Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - A Little Patch of Sunlight Mix

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United States Constitution, 25th Amendment:

Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
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Okay - so Wednesday... we shuffle up all the songs on my phone,  and things tend to get "Wild".  For some reason, I always look forward to Wednesdays.  I think it is the unpredictable nature of these shuffles:  new music alongside older songs, friends alongside long-time favorites, songs I didn't even know were on my phone, and revisiting albums that had been featured some time back.

Let's go ahead and jump to it!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - I'll Play the Fool Mix

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Rainy morning in Nashville.

Had a fun night last night.  Recorded Saturday's Double Shot show, made it to The Family Wash in time to catch most of Amelia White and Sergio Webb being awesome.  Then headed to The 5 Spot for the first $2 Tuesday of the new year.  Derek Hoke actually opened for a change and was accompanied by Paul Niehaus - wonderful.  Adrian + Meredith always terrific. Vandoliers from Texas - really enjoyed, Erica Blinn - great set, and The Mulligan Brothers (Mobile, AL) closed things out in fne style.  Great people and good times. One of my favorite hangs.

We have a Wild Wednesday shuffle which entails shuffling up every single song in my phone memory and seeing what comes up...

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Wheel Well Mix

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Wow. This is last day of November! How the heck did that happen. Well 2016 has been a tough year for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons.  November has definitely had its challenges for me personally.  But, just for today, things are looking up.  I feel completely unprepared for the onslaught of December.  Look for my 2nd Annual "Earie Awards" posts to begin soon.

Well after several days off, it's time to jump back into the shuffle. It is Wednesday and once again I am shuffling from all of the songs on my phone.  Here is the final shuffle of November 2016.

Saturday Shuffle - Getting Stuff Done Mix

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Hey, I needed to get some "stuff done" today, and I decided to shuffle some music while I got the "stuff done".  So, welcome to a rare Saturday shuffle.  Limited descriptions  - just a ton of cool tunes.

As I mentioned yesterday, E2TG's reigning Artist of the Year was selected by Nashville's Lightning 100 to be their Artist of the Week.  As part of that, he played a free show yesterday evening at Soulshine Pizza, and he played one of the best shows I have ever seen him put on. I could not have been more proud.

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - The Joy and the Crap Mix

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Well... It's Friday!  By my estimates, there are eleven work days left in 2015.  I am going to have to huddle up with the awards committee* over the weekend to take stock of where things stand.  I know I will leave somebody important out, so expect some adjunct awards early in 2016.
*I am the awards committee, by the way....

Now to today's "Earie"Award.

The Award:  the "There Going to Put Me in the Movies" Award aka the "Act Naturally" Award aka the "Buck Owens" Award....

The premise: No premise really, just a way to connect two awesome songwriters/musicians so that I can give them both an award for being awesome.

The Awards go to:

1.  Joe Nolan -  Joe recently signed a new publishing agreement with Creative Songwriters Music which is hopefully mean we will be hearing some of his great songs in movies and television shows soon. In addition, Joe Nolan is by the best definition I know, a true modern day renaissance man.  In addition to his extensive journalistic work  - among other things he is the arts editor for the Nashville Scene, a regular blogger, etc. etc. etc.  He was recently awarded a commission by the Metro (Nashville) Arts Commission to create a song based upon a piece of public art, and he has an on-going Nashville Public Radio series about Nashville's many "Pikes".  Makes me proud to be a "Joe".




2.  Andrew Adkins - Andrew has an excellent track record of having songs used in movies and trailers.  Most recently, one of his songs was used in the trailer for Colin Hanks' film about Tower Records, All Things Must Pass.  This was cool to me for two reason, 1. Tower Records played an important role in my musical development - particularly in the early 90s.  2. Colin Hanks was in Orange County and he's Tom Hanks' son.   In addition, Adkins has kept busy making music under a variety of names before consolidating it all under his own name.  Semi-coincidently, he just released the first single from his forthcoming album, Glass Castles (which will be released the day after my birthday).  The single is called, "May the Stars Fall At Your Door" and it marks a bit of a departure from the kind of music Andrew Adkins has been doing.






On to the shuffle:

Featured Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Talk, Talk, Talk Mix

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Well, it is time for the last shuffle before the long Thanksgiving weekend.  I hope if you are travelling that you have safe travels, I hope you find a place of gratitude, I hope you remember those for whom the holidays are a painful or difficult time.  I hope you do all the things you want to do.  For my Canadian friends, you can like, #tbt tomorrow to Canadian Thanksgiving or whatever...

We have one more awesome featured music shuffle to see this work week off in style.

Featured Monday Music Shuffle - Fell Down on my Knees Mix

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Welcome back!  I trust everyone had an okay weekend... Winter seems to have put in an appearance here in Nashville with our coldest morning of the season...

Music around town is still heating up.   Friday night, I caught a trifecta of great shows.  Joey Kneiser had part one of his album release show at Grimey's New and Used Music.  Great stuff, and be sure to check out his new album.  Next, Nellie Clay opened for Will Kimbrough downstairs at The Basement.  Nellie sounded awesome, and Will Kimbrough melted faces with his songs and his playing.  After that, I booked it across the river (following the lead of Mary Sack) to The Family Wash for Tommy Womack's birthday show.  Tommy, who is well on his way to full recovery from his car accident at the beginning of the summer, pulled together an all-star band (Mark Robinson on guitar, Ross Rice on keyboards, Daniel Seymour on bass, Brad Pemberton on drums, and Lisa Oliver Gray).  They ripped through an impressive set that opened with a version of the Velvet Underground song, "Sweet Jane" and closed (before an encore) with Dylan's "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again".  In between, Womack hit some of his best songs - like "Alpha Male and the Canine Mystery Blood", "90 Miles an Hour Down a Dead-End Street", and "Nice Day" and more.

Saturday, featured another really entertaining Mark Robinson Band show at The 5 Spot.  Back by Daniel Seymour and Rick Schell. Robinson showed off his incredible blues rock guitar chops.  Honestly, one of the best live bands around.  That was followed by a short trip over to the Family Wash - this time to catch Knoxville living legend, poet, and songwriter R.B. Morris. Morris also put together an amazing band  (Greg Horne on guitar, Daniel Kimbro on Bass, and Paul Griffith on drums).  Morris was in rare form as he tore through a set that besides his original music included covers of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits.  Morris will be back in Nashville one week from this coming Saturday for the 10th Annual Get Behind Mule Tom Waits Tribute and Benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank.

To the shuffle - partially because Friday was so much fun and also because this is a short work week plus to help clear out some of my Featured playlist - I have made the executive decision to do all Featured Music shuffles this week.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - You, You Know I'm Right Mix

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I had a good time last night at The Basement East.  I got to see performances from two people I was first introduced to at the Safety Harbor Song Fest way back in late March - Chris Gelbuda and Daphne Willis.  It was the soft EP Release Show for Willis - whose new EP, Get It, will be released on Friday. 

Opening the show was Kyshona Armstrong.  She actually played the first Safety Harbor Song Fest in 2014.  She plays some wonderful acoustic soul music and was backed by an outstanding band.  I really enjoyed her set, and I will be on the lookout for more opportunities to see her again.

Daphne Willis played next back by yet another outstanding band.  I am always hesitant to assign genres when the artist/band does not.  I will say there is a real pop instinct to her music.  The overwhelming impression is energy, enthusiasm, and a very clear understanding and appreciation for the way her music sounds.  Chris Gelbuda, who co-produced her new CD, joined her for a couple of songs, and then was the next on the bill.

I found out after the set that Gelbuda and his band only got the chance for minimum rehearsal time before the show, but I can honestly say, that did not come across. Gelbuda is an accomplished producer (he produced the latest hit single for Meaghan Trainor) and a professional songwriter.  I was very impressed by the caliber of his songs. 

Unfortunately, I had to leave before the last act on the bill was done, but Sonia Leigh - playing with much of the band that accompanied Daphne Willis - sounded great.

On to the mid-week shuffle for your listening pleasure...

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - The Show Must Go On and On and On and On Mix

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Rain is falling steadily over Nashville.  It's a cool, dreary kind of day.  I'm already dreading the long dark winter season. 

We have some cool tunes for you this morning to help cope with the dreariness...

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Skeleton Frames Mix

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Here we are....

Last night, I went to 3rd and Lindsley to see Bebe Buell and her band.  Bebe Buell has been an iconic figure in Rock and Roll for many years.  She relocated to Nashville a little over a year ago. She has a relatively new band and her show was a lot of fun.  Crystal Gayle joined her and The Blackfoot Gypsies closed the show with some of their high-energy shenanigans.   Read more: My review for No Depression.

Another swell shuffle this morning... a mix of songs I am pretty sure you will not see duplicated at one of those run-of-the-mill music sites....

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - A Rusted Fork in the Road Mix

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A modest proposal to deal with the problem of people talking during music performances: Just let John Moreland play.  I saw John Moreland play twice last night. The first was at Music City Roots where he wowed an audience mostly unfamiliar with his music.  Later, he played a full headlining set at The 5 Spot in East Nashville in front of a packed house.  The minute John Moreland began to play, the crowd (a bar crowd after 11:00pm) fell silent almost immediately.  A friend of mine asked what it was about his music that had that effect.  In the moment, the only words that came to me were the emotional vulnerability of his songs.  I don't know if that is the answer.  But, it got me thinking about vulnerability, and how our society sees it as a weakness, but how in the hands of someone like John Moreland - it can be such a powerful thing.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Loot in the Boot Mix

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Hey ho! It's Wednesday.  We have a pretty fun shuffle today - 11 songs strong with some real curveballs and some real treats.  Scroll down or click through for the music:

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Middle Man Mix

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I am more convinced than ever that I did not delete my playlist (as mentioned Friday) through some incredibly bone-headed clumsy ass maneuver.  No, it appears that my phone is possessed.  My cell phone contract ended in November, and my now two year old phone has developed a mind of it's own.  It has begun initiating screen touch activities all on it's own... typing (and sending) gibberish text messages, taking pictures, opening applications, etc.  I think it knows that it's days are numbered.

So, until I get a new phone, any activity which comes from me should be suspect.  Including this post... am I writing this or is my phone writing this?

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - No Safe Harbor Mix

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In a moment of extreme clumsiness, I accidently deleted the entire "Current Music" playlist from my phone.  This is was the continually evolving playlist that I use used to create the morning shuffles you have all come to love so much.  I'm not sure how it happened, but as far as I could tell there was no "Undo" button, so I set about to spend a couple of hours attempting to cobble together a new "Current Music" playlist from my memory.  I also took advantage of this minor disaster to add some Holiday-themed music to the mix.  In the course, I know I forgot some songs (which you will never know about - except that I am telling you) and I am pretty sure I added back some songs that have already been featured (which you will only know about if you have been paying very close attention - in which case, I thank you and beg your patience).

So, the new "Current Music" playlist is a couple of hundred songs short of what I deleted (I will add more as I remember), but I like to think of it as a leaner and meaner playlist.  So, behold....

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Gratitude Mix

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Short and Sweet. In spite of Because of all of the difficulties of this year, I am more aware than ever of the reasons I have to be grateful.   In a randomly shuffled way - that will be my focus today....

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Live My Life Mix

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So another week of Ear to the Ground Shuffles comes to a close.  I am a bit short on time so I thought I would try something... a 3 Words post.  I will attempt to comment on each song using just three words. This may be more time consuming than writing a long post, but here goes nothing...

Have a great weekend!

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Hollerin' Mix

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First things first:  The Grey A have a brand new video for their timely song "Dumb Fool".  It's a fun film noir style video which includes our old friend Howard Rabach pounding on a table.  Check it out here:





Second of all, I had a great time seeing Darrin Bradbury and The Fran's Eastside Super-High Band deliver a stellar set at The 5 Spot last night. 

Careful readers will recall that back in September yours truly had two reviews featured on the No Depression website.  One was for The Grey A's album My Country and the other was for Darrin Bradbury's album Motel Oatmeal. 

Now there is another coincidental connection between the two - if you look at picture above, at the extreme right of the picture - kind of in the shadows on the picture is Trombone player Diego Vasquez who joined the Super-High band last night and also played with The Grey A when I saw them at The Stone Fox (and played on The Grey A album I believe).


Finally, I need to announce that there are big, big things in store for #E2TG in the coming new year.  (Translation: I am basically punting the last month and a half of 2014 so expect nothing from me until after New Years by which time I hope you will have forgotten that I promised "big, big things") 
Seriously, the Shuffles will continue unabated... well mostly unabated.... well just somewhat abated... well at least occasionally unabated...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Egg Cream Mix

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Some days, I like to provide a detailed and creative commentary of the connections which exist between seeming unconnected songs.  Some times, though, I just like to let these songs sit together awkwardly at the table while I sit back with a conspiratorial smile on my face (even then I have no co-conspirator).   Today seems like a good time for the latter....  enjoy the awkwardness, but remember that the connections exist even if we cannot see them....

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - D Day Mix

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Don't bother to double-check your calendar, it's not June 6.  No, the D here is a reference to the Roman Numeral D which equals 500.  What you are reading is the 500th  Blogger Post here at Ear to the Ground.  (Note: We began as an upstart blog on the now (or soon) to be defunct Posterous site).  In transferred to Blogger sometime around the beginning of 2012. Full disclosure, we did transfer a handful of our Posterous posts over, and those are included in the 500, but we still think this is a remarkable achievement.

As we approached 500, we considered a self-indulgent retrospective post looking back on our finest moments with perhaps some blooper reels thrown in for good measure, but none of that stuff seemed to fit what we try to be all about. 

So without further ado (but with a huge tip of the hat and thanks to everyone who has joined us and assisted us on this continuing journey), we are simply going to do what we do best... we offer up an inexplicable mix of new and old and well known and obscure music which by all rights (maybe) should not be in the same mix, and we offer it with our simple and overriding (usually unstated) message: "Hey, I heard some cool music today.  Let me tell you about it."

Today's list of songs comes up after the jump: