Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Strange Cars Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


I don't know anymore... I mean, I feel like the people who understand that what is going on with this administration is not okay, not normal, and horrible for this country - already know. Those who are know and who are in positions to do something about it and are not - they are complicit. Those who don't know - are willfully ignoring facts that are clear as a bell... Sometimes continuing to speak out seems fruitless, but I am not going to stop.
*******************************************************************************

May 17! I sure hope, if you are in Nashville, you will come out for a one of a kind experience. I am still pinching myself that David Olney and Sergio Webb are each playing full band sets as part of the Sixth Anniversary of Ear to the Ground.  Still not convinced? There will be more beer koozies to give away and I will be reading another short section of one of two novels-in-progress.  Although, seriously if the first part of this announcement did not convince you, but the second part did - you need to go do some research about Sergio Webb and David Olney.

It is Friday!  We've (almost) survived another week. It's time to see what the shuffle would have us feature today...

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Swimming to Normal Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Look.  Illness doesn't have a political affiliation.  It doesn't care if you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green, Libertarian, Communist, Democratic Socialist, Anarchist, Capitalist, or whatever.  We are living pretty deep into the 21st Century now. Medicine has advanced greatly.  Our healthcare system has been broken for a long time. There are legitimately many different approaches to tackling this important and complex issue. (And yes, I would hope the majority of Americans recognize that it is a complex and complicated issue).  By any standards, in my opinion, the bill passed by the House of Representatives should be taken as an affront to the American people. The people who voted for this legislation (some without having read it) and who celebrated its passage - need to be held accountable when they are up for reelection. I wish I had more faith in the electorate to do that.  This bill is bad for everyone except the most wealthy.  Everyone else, should be outraged. We can do better, we must do better.  #Resist #Persist.
*********************************************************************************

It is Friday, and it is time we dig into our "New Music" playlist and see what the shuffle brings up... it's a gray, rainy day here in Nashville. I hope the sun is shining wherever you are.

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Ain't Democracy Wonderful Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Busy, busy...   Went out to see Jon Byrd and Byrd's Auto Parts at The 5 Spot. Really great set. Cool tunes, a great band. Wendy Newcomer joined Byrd to sing a few songs.  Great hang. Talked a little to Don Gallardo who shared some updates about his next album. This makes me really excited.

It is Thursday - time to head back to my Topical Thursday playlist of songs that thematically or titular-wise fit a loosely defined and unexplained topic of my creation.  The connections are in my mind only and really this is mostly an excuse to play some really cool tunes.  Read what you want into my selections, but I do not mean to imply that any of these artists mean for their songs to be interpreted how I did.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Everything Turns to Dust Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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



Alrighty then, I am back after a long weekend.  As usual, I got a lot done and feel like I could have done more.  Saturday night, I took in Jon Latham, Josh Morris, and Sean Quinn at The Country.  Excellent music, and good times.

Sunday, it was Stone Cupid (trio with Julie Christensen, Chris Tench, and Sergio Webb) at Studio 62 on Main Street in East Nashville. Always good to see and hear them play.

Meanwhile, the surreal disaster that is our current administration in the US continues to defy... well fill in the blank.. common sense, decency, legality, reality.  A "campaign"rally - a month after inauguration... filled with at least 13 factually questionable statements... including an allusion to an attack "last night" against Sweden which never happened.

Here's the deal, writing this blog, I have inadvertently posted things that turned out to be incorrect. I once (based upon a wikipedia article) stated that a noted producer co-wrote a song. When I was corrected, by the writer of said song, I immediate edited my post to include the correct information (while leaving the incorrect information struck out) and I apologize for the error.

In contrast, when this administration is called out on misstatements, they double down, the shift blame, or they respond in some bizarre fashion that leaves their followers to believe the lie to be the truth. (i.e. many supporters of the current administration still believe the "media" is covering up an attack on Sweden).

Oh and let's not forget the non-stop attacks on the free press - who dare to ask "hard questions" and challenge untruths.

Okay, okay. I'm done for now.  The above views are my own and should not be associated with any artists featured on my page.

**********************************************************************
Before we leap ahead into the Shuffle... I would like to present a video from The Suitcase Junket. I first saw The Suitcase Junket - a uniquely talented one-man band - a couple of years ago at The 5 Spot.  He has a brand new album - his label debut coming soon, and today, we have a video from that album for the song, "The Next Act". Check it out below, and keep listening to E2TG for more from the album which is called, Pile Driver.

Today is Tuesday and we have our "Trending Tuesday" shuffle forthcoming....after the jump...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Factory of Fantasies Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Okay... so the bluetooth issue is getting annoying.  Last night, I cleared some cache thing that seemed to help, but no, this morning bluetooth kept shutting down again. Open to suggestions.

Anyway, I did power through for our Trending Tuesday shuffle - on a cold raining morning in Nashville....

Cheers!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Little New York City Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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

First things first... some housekeeping.  Yesterday in my haste to kick off the "Earies" and post the shuffle, I failed to talk about the awesome "Songs of Love and Protest Show" hosted by Matt Haeck at The Family Wash on Wednesday.  Featuring incredible performances by Haeck, Amy Speace, Wild Ponies, Jon Latham, Darrin Bradbury, Brian Wright, Zach Schmidt, Rayvon Pettis, and probably others that I am blanking on.  The event was a kickoff for an upcoming compilation album with proceedings going to Planned Parenthood and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Stay tuned for updates.

Second, if you missed it, I posted a review/debut of Josh Morris' new album Can't Wait 'Til Now earlier today.  Check it out HERE. And check out Josh Morris tomorrow night at The Country.  Also tomorrow, across the river, Mark Robinson will be bringing a full band set to Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge - a relatively new venue in Madison. As always there is a ton of other stuff going on so get out and see some live local music this weekend.

Spontaneously and randomly this morning, I came up with the idea of awarding some "Earie" awards embedded in the shuffle. Truth is, I have so many awards I want to give out this is the best way to cover a bunch and then I can fill in others.  So... let's begin with a Featured Friday Shuffle...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Satellites Fade Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Well it is Tuesday or since it is Thanksgiving week, I like to think of it as Thursday.

Recorded a future Double Shot show last night that will air the first Saturday of December. It is going to be a good one.  This Saturday, we will be live playing songs dedicated to holiday travelers. Called "Highway and Bi-Way (or To Grandmother's House We Go).

Staying busy and trying to think about this years' Earie Awards without getting overwhelmed - it has been an amazing year for music (don't let anyone tell you different). 

Shuffling today from the "New Music" playlist for Trending Tuesday.  Let's go...

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Skinny Jeans and Bad Hair Mix

Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Okay... here we go. The good thing about starting you work week on Wednesday is that you suddenly find yourself at Thursday!  First things first.

Really enjoyed night one of Amelia White's September Residency at The 5 Spot.  Jesse and Noah opened with some new songs, some old songs, and a nifty Donovan cover. Amelia White and the Blue Souvenirs were awesome as always - Parker Hawkins, Fran Breen, Paul Neihaus, and Dave Coleman. We really are spoiled here in Nashville by all the great players. Amelia debuted some new songs in addition to playing some of my favorites. She threw in an awesome cover of "Silver Wings" - a song by the late Merle Haggard that I was introduced to by The Knitters.

Tonight, Mark Robinson's September Residency at The 5 Spot continues.  The band will include Rick Schell and Daniel Seymour, and the special guests will be Mark Huff and Webb Wilder!  Seriously, do not miss this show if at all possible!

Since, I missed Trending Tuesday, and since I have an overabundance of "new music", I am going to forgo Throwback Thursday for this week only and present a rare Trending Thursday shuffle... enjoy!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Wish That I Could Hate You Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


My oft repeated phrase is "Music Heals".  I say it because I believe it to be true.  Last night, still feeling sad about the death of my first best friend, I headed down to The Family Wash. There, surrounded by friends, I took one of those once-in-a-lifetime nights of music that seem to happen around  this town on a frequent basis.

Nathan Bell - a singer-songwriter who I first saw earlier this year at The Bluebird Cafe played first.  His songs are soooo good. He was joined by Annie Mosher on several songs and then by legendary Nashville songwriter Don Henry on one song.

After that, the always mind-blowing Sergio Webb made a rare appearance as a front man and an even rarer appearance leading a full-band.  The Cremonatones - a one-off super-group featured Julie Christensen, Dave Coleman, Parker Hawkins, and Fran Breen.  The set opened with a rocking cover of Lou Reed's "New Sensation" - a song I had heard Webb do solo at Bobby's Idle Hour - and continued through a set of songs including several written with John Hadley and David Olney.  It was one of those magical nights of insanely good music and an audience of some of the best musicians in the world.  It was just what I needed.

A ton a great music upcoming.  I wanted to highlight Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau making a rare appearance at my favorite venue - The 5 Spot on Saturday at 6:00pm.

We have a Featured Friday Shuffle...

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Always Carry a Purse Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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

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".