According to my phone it is now 62 days until Labor Day. To my way of thinking, we are heading into the heart of the summer. Summer unofficially begins with Memorial Day and unofficially ends with Labor Day. The technical boundaries are the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox - I guess. Either way, to my mind, once we get past Independence Day in the US, we have entered the heart of the summer, and Labor Day marks the end of that period. For sure - especially lately - the hot weather can and often does linger long past that date, but after that - there is, at least, the possibility of some reprieves.
I don't really have a point to all this - except we are now officially half way through this year of change and transition. There was at least a inkling of an idea that somehow, magically, all of the bad of 2020 would just fly away on January 1 and we could look back. We were quickly dissuaded from such ideas. Even now, as things seems to be returning to normal (or at least a facsimile of normal), one cannot help but wonder what the future holds....
Featured Friday Playlist recap (Part 2) (songs 14-21):
14. "Dreamlike" by Electric Kif (feat. Aaron Parks)
Latest single from the Miami based jazz band featuring pianist Aaron Parks.
15. "S.O.S." by ilo ilo
Latest single from the L.A. based alt-electronic duo.
16. "Treading Water" by Tom Sless
Next up, we have the new single from Fort Worth, Texas based Americana rock artist Tom Sless.
17. "Wait" by Aaron J Trumm
New Mexico based singer-songwriter and label owner Aaron J Trumm with his "obligatory" COVID single. A great message and a great song.
18. "Heidio Mae'r Locustiaid" by BOI
Welsh band BOI with a track from their new album Coron O Chwinc.
19. "Hot Sweaty South" by Tenth Mountain Division
This was my introduction to Denver based Tenth Mountain Division and their brand new Butte La Rose album which was produced by Railroad Earth's Tim Carbone, and I am a fan.
20. "Good Day Sunshine" by Kate Taylor
James Taylor's "kid sister" reunites with legendary producer Peter Asher 50 years after her debut album for this stunning Beatles cover.
21. "A Little More" by Jennifer Tefft
And we close this segment of music with our second single for feature from Boston-area singer-songwriter Jennifer Tefft. A great tune to take us out for this part of the Playlist.
So, I have continued to think about E2TG and what I can do differently. It is just something I do.
This space was meant to be a place for... well... that is a good question. An introduction... Originally, I thought this would be where I would post short recaps of live music, but... well you know how that one goes...
So, I have this idea to try starting next week. We shall see. That is what E2TG has always been a long-running experiment. I can't even begin to count how many "New Features" I have introduced only to abandon after a few (or even one) occurrences. Sometimes, ideas sound good in my brain but in reality they don't work out...
Anyway, tomorrow, we will unveil a new Featured Friday Playlist. Remember you can follow the playlist on Spotify so you don't have to wait until I do my blog post tomorrow.
Well, we are square in the middle of another week in quarantine. I haven't left my apartment since Friday around this time - when I went to pick up groceries. Haven't really seen anyone in person - except the grocery person through my car window in a week and a half. My work is into a routine - with some busy days and some not as busy - like normal. Some things take longer at home.
I heard some excellent unreleased music last night - some creative work from before and during this time.
Working on some creative things of my own - slowly.
My Greetings from Nashville radio show will be on the air tomorrow. I will be playing Nashville music that spans about 34 years - from friends and favorites.
I am still trying to get my bearings after a whirlwind week and weekend and jumping into this week with both feet in the fire (to mix at least two metaphors).
Thinking a lot about the state of the world and the state of our nation and how the last three years have been so exhausting and demoralizing. The evil of one person or even a group of people does not surprise me. I know that evil exists in this world, but what has been so disheartening is the large number of people who have supported and enabled this evil.
I wrote in this space for a while about everything that was going on, and then I stopped. I am not sure if I can articulate why I stopped. Maybe it was that I felt I was preaching to the choir. I think for a time I thought that some people just weren't aware of what was happening. That their were white supremacists in the highest levels of the government, that the people in charge of protecting our most precious resources (people and the environment etc.) were hell-bent on destroying what they were supposed to protect.
I have come to accept that their are a significant number of people who know exactly what is going on and either support these cruel policies or choose to ignore them. And that is what has been so disheartening. I still maintain that their is a place for healthy debate on conservative vs. progressive viewpoints. But the fight we have today is not conservative vs. progressive or Democrat vs. Republican. It is a fight for the heart of our country - for our existence as a democracy against the rising tide of totalitarianism.
To be honest, the Democratic Presidential nomination process has been especially disheartening. At a time, when we should be single-minded in our goal - we are divided. People are treating candidates as if they are on equal footing with the current occupant of the White House. That is not the case.
The purpose of the primaries and the caucuses should be to find our best candidate. If you support one candidate over the others, tell me why. Convince me, but do it without tearing down the other candidates. One of this field will be the Democratic nominee and whether that person is our choice or not, we have to be committed to getting that person elected.
I do not claim to know whether we need the most progressive person or the most centrists. Certainly, there are no end of people who seem to know. Fine. Convince all of us. For the LGTBQ+ community, for communities of color, for the disabled, women - this election matters and is a matter of life and death. Act like it, vote like it.
On another note:
I am gearing up for the 2nd episode of Greetings from Nashville - my new morning show on WXNA. It will air tomorrow morning at 6AM on WXNA 101.5FM and wxnafm.org. If you miss the live broadcast, the show will be available on the archive shortly after 7AM. Here is a sneak peak at part of the show!
Featured Friday Playlist
Wednesday Morning Shuffle:
Another fun and eclectic shuffle today....
"Ain't No Right Way (To Do the Wrong Thing)" by John Rey-Reed (from Learnin' to Drive the Truck)
"The Next Tear" by James Scott Bullard (from Full Tilt Boogie)
"Dreamer" by Tim Henderson (from The Legacy Collection Volume 5: Songs of Protest)
A song dedicated to Martin Luther King - from the late, Kerrville New Folk award winner.
"Bake My Beans" by Brock Zeman (from Hey Tom)
Our old friend Brock Zeman - covering our old friend Tom House - from the recently released tribute album. In addition to Brock Zeman and his long-time musical compatriot Blair Hogan - this album also features cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne - who we met through some of our more experimental Canadian artists.
"I Can't Feel It Anymore" by Tombstones in Their Eyes (from Maybe Someday)
"Fanny Sketch" by Ty Segall (from Fanny)
From the EP by Ty Segall about his dog.
"Perfectly Imperfect" by Ten Penny Gypsy (from Ten Penny Gyspy)
"Second Wind" by John Dennis (from Second Wind)
As we continue to feature Mortal Flame, we go back and pick up the title track from his previous release.
"Werewolves of London" by Flamin' Groovies (from At Full Speed - Complete Sire Recordingws 1976-79)
A 1979 cover of the 1978 Warren Zevon hit.
"Turquoise and Silver (Reprise)" by Davis Raines (from Turquoise and Silver)
A brief reprise of the title track to the new album from the celebrated Nashville songwriter.
"Sweet Georgia Brown" by Johnny Gimble (feat. Merle Haggard) (from Celebrating With Friends)
We close with the late legendary Western Swing fiddle player - joined by Merle Haggard on a 2010 recording of the 1925 jazz standard.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 1/07 - The Singing Butcher - "Top 40" (single) 1/08 - Luis Mojica- Shaman Food (LP) 1/10 - Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Mary Bragg and Drivin' N Cryin' - "Don't Walk Away" (cover) (single) 1/10 - Them Airs - "Food Pyramid" (single) 1/10 - Lilly Hiatt - "Brightest Star" (single) 1/10 - Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) (E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Dean Fields - "Armadillo" (single) 1/10- Chicago Farmer - "All in One Place" (single) 1/10 - RB Morris - Going Back to the Sky (LP) 1/10 - Guided By Voices - "Volcano" (single) 1/10 - Sunshine Boys - "Infinity Girl" (single) 1/11 - Dolour (Shane Tutmarc) - "The Snake Eye" (single) 1/12 - Francesco Mariano - "Nine Lives" (single) 1/13 - Lauren Anderson - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (cover) (single) 1/14 - Drive-By Truckers - "Thoughts and Prayers" (single) 1/16 - Margo Price - Stone Me (single) 1/17 - Mark Hummel - Wayback Machine (LP) 1/17 - Jonny Polonsky - "The Weeping Souls" (single) 1/17 - Them Airs - Union Suit XL (LP)(E2TG First Impression) 1/17 - Innocence Mission - See You Tomorrow (LP) 1/17 - David Dondero - The Filter Bubble Blues (LP) 1/17 - MONO INC. - "Warriors" (single) 1/17 - Damen - "Americana" (single) 1/17 - The Singing Butcher - "Circus Girl" (single) 1/19 - Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/21 - Broads and Milly Hirst - "Happisburgh" (single) 1/22 - Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/24 - Kailey Nicole - Kailey Nicole (LP) 1/24 - Mrs. Henry - Live at the Casbah (LP) 1/24 - Aeronautical Pioneer - "Hop High" (single) 1/24 - Three Rivers Project - Confluence (LP) 1/24 - MONO INC. - The Book of Fire (LP) 1/24 - Dispel - Lore (LP) 1/24 - The New Nostalgia - "Nothing is New" (single) 1/24 - The Heliocentrics - "Burning Wooden Ship" (single) 1/24 - Electric High - "Harder to Justify" (single) 1/24 - J. Luke Cloutier - Drown (LP) 1/26 - Nik West - "Tears" (single) 1/28 - Motihari Brigade - Power from Below (LP) 1/29 - Remington Super 60 - NEW EP (EP) 1/31 - Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Daytime Highs and Overnight Lows (LP) 1/31 - Nick Pagliari - Midway (LP) 1/31 - Black Paisley - "Dreams" (single) 1/31 - Jolie Holland - Esconidida (Vinyl Reissue) (LP) 1/31 - John Dennis - Mortal Flames (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Emma Hill - How Could I Have Been So Wrong (EP) 1/31 - Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) + Danielle de Picciotto (Crime and The City Solution) - The Current (LP) 1/31 - Drive-By Truckers - The Unraveling (LP) 1/31 - Kristen Englenz - "Rebound" (single) 1/31 - Damen - "Disco" (single) 1/31 - Tinsley Ellis - Ice Cream in Hell (LP) 1/31 - The Singing Butcher - "Coming Home" (single) 2/01 - Glenn Jones - Ready for the Good Times (LP)
2/02 - Karabas Barabas - Degenerate National Anthem (LP) 2/04 - Mayflower Madame - "Vultures" (single) 2/05 - Joseph Mooradian - "We all Work Too Much"/"Dash My Dreams" (single)
2/07 - Palm Ghosts - Wide Awake and Waiting (EP) 2/07 - Emily Zuzik - "Trouble" (single) 2/07 - Chicago Farmer - Flyover Country (LP) 2/07 - Surrija - "Barcelona" (single) 2/07 - The Flyin' A's - No Holds Barred (LP) 2/07 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single) 2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP) 2/07 - HMS Morris - "Babanod" (single) 2/07 - Tiny Fighter- "Strangest Thing" (single) 2/07 - Wynnm - "Fire on the Moon" (single) 2/07 - The Golden Cage Society - Mira (Mini EP) 2/07 - Alienbaby Collective - "Degenerate Moon" (single) 2/07 - Eric and the Anti-Vaxxers - Timeshare Girlfriend (EP) 2/07 - Sammy Brue - "Teenage Mayhem" and "Crash Test Kid" (singles) 2/07 - Lucille - "Kerikeri" (single)
2/07 - Jon Magnusson - Always a Rebel (Live in Studio Silverräven) (single)
2/07 - Thomas Passon - "Über" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - "Hover" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - Hover (LP)
2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP) 2/14 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP) 2/14 - Johanna Kuvaja - "Back for Good" (single) 2/14 - Sarah Reynolds - "I Need Love" (single) 2/14 - Afterimage - "Six Seconds" (single) 2/14 - Kalee Smyth - "Bring Our Love Down" (single)
2/14 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single)
2/14 - Kid Be Kid - "Blood" (single)
2/16 - Kas Havoc - "Light'em Up" (single)
2/18 - David J - "I Only Hear Silence Now" (single) 2/19 - Paisley Fields - "Ride Me Cowboy" (single)
This Week:
2/21 - Sarah Morris - All Mine (LP) 2/21 - Kindergarten - Iphigenia (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Hot Club of L.A.- Cinema Swing (LP) 2/21 - MUUK - Balbuceo (LP) 2/21 - Aaron Beckum - Songs from a Triangle Room (EP) 2/21 - Every 13 Days - Étant Donnés (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Seablight - High-Rise Mannequins (EP) 2/21 - Various Artists -Typical Girls Vol. 5 (LP) 2/21 - 12xPretty - 12xPretty (LP) 2/21 - Arkane Skye - "Don't Ask Me Out" (single) Upcoming:
2/22 - Charlotte Eagle Sings - Embracing the Old Ways (LP)
2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP) 2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP) 2/28 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)
2/29 - Jimmy Who and the Night Creatures - Tinker's Blues (EP)
3/?? - Strange Majik - 20/20 (LP)
3/04 - Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - Chameleon (LP) 3/06 - Surrija - "Sylvette" (single) 3/06 - Dean Fields - While the Baby Was Sleeping (LP) 3/06 - Broads and Milly Hirst - Ollust (LP) 3/06 - The Mastersons - No Time for Love Songs (LP) 3/06 - Ghostwood Development Project (Feat. Kool Keith) - "Gulley" (single)
3/06 - The Mystery Plan - Ballad of JC Quinn (LP)
3/09 - Marco Bonvicini - "Colors" (single)
3/13 - The Flatmates - The Flatmates (LP) 3/13 - Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ponyoak (20th Anniversary Edition) + BLP (demos and out-takes) (LP) 3/13 - Sandwick - Reconstruct (LP) 3/13 - Foley and the Fire - "Springsteen on the Radio" (single) 3/13 - Kalee Smyth - The Ceiling (EP)
3/13 - Sha Davis - Songs I Wrote When You Left (EP)
3/13 - The Losing Touch - "Through the Night" (single)
3/18 - Marco Bonvicini - Colors (EP)3/20 - Matt Wilson and His Orchestra - When I Was a Writer (LP) 3/20 - Chris Moyse - Bitter Ballads and Cynical Prayers (LP)
3/20 - Samuel Boller - Kingdom of the Sun (LP)3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP)
3/20 - Jon Hassell - Vernal Equinox (reissue) (LP)
3/20 - Kid Be Kid - Lovely Genders (EP)3/27 - Mayflower Madame - Prepared for a Nightmare (LP) 3/27 - Alienbaby Collective - F I S H B O W L / T E R R E S T R I A L (Double EP) 3/27 - Mairena - "Weird All the Time" (single) 3/27 - Lucille - Come on,Fly (LP)
3/27 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "Money" (single)4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP)
4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (LP)
4/09 - Ellison - "Sing" (single)
4/10 - Eliza Gilkyson - 2020 (LP) 4/10 - Dan Montgomery - Smoke and Mirrors (a phonographic memory) (LP) 4/10 - Pokey LaFarge - Rock Bottom Rhapsody (LP) 4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)
4/24 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart" (single)
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)
6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)
7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)
I hoped to be making my big announcement on this blog post, but I am still waiting for the official okay...
Ever since, 2014 or so, when I started really connecting with the local music community, I have been interested in making connections between the Nashville music I came of age (musically) listening to and the music being made today (and everything in between - including stuff I missed). I didn't know what context I wanted to do this (or rather I had several ideas).
Nashville is called Music City. The term was used by WSM-AM announcer David Cobb (I don't know if he is any relation to Dave Cobb - super-producer) in a 1950 broadcast and caught on, but the idea of Nashville being a "musical city" can be credited to none other than Queen Victoria - who made that pronouncement upon hearing a performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1873.
If you read E2TG with any regularity, you know how enamored I am with the live music scene here in Nashville, and you probably have caught one of my "Music City Monday" shuffles which tries to highlight the musical diversity of the city.
I have a new project coming very soon, which I will be announcing as soon as I get the green light. In the meantime, I need to state publicly that E2TG will always be a place to highlight music from all over regardless of genre (and with an emphasis on artists who may not get the attention from other music sites).
Now, we have a nifty mid-week shuffle, so check it out below. Plus, the current Featured Friday Playlist and our Release calendar down below.
Another fun $2 Tuesday hosted by Derek Hoke at The 5 Spot in East Nashville. There are always a variety of wonderful musical choices in Nashville any given night, but if you ever find yourself in Nashville on a Tuesday, I can heartily recommend $2 Tuesday. $2 cover, $2 draft beer from local brewery Yazoo. Always a great line-up of music (including host Derek Hoke - who is always fantastic), DJ Tim Hibbs spinning tunes between sets. Last night, I caught the $2 Tuesday debut of local songwriter Bobby Corbin and his band The Corduroy Boys (at least for last night). I met Corbin several months back - I think at a $2 Tuesday maybe????, and I have seen him play solo before. I was really impressed.
Asheville band Dyado were next, and I dug their sound.
Derek Hoke was next with his regular band of Steve Latanation and Mark Robertson.
In the late spot, it was The Caprice Classics - who I think qualify as an East Nashville supergroup. Led by Joe V. McMahan, whose name we have been mentioning quite a bit lately - most recently in association with Josh Hyde's new album, with Paul Niehaus, Jon Radford, and Adam Bednarik (The last two were part of the band Luella and the Sun with McMahan and singer Luella). The band tore through a fiery set of obscure blues tunes and originals.
I am back. I had an extra extended long weekend - to recuperate from whatever it is I need to recuperate from. I am back and it is Wild Wednesday. We have a pretty wild one today.
By the way, some behind the scenes technical information. I got a new phone over the long weekend, and so this was officially the first shuffle off the new phone. I did have to recreate my playlist. So the Trending Thursday shuffle tomorrow will be the first from the new Trending playlist. I had to recreate it from memory.
I have not tried to recreate the Featured Friday playlist, and I am thinking of taking a different approach with that one. More on that later.
Let's get right to the shuffle!
Tim Henderson @ Kerrville Folk Festival Photo: Bill Nash
Sometimes I have random thoughts about society and life and I think, gee, I wish I had a place to share these thoughts besides as Facebook Status Updates. Then, I remember, hey! I have a blog that I post to every day. That being said, please feel free to skip my self-indulgent rambling ahead.
*START SELF-INDULGENT RAMBLING*
Lately, there is something I have been pondering. Namely, why so many people seem to devote so much energy to music, movies, books, art, celebrities that they don't like. (For this purpose, I am excluding criticism of current government leaders - however, there is possible still some relevance). I have seen instances were an article appears about a particular band or artist or whatever, and rather heated debate ensues between those who like said artist and those who despise said artist. What is interesting to me is not the debate or posts themselves but the amount of thought and attention that goes into the comments of those who don't like... nee hate... the said artist. Like they offer detailed explanations that demonstrate a deep familiarity with the said artists work. And it seems clear that they devote a significant amount of time, energy, and head-space to the despised artist's work. And, they seem invested in trying to convince fans of said artist that they are "wrong."
Don't get me wrong, I encourage anyone to listen to music before dismissing an artist or album whole cloth, but I just can't understand. There are certainly bands and artists that I really do not like. I gave a listen and decided it just wasn't my thing. I don't feel compelled to "straighten out" people who actually like them. I have neither the time, energy, or inclination to dissect and analyze all the reasons I don't like their music. I get if a professional journalist is tasked with this, but as an amateur and more importantly, as a music fan, I don't understand it. There is more good music being produced than I can possibly take in (and arguably I spend more time than the average person listening to new music). If I spend time on the bands I hate, I would have even less time for the bands I love.
And yes, I do recognize the irony of using time and blog-space to even write about this.
*END SELF-INDULGENT RAMBLING*
Speaking of new music! I loaded even more new music into my phone last night - including a couple I am really excited to feature coming up soon.
Today is Thursday and it is time to dive back into the "2019 Trending Playlist" of the newest of the new arrivals at E2TG,
E2TG's connection to Darrin Bradbury goes back to 2012 when his old band Big Wilson River was a "Featured Artist". What I didn't know is that the band was in their final days, and I never really connected with them - although I had several mutual friends. Fast forward to late 2013 when one of those mutual friends Papa Tunes (who was a vital part of the early days of E2TG) sent me a message that Darrin was moving to Nashville and that I should keep an eye out for him. I immediately went out and found some music he had out on Bandcamp - mainly a collection of demos called The Almost Great Crepes. I was utterly blown away by his songwriting.
Darrin moved to Nashville with bassist Cameron Carrus (Buck N Stuff, Tim Carroll, Nikki Bluhm etc) and lived for a time in a car in the parking lot of a Wal Mart. He also started playing every open mic in town and meeting fellow musicians and songwriters.
Early 2014, Darrin went out on an extended tour and my life kind of fell apart. Meanwhile, his songs started showing up in my shuffle - like every day. Finally, in the Spring of 2014, I met Darrin in person. In the Fall of 2014, I followed Darrin to open mics of every kind imaginable. Through him, I met a bunch of people. I began to dig myself out of a personal hole and E2TG was revitalized.
We had a lot of late night, early morning conversations when he was working the back door at The 5 Spot.
Last night, on my birthday - no less - I learned (officially) that Darrin had signed to ANTI- Records out of L.A. - the home of Tom Waits, Mavis Staples, Wilco, and so many more. I could not be more proud of him. I claim no part in his success, but I am grateful to have been along for what has been an incredible journey.
As is always the case, the road ahead is filled with unknowns, but I will happily follow along and see where and how it goes.
I need to add - there is no formula for success and I do not consider myself to have any particular skill in assessing who will or will not be a "success" (whatever that term means). I simply write about music I like and love. In the 7 and a half years of E2TG, I have written about artists/bands who I thought were incredible who are now no longer making music. I knew Darrin Bradbury was something special, but I didn't know if anyone else would ever see and know that. I am happy that it appears that some have.
Back to the here and now. I am super-stoked about the variety and quality of the music in my new "Trending" playlist. It's Tuesday - so let's shuffle!
First of all I know I still owe you all two posts for 2018. I have a Earie wrap-up post mostly done and then the all important Golden Earie Awards. Realistically, it will be this weekend before those get done.
However, last night, I got caught up on a ton of new music that has come my way over the last month or so. I loaded over 300 songs into my phone. For 2019, I have created a new "Trending" playlist for Trending Tuesday and Trending Tuesday. This is all music received since around November 2018 or later. That playlist stood at 313 songs at the beginning of today.
The previous "New Music" playlist has been re-dubbed the "Featured" playlist. This will be a constantly expanding playlist of music that has come my way. It has all the music from the previous New Music playlist plus some music accumulated in November and December that wasn't submission. (For example, I got a CD from a gift exchange and I got an annual mix CD from a friend) - those went into the "Featured" playlist but not the "Trending" playlist. However, I should point out that all the music added to the "Trending Playlist" went into the "Featured Playlist".
So today, is Thursday so the shuffle came from the newly created "Trending playlist"
Bottom line, it's all good. Listen to music! Let's shuffle!
