E2TG 2/28/2022 - Music City Monday - Closing Jam Mix (Talking Dogs Remix)

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It is Monday and time for another jam packed Music City Monday Shuffle - below the jump....

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 1/7/2021 - Featured Friday - Hold You Down Mix (I'm Gold Remix)

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Today is the long anticipated return of the Featured Friday Playlist. We took a little break starting in November due to time off and holidays and such, but we are back.  This list features some songs released in recent weeks up to the current week.  

We highlight the first ten below. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 9/27/2021 - Featured Friday on Monday (Fresh Start) - Bloodlight Mix (The Grand Design Remix)

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Okay - a combination of things: Americana, work, lack of sleep, mood - forced me to kind of punt on the blog for the end of last week. 

I do have a brand new Featured Friday Playlist - which I am unveiling a couple of days late. 

As always enjoy! Give our Playlist a follow if you are so inclined, and if you find music you love, give the band or artist some support.
 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 6/25/2021 - Featured Friday - Counting Roaches Mix (Wild Horses Remix)

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As I expected, after a week off, we have a 65 song 4+ hour Featured Friday Playlist - and it is jam-packed with great music.  So, strap in... I have something in mind to get us through the next week, but as usual, we will start with the first segment - this time 15 songs - down below the jump.

Usual disclaimers and stuff - follow the Playlist on Spotify.  If you hear music you like, support the artist in a meaningful way - off of Spotify (buy music and/or merch, spread the word, follow on social media and/or sign up for e-mail lists, see the band live if  they come to your town...)

On we go!

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 6/7/2021 - Music City Monday - Shallow Graves Mix (Hard Times Fell Remix)

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Back to it after a very nice weekend. 

Featured Friday recap Part 2 (Songs 12-18):

12. "My Father Took Me Everywhere" by Chris Connelly & Monica Queen

First up, we have the first single from the ambitious and inspired new album from Chris Connelly (who has worked with Ministry, Revolting Cocks and more). The album - called My Birthday Poems is due out on June 15 and is a fictionalized account of the relationship between Scottish poet George Mackay Brown and his muse Stella Cartwright.

13. "Don't Look Down" by Doug Kistner

Next, we have a solo single from keyboardist Doug Kistner - known for his work with 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, John Waite, and more. 

14. "Third Street" by Annie Keating

Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Annie Keating just released her new album Bristol County Tides on June 4. This is the lead track from the album. Great stuff. 

15. "Working Man's Dread" by The Contraptionists

Next up, we have the title track from the new album from L.A. based The Contraptionists, who bill themselves as a two-man, one-man band.

16. "Delicate Strong" by Scott Standley

Next up, we have a track from the debut solo album Victoria from this Austin native. The album combines Texas indie with neo-soul. The influences both traditional and modern come from an authentic place, and that shines through on this album. 

17. "Gone" by Desai (feat. Claire Donzelli)

Next up, we have a new single from this sixteen year old singer-songwriter and producer who is based in Washington D.C. Here he teams with fellow indie singer-songwriter Claire Donzelli who a native of Palo Alto, California. The song was written two years ago.

18. "Bewildered" by Ender Bender

And we close with a new single from Rome based, former L.A. resident 

Eddie Olguin who records as Ender Bender.  A great way to take us out of this segment of the playlist. 

         

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/7/2021 - Featured Friday - Pizza & Drugs Mix (Take Good Care Remix)

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A busy week for new music, and that means a jam packed Featured Friday Playlist.  If you want, you can check out the whole list which is embedded just below or you can follow along all week as I recap the list in five segments.  Part 1 is down below the jump covering the first 15 songs. 

It is also a good time to tell you that much of the music featured here is available on Bandcamp and that today Bandcamp is waiving revenue sharing to put more of the proceeds of purchases directly in the hands of the artists you and I love.  If you love independent music like I do, support the artists in the most direct way you are able. Bandcamp is one of the better avenues. 

 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/12/2021 - Featured Friday - Worldly Stuff Mix (Censorshit Remix)

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 Guess what?  It is Friday, and time for a brand new Featured Friday Playlist.  We've had our ear to the ground and our nose to the grindstone sifting through our inbox, and we've come up with another diverse Playlist that features some old favorites and some new favorites. The Playlist spans the globe and crosses several genre lines. I hope you enjoy.  If you like the playlist, be sure to give us a follow. More importantly, if you hear music you like - support the artist - buy music and merch, follow and share on social media, and when the time comes that it is safe - go see music live. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 2/2/2021 - ODAAT - So Alive Mix (Dub Enough Remix)

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One day at a time - it is a cliché I guess, but honestly it is a good way to live life. Grief and stress can be overwhelming - especially when you are trying to imagine days, weeks, months, and even years ahead.  So, you focus on getting through today - sometimes you have to break the day into hours, etc. 

For me, as it has been for as long as I can remember music provides healing - it doesn't have to be "healing" music.  Sometimes it is silly or loud or aggressive or pretty or complex or simple music. 

One thing taking an unexpected extended leave from E2TG has given me - is a chance to once again reevaluate where I am and where I want to be. About the only decision I have made is that there is nothing to be done but to move forward.  If I try to "catch up" on the music I missed in January - I will just keep getting further behind. I have been slowly working my way through e-mail and have begun to update my future release lists.  Honestly, I mainly use that for my own purposes - but if you check it out - you might find out about an upcoming release you didn't know about. 

I uploaded a bunch of music to my phone last night (my memory card is almost full - I need a bigger card - which are now cheaper than what I paid for the one I have.  

Anyway - today's shuffle is below...

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

The Featured Friday Playlist Will Return!

E2TG 12/18/2020 - Featured Friday - Digital Daze Mix (Computer of Love Remix)

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And, I am back.  Just in time for another Featured Friday Playlist.  This one covers two weeks and is extra long as a result.  Things look pretty slow for next week with Christmas - so I may take two weeks to recap this one. In any event, I am starting with the sixteen songs - below the jump.  Be sure to check out the Playlist and Follow it on Spotify.  We are fortunate to have a good number of followers. I try to make each week's Playlist as diverse as possible with an emphasis on independent artists.  A reminder - the order of the Playlist while not entirely random (and not entirely planned either) is not a ranking - just an order. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 11/16/2020 - Music City Monday and More - Homecoming Show Mix (Omg...lol Remix)

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It feels silly to say it... not because it isn't true, but because it is so obvious... we are still in a pandemic. Here in Nashville and elsewhere cases are on the rise, but from the government down to many citizens there seems to be a nonchalance about it all, and an unwillingness to make any modifications. As we head into winter and the holidays, it looks like dark days ahead. With so many, ignoring the guidance from health officials and determined to act as if the pandemic is either over or not real, it makes it more difficult to do the right thing. 

The progress on the vaccine front is encouraging, but for now, we have to deal with where we are. 

And, we have an administration more interested in fighting the results of a fair and valid election than fighting COVID. 

We pick back up with our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 10-15:

10. "Without Us" by Black Paisley

Up first today, we have a track from the forthcoming album Rambler by the Swedish band that we featured before. This one is a catchy rocker that caught me a little of guard in a good way. 

11. "Some Lucky Stardust" by Brent Moyer

12. "If We're Gonna Kill Each Other" by Dallas Moore, Billy Don Burns

In what is, I believe, a first for our Playlist, we have two tracks from the same album.  The album is A Tribute to Joe Sun.  First up, we have Nashville songwriter and musician Brent Moyer covering a Joe Sun song originally on Sun's 1998 album Heartbreak Saloon.   The second is by outlaw country notables Dallas Moore and Billy Don Burns and it is one of the last songs written by Sun and released here for the first time.  Joe Sun passed away last October.

13. "Look at the Birdy" by The Flat Five

Next up, we have a track from the newly released 2nd album by Chicago area supergroup The Flat Five. So good!

14. "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar" by The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!

Next up, we have a track from Jersey City native Gary Van Miert with his first album of original material. Recorded remotely with some Nashville musicians.  This is fantastic stuff. 

15. "Immoral Guidance" by Danny Black; Keith Goodwin

We close out this segment of music with a Good Ole War reunion of sorts from Philadelphia based Danny Black's third album Black Ryno.  A great way to close out this segment of music. 

Tomorrow - the recap continues with songs 16-20 or so
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 11/13/2020 - Featured Friday - Good God Mix (Fighting Remix)

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We made it through another week... crazy times for sure... music - as it always does sustains me...

Onward....

A brand new Featured Friday Playlist with some awesome new and recent music from Nashville and beyond...

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 10/19/2020 - Music City Monday and More - Too Much Sugar Mix (Comes with Time Remix)

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It is just over two weeks until the election. The current president said his opponent would listen to the scientists about COVID and that was meant as a criticism and his followers think it is.  I am encouraged by the early voting numbers. I am not sure how I will handle election night (and however long it takes until result are official). I can't even thing about what will happen if the unthinkable happens. 

Nashville's COVID numbers are up. I worry about my friends whose passion and livelihoods have been so dramatically impacted by the pandemic and for whom a return to normalcy is months away and filled with uncertainty about what that new normal will look like.  I am discouraged by people acting as if the pandemic is over or is a fake. At the same time, I see friends tentatively playing shows with safety precautions, and although I am not yet comfortable with that - I wish them well. I am angered that some people minimize the importance of COVID-19 deaths because many of those who died were older and/or had underlying health conditions - as if either of those two things devalues a human being's right to live. 

I ache for a time when politics in an occasional concern - like during a crucial Congressional vote... and not a daily reaction to the ravings of a madman. 

I ache for a time when E2TG is 100% about music again. 

Our Featured Friday Playlist picks up with songs 11-15:

11. "She's Alright" by Jon Worthy

Jon Worthy has been busy.  This latest single was a full-band effort that he wrote, recorded, performed, and produced on his own.  It sounds fantastic. Nice to hear him rocking again. 

12. "You & I" by Mcclendon

We previously featured the title track from Mcclendon's Room 33 EP, and now we have another track from that release. A young Nashville songwriter that has caught my attention. 

13. "How It Has to Be" by Jeremy Ivey

Waiting Out the Storm is out now! Jeremy Ivey has made an important album for our times, and he is truly one of the best songwriters around. 

14. "Mississippi Suitcase (Slight Return)" by Peter Parcek

My connections to the blues world have been telling me about Peter Parcek's new album Mississippi Suitcase, so I had to check it out for myself. Wonderful stuff. Parcek is an award winning blues guitarist from Boston. 

15. "Sensitive Souls" by The Mastersons 

Among the shows I saw in 2020 before the lock downs and quarantines - was a show at City Winery that featured The Mastersons. Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore can often be found backing Steve Earle has long-time members of his band The Dukes. On their own, they make powerful and wonderful music. Some people like shouting "Shut up and sing", and so The Mastersons join in the growing ranks are artists who are speaking out with their songs as well as their words.  Red, White & I Love You Too is the name of their new album, and it should be heard. 

         

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 9/11/2020 - 19 Years - Clarity Mix (Solitude Remix)

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Today is the 19th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I think this event affected everyone, but definitely not equally.  In the subsequent years, I have met people who were very deeply, profoundly, and directly affected by the attacks. 

For me, I was at work - and I got a news alert by e-mail that a plane had collided with the World Trade Center. I may be wrong, but I think the first report I saw said it was a small plane (or may I that was just what I read into it - like why would a big jet be flying so low over the City... I turned on the radio and I think tried to pull up something on-line. What I do remember is hearing about the second plane and immediately knowing that this was not an accident. I wasn't able to watch tv until after work. I remember walking outside at lunch time and looking up and wondering if there would be more attacks.  And I remember what a beautiful day it was. 

What I remember in the days after was a sense of unity. Not just the country but allies all over the world. Of course this didn't last, and in some sense it was an illusion... but it seemed genuine and real (and in some ways it was). 

I had recently signed up for an acting workshop put on by the Parks department. I think we had maybe met once before 9/11.  The goal of the workshop was to create and put on a production - the attacks dominated the production we created. We used parts of several different works - The Good Person of Szechwan, Waiing for Godot, the poem, "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson, as well as bits we wrote ourselves. The participants were a diverse group and it was an amazing experience to hear different perspectives about what was happening. I considered myself well read and aware, but I learned so much about how other people experience the world. 

Nineteen years... seems a long time ago and yet it seems like it just happened recently. 

Before we get into this week's Featured Friday Playlist, we have a couple of non-Spotify songs to feature.  The first is the lead single from the first Stuffy Shmitt album in eight years. Stuff Happens will be out December 4 (and look for a few more singles between now and then).  It is so great to hear new Stuffy Shmitt music, and he has worked with some of our favorite people on this album.  The song premiered last week - and you can check it out HERE.   

Meanwhile, a group of Nashville musicians who used to perform once a month on Sunday afternoons at Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge got together - virtually - during quarantine to record this gorgeous cover of the George Harrison song "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace)".  They named their new venture Sunday Someday - on the hope that we will all gather again on a Sunday... someday.  Below is a link to the song and the video. Sunday Someday features Annie McCue, Megan Palmer, Bob Lewis, Jason Quicksall, Jonathan Beam, and Erin Nelson. 

It is Friday and that does mean and whole new Featured Friday Playlist. As always, I am proud of this list, I invite you to listen and follow the Playlist and to support the artists you like. 

The first seven songs are listed below.  We will feature the rest of the Playlist in this space next week. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 9/4/2020 - Featured Friday - Vagabond Shoes Mix (Shallow Graves Remix)

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Excited to start of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with a brand new song from E2TG favorite Andrew Adkins. The Nashville singer-songwriter will be releasing his new album The Echoist on November 13, and this is our first taste of that album. Check out the powerful video for "Vagabond Shoes".

The next 7 songs from this week's playlist will be featured below the jump.  The whole playlist is also below for you to enjoy.  Be sure to give the Featured Friday a Follow and if you dig the music - share it with your friends.  A big thanks to everyone who had followed the playlist so far - it means a lot 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 7/13/2020 - Music City Monday - Stomp and Holler Mix (War All the Time Remix)

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I'm kind of short on time and probably will be this week, so I'm going to skip the preliminaries.  We have some great music to share. Songs 6-10 of this week's Featured Friday Playlist.  Also, if you follow E2TG on Instagram, I will sharing the individual tracks as presented her on my story. Look for today's songs later today.

Also, a note about the Featured Friday Playlist. The ordering of this playlist is a weird combination of planned and arbitrary.  I don't want to go into details, but suffice it so say it should not be considered a ranking in any way, and I definitely sometimes save great songs for the latter part of the playlist. Nevertheless, I have never liked the idea of songs competing against each other.  The playlist is new and recent music that I dig. Period.

Below the jump, we have this week's Music City Monday Shuffle - a random shuffle of the exhaustive (84+ hours) playlist of Nashville-centric music.

First out, we continue our review of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 6-10

6. "The Hills" by Leland Sundries

We start things off with a new release from an E2TG favorite.  Leland Sundries - now based in Memphis came back with a garage rock cover of a song by The Weeknd.  A fresh take on the song. 

7. "Missing the Missing" by Andrew Leahey & The Homestead

Another new single from Andrew Leahey & The Homestead. Leahey started recording the song in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia and finished in Nashville. It was inspired by the music he heard growing up.

8. "You're the Only One (Who Breaks my Heart)" by Ben Arthur

Long time, E2TG favorite Ben Arthur is back with a new single and also new episodes of his Song/Writer Podcast. I really love this song. 

9. "Good Life" by Hurricane Ruth

Up next, we have the title track from the brand new album by blues vocal powerhouse Hurricane Ruth.  The song co-written by Hurricane Ruth stems from a conversation she had with her mother about a year before the elder woman passed away. It is an emotionally gripping song of perseverance, hard work, pain, and strength. 

10. "Hey Child" by Margo Price

From the words of mother at the end of her life, to the words of a mother to a child near the beginning of their life. This is a track from That's How Rumors Get Started - the highly anticipated new album from Nashville's own Margo Price. Although Price, at this point, doesn't really need me to help spread the word, I included her because of her long and continued role in the Nashville music community I love. From Buffalo Clover to her band The Price Tags, Margo Price, in her success, has continued to champion the music of this community. I have fond memories of her playing drums for Darrin Bradbury during a show (or two) at The Basement East. 

Tomorrow songs 11-15 (or so)

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 4/27/2020 - Music City Monday - Dark Glasses Mix (Cold Remix)

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Time marches on... we are now into the final week of April, and although so the decision to start reopening some things is happening in some areas, we are still a long way off from many music related functions from opening, and that is assuming that we do not have a resurgence in cases.

I know many people and small businesses are suffering. For those us who are faring relatively well, the need can be overwhelming.  My best advice is to support the venues and artists that mean the most to you and do so in a way that makes sense for your situation. I have tried (emphasis on tried) to match my giving to the money I would have been spending if I was able to out. Everyone's situation is different, and so there is no wrong answer here.

Mostly, what I want my readers to hear - is that regardless of the orders and openings in your area, it is important to be safe and to still stay home as much as you can.  No matter which models or philosophies that you chose to believe, it is clear that we are not at the end of this pandemic, and the possibility exists for a comeback. At a minimum follow the guidelines of health officials regarding masks and social distancing. We are all restless and eager to get back to "normal", but to rush this will only delay things and will likely cost people their health and their lives.

Meanwhile, I am going to do my part to feature some new and not so new music here from the comfort of my home.

Time for another Music City Monday!

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/30/2020 - Music City Monday - The Castle Mix (End of the Day Remix)

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Yesterday, the news came out that John Prine was hospitalized and his condition critical with symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. This was after his wife Fiona had been previously diagnosed with the virus.  Today, an update: Fiona has recovered from the virus and John is stable. I continue to send all good thought and love to them and to all who are suffering.

Country music artist Joe Diffie passed away yesterday, the day before it was Alan Merrill who wrote, "I Love Rock and Roll" (among other songs).

There still seems to be a disconnect in taking the virus seriously enough. I went to the grocery yesterday, and I observed people in masks but also people who let their young children run around and touch everything within reach. Many churches have stopped holding services, but a few mega churches are defying the requests to do so.

Some people are mostly self-isolating but then getting bored and visiting friends and not staying 6 feet apart.

It appears that we are just in the early stages of this - as bad as it has been - and we face a long couple of weeks before we reach the peak and an even longer couple of months before this ends.  I urge everyone reading this to stay safe and take care of each other at a distance as best you can. We live in a hyper-connected world - technologically speaking. Rather than using that technology to spread contention and dissent, use it to spread love and light.  If you hear bad information being spread (whether by an individual or a government entity) combat by sharing good information.

The economic impact is very real and is affecting people of all kinds. But, protecting lives, I think must come first. Err on the side of caution. I don't think any of us will regret that.

Yesterday, E2TG band of the year, Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall released an incredible video for their song, "Still Waiting".  The video was directed by the insanely talented Maxwell Sebastian.
Enjoy!  Then, check out the Music City Monday shuffle for even more Ryan Sobb.

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 2/24/2020 - Music City Monday - Seen It All Mix (Foreign Thing Remix)

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We are back!  If you haven't had a chance to do so, please check out this week's Featured Friday Playlist on Spotify.  Thanks to everyone who has followed the Playlist so far.  Please give it a follow, if you are so inclined.


Also, be sure to check out the recent and upcoming releases at the bottom of every daily post. I have been a little slow getting additional information up, but there is a ton of great music being released.

The Featured Friday Playlist and the New Release Listing are my primary methods of highlighting new music. 

In the past, the daily shuffle was used for this purpose.  The morning shuffle has gone back to its original intent - an eclectic mix of old and new music - just a daily dose of what I listen to on my way to work each day.

    Featured Friday Playlist

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Out of Reach Mix

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We move on into the second half of 2019.  It is Monday and so we celebrate the music of Nashville with our weekly Music City Monday Shuffle.  Music from Nashville, from people who now live in Nashville (even if they lived somewhere else when the music was made), and people who used to live in Nashville.   It is Music City Monday if I say it is!

2018 E2TG Earie Awards - # 8 - Recap August 2018

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HOLIDAY SHOPPING ALERT!!!!: The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)


I realize that I never actually stated this, but clearly December has been solely about recapping the first eleven months of 2018.  I have a ton of new music ready to go in January.   Today, we are up to August 2018.  Back in August, we didn't think summer would ever end.  And it didn't completely end until sometime in October (or at least that is how I remember it).

More Earies and some previous Earie winners return.