E2TG 7/13/2020 - Music City Monday - Stomp and Holler Mix (War All the Time Remix)

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I'm kind of short on time and probably will be this week, so I'm going to skip the preliminaries.  We have some great music to share. Songs 6-10 of this week's Featured Friday Playlist.  Also, if you follow E2TG on Instagram, I will sharing the individual tracks as presented her on my story. Look for today's songs later today.

Also, a note about the Featured Friday Playlist. The ordering of this playlist is a weird combination of planned and arbitrary.  I don't want to go into details, but suffice it so say it should not be considered a ranking in any way, and I definitely sometimes save great songs for the latter part of the playlist. Nevertheless, I have never liked the idea of songs competing against each other.  The playlist is new and recent music that I dig. Period.

Below the jump, we have this week's Music City Monday Shuffle - a random shuffle of the exhaustive (84+ hours) playlist of Nashville-centric music.

First out, we continue our review of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 6-10

6. "The Hills" by Leland Sundries

We start things off with a new release from an E2TG favorite.  Leland Sundries - now based in Memphis came back with a garage rock cover of a song by The Weeknd.  A fresh take on the song. 

7. "Missing the Missing" by Andrew Leahey & The Homestead

Another new single from Andrew Leahey & The Homestead. Leahey started recording the song in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia and finished in Nashville. It was inspired by the music he heard growing up.

8. "You're the Only One (Who Breaks my Heart)" by Ben Arthur

Long time, E2TG favorite Ben Arthur is back with a new single and also new episodes of his Song/Writer Podcast. I really love this song. 

9. "Good Life" by Hurricane Ruth

Up next, we have the title track from the brand new album by blues vocal powerhouse Hurricane Ruth.  The song co-written by Hurricane Ruth stems from a conversation she had with her mother about a year before the elder woman passed away. It is an emotionally gripping song of perseverance, hard work, pain, and strength. 

10. "Hey Child" by Margo Price

From the words of mother at the end of her life, to the words of a mother to a child near the beginning of their life. This is a track from That's How Rumors Get Started - the highly anticipated new album from Nashville's own Margo Price. Although Price, at this point, doesn't really need me to help spread the word, I included her because of her long and continued role in the Nashville music community I love. From Buffalo Clover to her band The Price Tags, Margo Price, in her success, has continued to champion the music of this community. I have fond memories of her playing drums for Darrin Bradbury during a show (or two) at The Basement East. 

Tomorrow songs 11-15 (or so)

    Featured Friday Playlist

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Sentimental Elemental Sushi Mix

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Catching up on some announcements: E2TG Favorites, The Foresters are releasing their eagerly anticipated new album House Stories on Friday!  Here is the link!

As always, there is a ton of great live music in Music City.  Of note: Saturday night, at The 5 Spot, I am excited about the Dan Montgomery CD Release Show with special guests BARK and Julie Christensen.  Montgomery's new album GONE sounds amazing, it is always great to see Tim and Susan of BARK, and Julie Christensen is one of my favorite artists and people. This is a no-brainer, do-not-miss kind of show!

Also, earlier in the day on Saturday, Sue and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary of Double Shot with Joe and Sue.  Our theme will be leftovers: we will be revisiting past themes and playing songs that we didn't get or think to play the first time around.  Right after Double Shot, I will be filling in for Leslie on Nashville U and spinning some local tunes (past and present) and Gina will be on hand with special in-studio guest Rayvon Pettis!

Double Shot begins at 11a.m. Central Time on 101.5 FM in Nashville and wxnafm.org or via the TuneIn App everywhere.

Really cool coincidence, yesterday, I posted Jon Magnusson's tribute to a local hockey team in Sweden and joked about co-opting the song for the Nashville Predators, and Magnusson commented that one of the Predators players (Filip Forsberg) previously played for the team his song is about.


Time for some wildness on our Wild Wednesday shuffle - this is the day we shuffle from ALL of the songs on my phone.  A wild mix today,,,,

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Downward Spiral and a Uphill Climb Mix

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Okay... Look, as I have been saying and saying... I do not like talking "politics" on E2TG.  Although, my own leanings are decidedly to the left, and I consider myself a progressive, I do recognize that there is room on almost any issue for differing viewpoints, and I believe that (at least in theory) our strength as a nation comes from working together to find common ground - even if the outcome is not ideal for either "side".  I also believe that the false "duality"of our current two party system does not leave room for nuances of opinions.  (i.e. you are either for or against something. No middle ground allowed).  However, where I feel I must speak out is on matters that I believe transcend (or should transcend) "politics".  Right now, there is evil in the world.  The rise of fascist and neo-fascists around the globe, the current situation for minorities of all kinds around the world... threats of genocide.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, look around. The United States should be a global leader in opposing this things, but as things currently stand, we seem to be supporting the oppressors, and we are doing own forms of oppression. It is the rights of all people - especially those who are most at risk that makes me take up time and space out of my music blog to speak out.

Nevertheless, the fact that it is necessary in 2017 to have a march to support science. When did science become a political issue?  (I am aware of the evolution vs. creation debates). When did suppressing scientific research and gagging scientists become okay?
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All right, well, ICYMI, last night, I revealed the details of the final week of the E2TG May Residency at The 5 Spot in East Nashville.  I am so excited to have Amelia White and the Blue Souvenirs helping close out our month.  And, joining them, all the way from Washington D.C. will be Fuzzqueen.  Fuzzqueen is the current incarnation of Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray (who have been featured here for a few years). This promises to be, most likely, our most diverse night of music for the whole month.  Fuzzqueen has suggested that ear plugs are in order.  It will be a great way to end the month!

Meanwhile, it is Monday and we have a wonderful selection of Music City related songs for you...

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - It Runs Together Mix

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Watching with interest the testimony from the FBI Director to Congress. This are surely historic and terrifying times.

Friday night - took in a bunch of great music and celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a very traditional way. Tim Carroll Rock n Roll Happy Hour with Luella - always a great way to start a Friday.

Ben de la Cour, Clark Paterson, and Patrick Kinsley and A Fistful of Dollars were all wonderful.

I spent the rest of the weekend trying to catch up on some things.

Well - it is Monday and time for some Music City Monday tunes.  All artists with a connection to Nashville, Tennessee.  Go!

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.

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 - Just Like My Mama Said Mix

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To be sure, I see a bunch of great live music here in Nashville, and I probably miss at least as many if not more than I get to see.

Last night was one of those great shows that I did get to see, and it was a show that made me really happy that I live in Nashville. It was the Aaron Lee Tasjan Release Show for In the Blazes at The Basement (the original one) last night.  Zach Schmidt opened the show back by Adam Kurtz on pedal steel.  Zach Schmidt looks like a Country music star should look, and he has the songs and voice to back up the look. He is the real deal, and he easily kick the ass of any one of those "bro-country" posers, but he is probably too nice a guy to do that.

Aaron Lee Tasjan is a one of a kind artist, and he seems destined to as hugely famous as he deserves to be.  Seeing him live under any circumstances and in any configuration (band or solo) is always a must-see event.  When he assembles the kind of band he did last night, the show is one for the ages.  Backed by drummer Aaron Shafer-Haiss, legendary bassist Keith Christopher, the always amazing Brian Wright and Jon Latham on guitars, and on two songs backed by vocal powerhouses Sally Jaye and Sarah Potenza - Tasjan's incredible songs were delivered with precision and power.

In short, the night was a demonstration of what I love about this city.  Great songwriters, talented players, mutual admiration, and incredible music.  The Basement was packed out and everywhere I looked were awesome songwriters and players taking it in.

In the Blazes is hands down one of the best records of the year, and you should definitely check it out.

We have a shuffle to put out....