E2TG 12/21/2021 - The Long and the Short of It - God(d) of Thunder Mix (Staring at the Sun Remix)

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Today's Holiday Themed Ear to the Ground radio show is up on the archive at WXNA 

6:00am Sonny Boy by Owsley on Owsley (Giant)

6:02am Cocktail for Christmas by India Ramey on Cocktail for Christmas – Single (India Ramey)

6:05am I’ll Be Home for Xmas by Modesty Blaise on I’ll Be Home For Xmas – Single (From Lo-Fi to Disco!)

6:08am Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Without You by Tom Schreck on Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Without You – Single (Tom Schreck)

6:14am Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by The Highway Women on Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Single (Heart Songs Corporation)

6:17am Winnebago by Ghost Town Remedy on Winnebago – Single (Never Nude Records)

6:20am A Long December by Mary Bragg on A Long December – Single (Tone Tree Music / Mary Bragg)

6:24am A Memory of Snow by Sofia Talvik on A Memory of Snow – Single (Makaki Music)

6:30am Fairytale of New York (feat. Lillie Mae) by James Ethan Clark & The Renegades on Fairytale of New York (feat. Lillie Mae) – Single (James Ethan Clark & The Renegades)

6:35am Santa Claus Is Leaving by Ro Halfhide on Santa Claus Is Leaving – Single (All Systems Go!)

6:38am Peace & Love, Merry Christmas by David Woodard on Around the Power Pop Tree (David Woodard)

6:41am The Light of Christmas Day by Ranchers for Peace on Joy To the Ranch – Single (O-V Sonic Recordings)

6:46am My Favorite Things by Kim Collins on A Kim Collins Christmas – EP (Devil’s Tower Records/Bandaloop Music)

6:49am Santa’s Bringing Coal by Jeff Tuohy on Santa’s Bringing Coal – Single (Head Bitch Music)

6:52am Feeling More Like Christmas by Glass Cabin on Feeling More Like Christmas – Single (RIG Entertainment)

6:57am The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) by The Fundamental Sound on Lofi Christmas (Sonora Music Co.)

Today's Shuffle is below the jump.  This will be the last post of the week. So have a very Merry Christmas if you celebrate and if not have a happy winter solstice and a great rest of the week. 
 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 12/3/2020 - The Home Stretch - Second Hand Nudes Mix (Clown School Dropout Remix)

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So, this is how my mind works... I was first thinking about how annoying it is when someone keeps trying to convince you that you should like a particular artist. Like, if in conversation, you say that you don't care for (fill in the band/artist) and someone keeps insisting that you just haven't listened to the right album or that you need to listen again or whatever... 

My next train of thought was to try to justify why people do that... (my theory) deep down, we all want to find ways to connect with other people (though some of us are really bad at it). Music is one way we can connect with others. So when we find someone with similar tastes in music - we may try to build on that connection. So, when we learn that this person with whom we have made a connection don't share our love a favorite artist/band - we may try to "force" that connection - and think they must not have listened or listened properly. 

Then again, some people are just jerks who think their opinion is the only one that matters. :-)

And just like that, it is time to wrap up our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist and prepare the way for a brand new playlist coming up around midnight (or tomorrow if I fall asleep early as I have done once before).Songs 17-19

17. "Wintering" by BlackSheepLad

Earlier this week, another track from Sleeping Alone in the Daytime showed up in the daily shuffle, and I teased this track. As a music fan, I have been inspired by the creativity that has come out of this most challenging year. BlackSheepLad (Phil Mellen) has had more than his share of challenges this year, but out of that he has crafted a really wonderful record. 

18. "Coming Home" by Lady Buds

First of all, I challenge anyone to try to type Lady Buds without at least once typing Lady Bugs.  But anyway, Lady Buds are a Liverpool-based duo who are described as travelling indie/folk urban new age rock.  This is the opening track from their new album From the Cities.... to the Shores.  By the way, I wasn't sure I understood all those descriptors/genres, but upon listening it actually makes sense - in a good way.  This is a really great track. My mind almost makes connections to several different earlier bands/artists, but truly the band as a really unique sound.

19. "Goddess Pt.1" by Shadi G 

Swedish singer-songwriter Shadi G - like Lady Buds - hits on several different sounds and genres to create something unique.  This new single has elements of jazz, r&b, soul, hip-hop, and Persian music. Shadi G has a wonderful voice. She also formed her own record label in 2017.  I always say, I like to end each playlist with some of the most interesting music in the Playlist, and all I can say is mission accomplished this week. 

This week's list was shorter than previous weeks, but it was not short on great songs. Every week, I look forward to discovering some great new (to me) artists and catching up with some old (to me) favorites.  It is my sincere hope that those who check out E2TG or even just peruse the Playlist will discover some new favorites. 

         

    Featured Friday Playlist

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - The Devil Mix

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Okay - expect two posts over the weekend to wrap-up 2018.  I have one final Earie Award post - for all the ones that didn't come through during the eleven Earie posts I made in December.  Then, we have the highly anticipated 2018 "Golden Earie" Awards for Bands and Artists of the Year.  Who will it be?  Check back with us later this weekend.

Now, we wrap-up our first week of shuffles for 2019.  This is Featured Friday.  From today until further notice, Friday will be only day in which our shuffle comes from the large "Featured Music" playlist.  Essentially, this list will be all the music from the New Music playlist used last year, plus any new music submitted to E2TG, plus any other music acquired.

Let's get to it!

Featured Friday Morning - Human Clay Mix

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For your holiday shopping: The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available


Well, here we are at the last day of November. We about to enter the final month of 2018.  As a friend likes to point out, the calendar year is arbitrary and has been/is different era to era, culture to culture. Regardless, it is as good a time as any to take stock.  What's working, what's not, what could be better, and where to set sights for the year ahead.  I'll be focusing on all that in December, all while continuing to bring new music to light and to reflect on the great music of 2018.

I am working on making a decision about the E2TG Artists and Bands of the Year.  As in the last two years, my thought is to have two winners in each category.  Band and Artist of the Year Nashville and Band and Artist of the Year (Non-Nashville).  Truthfully, every time I think I've settled on a list, I remember another artist who is kicking butt. It's not going to be an easy decision, but do know - everyone I write about is a winner in my book. Plus, despite rumors to the contrary, E2TG awards to not include a cash prize or anything like that.

We have a pretty nifty shuffle of songs to close out the month. Let's get to it!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Chaos Precaution Phase II Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)
E2TG September 2018  (coming soon!)

Words No Music A Reading coming Thursday, November 15, 2018 6:30pm Radio Cafe Nashville. No Cover, tips accepted and books will be for sale. We have an incredible line-up featuring David Olney,  Rod Picott, Luke Powers, Rebecca Weiner Tompkins, and yours truly. All but me are incredible musicians and songwriters, but for this show - they will let their words speak for them without music.  I will be reading from The Drift plus some selections from a forthcoming book.   FACEBOOK EVENT HERE!


Whew! It's Friday!  It's been a bit of whirlwind week for me. I moved on Wednesday (I am beyond grateful to have such great friends - a solid crew of wonderful people who made the move as painless as possible). I'll be unpacking and decorating the new place for weeks, but I'm at least settled. I had two meetings for WXNA - big stuff is happening.

We close the week with a pretty cool Featured Friday shuffle - a couple of first listens, some returning favorites, some big names, and a pretty diverse mix.  Let's go!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Basic Cable Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed three - January - May 2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018 NEW


Had a great time at Dee's last night.  It is always a pleasure to see Wild Ponies - to me they are the best of what Nashville has to offer - both musically and as people.   They were fantastic last night.  Also on the bill was Suzanne Harper and Lindsay White.  Suzanne Harper is from the band Talks Like June. You may recall that about three years back, I humble bragged about getting to go to the famous Cash Cabin Studio - built by Johnny Cash and now run by John Carter Cash.  The event that brought me there was for Talks Like June. It was my first time seeing her since that day, and she was great. It was my first time (period) seeing Lindsay White. I really enjoyed her performance. Music was great, the hangs were great.

Tonight, I will make another pilgrimage to The 5 Spot for Tim Carroll's Rock n Roll Happy Hour.  The best free event (hell the best event (period)) in Nashville.

Well, we've made it to end of another week.  We dive back into our "new music" playlist.

Let's just get to it.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Village and Wall Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed three - January - March 2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 (NEW!)


In case you missed it, last Friday, we premiered a new song, "Gloria" by Nashville singer-songwriter Benjamin Jason Douglas from his album First World Blues which is being released this coming Friday.  Check it out HERE !

Last night, I was alerted to a last minute show add at The 5 Spot.  It was a fun hang with some friends.  On the bill was the one and only Booray, Bob Lewis, and Benjamin Jason Douglas (who's song "Gloria" we recently premiered.  It's always a pleasure to see Booray, Bob Lewis is getting set  to release an album - and he gets better every time I see him, and it was my first time seeing a full-band set from Ben Douglas - and he was incredible. Plus there were great sets from   two "new to me" artists: Noah Jackson and Baby Velvetron. 

Tonight, I will be heading back to The 5 Spot for a show that features the awesome Erica Blinn (you may recall we premiered a song for her a while back), a band called Wanderers, plus Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars - plus a closing set (and live album recording) by Adrian + Meredith.  You may recall Kinsley and Adrian + Meredith were on the bill for our 5th Anniversary show in May 2016.

Anyway, it is Thursday - and we dive back into the "New Music" playlist for our Trending Thursday shuffle.

Let's go!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Wriggle and Bounce Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

The world is sometimes (and lately more often than not) a maddening, depressing, frustrating, painful, troublesome, messed-up ball of confusion. But, today is my daughters' birthdays and they are a light in this sometimes dark world.  And music makes me happy or makes me think or makes me cry or makes me move or sometimes all of those at once. 

Let's get right into our shuffle. It is Thursday, so we are going to find out what the shuffle function says is "trending" around here:

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Always Resist Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

Last night, I made it out to Madison Guild Monday for the first time in a while.  Such a fun event - always hosted by a songwriter - last night it was Nick Nace.  I was late and missed Sean Quinn and some others, but I did get to see Chris Moyse, J.R. Wyatt, Nick Nace, and Jon Latham. Plus, I got a chance to hang with some wonderful people.  It was Kristen Englenz's birthday, and I figured out it was my half birthday.  

Well, yesterday was Music City Monday, but as we head into Trending Tuesday, we have a very heavily Music City-centric shuffle.   Let's just get to it!