Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Five Minutes Mix

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I had a moment of panic last night when I realized that I only have 7 or 8 more shuffles to post in 2016. (I haven't decided if I am working Wednesday of next week so...).  I have handed 32 "Earie" Awards so far in 2017, but there are a bunch of awards still to go...   I am going to start with four more:

1.  "The Dirty Rice" Award (year 2).  Last year, I handed out this award (dedicated to the State of Louisiana where my roots are deep) to D.L. Duncan and Kevin Gordon.  The award this year goes to two more gentlemen whose music I have come to know this past year.  1st: Brian Langlinais.  Brian has been in Nashville almost as long as I have, but his Louisiana roots are strong. His latest album Right Hand Road was at least partially recorded in Lafayette, Louisiana and produced by D.L. Duncan himself.  The album includes many Nashville and Louisiana musicians. 2nd:  Chris Watts. Watts is a native of Pineville, Louisiana and makes Nashville his home now. His album, The God's Own Truth was released earlier this year.

2.  The "This will Make Me Look Really Smart Next Year" award goes to Rayvon Pettis. 2014 E2TG Artist of the Year has been telling me about Rayvon Pettis for months and months, but it wasn't until very recently that I finally got to see him live, and I'm a believer. I am not alone. Word is that an album is on the way in 2017. I expect by this time next year a whole lot more people will be buzzing about this guy.

3.  The "Please, Please, Please, Please..." award goes to the one and only Buck 'N' Stuff.  If 2015 Artist of the Year, Jon Latham and I have our way (and why shouldn't we have our way), 2017 will be the Year of Buck 'n' Stuff.  Buck 'n' Stuff are simply put the most exciting musical idea to emerge in the last decade (or maybe ever).  On the surface, they are a Buck Owens tribute band - which is pretty cool on it's own. But, I don't normally hand out "Earies" to tribute bands not matter how good they are.  But, when it comes to Buck 'n' Stuff, "Normal" is not even a real word. I can't explain their awesomeness right now... go look up some videos on You Tube.  They will be playing NYE at The 5 Spot - kicking off the Year of Buck 'n' Stuff.

4.  The "Cheese Chronicler" award goes to Tommy Womack.  Womack was a member of the legendary Government Cheese (and he chronicled their adventures and misadventures in Cheese Chronicles: the True Story of a Rock Band You've Never Heard Of.  Since moving to Nashville, he has been/is a member of The Bisquits and Daddy. He's played with Todd Snider and released several well received solo albums including Namaste which came out in 2016.  He is a fellow DJ on WXNA, and I am happy to have been able to see him perform several times in 2016, and I even got to dance with my daughter to one of his best known songs, "Nice Day".


Now on to the Music City Monday shuffle:

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Cocaine and Communion Wine Mix

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Whew!  I am back!  After having my work schedule thrown off for a couple of days, I have been laid up with the yucks for the last few days.  Slowly recovering just in time for the madness that is Americana Music Association Festival to begin in Nashville.  AMA Fest is like a normal music week in Nashville on steroids. The impossible choices, the conflicts, the mad dashes from venue to venue hoping you don't get shut out... Lots of E2TG and personal favorites are playing official and unofficial and semi-official shows.  I will try to sort it all out as best I can, but pretty much - the schedule is one line, AMA even has an app, and you are on your own.

I did manage to catch just one show during my convalescence. On Friday, I felt a little better and wandered over to The Family Wash to catch an awesome triple bill.  Ned Hill (of the band Ned Van Go) was backed by Tommy Womack, and it was wonderful.   BARK rocked the house and it was great to see them.  And Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory blew me away. Really great southern, bluesy, music.  They were joined by two special guests - Canadian turned Nashvillian Steve Dawson and the always amazing Audley Freed.  Two incredible but very different guitar players.

Coolness today - Jon Latham had a new song premiere on Country Fried Rock.  And Zach Schmidt had a new song premiere at Bluegrass Situation.

Now,  we have a Music City Monday shuffle to get the week off on the right foot...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Rattle Snakes Confusion Mix

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Welcome to the working week....   Heading into an unusual week - I am off Wednesday - before that I have a busy week, after that I have a busy week.  Wednesday will probably we busy, too.

Friday night, I saw two Jon's at The Family Wash. First Jon Byrd and then Jon Langford. Very different sets, but both offering unique and interesting takes on Country music.  In between, I got to spend a little time with some East Nashville friends at my friend Bob's birthday bash.

Saturday night, Human Radio at The 5 Spot (they are in the shuffle today so more later about that), and then to the Wash again for Lisa Oliver Gray's birthday show. The amazing singer had a killer band that included Tommy Womack and Ross Rice (of Human Radio) among others.

Tonight, back to the Wash again for a stellar night of music featuring Brock Zeman with Blair Hogan and Darrin Bradbury featuring Megan Palmer.  Starts at 7:00 - you do not want to miss it.  Later, Brian Wright is playing the Basement with a killer band and with Lilly Hiatt and Jesse Lafser opening.

On to the shuffle....

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Lost in the Stars Mix

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So...  yeah.... it was almost 80 yesterday in Nashville - on November 4. Don't worry, though, we are sure to have freeze in the near future.  That is autumn in Nashville. I'm not sure if it is the volatile weather or allergies or what, but I have really not felt all that great this week.  But, life goes on, and so do the Ear to the Ground Morning Music Shuffles.... 

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Something to Chew Mix

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Nashville really is a beautiful wonderful city for live music.  There is way too much awesome stuff for one person to see anywhere near it all.

Friday evening, I hung out the WXNA folks.  They are working a really cool thing. 




Then, I spent a rare evening in Midtown and saw Taylor Alexander and Lindsay Ellyn, The Gasoline Brothers, and Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau and hung out with friends.

Saturday night, I went to The Basement for Pony Boy's CD Release Show - her new album Blue Gold is amazing by the way. Lilly Hiatt opened the show and was awesome.  Pony Boy was spectacular and Robyn Hitchcock joined to play harmonica on Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", and yes, I did get to introduce myself as the goofy guy who made the Soft Cell joke. :-)  Justin Collins and the Cosmics closed the night with some really great high energy rock.  Justin and Adam Landry produced Pony Boy's new album. They are the duo behind Deer Tick and Diamond Rugs and Black Vincent (who we have been featuring here of late). I got to meet Adam, too. 

Sunday night, a great night at Bobby's Idle Hour on Music Row.  Julie Christensen and Patterson Barrett performed some of Julie's awesome songs.  Russell Thompson played with Megan Palmer, and then Megan did her own set and reminded me again of just how awesome she is.  For the last song, she and a chorus of great female singers (Julie Christensen, Ariel Bui, Nellie Clay, and more) closed the night with a rip roaring rendition of Palmer's "Knife Twister".  Oh and Victoria Williams was in the audience, too.

Tonight, I am going out to see my friends Zach Red Stacy and Taylor Alexander playing 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge.

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Any Other Day Mix

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It's Monday - everything is going according to some plan - just not mine...

Let's get to the music....

PRE-SHUFFLE:

"This Song is Called Ragged" by Jonathan Boulet

"A Search for a Heart" by Kyle Andrews

"Charades" by The Joy of Painting

"Stick Around" by David Ramirez

"Leave the City" by Magnolia Electric Co.

"On my Mind In my Heart" by Jesse Dee


Shuffle after Jump