E2TG 10/19/2020 - Music City Monday and More - Too Much Sugar Mix (Comes with Time Remix)

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It is just over two weeks until the election. The current president said his opponent would listen to the scientists about COVID and that was meant as a criticism and his followers think it is.  I am encouraged by the early voting numbers. I am not sure how I will handle election night (and however long it takes until result are official). I can't even thing about what will happen if the unthinkable happens. 

Nashville's COVID numbers are up. I worry about my friends whose passion and livelihoods have been so dramatically impacted by the pandemic and for whom a return to normalcy is months away and filled with uncertainty about what that new normal will look like.  I am discouraged by people acting as if the pandemic is over or is a fake. At the same time, I see friends tentatively playing shows with safety precautions, and although I am not yet comfortable with that - I wish them well. I am angered that some people minimize the importance of COVID-19 deaths because many of those who died were older and/or had underlying health conditions - as if either of those two things devalues a human being's right to live. 

I ache for a time when politics in an occasional concern - like during a crucial Congressional vote... and not a daily reaction to the ravings of a madman. 

I ache for a time when E2TG is 100% about music again. 

Our Featured Friday Playlist picks up with songs 11-15:

11. "She's Alright" by Jon Worthy

Jon Worthy has been busy.  This latest single was a full-band effort that he wrote, recorded, performed, and produced on his own.  It sounds fantastic. Nice to hear him rocking again. 

12. "You & I" by Mcclendon

We previously featured the title track from Mcclendon's Room 33 EP, and now we have another track from that release. A young Nashville songwriter that has caught my attention. 

13. "How It Has to Be" by Jeremy Ivey

Waiting Out the Storm is out now! Jeremy Ivey has made an important album for our times, and he is truly one of the best songwriters around. 

14. "Mississippi Suitcase (Slight Return)" by Peter Parcek

My connections to the blues world have been telling me about Peter Parcek's new album Mississippi Suitcase, so I had to check it out for myself. Wonderful stuff. Parcek is an award winning blues guitarist from Boston. 

15. "Sensitive Souls" by The Mastersons 

Among the shows I saw in 2020 before the lock downs and quarantines - was a show at City Winery that featured The Mastersons. Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore can often be found backing Steve Earle has long-time members of his band The Dukes. On their own, they make powerful and wonderful music. Some people like shouting "Shut up and sing", and so The Mastersons join in the growing ranks are artists who are speaking out with their songs as well as their words.  Red, White & I Love You Too is the name of their new album, and it should be heard. 

         

    Featured Friday Playlist

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Caged Up Bull Mix (Land of Dismay Remix)

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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.

No post tomorrow.  I will be off work.  I am hard at work on the upcoming E2TG reboot.  Before that, we have the end of the year getting closer, and per usual, I feel totally unprepared.

Anyway, here is today's shuffle - enjoy!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Out in the Rain 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)

If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.

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!)
E2TG September 2018  (coming soon!)

SAVE THE DATE!!!!!  Thursday, November 15, 2018 - We have a pretty cool event in the works.  More to come!


Another work week is upon us...

The world seems pretty sucky right now.  Votes are being suppressed and stolen, the free press is under attack, the government is trying to erase trans people.  For god's sake if any of these things bother you, VOTE!  Early voting is going on or starting soon in most places. VOTE early, vote on November 6. VOTE.  If you have the ability, convince other like-minded people to vote, offer to take someone to the polling place.  I am hopeful of a Blue Wave, but fearful that something will stand in the way...  If it doesn't happen, I am truly afraid for what will happen to this nation.

I have been saying for almost two years, I am not someone who wants to get political.  I believe that differing political opinions should be celebrated. I don't believe that what is happening now is political. Children in cages, white supremacists being emboldened, the rule of law being trashed, reporters being targeted and murdered.... These are not things that either conservatives or progressives should support.

God, I need some music now!  Here's a nifty shuffle of artists connected to Nashville, Tennessee.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Love Comes, Love Goes Mix

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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

We are just over two weeks away from the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency at The 5 Spot.  Rayvon Pettis, The Big Dumb, and Clark Paterson will be lighting up the stage.

Consider this a soft release announcement, but my debut novel The Drift is now available from Amazon.  If you are in Nashville and would like a copy, let me know, and we can make some arrangements. Full announcement coming soon.  (They said 3-5 days until it was available, so I wasn't expecting it today!)

Needless to say, I have a lot going on right now, and as is my nature, I'm feeling wholly out of sorts about everything.

Nothing like music to calm my savage beast of a monkey mind - and it is Monday - so we have another fabulous Music City Monday for your enjoyment.

Music City Monday Morning Shuflle - Straggled By Love Mix

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The crazy weather continues (not just in Nashville, I know).  We had temps in the 80's at the end of last week, rain all day Saturday, cooler weather Sunday, and cold weather with a few snow flurries this morning.  Temps are supposed to be up into the 70's later in the week. I say this not to give a weather report, but to say, the change in weather has really had an effect on the state of how I feel - so I laid pretty low most of the weekend - except to help celebrate my radio DJ partner - Sue's birthday on Sunday. It was a wonderful time with wonderful people at a wonderful place (Dee's). 

Now, it is time for Music City Monday shuffle.  This is the only of my shuffles that comes from a Spotify playlist.  It is a huge playlist (ever-expanding) of current and former Nashville area artists and bands. It is an eclectic mix of older music and newer music - crossing musical boundaries.

Let's shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Be Real Mix

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I am someone who, despite my strongly held political opinions, believes in the value of those who hold differing opinions. What we have lost in recent years is the concept of the loyal opposition. Still, I am not arrogant enough to believe that my opinions are 100% right, 100% of the time, or that those who have different opinions are 100% wrong, 100% of the time.

That being said, I am 100% sickened by the supposed adults personally, viciously, and childishly attacking the teenage survivors of a horrific school shooting. I am 100% disgusted (though not surprised) by the same people who refuse to bake a cake or issue a marriage license to two people who are in love just because they are the same gender, but who have no problem supporting a "president" who has done the things it is clear that the "president" has done.

I strongly believe we, as a nation, need to find our way back to a place where differences can be debated and compromises can be made, but I am increasingly unsure how we can get to such a place.

So, for now, I hope we can get rid of the clear and present danger in front of us (sooner rather than later) and undo the damage that has been done, and that in taking these steps we can find a path to what now seems an impossible destination.

The March for Our Lives across the country and around the world was inspiring. The vileness of some of those who criticized this movement was depressing.
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As usual, when life/the world/whatever gets me down, I turn to music to lift me up. It is Monday, so, I dig into the Music City Monday Spotify playlist to get a sample of just some of the incredible music that has come and is coming from this awesome, frustrating, wonderful city.

Let's shuffle!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Sasquatch Mix

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First off, I wanted to give out a show alert for tonight.  The late show at The 5 Spot in East Nashville will feature a CD Release show by Erica Blinn for her new album Better Than Gold. You may recall, we premiered her song, "Dance with the One (Who Brought You Here)" last September.

Closing the night will be another local favorites, Andrew Leahey and the Homestead.

Opening the show will be Memphis based and Fat Possum recording artist Liz Brasher - who I read is making her Nashville debut. I may be wrong about that.   Here's some information about Liz Brasher - NPR says, "Good-God-Hallelujah... Brasher shouts, rocks, rolls, and tears it up on stage; her music will dig down deep to touch your soul." A Memphian of Dominican descent who grew up singing in Spanish in the church, Brasher synthesizes the sounds of of '60s garage, girl group sounds, dirty blues, holy roller church music, and Bob Dylan into something completely her own.  And below is a video for her song "Body of Mine"  


Should be a great night of music.

Today is Wednesday so let's get "Wild" and shuffle from all the songs on my phone memory.

I'm am just a bit rushed, so bear with me...

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Honey Bunny Mix

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Well, I guess time has run out on "easing into the new year..."

I had promised some changes for 2018 here at E2TG and today, I am unveiling two of those changes.


I am not sure if this is going to be an every Monday thing or what, but I would like to introduce a new feature on E2TG.

Marie/Lepanto is a new inter-generational project that features Will Johnson (Centro-Matic) and Justin Peter Kinkel-Shuster (Water Liars). Their debut "Tenkiller" is due out on January 26. I will have some of the songs in my upcoming shuffles, but for today, I wanted to let you hear the first track released from that album. It's called "Iverness".

Will Johnson fronted Centro-Matic for two decades and is also frontman for South San Gabriel, a member of New Multitudes (Woody Guthrie lyrics set to new music, with Jay Farrar, Jim James), did a duo project with Jason Molina (Molina and Johnson), drummer and official member of Monsters of Folk (with James, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward), a duo with David Bazan as part of Overseas, and a member of the Undertow Orchestra (with Bazan, Mark Eitzel, and Vic Chestnutt). NPR has praised Centro-Matic's "superb rock records" and Johnson's "great images" and "superb songwriting." He lives in Austin, TX.

Meanwhile, Kinkel-Shuster co-founded Water Liars, about whom the NY Times said, "dark, lonely roots-minded indie rock is affecting, all the more for its sparseness." NPR called the band "a low-key triumph... prone to fits of stark gorgeousness" and Consequence of Sound said "Kinkel-Shuster's painted howl will stop you in your tracks." Julien Baker listed JPKS' 2016 album among her top ten albums of the year. Water Liars tooks its name from a Barry Hannah story and the band was on Misra Records and Big Legal Mess. The album is called 'Marie/Lepanto' after a sign on the freeway in Arkansas and was recorded at Sam Phillips Recordings Service, where Margo Price, Jason Isbell and more have taped albums. He lives in Arkansas and brings a deep south viewpoint to his work.

Nashville readers: Marie/Lepanto will be playing at  the Exit/In on February 23 with Pedro the Lion.





Another reminder: E2TG will be hosting show at  The Local (formerly known as The Country) this coming Sunday (January 14) featuring Conrad y Skordalia, Danny Henry, and Nelson Zimmerman Quinn (featuring members of Sean Quinn and the Tremblers. Music starts at 8:00pm, and it will be my birthday!

Today marks the return of "Music City Monday" to E2TG (with a bit of a twist).  Today's shuffle comes not from my phone music player, but from Spotify.  I have created an ever-evolving playlist of Nashville connected music - old and new, well-known and lesser-known, and crossing as many genre lines I can get away with.    Here is the inaugural shuffle from that playlist....

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Water into Moonshine Mix

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And I am back...  I think I caught a bit of summer cold that kind of knocked me out yesterday, but I am feeling mostly better today.

Let's see:  Friday night, I took in another fun Tim Carroll Rock 'n' Roll Happy Hour at The 5 Spot.

Saturday:  The day began with a live broadcast of Double Shot with Joe and Sue (and our topic was "Our Favorite Years" - namely 1968 for Sue and 1985 for Joe), then I headed to Two Old Hippies where I saw Adeem the Artist perform a really entertaining set of mostly original music (plus a nice mash-up of Margaritaville and Feliz Navidad.  Later, I finally got to the brand new Radio Cafe which has not yet officially opened.  The weather was hot Saturday but Mark Robinson and his band were even hotter.  A really cool singer-songwriter named Greg Rich (who learned guitar from Mark Robinson back in Indiana) opened the night. As someone remarked, you could have put together a hell of a band just from the people in attendance.  I ended my Saturday at an awesome after-NAMM party hosted by Richie Owens and his family.

This week is filled with "Nashville Dilemma" moments which makes this summer cold particularly annoying.  Tonight at the Family Wash, it is Pint and Pie night and Short Sets with Tim McNary and Brooklyn band Leland Sundries on the bill.

Here is a trending Tuesday shuffle...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Alright, Alright Mix

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Good day, hepcats!  Had a blast seeing Matt Phillips and The Philharmonic out at Charlie Bob's last night.  The band sounded fantastic and it was great hearing how much Matt's sound has evolved since I saw him last year at Music City Roots (which was awesome, too by the way).  I hope he makes it back to Nashville for a more extended visit. 

Lots on the horizon, trying to keep all those juggles balled... no wait, that is not it...

It's Tuesday!  Time to find out what we have "Trending" on E2TG. 

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Snow Day Mix

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A rare snow day off work, but the shuffle must go on....

Had a blast last night before the winter weather descended... a night at The Family Wash for a pair of CD Release shows by two of my favorite East Nashvillians.  Amelia White and The Blue Souvenirs (tonight featuring Sergio Webb, Justin Amaral, Megan Palmer, and Ron Eoff). Amelia's new album is called Home Sweet Hotel.  Stone Cupid (Julie Christensen, Sergio Webb, Chris Tench, Bones Hillman, and Steve Latanation). Stone Cupid's new album is called The Cardinal.  Amelia and band were wonderful as always, and Julie and Stone Cupid rocked the house.

To the shuffle:

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Baby Out of Jail Mix

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Well, here we are.  Another late posting.  Tomorrow likely will be, too.  Let's jump to it. Plus by stupid bluetooth earphones have bitten the dust.  Replacements are on their way.

We've been doing the "Earies" for about a week now.  I hope everyone is enjoying themselves.  I am coming up with winners faster than I am coming up with Award names.... but it's all good.  I just hope I don't forget anyone, but I probably will...

Today's award is the "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" Award.

The premise:  I have known for some time that Nashville is the home to some amazing blues players and music, but that fact came into sharp focus for me this year.  The other thing that came into sharp focus for me is that "The Blues" is not a narrow genre of music and it is very much alive and well in this middle year of the second decade of the new millennium.  This award is meant to recognize some of the best of the blues and it so happens both of this years winners come from Nashville, and they both bring their own unique twist to the genre.

The Award goes to Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen  and Eight O'Five Jive.

Ted Drozdowski is a journalist and scholar of the Blues and an amazing guitar player.  With his trio, he brings Mississippi to Nashville and rolls into a sweet psychedelic coating while telling stories and blowing minds.  Love and Life was one of the best albums of the year and one of the best albums Ted Drozdowski has made.  An electrifying live act (no stage can contain Ted and no utensils or glassware are safe from being used as a guitar slide.


Eight O'Five Jive play upbeat, swinging jump blues that evokes an earlier era while remaining firmly rooted in the present.  Their album, Too Many Men, was smart and sexy and a whole lot of fun.  They won a couple of awards at this years Nashville Independent Music Awards including Best Blues Artist, and now they can add an "Earie" to their award cabinet,






On to the shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Just the Same as Dyin' Mix

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"Being afraid of living is just the same as dying."  This line from Two Cow Garage seems like one of the most important for me to remember today.  More about Two Cow Garage and last night's other great music is few...

First, the next 2015 E2TG "Earie" Award:

The premise:  "Kids these days."  I write those words, but how did I mean it?  Was it said with exasperation, as it has been said for generations?  Well, in this case, that is not how it was meant. We live in a time of incredible possibilities - really!  Just thinking about music (keep in mind, I know next to nothing about the recording, mixing, mastering etc. process), the potential for DIY recording, distribution etc. seems pretty amazing.  But of course, availability of technology is just a part of the equation.  It is when and where ripe and fertile minds meet this "new" technology that things start to get exciting.  The driving force for me when it comes to music is the constant search for something new.  E2TG has always been (in part) a balancing act between incredible new music being made all over the globe  and maintaining a health appreciation and passion for the music that made the new music possible.  It's about connections. Right?  Yes!  Some "kids" these days are using the tools of the day to make some really cool music, and sometimes, this exciting new music is forged by an appreciation of music way older than those who are making it.

About three years ago???? I was introduced (by Papa Tune's - of course) to a young band of brothers from Connecticut called The Foresters.  At the time, I think only one of the brother was a teenager - the rest were pre-teens.  I made a joke that their average age was 10 3/4 but that their amps go up to eleven. (or something like that). The Foresters were a pop punk band - formed after the three brothers, named Nork, attended a Green Day concert and asked for a received instruments.  The early music was really good power, pop punk. Over the past couple of years, The Foresters have released a couple of EPs, recorded with and as several different side projects. The influences have expanded and diversified and the music has gotten more complex and better.  The band's latest album, Sun Songs, finds the band reaching a new plateau - while the possibilities remain endless. A couple of years ago, the band were given the Hope For the Furure award by the Couch by Counchwest Music Festival. Well, the future is now, and The Foresters appear poised to find out what happens next - which at this moment is a 2015 "Earie".  Actually, special mention for this award needs to go out to all of the artists on the band's homegrown record label, Dord Music Group.

Congratulations to The Foresters - you are the 2015 "Kid These Days..." Award winners.

Last night was a quintessiential Nashville live music night - with some great shows going on in different venues.  Me, I hung out at The Five Spot.  Early, was a show featuring Fats Kaplin, Kristie Rose, Paul Burch, and more.  Later, I was introduced to my new favorite band.  They are called Red Collar from Durham, NC. They are a high energy, punk influenced band.  Austin Lucas - who I saw for the third time this year was as amazing as ever, and Two Cow Garage who I saw for the second time this year (and who barely made it due to mechanical issues) blew me away as they did the first time I saw them.

Tonight, I'm excited to see Jon Latham opening up for the legendary Malcolm Holcombe at The Basement (not East).

Now, we have a Featured Friday shuffle to close out the post-holiday work week.

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Weird-O Mix

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Let's face it.  The world is a scary place, however, the antidote for the very natural fear is always love. Music heals.  Even, as it was Friday, a musical event was a target... music still has the power to heal.  Above all, I invite and encourage everyone - regardless of ideologies or political leanings to avoid knee-jerk reactions (which are almost always based upon fear of some kind) and take a breath and wait for facts to become clear.

Here at E2TG, our job is to bring you music from the sublime to the silly to the serious.  Think of our little playlist as a respite from whatever it is that you need a respite from.....

Friday night began with a visit to one of my favorite weekly events - I dare say it is one of Nashville's hidden gems (hidden in plain sight).  Tim Carroll has been playing a weekly Rock and Roll Happy Hour at The 5 Spot for a long time.  What you get: a casual and fun atmosphere, great music from Tim and his band along with Luella, No Cover (Tips welcome and encouraged), and 1/2 priced drinks from 6-8.  The music usually goes from 6-8:30 and the band does not take a break.  It is a superb way to start your Friday night plans.

After that - this week, I headed to the Basement East to see Sam Outlaw open for an ultra rare reunion of Bare Jr.  Sam Outlaw was awesome (and he was joined by a long time #E2TG favorite Shelly Colvin).  Bare Jr. quite simply rocked the house. Delivering their entire album, Boo-Tay - they closed the night with an epic mash-up of The Cars' "My Best Friend's Girl" and The Who's "Baba O'Riley".  It was loud and raucous and man was it fun.

Sunday Night found me back at "The Beast" for another edition of East Nashville Songwriter's Club. This time with Sally Jaye, Zach Schmidt, and the one and only David Olney.  It was an awesome evening of music. 

Then, I headed over to The Building - possibly for the last time before that great space closes.  Kira Hooks, Tom Schreck, and Yosi Mesbah offered up prime examples of the diversity of talent in this very vibrant local music scene.

On to our shuffle:

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Toy Balloon Mix

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Reason I love Nashville #(somemadeupnumber...prettybigI'dguess):

To be able to say that I saw Brock Zeman, Blair Hogan, Darrin Bradbury, Megan Palmer, Lilly Hiatt, Jesse Lafser, John Jackson, Brian Wright, Aaron Lee Tasjan and more....  and for that to be in one night not over the course of a week or a month.  You know - Monday night!

Brock and Blair will be playing as part of $2 Tuesday at The 5 Spot tonight.  Aaron Lee will be part of a line-up at ACME Feed and Seed sponsored by No Country for New Nashville.  You probably won't be able to do both, but you should definitely done one or the other if you around. 

Probably the highlight of the night was Brian Wright and his incredible band that included Aaron Lee Tasjan on guitar ripping through an mind-blowing version of Big Wilson River's "Astronaut".  Long time and careful readers of this blog will remember that Big Wilson River was a Featured Artist/Band way back in 2012.  They were probably in the process of breaking up when I was featuring them, and I kind of lost touch until head BWR dude, Darrin Bradbury showed up in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Nashville in late 2013.  Anyway, it was a really amazing version of the song, and I was trying to record it when my stupid phone ran out of memory and then didn't save the part I did record.  Fortunately there is a video someone made floating around. 

Here is the original:




On to the shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Usually From a Can Mix

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Had a good time last night celebrating Andrew Leahey's birthday at The 5 Spot.  Darrin Bradbury was on point with a set that featured some old favorites and some excellent new (and newish) songs.  Lauren Farrah was most excellent - I have been fortunate enough to catch her a few times recently, and she kills it every time.  And the birthday boy rocked this house with his incredible band, The Homestead - playing several songs from his record which is due out in April.

On to the shuffle: Almost every Friday is Featured Friday on #E2TG.  Which means, I shuffle songs from a playlist (a subset of the regular playlist) loaded with songs from artists/albums that I want to spotlight.  Here is the latest....

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Never Chew a Pickle Mix

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ICYMI - check out the exclusive premiere of Mark Robinson's "Gone South (Electric Rock)" Video.

It is a rainy day in Nashville... You know what I like on a rainy day?  Music!