Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Robes of the Queen Mix

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Okay - I'm even more rushed than usual.  So let me get right it.

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It is Day 3 of the WXNA Spring Pledge Drive - so if you want to give - the easiest way is to go to wxnafm.org  Or you can call 615-933-9962.  You can make a one-time pledge or set up an automatic monthly deduction.  Either way - there is great swag and you will be helping to support an incredible community resource.

Tonight is the CD release show for Meghan Hayes excellent album - Seen Enough Leavers - at the 5 Spot at 6pm.  She has a great band backing her and some cool songwriters opening the show.  Seen Enough Leavers is a remarkable album.

Now Wednesday - the day we get wild and wacky!  Well, I guess we do that every day... but we call it Wild Wednesday for good reason - as you will soon see.




"My Only True Friend" by Gregg Allman

We start things off with the lead single and only original song from the posthumously released final album by the great Gregg Allman.  The album was produced by Don Was and recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals. 

"The River (Instrumental)" by Martha Reich

Next up, we have an instrumental track from Brave Bird by New Mexico based singer-songwriter Martha Reich.  The album was one we featured a lot last year. 

"The Four Corners" by Danny Sandock

Next up, we have our old friend California (by way of Indiana - with a stop in Tennessee) singer-songwriter Danny Sandock with a track from his 2014 album Breakin' New Ground.  The song is about that point where four states meet. 

"Must Be Nice" by Rat Fancy

Next up, we have California twee pop punk rockers Rat Fancy with a track from their upcoming debut album Stay Cool.  

"Resistance" by Lions'Den

Next up, we have a track from Songbird by Lions'Den - a project of guitarist  Rhy Dongju - it is guitar driven electronic music. Cool stuff.

"I Wouldn't Buy a Used Car from Him" by Norma Jean

Next up, we have a 1965 single from country music artist Norma Jean - taken from her album Pretty Miss Norma Jean - released while she was appearing on the Porter Wagoner Show. 

"Kitty Wells Dresses" by Laura Cantrell

Next up - a lovely song about another country legend - this by Nashville native Laura Cantrell. J Mar played a Laura Cantrell song Monday night while I was working the WXNA Pledge Drive, so it is really cool this came up today.

"Losing Heart" by The Secret Sisters

How about The Secret Sisters covering a modern country legend - Brandi Carlile. This is from the anniversary tribute to her album The Story - called Cover Stories which was released 2017 - 10 years after the release of the original album.

"Help Me Remember" by Suzette Lawrence and The Neon Angels

Nashville (by way of L.A.)' honky tonk angel - Suzette Lawrence is up next with a track from her album Tear Up the Honky Tonk. 

"Black Flag Blues" by Adam Carroll (feat. Scott Nolan)

More Adam Carroll - this time it's one of my favorite songs of his - from his 2008 album Old Town Rock N Roll. Featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Scott Nolan. A wonderful track.

"Lightning" by Grumsling

Next up - our old friends from California - Grumsling with a track from their album A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea.  It's been a little while since we've heard from them. I loved their cinematic take on rock and roll. 

"Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" by Arcade Fire

And we close with Arcade Fire with a track from their 2007 album Funeral.  A great track to close out the day. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Battle To Be Won Mix

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You know, the world is a great big wonderful, awful, beautiful, ugly, complicated, simple, tranquil, frenetic place. Most days, I am glad to be alive and experiencing it - as a person who matches many of the qualities I just ascribed to the world.  That's all.
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I am still getting goosebumps thinking about last night's Week 3 of the E2TG Residency. Thanks to everyone who made it out - we had a great crowd.  Sergio Webb was wonderful, David Olney was the towering and entertaining performer as always.  When Sergio joined David Olney on stage for the first time in almost a year and a half, the results were magical!  What a way to celebrate six years of Ear to the Ground!

Oh! And a big thanks to Adeem the Artist for some shout-outs that helped the E2TG Facebook Page reach 1,000 "Likes"!

Next week, the residency continues...  And we have a good one for you!  The fine human beings from Cafe Rooster Records will joining us!  That is Sally Jaye, Brian Wright, Darrin Bradbury, and the rapidly healing Jon Latham!  Plus special guest Rorey Carroll!  May 24, The 5 Spot, $5, 6pm!

Thursdays we pick a topic and shuffle up songs that fit that topic.  For our 6th Anniversary, I created a large playlist of artists who have been featured on E2TG over the years. Here is today's shuffle....

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Water into Moonshine Mix

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And I am back...  I think I caught a bit of summer cold that kind of knocked me out yesterday, but I am feeling mostly better today.

Let's see:  Friday night, I took in another fun Tim Carroll Rock 'n' Roll Happy Hour at The 5 Spot.

Saturday:  The day began with a live broadcast of Double Shot with Joe and Sue (and our topic was "Our Favorite Years" - namely 1968 for Sue and 1985 for Joe), then I headed to Two Old Hippies where I saw Adeem the Artist perform a really entertaining set of mostly original music (plus a nice mash-up of Margaritaville and Feliz Navidad.  Later, I finally got to the brand new Radio Cafe which has not yet officially opened.  The weather was hot Saturday but Mark Robinson and his band were even hotter.  A really cool singer-songwriter named Greg Rich (who learned guitar from Mark Robinson back in Indiana) opened the night. As someone remarked, you could have put together a hell of a band just from the people in attendance.  I ended my Saturday at an awesome after-NAMM party hosted by Richie Owens and his family.

This week is filled with "Nashville Dilemma" moments which makes this summer cold particularly annoying.  Tonight at the Family Wash, it is Pint and Pie night and Short Sets with Tim McNary and Brooklyn band Leland Sundries on the bill.

Here is a trending Tuesday shuffle...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - It's Too Late Mix

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MAY 18. The 5 Spot. 9pm. $5. Be there!

Hey - welcome to Tuesday.  E2TG turns 5 this month, and I am going to reflect on this milestone throughout the month.

Other than the incredible people I have met as a result of writing this blog, my next favorite thing has been all of the music from all over the world that has come to my ears. Music, I might otherwise never have had the opportunity to hear. Not only that, but I am fortunate enough to get to write about and try to help spread the news about this great music.

Let's jump right into the Trending Tuesday shuffle which contains some music that fits that last description.

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....

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - The Black Bruce Wayne Mix

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Well... another work week is just about done... Since it is Friday, it means it is time for Featured Friday in which we shuffle songs from a smaller subset of our usual playlist. This subset includes mostly songs from albums released this year which have been sent or given to me to include at Ear to the Ground.

Let's just do it....

Feature Friday Music Shuffle - Swim to Japan Mix

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Here we are at the end of the work week! 

I had such a massively fun time last night at The Basement East.  Two shows, six full band sets, seeing and hanging out with some of my favorite people.  Music-wise: Nancy Terzian and the Leg Men, Stone Cupid featuring Julie Christensen rocked the early show.  Lauren Farrah, Raelyn Nelson Band, Darrin Bradbury leading Hot Garbage (which included Margo Price on Drums and Andrew Leahey on Guitar), and Brian Wright closed the night with four very different but all incredible sets.

Onward, we have our second installment of the newly repurposed Featured Friday... enjoy!

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Noisey Mix

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Well... let's just jump into today's shuffle!

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Pain in the Butt Mix

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Let's jump right into the shuffle... some music for a  rainy Thursday morning here in Nashville....

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Crying for You Mix

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Having come of age musically speaking in and around Nashville in the late 80s, it would not surprise anyone that last night's show featuring Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks, Bill Lloyd and his fantastic band, Warner Hodges and his fantastic band, and the newly reunited Government Cheese would be an exciting thing for me to see. I think what impressed me the most was that it wasn't all or even mostly about nostalgia or looking back.  I mean sure, I got a certain thrill when Webb did Poolside from It Came From Nashville - his first album. And there were significant memories stirred in the Nashville Jam finale - when everyone returned to the stage to do the late Tim Krekel's "I Can't Help Myself" (a song that Jason and the Scorchers recorded). The most significant aspect of the evening was that everyone had newer material and seemed to be looking forward not back.  Government Cheese has a brand new album after decades apart. And Warner Hodges, I dare say, rocked the Music City Roots stage about as hard as it has even been rocked. 

On to the shuffle...

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Beer into Air Mix

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Ever wonder what would happen if you created a playlist with a wide variety of music from different genres and different eras and then hit shuffle and wrote about the 8-12 songs that came up randomly during your morning commute?   Well, wonder no more, here at Ear to the Ground, we do this just about every week day and an occasional Saturday or Sunday if I am bored...  In fact, we did it today.... here's what happened:

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - A Czech at the Blue Line Mix

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I saw a remarkable show at City Winery - Nashville last night.  It was a CD Release show for Darrell Scott's new album which features the songs of the late Ben Bullington.  You can read my review on No Depression here.

On to the shuffle....

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - The Thrill is Gone Mix

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Of course, the dominant news of the day is the passing of B.B. King, and my Facebook feed is filled with people from all different genres of music weighing in on the passing of this legend.  King's death comes just days after the death of a much lesser known Blues singer named Captain Luke Mayer at the age of 87 and serves as a reminder that we are losing/have lost so many of the greats of the modern music era. I do not see a need to compare and contrast the  lives and careers of B.B. King and Captain Luke (at least not here and now), just to say how grateful I am that the music will endure.  Which means I am grateful for all the groups and people who are making sure that the music lives on.  And for me that means, the preservationists and historians and traditionalists as well as those who are continuing to innovate to keep all forms of Roots music (no matter how broadly that term is defined) a living breathing thing.


R.I.P. B.B. King and Captain Luke.  Thank you for the gifts of your music.