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As I am still struggling to find time to do everything I want to do, I thought I would take some time to highlight some recent and upcoming new releases of interest. As always, the complete list can be found at the bottom of every daily post (and it is updated constantly).
Some of this music has been added to my phone for inclusion in the daily shuffles, some has been included in the Featured Friday Playlist....
Recent Releases:
2/07 - Chicago Farmer - Flyover Country (LP)
Sixth full-length album. Recorded with Band of Heathens. I understand that Darrin Bradbury will be opening some dates for Chicago Farmer.
2/07 - The Flyin' A's - No Holds Barred (LP)
Austin Texas based husband and wife duo release their fourth full-length album featuring an all-star cast of Austin musicians.
2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP)
I caught Stelling at the ANTI- Records showcase at AMA this past fall, but his association with E2TG goes back to 2012 when he was a featured artist for November/December in that year. At that time, he was living in New York City, and I believe he was closely associated with some of the other New York bands we were featuring - like The End Men, The Disappointment, and The Gypsy West.
2/07 - Sammy Brue - "Teenage Mayhem" and "Crash Test Kid" (singles)
Some new music from the teen sensation. The full album is due out in June, but he released the title track and another single on Friday. Sounding great. He first gained attention portraying a young Justin Townes Earle on an album cover and video, but he has flourished on the strength of his songwriting and relentless pursuit of music.
This week:
2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP)
Excited for this release. I have been a huge fan of Grant Peeples since meeting him at the first Wild Ponies Happy Hour I ever attended back in 2014?. For his latest album, he has recorded songs by female songwriters (including Telisha Williams of the aforementioned Wild Ponies).
2/14 - Kalee Smyth - "Bring Our Love Down" (single)
Great to hear new music from Kalee Smyth. The full album drops in March. As a member of The Western Shore, she played the first ever "E2TG Presents" show at The Building. For this new album, she has assembled a team with some majorly impressive credits ( including Kasey Musgraves, Usher, The Band Perry, George Jones, Diana Krall, and Hank III)
Later:
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
Super stoked to have a release date for the new Brian Wright album (E2TG Artist of the Year 2016). I got a preview of this music at his residency last year, and I have been so excited for this news ever since.
In my rush to get things done and do everything and be everywhere, I have had uninvited thoughts fill my brain, so I have to speak to those voices, and I hope maybe someone else who needs to hear this will hear it. The dilemma/conundrum/catch-22 in which I often find myself is that if I go out to every show I want to (and even then have to miss two or three others), then I don't get much writing done and I start to feel irrelevant. But, if I stay in more often and miss a bunch of shows to get writing done, then I feel irrelevant because I am not going out. Today, I just need to say, that nothing I do or don't do, nowhere I go or don't go - none of that makes me irrelevant. I am relevant even if I don't go out and even if I don't write. I write and go out because I love doing those things - not to make myself relevant.
I also need to say, that I should not compare myself to anyone. I often judge myself harshly for not getting enough done (ignoring the fact that I have two radio shows, a music blog, a full-time job, and more). I give myself hell for resting, for relaxing, for goofing off, for whatever... I should stop that.*
*I have to say, I have improved in all of this greatly in the last few years, but I still need the occasional reminder.
Featured Friday Playlist
