E2TG 7/7/2021 - Mid-Week Sick Day - Beyond Tomorrow Mix (Dignify Me Remix)

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I was under the weather yesterday, so we have to double-up on the Featured Friday Playlist recap...

Featured Friday Playlist Recap (part 3 & 4) (songs 22-28 and 29-35):

22. "Siege" by Bob Lord

From Playland Arcade, the solo debut of Dreadnaught bassist and co-founder Bob Lord. An interesting collection of music - I dig it.

23. "Animals" by Billycock

Always good to have some punk rock in the Playlist - this is a track from the recent EP by a band from Italy that formed in early 2018.  Cool stuff. 

24. "Dark Pockets" by Dead Slow Hoot

UK dark indie band from their new EP, A Kinder Kind.  

25. "California" by Mermaid Avenue

An Australian indie/country band with a track from their forthcoming Sugartown album - a lovely song. 

26. "Love Found A Way" by John Leslie Hulcombe

Staying in Australia - we have pop/rock/folk singer-songwriter with his latest single. 

27. "Safe from Harm (There's No Need to Be Afraid)" by Ragsy

Next up, a Welsh singer-songwriter who was just added to a playlist by Tom Jones - almost as cool as being added to the E2TG playlist. ;-)  Great track.

28. "Green Wave" by Joel Tyler Wall

Next, we have the title track from the solo debut from 1/2 of the duo Diamond Hands. 

29. "Vagabond Blood" by Mark J. Lee

Next, we have a UK based singer songwriter whose influences include Townes Van Zandt and Kurt Vonnegut. 

30. "When the World Wakes Up" by Tachys

Next, we have the debut single from this Danish duo.

31. "Done/Undone" by Milquetoast and Co.

Next up, we have the new single from this Denver based sextet whose musical style combines widely varied influences in an interesting way. 

32. "Glitter and the Gold" by ZOLA

Next up, a wonderful track from this San Francisco based artist. The lyrics reflect what I think a lot of musical artists go through trying to sell their art which is themselves. 

33. "Lovers In A Dangerous Time" by Soft Riot

Next up, we have a stunning take on Bruce Cockburn's song by this Glasgow-based Canadian synth band. One of two new covers of songs by Canadian artists. 

34. "Take Me Home" by WOLFF & Co.

Next up, we have a new single from this relatively new country-rock band that formed in Nashville. 

35. "Idéal Doki-Doki - 理想的ドキドキ" by MOODOÏD (feat. Miho Hatori)

And we end with a collaboration between a French artist and a Japanese singer-songwriter.  A really stunning a song, and a great way to close us out for the week. 

         

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/14/2020 - 9 Years - With Tongues Mix (Moving Faster Remix)

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So, since I realized that this week (tomorrow actually) marks the ninth anniversary of E2TG, I have been thinking quite a bit about the blog, how it started, how things have changed, where I am now, and where I see things going.

Without a doubt, E2TG has changed my life. So many important people in my life today are only there because I started writing E2TG in May 2011. Some of them may not even know that E2TG is the reason we know each other - but it is.

I have been getting some memories on Facebook and Instagram about my visit to the Cash Cabin on May 13, 2015.  That would never have happened if it was not for E2TG. I likely would not be a DJ on WXNA if not for E2TG.

It all started because I had been making daily posts on Facebook with my morning shuffle - usually three or four songs that I listened to on my walk from the parking lot to my office. I had been doing that for at least a year, and I started adding some commentary. Someone, suggested a do something more than just social media posts and that something became E2TG. A big change was that I suddenly had a reason and motivation to start seeking out new music.  At first, obviously, no one knew who I was and so no one was sending me music - that took time - so I went out and found bands that were following me on Twitter.

Pretty early on, I began thinking of any band or artist that I featured as part of the E2TG "family". Sometimes they didn't know they were part of this family and sometimes they might not have cared, but I did.

At that point in my life, I didn't go out to shows much and I was out of touch with a lot of local music, and then I made some friends from the New York and New Jersey area and suddenly a large percentage of the music I wrote about was from those two Northeastern States. It was kind of funny, but kind of cool - then came Connecticut. Of course eventually, I got in touch with Nashville's incredible community, but the Northeastern influence is still alive and well.

Honestly, I didn't have a master plan when I created E2TG, and I still tend to just go where the muse and the shuffle function take me. I always wish for more time and sometimes I really want to give more attention to an artist or album than I do, and sometimes, I miss opportunities. But, it is just what it is, and for every missed opportunity there have been so many blessings to come my way.  I use the word blessing because that is what it feels like. I don't necessarily assign any specific theological meaning to the term nor I know what it all means.

About the E2TG avatar.

This was a drawing I did for a novel I was (and still am writing).  I did a few drawings (I originally envisioned a multi-media book), but this one - it is supposed to be a self-portrait of a character named Kevin who is an artist - is the only one that stuck.  At some point, I used this as my profile pic on-line and when I needed an image for E2TG I just grabbed this one because it was handy.  So, yeah. I don't fancy myself any sort of visual artist, but I always kind of dug this drawling. 

As for the future... it is unwritten. Now more than ever, there is a lot of uncertainty. I know some of the people I have grown to know and love are hurting financially and missing playing shows, and I and missing going to shows and seeing friends. So, I will just keep going until I stop. For today, I am not stopping. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/6/2020 - Featured Friday - Power to the People Mix (Evermore Remix)

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Shelter From the Storm:

Last night's show at Dee's in Madison was so beautiful. I believe a ton of money was raised, the music was so impressively Nashville, a huge turn out. For me, it was my first time reconnecting my community since Tuesday morning's storm - and so many of them were there. It seemed like I couldn't turn around or turn a corner without seeing someone new. It is one thing to see a Facebook post saying someone was okay, but it was something else to see those people in the flesh and to hug them.

I honestly don't have much to say about the music - everything I heard was phenomenal and I know I probably missed more than I saw - there were so many people to hug and talk to. It was appropriate that Jon Latham acted as emcee. Not many have his ability to engage a crowd and not many can appreciate the significance of each of the musical guests.

Big thanks to Brian Wright, Sally Jaye, and Cafe Rooster Records for making this happen. Thanks to everyone for all of the hugs and kindness. And thanks to Dee's and their staff for being awesome.

I think it is important to say - even those of us who were minimally or only indirectly affected by the devastation are dealing with shock and loss. I am reminded of something I heard about the circles of grief.  Basically (and simplified), it would be in appropriate for me to unburden my feelings about this tragedy with someone who suffered a significant and tangible loss due to the storm, but it is not only okay but important for me to talk to someone who was affected in the same way or less than I was affected.  I don't know if I explained that well, but what I am trying to say is that I have no doubt that this disaster has affected me, and it is unhealthy for me to feel guilty for having those feelings.

    Featured Friday Playlist

It is time to unveil this week's E2TG Featured Friday playlist:

• The much anticipated first song from Brian Wright and the Sneakups forthcoming Lapse of Luxury album - "Patrick's Crossing" is a great song. 
• New music from Nashville's Mary Bragg

• Our first taste of Candlelight Blue by Zografi Music. We have featured Paul Zografi's music before - for this new release he enlists the help of some musician friends to present his songs. Long time E2TG favorites Drew Kohl and Kiely Connell are among the talented players

• The new single from long-time E2TG favorite Strange Majik (aka David from The Dead Exs - for really long-time E2TG readers)
• A track from the newly released album from another long-time E2TG favorite Dean Fields

• More new music from local favorites: Kristen Englenz, Caleb Caudle, and Sad Baxter

• New E2TG submissions from Iron Mike Norton, 100 Mile House, Broads (with Millie Hirst). The Mystery Plan, Tiny Fighter, and African Head Charge.

Check it out below:

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Ruptured Spleen Mix

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Guess what!  It's Wednesday - time to get wild...

I am a little short on time - so let's go!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - I Know Better Mix

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I had the chance to catch Martin Scorsese's new film Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story last night at the Belcourt - Nashville being one of 10 or 11 cities hosting this one-night only big screen showing.  The film debuts on Netflix today. I highly recommend it even if you are casual Bob Dylan fan. It is a remarkable bit of film making and some magical moments captured from the Rolling Thunder Revue tour.  I won't say any more, and I recommend against reading too much about the film before you see it.

I will say that members of the theater audience applauded several times following live performances and also laughed out loud on more than one occasion.

Today, I have an opportunity to cover a show at City Winery and to write a review. It has been a minute since I have done a formal live review - so look for that soon.


On to another "Wild Wednesday" shuffle. I think this one lives up to the name...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Love in Winter Mix

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For your holiday shopping: The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)


Back from the extended holiday.  I listened to my Music City Monday Spotify playlist on my drive, and it made a great travel companion.  Check it out here and follow if you like.  It is a continuous work-in-progress with new music added regularly.  LISTEN HERE


It is Tuesday, and time for Trending Tuesday - where we explore a sampling of some of the newish music to come to E2TG.  Let's shuffle!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - AndaBuckNStuffToYouAsWell 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!)


Life sure is crazy.  I feel like I am constantly busy and never seem to get anything done.  I did manage to get some music added to my "New Music" playlist. Some of that new music shows up today - along with some older stuff - because this is Wednesday - which we call "Wild Wednesday"  It's a shuffle of all 2,500+ songs stored on my phone memory card. 

I am desperately trying to get things done this week because next week is Americana Fest week, and I know from experience I don't get much done that week.  More on that later.