Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Wheels to the Ground Mix

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I hope you will catch the final three weeks of the E2TG Residency if you are able.  It will mean a lot to me and to the artists.

The E2TG 8th Anniversary is underway - Next Show October 2!

September 25 - Week 1: Ben Arthur + Conrad y Skordalia (SUCCESS!)

October 2 - Week 2: Ryan Sobb + Don Gallardo (Album Release Show)  
(SUCCESS!)

October 9 - Week 3: The Truehearts + Jason Erie (JUST 2 DAYS AWAY!)

October 16 - Week 4:  Josh Gray  + Meghan Hayes

October 23 - Week 5: Microwave Mountain + The Big Dumb

Well, let's jump into today's shuffle why don't we.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - My Ego Mix

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 *Note: The video playlist at the bottom of the post attempts to closely approximate the shuffle I listened to on my way to work this morning. When a video for a song was not available, I substituted another song by the same artist. When I could not find any videos by an artist, I included a related video or did not include a video for that track. This blog may reference unreleased tracks, however, no unreleased music is ever included.

And we are back! Americana Fest 2019 is officially over. I had a blast. I don't have time for any sort of official recap, but suffice it to say, I didn't see everything I wanted to see, I missed some great events put on by great people, I overdid it and had to bail on some stuff for the sake on my self... But, I had the time of my life, got to meet some of my biggest musical heroes, caught up with out-of-town friends, watched by friends kick all sort of ass on stages big and small.

Despite my jokes throughout the week, I didn't pace myself and I crashed and burned by the end of the weekend, and you know what, next year, I will probably do the same thing.

On we go!

The E2TG 8th Anniversary is now only 9 days away!  

September 25 - Week 1: Ben Arthur + Conrad y Skordalia

October 2 - Week 2: Ryan Sobb + Don Gallardo

October 9 - Week 3: The Truehearts + Jason Erie

October 16 - Week 4:  Josh Gray  + Meghan Hayes

October 23 - Week 5: Microwave Mountain + The Big Dumb

Make your plans now!

On with the Music City Monday Shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Timeless Crawling Mix

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Well, we are in the midst of a heatwave. Heat index is expected to be over 100 the next two days. I don't have much in the way of relief to offer, but I do have some cool tunes. Get it cool... Sorry, the heat is getting to me.

Anyway, it's Monday, and we have a  sweet Music City Monday shuffle - so let's go!

"Buddha Blues" by Will Kimbrough

Will Kimbrough doesn't seem to know the term idleness. When he isn't producing albums (like the Steve Poltz album we have been featuring), he is backing people like Emmylou Harris (and playing on at least two albums we have been featuring - ESOEBO and Peter Rogan's latest albums).  And somehow, he found time to record and release his own album.  I Like It Down Here was released earlier this year, and it is a worthy addition to an impressive discography.  I have been a fan of Kimbrough's music for over 30 years going back to his band Will and the Bushmen. Our lives intersected in the 90s through our daughters, and I ran into his last week at the CD Release party for Amy Speace's new album (oh yeah, he played on that one, too!)

"Joy, the Mechanical Boy" by Self

Nashville had a thriving music scene in the 1980s - with bands like Jason and the Scorchers, Walk the West, Royal Court of China, Raging Fire, In Pursuit, Shadow 15, The Movement and more playing great live shows and flirting with national success.  By the early 90's, that scene had pretty much dissipated  - some folks moved on to songwriting, some moved away, and a few kept plugging away.  By the mid/early 90's, Music City was due to for a revival, and to a great extent that revival came by way of Matt Mahaffey and his band Self.  Mahaffey helped form Spongebath Records (with Seth Timbs, and Rick Williams), and that label became a center for music not only in the Murfreesboro/Nashville area, but for the entire South. This is the opening track from the second album by Self called The Half-Baked Serenade which was released on Spongebath in 1996.

"Little Old Town" by Eric Brace, Peter Cooper, Thomm Jutz

This years' Riverland album by the trio of Eric Brace, Peter Cooper, and Thomm Jutz was a kind of concept record about Mississippi - the river and the state. Little Old Town - from their previous release Profiles in Courage, Frailty, and Discomfort is also about a river - in this case the Stones River and about a town that now lies beneath.  

"One I Love" by Kevin Gordon

Next up, we have a track from Kevin Gordon's modern classic album Gloryland. One of Nashville's best. 

"Diana" by Little Bandit

Next up, we have another track from Breakfast Alone from Little Bandit. I absolutely love this album, and I really hope we have new music from Little Bandit soon!  

"Crawling At Your Feet" by Aaron Lee Tasjan

Aaron Lee Tasjan has released some new songs recently from Karma for Cheap Reincarnated.  This is a track from Karma for Cheap.  Aaron Lee Tasjan is one of the best things happening these days both in terms of music and in terms of his humanity.

"Child of the Wind" by Michaela Anne

Next up, we have a single from the forthcoming Desert Dove album which will be released on September 27  on Yep Roc Records. Great to hear this new music from singer-songwriter Michaela Anne. 

"This Girl of Mine" by The White Animals

Next up, we have another track from 3000 Nights in Babylon by one The White Animals.  This band were on the front edge of the 80s Nashville scene that I mentioned earlier. 

"Damian" by Sad Baxter

Next up, we have another track from Weirdy.  I just found out Sad Baxter is playing with my cousin's band (Summer Cannibals from Portland, Oregon) next week at The Basement. 

"Heartbreak" by Rayvon Pettis; Megan Palmer

Next, we have our first listen to Nothing Is Sweeter - the new joint effort from Megan Palmer and Rayvon Pettis.  Pettis takes the lead on this track.  Two of my favorites together!

"Timelessly" by Jim Hoke

And, we close things out with a track from the latest album by the multi-talented Jim Hoke - The Floating Zone was released last year, and it is really a tour-de-force for this musician/arranger/songwriter.  

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Gardens of Stone Mix

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Here we go.  I have a few more "Earies" to give away embedded below.  Remember, just because I do not award an "Earie" in one post does not necessarily mean the artist/band will not win one. Just saying. 

Also, a note.  For the first time in recent memory, there is some lobbying/interest in the Artist of the Year Award. What I can tell you is that I have not reached a decision about that yet. Some names are being thrown around by myself and others, and for sure, there are several worthy candidates - including some dark horses.  Stay tuned.

Monday brings out Music City Monday shuffle - let's do it!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Hipster Girl in the Old City Mix

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There are two parts of everyone of us.... well maybe more than two...

At this point, I can't see beyond this moment... one more time, one more time... it really makes no difference where or why.  There is an ugliness - I guess it has always been there... That ugliness does not discriminate. It really doesn't! Even though it may seem like it does.  The personifications of that ugliness - they discriminate - it is what they do... but the ugliness deep inside does not.  What I mean is that we all have some of the ugliness inside of us - the hate, the fear, the selfishness, the judgments.

Here's the thing... there is much beauty in the world... not just in special places or certain people. It is everywhere.  We all have the beauty inside of us - the love, the courage, the selflessness, the compassion.

The choice we have each day, each moment is to decide which of those we want to show to the world and more importantly which we want to manifest in the world.  Speaking for myself, I make those choices many, many different times every single day. Sometimes, I make what I think is the right choice and I show the world the beauty and I try to manifest that beauty.  Way too often, I fall short and little bits (or more) of the ugliness comes out.

So, today I am thankful when I allow the beauty to be what the world experiences.  But, I also have to thankful when I reminded that the ugliness is there, too.  Because, I  think that forgetting that I have that ugliness inside of me is far more dangerous than those moments when I show the world that ugliness.

Be good to one another -  I will try.

Anyway, I like sharing beautiful music of all kind.

Quick recap, I had a nice evening at The Country.  I was great to see Russell Thompson play for the first time in several months and to be reminded the beauty of his wonderful songs.   It was also great to experience Maynard and the Musties for the first time.  Really loved their sound and their songs.

Now, it is Friday and we shuffle songs from the Featured Friday playlist on Fridays.  Enjoy!