This is already shaping up to be one of those weeks in Nashville where there is way too many great shows to see and not enough time and/or energy to do them all - especially with doing other things that life requires.
Anyway, it is another Monday - which means it was time this morning to shuffle up our Music City Monday playlist and see what came up... below the jump are the results.
Also - if you haven't done so, please check out this week's Featured Friday Playlist - a lot of great music coming up...
I was unexpectedly out on Friday, but I did manage to post a new Featured Friday Playlist. Please check it out, and tune in to Ear to the Ground radio tomorrow morning to hear some of those songs.
Today, we shuffle up our Music City Monday playlist with a collection of songs by Nashville artists past and present.
First of all - here is the link and the playlist from last Thursday's Greetings from Nashville on WXNA
6:00am Greetings from Nashville by Jason and The Scorchers on Still Standing (EMI/EMI Records (USA))
6:01am Cigarettes & Salami by Alec Lang on Cigarettes & Salami – Single (Alec Lang)
6:05am Brown Eyes, Spanish Soda by Caleb Hayden Christopher on Garage Demolitions – Single (Haha)
6:08am God’s Green Earth by Angela Autumn on Frontiers Woman (Cacti Omen)
6:14am You Had Your Cake, So Lie in It by Chelsea Lovitt on You Had Your Cake, So Lie in It (Fat Elvis Records)
6:16am I Still Wonder by Austin Stambaugh on The Magnolia Sessions (Anti-Corp)
6:20am Biding Time by Greg Mullen on Welcome to the Life Adventure – EP (Songs With Homes)
6:24am Hope in America by My Politic on Short-Sighted People in Power (Deluxe Edition) (My Politic)
6:30am The Wedding Song by Darrin Bradbury on Artvertisement (Anti/Epitaph)
6:31am My Worries by Tim McNary on Loose Leaf (Audio Network)
6:36am All the Time in the World (feat. Alice Wallace & Caitlin Cannon) by Side Pony on Lucky Break (feat. Alice Wallace & Caitlin Cannon) (Mule Kick Records)
6:42am Viki Lynn by Lauren Morrow on Lauren Morrow – EP (958984 Records DK2)
6:46am Til It All Makes Sense by Sally Jaye on Cafe Rooster Sessions Vol. 2 (Cafe Rooster Records)
6:53am Opus 20: Court Suite: I. Top Spin (Allegro), II. Moonballs [Adagio], III. Down the Line {Rondo Allegro} by Mark O’Connor on Meanings Of (Remastered (OMAC Records)
As I mentioned last week, with several short weeks - etc., I am not going to be posting new Featured Friday Playlist until the new year, but I will keep up the last one to hold the place, so please check it out if you have time.
Today's Music City Monday shuffle is below the jump...
Before we get to our Featured Friday Playlist, we have a new non-Spotify single to feature - from E2TG favorite Mighty Joe Nolan. The Detroit native and long-time Nashville singer-songwriter, journalist, podcaster, and much more - just released his tribute to drive-in movies on Bandcamp - just in time for the relaunch of Bandcamp Fridday - where the platform waives their fees.
Here is some more about this new single: "Back to the Drive-In" is the second single off Mighty Joe Nolan's upcoming plague-times song cycle, American Guillotine. "Back to the Drive-In" celebrates the unexpected revival of "movies in cars" with this rock 'n' roll tribute to B movies and American summertime culture.
"I went to my first drive-in movie when I was a little kid in Detroit. We saw Peter Pan and Escape from Witch Mountain. But when you're a kid the drive-in isn't just about movies. It's also about the swingsets and see-saws, the concession stand - we even had a fireworks show during the intermission of the double feature. Drive-ins coming back during the pandemic was a weird and hopeful thing during a miserable time. The song is a tribute to monster movies and sci-fi films, but it's also filled with lots of visceral memories from my earliest experiences of 'movies in cars.'"
The song's stripped-down sound - like all of the tracks on American Guillotine - reflects the album's isolated production during various levels of social distancing. The single's spare arrangement shouts out vintage hip hop as well as 1950s rock 'n' roll, and Nolan's singular gift for lyric writing brings the cinematic setting flickering to life:
Also out today on Bandcamp, a new album from bassist Cameron Carrus who recently moved from Nashville to Brooklyn. Odd is a collection of instrumentals with some special guests like Adam Kurtz, Julia Blair, and Rich Ruth. Check it out below:
Time got away from me this week - so I have a ton of e-mails I didn't get to yet, so the Playlist is on the short side, but it should balance out next week...Still - it is a great list! Enjoy!
It is Friday, and we have a ton of new and recent releases in our brand new Featured Friday Playlist. Thanks to all who are following along. Just a reminder, every Friday, we post a new playlist and we spend the time in between recapping the music.
Of note: E2TG favorite Jon Byrd has released Me & Paul his new EP with pedal steel master Paul Niehaus.
This week also brings the title track from the forthcoming new album from Darrin Bradbury. If you don't know Darrin Bradbury - welcome to E2TG - we are happy to have you here.
Here is the mind-blowing new video via ANTI- Records
It is Friday, and I am short on time so let's get right to it. Before we get to our brand new Featured Friday Playlist, we have a couple of new releases to mention. Both of these releases are out on Devil's Tower Records and available on the Devil's Tower Records Bandcamp page. Both are live recordings, recorded at the same show last Halloween. The Smoking Flowers host an annual Halloween show at The 5 Spot as a benefit. I have been to a few - including the show where these releases were recorded. Since, the show cannot go on this year, they decided to release these as a consolation. Check them out.
The first features the temporary band SHAMONES doing Michael Jackson covers in the style of The Ramones. The second features a set from The Smoking Flowers themselves doing some choice covers. I have listened and they are high quality recordings (as most of the "live from The 5 Spot" recordings are) - so please check them out!
This week's Featured Friday Playlist is jam-packed with great music. I think it is the same number of songs as last week but it clocks in at about fifteen more minutes of music. Our recap starts below the jump...
Well, it is Friday, and you know what that means... or maybe you don't... but that means it is time for a brand new E2TG Featured Friday Playlist for you listening and music discovery enjoyment. I will repeat my usual disclaimer to please support the artists in what ever way you are able. If you have the means buy music and/or merch - if you aren't in the position to do that share far and wide.
I reluctantly started using Spotify for this playlist because it is the easiest way for me to do it. Just know that Spotify does not support artist - independent artists in particular. So listen, follow, download - whatever, but to really support the artists do more. *End of rant*
This week's just is a little shorter than last week, but it is still packed with great music from a wonderful combination of old friends and new discoveries. We featured the first nine songs down below the jump. We will feature the rest of the list starting Monday in this space..
Until next time, take care of one another, take care and be gentle with your self, wear and mask and practice social distancing and all the recommended precautions. Until we can all safely gather together again and hug.
Before we get to the Music City Monday shuffle, we need to let you know about songs 9-15 from this week's Featured Friday Playlist:
9. "Preseb o ias" by Breichiau Hir
Starting this segment of our playlist is a new single from the post-hardcore/punk band from Cardiff, Wales. They had been working on a new album since late 2019 and they wrapped up work in March - just before the lockdown. They didn't want to release that music until they could tour to support it, so they dug up an old song - recorded in 2018. The title translates to "Crib of Shivers". It is about squeezing everything out of love and life with so force that it destroys it and leaves you with a hollow shell. They call it their most uplifting song. I think I dig this band.
10. "Long Live Life!" by rOZZ
Next up, we have our first listen to the new album by the singer-songwriter, philosopher and would be astronomer from Belgium. We featured her music a couple of years ago, and it is great to catch up with her again. rOZZ (aka Julie) is the forum moderator at SETI@Home (SETI being Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). A great song. This is from her new release Yess Sire!
11. "Drunk and Alone at Disney" by Dumpster
Dumpster is a three-piece Queer hard rock band based out of SUNY Purchase. We were turned on to them by some friends at SUNY. This is a great track from their new EP Fiasco.
12. "Rolling Out of Bed" by The Dream Tapes
I am just going to be perfectly honest and say I don't know how I was turned on to The Dream Tapes - an indie band from Ogden, Utah. I think maybe they followed me on Instagram. For some reason, I was thinking someone I know posted about them, but I can't find proof of that. Anyway, I am digging this music from their self-titled new album.
13. "Beat of a Bad Habit" by The Jensen Sisters
I do know how I found out about The Jensen Sisters - thanks to Sweetheart PR. The Jensen Sisters are a duo from Minnesota. This is our first taste of their forthcoming album Yellow Frames - due out in October. It is not the last we will hear from them. Great stuff.
14. "Swiss Mountain Myth" by The Asteroid No.4
Next up, we have the latest single from psyche rock legends - The Asteroid No.4. They are now based in San Francisco, but they formed in Philadelphia in the late 1990s. A great addition to the shuffle!
15. "Love Life" by Tawny Ellis
And, we close with the title track from the brand new album by L.A. singer-songwriter Tawny Ellis. Ted Russell Kamp (who can be heard earlier in this playlist) plays on this album - the two met at an Americana Fest in Nashville. A great way to close out this segment of the playlist.
More tomorrow! Check down below for the Music City Monday Shuffle!
Yesterday, the news came out that John Prine was hospitalized and his condition critical with symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. This was after his wife Fiona had been previously diagnosed with the virus. Today, an update: Fiona has recovered from the virus and John is stable. I continue to send all good thought and love to them and to all who are suffering.
Country music artist Joe Diffie passed away yesterday, the day before it was Alan Merrill who wrote, "I Love Rock and Roll" (among other songs).
There still seems to be a disconnect in taking the virus seriously enough. I went to the grocery yesterday, and I observed people in masks but also people who let their young children run around and touch everything within reach. Many churches have stopped holding services, but a few mega churches are defying the requests to do so.
Some people are mostly self-isolating but then getting bored and visiting friends and not staying 6 feet apart.
It appears that we are just in the early stages of this - as bad as it has been - and we face a long couple of weeks before we reach the peak and an even longer couple of months before this ends. I urge everyone reading this to stay safe and take care of each other at a distance as best you can. We live in a hyper-connected world - technologically speaking. Rather than using that technology to spread contention and dissent, use it to spread love and light. If you hear bad information being spread (whether by an individual or a government entity) combat by sharing good information.
The economic impact is very real and is affecting people of all kinds. But, protecting lives, I think must come first. Err on the side of caution. I don't think any of us will regret that.
Yesterday, E2TG band of the year, Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall released an incredible video for their song, "Still Waiting". The video was directed by the insanely talented Maxwell Sebastian.
Enjoy! Then, check out the Music City Monday shuffle for even more Ryan Sobb.
Welcome to the second edition of First Impressions where we check in on some recent and upcoming new releases and give you our - you guessed it - first impressions.
2020 is off to a rousing start - as evidenced by the Release Calendar which you can find at the bottom of our daily posts. Periodically, we are going to offer some quick thoughts about these new releases as we take a first (or nearly first) listen. If all goes as plans, we will have some longer posts about these releases, but the purpose here is to cover as much ground as we can. Strap in...
Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP)
Davis Raines is one of Nashville's finest songwriters. His writing is in the tradition of Nashville's great writers. He writes with heart and he sings with conviction. He is a staple at Brown's Diner (as "Old Nashville" an establishment as you can get), and many of his usual cohorts show up on his latest album. My first impression is that this is an excellent album and a fine addition to respected career. The songs are top-notch and the recording is perfect for the songs.
John Dennis - Mortal Flames (LP)
Not my first impression, as I have been listening to this one for a while, but I wanted to post here on the eve of the release. Mortal Flames is a concept album, and it is an ambitious concept which John Dennis manages to pull off in impressive fashion. My first impression was one of appreciation and awe, and the more I listen, the more impressed I become. I am confident this one will high on my list of favorites of this young year.
Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (EP)
Reigning E2TG Band of the Year, Ryan Sobb and The Dead Mall are hitting the new year hard with this powerhouse EP. My first impression of this (full disclosure, I got to hear it a couple of weeks ago) is that they have managed to do something that many bands cannot, and that is to effectively capture the energy of their live shows on a studio recording. These are great songs, played by a killer band that has hit their groove and yet are still constantly improving. I predict this will serve as a time capsule of an important moment in time for these young artists.
*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.
First of all, a huge thanks for making the 2019 WXNA Fall Pledge Drive a rousing success! We met and exceeded our goal!
It is Thanksgiving Week. I will be posting shuffles through Wednesday and then taking the rest of the week off for the holiday.
Let's get right into the shuffle. I think this week will be pretty laid back, but as always great music...
*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 even included.
The E2TG 8th Anniversary is underway - Next Show October 2!
