E2TG 3/26/2020 - Quarantine Music Day (who's counting) - High on Love Mix (Waiting for God Remix)

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In case you missed it, we premiered the new song from Nicole Boggs &#33 the Reel this morning.  Check it out HERE!

One thing I have been struggling with recently is keeping up with all of the livestreams being done by musicians.  Don't get me wrong, it is a great and necessary thing in this strange and difficult times, but even as just a fan, I have trouble keeping up with all the scheduled and impromptu streams. I have had a few requests to mention some streams, but I struggle there, too.

I don't have any solutions for this except keep up with your favorite bands and if they post a livestream share it as best as you are able. Check out some of the on-line festivals to potentially discover new music and share that, too.

Honestly, I don't think E2TG is flexible enough nor do I have time enough to be a good source for sharing these events, but as  fan, I will definitely share whenever I am able.

Something else that has been on my mind, as I have been shuffling from my phone memory, sometimes songs come up by bands that no longer exist and maybe bands that broke up over difficult internal issues. In some cases, every reference to the band has been scrubbed from the internet. Also, some bands disavow or at least remove older music from their sites possibly because it no longer represents who they are.

In any case, I don't delete songs from my phone memory and so they may come up in the shuffle. While I support anyone's decision to distance themselves from certain parts of their pasts - I personally think every part of my story has contributed to who I am today. Even the parts I am not at all proud of.. anyway, that has been on my mind...

Meanwhile, I am just going to keep on keeping on.

    Featured Friday Playlist

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Wonder 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 - May 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

By  the way, it is time to vote.  Not talking political elections - although you should be informed, register, and vote every chance you get.  But, I am talking about The Best of Nashville 2018 Poll going on now at The Nashville Scene. Voting goes on through September 6.  Here's what you do:  Go HERE and followed the instructions.  You have to vote in at least 25 categories for your vote to count.  No need to "Submit" at the end, and you can leave the site and go back anytime to vote in more categories.

Here are a few suggestions:  The big one!  Last year, WXNA was voted Best Radio Station in Nashville - after just over one year on the air.  We would love to have your vote again this year.

Best DJ - I humble submit that you consider Joe and Sue of Double Shot (but truthfully any of the great WXNA DJs are deserving).

Best Blog - Hey you got to vote in 25 Categories - you might as well throw some love our way by voting for Ear to the Ground E2TG for Best Blog.


The week rolls on. We've reach the midway mark, and that means it is time to get "Wild" with our usually unusual "Wild Wednesday" shuffle. This shuffle comes from the collection of all the music currently saved to my phone.  It can and often does include new music, classic tunes, weird obscurities, and more of the usual nonsense (as my friend Paul Glavin of WXNA's Eargasm likes to say).

Let's shuffle!

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Mean All the World 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 wanted to bring to your attention an upcoming show that might otherwise slip under your radar.  If you are in Nashville and free this coming Sunday (July 22), I recommend you head to Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison around 7pm.  Joe Goodkin (a Chicago songwriter who we have featured on E2TG) will be making a rare Nashville appearance, and some of my favorite Nashville songwriters are joining him (Joe Nolan, Tom Schreck, and Connor Rand).  I want to make sure I take maximum credit for my small role (with minimal effort) in getting these folks together for this show.  I think it will be a good one.

On to our "Wild Wednesday" shuffle:

The music in my phone's memory is a hodge podge of all sorts of things:  current and past E2TG featured artists/bands, older (and more recent) albums from my personal collection, music I have downloaded for various sources - just for fun, music given to me by various people that was not specifically intended to be featured on E2TG, and maybe some other things.   On Wednesdays, I hit shuffle on all those songs and see what comes up.  It's really interesting (to me at least) in that each shuffle has it's own "personality" or flavor. And, I never know what is going to come up.  I call Wednesday's "Wild" not because the list of songs is necessarily wildly eclectic (just sometimes) but because each shuffle is like a wildcard - you never know what it will be. 

Let's go!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Everything Turns to Dust Mix

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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...

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Daggers Mix

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"I know politics bore you, but I feel like a hypocrite talking to you and your racist friend." - TMBG

I'll try to keep this brief... (try being the operative word).  To my mind, there are two different battles being fought right now.

1. A (mainly) partisan battle over policies which many of us feel are bad policies.  Policies that target the most vulnerable of our citizens, that threaten our environment, and that diminish public safety of all Americans. These are battles that we would be fighting regardless of who was in the White House.

2. The second battle is, I believe, a fight against an unstable man who heads up the Executive Branch of government and who is surrounded by white nationalists and bigots of every shape and size. It is a battle over the increasingly likely possibility that Russia successful influenced the results of the presidential election in the US, and that the current administration was an active participant in that process, and that decisions are being made by the current administration which give the appearance of being influenced that interference.

These two battles are both important. And, it is easy to get distracted by one and forget about the other. It is also possible that one is being used as a distraction to provide cover for the other.

These are, I believe, trying times. And, even beyond this current administration, there are deeply disturbing trends (some of which I alluded to yesterday). We are nation divided not only by principles and values and beliefs, but also, by our perception of the world around us.

Today, I don't have any answers.  To those on the front lines of these battles - #Persist #Resist!

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Last night, I recorded next weeks Double Shot show and then made the decision to go out to Springwater to see Earie winners Brian Milligram and Jon Worthy perform, and to see Jeremiah Tall - who I had written about some time ago, and to see a band I was not familiar with Cullen Wade and the Waters.  I'm glad I went out.  Jeremiah Tall - who performs as a one-man band with a suitcase for a kick drum - was excellent.   Brian Milligram - performing live for the first time in a few months (and playing as a three piece) was as good as I remember - throwing a Woody Guthrie song and an anarchist punk cover into his set - which included some of my favorites from Dead Letters.  I am now a fan of Cullen Wade and The Waters - two of whose members are from Louisiana. They are on my radar and I can't wait to hear more.  Jon Worthy went on last, and there were not many of us left when we played - which is a shame, but it happens. I loved hearing him play some of my favorite songs of the two albums we have featured on E2TG.

SHOW ALERT: Tomorrow night is a E2TG recommended show at The Country (located one block over from Springwater).  Sean Quinn and the Tremblers (whose new album we reviewed yesterday), Earie Award winner Josh Morris, and 2015 Artist of the Year (and 2016 Earie Winner) Jon Latham. This should be a wonderful show.

Let's jump into the shuffle - Featured Friday style!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Blow the Man Down Mix

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There is a reason why E2TG is by and large a positive place. First of all, every day we are reminded that there is way too much negative energy in the world. I certainly have my share sometimes.  The fact is for a good part of my life, music has provided solace in dark times and it continues to do so. This is one of my contributions to the world and I want it to be a positive one.  Here are some songs from (more or less) recently released album that I am featuring on a Friday.  Peace!

Earie Tuesday Shuffle - The Penultimate Mix

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Look, I'm as ready as any of you to put 2016 behind me, but I have a little unfinished business.  Besides, all of the great music put out and discovered was one of the best parts of an otherwise crappy year.  So, I have the final batch of "Earie" Awards to hand out, and then later today, I will unveil the Band/Artist of the Year Award for 2016.

First off, one outside the shuffle.

The "Rockified Country" Award goes to Saint Luke's Drifters. I first met Mitch Laney of the band at a Richie Owens show a while back.  Then, I saw his band play a show with Richie.  Their sound reminds me at times of Jason and the Scorchers or the early Georgia Satellites when Dan Baird was a part of that band. But, they have some really unique qualities. I think they do country music better and more purely than either of those bands. And, when they rock, they bring it. Their live shows always yield awesome covers to go along with their original songs - like ones on their 2016 release Trials and Tribulations.  The album was mixed by Eric Ambel (who by the way I got to briefly meet during Americana Fest this year).

Now let's do the final shuffle of 2016 for real, ya'll,,,

WTF Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Planet Earth Mix

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Like many (but not all, I know) of my friends, I am devastated and saddened and confused by what has transpired.  I am kind of, but not totally, at a loss for words right now. I do know this... I am not moving to Canada or anywhere else because of what has happened. (As tempting as that thought may be). And I hope none of my friends who feel so compelled do either (although as I said, I understand the thought). The fact is that right now, the very people who feel so compelled are needed now more than ever. Anyone in a minority (racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, disability) needs us.

Here is a little truth bomb.  That factors that lead to this outcome (be that ignorance, fear, bigotry of any kind, anger) those factors did not begin with one man - they were exploited and revealed.  Those who reject all of those things... we now have a better idea of how big a fight we have.

And for the record, to me, this is not about politics. I understand and respect that we all have different out looks.  I may not support fiscal conservatism, but I understand it and accept that it is a valid viewpoint. What I cannot understand or accept as a valid viewpoint - is misogyny, mocking the disabled, xenophobia, homophobia, racism, etc.).  Maybe, I am an eternal optimist, but I choose to believe that the majority of people who voted for that candidate (who opening displayed and supported those things) did not do so for those reasons directly - but rather for reasons I cannot begin to fathom but which I could at least accept on some level.

I also understand that not everyone who reads E2TG will agree with what I have just written. E2TG has always been and will continue to be about music and the power it has to uplift and move and comfort and to transform.

So, again, I turn to music.... I have not created (and may not create) a "Wild Wednesday" playlist.  Rather, today's shuffle includes every single song currently residing on my phone memory card.

Also, just for today, I changed the name of the shuffle... because, seriously, WTF!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Jump Back Down Mix

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Well, yesterday I wrote about the finale of Mark Robinson's Showband and Rhythm Revue Residency at The 5 Spot.  Well, the show certainly lived up to my expectations (and then some!).  Master levels musicianship, world-class vocalists, and Mark Robinson - who is a consummate bandleader.  Such a fun night.

Well, this week has kind of flown by in a hurry... it is Friday and time for Featured Friday on E2TG.

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Gabba Gabba Hey! Mix

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And so it begins... you know, if my Americana 2016 experience ended last night, I think I would be pretty darn satisfied...

I decided not to risk getting shut out of the venue, so I drove straight from work to the Pub at The Basement East and hung out with friends and listened to Terry Rickards and Darrin Bradbury play music by East Nashville musicians.  Then, we joined the line to get into The Basement East.   Caught part of a set by a talented group of students from Nashville School for the Arts.

Later, Chuck Mead led a pretty amazing band with special guests through set that included Mead singing The Who's "Can't Explain", Sarah Gayle Meech singing Blondie's "Heart of Glass", and a cover of a song by The Pogues - plus Patrick Sweany... plus, plus... And that was the "opening act"!

So, I knew that Aaron Lee Tasjan and Friends was going to be epic... I mean, it's ALT and last year's set was epic so...   2014 E2TG Artist of the Year Darrin Bradbury kicked things off with a rocking rendition of his classic "Life is Hard (The Ballad of Jack Kerouac, Lenny Bruce, and Daffy Duck)"... Zach Schmidt - one of my favorites - was up next with one of my favorite songs of his, "Company Man", 2015 E2TG Artist of the Year Jon Latham did his song, "Waitressing Sucks" and there were suddenly a bunch of new Jon Latham fans in the house. Brian Wright did a face-meltingly good performance of "Glory Hallelujah" - I mean...  Brian Wright always blows me away, but this was next level good.  He and Aaron Lee have been playing together quite a bit and it really shows because they were incredibly tight throughout the set.  ALT did "Made in America" and "Ready to Die" which were both amazing. There was more, but I'm running short on time... Then, Jon Latham returned to the stage with the great Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites, Dan Baird and Homemade Sin, The Bluefields) and my mind was blown.  I could have just gone home right then and have been satisfied... but I didn't.

Lee Ann Womack was next with an incredible band and a bunch of friends... like Waylon Payne, Brent Cobb, Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Miller, Amanda Shires, Jason Isbell (who sang Todd Snider's "Play a Train Song"), Patty Griffin, and more.

Kind of sort of as we speak, Darrin Bradbury is joining Margo Price, Aaron Lee Tasjan and others for an NPR segment at The Country Music Hall of Fame.  I don't know if you can even imagine how it feels to have watch the ascension of Darrin Bradbury over the last two plus years. I am beyond proud of him and glad to know him.  I am at work and not able to be at the Hall of Fame, but I will be there when he takes the stage at The City Winery for his official showcase performance before James McMurtry takes the stage.  Other recommendations for tonight: Allen Thompson Band at ACME Feed and Seed at 11pm and Tim Easton at The 5 Spot at midnight.  My night will be begin at The 5 Spot for Amelia White's Residency show with guest Renee Wahl and the Sworn Secrets and an appearance by Jon Byrd. It will be nice to be back in the friendly comfines of The 5 Spot.

Let's get to the shuffle while I still have a few minutes to write... It is Wild Wednesday - let's get Wild!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Cocaine and Communion Wine Mix

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Whew!  I am back!  After having my work schedule thrown off for a couple of days, I have been laid up with the yucks for the last few days.  Slowly recovering just in time for the madness that is Americana Music Association Festival to begin in Nashville.  AMA Fest is like a normal music week in Nashville on steroids. The impossible choices, the conflicts, the mad dashes from venue to venue hoping you don't get shut out... Lots of E2TG and personal favorites are playing official and unofficial and semi-official shows.  I will try to sort it all out as best I can, but pretty much - the schedule is one line, AMA even has an app, and you are on your own.

I did manage to catch just one show during my convalescence. On Friday, I felt a little better and wandered over to The Family Wash to catch an awesome triple bill.  Ned Hill (of the band Ned Van Go) was backed by Tommy Womack, and it was wonderful.   BARK rocked the house and it was great to see them.  And Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory blew me away. Really great southern, bluesy, music.  They were joined by two special guests - Canadian turned Nashvillian Steve Dawson and the always amazing Audley Freed.  Two incredible but very different guitar players.

Coolness today - Jon Latham had a new song premiere on Country Fried Rock.  And Zach Schmidt had a new song premiere at Bluegrass Situation.

Now,  we have a Music City Monday shuffle to get the week off on the right foot...

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - What They Call Punk Rock Mix

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Whew! It is FRIDAY!  I have to say, I have had a pretty difficult week - only partially due to coming back from a week off last week.  I am happy for the weekend to be here, and I am really looking forward to getting back on the radio with my dear friend Sue Havlish.  Tune in tomorrow from 11-1pm (Central Time) on WXNA (101.5FM in Nashville and streaming live at wxnafm.org world-wide.
Our theme this week in "Animal Kingdom", and you can expect to hear some music by some E2TG favorites as well as other great songs.

I caught a super hot show last night at the original Basement (located four flights of stairs below to WXNA studios).  When I say it was hot, I mean both the music and the temperatures. Darrin Bradbury opened with some favorites and some sneak peaks of an album is currently working on.  The stars of the night were definitely Andrew Leahey and the Homestead who are releasing their new album Skyline in Central Time today. Leahey and his excellent band sweated through a rocking set. Singer songwriter, Bill Eberle closed the show with an excellent set.  Eberle was backed by a stellar band that featured Dave Coleman on guitar as well as members of Sad Baxter.  I think we all lost about ten pounds in the sauna, but it was totally worth it.

Onward, to a week-closing Featured Friday shuffle