The Magnolia Roads American Roots Hoedown III kicks off in two days. We have been helping to spread the word about this cool event because:
1. It features some awesome musicians - several of whom have been featured on E2TG
2. It's being held in two of my favorite places to hang out.
3. They asked if we would.
4. That's the kind of blog we are.
(not necessarily in that order)
If you have missed or want to relive my preview posts - they can be found here:
Meanwhile, it is Wednesday and that is the day things get "Wild" here at E2TG. We call it "Wild Wednesday" because the shuffle on Wednesday comes from all the songs saved to my phones memory.
Visit Our Events Page Ear to the Ground Events!
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(All though he probably won't read this): Thanks for Kevn Kinney for raising the bar for the 5 Spot residency, for putting on four very different and very awesome shows, and for reminding me once again why I love this town. (took someone not from town to do it, too!). Last night was phenomenal with Kinney generously sharing his time with Todd Snider, Rorey Carroll, Tom Clark, Chuck Mead, and Warner Hodges (who was backed by Dan Baird, Joe Blanton, and Brad Pemberton). There were so many amazing moments.
Tonight should be another amazing night of music... did I mention I love this town? The Basement East will be my destination tonight for Nancy Terzian and The Leg Men and Stone Cupid (starting at 7:00) and then four full band sets from Darrin Bradbury, Brian Wright, Raelyn Nelson, and Lauren Farrah (starting at 9:00)
Now to the shuffle... and we have a great one today....
The end of a long strange week... we have a pretty nifty mix of old and new music of various styles and moods and subjects... all making a cohesive morning shuffle...
First off, let me be the first (okay not the first by far) to say that the notion that Nashville is a great town for music is not hype. I don't get out as often as I would like, but it seems like every time I do - amazing things happen. Now, I don't think I am that lucky a guy (although pretty lucky all things considered) nor do I think my mere presence inspires such awesomeness to occur. Therefore, my conclusion has to be that remarkable, amazing, and awesome music happens all the time in Nashville (East, West, and all points in-between).
Last night, it was an incredible night of music at The Basement. Nashville people (or anyone who finds themselves in Nashville on a Tuesday night) get yourselves down to The Basement (under Grimey's New and Pre-Loved Music) for New Faces night. Local and in-town artists of the Indie persuasion take the stage. Grimey curates, mans the soundboard... There was so much goodness last night, and I will definitely be back. I posted a bit about it over on Facebook. Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray were phenomenal. They played at least two songs which will be on their next album - set for a spring '14 release - which were both really great. Fun night...
So much going on, and yet I find myself constantly pressed for time. So here is a quick and dirty, non-complete run down of some things which have crossed my mind, my desk or my social media filters....
1. RIP Patty Andrews - the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters.
2. The Great American Novel have released a new single...
3. Couch by Couchwest is about a month and a half away. Bands: Submit your videos to Couch by Couchwest - "Where the beer is cheaper and the only hipster is you."
Well, it's Friday again, and we've reached what will likely be the final Morning Shuffle of 2012. As I mentioned yesterday, I loaded up my new memory card with a random sampling of my digital music collection. I left some space for all of the great new music to come in 2013. UPDATE on Band of the Year Voting: As of the time I am writing this post, we've had in the neighborhood of 1750 votes. Brooklyn based The Disappointment are holding a 5% point leave over Skeletons in the Piano who are from Upstate New York. Currently, New York band The Great American Novel are running third. You've got a couple more days to vote. Voting will end just before Midnight (Central Time) on Sunday December 30. Also, we need about 200 more votes to surpass our total vote count for last years inaugural Band of the Year poll. So keep the votes coming. Here is where to vote: CLICK HERE Now for the shuffle which is pretty mind-blowingly eclectic and includes some songs I probably heard for the first time today. After the JUMP!
Time marches on... a chilly, winter-like morning in Nashville with some heavy fog in downtown and apparently across the Cumberland...
This was my view when I reached the top of the hill this morning...
Now the playlist:
By 1991, Sam Phillips had already released five albums. The first four being on a Contemporary Christian Music label. By this point, she was married to Producer extraordinaire T-Bone Burnett (they would later divorce), and Burnett had produced two of her albums. They worked together again on the album Cruel Inventions. From that album, we have the lead track called Lying.
A Fan-Made video of Lying...
k.d. lang's first release in the States was called Angel with a Lariat which was released in 1987. I think I totally wore out my cassette tape copy of this one. Diet of Strange Places is a great jumping in point for this album (which still sounds great, some 25 years down the road).
I can't believe no video found for Diet... here's the title track to the album...
Bruce Cockburn's album Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws was released in 1979 and produced one of this most popular songs (in fact his only song to hit the Top 40 in the US - not that we care about that). Wondering Where the Lions Are is a great song which has stood the test of time and remains one of my favorites.
1979 was a good year for music. Coincidentally, we have the second song in a row from an album released in 1979. That year, British/American rock icons, The Pretenders released their self-titled debut album. We have an instrumental track from that record. Space Invader contains actually sounds from the classic arcade game Space Invaders.
Husker Du's entire recorded output was released within an approximately four year period, but they were, are and forever shall be one of the most influential bands ever (IMNSHO). Turn on the News from their second album, Zen Arcade, stands as one of the band's best.
A rain began to fall as I made my way through the streets of town. Monday morning cold front approaching but still warm. I grabbed my umbrella relunctantly - did I mention I hate umbrellas, but I hate being soaked at work even worse.
Up the hill (and to the landing)...
(click on album cover to purchase & download Road to Ruin with Needles & Pins)
And so it begins... The legendary New York band, The Ramones doing their cover of a song written by Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono - Needle and Pins which originally appeared on their Road to Ruin album. R.I.P. Joey, Dee Dee, & Johnny.
(click on album cover to purchase the 2011 remaster vinyl version of More Fun in the New World by X which includes Make the Music Go Bang)
I can't stand people who bitch and whine.... so X don't bitch and whine they Make the Music Go Bang on this track from one of the finest albums in the history of rock and roll - More Fun in the New World.
(click on album cover to purchase and download the classic post-punk album Flip Your Wig by Husker Du which contains the song Makes No Sense at All.)
Is it important, you're yelling so loud - Minneapolis post-punk trio - Husker Du power through one of their signature songs - Makes No Sense at All.
(click on album cover to purchase and download the orignal version of Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground today's covered by The Kills)
If I could make the world as pure and strange as what I see I'd put you in the mirror I put in front of me I'd put in front of me
The Levi's Pioneers sessions match contemporary artists with songs that shaped their music. American/British duo, The Kills take on the classic Pale Blue Eyes which originally appeared on the self-titled album by The Velvet Underground.
(click on album cover to purchase and download the orignal version of 
