E2TG 2/4/2020 - Featured Video "Stand a Chance" - Red Pits Mix (Sycamore Canyon Remix)

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Excited this morning to feature a new video from an old friend. Charles Hager may be based in Las Vegas now, but we still consider him part of the Nashville family. The song comes from his latest album Truth and Love which we featured at the end of 2019.

Charlie Hager is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tn. He credits the majority of his musical abilities to his father, James Bernard, a longtime West Virginia bluegrass player from the 1940's to his death in 1981. His writing styles and influences come mostly from Texas based singer/songwriters from Billy Jo Shaver, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and J.J. Cale. In his youth, Charlie, decided to not attend a large high school in Nashville and instead moved out the the Tennessee countryside to a small rural high school in Trousdale County which instilled his small town values. After graduation and a few years at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, he decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps and travel the world and for the first time started playing and writing. In 1991, he returned to Nashville and began playing local venues in the area. In the summer of 1993, he was married and had 3 children. During this time his music was placed on a back burner. In 2011 and after a divorce, Charlie returned to the Nashville music scene and with the help of some of his musical friends began playing regular shows and writing songs again. In 2016, American Saga, his first album was released. It was received well by the media. During 2016 and 2017 Charlie played with his band at numerous venues around Nashville and on several radio stations live in both Nashville and Knoxville. Also, he began working on his sophomore album, "Truth and Love".
E2TG Premiered the video for "These Days" from American Saga. That post is our most viewed post ever.
In July of 2018, he relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada because of his work with a production company. He is also working on establishing himself on the west coast. For more information visit: https://www.charliehager.com/
VIDEO CREDITS Directed by Alex Hopkins Director of Photography Francis Myron Calara Love.Live. Productions 2019 Simple Equations Media, LLC Flour Sack Cape Records Greenland Studios BMI


Verse 1 Don’t you realize we always go down this road When there’s a problem we just lose control. It seems like we would recognize the cause. If we’re going to stand a chance to stand a chance at all.
(Chorus) If we’re going to stand a chance to stand a chance at all. We need to hang on, we got to be strong Each and every time something good goes wrong. If we’re going to stand a chance at all.
Verse 2 I know it ain’t easy but we have to make sure there’s time For our hearts to teach our stubborn minds. And we can’t worry when we’re about to fall. If we’re going to stand a chance to stand a chance at all
(Chorus)

    Featured Friday Playlist

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Shake Shake Shake Like a Rattlesnake Mix

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Okay... trying to catch my breath after Americana Fest... here is a quick wrap up.  Friday, I did get off work around 2:00 and made it to Drifter's in time to catch the end of Marvin Etzioni's set - which was wonderful.  Next up was Brian Langlinais who absolutely killed it was an amazing band that included Jim Hoke, Jonell Mosser, and Ron Eoff among others. Great swampy - Louisiana/Tennessee music...

After a quick trip to Fanny's House of Music with Jill Kettles and Alexander Wright (2Ton Bridge), I made my way to The 5 Spot to catch the first hour of Tim Carroll Rock and Roll Happy Hour - which started early for AMA.  Off to WNXA to pick up the banner and fliers and ran into my friend Karen and Gabrielle Louise - who I have been posting about - great to get to meet her.   Off to The Station Inn for a magical night - of introducing bands and telling people about WXNA.  My highlight was getting to meet and introduce Syd Straw and to hear her sing some of my favorite songs of hers. "Think Too Hard", "Chasing Vapor Trails", "String of Pearls", and "Golden Dreams"... Another big highlight was hearing Tyler Childers and wondering why I was just discovering this incredible songwriter????  He brought the house down.  Great playing from 10 String Symphony, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, and The Lonely Heartstring Band.

Saturday, I had a nice breakfast/brunch with a bunch of fine folks and then made to the Cafe Rooster launch party at Little Harpeth - and to catch some of the festival's MVPs like Darrin Bradbury, Jon Latham, Aaron Lee Tasjan etc. before I had to scoot.  Sad that I was prevented from seeing Jon Latham, but happy of the reports of a packed house and an (as expected) kick ass set.

Final reflections:  The term Americana music  may bring to mind bad pop/rock bands that add a banjitar and don Western wear... Or some other loathsome thing... but my take for this year is that the Americana Music Association opened their doors to some of my favorite people (who also happen to be the best musicially - in my opinion)... The big umbrella seemed a little bit bigger this year, and I had an amazing time - even while missing out on ton of things due to lack of cloning and stuff.. As I posted last week - the festival started with covers of The Who, Blondie, and The Pogues - as it turned out - that beginning did seem to set the tone for a festival with some memorable and rocking moments.

With Americana Fest over, I headed back to The 5 Spot for a more typical East Nashville night at my favorite watering hole... caught the tail end of Sunday Night Soul (which I had heard good things about) and was blown away. Next up, a party put on my the good folks at Cosmic Thug Records (a label formed by super-producers Adam Landry and Justin Collins along with long time E2TG favorite Pony Boy.  In typical East Nashville fashion, the show featured Carey Kotsionis, Lilly Hiatt, Pony Boy, Emma Swift and Robyn Hitchcock, T. Hardy Morris, Tristan, Justin and the Cosmics, and Smoking Flowers.  Everyone was incredible.  Pony Boy and Emma and Robyn each did Dylan covers. Lilly Hiatt was amazing as always, Tristan was next level good plus brought up Caitlin Rose. T. Hardy Morris was incredible guest John McCauley (Deer Tick)... Robbie from Deer Tick played a variety of instruments (keys, bass, drums) with several different artists. Justin and the Cosmics left nothing on or off the stage in an electrifying performance.   Among the people who crowded the club were Bobby Bare Jr., Lucinda Williams, and many more great artists.  Yep - pretty normal night on the East side.

Whew!  On to the shuffle: Music City style!

Throwback to Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - It Was Real at the Time Mix

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It was great to see the East Nashville music community coming together to support one of their own last night.  Rod Picott turned week two of his July residency at The 5 Spot into a benefit for Megan Palmer who is recovering from surgery following a diagnosis of breast cancer.  In addition to medical bills, she recently released an amazing new album and is unable to tour in support of it.  The show was live streamed on Concert Window.  If you were not able to attend or watch, you can still help.  Visit the GoFundMe page and give what you are able.

As for the music, it was - as could be expected - nothing short of spectacular.  Picott opened with his awesome band for a few songs.  Then, he did a round with Wild Ponies and Amy Speace.  After that, Tim Easton, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and Allen Thompson did a round.  Amazing music all around.

Highlights (among many) - Aaron Lee Tasjan's "East Nashville Song About a Train" complete with train whistles provided by Rod Picott and Stacie Huckeba (one of the organizers of the event) and new East Nashvillian, Steve Poltz who absolutely killed it with his song, "Folksinger".

In other news, it is release day for the long awaited new album by long-time E2TG faves, Valued Customer of Toronto. The album is called Hugecup, and I have heard it and it is easily added high on my list of favorites for 2016. More to come from me about this album soon. Valued Customer are playing a release show in Toronto - if you are reading this and happen to be in that city - here are the details.

It is Thursday and we throw it back like usual - just not as far as usual.  We throw it back to Monday and shuffle up the Music City Monday playlist...

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Dying of Thirst Mix

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Come to the E2TG 5 Year Extravaganza on May 18 @ The 5 Spot (9pm) - A stellar line-up of talent and maybe cake*
(*maybe not cake, but you won't know if you do not come)

E2TG began in May 2011 on a wing and a prayer and on the now defunct website Posterous.  Milestones and anniversaries are always a good time to look back and reflect, and as I do so, at the beginning of this anniversary month, the word that comes to my mind is gratitude. At the risk of being cheesy, it is almost inconceivable for me to think about how my life might be if I had never started Ear to the Ground. During some of my darkest times, this blog and more importantly the friends I have made and the people I have met because of E2TG have realty helped to keep me going.

So, I think through this month, I will take every appropriate opportunity to express that gratitude...

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Broken Man in Flight Mix

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The E2TG 5th Anniversary Extravaganza coming May 18 @ The 5 Spot (East Nashville)

Welcome to the working week....

ICYMI - In just a few short weeks, we will be celebrating the 5th Anniversary of this blog with an amazing night of music and mayhem at The 5 Spot in East Nashville.  Musical performers will include: Julie Christensen, Sergio Webb, and Chris Tench (of Stone Cupid); BARK (2/3 of Tim Lee 3 from Knoxville), Adrian + Meredith, Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars, and special guests all the way from Bethany, Connecticut - The Foresters.  Make you plans now to attend!


It is Monday  when we explore songs and artists that are somehow (at least in my mind) connected to THE Music City (aka Nashville, Tennessee). 

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Honey Honey Mix

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I am honestly at loss for what to write about in this introduction.  I am scheduled to see a bunch a good music including taking in my first 3rd and Lindsley show for No Depression. At the rate things are going, I may not even make it to East Nashville until Friday - which is highly unusual.

Today's shuffle is a pretty balanced mix of current (or at least recent) music along with some of my all-time favorites....  Let us see what is in store....

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Don't Need a Hammer Mix

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Today's shuffle is a pretty nice mix of friends and heroes with a "new to me" band thrown in for good measure....