Tune in tomorrow morning at 6am on WXNA wxnafm.org or 101.5FM in Nashville to hear a special edition of Greetings from Nashville - as we celebrate Nashville legend Mac Gayden and his work as a songwriter, producer, band member, session musician, and solo artist.
A long daily shuffle follows - after the jump below.
So, this will be my last post of the week. With taking some time off and holidays in the coming weeks, I am probably going to put the Featured Friday Playlist on hold until the first of the year - when I will likely have a pretty big playlist to "catch up". In the meantime, I will continue posting shuffles whenever I am able, and I will begin working on some Christmas playlists and seeing what sense I can make out of this year for some year-end wrap up posts.
Stay Tuned.
In the meantime, give this week's Playlist a spin, and checkout today's Shuffle after the jump.
I am still trying to get my bearings after a whirlwind week and weekend and jumping into this week with both feet in the fire (to mix at least two metaphors).
Thinking a lot about the state of the world and the state of our nation and how the last three years have been so exhausting and demoralizing. The evil of one person or even a group of people does not surprise me. I know that evil exists in this world, but what has been so disheartening is the large number of people who have supported and enabled this evil.
I wrote in this space for a while about everything that was going on, and then I stopped. I am not sure if I can articulate why I stopped. Maybe it was that I felt I was preaching to the choir. I think for a time I thought that some people just weren't aware of what was happening. That their were white supremacists in the highest levels of the government, that the people in charge of protecting our most precious resources (people and the environment etc.) were hell-bent on destroying what they were supposed to protect.
I have come to accept that their are a significant number of people who know exactly what is going on and either support these cruel policies or choose to ignore them. And that is what has been so disheartening. I still maintain that their is a place for healthy debate on conservative vs. progressive viewpoints. But the fight we have today is not conservative vs. progressive or Democrat vs. Republican. It is a fight for the heart of our country - for our existence as a democracy against the rising tide of totalitarianism.
To be honest, the Democratic Presidential nomination process has been especially disheartening. At a time, when we should be single-minded in our goal - we are divided. People are treating candidates as if they are on equal footing with the current occupant of the White House. That is not the case.
The purpose of the primaries and the caucuses should be to find our best candidate. If you support one candidate over the others, tell me why. Convince me, but do it without tearing down the other candidates. One of this field will be the Democratic nominee and whether that person is our choice or not, we have to be committed to getting that person elected.
I do not claim to know whether we need the most progressive person or the most centrists. Certainly, there are no end of people who seem to know. Fine. Convince all of us. For the LGTBQ+ community, for communities of color, for the disabled, women - this election matters and is a matter of life and death. Act like it, vote like it.
On another note:
I am gearing up for the 2nd episode of Greetings from Nashville - my new morning show on WXNA. It will air tomorrow morning at 6AM on WXNA 101.5FM and wxnafm.org. If you miss the live broadcast, the show will be available on the archive shortly after 7AM. Here is a sneak peak at part of the show!
Featured Friday Playlist
Wednesday Morning Shuffle:
Another fun and eclectic shuffle today....
"Ain't No Right Way (To Do the Wrong Thing)" by John Rey-Reed (from Learnin' to Drive the Truck)
"The Next Tear" by James Scott Bullard (from Full Tilt Boogie)
"Dreamer" by Tim Henderson (from The Legacy Collection Volume 5: Songs of Protest)
A song dedicated to Martin Luther King - from the late, Kerrville New Folk award winner.
"Bake My Beans" by Brock Zeman (from Hey Tom)
Our old friend Brock Zeman - covering our old friend Tom House - from the recently released tribute album. In addition to Brock Zeman and his long-time musical compatriot Blair Hogan - this album also features cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne - who we met through some of our more experimental Canadian artists.
"I Can't Feel It Anymore" by Tombstones in Their Eyes (from Maybe Someday)
"Fanny Sketch" by Ty Segall (from Fanny)
From the EP by Ty Segall about his dog.
"Perfectly Imperfect" by Ten Penny Gypsy (from Ten Penny Gyspy)
"Second Wind" by John Dennis (from Second Wind)
As we continue to feature Mortal Flame, we go back and pick up the title track from his previous release.
"Werewolves of London" by Flamin' Groovies (from At Full Speed - Complete Sire Recordingws 1976-79)
A 1979 cover of the 1978 Warren Zevon hit.
"Turquoise and Silver (Reprise)" by Davis Raines (from Turquoise and Silver)
A brief reprise of the title track to the new album from the celebrated Nashville songwriter.
"Sweet Georgia Brown" by Johnny Gimble (feat. Merle Haggard) (from Celebrating With Friends)
We close with the late legendary Western Swing fiddle player - joined by Merle Haggard on a 2010 recording of the 1925 jazz standard.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 1/07 - The Singing Butcher - "Top 40" (single) 1/08 - Luis Mojica- Shaman Food (LP) 1/10 - Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Mary Bragg and Drivin' N Cryin' - "Don't Walk Away" (cover) (single) 1/10 - Them Airs - "Food Pyramid" (single) 1/10 - Lilly Hiatt - "Brightest Star" (single) 1/10 - Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) (E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Dean Fields - "Armadillo" (single) 1/10- Chicago Farmer - "All in One Place" (single) 1/10 - RB Morris - Going Back to the Sky (LP) 1/10 - Guided By Voices - "Volcano" (single) 1/10 - Sunshine Boys - "Infinity Girl" (single) 1/11 - Dolour (Shane Tutmarc) - "The Snake Eye" (single) 1/12 - Francesco Mariano - "Nine Lives" (single) 1/13 - Lauren Anderson - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (cover) (single) 1/14 - Drive-By Truckers - "Thoughts and Prayers" (single) 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) 1/19 - 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 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single) 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)
2/14 - 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)
2/16 - Kas Havoc - "Light'em Up" (single)
2/18 - David J - "I Only Hear Silence Now" (single) 2/19 - Paisley Fields - "Ride Me Cowboy" (single)
This Week:
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) Upcoming:
2/22 - Charlotte Eagle Sings - Embracing the Old Ways (LP)
2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP) 2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP) 2/28 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)
2/29 - Jimmy Who and the Night Creatures - Tinker's Blues (EP)
3/?? - Strange Majik - 20/20 (LP)
3/04 - Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - Chameleon (LP) 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)
3/09 - 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)
3/18 - 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)3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP)
3/20 - Jon Hassell - Vernal Equinox (reissue) (LP)
3/20 - Kid Be Kid - Lovely Genders (EP)3/27 - Mayflower Madame - Prepared for a Nightmare (LP) 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)4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP)
4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (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) 4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)
4/24 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart" (single)
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)
Just some observations. Once again, I was struck by the wealth and diversity of talent here in Nashville, and what a great city it is for someone who loves original live music. Adding to this feeling is knowing that there were people attending different events all over the city who were likely feeling the same thing.
Personally, I was struck by how much I have changed. I remembered going to shows in the early 1990s in Nashville. Back then, I always went to shows with a friend and never knew anyone else at those shows except for the friend with whom I attended the show. Now, I almost always go to shows alone and I always know other people.
My friends are pursuing their passions and dreams and muses the best they know how under exceedingly and increasingly difficult circumstances. And while, they sometimes express despair or frustration over circumstances, there is more often and sense of joy.
People who make their living by taking advantage of artists (or anyone for that matter) are the lowest.
Brian Wright and Sally Jaye's new project No. 1 Knife is fantastic. India Ramey is amazing. Taco Mouth is spectacular. Congrats to India Ramey on a wonderful residency that benefited some great organizations. If you don't know India Ramey, get to work on correcting that.
$2 Tuesday remains the best investment in the city. Week after week, Derek Hoke puts together an incredible show featuring local and touring artists and bands. Week after week, an interesting crowd gathers. Week after week, I get to hang out with friends and meet new people. Week after week, I am majorly tired on a Wednesday, but I have no complaints.
Featured Friday Playlist
Wednesday Shuffle:
A typically mixed bag of mid-week shuffle goodness. Spanning years and genres. Some old friends, some first listens, a great cover, and more...
"You've Got Some Nerve" by SNEW (from You've Got Some Nerve)
"Passion or Fashion" by Rusty Reid (from Head to Heart)
"I Work Alone" by Gary Daly (from Gone from Here)
From 2019 - a solo record by the China Crisis member.
"Comes Indiana Through the Smoke" by Okkervil River (from Away)
For Sue and Mark (and others) a song about Indiana. Got this from the 2016 edition of an annual mix CD put together by a friend from my hometown.
"Mack the Knife from The Threepenny Opera" by Nick Cave (from September Songs)
For Sue. Not Bobby Darin and not the McDonald's moon guy either, but Kurt Weill (not Vile) and Bertolt Brecht from The Threepenny Opera. September songs is the audio version of a documentary about Weill.
"There Will Always Be A Right Now" by Brock Zeman (from Rotten Teeth)
We recently featured Brock Zeman's album of Tom House songs. Here is one of his own songs from a favorite album of mine.
"The Spoils of Warring Hearts" by The Walla Recovery (from With Trembling...)
One of the earliest bands covered on E2TG (the 14th week of the blog they were our Band of the Week). They are/were from Dallas Texas and played cello rock music. It seems like most of the music these days is coming via member Zack Smith.
"When the Circus Came to Town" by Danny Sandock (from Breakin' New Ground)
A really wonderful song from our old friend Danny Sandock.
"Dinner With My Boss" by Karabas Barabas (from Degenerate National Anthem)
A first listen to the forthcoming (2/2/2020) album by the Brooklyn based absurbist rock band. Maybe offensive, maybe insightful, definitely funny and unique. Looking forwarding to digging deeper into this album.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 11/20 Brock Zeman - Hey Tom (a collection of Tom House Songs) (LP)(E2TG First Impression) 12/? - Lumiere Tales - Lunarium (LP) 12/1 - Inkraktare - We Are Not Really Here (LP) 12/2 - Terry Klein - Live at KOOP (LP) 12/6 - Beauty in Chaos & Wayne Hussey (The Mission) - "The Delicate Balance of All Things" (single) 12/6 - Beat Hotel - "Feel It" (single) 12/13 - 6TH CROWD - "Самозванцы (Samozvantsiy)" (single) 12/29 - Them Jones - "The Woman is a Poor Child" (single) 12/31 - Blackfoot Gypsies - Live at The Basement (LP) 1/06 - Francesco Mariano - "Room 107" (single) 1/08 - Luis Mojica- Shaman Food (LP) 1/10 - Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Mary Bragg and Drivin' N Cryin' - "Don't Walk Away" (cover) (single) 1/10 - Them Airs - "Food Pyramid" (single) 1/10 - Lilly Hiatt - "Brightest Star" (single) 1/10 - Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) (E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Dean Fields - "Armadillo" (single) 1/10- Chicago Farmer - "All in One Place" (single) 1/10 - Surrija - "Nothing Love" (single) 1/10 - RB Morris - Going Back to the Sky (LP) 1/10 - Guided By Voices - "Volcano" (single) 1/10 - Sunshine Boys - "Infinity Girl" (single) 1/11 - Dolour (Shane Tutmarc) - "The Snake Eye" (single) 1/12 - Francesco Mariano - "Nine Lives" (single) 1/13 - Lauren Anderson - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (cover) (single) 1/14 - Drive-By Truckers - "Thoughts and Prayers" (single) 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) 1/19 - Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/21 - Broads and Milly Hirst - "Happisburgh" (single) 1/22 - Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP) 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) 1/28 - Motihari Brigade - Power from Below (LP)
This Week: 1/31 - Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Daytime Highs and Overnight Lows (album) 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) 1/31 - Emma Hill - How Could I Have Been So Wrong (EP) 1/31 - Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (LP) 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) 2/01 - Glenn Jones - Ready for the Good Times (LP) Upcoming: 2/02 - Karabas Barabas - Degenerate National Anthem (LP) 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 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single) 2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP) 2/07 - HMS Morris - "Babanod" (single) 2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP) 2/14 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP) 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) 2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP) 2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP) 3/?? - Strange Majik - 20/20 (LP) 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) 3/13 - The Flatmates - The Flatmates (LP) 3/13 - Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ponyoak (20th Anniversary Edition) + BLP (demos and out-takes) (LP) 3/20 - Matt Wilson and His Orchestra - When I Was a Writer (LP) 3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP) 3/27 - Mayflower Madame - Prepared for a Nightmare (LP) 4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP) 4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)
Brock Zeman - Hey Tom (a collection of Tom House Songs) (LP) - Released 11/20/2019
A collection of songs written by E2TG Favorite Tom House and performed by E2TG favorite Brock Zeman. Zeman has produced Tom House, so this is not far-fetched, but I am digging what Zeman is doing with Tom's songs. In one of those weird E2TG coincidences, I noticed that Raphael Weinroth-Browne plays cello on the record. You may recall Weinroth-Browne from The Visit. We originally connected with in indirectly through Valued Customer, and I can honestly say I never expected such a direct line between Tom House and Ugggy and Pat Power, but then again, they are all wonderfully creative and weird. Frequent Zeman collaborator Blair Hogan is here. My first impression is that Zeman does Tom House's wonderful songs justice and gives them his own unique spin.
Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single) - Released 1/10/2020
Nashville band led by Joseph Lekkas and featuring E2TG Favorite Benjamin Douglas. Sounds unlike almost anything else happening in Nashville. This track really sounds like a 80s goth/new wave song that you just can't place, but you know you love. My first impression is that I cannot wait for the February 7th EP of the same name.
Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) - released 1/10/2020
Long-time E2TG favorite Strange Majik - aka David Pattillo (who we first met as part of the powerhouse The Dead-Exs), is back with a vengeance. This new single rocks hard and has a deep groove with some killer horns. This is from his forth-coming 20/20 album due in March. I've had a chance to preview the album, and the opening track rocks hard - while later tracks just go deeper into the groove. It is a sonicly diverse album with an underlying feel. At time it reminds me of World Party at their best, at other times, it harkens back to the initial Dead-Exs tracks I first heard - almost eight years ago. My first impression: it is great when early E2TG favorites keep doing great things.
Ubiquity Machine - Where We Want to Be (LP) - release date ??
It doesn't get much more "early E2TG" than Ubiquity Machine. The D.C. area band features Howard Rabach and Dan Marsh. Rabach was most likely the first person I didn't know who read E2TG (and I am talking about in the earliest and most embarassingly awkward days. I remember my initial first impression of Ubiquity Machine was that it sounded like a weird and wonderful mix of all the music I had ever loved growing up. I finally got to meet Howard Rabach in 2014 when he came to Nashville with The Grey A (he plays bass in that band). This is a compilation of sorts -a limited-edition vinyl release of many of Ubiquity Machine's great songs. It includes "A Beautiful Girl" which appeared on the first and so-far only E2TG compilation. My first impression is that I am glad to own this fine collection of music, and I know the effort that went into it, and I grateful for the first of many fine friendships I have forged by this silly music blog I write.
Them Airs - Union Suit XL (LP) - Released 1/17/2020
The latest release from New Haven's Them Airs. The band features Cade Williams who we first met via his experimental project Smokey the Firebear and Evan Nork (of the Foresters and all those other side-projects). Hayden Nork sometimes joins in. Digging the progression of this band since their last release. They seem to be really finding their voice as a band. The album is delightfully noisy at time. In other places, I hear the angular sound of early Talking Heads. My first impression is that it is fun following young and talented musicians and they explore possibilities and discover themselves through music. In my initial listen, I hear how some of the most experimental and challenging Smokey the Firebear pieces inform this new music, and I also hear other influences.
Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single) - Released 1/19/2020
Speaking of Hayden Nork. Merrill Beach is current solo project. He is and has been in a ton of bands. Batkhi Dahn is his band that features his brother Evan and their Foresters bandmate Luke Slomba (of Sonic Reducers). Digging on the moodiness of "Green" with some backwards vocals, a strumming guitar, and dream-like quality. "Marimba" starts with a groovy beat that sounds like it could be the intro to a really cool hip-hop song (I wonder if his brother Liam's work has inspired him), but the beat just continues. It is hypnotic. Their is some ambient noise. I can't tell if the beat varies or if it is my mind playing tricks on me. About two minutes in, and the sound does begin to vary. I do hear the title instrument. My first impression is that Hayden is doing some wild experimentation - musically - I won't speculate otherwise, And, having watched him from his days as a Green Day obsessed pre-teen to this has been a pleasure. I can't wait to see where he goes from here.
Time moves on... we are half way through the first month of 2019. I continue to be overwhelmed with a lack of free time + too many commitments + a need for quiet reflective time + anxiety + cool music events to go to + procrastination + existential crises + political and social upheaval + cat memes + social awkwardness +did I mention lack of free time? + money concerns + did I mention cat memes? + not knowing how to end a list of things that seems endless..... whew!
Breathe! I am right here, right now. I am doing what I am doing - which is writing this blog - and just for this moment, this is what I am supposed to be doing.
It is Wednesday and time to shuffle up all the songs saved to my phone memory card and see what comes out of it!
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.
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!
Overall, I'm just trying to mosey into 2018 (except for work, where I have been slammed). Last night, I had my first night out of the new year... of course, I was at The 5 Spot, where I saw East Nashville's favorite Pirate band, Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers. Mark Robinson joined them on-stage for one song, and sat in on part of another song from his barstool.
Next, week - E2TG dives fully into the new year, but for today, we have another "wild card" shuffle (from all the songs on my phone memory card).
I need to keep things brief. I need to run an errand. On my mind today is healthcare. First of all, the ACA or Obamacare. Do I think it is really, really wonderful? No. I would prefer single-payer. BUT, it is a vast improvement over what we had before, and there was simply not the political will to go further. It was a remarkable achievement that this bill even passed. Meanwhile, the GOP had seven years to work with President Obama to make the bill better. Instead, they spend their time on meaningless votes to repeal the law. They had seven years to come up with a plan of their own, and now, they have scrambled to come with something and what they came up with will have devastating consequences. Look, healthcare is complicated. I think everyone except the current President has long understood that, and I do not have all of the answers. I do know that when the most vulnerable members of our society are suffering while insurance executives are making exorbitant profits and salaries and using some of that money to influence elected officials to maintain their advantages, them we have a broken system. And I know that in the meantime, any plan that increases the burden on the poorest and most needy while increasing the profits of the richest and most greedy is contemptible.
It is Topical Tuesday. I think I have explained this thing enough - but i will just clarify once more that these songs connection to my "topic" is strictly the product of my weird way of thinking. I do realize that many of these songs are not at all about anything that would fit my topic. Again, it's just a weird mental trick - title, possible interpretation - unifying theme. Got it? Good.
Tonight - Smoky White Devils with the Mark Robinson Band at The 5 Spot early. After that - the choices are myriad and there is much to recommend.
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!
Well! Made it to the mid-point of the week. Being off Monday has thrown everything off for me...
Last night, I had a great night at The High Watt. Seeing Todd Farrell perform for the first time in I don't know how long - it was great to be reminded of what an incredible songwriter he is. Heard some old favorites plus some songs which will be on the next Benchmarks album whenever that comes out. Saw Arliss Nancy from Denver for the first time last night. Really dug their music and energy. Then, I got to catch the first part of Bill Eberle's set - same band as I saw at the Basement a few weeks back. Still awesome.
Then, I had to dart across the river to catch the last part of the Family Wash set of Sean Quinn and the Tremblers (featuring Jon Latham on guitar). Man these guys sounded so good. Kind of a power poppy vibe - think Big Star/ Beatles and and... Great songs - can't wait for the album!
Well - we have a pretty wild shuffle for a Wednesday. Note - I could not find several of the actual songs for the video playlist, but I made some strategic substitutions. Enjoy.
Derek Hoke's $2 Tuesdays at The 5 Spot continues to be one of the best weekly events around. And, it seems like Derek and company manage to somehow keep topping themselves. Case in point, last night.... First of all $2 admission, $2 Yazoo Drafts, a stellar line-up of local and touring artists and bands, Derek and the talented people who back him up, and the always on point DJ Tim Hibbs who spins vinyl all-night always with a theme.
Last night's night was jam packed with music from Adam Brick, Letitia VanSant, the amazing Boo Ray, Hoot and Holler, Rob Bondurant, Derek Hoke backed by Paul Niehaus, DJ Tim Hibbs spinning Dylan songs and covers for Bob Dylan's 75th Birthday. Pretty good for $2 right, but there was also a late act on the bill who happened to be Sadler Vaden who was in Drivin' N Cryin' and is perhaps best known these days as Jason Isbell's guitar player. Vaden is an amazing songwriter and performer and he completely killed it previewing songs from his upcoming album. He will be doing a full show tonight at The Basement East - part of one of those amazing Nashville nights that includes, R.B. Morris, Wild Ponies, Stone Cupid, a Travelling Wilbury's tribute at the FooBar, and a best of Jed's Open Mic night at The Country. Also in the mix is me getting to bed at a decent time... we will see how things play out...
