Ear to the Ground Presents: A Heapin' Helpin' of Music News

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While we were busy writing and posting our 4-part review of  the new album by  The End Men and then being sick, a whole bunch of stuff has been happening musically from some old and new friends of ours.  Some of this "news" is no longer new, but in case you've missed it here is a quick survey of what's been hitting our News feeds, In-Box and how ever else we've heard about this stuff. News after the jump:

Band of the Month Poll - September - A Voting Guide

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Are you confused about your choices?  Not sure who you should support?  Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool?  Never fear! Here at E2TG, we don't pick the Band of the Month and we don't tell how you should vote - we're waaaay to codependent for that... no but we will lay it out for you in black and white... and sometimes weird font colors if we are in that kind of a mood...but I digress. Without much further ado... here is the September edition of the Ear to the Ground Band of the Month Voter's Guide.  Just the facts, a few opinions, a couple of conjectures and at least one out right lie...

Why you should vote for...

...Alex Bennett:  If you like nifty folksy blues and/or trains. Also, if you are trying to get over that bad association you have with the name Alex from that weird kid in sixth grade.

...And the Giraffe: Cause when else are you going to be able to say to vote for a band with Giraffe in it's name? Also, if you like your indie sounds, smooth and lovely... also Josh works or has worked at Historic Studio B where Elvis Costello recorded Almost Blue. 

...Friday Night Music Club: If you like great songs well played...also if you like Fridays, Nights, Music and/or Clubs... 

...The Great American Novel: If you like your indie pop with intelligence and fun... also if you like to read... and if Vonnegut and Morrissey together makes sense to you.

...The Grimm Generation: If you like fresh and timely music... if you can spell Connecticut... if you do or don't like the television series Grimm...  If you can spell Generation...

...Grounded: If you're feeling old and need some loud, snotty, non-pretty music played with energy and not a little bit of attitude... if you've ever been grounded... if you can spell Tallahassee.

...Korby Lenker: If you like the name Korby... if you like it even more, when it's connected to an excellent singer-songwriter... If you know good hook when you hear it, and/or if you have an awful slice that it totally screwing up your golf game.

...Man on Earth: If you like your rock capitalized... if you don't mind a big sound... if you live on Earth and/or are or know a Man...

...Sad Baby Wolf: If you like excellent modern, indie rock... if the image of a sad baby wolf gets you right here... if you can spell Albuquerque.

... True Mad North:  If you like killer riffs with a spacious sound... if you want to the band to come off of this hiatus if that's what it is... If you don't like the False Happy South.

So there you have it... now --- go vote!

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Polls are Open - Band of the Month - September 2012

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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Line, Lion, Lyin' Mix

So - have you checked out our featured artist's for September?  There is a link over =====>

Or you can click HERE

These next couple of weeks are going to be pretty exciting here at Ear to the Ground.  A week from tonight E2TG favorite Jo Wymer is playing a solo set here in Nashville.  She's coming into town for the Americana Music Fest and Conference as is our friend Sloane from Country Fried Rock. If anyone else is going to be at the Americana Music Festival let me know.  And the following week current Featured Artist Man on Earth is playing here in Nashville.  Which provides a neat segue into today's Shuffle:


The aforementioned Man on Earth is up first with A Birthday Song from their 2008 album A Time Spent Wondering.

Here is a pic/link to Amazon, but it does not appear the album or song are available there.  To purchase the CD use the linked album title above.

   

Here's the video for All We Want from the same album

 

Next we have another of our fantastic featured artists for September.  The Great American Novel released You and I (which is not to be confused with our good friends Val and James  aka You and I) in September 2011.  The lead track from that album is Vonnegut and Morrissey.  The album is available for Name Your Price at Bandcamp.

Here is the video for another song from the album
 

Next, breaking up our run of Featured Artists is one of our all time faves. We dig deeper into Damien Jurado's latest Maraqopa with a song called Museum of Flight.

And finally, we get back to a September Featured Artist.  We have a track from The Grimm Generation from their 2011 release The Last Record Party and a song called The Definition of Love which feels to me like walking into a smoky cabaret and finding that the house band is original and talented.  Ordering a drink of your choice and just sliding into the groove.

 

  

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Featured Artists for September 2012

I am pleased to present Ear to the Ground's Featured Artists for the month of September 2012 You can visit the page to learn more: HERE

We have also created a Facebook Interest Page so that you can keep up with all of these create artists.  Visit the Facebook Interest Here 

 Finally, we have a Twitter List you can follow - use the widget below.  A feed from the list is up and running below and on the Featured Artist Page.

Without much further ado here are the Featured Artists for September 2012:

Alex Bennett

And the Giraffe

Friday Night Music Club

The Great American Novel

The Grimm Generation

Grounded

Korby Lenker

Man on Earth

Sad Baby Wolf

True Mad North

 

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Lucky Guy Mix

Before 1993 I only thought I knew what words like heady and transcendent and halcyon meant. In 1993, I experienced all of those feelings and many more.  It was a wild ride of a year which promised and delivered thrills beyond my wildest expectations.  August 28 of that year - 19 years ago today... well how can I explain that day?  Honestly, what I remember most is the laser sharp sense of purpose and direction, and the unwavering sense of doing what I was supposed to be doing.  It started with errands (vitally important errands), a beautifully simple ceremony, drinks, an awkward announcement, party planning, phone calls, the arrival of friends (who were not as surprised as we thought they should have been) and a blow-out of a party. Our Wedding Day... 19 years ago today...

Our song:

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The shuffle:

The Grimm Generation are friends with The Danbury Lie. The band got into contact with me after I named The Danbury Lie featured artists.  The first thing that struck me was the fact that they were heaping praise on the other band.  So, I checked them out.  And, I listened some more.  I don't want to say too much because I have a feeling I will be writing much more about this band. Suffice it to say, if you are familiar with The Grimm Generation, now is the time to rectify that situation.  The band's description as Post-Apocalyptic Pop gives a bit of hint to the passionate, juicy sound of this band. Oh hell, just take a look and listen:
 Our song today is Sometimes I'm Subtle (Sometimes I'm Drunk) from their album The Last Record Party.  Honestly, I'm in serious love with this band right now!

 
Here is The Grimm Generations' cover of Great Balls of Fire.

Next, we have a song about April 1, 1984.  I was in my senior year of high school, and Marvin Gaye was just one day shy of his 45th birthday when he was shot and killed during an argument with his father.  Day That Marvin Gaye Died is by the Avett Brothers from their 2004 release Mignonette. 

Man on Earth is a capital R Rock band from New York.  They've been around for a number of years and have played with a number of well-known artists. They released a new video for a song called Venus at the beginning of this month, and are about to embark on a tour which will bring them to Nashville.   The song we have today is an older one called The Great Discontent which we came across on a compilation called sorryeverybody.com vol. 1. from 2005.

Here is the band's newest video Venus.

The Alabama Shakes released Boys and Girls back in April, and it had proven to be a break-out moment for the boys and girls from Athens, Alabama.  We have  the joyful Hang Loose today. Sounds like good advice.

 

And finally, we have a song by a jazz saxophonist, composer and band leader Steve Mohacey.  In a small world moment, it turns out that my next door neighbor, who like Mr. Mohacey is a Army band guy, knows Steve Mohacey. Anyway, although we most feature a wide-variety of alternative, Americana indie rock music, we are always on the look-out for all kinds of cool tunes.  Da Boyz is a blisteringly cool jazz number.

Here is Steve Mohacey from his Army Band Days

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