Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Rebirth of Sorts Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)


First off, you may or may not have noticed, but I made an adjustment to the name of this blog and our associated Facebook page. Basically, I officially added E2TG as a part of the blog name.  The reason being, I am finally dealing with a problem I've been aware of for some time. Namely, that there is another music site called Ear to the Ground. I'm not even going to get into the which one came first game. Ear to the Ground is a fairly common saying, and it is not surprising that I am not the only person to think to call a music site Ear to the Ground. I have been aware of this for a long time. It was the impetus for my beginning to use the E2TG designation more and more. If that other site was covering completely different music, it would not be a problem, however, there does seem to be some overlap in the music we cover.  As a result, there have been moments of confusion - like my Facebook being tagged for their posts.  Basically, I have been procrastinating about dealing with this. What prompted me to act, is that the other site seems to have a very formalized submission process, and it appears that some people have been submitting music there thinking it was coming to me.

I don't know if this change will help with either of these issues, but it is a first attempt. For the record, E2TG is all about sharing music I have discovered through a variety of means. Most of my music comes from publicists (most often from those I've come to trust), artists themselves, or recommendations from other artists and/or other music lovers.

The bottom line is that I have nothing but positive thoughts for anyone who makes a effort to spread the word about new and emerging music. What the other site does seems to be different than what I do. My goal is to just prevent as much confusion as possible.

Enough, sorry for getting off track, I've just put off dealing with this for too long.

Last night, I added over 100 tracks to my new music playlist. I don't think any of them came up today, but they will soon.

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Krokodil and Lions Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)


In the seven plus years that I have written E2TG, there have been more than a few days that I didn't really feel like writing.  Days when the world and/or life was getting me down. The reason E2TG persists when other blogs go dark, is that I write anyway. The reason I write even when I don't really feel like it, is because of the music. I turn to music when I am down and out, and it always helps.

There is a lot in the world that has me down lately - both in the wide-world and closer to home. Bullies.  That's what gets me down. I am sick and tired of bullies, and I am sick and tired of having a bully in the White House. I just a clip where an 18 year old woman asked a Republican candidate for Governor (don't remember what state - it doesn't matter) a legitimate question about climate change. He called her "young and naive" and refused to answer the question. Whatever else that man is, he is a bully. This week, I found out that the 17 year old son of a high school friend of mine - who had been bullied for years - died tragically in an incident either directly or indirectly caused by bullies.

Since I was younger, music has been an escape and a refuge for me. One of the reasons, I don't put down forms of music that aren't my thing - even if I may think they are lame - is that I know that any kind of music can be that refuge to someone who needs it.  I just choose to write about the music I dig and the music that helps me get through the days when I don't want to write about music.

Here's today's shuffle. It's Wednesday and as we do on Wednesdays, we shuffle up all the songs saved to my phone - so we get some new tracks, some older tracks, and who knows what all. It's often a wild ride, so we call it Wild Wednesday.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - It's Plain to See Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed three - January - March 2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018 NEW

Hey! I have added a playlist for May 2018.  Remember - these are not May new releases (necessarily) but a cross-section of music we featured in May 2018 here at E2TG.

Today, we jump back into our "New Music" playlist.... as usual, I am way behind getting new stuff adding, but the list is still pretty long and still has a ton of great music.  So, let's go!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Floating the River Mix

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


Guess what!  Today will be the last day I bug you about the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency. That is because tonight is the finale!

I saw "bug you", and sometimes promoting events like this can feel like overkill. But with social media algorithms being what they are - it is almost a necessity to repeatedly post in every imaginable way. I know that personally, I will sometimes see a post about a show the day after the show occurs, and there have been times that I thought I was over-posting about an event - only to mention the event in person to someone who I know is on social media and who reacts to my generic posts regularly, only to have them say, "I didn't know you were having that event". 

So... TONIGHT! Get yourselves down to The 5 Spot. Our really big shew will begin promptly at six and end promptly at 8:30.  Shane Tutmarc, Joanna Barbera, Eli Cook, and Bee Taylor will be your entertainment for the night. I will provide light MC tasks. Hopefully, I will read a short section from my novel, The Drift, and I will have a few copies for sale.

As always there are a myriad of live music choices in Nashville, but we do hope you will make E2TG, The 5 Spot, and our great line-up a part of your evening.  Fun fact: Most late shows don't start until at least 9:00pm (even if they say 8:00pm), so come to our show, and we will have you on your way long before the downbeat of the next show.  (Or just stay at The 5 Spot for their always stellar late show.)

Now, let us jump right into the Trending Thursday shuffle.  As always, these are the songs/tracks that I listened to on my way to work this morning:

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - And the Band Played On Mix

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TONIGHT! 

Come on out to see Brian Milligram, Darrin Bradbury, and The Coal Men.  As an added bonus, I will be reading a short section from my novel, The Drift.  It is an early show (6-8:30) a low ($5.00) cover, and the food truck will be open if you want to eat a bite. As always in Nashville, there is a ton of stuff going on.  I hope you will make the E2TG Anniversary show - a part of your pre-weekend Summer Solstice plans.  It's the longest day of the year, so don't say you don't have time. \


Remember, next week,we wrap up the month-long residency with Joanna Barbera, Bee Taylor, and Eli Cook!


Okay - let's get right into today's shuffle. It is Thursday.  We always shuffle up our "New Music" playlist on Thursday, and today is no exception.

What you may or may not know is that some time in the past, E2TG would post cover songs on Thursdays. This was before, I started getting so much new music that I needed to add more to focus on the new music coming my way. The reason I mention this today is... well just check out the first four songs of the shuffle....

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Daisy Shotgun Mix

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This is just a couple of days away!   Make your plans now!

Check out Rayvon Pettis on Spotify
Check out Clark Paterson on Spotify 
Check out Griffin Winton (of The Big Dumb) on Spotify


Once your plans for June 7 are set - go ahead and mark your calendar for the rest of the E2TG Residency!

June 14 - We have Ben de la Cour opening, plus The End (Brooklyn) making a rare Nashville appearance, and Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus. 

June 21 - Brian Milligram will open for Microwave Mountain and The Coalmen. 

June 28 - Joanna Barbera opens for Eli Cook (Virginia) and Bee Taylor.  

These shows will be the most fun you are legally allowed to have before the sun goes down!  

I plan to have copies of my novel, The Drift, available for sale, and I will be reading short passages each week. 

$5.00 21+ (bring a valid ID - even if you are old like me). The 5 Spot is located in East Nashville at 1006 Forrest Avenue.  Doors should be open by 5:45pm or so.  Come early - we are jam packed with great stuff so we will aim to get started by 6:15 or so. 



Now, let's jump into this Trending Tuesday shuffle and see what it has in store for us!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Nylon Kisses Mix

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My novel, The Drift is out now!  Paperback or Kindle (Buy the paperback and get a Kindle version for just $.99)

E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency is coming in June to The 5 Spot!

Week 1:  Clark Paterson, The Big Dumb, Rayvon Pettis
Week 2: The End Men, Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus, Ben de la Cour
Week 3:  Brian Milligram, Microwave Mountain, The Coal Men
Week 4: Joanna Barbera, Bee Taylor, Eli Cook

Last night, I caught the Bruce Springsteen tribute at The Basement East. A suburb band performed Born in the USA and a ton of other songs.  Singers included Charles Esten (Nashville, Whose Line is It Anyway?), Smooth Hound Smith, J. Marco, Andrew Leheay, Bill Eberle, and many more).  Jon Latham closed the show and as per usual brought down the house.  Fun show!

Tonight is night three of the Darrin Bradbury, Jon Latham, and Nick Nace residency at The 5 Spot.  The first two weeks were awesome, and I expect nothing less than awesome tonight.  It's an early show so you have plenty of time to catch other shows after or get home if you need to call it a night early.

It is Wednesday - and that is the day when we shuffle through all the songs on my phone memory. Anything can happen and usually does... let's go!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Dog Man Don't Mix

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Last night was Week 2 of the Bradbury, Latham, Nace residency at The 5 Spot.  Jon and Darrin did solo sets, and Nick Nace did a full band set. Highlights for me were Jon doing the original version of "Major Key" which I had never heard - it was incredible. Darrin doing "Junkie Love" which I had not heard in a while - which included a cute, if reluctant sing-a-long.  Darrin is promising awesomeness next week - so make your plans to attend Next Wednesday night at 6pm at The 5 Spot.

(I  need to update the poster)

Ben de la Cour opened the show - he sang a new song - which was fabulous.  I am thrilled to announce that after some intense and brutal negotiations, Ben will be the special guest opener of Week 2 of the E2TG  Residency in June (June 14).   Here is the rundown in case you've missed it:

Week 1:  Clark Paterson, The Big Dumb, Rayvon Pettis
Week 2: The End Men, Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus, Ben de la Cour
Week 3:  Brian Milligram, Microwave Mountain, The Coal Men
Week 4: Joanna Barbera, Bee Taylor, Eli Cook

I am stoked about this line-up and I hope you will make plans to attend some or all of these shows. I think it represents a great cross-section of the music that has made E2TG what it is, and I am honored that these talented folks are willing to perform.

Well - it is Thursday, and that means we dig back into our New Music playlist for "Trending Thursday" - let's shuffle!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - When It All Comes Down Mix

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Time is marching on... we've reached the end of another week of E2TG.

By the way, tomorrow, on WXNA (101.5fm in Nashville or wxnafm.org everywhere), my radio show that I do with my dear friend Sue - Double Shot with Joe and Sue will be celebrating our 100th show!  I hope you can tune in!  Double Shot kicks off at 11:00am (Central Time).

Today, we have our Featured Friday shuffle - shuffling songs from our "new music" playlist of albums/artists/songs we are featuring here on E2TG.

Go!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Wide-Eyed Fishing Mix

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In case you missed the last two posts, E2TG will be celebrating our first 7 years with a Residency every Thursday in June at The 5 Spot.  These EARLY shows kick off at 6:00pm, and we have stacked line-ups every week, so you will want to get there early.

Week 1:  Rayvon Pettis, The Big Dumb, and Clark Paterson
Week 2: The End Men, Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus, plus a special guest opener TBA

Onto Week 3!  I am stoked to get the opportunity to present two of my favorite bands and one of my favorite songwriters in one incredible night.  I am especially excited to be able to showcase the diversity of talent making music in this city.

Microwave Mountain: With raucous energy and rocking good vibes, Microwave Mountain are red hot right now.  On the heels of the 4/20 - release show for Sick Licks, Jamie Timm and company will be playing a pretty rare early show. You will not want to miss this.

The Coal Men:  Led by guitarist, songwriter, producer extraordinaire Dave Coleman, The Coal Men have been making music together since 1999.  Their latest album is called Pushed to the Side. They are definitely one of my favorite local bands - great songs and a great sound. Editors note: The Poster above erroneously lists "The Coal Men" has "The Coalmen" - I apologize for the error and will be fixing the graphic as soon as I am able.

Brian Milligram:  Opening the night will be one of my favorite songwriters here in town, and one that many of you may be seeing for the first time. Be sure to get their early - Milligram brings a punk spirit to his songs.  His sometimes caustic nature belies a tenderness that comes through his lyrics.


Tomorrow, we will reveal our guests for the 4th and final week.  Stay tuned!


On to our shuffle for this Thursday!

I'm not sure if I have ever been as excited about the line-up of artists in my "New Music" playlist as I am right now. So much new music from new artists and veteran performers - covering just about every genre and style of music imaginable.  Today's shuffle is a good cross-section of that diversity!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Life without Parole Mix

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I was a little under the weather yesterday, so this is my first shuffle of the week.  I hope you've been following my previews of the upcoming Magnolia Roads American Roots Hoedown III.  Part 1 was posted yesterday and featured Ben Sparaco.   Part 2 posted this morning and featured Don Gallardo.

It's Trending Tuesday and we have a few "first listens" plus some tracks from albums we have been featuring for a little while.