E2TG 7/29/2021 - Mid-Week Lull - Blue Lights Mix (Milk Remix)

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Short on time - let's get to it!

Featured Friday Playlist recap (part 4) (songs 19-22):

19. "Nude (Feat. Tommy Cash)" by Boys Noize

First up, a new collaboration between a DJ/Producer from Berlin and an Estonian avant-garde artist.

20. "The Hideaways" by Cole Scheifele

Next up, we have a Colorado folk-artist with the title track to his new album. 

21. "Star Guide" by Art Schop

Art Schop is Brooklyn based rock artist Martin G. Walker.  We previously featured his single Farm on Mars.  The new album is out and this is the title track.  

22 "Chuck Will's Widow" by Amy Ray 

And, we close this segment with the new single from 1/2 of Indigo Girls who is joined here by War and Treaty and Michelle Malone on this great song. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/11/2021 - Reflections - Bad Feeling Mix (Sunstroke Remix)

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The challenge in these times in particular is to balance being engaged and informed versus being overwhelmed by negativity. 

On the one hand, I recognize the inherent privilege in being about to disconnect from some of the injustices of our times. On the other hand, navigating the maze of things that seemingly attacke ones mental health is exhausting.  

We all see people who are completely disengaged or who seem to be on high alert and in high actions 24/7 365, and I think there has to be a middle ground. It is also funny how, on paper, the middle ground can seem such a wide path, but in reality one is constantly in danger of falling over the edge. 

This is not post with answers - only questions.  One can read the news without visiting the comment section. That seems to make good sense. But, is ignoring the comments section equivalent to burying ones head in the sand when it comes to the great divide be the left and the right. But also, can't one recognize and know that the divide exists even without wallowing in the filth of that divide?

Can't one feel good about the news for one day, even while know that a large number of people feel bad about the same news. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts... 

Featured Friday Playlist recap Part 3 (songs 26-35):

26. "You Oughta Love Me" by Timothy and the Apocalypse

First up, we have the lead single from the forthcoming Future So Bright album by Australian musician, composer, songwriter, and producer Timothy Poulton - recording as Timothy and the Apocalypse.  For this track he is joined by Katie M. Little. 

27. "Playboy" by Anthony Vacanti

 Next up, we have a catchy new single from this actor, artist, singer, songwriter, and producer who is originally from Buffalo, New York and now based in New York City. Great tune.

28. "Criminal" by The Phantom Rockets

Next up, we have the debut single from Milan based duo   The Phantom Rockets. A great mix of rock, blues, and alternative music.  An impressive debut.

29. "Til the Sun Comes up" by McCormick

Next up, we have the new single from veteran UK singer-songwriter Steve McCormick who records as McCormick.  Check it out!

30. "Close My Eyes Forever" by Tequila Rock Revolution 

Next up, we have a cover of the Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford duet from Haydn Vitera, Cassandra Sotos, and Vitera's Tequila Rock Revolution which features a unique blend of metal and traditional mariachi instrumentation. Pretty awesome!

31. "CHAPSTICK" by NADUH

Next up, NADUH are based in Vancouver and their new single is a fantastic mix of r&b and hip hop that flips the scripts on the hip hop trope of stealing someone girl and not in the way you might expect. Check it out!

32. "COMA" by TheCityIsOurs

London based metalcore band TheCityIsOuts is up next with their latest single. A hard hitting band formed in 2015 and their new releases are the first with new vocalist Oli Duncanson. 

33. "Twenty" by Promise to Myself

The latest single from Phoenix, AZ based Promise to Myself brings attention to sudden cardiac arrest. The title refers to the 20 young people between 6 & 25 who die every day from cardiac ailments which often go diagnosed. 

34. "Chestnut" by Kiana Corley

Next up, we have a track from Take it or Leave It - the new EP from this exciting singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania.  Truly great music. 

35. "Bad Intentions" by Emma Garell

And, we close this segment of music with the new single from Richmond based Emma Garell whose music combines hard rock and pop in a most interesting way. A great ending to a rich and diverse segment of our playlist. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 9/24/2020 - Penultimate - Sleep of Reason Mix (All the Way Remix)

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I continued to be overwhelmed by the constant terrifying news that dominates my social media feeds and headlines. Injustice, rising tide of fascism (this is not hyperbole - they are not even trying to hide it any more), division, anger, fear, death... I am missing the solace of seeing my friends almost every night and hearing live music while seeing said friends. I fear for the future, but I know that fear is not a place to rest. Anger is an energy, but it is up to me to focus my anger.  In the meantime, I have always believed in the power of love to conquer hate and fear and evil. It is a hard belief to cling to when it is so tempting to answer hate with hate - and mind you - anger is not the antithesis of love - hate and fear are the antithesis of love. Anger can be an expression of love if channeled properly. 

At the same time as all of that, I need to acknowledge that despair and hopelessness are reasonable feelings these days. For me, though, I can't afford to stay there. I also do not have the capability to stay serious and focused and angry 24/7 and I do not think I am alone. I can either choose to shame myself or others for needing a break or I can accept it, take the break, and come back stronger. 

Last thing:  I have to find my own voice and my own outlets of action.  What is the right action for someone else may not be right for me - and that can be for numerous reasons. I just need to say that because I have a bad habit to looking at others' actions and judging myself for not measuring up. It is good to take stock of my abilities and resources (time and money) and ask myself if I am doing enough, but to judge my own work by what someone else does - without taking into account differences in time and money etc is unfair. 

TL;DR: I choose to attempt to manifest love in all I do. Love can be expressed by anger. 

Today, we wrap up the Featured Friday Playlist as we prepare the way for a whole new Playlist debuting tomorrow.  As always, we saved some great stuff for the end of the playlist. We finish up with songs 24-28:

24. "Room 33" by Mcclendon

We kick things off with the title track from the debut EP by Nashville based singer-songwriter Mcclendon.  After playing in country/folk bands beginning in his native Oklahoma - with his brother, Mcclendon decided to go his own way and pursue his own music. I am digging this.

25. "Blur" by Dark McGwire; Focus3Dots

Next up, we have another solo debut. Dark McGwire is the alter-ego of Dame Crawford of The Wylde Bunch - a Grammy award producer/artist. The music runs the gamete from funk to folk and many points in between. The name of the album is Wyldebunch Presents Dark McGwire. Check it out. 

26. "A Girl Too Far" by Red Eye

Red Eye is an Anglo-Spanish songwriter. This new single is amazing. When I say I save some good stuff for the end of the Playlist... I mean it. This sounds like a cover - in that it has a familiarity that many great songs have upon first listen. 

27. "Moving Tangle" by Outwave

Italian alternative rock band Outwave just released their debut album, "The Storm". This was the lead single. I'm digging this.

28. "You Don't Know" by ASM
 

We close out this week's playlist with the latest single - from the forthcoming (Friday) album Blue Cocoon by the European trio ASM (A State of Mind). The cinematic hip-hop, soul, funk band members met in high school - one is Candaian, one German, and one English.  We have previously featured them on an earlier playlist. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 8/11/2020 - Intention - Bitter End Mix (Vacancy Remix)

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I said something on my radio show last week about being intentional and related that to the excuse I sometimes hear (and sometimes have used) when I feel I have fallen short in some way... "Well, it was intentional".  We say that as if it excuses our action or inaction. As if it makes everything okay... but to me it should be considered an admission rather than an excuse - as in, I was not being intentional in my actions and so I (fill in the blank).  To me, this realization is a wake-up call to be more intentional in how I live my life, I am not going to lie - this is not easy - the habit of floating through life with out thought or concern - is hard to break. And such a life may even be appealing. 

I mean, who doesn't want a life of ease and not worries - I think there is a song from The Lion King about it... "every time that I farted...".   But, here is the deal, as I see it, we are seeing a reckoning coming for some long-term injustices and transgressions. Whether it is  "Me, Too" or Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ+ rights or something else... if some has ingrained bad habits surrounding any of these things - in the words we use, in the way we act - then unless we act with intention, we will continue to follow these bad habits and the "excuse" - "It was not intentional" will no longer be an excuse but a confession that we have fallen short of what we could be if we took the time and effort to be intentional. 

Now, we have songs 14-18 of this week's Featured Friday Playlist... 

14. "Lonely Without You" by Cayucas

First up today, we have a new single from this band from Santa Monica - whose name comes from a sleepy little down in San Luis Obispo County. It was released ahead of their new album Blue Summer which is due out in September. 

15. "Creole Girl" by Vincent Cross

Next up, we have a track from an amazing new album by Irish born, New York based singer-songwriter Vincent Cross.  The album is called The Life and Time of James "The Rooster" Corcoran - which is a biographical album about a colorful ancestor of Cross' who was a gang leader and champion of the Irish working class in 19th century Manhattan. Musically, the album draws on the music of the time place of Corcoran's life. 

16. "Cryin' Eyes" by Steven Bruce

Next up, we have a track from Same Time, Same Place, Same Station - the debut album by this singer-songwriter from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Bruce was a founding member of Whiskey Revival. This is a stunning debut, and I look forward to hearing much more from him. 

17. "You Turn Me On - Jim Sclavunos Remix" by Jonny Polonsky 

We have featured Chicago-born, New York based artist Jonny Polonsky before. Here he gets the remix treatment from No Wave legend Jim Sclavunos - who has been a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds since 1994 and was a member of Teenage Jesus & the Jerks. Sclavunos was also an early member of Sonic Youth for their first album and a one-time member of The Cramps.  

18. "King of Suburbia" by Polymer 

We close out this segment of music with the new single from Sydney-based rock band Polymer - from their forthcoming debut album Zealot's Box. A great way to close out this part of the playlist. 
Tomorrow songs 19-23... 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Get Off the Pot Mix

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Last night was one of those nights that reminds me why I love Nashville so much.  Bill Lloyd did an early show at The 5 Spot with a great band doing classic and new songs - both those he wrote and choice covers.  He will be back next week and then again for the final Tuesday in November.

Then, I hung around for Derek Hoke's $2 Tuesday. One of the absolute best things this town has to offer. $2 cover, $2 Yazoo beer, consistently great music, and an awesome hang with the coolest of people.

Seeing Rayvon Pettis and Megan Palmer together was a highlight.  And Derek Hoke and his band were as always fantastic.

The audience was filled with a who's who of great artists.  If I believed in namedropping, I would tell you that Aaron Lee Tasjan, Bobby Bare Jr., Zach Schmidt, Jon Byrd, Jon Latham, Joe Fletcher and more were there.  But, like Wynonna told me when I met her a couple of years ago, namedropping is unseemly.

Seriously, I had some inspiring and motivating conversations, and so what if I am really tired today....

Add on the encouraging election results from different places, and I am actually feeling pretty good today.

It is Wednesday and we get "Wild" on Wednesday.  Let's shuffle:

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Pass a Good Time Mix

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Okay - just a few short observations before we jump into the Wild Wednesday Shuffle...

1. If T-Rump were standing over a dead body holding a literal smoking gun, he would tweet that this fact proves he is innocent and his base would believe him, and the GOP leadership would say something like, "we just don't know".  Then again, I think he would - as he stated - shoot someone on 5th Avenue and would not lose a vote.

2.  I made the mistake of reading the comment thread on a couple of Facebook posts yesterday (one was political and the other was not). OH MY GOD!  The things people say to other people who happen to hold a difference of opinion - in some cases people they do not know... As a slightly socially awkward guy who likes expressing himself through the written word, social media has been a godsend.  Hell, E2TG would not exist without Facebook and Twitter. But, we do need to recognize that there is a very dark side to this technology.  To quote Allen Thompson Band, "People Are Assholes", and some of them like to prove this all over the comment section of other peoples posts. I have friends who seem to enjoy getting into "Flame Wars" with strangers on-line. To each his own, I guess, but when you look at the divisions that exist... it's easy to recognize that way differences of opinion are handled on-line is at least a symptom if not a contributing factor to the divide we face. As I said, one of the posts was a non-political post about something that happened near Nashville. Someone expressed an opinion that ran counter to the general thread of comments. I didn't necessarily agree with the opinion, but it was stated (in my opinion) in an even-handed manner. What followed was a nasty string of posts that included name-calling, inflammatory language, and personal insults not in any way related to the thread or the original comment.  I regretted reading the thread, but I could not look away.

3.  Finally, I have come to the conclusion that in recent years, I have come to accept some basic truths about myself. Not to discount the ability or value of changing bad habits or learning to overcome things that limit our ability to do the things we want to do, but there is tremendous value in just admitting to some core truths about ourselves even when those truths are unpleasant or undesirable or not highly regarded by society has a whole.  For me, one of the most superficial and benign examples of this has been my ability to accept my goofiness. Not to say, I ever did a good job of hiding it, but I think for some time, in some situations, I tried to act a certain way - maybe more serious or something. More to the point, I have always had difficulty smiling on demand for photographs. I kind of have the Candler of Friends smile thing going on.  Recently, I have started employing this big open-mouth goofy smile. It's silly but its better then the non-smile, scowl that used to be my stock in trade.


Okay!  It is Wednesday!  Today marks the return of "True" Wild Wednesday after a few weeks of focusing on the "new music" playlist.  On "Wild Wednesday", we shuffle from all the songs on my phone  and see what comes up!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - His Home is Hell Mix

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Before you ask, I did not watch the presidential address last night...  Let me ask... Did he say that he was going to remove white supremacists from his administration?  Did he say he had made a mistake in appointing an Attorney General with an abysmal civil rights record? Did he promise a full, independent investigation into Russia's tampering with the election and his campaign staff's communication with that country?  Did he reveal a healthcare plan that covers all Americans?  Did he denounce the recent racially and ethnically motivated violence and vandalism that are being carried out by people who believe they are acting on his behalf?    What's that... no?  Then, I am really not interested in what ever b.s. he spouted.
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Hey - shameless self-promotion time.  I am working to release a LONG, LONG overdue novel - sometime this year, and I just recorded a very short Intro - from the beginning of the novel.  Here it is.  More to come about The Drift...




Well - after a couple of nights staying in to work, my week of live music begins tonight.  Earie Award Winner (2015) D.L. Duncan begins his residency at The 5 Spot - early show.  Later, a bunch of my favorite songwriters (lots of Earie winners included) will be at The Country for a round.

Tomorrow night, I am so thrilled to be seeing John Doe at The Basement, and even more thrilled that 2015 Artist of the Year and 2016 Earie winner - Jon Latham will be opening the show!

Time for some Wild Wednesday tunes...

Earie Friday Morning Shuffle - Live Like a Brahman Mix

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Well, we reached the final shuffle of 2016,  Before we get to it, a few things:

Last night I attended what will likely end up being my final live show of the year, and what a way to got out!  If you don't know, and if I have not made it abundantly clear, David Olney is a national treasure. I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to see him perform live several times in 2016, and last night was quite possibly the best performance ever.  In addition to being one of the best living songwriters, he is a consummate performer.  Last night his band - Ward Stout on fiddle, Daniel Seymour on bass, and Justin Amaral on drums were absolutely on point. You may or may not know that David Olney had a very nasty fall down a flight of stairs a couple of months back, and he (and we) are very fortunate that it was not more serious than it was. If there was any doubt about his recovery, he laid that to rest with a two hour set (it would have been a non-stop two hour set but for a broken guitar string) that showcased his power both as a songwriter and a performer.

As if that was not enough, the one and only Derek Hoke opened the night with a solo set that showcased his amazing abilities.  Olney said it was like watching Roy Orbison.

Talk about a quintessential Nashville night of music. To cap it off, I got to hang out with 2015 E2TG Artist of the Year (and my friend) Jon Latham for a few hours that culminated with eating Taco Bell in a parking lot about midnight and hearing some of the mixes from his forthcoming album, Lifers, which I am stating for the record will be one of the best albums of 2017.

I have some outside-the-shuffle "Earies" to distribute:

1.  The "All Rhodes Lead to Somewhere" award goes to Eli Rhodes.  I reviewed his album Ghost Therapy back in June, and then he went a released Deux earlier this month.  Ghost Therapy was confessional and vulnerable with just some flat-out great songwriting.  My December has been so messed up that I haven't had a chance to check out Deux, but I plan to rectify that soon.

2.  The "90 Miles" Award goes to Ben de la Cour. Back in August, I had the distinct pleasure of premiering Ben de la Cour's music video for "(Ain't Going) Down that Road" from his album Midnight in Havana album.  (Cuba is 90 miles from the US, Havana is in Cuba thus the award name).  I was first introduced to de la Cour's music via the Couch by Couchwest on-line music festival (which was another casualty of this awful year).  Since the time, I first heard him, he moved to Nashville, and I finally got to meet him. He is an awesome songwriter who draws on some unique life experiences to make some amazing music.

3.  The "Precipitation Award" goes to Drew Kohl.  I reviewed his latest release New Rain earlier this year.  Kohl is one of my favorite songwriters and favorite people.  Among his many talents is being able to sustain a note vocally for an insanely long time - plus he does a really awesome cover of the Ramones' song "I Wanna Be Sedated".  Requested next time you see him live.

4.  The "Impatience and Growth" Award goes to Josh Morris.  Morris produced Jon Latham's Real Bad News Album and he is producing, Lifers which I mentioned above.  As good as Real Bad News is  (and it is really, really good and you need to own it if you don't) it was amazing to hear how much Josh Morris has grown as a producer in the year or so since that album was made. It is equally astounding to hear how much Josh Morris has grown as a songwriter and performer - which is evident from his latest album Can't Wait 'Til Now which I reviewed back at the beginning of this month.  You may recall that Morris was one half of the band And the Giraffe which was a featured band in the early days of E2TG - through some pretty mind-blowing coincidences, I reconnected with him a couple of years ago, and I have been impressed by all he had accomplished.

Okay - so the deal is after today's post, I will still have a few Earie Awards to hand out. So my current plan is to do a special post Monday to award the final "Earie Awards" and then Tuesday I will reveal my "Artist/Band of the Year" and then we can jump into the new year with both feet on Wednesday. Deal?


The shuffle yields a few more "Earies" - let's do it!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Like No One Else Mix

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Well, I am back after an extended weekend - some much needed time with my daughter.

Let's see... so Lady Gaga is keeping it real by playing a "dive bar" tour which tonight will be my favorite joint - The 5 Spot. And by keeping it real, I mean shutting the place down for two nights, barricading streets, buses, trucks, (and from what I hear) a ton of gear to play two songs tonight.  Cool, cool..

Anyway, I will be across the river at The Basement for the fourth ever show by Buck N Stuff.  Regular readers will recall that Buck N Stuff is THE best Buck Owens tribute band that I have ever seen.  Okay, they are the only Buck Owens tribute band I have ever seen, but I'd be willing to bet that if I had seen others, they would still be the best. Breathing new life into Buck's great songs, it is sure to be a wild, fun, totally awesome experience. 8:30pm.  My prediction: Buck N Stuff will melt faces, reassemble faces from the melted remains, and then melt faces once again.

Now, it is Wednesday and we are about to get "Wild"

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Always Carry a Purse Mix

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A few things on my mind:

1. My mind has been on my parent's home state of Louisiana and the devastating flooding which has affected several different parts of the state. One of my cousins had to be rescued from her home and essentially lost everything.  One story out of many.

2.  Reflecting on my post yesterday about seeing so many good friends and how their dreams are coming true, and realizing that in the midst of all this, there are people who are struggling to hold on to their dreams (or struggling just to get by and survive)... which got me thinking of the unprecedented growth that Nashville has seen over the past few years, and that while some people have thrived and benefited from that growth, others have suffered.  No answers to any of it, just thoughts.

3.  On a completely different note, Facebook told me that one year ago today, the E2TG Facebook Page hit 300 likes.  Today, the count stands at 834 and countig. I am humbled and mystified and grateful for all of the support.

4.  I feel like I need to acknowledge that there is another (at least one) music blog/website whatever that uses Ear to the Ground has their name.  From what I can tell, we started at about the same and apparently, just coincidentally came up with the same name.  It isn't really that big a deal yet, but as I look to expand and grow my site, I see the need to address it.  As you have probably noticed, I have been heavily emphasizing the "E2TG" designation.  This will likely continue and eventually the E2TG title may replace "Ear to the Ground" on-line and in print.   This blog will always be "Ear to the Ground" as long as it continues.  And for the record, if you are talking about "E2TG", it is pronounced, "Ear to the Ground". :-)

5.  Three events tonight that I want to highlight. I do not think I can physically do all three but not saying it is not possible...  1. Scott Miller (6-8) at The 5 Spot.   2. Steve Poltz with special guest Megan Palmer!!!! at City Winery. (7-?)  3.  The star-studded tribute to Ryan Adam's Cold Roses album at The Basement East. (8-?)

Todays Wild Wednesday shuffle contains several songs from new and newish releases (and future releases).  Plus some of the usual "Wild Wednesday Wackiness".