E2TG 3/22/2022 - Windy Day - Lost in Your Eyes Mix (Tequila Moon Remix)

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Today's Ear to the Ground radio show is up on the archive at wxnafm.org. 

Here is the DIRECT LINK TO THE SHOW

6:00am Sonny Boy by Owsley on Owsley (Giant)

6:01am Swamp Sistas Cosmic Drifter (feat. E-Turn) by Beth McKee on Swamp Sistas Cosmic Drifter (feat. E-Turn) – Single (Swampgirl Music)

6:06am Getaway (feat. Dwan Bosman) by Morgan Bosman on Getaway – Single (feat. Dwan Bosman) – Single (Morgan Bosman)

6:08am Biggest Little Secret by Amber Woodhouse x Wilderwater on Single (Amber Woodhouse Music)

6:14am What We’ve Learned to Live With by Andrew Weiss and Friends on Single (Revive Records LLC)

6:17am Paper Napkins by Todd Farrell Jr. on Birds On Benches (Independent)

6:21am Alabama Is a Winding Road by Jefferson Ross on Southern Currency (Deep Fried Discs)

6:25am Never Coming Back by John Doe on Fables in a Foreign Land (Fat Possum)

6:31am For Peat’s Sake by Dillon Vanders on For Peat’s Sake – Single (1297162 Records DK)

6:34am Don’t Mess with My Heart by Tim Gartland on Truth (Tim Gartland)

6:38am She’s Cold by The Bear and The Bison on She’s Cold – Single (Vagabonds Tune Records)

6:41am Change by Elkyn on Holy Spirit Social Club (Tambourine Machine Records)

6:46am Metal Phase by Good Grief on Shake Your Faith (Everything Sucks Music)

6:49am Headless Emperor by Palm Ghosts on Dead Stars – EP (Ice Queen Records)

6:52am Happy Yet by Bleeding Hearts on Riches To Rags (Bar/None Records)

6:56am Fluctuations by Rodney Cromwell on Memory Box (Happy Robots Records)

Don't forget to check out this week's Featured Friday Playlist if you haven't. 

Today's shuffle is after the jump...

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 11/9/2021 - Tuesday is Today - Power from Below Mix (Mad Smiles Remix)

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The archive for today's Ear to the Ground radio show is not yet available, but here is the playlist:

6:02am Sonny Boy by Owsley on Owsley (Giant)

6:02am Thank God They Closed the Honky Tonks (feat. Timbo) by Mick Mullin on Mullin’ It Over (Mick Mullin)

6:05am Room To Breathe by Zach Russell on In Between – EP (Oso Amarillo Records)

6:10am Out of the Ether by Golden and Rust on Golden and Rust (Golden and Rust)

6:15am Blue, Blue, Blue by Noel McKay on Blue Blue Blue (Noel McKay)

6:19am Smoke and Mirrors by Stash on Stash (Walk the Walk) (Ted Russell Kamp / PoMo Records)

6:23am Walk to the River (feat. Hannah Halford) by Jeffrey Halford and The Healers on Walk to the River (feat. Hannah Halford) – Single (Floating Records)

6:30am ROMP Theme by Tramp on ROMP Theme – Single (Tramp Camp)

6:31am Klara Stjärnor by Georg Nielsen on Klara Stjärnor – Single (Georg Nielsen)

6:32am Wash by Calexico on Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors (Fort Lowell Records)

6:35am False Positive by The Acharis on Blue Sky / Grey Heaven (Zum)

6:39am Walk in the Park by Inca Babies on Walk in the Park – Single (Black Lagoon Records)

6:45am Memory Box by Rodney Cromwell on Memory Box – Single (Happy Robots Records)

6:48am Never Less Than Lonely by Lusitanian Ghosts on Never Less Than Lonely – EP (European Phonographic)

6:51am Hammered in an Airport by Spray on AnalogueTrash: Label Sampler, Vol. 5 (AnalogueTrash Records)

6:56am Nagu by Sam Redmore on Nagu – Single (Jalapeno Records)

Reminder - please check out this week's Featured Friday Playlist... 

Today's shuffle is below the jump. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 6/8/2021 - Bustin' Out - Head Shot Mix (Smoko Remix)

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It's funny in a way... some thoughts as things begin to reopen... 

In the midst of the shutdowns and lockdowns, I am pretty sure at some point, I made the emotional declaration that if I got another chance, I would never miss another show (or some version of that) and that I would push through my anxiety and go to new, unknown places. 

I have loved the opportunities to get out and see live music, but it still remains a delicate balance. There is too much going on - even already - to do it all - plus my introvert energy gets used up so easily and recharge time is vital.  Also my anxiety about new, unknown places did not magically go away over the pandemic and in fact - there are new anxieties because everything is new and unknown - at least until it is not. 

So, while I hope to make some improvements - the fact is I will still work hard to strike the right balance, sometimes feel guilty about missing some shows, and forever be grateful for the ones I am able to see. 

Featured Friday Playlist recap - Part 3 (songs 19-25):

19. "Time After Time" by Steven Faulkner

First up today, we have the recent single from UK artist Steven Faulkner.

20. "Fantastic Company" by My Name is Ian

Next up, we have the long awaited new album from Welsh band My Name is Ian. This is the title track from that release which took two years to produce. 

21. "One Woman Man" by The Stars of Disaster

Next up, we have the emotionally powerful new single from Pittsburgh's The Stars of Disaster.  The new album, In the Trough of the Wave, is set for release this Friday. 

22. "Prey" by Javi Paton

I am just going to be honest, and I don't know how I was introduced to this music, and I don't know a whole lot about the artist. But, it is pretty cool. 

23. "If It Makes You Happy" by Rid of Me

Next up, we have a nifty cover of the Sheryl Crow hit from this Philadelphia noise-punk band. 

24. "Grace" by 4 Minutes Later

The story of this band began is 2018 with a tweet promising music coming soon. There were no band members listed, no band images, no tour dates, and no location. Just the promise - which captured a lot of attention. Then the music did come, but the band remained anonymous. With a planned tour postponed, it looks like 2021 will be the year that the band reveal themselves - but first we have this new single - which sound fantastic.

25. "Face On the Rail Line" by The Catenary Wires

And, we close this segment of music with a brand single from the iconic UK indie-pop band from their forthcoming Birling Gap album which is due out June 18. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 4/14/2021 - Check-in - Subtle Mix (Annihilation Remix)

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We continue on with our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist - songs 22-27:

22. "All I'm About" by Arden Lanes

First up today, we have a track from the debut release by this Seattle band which whose members bring a wealth of experience and an impressive lineage. A great way to open this segment of music.

23. "Here's To the Down & Out" by Steven Faulkner

Next up, we have the recent single from this UK based singer-songwriter who often deals with topical issues. 

24. "Sugar Bones" by Cameron Alexander

Next up, we have the latest single from this singer-songwriter from Perth, Western Australia and his band. A great sounding song.

25. "Tumbleweed" by Harri Larkin

Next up, we have a new track - the second single from a couple of EPs which are being released in front of the UK band's upcoming full-length debut. 

26. "Perch Privileges" by Nature's Neighbor

Our second track to feature from this Chicago based indie alternative band is an excellent pandemic song. 

27. "just friends" by kidgloves

And we close this segment of music with the 4th single from this emerging L.A. based artist.  Great stuff. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 8/05/2020 - Mid-week Blues and Greens - The Eye Openeth Mix (Memphis Remix)

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We have reached the mid-point of this work week. We are well into August. Here in Nashville, COVID-19 stats are improving, but for some reason this makes me anxious - because I fear that the increased precautions we have been in recent weeks (with some high-profile exceptions) will start slacking off and we will then see a resurgence, but I guess time will tell.  For me, it seems like it will be status quo for some time. 

There are things that excite and please me. There has been quite a bit new music released this year so far, and much of it is excellent.  Just looking back at the year so far at E2TG is evidence of that, but even outside the scope of this blog - there is a lot to be excited about. 

I also see many artists and venues being creative in dealing with the new reality, and I hope this continues. It will take thinking out side of the box to keep things going. 

I am excited about the state of activism - especially among the young - my hope is that even in a deep red state like Tennessee, the next generation of voters can help turn the tide. I have seen some demographics that bare out this hope. I hope we call find a sustainable way to keep up the fight for justice and human rights for all people. 

The November election fills me with equal parts hope and dread. I am not sure what I am going to do to survive election night... 

Finally, before we turn back to the music, a word about Spotify.  I join many in condemning the recent comments by the CEO of Spotify - his words were tone deaf and harmful. I have said this before, I held off a long-time before using Spotify extensively for this blog. I do think the platform is currently the best way to share music and a great way to discover music - if you know how - otherwise, you are just a tool of the machine.  Nevertheless, the platforms business model does not support independent artists well at all. 

I will once again say, if want to support musicians - you can like and follow and save etc on Spotify, but also buy physical copies and merch and tip at virtual or (when possible) at live shows. Help spread the word and encourage your fellow music lovers to support artists in a meaningful way.  

Buy through Bandcamp on the first Friday of every month when the waive fees. 

Time for today's recap of our weekly Featured Friday Playlist - today, we have a good one, songs 18-22:

18. "Adrenaline" by Above Snakes

Out of the gate, today, we have some hard hitting metal - a single ahead of the forthcoming debut EP by this Boston based band. I am not that familiar with all the genres listed in the e-mail, I got about this - the danger of having wide-open musical tastes I guess, but this sounds great and like I said, it hits hard. 

19. "Mafitishei" by shishi

Here at E2TG, we cover all kinds of music from all over the world. Today, we have a fantastic track - our first listen to this surf/punk/whatever band from Lithuania. Seriously, I really love this track. It is the title track to their recent album. 

20. "If I Were a Dinosaur" by Arlan Feiles

A shuffle with some New Orleans flavored piano.  Feiles is based in New Jersey - by way of Miami and Los Angeles. This is a track from his recent album What Kind of World?  I am very happy to have this song in our playlist. 

21. "Do You Want to Buy a Guitar" by Bob Nanna

Bob Nanna (Braid, Hey Mercedes, The City on Film, Lifted Bells) with a track from his recently released Celebrations States album - his debut full-length under this new name. The album - all-acoustic - was recorded all on September 7, 2019 on what would have been his wedding anniversary.  It is a highly personal album, and I highly recommend you give it I listen. 

22. "Exploding Head" by R.E. Seraphin

We close out this segment of music with another debut under a new moniker. R.E. (Ray) Seraphin recently returned to his Bay Area hometown after having lived in Austin. He recruited some local musicians - included the bass player of Neutrals - who we have featured before. Seraphin was previously of the band Talkies.  The music here has elements of paisley pop and post-punk, and it is truly a great sound. Check it out. 

Tomorrow we wrap up our recap with songs 23-27...  
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/20/2020 - Mid-Week Quarantine Blues - Hello Mix (Lyrical Therapy Remix)

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The week's press on, and even though I support the need for continued precautions and shutdowns and social distancing, that doesn't mean that all of this isn't weighing on me. 

I miss seeing live music, and I am not sure when it will be possible or reasonable to see it again. I miss hanging with my friends. I really want to visit my Mom.

We are approaching a three-day weekend, and I don't really have any plans - which in and off itself isn't that unusual. But, I won't be going to The 5 Spot on Friday night, and I won't be driving to Georgia to visit my Mom and we won't be going out to eat. This is not a rant or even a complaint - just an acknowledgment of the reality. 

I will be doing a live Greeting from Nashville tomorrow and a live Double Shot on Saturday. Plus, I will be recording next week's Double Shot on Sunday. Precautions and protocols will be followed for all of those. And it is a pain, but it is necessary.

One final thought, I sometimes hear people who are pushing for reopening or resisting taking any precautions at all, say that it is only dangerous to the elderly or those with preexisting health conditions. First of all, that is not 100% true (some people have died who were not elderly and who did not have any known preexisting health conditions), but even it were true, I still don't understand that argument. Are they saying that the lives of the elderly or those with certain health conditions are worth less than their inconvenience? Or that otherwise healthy and asymptomatic people can transmit the virus to those who may be at risk. 

Finally, when you see numbers of deaths or hospitalizations, even though the numbers may look "not bad, considering..." (as some people have said), each number represents a husband or parent or child or sibling or friend to someone. I know people who contracted the virus and were very sick, and I know people who have lost love ones. My inconvenience is not more important than those lives.

Okay, really finally, if you decide to share information on social media, make sure it is accurate and up-to-date.  There are reliable sources out there - better than an out-of-context YouTube clip or a clickbait headline article from a questionable outlet. In Nashville, asafenashville.org is a good way to track what is going on here and what the current recommendations are for members of this society.

    Featured Friday Playlist