I push on - as I approach seven years of E2TG - offering my small contribution by putting music out there hopefully in an interesting way.

Let's shuffle the "New Music" playlist on this Trending Tuesday.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Square Boy Mix

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In my job, I am expected to know what I am talking about, and to ask questions to find out what I do not know. If I routinely made up answers, I would likely lose my job.  I assume this is true of other people I know who have jobs. So, my honest question is, why should the "leader of the free world" be held to a lower standard?

That's all I have for now... I could say a bunch more, but let's get  to the music....
*******************************************************************************

I headed to Dee's last night and caught great sets from Adrian + Meredith and Adrew Adkins and his great band.  They are two of my favorites.  Dee's is such a cozy and friendly spot to hang.

It is Thursday - finally - and we jump back into a couple of days of shuffles from the "New Music" playlist to round out the week.  We have a few first listens today - including some new and forthcoming releases that I am super excited about...

Let's shuffle!

Mondo Monday Morning Shuffle - Was It An Accident? Mix

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Well, it's time for week two of the 2017 Earie Awards.  I handed out about 25 awards in week 1.  Two weeks to go.  If all goes as planned that we have 10 more shuffles in 2017 and then I will be taking some time off work.  Expect the Golden Earies to post during that break period.

First up a very special "Earie" award to Mary Sack for her tireless work all year round to promote great music, and especially for her dedication to the annual Get Behind The Mule: Tribute to Tom Waits and Benefit for Second Harvest Food bank which happened this past Saturday at The 5 Spot. Judging by the crowd and the talent (musical and visual artists), it was a huge success.  I'm proud to present Mary with the "Force of Nature"award!

Onto the shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Gonna Be Okay Mix

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Well... here we are. It is December!  The 3rd Annual Earie Awards will kick off next week.

Two years ago, I awarded the very first "Earie" Award to Darrin Bradbury. He is about to enter the studio to work on a new album of all new songs. I am excited to hear the results.


A great night of live music in Nashville. I checked out WoodMackFleet (formerly Carpetbaggers 615) at The 5 Spot followed by the one and only Stuffy Schmitt.  After that, I headed across the river to Springwater to see Connor Rand and Matthew Moon performing as Acquired Tastes followed by a rare full band show my Tom Schreck Escapes.  Great seeing some awesome people at both shows.

Well, we have some cool songs fired up in the shuffle, so let's hit it!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Time is Now Mix

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I went to see Nashville Rep's production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson last night.  Really good!  Andrew Jackson was cast as a kind of emo rock star. The show was funny and engaging, and the music was great.  Very irreverent and kind of raunchy at times. Perfect.  It was also a great satire of populism and how it doesn't always work out like it seems like it might.


Well, it is Friday.  Another rainy, gloomy day in Nashville. It's been an odd week for me. Not sure why. I took Monday off. Haven't felt 100% most of the week.  Feeling better today.  But, it's Friday! And that means we get to delve into the Featured Friday shuffle - more songs from the "new music" playlist.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Opening Credits Mix

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Whew! Americana Fest week is (kind of) underway.  Last night was like a pre-pre AMA Fest night. And what a night, it started for me at Betty's Grill to check out Jon Byrd and the awesome pedal steel player Paul Niehaus who played a fun mix of traditional country songs and original tunes (included a couple of Davis Raines songs).  Betty's is a great DIY venue which works very hard at providing a space for a wide variety of great music.

Next, it was off to The Family Wash for Homemade Sin (less Dan Baird - who is undergoing treatment for a form of leukemia).  I have been looking forward to this show since I heard about it, and my expectations were pretty high... and they were wildly exceeded in every respect. First of all, it was yet another reminder of the incredible community that exists around music. Time and again, when I musician goes down to illness or injury or other hardship, it is heartening to see the community rally in support. It belies the common (and IMHO false) narrative of musicians being selfish or self-centered.

There were so many aspects to last nights show that were meaningful to me that I am having a hard time putting them down (at least in time I have to write this).  First off all, it was all just really, really great rock and roll music. Call it roots or Americana or whatever, it was just rock and roll and it was damn good!

Homemade Sin features Warner Hodges (Jason and the Scorchers), Mauro Magellan (Georgia Satellites), and a brand new bass player Sean Savacool.  Joe Blanton is filling in for Dan Baird.

Seeing Warner and Joe on stage together was pretty awesome.  I have been a fan of both of their music for over 30 years.  Warner from the Scorchers and Joe Blanton from The Enemy and Royal Court of China.

Speaking of The Scorchers.  With Dan out, the band have added a few Scorchers songs to their set and last night Jason Ringenberg himself was on hand to sing a few.  When they ripped into the classic Scorchers version of Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie" the usually sedate dinner crowd at The Family Wash exploded and everyone sang along. It was thirty-two years ago this month when I first say The Scorchers live.  Jason still bounces around the stage like a whirling dervish and Warner still slings his guitar effortlessly and deftly.   Other special guests included Elizabeth Cook, Chuck Mead, and Aaron Lee Tasjan (with Jon Latham).

I was happy to get to hang a little with Robert Logue (Royal Court of China, The Shakers) and Chuck Allen (The East Nashvillian) and hear and share stories from back in the day.

One last thing (and this is kind of a hard story to explain so bear with me):  Dan Baird's old band The Georgia Satellites were a big part of the Nashville music scene in the 1980s when I was coming of age. The Satellites are probably best known for their huge hit "Keep Your Hands to Yourself". When I was nineteen years old, I started keeping a journal (I kind of think I was blogging but there wasn't any way to post it back then). The journal was mostly mundane details of my life, stray bits of random writing (fiction etc.), and song lyrics. From the time, I first heard "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" on WRVU (the Vanderbilt student radio station and predecessor to WXNA), I must have included lyrics to that song in my journal dozens of times.  And I watched in amazement as it grew from this local thing to a #2 song on the pop charts.  It was a pretty cool and pretty rare thing since most of the music I listened to was pretty non-mainstream.  So, there was a strange and wonderful feeling when the band launched into that song I got to sing along with Jon Latham and Aaron Lee Tasjan.  And then when Joe Blanton turned his guitar over to Aaron Lee Tasjan... I was just floored. Music for me is ALL about connections and there were so many connections made last night. It was a perfect way to begin a very busy week that promises many great moments.


As I mentioned yesterday, E2TG is going to break some new ground for us this week, as we welcome our first guest blogger - Collins de la Cour who will be covering some select Americana Fest shows for us. Her introductory post is coming later today, and I am blown away by how good it is, and I think you will be, too.

It is Tuesday, and this is the day that we shuffle up songs from the "New Music" which is mostly (fairly) recent music that we have had the chance to feature here.  We have a pretty cool mix today so let's not dally any more....

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Hashtag No Filter Mix

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In case you missed it, E2TG premiered the new single from Erica Blinn this morning.  Check it out HERE.

Other than that, it is Friday - and this is my last post before Americana Fest madness gets underway next week... sort of... I guess Monday and Tuesday's posts will technically be before AMA Fest, but Monday night, I'm going to see Homemade Sin at The Family Wash.  This is Homemade Sin without Dan Baird who is recovering from an illness. Warner Hodges and Joe Blanton (two folks who I have been fans off for over 30 years) will be helping to hold down the fort. Looking forward to seeing lots of friends that night.

Since it is Friday, E2TG brings you Featured Friday - songs from my "New Music" playlist... let's shuffle...