While it is still possible for Tennessee to have a couple more cold snaps, it is beginning to look and feel like spring here.
Programming note: I am moving this weekend so 1. I am taking the week off from Greetings from Nashville and 2. There will not be a new Featured Friday Playlist this week - hopefully all will return to normal next week.
Meanwhile, we have today's daily random shuffle - after the jump...
Featured Friday Playlist recap (part 3 - An odd week) (songs 21-25):
21. "New Lovers" by Unicorn Domination
First up, we have a new single from Portland's Unicorn Domination on the Spirit House label. Spirit House moved their operation from Portland to Gainesville, Florida back in January.
22. "5,000 Candles In the Wind (Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian)" by Mouse Rat
The Debut album by Pawnee, Indiana band Mouse Rat - is called The Awesome Album, and this is the lead track, and I have to say it is pretty darned awesome.
23. "Falling" by Mike Walsh
Next up, we have the new single from this singer-songwriter from London via Madrid.
24. "Millennial Nation" by Remain
Next up, we have the title track from the new album by Denton, Texas based rock band Remain.
25. "artificial light" by VOTEFORSAMMO
And, we close out this segment of our playlist with a track from a single from the forthcoming Cheaper Entertainment by 19 year old London-based songwriter, producer, and singer Sammy Hodder who records as VOTEFORSAMMO. A great song to close out this part of our playlist.
Well, my first show of Greetings from Nashville was this morning, and all went reasonably well. I few minor hiccups - but that is just the nature of live, community radio. If you missed it, it is now archived and you can see the playlist Here.
The second installment of Decline of Southern Civilization was last night at The 5 Spot. Due to having to get up very early this morning, I was only able to fully catch Slump Test (and Shakes vagina monologue - don't ask). Slump Test this week included our old friend Drew Kohl (who is also in Chris Watts' new band Dirt Reynolds). Plus, they brought in the Nashville Horns and another old friend Tom Schrek (playing keyboards) on a couple of songs. I am really digging this band.
Featured Friday Playlist Check out this week's playlist before it refreshes tomorrow early
Thursday Shuffle:
A short* and typically diverse playlist for a rainy Thursday Morning. *The drive from the station to work was shorter than my usual commute, plus I forgot to start the shuffle when I first left the station.
"Good Things Will Come" by Runner of the Woods (from Thirsty Valley)
Cajun influenced Nashville band with a wonderful song about reminiscing .
"Alabama Highway" by Steve Young (from Heartworn Highways - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
From the soundtrack to the definitive documentary on the early days of the "outlaw country" movement, a song by singer-songwriter Steve Young - whose best known song is "Seven Bridges Road".
"She's So Bad for You" by Flatmates (from Flatmates)
Our first listen to the forthcoming self-titled debut album by the UK indiepop pioneers. The band has released music in each decade since the 1980s, but until now (March 13th release date), they haven't made a full-length album. The video playlist features their first single which has been released. Great stuff!
"Good Friday" by Cowboy Junkies (from Live at Belly Up)
"Saphirr Bombs" by Inkraktare (from We Are Not Really Here)
We close this short set with a track from the recently released new album from Curve's Dean Garcia and Mark Walbridge.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 1/06 - Francesco Mariano - "Room 107" (single) 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 - 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) 1/17 - 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) This Week: 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)2/16 - Kas Havoc - "Light'em Up" (single)
Upcoming:
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)
2/22 - 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)3/13 - 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) 3/20 - 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) 3/27 - 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) 4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP)
4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (LP)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)
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP) 6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)
Beach Notes: 1/22/2020
Random musings.. I think that death often forces the still living to think about mortality and to ponder the vast questions of life. Or at least it does for me. For me, I have so many conflicting messages in my head - some put there by others so seem to have sprung fully formed from my own brain (but maybe they were consciously or subconsciously received from someone at some time).
Time is a struggle for me almost all the time. First of all, time is by its nature a finite resource. There are only 24 hours in a day and we all have an expiration date, though, we usually don't know when that is. So, everything we do or don't do is a choice to some degree. Granted sometimes those choices were made years ago and we are now living in those choices and so we may forget that it was a choice.
Conflict: Making good use of available time vs. the concept "we are human beings not human doings". What if I spend an hour or two watching an inane television show or flipping mindlessly through a social media site or playing some game on my phone or staring into space? I could have, should have, would have spent that time doing something "productive".
On a less esoteric level, for me, the issue is going out to shows vs. staying in and writing or listening to music that has been sent to me or... Never mind the almost nightly conflicts of what show to see out of many wonderful choices. I do better than I used to, but I do often feel some sense of failure or guilt over my choices. Especially, when certain friends' shows seem to always end up getting missed. It almost never a decision based on quality or worth. It can anything to location, time, my level of exhaustion, availability. It is just that sometimes, it feels like the same bands or people keep coming up on the wrong side of any one of those factors.
I remind myself that I am not obligated to do anything or to go anywhere, but the guilt/regret isn't really about obligation. It is about desire and relationships and... what else. I don't know.
Meanwhile, here I sit - into the third full week of 2020, with a ton of e-mails to review, a ton of story ideas to explore and research and write, a ton of music to listen to, an unfinished novel, a ton of great shows every single night, and I limited amount of energy to do anyone of those things - some of which is expended at a day job that demands attention and effort.
So, I can't answer why I went to this show but not that one, or why I went out this night but not that one or why I wrote about this album but not that one. I am not even sure if anyone is asking this questions other than me.
So, I DID go to The 5 Spot last night and spend somewhere around six hours hearing a ton of truly great music, catching up with some wonderful people, sharing bits of grief and stories about David Olney, laughing, talking, thinking... As for tonight, I don't know. There are things I want to do...
Meanwhile, I am not going to Folk Alliance - even though it was something I considered when the date and location were first announced. I would love to be there, AND I can't imagine my stress at all the things to be done if I were going. And, I am envious of people who can drop everything and go on a whim. But, those choices were made for me in the past, and for today, I don't know how to change them or even if I want to.
Beyond the doing and the choosing and the thinking and the guilt and the productivity and the idleness and the laziness and the need for escapism and the art and the commerce is the living. I am alive and I have work to do and I have rest that is needed and I have relationships to forge and others to cultivate, and I have only so much time and I waste so much time.
Seven years ago, May 2010, much of Nashville was under water. Heavy rains, some ill advised dam activity, and who knows what else had combined to create one of the worse floods in this cities history. The damage spread from the east side of town to the west and even affected downtown.
I had to work on the Monday following the end of rain, and at lunch time I took a walk - listening to music and took pictures. Cars and streets underwater. The tops of light poles barely sticking out of the water. I posted a note on Facebook about that walk and included the listing of songs I heard while I walked.
Nashville emerged from the flood stronger than ever, and many, many people have arrived here since that flood happened. Walking downtown, you'd never know it happened, but it did.
About one year later, I started writing Ear to the Ground. The two events are not really related, although both speak to my desire to share the music I hear and to relate that music to... whatever - the world, my life, my day...
Without any direct intent, this space has been a chronicle of my journey through this life - accompanied by the soundtrack. It's a simple concept, and every time I try to complicate it - as I inevitably do, I end up mucking things up... but so far, I have always pressed on.
Tonight, I wanted to express my gratitude for the people and the music who have kept E2TG going. It's going to be a month-long party, and you are invited. It all begins tonight around 6:00pm at The 5 Spot in East Nashville with featured music from Mark Robinson Band. Come on out!
I loaded a bunch of music into my phone last night - including about 450 songs for the new Topical Thursday Playlist which will premiere tomorrow. Today, the shuffle comes from all 2,000+ songs in my phone memory. It's what I like to call "Wild Wednesday"...
It was one of those early shows at The 5 Spot in East Nashville where you could have put together one hell of an all-star band just from the people in attendance. But, truth be told, there was no need for that because David Olney was on the stage, and he was, as I have come to expect, out of this world. Where else could you hear The Bee Gees and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in the same set? Backed by Ward Stout, Justin Amaral, and Daniel Seymour, it was captivating and amazing. Olney has one more Wednesday to go in his month long residency, and I highly recommend your attendence next week if at all possible.
The week rolls on, and suddenly, we find ourselves at Thursday. This week we throw things back with an interesting collection of songs... check it out...
In case you missed it, I premiered the new video from Ben de la Cour this morning. Check it out HERE.
I have a long overdue album review coming soon and hopefully more on the horizon... one can only hope.
Last night was another fantastic $2 Tuesday at The 5 Spot. Carson McHone, Erica Blinn, Joel Adam Russell, and more including Allen Thompson filling in for Derek Hoke and playing with Derek's band (everyone wearing Derek Hoke-like cowboy hats). Even DJ Tim Hibbs got in on the action singing one of Hoke's signature songs, "Lonely Street".
Last Friday, E2TG 2014 Artist of the Year, Darrin Bradbury made a last minute surprise appearance on the stage at City Winery Nashville. Just last night, E2TG 2015 Artist of the Year, Jon Latham appeared on stage at City Winery Atlanta. I wish I could say that I am prophetic, but the fact is, I am really proud of everything both of them are accomplishing. Both Darrin and Jon are going to perform in official showcases for Americana Fest!
Now, it is Wednesday... you know... when we get Wild because we are fed up with the work week and realize we still have three more days to go... Check out the shuffle, and see if it is "wild" enough for you...
The evidence is mounting... Derek Hoke's $2 Tuesdays at The 5 Spot are a guaranteed good time. The price, the music, the $2 Yazoos, the company... it never fails to brighten my week.
Last night, DJ Tim Hibbs was spinning songs meant to counteract the hate and fear that has been so prevalent this week. The line-up including two acts that have been featured in shuffles so far this week: Darrin Bradbury and Jesse and Noah. Plus Derek and his incredible trio, and the night ended with an incendiary performance by Porter and the Bluebonnet Rattlesnakes (from Austin). (Porter being the amazing Chris Porter). Shonna Tucker joined them for several songs. And I did not catch the bass players name, but he left nothing on the stage ending on the ground while never missing a note.
Tonight, Darrin Bradbury will be on Music City Roots live from the Factory in Franklin. If you cannot make it down, it streams at Music City Roots dot com. Darrin will be doing a full-band set joined by Matty Alger, Megan Palmer, Derek Hoke, and Cameron Carrus. Don't miss it!
Boom! This week just hit me like a ton of bricks... This will have to be kind of quick... Tonight at The 5 Spot - 6pm. RB Morris and his incredible band from East and Middle Tennessee, E2TG favorites Tim Lee 3, and Lowell Levinger (aka Banana) from The Youngbloods! Don't miss it!
Wild Wednesday are just a total free-for-all. A mix of old, new, Nashville-based, not Nashville-based, weird experiments, painfully mainstream, and other awesome musical treats... here is today's version...
In November 2013, my friend David Horton sent me a message to let me know that Darrin Bradbury (whose previous band Big Wilson River, I had written about in 2012) was going to be moving to Nashville and to keep an eye out for him. Darrin started kicking major league ass in Nashville, and I named him my Artist of the Year for 2014. Today, Darrin Bradbury was named one of 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know by Rolling Stone Country. I could not be more proud.
Tonight I am recommending: RB Morris with Jon Byrd at The 5 Spot to kick off Morris' month-long residency. And after that, Drew Kohl will be ecebrating the one year anniversary of his EP, Sweetheart at The Country with other cook folks like Tayor Alexander and Kiely Schlesinger.
Over the course of these last five years, I have had a blast creating playlists that represent the broad spectrum of my musical tastes and interests, and then letting the shuffle function work its magic. Some folks may think that traditional bluegrass segueing into death metal makes any sense. But, I disagree.. every odd combination and awkward transition is to my mind a reflection of the fabric of this life....
The Wild Wednesday shuffle is meant to be a celebration of that weird awkwardness... enjoy!
Reason to love Nashville Part (some really high number so lets say 420): Last night, I went out to check out some live music. I saw (I think) eight amazing artists/bands - total admission price $2.
The Basement - New Faces Night is a pretty cool local institution. Although I do not out to it as often as I would like, when I do, I always discover great new music, and last night was not exception. I went out to see Sammy Brue and Levi Parham. They were both mind-blowingly good. Sammy Brue writes some really amazing songs. That he is fourteen years old is merely a chronological fact - not some much relevant to the quality of his music. Levi Parham is part of that incredible Oklahoma music community. In between those two, Joel Eckels from California was really good - he was joined by Zack Smith of Smooth Hound Smith for a few songs. Nashville newcomer, Kristen Ford, played one-man band style with lots of loops and stuff. Really dug her a lot.
I had to go to The 5 Spot to hang some posters for my upcoming 5 Year Anniversary Show. Do you know about that? Here's the event - ICYMI. Anyway, it was $2 Tuesday which is always a great hang. I checked the lineup and didn't immediately recognize any of the names (except host Derek Hoke) on the bill, and I kind of thought I might just put up my posters, grab a $2 Yazoo pint and head home. Yeah, about that... When I got to The 5 Spot, The John Hancock Band was on stage. This all-female band absolutely killed it! I'm not sure why I have not heard of them before now, but I am glad that oversight has been cleared up. Derek Hoke was up next with his all-star band (Paul Niehaus, Mark Robertson, and Steve Latanation)- they were brilliant as always, next up was Runner of the Woods who played folk, country, plus some Cajun music that warmed this misplaced Cajun boy's heart. The final act was Jack Kerowax (I have seen the name before and been intrigued). I am happy to report that the band lives up to the great name.
Hmm... coincidently, our Wild Wednesday shuffle falls of April 20 this year... read into that what you would like...
Big things happening all around.... Record Story Day 2016, the recently announced Bob Dylan Birthday Tribute at the Ryman, the forthcoming line-up reveal for the E2TG Anniversary Extravaganza at The 5 Spot, and the just announced news that Double Shot with Joe & Sue, my forthcoming radio show with Sue Havlish on WXNA-FM has been moved to Saturday at 11:00a.m. and expanded by one hour!
We hope to have a start date announced soon, but we are both excited to have 2 hours each week to bring you a constant variety of music. See you on the radio!
Upcoming (as in tonight): Jesse Lafser is in the midst of a residency at The 5 Spot and that continues today with special guests Kevin Gordon and Lauren Shera. 6:00p.m. Later, Jon Latham, Bill Eberle, and Chris Watts (with a full-band) will be at MadDonna's Loft for what should be a pretty righteous night of music.
Meanwhile - it is the time of the week when we get wilder than usual at E2TG... I mean really crazy! I mean songs played in a random fashion kind of crazy... woah!
Have I mentioned lately how much I love writing this blog? So, a big "Thanks" to all our regular readers - and to the irregular ones, too.
Well we have a great set of music that actually has a somewhat cohesive sound. Now, if you've been paying attention, you know I absolutely love totally random and insanely diverse mixes of music. Still and all, it is kind of cool when the gods of the random shuffle - deign to offer up a set of music that seems preplanned.
Let's go!
John Stewart not the Daily Show guy (he's Jon), but the folk singer/songwriter had a remarkable career. First as a member of the legendary Kingston Trio and then solo. He wrote the Monekee's hit Daydream Believer and scored a Top Ten hit with his own song, Gold, which featured Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Gold was released in 1979, and I remember the song well from that part of my youth. The song we have today is from Stewart's 1973 album Cannons in the Rain which was his first on the RCA label. All Time Woman is about life as a musician on the road.
(I couldn't find a video for All Time Woman, so here's one for Gold)
Next we have a new song from an album due out in a couple of weeks (The Tarnished Gold by Los Angeles based Alt-Country band Beachwood Sparks). Sparks Fly Again really sounded great following up the John Stewart song.
And finally, rounding out our countrish/folksy set is a slice of life from the Canadian band Cowboy Junkies. Sun Comes Up, It's Tuesday Morningwas originally on the band's 1990 album The Caution Horses, this morning we had an acoustic version of the song from the 2009 Acoustic Junk album.
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