E2TG 8/20/20 - Something to Say - Life's a Beach Mix (Birmingham Remix)

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I feel like I should always say something...But, I played Benchmark's new song "Our Finest Hour" this morning on my radio show, and one line stuck with me - "Right now, I know I still need to listen, before I speak."  It seems like there is a lot of talking and a lot of shouting and not nearly enough listening.

Look after nearly four years of the Trump regime, I think it is clear to most sane people, that he is an existential threat to this nation. I am not saying I need to listen to MAGA heads to see if they will convince me of anything. I guess I am thinking of some of the more nuanced debates (or which should be nuanced debates) between different factions of the left side of the proverbial aisle. I think social media SEEMS TO demand that everyone jump into every conversation and contribute something - so you see at lot of posts like - well, I don't know much about that but, here is what I think... 

Anyway, we have a Featured Friday Playlist to wrap up and a shuffle to get to... let's go... 

Today, we wrap up this week's Featured Friday Playlist, and we prepare the way for a whole new list. Here are the final four songs, and as usual, we save some good ones to wrap up the list.. songs 18-21:

18. "How to Fall in Love - Take 7, Acoustic" by Michael McArthur

Florida singer-songwriter Michael McArthur makes a return visit to the Playlist with the title track of his brand new EP. We previously featured his stunning cover of "Purple Rain" - here he is singing his own songs and the results are equally stunning. The plaintive opening harmonica and sparse acoustic instrumentation catches ones attention, and then his rich vocals come in and carry the listener away.  

19. "Dark Slopes Away" by Mt. Doubt

Next up, we have the new single from Scottish indie rock band Mt. Doubt. It is the first taste of their new album Doubtlands due out September 25. The song has a cool vibe that I really dig. 

20. "Firewood" by Saronde (Feat. Idd Aziz)

Next up, we have some wonderful Afro-funk - via Saronde - a Kenyan duo who founded Beating Hearts Music. The track borrows from a 50’s Kikuyu all female acapella sung by young unmarried girls as they collect or carry back home firewood and features noted African singer and musician Idd Aziz. As someone who has a deep - if shamefully underexplored affinity and connection to African music, this track struck a chord with me. Wonderful!

21. "Sauce (Took Off)" by SLiCE Bellefante 
 

We close out this segment of music and this week's Playlist with a little bit of hip hop from New Jersey. I don't have a lot of information on the artist, but I dig the vibe and I'm happy to have this track closing out our playlist. 

By way of a preview-  The new Featured Friday Playlist is already at 15 songs and over an hour of music and there are several new releases scheduled for tomorrow. So, look for the list to be much larger than this week's list. Already, I am digging the variety of the music, and we already have some favorites on board. Until then... we have another daily shuffle down below....  

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - No No No But Yes Mix

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Well, country music was saved last night, thanks to Buck N Stuff.  Their CD release show for their live album Saviors of Country Music: Live at The American Legion Post 82 was held at The American Legion Post 82.  There was lots of Buck and a fair amount of Stuff to be had. The awesome Brandy Zdan opened the show. It had been a minute since I saw her perform, and it was a good reminder of how good she is.  She was playing songs from her forthcoming album which judging by her performance is going to be amazing.

It's time for our Featured Friday shuffle... The thing I love about playing random shuffles for my daily posts, is the weird things that happen with randomness. If you look at yesterday's shuffle and today's, it might be hard to believe that they came from the same playlist of songs.  Yesterday's shuffle was dominated by  EDM, industrial, punk, and jazz music. Today's is almost exclusively singer-songwriters (albeit each very unique and different).  I don't plan this - it just happens...

Let's shuffle!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Big Drum, Small Axe Mix

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Well, yesterday was a holiday.  I was going to try to post something, but I ended up spending a large portion of my day at the eye doctor.  Then, I went into work today (and listened to the shuffle below while traversing the snowy roads of Nashville with people who do and do not know how to drive in snowy conditions.  Then, around eleven, pretty much everyone decided to go home, so I slipped and slid down the hill to my car and made my way home where I am writing this post.

Anyway, it's extremely cold, and I am sipping on a hot beverage.

I have to give a huge shout out to everyone who made it out Saturday for my birthday bash.  Special thanks to those who bought me beer and to those who unexpectedly brought me presents, and extra special thanks to Conrad y Skordalia, Danny Henry, and Nelson, Zimmerman, and Quinn for providing great music.

Onward and upward - as they say...  By the way, several songs in this shuffle are brand new and/or not yet released, so I could not find the videos for the exact song in some cases. I have tried to post a video to represent each song, and where possible, I have provided link or embeds for the song featured. In a couple of cases, you will have to wait until release to hear some of the songs.  In any case, let's go!

Mondo Monday Morning Shuffle - Was It An Accident? Mix

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Well, it's time for week two of the 2017 Earie Awards.  I handed out about 25 awards in week 1.  Two weeks to go.  If all goes as planned that we have 10 more shuffles in 2017 and then I will be taking some time off work.  Expect the Golden Earies to post during that break period.

First up a very special "Earie" award to Mary Sack for her tireless work all year round to promote great music, and especially for her dedication to the annual Get Behind The Mule: Tribute to Tom Waits and Benefit for Second Harvest Food bank which happened this past Saturday at The 5 Spot. Judging by the crowd and the talent (musical and visual artists), it was a huge success.  I'm proud to present Mary with the "Force of Nature"award!

Onto the shuffle:

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Hairy Eggs Mix

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As we move forward into the 2017 Earie Awards, a few words to those who are new here or otherwise unclear:

1. While my categories are sometimes tongue-in-cheek, my admiration for the music and artists is genuine and true.

2.  I don't do lists (Top Ten or otherwise).

3.  Any rules or criteria are coincidental and subject to change at my whim.

4. I live in constant dread that I will leave someone out unintentionally, and I probably will. It's okay though - as far as I know no one has gotten a gig or recording contract based upon having won an "Earie".

5. It's really all in fun and just another opportunity for me to express appreciation for the awesome music and people who have come into my life thanks for E2TG.

Finally (not specifically Earier related), spread love as often as you can in any way that you can. The world can use all the love we can muster.

Onward to the shuffle (and more Earies):

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Gonna Be Okay Mix

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Well... here we are. It is December!  The 3rd Annual Earie Awards will kick off next week.

Two years ago, I awarded the very first "Earie" Award to Darrin Bradbury. He is about to enter the studio to work on a new album of all new songs. I am excited to hear the results.


A great night of live music in Nashville. I checked out WoodMackFleet (formerly Carpetbaggers 615) at The 5 Spot followed by the one and only Stuffy Schmitt.  After that, I headed across the river to Springwater to see Connor Rand and Matthew Moon performing as Acquired Tastes followed by a rare full band show my Tom Schreck Escapes.  Great seeing some awesome people at both shows.

Well, we have some cool songs fired up in the shuffle, so let's hit it!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Keep My Whiskey To Myself Mix

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Well, I'm back after an extended holiday weekend!  I hope everyone is well. The year is winding down. After today, just two more shuffles before December!

The 2017 Earie Awards are coming up soon.  For those new to E2TG, the Earie's are the annual awards that I started a couple of years ago.  It's kind of like the Grammy's or the Emmy's or Oscar's except, I make up categories as I go along and basically give awards to whomever I want (and then stress out over forgetting someone which I inevitably do).

I have been fortunate enough to have been introduced to so much awesome music this year, and I'm feeling unprepared for the Earie's but I will power through.  Each year, the Earie's culminate in the awarding of the Golden Earie awards (Band(s) and/or Artist(s) of the Year - which is a tradition that goes back to the beginning of E2TG).  "The Earie's - they sound kind of strange, but they're really not"

Let's dive right into the shuffle.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Was it An Accident Mix

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So much on my mind these days... good stuff and not so good stuff and really bad stuff...

I am so happy that WXNA was voted Best Radio Station by the Readers of the Nashville Scene. Even if I did not have a show on the station, I would be a listener and a supporter. Thanks to the incredibly hard work of the Board (all former DJs at Vanderbilt's WRVU), a huge gap in the Nashville landscape was filled in June 2016.  Just yesterday, on my way home from work, I was listening to the station and it occurred to me how much I love listening to shows that play music outside of my "comfort zone" for want of a better term.  The variety of music and talk on the station is incredible.

As for the not so good stuff  and the really bad stuff... well, you can probably guess some of it. #Resist #Persist 

It is Thursday - and it is our recent tradition to do Topical shuffles on Thursday, but to try to get through the many songs in my "new music" playlist- I am devoting Thursday's to new music for the next couple of months.

Shuffle!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Honk if You Feel Fine Mix

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First off, I join the rest of the Nashville music community in mourning the loss and celebrating the life and spirit of Jessi Zazu of Those Darlins. I am a fan of that band and have written about them on E2TG.  I never got to meet Jessi, but I have been reading about her courageous battle with cancer.  I send my love out to all those who knew and loved her.

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Second, I guess Americana Week is officially kicked off.  One again, Lil Deb and Shilah threw one hell of kick off party.  Whiskey Wolves of the West opened, Chuck Mead and his friends once again blurred the lines of Americana with his set that included covers of The Jam's "In the City", Ian Drury's "Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll", and even Paul Anka's "(You're) Having My Baby" with Sarah Gayle Meech.

Cafe Rooster Records hosted the third segment and they tend to do, they ruled. It was great to see not one, not two, but three E2TG Artists of the Year rocking the packed house.  It was also great to see hear (on a night of many covers), many in the crowd singing along to Jon Latham and Darrin Bradbury original songs. Ladies Gun Club made a rare appearance (that I really hope will be less rare in the months to come), and guests Lilly Hiatt and Aaron Lee Tasjan were awesome.  (Aaron Lee is up for an AMA award - Best Emerging Artist - tonight!)

The Mavericks closed the night and were nothing short of spectacular with many guests and surprise covers.

Beyond all that, it great to see some many people - some I haven't had the chance to see a some a while.   I'm pretty tired today, and there are still five days to go!


By the way, ICYMI, please check out yesterday's guest blog post by Collin de la Cour  (the first ever E2TG guest post!)



It's Wednesday, and we get wild - with a shuffle of ALL THE SONGS on my phone.....

Let's do this!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Riddle Me This Mix

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I guess this is a good time to mention that I will be taking some time off next week. I will probably post some old E2TG shuffles over on the Facebook page during the week.  Included in my time off is  a trip to Athens, Georgia to check out E2TG Favorites The Foresters at the Athens Pop Fest. I am officially stoked about that.

Well, it is Wednesday - where we shuffle up all of the songs on my phone and see what comes up...

Today, we have some "current featured albums" and the return of some old friends...

Shall we check it out?  Okay!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle -We Shall Be Free Mix

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Can you believe May is almost over?  I say almost because we have two bits of unfinished business to get to before we can put it in the books...

Last before first, we have the grand finale of the E2TG Residency at The 5 Spot in East Nashville.  This month has been amazing, and I hope you will come out to help us close this thing out in style.  FuzzQueen are opening the night.  I am so psyched to see them...  Later, it is Amelia White and her Blue Souvenirs featuring Sergio Webb, Parker Hawkins, Megan Carchman, and Dave Coleman!  I will be reading some more of my fiction/poetry, and I have some beer koozies that need a good home.  Come hang with us!

First, though, we have one final shuffle for the month of May.  It is Wednesday so we shuffle up all the songs on my phone.  We have a good mix of old and new music. Let's get to it!