Well, we are almost through another week and another month in the new reality. I feel so much uncertainty and anxiety. It does feel easier for me to stay in and limit social interactions, but I do miss people. I have very little confidence that things are not going to get worse. I no longer expect a return to "normal" anytime soon, but I also see people who are trying to force that return and it frightens me.
I am dismayed again at where we are as a nation when it comes to a lot of things. I try to identify and recognize privilege, but I suspect I don't always do well at this. I struggle with knowing when and how to speak up while acknowledging that that struggle is a function of my privilege.
Someone how, I still believe that most people are basically good, but I also believe that it takes more than being good to counteract the people who are bad.
I recognize that critical thinking is a sadly lacking skill, and that emotional intelligence is also sadly lacking in many people. I fully support freedom of thought and freedom of expression, but I recognize with that freedom come responsibility, and that many want the freedom without the responsibility.
I think the real danger lies with the apathetic and not the zealots.
And now, as we prepare for a brand new Featured Friday Playlist coming tomorrow, we conclude our review of this week's list with songs 18-22:
18. "Forget Me Nots" by Town Meeting
Town Meeting is a folk rock band from Ayer, Massachusetts. They are a fast rising band who have opened for Bob Dylan, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and more. Digging the sound of this band's evocative and rich sound.
19. "Cama" by Dru Flecha
Dru Flecha is from Caracas, Venezuela by way of Paris, France. A rich combination of sounds combined with a killer hook and a smoldering passion.
20. "Regional Diction" by Miss Rayon
Miss Rayon is from Portland, Oregon and they have been releasing a song every week during the pandemic. Really digging this track which reminds me of a modern take on new wave music.
21. "Emptiness" by Lékan Tella
Lékan Tella is a New York based singer-songwriter with a funky R&B, soul vibe. A great addition to this week's Playlist.
22. "I Know" by CLOUDNINE
Last, but not least, we have a track from CLOUDNINE who is a singer-songwriter based in France. A really cool song to close out this week's list.
The tornado that ripped through North and East Nashville and across Middle Tennessee in the early hours of Tuesday morning did considerable damage and left over 20 people dead across the state.
The East Nashville music community with which I have aligned myself (and been accepted into) over the last five or so years was hit hard. In addition to the well-publicized major damage at the Basement East (I am so thankful all of the employees made it through okay), musicians and members of the extended community suffered damage to their homes, cars, and places of employment - all of which puts their often perilous financial situations into more dire straights (I will accept responsibility for that "Sultans of Swing" earworm.)
Already, the resilience and spirit of community have been heartening (but not unexpected). If I could only say one thing about this community, it would be about how they come together in times of loss and through difficult times. I trust that we all will come through this stronger than ever with a heightened sense of community.
All that, however, is not meant to minimize the difficult days, weeks, and months ahead. I encourage anyone reading this who has been affected in any way, to reach out for help. In situations like this, people can be affected in many different ways and it can affect all parts of the community - perhaps none more than our most vulnerable citizens. We (which I use in the community sense) are fortunate enough to have some great community partners who do great work every day, and who have already stepped up.
To anyone who feels called to help out, seek out legitimate organizations to support. I have compiled a brief list of ways to help. The list is growing constantly, but I hope this provides a good place to start.
E2TG has always and still believes in the healing power of music. So, we will proceed with our regularly scheduled programming.
Sorry this list isn't more diverse... (just kidding)... enjoy, I sure did.
"Black Flag Blues" by Adam Carroll (from Live at Flipnotics)
One of my favorite Adam Carroll songs - ask Scott Nolan about the Pecan Logs from Stuckey's.
"Empty Your Head" by Smokey the Firebear (Teshio Democracy EP)
Before he was in Them Airs - Cade Williams put out experimental music under the moniker Smokey the Firebear. This is from one of his many releases no longer on-line. The Video Playlist has a different track substituted.
"Glass Window View" by Triggers and Slips (from The Stranger)
Looking forward to seeing Triggers and Slips in April at the Magnolia Roads American Roots Hoedown V (Just announced: the show will now be a benefit for Tornado relief - details to come). The Stranger was among my favorite albums of 2019.
"Raglan Road" by Ricko Donovan (from Full On)
On-time Nashville resident - who I met on our shared birthday four years ago. He is singer-songwriter and hammer dulcimer player.
"I-i Thina Lapha Esishupekayo" by George Sibanda (from Guitar Music of Africa/Recordings 1950-1955)
Some seminal 1950s African guitar music. Sibanda was from Rhodesia - which is now called Zimbabwe.
"Weekend Brawl" by Jerry Castle (from Not So Soft Landing...)
Nashville based singer-songwriter with a track from his 2016 album.
"Walking Shoes" by Duke Dickson (from Gonna Make it Alone)
"Miss Globule" by Pas Musique (from The Phoenix)
"Pulling Me Down" by Brandi and the Alexanders (from How Do You Like It?)
"I Can See For Years" by Good Field (from Surface Tension)
"Dusk" by Moonshine Booze (from Desert Road)
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 1/16 - Margo Price - Stone Me (single) 1/17 - Mark Hummel - Wayback Machine (LP) 1/17 - Jonny Polonsky - "The Weeping Souls" (single) 1/17 - Them Airs - Union Suit XL (LP)(E2TG First Impression) 1/17 - Innocence Mission - See You Tomorrow (LP) 1/17 - David Dondero - The Filter Bubble Blues (LP) 1/17 - MONO INC. - "Warriors" (single) 1/17 - Damen - "Americana" (single) 1/17 - The Singing Butcher - "Circus Girl" (single)
1/17 - Simen Lyngroth - "Morning Light" (single)
1/17 - 100 Mile House - "Worth the Wait" (single) 1/19 - Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/21 - Broads and Milly Hirst - "Happisburgh" (single) 1/22 - Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/24 - Kailey Nicole - Kailey Nicole (LP) 1/24 - Mrs. Henry - Live at the Casbah (LP) 1/24 - Aeronautical Pioneer - "Hop High" (single) 1/24 - Three Rivers Project - Confluence (LP) 1/24 - MONO INC. - The Book of Fire (LP) 1/24 - Dispel - Lore (LP) 1/24 - The New Nostalgia - "Nothing is New" (single) 1/24 - The Heliocentrics - "Burning Wooden Ship" (single) 1/24 - Electric High - "Harder to Justify" (single) 1/24 - J. Luke Cloutier - Drown (LP) 1/26 - Nik West - "Tears" (single) 1/28 - Motihari Brigade - Power from Below (LP) 1/29 - Remington Super 60 - NEW EP (EP) 1/31 - Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Daytime Highs and Overnight Lows (LP) 1/31 - Nick Pagliari - Midway (LP) 1/31 - Black Paisley - "Dreams" (single) 1/31 - Jolie Holland - Esconidida (Vinyl Reissue) (LP) 1/31 - John Dennis - Mortal Flames (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Emma Hill - How Could I Have Been So Wrong (EP) 1/31 - Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) + Danielle de Picciotto (Crime and The City Solution) - The Current (LP) 1/31 - Drive-By Truckers - The Unraveling (LP) 1/31 - Kristen Englenz - "Rebound" (single) 1/31 - Damen - "Disco" (single) 1/31 - Tinsley Ellis - Ice Cream in Hell (LP) 1/31 - The Singing Butcher - "Coming Home" (single) 2/01 - Glenn Jones - Ready for the Good Times (LP)
2/02 - Karabas Barabas - Degenerate National Anthem (LP) 2/04 - Mayflower Madame - "Vultures" (single) 2/05 - Joseph Mooradian - "We all Work Too Much"/"Dash My Dreams" (single)
2/07 - Palm Ghosts - Wide Awake and Waiting (EP) 2/07 - Emily Zuzik - "Trouble" (single) 2/07 - Chicago Farmer - Flyover Country (LP) 2/07 - Surrija - "Barcelona" (single) 2/07 - The Flyin' A's - No Holds Barred (LP) 2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP) 2/07 - HMS Morris - "Babanod" (single) 2/07 - Tiny Fighter- "Strangest Thing" (single) 2/07 - Wynnm - "Fire on the Moon" (single) 2/07 - The Golden Cage Society - Mira (Mini EP) 2/07 - Alienbaby Collective - "Degenerate Moon" (single) 2/07 - Eric and the Anti-Vaxxers - Timeshare Girlfriend (EP) 2/07 - Sammy Brue - "Teenage Mayhem" and "Crash Test Kid" (singles) 2/07 - Lucille - "Kerikeri" (single)
2/07 - Jon Magnusson - Always a Rebel (Live in Studio Silverräven) (single)
2/07 - Thomas Passon - "Über" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - "Hover" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - Hover (LP)
2/13 - Little Triggers - "Bang" (single)
2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP) 2/14 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP) 2/14 - Johanna Kuvaja - "Back for Good" (single) 2/14 - Sarah Reynolds - "I Need Love" (single) 2/14 - Afterimage - "Six Seconds" (single) 2/14 - Kalee Smyth - "Bring Our Love Down" (single)
2/14 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single)
2/14 - Kid Be Kid - "Blood" (single)
2/14 - Chris Maxwell - New Store No. 2 (LP)
2/18 - David J - "I Only Hear Silence Now" (single)
2/19 - Paisley Fields - "Ride Me Cowboy" (single)
2/19 - Tom Cridland - "The Laws of Success" (single)
2/21 - Sarah Morris - All Mine (LP) 2/21 - Kindergarten - Iphigenia (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Hot Club of L.A.- Cinema Swing (LP) 2/21 - MUUK - Balbuceo (LP) 2/21 - Aaron Beckum - Songs from a Triangle Room (EP) 2/21 - Every 13 Days - Étant Donnés (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Seablight - High-Rise Mannequins (EP) 2/21 - Various Artists -Typical Girls Vol. 5 (LP) 2/21 - 12xPretty - 12xPretty (LP) 2/21 - Arkane Skye - "Don't Ask Me Out" (single)
2/21 - Easy - "Crystal Waves" (single)
2/21 - Blue Lucas - "Train Station" (single)
2/21 - Stumbleine - "Supermodels" (single)
2/21 - Jesse Blake Rundle - "The Death of a Soldier" (single) 2/21 - Whitney Shay - Stand Up! (LP)
2/21 - 100 Mile House - "Test the Timber" (single)
2/22 - Charlotte Eagle Sings - Embracing the Old Ways (LP)
2/24 - Jon Magnusson - "Set Me on Fire (Live Silverraven Sessions) (single)
2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP) 2/28 - Brett Ryan Stewart - "All or None" (single)2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP) 2/28 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)
2/28 - Scenius - "Glass Rain" (single)
2/28 - Jeffrey James - East London (EP)
2/28 - Charmless i - "Long Time Coming" (single)
2/28 - Gallary 47 - "I Wish I Was" (single)
2/28 - Xirita - "Don't Go" (single)
2/28 - Son of David - "Carry On" (single)
2/28 - Harry Stafford - "Painted Ocean" (single) 2/28 - Strange Majik - "World On Fire" (single)
2/28 - MUUK - Balbuceo (LP)
2/29 - Jimmy Who and the Night Creatures - Tinker's Blues (EP)
This Week
3/04 - Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - Chameleon (LP)
3/04 - Iron Mike Norton - "Help Me Make It Through the Night" (single) 3/06 - Surrija - "Sylvette" (single) 3/06 - Dean Fields - While the Baby Was Sleeping (LP) 3/06 - Broads and Milly Hirst - Ollust (LP) 3/06 - The Mastersons - No Time for Love Songs (LP) 3/06 - Ghostwood Development Project (Feat. Kool Keith) - "Gulley" (single)
3/06 - The Mystery Plan - Ballad of JC Quinn (LP)
3/06 - Brian Wright and the Sneakups - "Patrick's Crossing" (single)
3/06 - Jonny Polonsky - Kingdom of Sleep (LP)
3/06 - Tiny Fighter - "Perfect Game" (single)
3/06 - African Head Charge - Drumming is a Language (LP)
3/06 - African Head Charge - Songs of Praise - reissue (LP)
3/06 - African Head Charge - Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi (LP)
Upcoming
3/09 - Marco Bonvicini - "Colors" (single)
3/13 - The Flatmates - The Flatmates (LP) 3/13 - Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ponyoak (20th Anniversary Edition) + BLP (demos and out-takes) (LP) 3/13 - Sandwick - Reconstruct (LP) 3/13 - Foley and the Fire - "Springsteen on the Radio" (single) 3/13 - Kalee Smyth - The Ceiling (EP)
3/13 - Sha Davis - Songs I Wrote When You Left (EP)
3/13 - The Losing Touch - "Through the Night" (single)
3/13 - Gerry Gareau - Feet Off The Brakes (EP)
3/13 - Ayla Brook and the Sound Men - Desolation Sounds (LP)
3/13 - The Academy of Sun - "The Parts That Need Replacing" (single)
3/18 - Marco Bonvicini - Colors (EP) 3/20 - Matt Wilson and His Orchestra - When I Was a Writer (LP) 3/20 - Chris Moyse - Bitter Ballads and Cynical Prayers (LP)
3/20 - Samuel Boller - Kingdom of the Sun (LP) 3/20 - The Blam Blams - "Isabella" (single) 3/20 - Jon Hassell - Vernal Equinox (reissue) (LP)
3/27 - Mayflower Madame - "Swallow" (single) 3/27 - Alienbaby Collective - F I S H B O W L / T E R R E S T R I A L (Double EP) 3/27 - Mairena - "Weird All the Time" (single) 3/27 - Lucille - Come on,Fly (LP)
3/27 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "Money" (single)
3/27 - Ben Reel - The Nashville Calling (LP)
3/27 - 100 Mile House - Love and Leave You (LP)4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP) 3/27 - Watermelon Slim - Traveling Man (Double Live LP)
3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP)
3/?? - Harry Stafford - Gothic Urban Blues (LP) 4/01? - Ten Penny Gypsy - Fugitive Heart (LP)
4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (LP)
4/03 - Stumbleine - Sink Into the Ether (LP)
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)
4/13 - Pilotcan - No More Shan Goodbye (LP) 4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)
4/16 - Destijl - Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (LP)
4/17 - Aimee Stevens - "Hell is a Teenaged Girl" (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)
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)
6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)
6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)
7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)
I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG. So far, I have completed nine - January - September 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. JUST ADDED! August and September 2018 Playlists! E2TG January 2018 E2TG February 2018 E2TG March 2018 E2TG April 2018 E2TG May 2018 E2TG June 2018 E2TG July 2018 E2TG August 2018(NEW!) E2TG September 2018(NEW!) E2TG October 2018
Hey, it is Pledge Week at Nashville's All-Volunteer Community Radio Station, WXNA. I am thrilled to have a small part in this valuable community resource. WXNA recently announced that we are moving our studio early next year, so one of goals of this Fall's Pledge Drive is to raise funds to defray the cost of that move.
As always, WXNA can be heard at 101.5FM in Nashville (as I like to say, within the Briley Parkway loop) and it can be streamed anywhere at wxnafm.org or through the TuneIn app.
If you want to pledge your support, contact WXNA at 615-933-9962 or go on-line at wxnafm.org
I am happy to report that the inaugural Word No Music: A Reading was a huge success. It was well-received and a ton of fun. It is my intention to make it a recurring event into 2019. Look for an announcement of the next show, coming soon!
A busy weekend ahead. Tonight, a release show for the new Christmas single by E2TG favorite Ted Drozdowski at Dee's. Tomorrow, a morning of Pledge Drive fun at WXNA, including Double Shot with our Pledge Drive theme about "Our Favorite Producers".
Next week is Thanksgiving in the U.S. - so a short week of shuffles...
Now, we have our final shuffle of this week, and it is another good one! Let's go!
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) If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.
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.
SAVE THE DATE!!!!! Thursday, November 15, 2018 - We have a pretty cool event in the works. More to come! I can tell you this isn't really an E2TG event. It is connected to my novel, The Drift, and we have some super cool guests lined up. Announcement soon!
This week, many are learning (hopefully) that rhetoric has consequences and that elections matter. VOTE if you are tired of so-called leaders who incite violence through their words.
I took an unexpected day off yesterday - so no Wild Wednesday shuffle. I listened to some tunes but didn't get around to posting anything.
So, it's back to the "New Music Playlist" with a couple of first listens and some recent favorites. Let's go!
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) If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.
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.
SAVE THE DATE!!!!! Thursday, November 15, 2018 - We have a pretty cool event in the works. More to come! I can tell you this isn't really an E2TG event. It is connected to my novel, The Drift, and we have some super cool guests lined up. Announcement soon!
It is Tuesday. We are marching toward the end of the month and toward election day. I honestly go back and forth between hope and despair. Mostly, I have a great sadness for this divisiveness of these times. This an issue that has been brewing for years, but it has reached critical mass. I think the 24 hour news cycle and social media and extremism are all part and parcel of the problem, but ultimately it is the collective "US" that owns the majority of the responsibility. Collectively, we have the power to reject what is happening. It is us that fall for the Russian interference that share and post - unreliable "news" stories - that watch highly partisan "news" programs that merely provide confirmation for our beliefs. It is "US" that disapproves of Congress but keeps re-electing the most egregious members again and again.
The problem is that "We the People" have shirked our responsibilities. Voting rates have been shamefully low, we allow ourselves to be distracted from the things that matter by manufactured divisive "issues" created by special interests who pay off the politicians we keep re-electing. The problem isn't "conservatives or liberals" - there is room in this country for all sides of the political prism. We don't seek out common ground as a place to begin to hear and see one another. And neither do our elected officials.
I wish I had solutions and the power to carry out those solutions, but I don't. The fact is, though, no matter the outcome of the mid-term elections (and I know the outcome I want), the fundamental problems of our society will still exist. And until, we find a way to deal with those issues, our democracy will continue to be in danger. Practically, I think ending Citizen's United is the most important first step. Then, comprehensive campaign finance reform.
I wish our country had a history of more than two parties. I think the binary notion of beliefs is so limiting for us. Not every one who votes "Blue" or who votes "Red" believes all of the same things. Unfortunately, until changes are made, a third party candidate will only steal votes from the "side" that they most closely fit. A strong left-leaning third party will split the "blue" vote and a strong right-leaning third party will split the "red" vote. "Blue or Red" should not be the only choices but until something vital changes in our systems, that is the reality.
For the reasons I enumerated yesterday, I plan to vote straight blue. Not because I think the Democrats are perfect or that they 100% represent my values. For the alternative has become toxic. There was a time when I would have considered voting for a moderate right-leaning candidate if the left-leaning candidate was not favorable to me. But, not this time. Not even a slight hesitation.
Music though! We have a cool, diverse mix of songs to carry us through another day....
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.
I was trying to write my thoughts about yesterday, but I was having trouble verbalizing...
I believe women (and men) who say they were sexually assaulted. Do false accusations happen? Absolutely. Do those false accusations cause me to disbelieve the next victim who comes forward? Absolutely not. Should someone be convicted and jailed based solely on the word of a victim. Of course not. Should the matter be investigated? Absolutely.
Should someone be handed a lifetime appointment with accusations hanging over them without an investigation? Absolutely not.
The most disturbing thing of all is seeing the fundamental lack of basic humanity on display in Congress and in my Facebook feed. It is one thing to support the nomination and entirely another to shame and attack the woman who made the accusation. Those who support the nominee and believe him to be innocent should be the ones screaming the loudest for an investigation - but they are not.
Bottom line, the behavior of the nominee in yesterday's hearing should be disqualifying regardless of the veracity of the claims against him.
And the other thing... I am a huge proponent of laughter and humor as an antidote for stressful times, and I have had some humorous thoughts pop into my head over this current stress. But, I have chosen not to post these jokes - even jokes I think of as harmless or with no bad intention. For the record, "spin the bottle" and writing notes to ask a classmate if they like you or not - have nothing at all to do with sexual assault or rape. NOTHING.
Bottom line, to anyone reading this who has been a victim of sexual abuse or rape, I stand with you. I hear you. I believe you.
Okay - I still believe music heals so let's get to the music.....
