Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Band of the Year and More Mix

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You have before you, the FINAL Ear to the Ground of 2013, so let's blow this thing out!

First order of business:  As promised, it is time to unveil our 2013 Band of the Year. As announced, for the first time in E2TG history, the Band of the Year will be selected by me, myself, and I.  Back in 2011, I came up with the idea of a Band of the Year, and frankly, I didn't want the pressure/guilt in picking one band over others. So, I created a Readers' Poll, and with a massive last minute push, UK band The Mobbs stormed to a narrow victory over underdogs Ubiquity Machine.

Following the success of that initial poll, I began running Band of the Month polls beginning with December 2011, although initially successful, the concept of pitting bands against each other began to stale.  We carried on, and at the end of last year, we had another successfully Band of the Year Readers' Poll wherein Skeletons in the Piano were selected by popular election.

Since that time, I decided to focus on featuring as much new music as I could, and I dropped the Band of the Month and related features. Although I briefly considered another year-end poll, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't willing to give that power away this time.... oh yeah, and the thing about bands working together for their common good....

So.... after all that background and unsolicited explanation, I am very excited to announce the 2013 Ear to the Ground Band of the Year.

The 2013 Band of the Year were selected for the following reasons:

1. They are among the coolest, most bad ass people I've had the good fortune to get to know as the result of writing this blog.

2. They are extremely generous and supportive of other bands and artists.

3. They released on of the best albums of 2013.

4. I got to meet them and see them blaze through an all too brief set back in early Spring.

5. They had a successful tour in the US and in Europe.

6. The followed up their amazing 2013 album with a brand new single which was accompanied by an incredible video that visually depicted their total bad-assery.

7.  Because I said so......

The 2013 E2TG Band of the Year is.....  THE END MEN from Brooklyn, New York!!!!!!

 



Congrats kids!  Here's to an even better 2014!


Okay, we have unfinished business as we continue to feature some of our favorite music of 2013... let's do it!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Reflections Mix

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A lot of ground to cover....  as promised, I added a virtual ton of music to the playlist - 196 songs in all bringing the total before today's post of 471 songs - which I think is a record.

First off - you have to understand that Lou Reed tributes are not going to stop anytime soon.  His death seemed to affect people who make and listen to all kinds of music.  Today, we have a very special video offered as a tribute to Mr. Reed.  It's a cover of the Velvet Underground classic (aren't they all?) and one of my favorites (I know I say this about quite a few VU and Reed songs - but really I mean it) - "I'll Be Your Mirror" here performed by Richard Barone with the amazing Jane Scarpantoni on Cello from the 25th  Anniversary concert for one of the most lovely records ever made (Cool Blue Halo).  Richard Barone (Bongos) is offering up the song as a tribute to his late friend and influence.



Now - let's get to the shuffle.... we have a long one today - so join me after the JUMP

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Fast Cars and Loud Guitars Mix

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"Fast Cars and Loud Guitars. Local Bars and goin' to far." - Tim Lee 3.



So - I headed out Friday night to a well known East Nashville hot spot to meet and see my favorite Knoxville rockers, Tim Lee 3.  I had an awesome night, met some cool folks, and saw some incredible music...

I was so glad to finally get to meet Tim and Susan Bauer Lee in person.  First up, the audience was treated to a 20 minute preview of Tom Weber's incredible film (10+ years in the making) called Troubadour Blues.  It's about the modern purveyors of the folk tradition of the travelling musicians who get paid to drive from town to town and get rewarded with the chance to perform for an hour or two.  The film features the likes of Peter Case, Dave Alvin, Mary Gauthier and many, many more.

The live music began with RB Morris of Knoxville. I was shamefully not familiar with Mr. Morris' music, but that deficiency is in the process of being corrected. He is a top-notch singer songwriter and a poet - gratefully, we treated us to a couple of poems from his latest book.

Next up was Nancy Apple from Memphis.  The undisputed Queen of Memphis Country, Folk, Blues what have you.  Her song about finding out that Johnny Cash had died struck a chord with me.  I got to talk to Nancy and share a couple of my Memphis stories.

Next a couple of locals were invited to join in on the show.  The thing is, when you are in Nashville (and East Nashville in particular), the caliber of locals is pretty darn amazing. Julie Christensen was the first local - a fairly recent arrival. If the name doesn't ring a bell, try this: she was a founding member of the legendary Divine Horsemen and an integral part of the L.A. Scene which helped bridge gap between punk rock and what would eventually become Americana music. Oh, and she also spent many years singing with the one and only Leonard Cohen.  Beyond that incredible history, she is a breath-taking singer and songwriter.  She performed a song by Memphis song writer Dan Montgomery which has me scrambling to find out all I can about him.

Next was the second local, Amelia White - who we first saw perform last year at the Five Spot. She was every bit as amazing as we remembered.

Next up was the Tim Lee 3. Now, regular readers should already be all over Tim Lee 3, but for the uninitiated, they are a tight three piece rock combo from Knoxville featuring Tim Lee (The Windbreakers) and his wife Susan. They rocked the house thoroughly playing a couple of songs from their latest album, Devil's Rope, one from their previous double album Raucous Americanus, and a hand full of new songs which bode well for the next Tim Lee 3 album. 

The night ended with RB Morris joining Tim Lee 3 for a few more of RB's songs including one of his which had been recorded by Marianne Faithful and John Hiatt.

What a night!
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