E2TG 11/16/2020 - Music City Monday and More - Homecoming Show Mix (Omg...lol Remix)

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It feels silly to say it... not because it isn't true, but because it is so obvious... we are still in a pandemic. Here in Nashville and elsewhere cases are on the rise, but from the government down to many citizens there seems to be a nonchalance about it all, and an unwillingness to make any modifications. As we head into winter and the holidays, it looks like dark days ahead. With so many, ignoring the guidance from health officials and determined to act as if the pandemic is either over or not real, it makes it more difficult to do the right thing. 

The progress on the vaccine front is encouraging, but for now, we have to deal with where we are. 

And, we have an administration more interested in fighting the results of a fair and valid election than fighting COVID. 

We pick back up with our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 10-15:

10. "Without Us" by Black Paisley

Up first today, we have a track from the forthcoming album Rambler by the Swedish band that we featured before. This one is a catchy rocker that caught me a little of guard in a good way. 

11. "Some Lucky Stardust" by Brent Moyer

12. "If We're Gonna Kill Each Other" by Dallas Moore, Billy Don Burns

In what is, I believe, a first for our Playlist, we have two tracks from the same album.  The album is A Tribute to Joe Sun.  First up, we have Nashville songwriter and musician Brent Moyer covering a Joe Sun song originally on Sun's 1998 album Heartbreak Saloon.   The second is by outlaw country notables Dallas Moore and Billy Don Burns and it is one of the last songs written by Sun and released here for the first time.  Joe Sun passed away last October.

13. "Look at the Birdy" by The Flat Five

Next up, we have a track from the newly released 2nd album by Chicago area supergroup The Flat Five. So good!

14. "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar" by The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!

Next up, we have a track from Jersey City native Gary Van Miert with his first album of original material. Recorded remotely with some Nashville musicians.  This is fantastic stuff. 

15. "Immoral Guidance" by Danny Black; Keith Goodwin

We close out this segment of music with a Good Ole War reunion of sorts from Philadelphia based Danny Black's third album Black Ryno.  A great way to close out this segment of music. 

Tomorrow - the recap continues with songs 16-20 or so
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 1/27/2020 - Music City Monday - Show preview and more - I'm Okay Mix (One Dead Peckerhead Remix)

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Show alert:

Chicago’s Joe Policastro Trio will be headlining the 9:30 PM show at The SpringWater tonight. More information at  http://www.thespringwater.com/events 

Hailed by Downbeat for its “deft analysis of choice repertoire” and by the Chicago Reader for its “diversity of approaches to all kinds of source material,” the JPT is a Chicago-based alternative jazz trio led by bassist Joe Policastro and features guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery. While firmly rooted in jazz, the band’s open-minded, inclusive nature draws upon a wide array of musical styles and sources while still keeping the aesthetic of an acoustic trio intact. Their fourth album, Nothing Here Belongs, focuses on the band’s original music, whereas previous releases, West Side Story Suite (2013), POPS! (2016), and Screen Sounds (2017), highlighted the trio’s ability to remake unlikely songs in its own raw, highly idiosyncratic fashion.  

Random Notes:

A quick behind the curtain (pay not attention to the man) - I am still experimenting with the new features of E2TG.  Expect some changes periodically has I fine-tune things. 

Featured Friday Playlist  (It is called Featured Friday because that is when the list for the week updates and the name is a homage to our Featured Friday Shuffle). It is available every day on E2TG for viewing and playing. Thanks to those who have followed the playlist.   The way I have been managing the list is by creating a private playlist called E2TG on-deck. As I hear about releases, I add them to that playlist. Then on Thursday night/early Friday, I check for new releases and tweak the on-deck list. I delete out the songs from the  current Featured Friday playlist and add the songs from the on-deck playing to that one. Then I delete out the songs from the on-deck playlist and start over. I try to keep the list around an hour - but I don't have a fixed number of songs. 

As with all of E2TG, I try to heavily weigh the list to "under the radar" picks, but depending on the week - so better known artists of interest may appear. 

The new release listing is and will always be a work-in-progress. I mostly add from e-mail submissions - sometimes if I see a social media post, I will sent the link to myself to add later. Please feel free to send me new release information (singles, EPs and LPs) to e2tgmusic@gmail.com.  

In the current world, the release date can be tricky. I add to the list as it is reported to me, I know sometimes albums will be added to Spotify before or after the announced date. 

I will working on adding some links and some more "First Impressions". Time is still a challenge, but I will keep plugging away. 

Today, we have a great Music City Monday shuffle - please check that out below!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - A Hundred Times Yeah! Mix

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We are back!  Let's see... Friday, I headed to Tennessee Brew Works to catch a pair of Kerrville New Folk Festival winners: Aaron Smith from Arkansas and Justin Farren from California as they kicked off a run of shows up the East Coast. Great beer, great food, and great hangs with new and old friends.

From there, I headed to The Basement to catch Matthew Paige (of Blackfoot Gypsies) - I believe my first time seeing him solo - he was fantastic, then Darrin Bradbury, and then Jeremy Ivey (recently signed to ANTI records (as was Darrin) with his band The Extraterrestrials. A wonderful night of music and another reminder of why Nashville is still a cool place to be a music fan.

Now, it is time to jump into another week of shuffles, and as always, we kick things off with shuffle from my Music City Monday Spotify playlist - compromised of new and older music from people who do or did once call Nashville home.

Let's just shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Nothing Wrong with Nashville Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)


I appropriated a Todd Snider lyric for today's subtitle - even though I had a different Todd Snider song in the today's Music City Monday Shuffle.  Today's shuffle is a nice reminder of why Nashville is the best place to live for this music fan.   Time is short - so I'm going to get right to it!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Boys with Guitars Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - Junly2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018 NEW!
E2TG July 2018 NEW!


I said on Friday that last week was the last full week of shuffles in August - I guess technically since Friday is the 31st, this may be the last full work week in August, however, I do have a training out of the office on Thursday which will likely mean no shuffle that day, so technically, I was correct.

In any event, it is a new week, and time for another Music City Monday.  Music City Monday shuffles come from an ever-expanding Spotify playlist dedicated to music from Nashville's past and present.

Let's just get right to it.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Dyin' of Thirst Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed three - January - March 2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 (NEW!)

Running late, but I love Music City Monday - so I didn't want to miss.  It's funny how a random shuffle of the same mix of songs can yield a different mix of results. Today's shuffle is heavily weighted toward recent and fairly recent music.   But, you can see for yourself...

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Pretty Little Bow Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed three - January - March 2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 (NEW!)


In case you missed it, last Friday, we premiered a new song, "Gloria" by Nashville singer-songwriter Benjamin Jason Douglas from his album First World Blues which is being released this coming Friday.  Check it out HERE !


Stumbling through the work week.  We have reached midpoint. Yes, it is Wednesday and that is the day we get "wild" at E2TG.  We shuffle up all of the songs in my phone's memory and see what comes up.  As usual, it is a mix of new and old.   Let's go!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Love Comes, Love Goes Mix

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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

We are just over two weeks away from the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency at The 5 Spot.  Rayvon Pettis, The Big Dumb, and Clark Paterson will be lighting up the stage.

Consider this a soft release announcement, but my debut novel The Drift is now available from Amazon.  If you are in Nashville and would like a copy, let me know, and we can make some arrangements. Full announcement coming soon.  (They said 3-5 days until it was available, so I wasn't expecting it today!)

Needless to say, I have a lot going on right now, and as is my nature, I'm feeling wholly out of sorts about everything.

Nothing like music to calm my savage beast of a monkey mind - and it is Monday - so we have another fabulous Music City Monday for your enjoyment.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - One Helluva Hangover Mix

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Okay - well, two weeks ago, I started a new thing for Music City Monday - the shuffle is based upon a ever expanding Spotify playlist of Nashville artists past and present - trying to cover as much of the diversity of Music City's music  as I can.  Last week, I was off work - so today marks the 2nd edition of Music City Monday 2.0.  In case you want to peruse the playlist at your leisure, it is currently at 740 songs (over 44 hours of music), and it is still growing.  Anyway, here is the LINK.

I need to add an editorial comment:  I honestly wish that Spotify paid creators more for their work, and I hope that happens some time. In the meantime, I do think it is a good vehicle for hearing a ton of music and for creating playlist like this one.  However, my wish is that if you hear music you love, and you are able, go buy it.  Saving or even "downloading" an album on Spotify does not in any way equal buying the album. I think when you look at the profits that Spotify is making off the blood sweat and tears of the artists and songwriters and others who make the music, it is clearly an untenable situation.

As always, E2TG is about the music, so this shuffle like any other I post is about the music.

In any event, I think today's shuffle is a pretty nice cross-section of Nashville's music, and I look forward to bring you more in the weeks and months to come. 

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Honey Bunny Mix

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Well, I guess time has run out on "easing into the new year..."

I had promised some changes for 2018 here at E2TG and today, I am unveiling two of those changes.


I am not sure if this is going to be an every Monday thing or what, but I would like to introduce a new feature on E2TG.

Marie/Lepanto is a new inter-generational project that features Will Johnson (Centro-Matic) and Justin Peter Kinkel-Shuster (Water Liars). Their debut "Tenkiller" is due out on January 26. I will have some of the songs in my upcoming shuffles, but for today, I wanted to let you hear the first track released from that album. It's called "Iverness".

Will Johnson fronted Centro-Matic for two decades and is also frontman for South San Gabriel, a member of New Multitudes (Woody Guthrie lyrics set to new music, with Jay Farrar, Jim James), did a duo project with Jason Molina (Molina and Johnson), drummer and official member of Monsters of Folk (with James, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward), a duo with David Bazan as part of Overseas, and a member of the Undertow Orchestra (with Bazan, Mark Eitzel, and Vic Chestnutt). NPR has praised Centro-Matic's "superb rock records" and Johnson's "great images" and "superb songwriting." He lives in Austin, TX.

Meanwhile, Kinkel-Shuster co-founded Water Liars, about whom the NY Times said, "dark, lonely roots-minded indie rock is affecting, all the more for its sparseness." NPR called the band "a low-key triumph... prone to fits of stark gorgeousness" and Consequence of Sound said "Kinkel-Shuster's painted howl will stop you in your tracks." Julien Baker listed JPKS' 2016 album among her top ten albums of the year. Water Liars tooks its name from a Barry Hannah story and the band was on Misra Records and Big Legal Mess. The album is called 'Marie/Lepanto' after a sign on the freeway in Arkansas and was recorded at Sam Phillips Recordings Service, where Margo Price, Jason Isbell and more have taped albums. He lives in Arkansas and brings a deep south viewpoint to his work.

Nashville readers: Marie/Lepanto will be playing at  the Exit/In on February 23 with Pedro the Lion.





Another reminder: E2TG will be hosting show at  The Local (formerly known as The Country) this coming Sunday (January 14) featuring Conrad y Skordalia, Danny Henry, and Nelson Zimmerman Quinn (featuring members of Sean Quinn and the Tremblers. Music starts at 8:00pm, and it will be my birthday!

Today marks the return of "Music City Monday" to E2TG (with a bit of a twist).  Today's shuffle comes not from my phone music player, but from Spotify.  I have created an ever-evolving playlist of Nashville connected music - old and new, well-known and lesser-known, and crossing as many genre lines I can get away with.    Here is the inaugural shuffle from that playlist....

Mondo Monday Morning Shuffle - Leaned in Close Mix

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I guess this is what they call the home stretch.... As we head into the final week of the Earie Awards for 2017 (as well as the final week of shuffles for 2017), I find myself reflecting on the year that is winding down.  On many, many levels, it was a difficult year, but I remain bolstered by the incredibly wonderful people I have come to know and the incredible variety of amazing music that has come to my attention just because I started writing this blog.

The highs of this year were high and the lows were low, and I prepare to enter 2018 with much uncertainty as to what it will bring. I have been pondering some tweaks to E2TG for the coming year - something I have done periodically over the six and half years of this site. I'm not sure what those will be. Certainly there are things that don't work like they used to  (like my inability to embed my video playlists). I guess, I'll just say - stay tuned.

Let's jump right into the shuffle and the Earies for Monday December 18, 2017....

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Bend with the Breeze Mix

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Well, it is officially Americana Fest week in Nashville. Looking forward to seeing some out of town friends this week, and of course, seeing and hearing some amazing music. I'm going to try to avoid stressing out too much over all the great shows I will miss because it is logistically impossible to make them all.

I am excited to announce my first ever guest writer.  Look for some AMA reviews and commentary from Collins de la Cour.  I'm really excited to take this next step with E2TG.

Tonight, I have some pre/non-AMA shows.  Meanwhile, we are expecting a couple of days of wind and rain from Irma. So far I have gotten good reports from friends and family in Florida.


Meanwhile, it is Monday. On Monday we focus in on Nashville, the Music City... new stuff, old stuff - it's just all more or less connected to Nashville.  Let's Shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Blot out the Sun Mix

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Hey - most everyone including yours truly will be fully immersed in the eclipse when I normally post this so I doing a quick post of our Monday shuffle... everyone protect your eyes and enjoy this rare cosmic event...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Hide Your Daughters, Hide Your Sons Mix

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Well, it is officially the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice, or the beginning of the long march to Winter gloom - if you will.  As I mentioned yesterday, we are also approaching the half way mark of 2017.  In an effort to present as much "new" music as possible, I am going to be spinning tunes from my "new music" playlist every day for the next two week. It's Tuesday today, and I would be doing that anyway, but still....


Well - let's get to the music shall we?

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Vapor Trails Mix

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Okay - first off - I have sort of put the Ear to the Ground Events back up.  It is a work in progress.  I need to do some formatting and stuff.  I will continue to work on it and hopefully improve it.

Let us jump directly into the shuffle... it's another good one....

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Lullaby Dance Mix

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"Tugena" by The Dead Milkmen

We begin with the 5+ minute almost instrumental from Big Lizard in My Backyard.

"Heal" by Telepathic Teddy Bear

We move on to another track from Telepathic Teddy Bear's latest album, Forgiveness. Forgiveness heals, music heals...

"Carolyn" by Phranc

Phranc expresses her admiration for the muscular female form. from Folksinger

"1000 Deaths" by D'Angelo and the Vanguard

Black Messiah is one of the best records of the year (released at the end of 2014). 1000 Deaths is the second track on the album. 

"Your Own Lullaby" by Matt Phillips

I saw Matt Phillips on the stage a Music City Roots a week ago today - where he (coincidently) expressed his admiration for D'Angelo. Phillips was impressive and a great part of  a pretty awesome night of music.

"Treasures" by Telepathic Teddy Bear

One good Teddy Bear deserves another.  I am seriously loving this album (Forgiveness).

"Dance" by Blackfoot Gypsies

It's never too early in the day to Dance - even when you are riding up the elevator to work (although I did get some strange looks - what do I care?). Seriously, now is the time to become a part of the Blackfoot Gypsies express train.  My friend Popa Tunes has been on board for a while now, I know. This is from the album Dandee Cheeseball.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - It Wasn't Long Ago Mix

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Had a terrific time at Music City Roots last night: Family and Friends, Matt Phillips, The Bros. Landreth, and Dale Watson.  Big thanks to the Sippy Biddys for letting me be a honorary guest biddy for the night.

On with the shuffle..

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Oh My and a Boo Hoo Mix

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I got those post-birthday hangover blues... hangover in the figurative sense (or is it literal???)

Anyway, some killer tunes in the shuffle - so let's get to it.

Friday Afternoon Music Shuffle - What's So Funny Mix

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I took the day off work and barely saw the morning....  so no traditional shuffle but I did run an errand earlier and shuffled a few tunes.... Plus I had some other things to share:

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Like a Freebird Wheel Mix

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Today's subtitle is a tribute to the mind-blowing weekly party that goes down every single Wednesday night at Fran's Eastside Tavern in East Nashville, Tennessee. Tim Carroll and Darrin Bradbury have been doing this thing since July or so, and I've only missed a couple.  When it began, Darrin would play for an hour or so and then Tim would take over and then they would play together at the end of the evening. In time, drummer David Strayer began sitting in and then (when he returned from an extended time up North) Cameron Carrus joined in on the upright bass, and the Fran's Eastside Super High Band was formed. Now-a-days, Tim begins playing sometime before 8:30 (I don't think I've ever made it there before he began) and the band joins in as they arrive. Darrin plays (with Tim playing guitar).  Singer Luella Wood has been known to serenade us with a few songs each night, and at various times Trombones, additional guitars, and other assorted folks have joined in the party.  Special guests have been known to show up including singer/songwriter legend Dave Dondero and last night Nathan Kalish and the Lastcallers.  It's a seriously fun night and if you can handle the copious amounts of second-hand smoke, you should come on out if you are in the area. 

Last night's show ended the traditional "Freebird" and "Wagon Wheel" one-two punch which Darrin Bradbury managed to lyrically mash-up in the manner of our subtitle.

On to the shuffle: