Featured Friday Playlist recap (part 2) (songs 9-12)
9. "Learn to Lose" by LadyCouch
First up, we have a track from the recent and long-awaited debut album from the Nashville band led by Allen Thompson and Keshia Bailey.
10. "OK I'll Believe Ya" by Microwave Mountain
Last week, we featured the first of five songs and videos in five days by the Nashville band led by Jamie Timm. This week, we have the fifth song.
11. "Strong" by Charles Wesley Godwin
Up next, we have the second single from the forthcoming album by this singer-songwriter and West Virginia native. The album, How the Mighty Fall, is due out next month.
12. "Half-Life Wilderness" by Glass Dove
And, we close out this segment with the title track from the new album by this synth rock/indie pop artist from Nashville.
I am a bit short on time, but here goes. For the last several years, The 5 Spot in East Nashville has been my home away from home. It is simply put, my "Cheers" where everybody knows my name and they are always glad I came... or whatever. The best people, the best music. It is my place, and I am not alone in feeling that,
Back in March, before the mandatory shutdowns and before PPP, The 5 Spot voluntarily decided that to close was in the best interest of their patrons and employees. It was, I am sure, not an easy decision. I contrast this to the venues who are suing the city for being ordered to close and who have operated contrary to current regulations with no regard for the safety of their customers and employees.
Recently, The 5 Spot has unveiled a (in my opinion) top-notched live streaming system. Tim Carroll's Rock n Roll Happy Hour was one of the first. Last week, they added a liquid light show to the mix. Derek Hoke played a Tuesday set with band - a much needed balm - as I have missed $2 Tuesday so much.
Afton Wolfe also had his release show virtually from The 5 Spot.
To me, the work The 5 Spot has done shows their commitment to the music and to finding a way forward into this uncertain future. Kudos to Todd Sherwood and everyone at The 5 Spot.
Our review of the Featured Friday Playlist continues now with songs 11-15
11. "Summer Road" by Mighty Brother
From the recently released double album The Rabbit. The Owl. Mighty Brother are a indie rock band from New Orleans. This songs has an Avett Brothers feel to it, but the band's music covers a lot of ground. I really like this song.
12. "Iztac" by Joseph C. Krause
Not to be confused with our old friend, Joseph R. Krauss,Joseph C. Krause is a collaborative media artist from Detroit. This is the title track from his latest EP, and it is about a dreaming snow leopard from the Mexico City Zoo. The EP is filled with electronic music, sound design, and poetry. It is whimsical and fun. Joseph C. Krause is legally blind and gay, and I am a brand new and very big fan.
13. "The Fever" by Slump Test
Another track from the self-titled debut album album by Nashville punks Slump Test. Ryan Dishen handles the lead vocals on this track. While there has been plenty to be bummed about these last several months, I am sad that we have missed the last three (soon to be four) Decline of Southern Civilization shows. I am very glad, though, that I caught the March show - which ended up being the last in-person The 5 Spot show before the shutdown.
14. "Wander Feeler" by Easy Love
I love this song so much! Easy Love is the solo project of Summer Twins drummer Justine Brown. This is the title track to her new album which was recorded in one week in January 2019.
15. "Master of Flow" by Glife
And why not do a sonic 180, and close this segment of music with a veteran hip hop artist from Salt Lake City. I don't know enough about hip hop to vouch for the song title, but this track does seem to flow extremely well.
I think we covered sufficient musical ground today. Tomorrow Songs 16-20
Sometimes, it all seems to much! Here in Nashville in 2020, we have had the March 3 tornado, the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest blackout in the cities history, and no protests and riots in the streets. I want to call for a time out!
BUT, then I think, relatively speaking I have at most been inconvenienced by all of this. If I am this exhausted, I wonder how those who have been deeply and directly affect must feel. And, then I think about being a person of color in America twenty years into the 21st Century - and how long systemic racism has been allowed to go on. And, I think if I am this worn out, how much people of color feel...
So, yes, I am exhausted and I would love a week or more with no significant news, and I want to be able to safely go out and see my friends and attend live music events. But, until it is safe, I will stay in as much as I can and I will be okay.
And I want there to be peace in our cities, but you know, until tangible changes are made, I understand the unrest.
I also have concerns about the role of right wing groups in instigating the violence in order to discredit the valid protests. And, this is where it gets trick and this is where maybe I don't get to offer my hot takes... Stay vigilant, stay safe, and spread love are the best advise I have to offer.
In spite of it all, this is a music blog, and music has always been a refuge for me through whatever turbulence I have experienced, and so, we will continue our review of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with song 7-12:
7. "Political Funk" by Mick Hayes
From the album My Claim to FAME which was recorded by legendary FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I am just discovering Mick Hayes' music, and this album has blown me away. I picked this track partially because the song coincidentally shares its name with a short-lived early 90s Nashville group - that I can't find any proof actually existed. Nonetheless, this is a great song and a great diving in point for this album which is infused with the magic of the studio where it was recorded.
8. "Young Loved and Free" by Audrey and Hugh
From the album Sisterman. There is a recurring theme lately of reconnecting with artists that I wrote about in the past. This is new album is the debut for the duo of Audrey MacAlpine and Hugh Trimble - along with Mason Wheaton. Sisterman was the name they previously used for the band. Totally coincidentally, E2TG wrote about Hugh Trimble a few years back when we covered some of the music he recorded at Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen in New York. Audrey and Hugh are based in Nashville name, and I got turned on to this release by a post of a good friend whose musical taste I respect.
9. "Fixer - Live" by Adrian + Meredith
I am missing Adrian + Meredith, and I am missing live music at The 5 Spot, so I thought I would play another track from Adrian + Meredith Live at The 5 Spot. I love these guys. For this recording they have their big band, and it is great hearing the Nashville horns.
10. "The Deleted History of Us" by Cursive is Code
Another song from our friends from Connecticut. Jason P. Krug and company have hit upon a great new sound that retains the spirit of his previous work (solo and with Grimm Generation). This time there is a funky liveliness that I really dig.
11. "You Got Me" by Bill Lloyd
New music from Bill Lloyd is always a pleasure. His brand new album is a called Don't Kill the Messenger. In the 1980s, Lloyd led the power pop band The December Boys before releasing his classic solo album Feeling the Elephant. In the early 90s, he formed the country music duo Foster and Lloyd with Radney Foster and had some chart success. He was also in a supergroup called The Sky Kings - we covered a recent reissue by them recently. He leads The Long Players - who recreate classic albums, and he has put out a series of albums of the last several years that represent pop songwriting at its best.
12. "With Love, from Quarantine" by Shayfer James
Shayfer James was a "Featured Artist" exactly eight years ago. The New Jersey singer-songwriter came to our attention at the height of our New York/New Jersey obsession. This is a wonderful and timely new song. Great to hear from him and to be able to present it to you.
Tomorrow songs 13-18...
Featured Friday Playlist
Music City Monday Shuffle
"Dirty Dishes" by Becca Mancari (from Good Woman)
Going back to her 2017 album, we have a great track. Mancari has a brand new album due out this month that was produced by Zac Farro of Paramore.
"One Last Question" by Jason & the Scorchers (from Nashville, The Other Side of the Alley: Insurgent Country Vol. 3)
A wonderful Jason and the Scorchers track from that awesome mid-90s compilation released by Bloodshot records - the album also features Tim Carroll, Tom House, Kristi Rose, R.B. Morris, and Dan Baird among many others.
"Woke Up Jake" by Dan Baird (from Buffalo Nickel)
Speaking of the aforementioned Mr. Baird, we have a track from his most excellent solo album Buffalo Nickel - which was the follow-up to Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired.
"One Thing I Know About Love" by Jonell Mosser and John Hall (from Little Black Dress)
Next up, we have one of Nashville finest - Jonell Mosser has been a force on the Nashville music scene for many years, and having seen her live a couple of time this year (and very late last year), I can attest that she is still at the top of her game.
"Freightliner Fever" by Jon Byrd (from Byrd's Auto Parts)
A tribute to truckers and more precisely to trucking songs from the debut solo album by the one and only Jon Byrd.
"Crocodile" by Lori Kelley (from Under Stars and Storms)
And, we close with a long time friend of E2TG, singer-songwriter Lori Kelley from her most recent album. Kelley helped organize and run the Eastside Takeover at Bobby's Idle Hour in 2015 or so, which provided so many memorable Sunday evenings.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NEW AND RECENT RELEASES
This Week
5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP) 6/01 - Bessie Smith - Get in Union (LP) (from the Alan Lomax Archives) 6/01 - Darwin - "Dance Alone" (single)
6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)
6/05 - People Without Shows and Inkswell - Plasma Platter (LP)
6/05 - Short Haired Domestic - "A Song in Latin... A Song in Hindi..." (single) 6/05 - Turkeyfoot - Promise of Tomorrow (LP)
6/05 - Delta Maid - Katie (LP)
6/05 - KDF - "Innocence" (single)
6/05 - Lacey Williams - "Cut N' Curl" (single)
6/05 - Johnny Irion and Friends - "Inside the Endless OM" (single)
6/05 - Skanger - "Condolences" (single)
Last Week
5/25 - The Plastic Pals - "Hangin' in the Louvre" (single)
5/25 - Scarlet Drive - "Not My Problem" (single)
5/29 - Mick Hayes - My Claim to FAME (LP) 5/29 - G.F. Patrick - One Town Over (LP)
5/29 - Jack Stafford - "Background Worry" (single)
5/29 - Ryan Dishen - Whiskey for the Road (LP)
5/29 - Idle Noise - "Ghosts" (single)
5/29 - Altar of Eris - Isolation (EP)
5/19 - Merv Pinny - "I" (single)
Next Week:
6/11 - Luciano Illuminati - Terra Vision 2020 (LP)
6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)
6/12 - Andrea & Mud - Bad News Darlin' (LP)
6/12 - Teghan Devon - Little Lion (EP)
Upcoming:
6/19 - Darlin' Brando - Also Too... (LP)
6/19 - Dolour - The Royal We (LP)
6/19 - The Microdance - Our Love Noire (LP)
6/19 - Lady Couch - "Foolish and Blue" (single)
6/20 - David Starling - "Cowards" (single)
6/26 - The Special Pillow - World's Finest (EP)
6/26 - Dedicated Men of Zion - Can't Turn Me Around (LP)
6/26 - Serratone - "Groovy Lucy" (single)
6/26 - 8 Floors Up - "Roman Bones Make Good Glue" (single)
6/?? - Mighty Brother - The Rabbit. The Owl (Double LP)
7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)
7/03 - Paul Nelson - Birmingham Woman (LP)
7/03 - Matthew Frederick - "Laura Jones" (single)
7/07 - Afton Wolfe - Petronius' Last Meal (EP)
7/10 - Hurricane Ruth - Good Life (LP)
7/10 - Fintan McKahey - "Platinum" (single)
7/10 - Nocona - Los Dos (LP)
7/17 - The Bobby Lees - new album (LP)
7/24 - Tawny Ellis - Love Life (LP) 7/24 - Lee Gallagher - L.A. Yesterday (LP)
7/24 - Even As We Speak - Adelphi (LP) 7/24 - The Wild Blue - Anonymous Future (EP) 7/31 - The Jason Daniels Band - Downloads from the Universe (LP)
8/07 - The Furious Seasons - La Fonda (LP)
8/07 - Jason Molina - Eight Gates (LP)
8/28 - The Northern Belle - We Wither, We Bloom (LP)
10/16 - Malin Pettersen - Wildhorse (LP)
Recent:
5/01 - BOAT - Tread Lightly (LP)
5/01 - Laura Cortese and the Dance Card - Bitter Better (LP)
5/01 - Cut Beetlez vs Nice Guys - CBNG (LP)
5/01 - Grenon - "Imaginary Friends" (single)
5/01 - Paul Nelson - "Dying to Forget" (single)
5/01 - Felixity - Love Sick (LP)
5/01 - Easy - Radical Innocence (LP)
5/01 - Griffin Winton - "Think of Me" (single)
5/01 - Ender Bender - EQ
5/01 - The Rad Trads - 99 in October (EP) 5/01 - J.R. Wyatt - "I'm Still Here" (LP)
5/01 - Lekan Tellal - "Emptiness" (single)
5/01 - Angela Easterling - "Hero" (single)
5/01 - Miss Rayon - "Small Life" (single)
5/04 - Black Needle Noise with - "Seed of Evil" (single) 5/04 - Killing Kuddles - "Too Cool" (single) 5/06 - I Like Trains - "The Truth" (single)
5/06 - CLOUDNiNE - "I Know" (single)
5/07 - Julius and Julia - "Why We Are Here?" (single) 5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
5/08 - The Attic Movement - "Truth Be Told" (single)
5/08 - Secret Bad Boy - "It Was Always Too Late" (single)
5/10 - Brett Ryan Stewart - "Let Her Know" (single)
5/11 - Sofia Talvik - "Broken (Steel Guitars in Heaven)" (single)
5/11 - Jonny Polonsky - "Sign in the Window" (single)
5/11 - Scott Howard - The Language of Clouds (LP)
5/12 - Kory Quinn & Co. - The Blueroom (LP)
5/13 - Dru Flecha - "Cama" (single)
5/15 - Special Consensus - Chicago Barn Dance (LP)
5/15 - Zach Aaron - Fill Dirt Wanted (LP)
5/15 - Secret Emchy Society - The Chaser (LP) 5/15 The Room in the Wood - We're the Martians, Now (LP) 5/15 - Wicked Messenger - "Golden Eyes" (single) 5/15 - Lazerine - "There's Nothing in It" (single) 5/15 - Klashing Black - Thoughts on the Matter (EP)
5/15 - Aimee Steven - "Darling" (single)
5/15 - Wolfhounds - "Can't See the Light" (single)
Hey! Right off, I just to warn you that this is going to be a crazy week. So, apologies in advance if some of my content is lighter than usual.
One thing going on is the Spring 2019 Pledge Drive for WXNA! We are in the process of moving into a new space and along with the general costs of operating the station, we rely on our community for support. The Pledge Drive is a great time to give - you can make one-time donations or set up a recurring donation. They have some great thank you premiums. I know that some of the past gifts have been highly coveted, but they are almost always only available during the Pledge Drive. Many shows are having people provide matching donations, so be on the look at for that information to make your donation go further.
I will be on the air with Sounds of the Bayou with DJ Cajun Mitch from 6-7pm tonight and working the phones from 7-8pm. During the show, Fats Kaplin and Kristie Rose will be matching donations.
Saturday, I hung out at The 5 Spot all night. First up, was Brett Ryan Stewart - who delivered a great set - backed by band that included his wife Rosemary, plus Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel. Up next, was Amelia White (who it was great seeing upon her return from a UK tour) backed by her Blue Souvenirs (Parker Hawkins, Paul Neihaus, Justin Amaral, Johnny Duke, plus Julie Christensen on bgv for a few songs).
The late show was the Harvest Spoon benefit and Neil Young tribute. I don't have enough time to tell you all about this, but it was as good as I expected. Bob Lewis, Meghan Hayes, Paul Neihaus (again), Rorey Carroll, and Bones (The 5 Spot co-owner) performed some classics from Neil Young's extensive catalog. Then, host Jason "Shakes"delivered a very funny stand-up routine, followed by a ace band - led by Jay Rutherford and Aaron Mortsenson of Los Colognes performed Neil Young's album Harvest Moon from front to back - aided by great musicians and an all-star cast of singers.
The show ended with all performs from the show plus Lilly Hiatt and Allen Thompson - doing "Rockin' in the Free World"
Now - let's get to the Music City Monday shufffle - as I am almost out of time.
Well, as we slide into another week, It's a good time to remind/make you aware of the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency which will be held every Thursday in the month of June at The 5 Spot in East Nashville. Here are the details:
Time to jump in to this week's first post. It's Music City Monday - where we feature bands/artists who do or have called Nashville home. As always, we have newer music, older music, and everywhere in between - exploring the width and depth of Nashville's vibrant music community through the years and decades...
Well, I guess time has run out on "easing into the new year..."
I had promised some changes for 2018 here at E2TG and today, I am unveiling two of those changes.
I am not sure if this is going to be an every Monday thing or what, but I would like to introduce a new feature on E2TG.
Marie/Lepanto is a new inter-generational project that features Will Johnson (Centro-Matic) and Justin Peter Kinkel-Shuster (Water Liars). Their debut "Tenkiller" is due out on January 26. I will have some of the songs in my upcoming shuffles, but for today, I wanted to let you hear the first track released from that album. It's called "Iverness".
Will Johnson fronted Centro-Matic for two decades and is also frontman for South San Gabriel, a member of New Multitudes (Woody Guthrie lyrics set to new music, with Jay Farrar, Jim James), did a duo project with Jason Molina (Molina and Johnson), drummer and official member of Monsters of Folk (with James, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward), a duo with David Bazan as part of Overseas, and a member of the Undertow Orchestra (with Bazan, Mark Eitzel, and Vic Chestnutt). NPR has praised Centro-Matic's "superb rock records" and Johnson's "great images" and "superb songwriting." He lives in Austin, TX.
Meanwhile, Kinkel-Shuster co-founded Water Liars, about whom the NY Times said, "dark, lonely roots-minded indie rock is affecting, all the more for its sparseness." NPR called the band "a low-key triumph... prone to fits of stark gorgeousness" and Consequence of Sound said "Kinkel-Shuster's painted howl will stop you in your tracks." Julien Baker listed JPKS' 2016 album among her top ten albums of the year. Water Liars tooks its name from a Barry Hannah story and the band was on Misra Records and Big Legal Mess. The album is called 'Marie/Lepanto' after a sign on the freeway in Arkansas and was recorded at Sam Phillips Recordings Service, where Margo Price, Jason Isbell and more have taped albums. He lives in Arkansas and brings a deep south viewpoint to his work.
Nashville readers: Marie/Lepanto will be playing at the Exit/In on February 23 with Pedro the Lion.
Another reminder: E2TG will be hosting show at The Local (formerly known as The Country) this coming Sunday (January 14) featuring Conrad y Skordalia, Danny Henry, and Nelson Zimmerman Quinn (featuring members of Sean Quinn and the Tremblers. Music starts at 8:00pm, and it will be my birthday!
Today marks the return of "Music City Monday" to E2TG (with a bit of a twist). Today's shuffle comes not from my phone music player, but from Spotify. I have created an ever-evolving playlist of Nashville connected music - old and new, well-known and lesser-known, and crossing as many genre lines I can get away with. Here is the inaugural shuffle from that playlist....
I'm doing a super quick mix today, but for good reason, I used my lunch hour to walk a couple of blocks to see legendary (I mean LEGENDARY) sax man Bobby Keys with his excellent band that includes former Georgia Satellite and current leader of Homemade Sin and member of The Bluefields Dan Baird. I only had time to stay for the first part, but they ripped through a set that included a few Stones songs, a George Harrison number, and Joe Cocker's version of the Box Tops' song. All of which featured Mr. Keys in their original versions.
Well, here we go... This is going to be a big week for me personally and for Ear to the Ground. Musically speaking the highlight is the Americana Music Fest which hits Nashville this week. Expect much Americana news, highlights, pics? and who knows. This will be my first foray into the Americana Music Fest and there are some epic moments coming up.
I've been working on plotting out my showcase plan and Thursday night I seem to have every spot booked from about 6:30 when the Dunwells open Live on the Green until whatever time The All-Star Big Star tribute show wraps up at The Rutledge. In between? Delta Spirit, Angel Snow, Mary Gauthier and Richard Thompson. That's all. And that's just one night.
Kicking things off, will be E2TG favorite Jo Wymer who will be part of a pre-Americanafest in-the-round on Wednesday night. There are some great AMA Fest showcases on Wednesday, but I won't be able to attend those.
More great music Friday and Saturday...
But more on that later, it's Monday and we have an honest to goodness Music Shuffle to present:
First up is a fun Nashville band called Cheer Up Charlie Daniels. Bunsen Burner Baby Blues is a cool rave up from the band's debut release, Live in 79'. I've had this band in heave rotation lately, and I hope you enjoy.
Next up is the second song we've featured from Thurston Moore's exceptional new band Chelsea Light Moving. This was actually the third song released by the band, who have been releasing one song at a time. Originally our song today, Empire of Time , was released under the title Frank O'Hara Hit by mistake. That song, was released a week later and the error was explained. Here is the link to Empire of Time.
Next up we have another great song from the Nashville area super-group, The Bluefields. Flat Out Gone is a nifty rocker off the Pure album with Joe Blanton delivering his always solid vocals backed by Dan Baird and Warner Hodges doing what they do best.
Next we have a track from current Featured Artists Grounded (who are from Tallahassee, Florida). Glimpse Of comes from the band's demo available on Bandcamp:
Here is Grounded's Steven Perez playing with another band Clouds
And finally, Dan and Warner from the Bluefields are back with the lead track off of the eponymous 2008 album by Dan Baird and Homemade Sin. Damn Thing To Be Done. Dan Baird was the front man for The Georgia Satellites and Warner Hodges was/is the lead guitarist for Jason and the Scorchers. That may give you a clue as to what to expect from Homemade Sin (hint: this ain't dubstep).
First of all apologies for the crappy cell phone pictures, there were people there with better camera equipment who took better pictures, so hunt them down.
The Bluefields have this released their first album, and they were booked to do an in-store performance at Grimey's New & Preloved Music (one of the best record stores in the world - btw).
Warner E. Hodges, Joe Blanton & Dan Baird
Dan Baird played bass and sang
So I posted a brief commentary on Facebook on this show as soon as I got home.
After I posted it, actually just before (as you will see from the last line), I thought, well I'm a writer and a music blogger so I best find some words to express how awesome it was. Well it took me a couple of extra days, but here goes nothing.
When I approached Grimey's, I saw the band standing out front. I got there early, and I had some time to think about this event.
First of all, if you don't know, I need to tell you about the Band:
The Bluefields are Warner E. Hodges (Jason & the Scorchers, Homemade Sin), Joe Blanton (The Enemy, Royal Court of China) and Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites, Homemade Sin)
Warner E. Hodges :
Memories: Seeing the Scorchers play Labor Day 1985 at Cat's Records. Such an amazing experience. The Movement (Richie Owens band who played one of my favorite song's Lost Horizon) and the later Tim Kreckel and the Sluggers opened the show and were both amazing, but the night belonged to the Scorchers. From the first explosive note, you could see where that the name was appropriate. The stage burned, and every moment was a joyous and infectious blur of twirling microphone and slinging guitar.
In the later part of the 80s, I got really into the local music scene in Nashville. Bands like The Questionnaires and Walk the West and others. I was still going to school in Cookeville, but whenever we could we would drive up to Nashville and catch a show (it was usually weekends at the Cannery) and at almost every show I attended, Warner Hodges joined the band for the encore and it was always the Rolling Stone's Honky Tonk Women.
Flashforward: 2012 - I got to stand next to Warner's mother, Blanche (a musician herself) and watch as Warner and the Bluefields tore it up. I got to tell her how much her son's music had meant to me over the years, and she told me that he originally had not shown an interest in the guitar and that he had not begun playing guitar until he was ten. Warner plays with such intensity and yet such ease, and he flashes this genuine and warm smile periodically throughout the show.
Joe Blanton:
Memories: Around the same time that I saw the Scorchers for the first time, I remember hearing this local band on WRVU (sadly off the dial now) - The Enemy had this one song, Jesus Rides a U.F.O. that I loved. I remember going to see R.E.M. at Vanderbilt in November of 1985, and a friend pointing out the members of The Enemy in attendance.
A few years later (very few) The Enemy broke up and out of the ashes came Royal Court of China. To me Royal Court of China always had a larger than life feel. They played blistering hard rock suffused with a Southern Gothic spirit. Joe Blanton's voice I remember most and the perfect blend of the two styles of music. RCC got signed to a major label and made an amazing debut record. After that, the band split with a couple of members forming The Shakers who took the Southern Gothic mysticism to new heights while Joe and some others carried on as Royal Court of China and made a stunning hard rock album. I loved The Shakers and the hard rock RCC album, but I always missed that perfect fusion of the original lineup. Still Joe Blanton's guitar and vocals were always amazing.
Flashforward 2012 - Joe Blanton still has an amazing rock and roll voice, and he can play guitar pretty well, too. Before the show, it was clear that he was the detail man of the band - setting up video cameras.
Dan Baird:
Memories: I don't remember the year exactly - maybe 86? But, this "new" band started getting tons of airplay on WRVU. The Georgia Satellites. They reminded me of the Scorchers in a way, but it was different, too. Then, I heard The Song, and damn if it wasn't stuck in my head all the damn time. RVU played it to death, but I never got sick of it. This had happened before with songs I heard on WRVU - Peter Case's Walk in the Woods comes immediately to mind. But, then this funny thing happened. Suddenly, this song began to get airplay on commercial stations and on MTV (and yes kids, MTV used to play music videos). And wouldn't you know it, this song made it to number one and Keep Your Hands to Yourself became and remains a iconic Rock n Roll song. The band ended up on Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve.
Dan Baird has been making music, great music ever since. As a solo artist and with his band Homemade Sin (of which Warner is a member).
Flashforward 2012 - When these three guitarists formed a band, Dan Baird got volunteered to play bass. Dan Baird, who I think has one of the most distinctive voices in rock, joked repeated about his voice and his ability to play the bass. As I've before and I say again, I am a non-musician music lover, and so my take on music is always much more emotional than technical. So, I don't know how Dan Baird's bass playing would be considered by a bass player, but I can say that the whole band sounded great to me.
Overall, my overall impression was of these three world-weary musicians who have seen the highs and lows of a life in music and press on because it is who they are. What I heard in the songs of the Bluefields from their debut, Pure, was maybe not the pure youthful, reckless country soul of that early Scorchers show, but truthful, direct songs that told stories that we all know so well. What I saw, was these veteran musicians having fun doing what they love. And what I felt was truly blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to witness it and to shake the hands of these men whose music made up such large part of my life.
