E2TG 11/9/2021 - Tuesday is Today - Power from Below Mix (Mad Smiles Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

The archive for today's Ear to the Ground radio show is not yet available, but here is the playlist:

6:02am Sonny Boy by Owsley on Owsley (Giant)

6:02am Thank God They Closed the Honky Tonks (feat. Timbo) by Mick Mullin on Mullin’ It Over (Mick Mullin)

6:05am Room To Breathe by Zach Russell on In Between – EP (Oso Amarillo Records)

6:10am Out of the Ether by Golden and Rust on Golden and Rust (Golden and Rust)

6:15am Blue, Blue, Blue by Noel McKay on Blue Blue Blue (Noel McKay)

6:19am Smoke and Mirrors by Stash on Stash (Walk the Walk) (Ted Russell Kamp / PoMo Records)

6:23am Walk to the River (feat. Hannah Halford) by Jeffrey Halford and The Healers on Walk to the River (feat. Hannah Halford) – Single (Floating Records)

6:30am ROMP Theme by Tramp on ROMP Theme – Single (Tramp Camp)

6:31am Klara Stjärnor by Georg Nielsen on Klara Stjärnor – Single (Georg Nielsen)

6:32am Wash by Calexico on Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors (Fort Lowell Records)

6:35am False Positive by The Acharis on Blue Sky / Grey Heaven (Zum)

6:39am Walk in the Park by Inca Babies on Walk in the Park – Single (Black Lagoon Records)

6:45am Memory Box by Rodney Cromwell on Memory Box – Single (Happy Robots Records)

6:48am Never Less Than Lonely by Lusitanian Ghosts on Never Less Than Lonely – EP (European Phonographic)

6:51am Hammered in an Airport by Spray on AnalogueTrash: Label Sampler, Vol. 5 (AnalogueTrash Records)

6:56am Nagu by Sam Redmore on Nagu – Single (Jalapeno Records)

Reminder - please check out this week's Featured Friday Playlist... 

Today's shuffle is below the jump. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 12/02/2020 - The Middle Part of the Title - More to Rust Mix (Cold Hard Curve Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

As I mentioned the other day, as I do every year, I take stock of E2TG and what I might do differently.  One question that always comes to me and that I always struggle with is should I focus of featuring less music but be more in-depth or do I continue to cover as much music as I can - even if that means I can only write a little about each song/album/artist. 

Of course, I had plans for this year that due to 2020 never came to fruition, but overall, I am happy about how things have worked out. The Featured Friday Playlist has gained followers and I have gotten so hear so many great new artists. 

Initially, I thought I might just list the shuffle songs with no exposition and only focus on writing about new songs - but to be honest, I was never comfortable with that approach. I do know that longer reviews, interviews, etc. would be great, but right now, I am just not in the headspace to do those. Maybe that will change as we slowly emerge from this crisis - whenever that slow emergence begins.  

Some aspects of what I do have become harder - and it is really minor annoyances. Like tagging of Facebook. I like to tag featured artist on Facebook - 1. to let the artist know I wrote about  them and 2. so that interested readers can check out the social media pages of the artists featured. It has, however, become more difficult and  burdensome to tag pages on Facebook. To me, it used to be easier - now sometimes you have to use the exact format of how the page URL is named or Facebook brings up the artist's personal page first instead of the artist page - AND it won't let a page tag a personal page. 

The other thing which I posted about on Facebook is that it has become harder and harder to figure out where a band or artist is from. I am not sure if that is intentional for some reason I don't understand, but it is something I like to know and share. 

Any way, just being transparent about my process.  E2TG will be entering its tenth year soon, and it has survived this long by adapting to the changing circumstances and by my posting on a consistent basis. 

We continue on with our Featured Friday Recap... songs 14-16

14. "I Just Want U Here" by Xelfiy 

Up first, we have a direct artist submission that actually came in right as I was putting together this week's playlist. The e-mail was so genuine, and the song really caught me. Xelfiy is a young artist - I don't know much about him but this song is dedicated to his late father. Dig it!

15. "Tunnel" by Plastic Barricades

Next up, we have a track from the recently released Self-Theories by this duo who are based in London and Paris. Really interesting sound. 

16. "Lonely Landslide" by Perfectparachutepicture

And closing out this short segment, we have the newest single from the UK band known affectionately as PPP. Really nifty alt-rock. A great addition to the playlist. 

Tomorrow - we wrap up with weeks playlist.  Songs 17-19

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 9/2/2020 - Middlin' - Get Lucky Mix (Swallow Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

So, I grew up entirely in Middle Tennessee - which is I guess the mid-south?  It is not the deep south but it is the south.  However, my hometown had a university which brought professors from all over and also some industry which brought managers and such from "up North".  So, the kids I went to school with were a combination of people "from" my hometown and "from" other places. All that to say, I don't know if my upbringing was typical of anything... 

I do know that as I got older, I started to question things I had previously believed. I applied critical thinking and experience (my experiences and those that other people shared with me), and I tested - on a subconscious level - where my believes made sense in the light of new evidence. Some held up - at least in some way, and others were rejected. And yes, maybe some were too difficult to give up even if the evidence did not support them. This has been my way. I don't know if the willingness/ability to do this was inherent in me or something I was taught... I do know my early education was probably atypical for a medium/small town in the mid-south. From kindergarten until fourth grade, I attended an elementary school that was part of the county system but also connected to the university. Looking back, it was a pretty progressive education. 

A recurring theme in posts from friends who grew up in the south and who are now progressives is that ones background is not an excuse for racism or homophobia or bigotry of any kind. Bad beliefs can be cast aside in favor of better beliefs. So, holding onto to racists ideas is a choice. Racism is definitely not a genetic predisposition (I believe) and if it is a learned behavior - then it can be unlearned and we can be retrained. 

All this came to my mind when the phrase "fair to middlin'" came to my mind and my wondered in my head - if this was an expression most people know - or if it is a regional colloquialism.  In case, you don't know - if someone asks how are are doing - if you are just "okay" not good and not bad - you can say you are fair to middlin' - which basically carries the same meaning is "just okay". 

Anyway, I guess this week, I am 'fair to middlin'...  

Today, we featured songs 20-24 from this week's playlist:

20. "Our Summer" by Special Moves

We kick off this segment of music with a track from the new album by the Olympia, Washington based indiepop/DIY project of singer-songwriter Joshua Hoey. A great track to start of this segment of music. 

21. "Desire is a Mess" by I LIKE TRAINS

We have been featuring the recent singles from this Leeds based band - their new album KOMPROMAT is out now, and it sounds fantastic. The band formed in 2004.

22. "Defender" by The Agency

Next up, we have a new track from the collective from Newcastle upon Tyne. They have been called an English Velvet Underground for the 21st Century. 

23. "Fight the Flames" by Caterpillars

Next up, we have a track from the recently released third album by the Dallas, Texas based indie-rock band.  I dig their sound.

24. "Truth" by Certain Animals

We close out this segment of music with the latest single from this Dutch band that mixes strong 60s and 70s influence with more modern influences like Tame Impala. A great way to close out this segment of music. 

Tomorrow - we wrap up this week's Featured Friday Playlist - time is going way too fast.  

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/27/2020 - All Change is Bad - Goldmine Mix (Red Bank Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Well, we are almost through another week and another month in the new reality. I feel so much uncertainty and anxiety.  It does feel easier for me to stay in and limit social interactions, but I do miss people. I have very little confidence that things are not going to get worse. I no longer expect a return to "normal" anytime soon, but I also see people who are trying to force that return and it frightens me. 

I am dismayed again at where we are as a nation when it comes to a lot of things. I try to identify and recognize privilege, but I suspect I don't always do well at this. I struggle with knowing when and how to speak up while acknowledging that that struggle is a function of my privilege.

Someone how, I still believe that most people are basically good, but I also believe that it takes more than being good to counteract the people who are bad.

I recognize that critical thinking is a sadly lacking skill, and that emotional intelligence is also sadly lacking in many people. I fully support freedom of thought and freedom of expression, but I recognize with that freedom come responsibility, and that many want the freedom without the responsibility.

I think the real danger lies with the apathetic and not the zealots. 

And now, as we prepare for a brand new Featured Friday Playlist coming tomorrow, we conclude our review of this week's list with songs 18-22:

18. "Forget Me Nots" by Town Meeting

Town Meeting is a folk rock band from Ayer, Massachusetts. They are a fast rising band who have opened for Bob Dylan, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and more. Digging the sound of this band's evocative and rich sound.  

19. "Cama" by Dru Flecha

Dru Flecha is from Caracas, Venezuela by way of Paris, France. A rich combination of sounds combined with a killer hook and a smoldering passion. 

20. "Regional Diction" by Miss Rayon

Miss Rayon is from Portland, Oregon and they have been releasing a song every week during the pandemic. Really digging this track which reminds me of a modern take on new wave music. 

21. "Emptiness" by Lékan Tella

Lékan Tella is a New York based singer-songwriter with a funky R&B, soul vibe. A great addition to this week's Playlist.

22. "I Know" by CLOUDNINE

Last, but not least, we have a track from CLOUDNINE who is a singer-songwriter based in France. A really cool song to close out this week's list.  

See you tomorrow with a brand new Playlist!

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/21/2020 - Something Goes Here - We Will Again Mix (A Grief Ago Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

So, I have continued to think about E2TG and what I can do differently. It is just something I do.

This space was meant to be a place for... well... that is a good question.  An introduction...  Originally, I thought this would be where I would post short recaps of live music, but... well you know how that one goes...

So, I have this idea to try starting next week.  We shall see.  That is what E2TG has always been a long-running experiment. I can't even begin to count how many "New Features" I have introduced only to abandon after a few (or even one) occurrences. Sometimes, ideas sound good in my brain but in reality they don't work out...

Anyway, tomorrow, we will unveil a new Featured Friday Playlist.  Remember you can follow the playlist on Spotify so you don't have to wait until I do my blog post tomorrow.

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/6/2020 - Featured Friday - Power to the People Mix (Evermore Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Shelter From the Storm:

Last night's show at Dee's in Madison was so beautiful. I believe a ton of money was raised, the music was so impressively Nashville, a huge turn out. For me, it was my first time reconnecting my community since Tuesday morning's storm - and so many of them were there. It seemed like I couldn't turn around or turn a corner without seeing someone new. It is one thing to see a Facebook post saying someone was okay, but it was something else to see those people in the flesh and to hug them.

I honestly don't have much to say about the music - everything I heard was phenomenal and I know I probably missed more than I saw - there were so many people to hug and talk to. It was appropriate that Jon Latham acted as emcee. Not many have his ability to engage a crowd and not many can appreciate the significance of each of the musical guests.

Big thanks to Brian Wright, Sally Jaye, and Cafe Rooster Records for making this happen. Thanks to everyone for all of the hugs and kindness. And thanks to Dee's and their staff for being awesome.

I think it is important to say - even those of us who were minimally or only indirectly affected by the devastation are dealing with shock and loss. I am reminded of something I heard about the circles of grief.  Basically (and simplified), it would be in appropriate for me to unburden my feelings about this tragedy with someone who suffered a significant and tangible loss due to the storm, but it is not only okay but important for me to talk to someone who was affected in the same way or less than I was affected.  I don't know if I explained that well, but what I am trying to say is that I have no doubt that this disaster has affected me, and it is unhealthy for me to feel guilty for having those feelings.

    Featured Friday Playlist

It is time to unveil this week's E2TG Featured Friday playlist:

• The much anticipated first song from Brian Wright and the Sneakups forthcoming Lapse of Luxury album - "Patrick's Crossing" is a great song. 
• New music from Nashville's Mary Bragg

• Our first taste of Candlelight Blue by Zografi Music. We have featured Paul Zografi's music before - for this new release he enlists the help of some musician friends to present his songs. Long time E2TG favorites Drew Kohl and Kiely Connell are among the talented players

• The new single from long-time E2TG favorite Strange Majik (aka David from The Dead Exs - for really long-time E2TG readers)
• A track from the newly released album from another long-time E2TG favorite Dean Fields

• More new music from local favorites: Kristen Englenz, Caleb Caudle, and Sad Baxter

• New E2TG submissions from Iron Mike Norton, 100 Mile House, Broads (with Millie Hirst). The Mystery Plan, Tiny Fighter, and African Head Charge.

Check it out below: