A lot going on in the world, in our nation, and locally. I think there are issues that are way too big for any person or administration or party to solve. I think there is a lot of evil in the world - evil in this case being defined as greed, selfishness, a lack of compassion, a lack of empathy. I see it infecting and infesting many elements in our society and I think we can all fall victim to it from time to time, but I think it is especially insidious in certain situations.
I also know that there are many kind, generous, compassionate and empathetic people in the world. I think ultimately, the solution has to come from those people coming together, putting aside petty differences and standing up for goodness.
It will come when we embrace the things that unite us and try not to focus on the things that divide us. I have no idea how or if this is going to happen but I know that unless it does - the evil will continue to win.
Please note, I use evil not in a religious or even supernatural sense - but rather as I defined it above. I also don't think anyone is all good or all evil - but I think the insidious nature of evil can be hard to resist.
And, it cannot always been one side compromising and there will be points over which we cannot compromise - but if that is the case - let's move on to another point - while tabling the point where no agreement can be reached. I believe that while revolutionary change may be the most preferred and worth fighting for in some instances - incremental change is better than no change at all.
Anyway, let's get on to the music for today...
We pick up where we left off - a week ago Friday - a continue our recap of the Featured Friday Playlist with songs 12-17:
12. "El Camino" by Stephen Flatt
The album Cumberland Bones is due out April 16. Today, we have the second single we have featured from Nashville singer-songwriter (and great nephew of Lester Flatt). Really great tune.
13. "Tumbling" by DL Rossi
Also due April 16 is Lonesome Kind by singer-songwriter DL Rossi. The album was recorded in Nashville where Rossi lived before returning to his native Michigan to help with an ailing family member.
14. "Black Rose" by Shannon McNally; Buddy Miller
Next up, we have Shannon McNally and Buddy Miller doing a Waylon Jennings classic from McNally's forthcoming (May 28) album The Waylon Sessions. I feel like that last sentence says enough to highly recommend this listen.
15. "America" by Sylvan Paul
Next up, we have the title track from the debut EP from NYC artist Sylvan Paul. The song is unfortunately as timely as it was when it was written in 2018 - especially in the week of recent gun violence.
16. "Crocodile" by Arrows to Fire
Next up, our second track to feature from this US/French collaboration (co-produced by Tim Palmer) and this is straight up one of the funnest songs we have featured in a while.
17. "It's Ok Not to Be Ok" by The Rude Awakening
And we close with a timely message for these times from this UK synthpop act. Some cool music and good words to take us out of this segment of music.
We move steadily into a new week full of promise and doubt. And here in Nashville... rain... something something rainy days and Mondays...
But Monday here at E2TG means Music City Monday... but first...
We continue our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 13-18:
13. "I am DRAGON!" by Feralman
From the recently release Chapters 35-43 - this is our second track to feature from Australian singer-songwriter Feralman.
14. "Country Queen" by Toler Gibson
The first taste of The Days Before - the debut album by the California band featuring Kenneth Gibson and Gavin Toler. The album is due out in May.
15. "A Hit of Love" by Larry Folk
Next up, we have a COVID response single from the forthcoming Embracing Folk EP. Larry Folk is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose career dates back to the mid 1970s. His most recent album In the Moonlight was released back in September.
16. "For Love" by My Name is Ian
Next up, we have the lead single from Fantastic Company which is due out in June. My Name is Ian is a Alt-Electronic band from Cardiff Wales.
17. "Let Me Be Your Moonlight - Radio Edit" by Round Roomers
Next up, we have a release from Round Room Music who solicited poems from around the world to be transformed into music by Nashville musicians. The poem that produced this song was written by a Baker from Belgium Jimmy Coenen and performed by Alabama native and Nashville musician Chad Wilson. The music was written Andy Dixon.
18. "Sucker Punch" by The L.A. Maybe
And we close with second single by this heavy rock band based in The Carolinas.
Sometimes, it all seems to much! Here in Nashville in 2020, we have had the March 3 tornado, the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest blackout in the cities history, and no protests and riots in the streets. I want to call for a time out!
BUT, then I think, relatively speaking I have at most been inconvenienced by all of this. If I am this exhausted, I wonder how those who have been deeply and directly affect must feel. And, then I think about being a person of color in America twenty years into the 21st Century - and how long systemic racism has been allowed to go on. And, I think if I am this worn out, how much people of color feel...
So, yes, I am exhausted and I would love a week or more with no significant news, and I want to be able to safely go out and see my friends and attend live music events. But, until it is safe, I will stay in as much as I can and I will be okay.
And I want there to be peace in our cities, but you know, until tangible changes are made, I understand the unrest.
I also have concerns about the role of right wing groups in instigating the violence in order to discredit the valid protests. And, this is where it gets trick and this is where maybe I don't get to offer my hot takes... Stay vigilant, stay safe, and spread love are the best advise I have to offer.
In spite of it all, this is a music blog, and music has always been a refuge for me through whatever turbulence I have experienced, and so, we will continue our review of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with song 7-12:
7. "Political Funk" by Mick Hayes
From the album My Claim to FAME which was recorded by legendary FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I am just discovering Mick Hayes' music, and this album has blown me away. I picked this track partially because the song coincidentally shares its name with a short-lived early 90s Nashville group - that I can't find any proof actually existed. Nonetheless, this is a great song and a great diving in point for this album which is infused with the magic of the studio where it was recorded.
8. "Young Loved and Free" by Audrey and Hugh
From the album Sisterman. There is a recurring theme lately of reconnecting with artists that I wrote about in the past. This is new album is the debut for the duo of Audrey MacAlpine and Hugh Trimble - along with Mason Wheaton. Sisterman was the name they previously used for the band. Totally coincidentally, E2TG wrote about Hugh Trimble a few years back when we covered some of the music he recorded at Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen in New York. Audrey and Hugh are based in Nashville name, and I got turned on to this release by a post of a good friend whose musical taste I respect.
9. "Fixer - Live" by Adrian + Meredith
I am missing Adrian + Meredith, and I am missing live music at The 5 Spot, so I thought I would play another track from Adrian + Meredith Live at The 5 Spot. I love these guys. For this recording they have their big band, and it is great hearing the Nashville horns.
10. "The Deleted History of Us" by Cursive is Code
Another song from our friends from Connecticut. Jason P. Krug and company have hit upon a great new sound that retains the spirit of his previous work (solo and with Grimm Generation). This time there is a funky liveliness that I really dig.
11. "You Got Me" by Bill Lloyd
New music from Bill Lloyd is always a pleasure. His brand new album is a called Don't Kill the Messenger. In the 1980s, Lloyd led the power pop band The December Boys before releasing his classic solo album Feeling the Elephant. In the early 90s, he formed the country music duo Foster and Lloyd with Radney Foster and had some chart success. He was also in a supergroup called The Sky Kings - we covered a recent reissue by them recently. He leads The Long Players - who recreate classic albums, and he has put out a series of albums of the last several years that represent pop songwriting at its best.
12. "With Love, from Quarantine" by Shayfer James
Shayfer James was a "Featured Artist" exactly eight years ago. The New Jersey singer-songwriter came to our attention at the height of our New York/New Jersey obsession. This is a wonderful and timely new song. Great to hear from him and to be able to present it to you.
Tomorrow songs 13-18...
Featured Friday Playlist
Music City Monday Shuffle
"Dirty Dishes" by Becca Mancari (from Good Woman)
Going back to her 2017 album, we have a great track. Mancari has a brand new album due out this month that was produced by Zac Farro of Paramore.
"One Last Question" by Jason & the Scorchers (from Nashville, The Other Side of the Alley: Insurgent Country Vol. 3)
A wonderful Jason and the Scorchers track from that awesome mid-90s compilation released by Bloodshot records - the album also features Tim Carroll, Tom House, Kristi Rose, R.B. Morris, and Dan Baird among many others.
"Woke Up Jake" by Dan Baird (from Buffalo Nickel)
Speaking of the aforementioned Mr. Baird, we have a track from his most excellent solo album Buffalo Nickel - which was the follow-up to Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired.
"One Thing I Know About Love" by Jonell Mosser and John Hall (from Little Black Dress)
Next up, we have one of Nashville finest - Jonell Mosser has been a force on the Nashville music scene for many years, and having seen her live a couple of time this year (and very late last year), I can attest that she is still at the top of her game.
"Freightliner Fever" by Jon Byrd (from Byrd's Auto Parts)
A tribute to truckers and more precisely to trucking songs from the debut solo album by the one and only Jon Byrd.
"Crocodile" by Lori Kelley (from Under Stars and Storms)
And, we close with a long time friend of E2TG, singer-songwriter Lori Kelley from her most recent album. Kelley helped organize and run the Eastside Takeover at Bobby's Idle Hour in 2015 or so, which provided so many memorable Sunday evenings.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NEW AND RECENT RELEASES
This Week
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 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)
6/05 - KDF - "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)
Last Week
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)
5/19 - Merv Pinny - "I" (single)
Next 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)
Upcoming:
6/19 - Darlin' Brando - Also Too... (LP)
6/19 - Dolour - The Royal We (LP)
6/19 - The Microdance - Our Love Noire (LP)
6/19 - Lady Couch - "Foolish and Blue" (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)
7/17 - 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) 7/31 - 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 - 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)
5/12 - Kory Quinn & Co. - The Blueroom (LP)
5/13 - Dru Flecha - "Cama" (single)
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)
Happy Monday! It is another week and another month here at E2TG. I hope you will check out and follow our Featured Friday Playlist. A new list will be up every Friday. Thank you to everyone who has followed us so far.
I am excited to announce that I will have something exciting to announce very soon. It involves me and Nashville music, and that is all I am liberty to disclose at this time. Was that vague enough? Nevertheless, it is exciting.
Quiet weekend, but I managed to see some world-class music. Tim Carroll, Fats Kaplin and Kristi Rose and the gang, and Mike Cullison and the Lucky Dogs.
I've been getting some computer stuff set up at home so I have been slow to get new content posted, but it will come.
Let's see. Daniel Seymour and Mark Robinson are hosting Madison Guild Monday at Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge tonight. Their guests include E2TG favorite Tiffany Huggins Grant. Should be a nice Monday hang with great music.
*Note: The video playlist at the bottom of the post attempts to closely approximate the shuffle I listened to on my way to work this morning. When a video for a song was not available, I substituted another song by the same artist. When I could not find any videos by an artist, I included a related video or did not include a video for that track. This blog may reference unreleased tracks, however, no unreleased music is ever included.
On we go, back at it for another week of E2TG. I am hard at work developing a plan for my proposed "reboot" of E2TG scheduled for early 2020. I have some good things in mind.
Now, let's get on with the Music City Monday shuffle!
We are back and it is another Music City Monday - where we take a glance at some great Nashville-centered music from the past and the present. As usual, we have a good mixed bag of goodies. So, let's get right to it!
