E2TG 11/30/2020 - Music City Monday and More - Hey Trouble Mix (Corner Linguistics Remix)

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Well, we are back after the holiday weekend.  It is the final day of November, and we are preparing to head into the final month of this most strange and difficult year.  While, there are encouraging signs on the horizon - everything will not get better at 12:01am on January 1. We are in the midst of a deadly new wave of the virus and everyone needs to buckle up and do their part. 

Meanwhile, we have some music to present.

With a shorter Featured Friday Playlist this week, we only have three songs in today's recap... Songs 8-10:

8. "The Work is Enough" by Joe Goodkin

First up today, we have the new single from Chicago singer-songwriter and E2TG favorite Joe Goodkin. A wonderful song with a great message that any artist needs to hear. 

9. "Walk On" by Gyasi

Next up, we have the new single from Nashville glam artist Gyasi.  I have to admit - I have been aware of Gyasi for some time and maybe even seen them performing as part of a show or two, but I have been a little slow on the uptake, but I love this song, and I am hooked now. 

10. "Father Christmas" by The Pinx

The Pinx are a rock and roll band from Atlanta.  Their latest release is an EP called Christmas Singles, and our first taste is this cover of one of my favorite holiday songs- originally recorded by The Kinks. Pinx...Kinks... ah! It makes sense now. 

Tomorrow, we pick up our recap at song 11...

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/23/2020 - Music City Monday - Strange Design Mix (Come Our Time Remix)

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Running late... but want to get this posted. Everything is askew. I sincerely hope everyone is well. It is sad to see that the response to this pandemic which for a brief time seemed to have united us has turned into a political matter. We are for sure experiencing something that most (if not all of us) have never experienced before. To some, understandably perhaps, some actions seem extreme. As I have heard said, if were to take extreme actions and the result was that it seemed like overkill - that would have been the point of the extremely action.

This should not be political. The virus doesn't care if you are a Democrat or Republican or Libertarian or Socialist or Anarchist.

There are also legitimate concerns about how some may use the situation to seize greater control over individual liberty.

I think back to almost two weeks ago when The 5 Spot decided to close. They were not ordered to do that - that order would have come days later, but the decision was made based upon the best information and for the good of the community.

And there is the difficulty and the balance and the dilemma. For some people, it takes a government order to do the right thing. And, then there is the cries of government overreach. And then there is legitimate government overreach - like suspending Habeas Corpus - which seems to have little to do with controlling the spread of the virus.. maybe.  It is all too much sometimes.

Ah - let's just play some good Nashville music!

By the way, David Olney would have been celebrating a birthday if he were still with us (and oh, how I wish he was still with us), but instead, we are remembering him and his incredible legacy.

    Featured Friday Playlist

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Rambunctious Mix

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Friday night, I took in some live local music, and once again, had my faith in this town bolstered.

First was my regular Tim Carroll Rock n Roll Happy Hour. Although it may seem obligatory or routine, it is worth reflecting on what Tim Carroll and The 5 Spot offer each week. 2 1/2 hours of original rock and roll music with no cover in a wonderfully welcoming setting.

Carroll is a prolific songwriter who is constantly adding new songs to his already impressive line-up, meaning that no two shows is alike. 

Next, I headed over to the Mercy Lounge for Blackfoot Gypsies, Lady Couch, and The Hollow Roots. That night, I reflected on the fact that it had been approximately 32-33 years since I first saw live music in that building (The Cannery complex). Back then, I often saw local or regional bands like Walk the West the West, Questionnaires, or Guadalcanal Diary play to enthusiastic audiences.

Some highlights worth noting:  I was not familiar with The Hollow Roots, but they had a great sound and a great energy. I would love to see them again. 

Lady Couch (as they do) absolutely tore it up.  They are one of my favorite local bands and it was great to see a significant number of people experiencing their music for the first time (and in many cases falling in love with it).   The Band comes immediately to mind when seeing them.  So many talented people on one stage, pulling off this massive, seamless sound. Maybe this was a paired down Lady Couch? with just ten-eleven people on stage.

Blackfoot Gypsies have definitely paid their local dues, and it was great to see them headlining at a larger venue to a large and enthusiastic crowd.  The band is so tight and so fearless, even an equipment malfunction is handled with grace and bass/drum groove that kept everyone moving. It was a truly Nashville night of music, and I, for one, was impressed.

Speaking of Nashville, it is Monday and time dive night into the Music City Monday shuffle.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Who'd've Known Mix

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No April Fool's Day jokes here at E2TG..,

Here we are at the beginning of another month. It is easy to despair in these times. Very easy to despair.  I still believe that as Martin Luther King, Jr said,  "...the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."  It can be easy to doubt this when your focus is too narrow.

A  few years ago, when we were seeing several positive developments (i.e. the affirmation of same sex marriage), I predicted that we would see counter reaction. I'll be honest, I never expected the reaction to be as powerful as it has been, but I still believe it is just a reaction to the overall progress. 

This does not lessen the need to continue to fight and resist.


Well, it is Monday, and we have another super-cool "Music City Monday)  featuring some of my favorite musicians (some of whom are among my favorite people).  Let's shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Close to the Edge Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

We are back after the weekend.  Busy week ahead. 

Let's just right into this Music City Monday shuffle. This shuffle comes from a constantly changes and growing Spotify playlist which features a broad cross-section of Nashville-related artists/bands from the past and present. Well-known and should-be well-known.  

Let's go!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Trains Songs and More Mix

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I'm a bit short on time.  Tonight is the CD Release Show for Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid's new album A Sad Clown.  At the Basement.  Renee Wahl is opening.  Recommended.

It's Monday, so we fire up our Music City Monday playlist and shuffle it up.  Here's what came up today.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Protection of the People Mix

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I'm on what I believe is my longest run of live music nights since my birthday a couple of years ago. I have gone out the last five nights (and six of the last seven) and seen some incredible music and hung with some awesome people.

I last reported on Thursday night's Music City Roots.  So, let me pick things up on Friday:

Pylon Reenactment Society at the Basement was even better than the high expectations I had. A couple of local bands opened - Dancers and Lylas. Both were wonderful. Pylon Reenactment Society brought the energy and the fun and the audience which was mixed between people my age or older and younger folks responded. The joy from both sides of the stage was palpable.

Saturday started at The 5 Spot where David Olney once again proved why he is one of the most respected songwriters in Nashville (and elsewhere).  To a good crowd which included several music luminaries, Olney stormed through a two hour set that included a nifty cover of Buddy Holly's "Everyday".

After that, I headed back to the Basement for Jon Latham's birthday show. I arrived in time to catch the end of Darrin Bradbury's set. I also saw great sets from Little Bandit (Alex Caress solo) and Brian Wright.  Then Jon's band (less Sean Quinn who was out of town) took the stage and as per their usual - rocked the house.  The set included a Fugazi cover embedded into "Kimberly Met Billy" and ended with a cover of Tom Petty's "Even the Losers" during which Latham invited people onto the stage (which included yours truly).  A wonderful night - celebrating a wonderful man.

Last night, I headed to The 5 Spot again.  Early show featured awesome sets from Bill Eberle, Becky Warren, and Jen Starsinic -three of Nashville's finest. 

The late show featured Chad Mason, Evan Jenkins, and the return of Hugh Mitchell (a long time favorite of mine who is back in Nashville).  Great music and great hangs with awesome people.

To be honest, I am exhausted right now, but it has been fun beyond measure.

On to our Music City Monday Shuffle!