Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Things U Do Mix

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Well, it's mid-week, and it's a rainy day in Nashville.  I had a good time last night. I checked out a showcase at The Basement with an incredible songwriter - Angie Aparo. He was playing with a full band. Great songs, a great voice, and some very original arrangements.

After that, I ended up at $2 Tuesday again.  Saw greats sets from Ayleen O, Wade Sapp, and Trisha Ivy plus an extended late set from host Derek Hoke and his always amazing band that this week included pedal steel great Paul Niehaus.

Well it is Wednesday, and on Wednesday - we shuffle from all of the songs in my phone's memory. We call it Wild Wednesday - because it like a wild card - you can expect anything: new music, classic tunes, E2TG favorites from blogs posts gone by, and other tunes that made their way through various routes on my phone memory card.

The results.... well, let's just say that you are unlikely to find this combination of songs/artists anywhere but E2TG.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Five More Minutes Mix

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Well, I'm running a bit late today, and for some reason, I am really tired. So, I'm going to power through this shuffle.  I created a special playlist of artists I wanted to highlight for the end of the year for my "Earie Awards".  Step right up!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - New Music Player Mix

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First off.... Sturgill Simpson for the win!  If you're not sure why, google Sturgill Simspon CMA17

Went to the Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown CD Release show last night.  I had seen them once a couple of years ago - at a show I covered for No Depression.  Last night's show was impressive. Great performances, great songs, high energy, and engaging.   Thanks Mary!

Well, I ended up downloading a new music player app last night and messed around with it when I should have been sleeping.  So far, it seems like I will like it. Still dealing with the issue of the other music player not deleting songs.  I may have discovered why, though, the songs are all stored on a memory card, and apparently with the OS my phone has - you have to give specific permission to an app to allow it to delete from a memory card. At least with my new player, I got a message explaining this - the other one would just appear to delete the file only to have it reappear like magic.

Long story, a little less long, I have to do some work deleting previously played songs, and until then, there is a good chance some songs will repeat. But it will all work itself out.  The only other drawback I see on this music player is that the "Recently Played" listing is not a chronological list of recently played songs - which I like for compiling my blog post. But, you can scroll back through the songs recently played without it shuffling everything again.  On the plus side, the song info shows up on my car stereo when I play the music through my blue tooth interface!

Enough about the logistics of E2TG, let's get to the music!  By the way, I am off work tomorrow so this is likely the final shuffle of the week.

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle- Me Against Me Mix

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Well... it's Wednesday and not only that it is November.  Which means, we have just two months to go in 2017.  The time for the 2017 Earie Awards (3rd Annual) are fast approaching.  Watch this space for more details.

I will be hosting a show in January at The Country.  Be on the lookout for details.

Well, being Wednesday, we shuffle up all of the songs in my phone's memory. We call it "Wild" Wednesday because...well, because the results are often wild. And because it is like a wildcard. You never know what it will be.  Here's today's shuffle.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Air and Water Mix

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Here's the WXNA Rocktoberfest is this Saturday October 28.  The fun starts at 10:15 and continues until about 4:30.  There will be WXNA DJs, Rock n Roll face painting, a food truck, beer, activities for kids, a costume contest, and LIVE music:

Queeens of Noise, Allen Thompson, Western Medication, Kyshona Armstrong, Ornament, and a closing set put together by Paul Burch - a Chuck Berry tribute featuring the amazing Kevin Gordon and Garry Tallent (E Street Band) and more. 

I will be on the air from 11-1pm and then I'll be around the rest of the afternoon. 

Rain or Shine - but hoping for shine.  $5.00 Suggested donation to benefit WXNA!


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Last night a distinctly Nashville show - Amelia White, Sally Jaye, and Megan Palmer in a collaborative round backed by the awesome Sergio Webb.   A fun hang with lots of friendly faces.

Back to the "New Music" shuffle...  Let's do it!

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Sanctified Mix

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Well, I managed to keep my phone alive for one last day before the new phone arrives.

It's kind of big deal for E2TG when I change phones.  The blog is based upon the songs and playlists I shuffle on my phone during my morning commute.  Every time, I change phones I wonder how the new music player will work.  And I worry that the new "upgrade" of whatever will decide that everyone streams so why have a way to play your own music.  Or what if it doesn't support playlists or what if I somehow lose all of the music...  Yeah, I worry a lot.

Anyway, this could be the last shuffle on the old phone. And the last from the current "New Music" playlist which stands at 465 songs after today's songs are taken off..

Anyway, it's been a hell of a bad week and music and work have kept me busy. 

In the shameless self-promotion category, I have been furiously working all week on the final details of publishing my novel, The Drift.  I've been trying to write the text for the back cover of the book.  For some reason, I really struggle with writing about myself and my work in this way. Type, backspace, type, backspace, undo, cut, type, paste, backspace, undo, new file, type, reread, get up and walk around, backspace, type, type, save, reread, get up again....


It's shuffle time - let's go!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Drivin' Nails Mix

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As a music fan, I am aware of how amazingly fortunate I am to live here in Nashville. There is, of course, far too much live music going on every single night of the year for me to even see a small fraction of it all. On a given night, you may see up and coming (and established) singer-songwriters, world-class musicians, and incredibly talented bands.

Last night was such a night.  It began with the second week of the Fats Kaplin Gang's two week run at The 5 Spot. Fats Kaplin was recently seen in the PBS show American Epic playing alongside Jack White and others for the American Epic Sessions.  He has played on stage along side White and many others, but there is something special about seeing him do his own stuff on The 5 Spot stage. Joined by his wife - powerhouse singer Kristi Rose - along with the supremely talented Wes Langlois and Justin Amaral.

Next, I headed to The Family Wash to check out Stuffy Shmitt accompanied by Parker Hawkins.  They sounded awesome. After that it was week one of the Jon Latham and Andrew Leahey residency.  Their set started with a cover of Marshall Crenshaw's "Cynical Girl" (one of favorites) and continued with more great covers plus originals from both Latham and Leahey - all backed Jon's killer band Sean Quinn, Cory Nichols, and Raun Shultz.

This was an great night of music featuring supremely talented people, and it was in it's own amazing and unique and wonderful way just another night of music in East Nashville.

On with the shuffle. It is Featured Friday!

Wild New Music Wednesday Morning Shuffle - No Ticket Mix

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Alright, I am back after the Fourth of July holiday.  Back to the reality that the United States of America is deeply divided. This divide did not start with the election of the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but it has gotten worse. The thing is, I don't think "united" is the context of the USA means that everyone agrees... the fact is there is a deep and fundamental disconnect between Americans as to how we see the world. Is this the fault of the media or the two party system or the information age?  Probably.  What is the solution? I don't have a clue. The saying goes united we stand, divided we fall.  Many, myself, included, wonder how far the current administration needs to go before the vast majority of Americans will say enough is enough and at least be united on that front?  Does such a threshold exist?  The pessimist in me, says if that mark has not yet been made, then it may not be made.

So...  for my part, just for today, I am choosing love over fear.  I am going to fight as hard as I can for the most vulnerable among us. I am going to #Resist and #Persist for as long as I must - for as long as I breathe.
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As promised, we are continuing to shuffle from the "New Music" playlist.  Wednesday's are normally "Wild Wednesdays" on E2TG, and I think this shuffle is sufficiently "Wild" to qualify.

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle- Burn it Down Mix

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Okay - I need to get some things out:

Take care of those less fortunate, protecting and empowering the oppressed, having compassion for others, honesty and transparency from our elected representatives, and respecting our planet. These should not be controversial of divisive issues. But, it seems they are... and to be honest, I don't get it. When I read the comment sections on posts (which I really need to stop doing), I realize that I do not ever share the same realm of reality as some of the people making comments.  How do we resolve this?  Listen, in matters of public policy and politics (if you will) there is plenty of room for debate - even among people who fundamentally agree with one another.  But, facts should not be up for debate. But they are... we find ourselves in the era of alternative facts. How do we get out of this place?  Where is the common ground?

Another quick thought before I move on... can I treat everyone by the same standards. Especially our elected officials.  I guess bias is fairly natural.. but when I am reacting to something an elected official has done, I need to ask myself - how would I react if that official was from a different political party or philosophy?  Would I be just has pleased or just as outraged? If my answer is yes, then I need to work toward living up to that standard......
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Last night I made it out for the early show at The 5 Spot.  The Easy Leaves (a California band with Nashville's Adam Kurtz on pedal steel) were great.  Rich Mahan and The Tripmonks were wonderful. When Allen Thompson joined them for a rare cover of the Velvet Underground classic "The Gift"... I was blown away. (I captured this on video which is on my personal Facebook page).

ICYMI:  Another song premiered this morning on E2TG.  Please check out "Isle of Hope" by Jefferson Ross from his album (out today) called Live at Hillbilly Haiku.

Tomorrow - a live Double Shot is coming up on WXNA.  Later tomorrow, I will representing WXNA at Nashville Pride Festival downtown.  Stop by the WXNA tent to hear cool tunes and meet the DJs.

Well, week one of our two week mid-year  "New Music" clearance.  The playlist down below 300 songs - but I have more to add over the weekend.  Let's see what today's shuffle has in store...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Hide Your Daughters, Hide Your Sons Mix

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Well, it is officially the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice, or the beginning of the long march to Winter gloom - if you will.  As I mentioned yesterday, we are also approaching the half way mark of 2017.  In an effort to present as much "new" music as possible, I am going to be spinning tunes from my "new music" playlist every day for the next two week. It's Tuesday today, and I would be doing that anyway, but still....


Well - let's get to the music shall we?

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Downslide Mix

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Sleight of hand.  Misdirection. Distraction. The con men all use these tricks to keep the "marks" from seeing what is really going on.  Do not be mislead.  Keep your eye on the ball. Focus. Resist.

Meanwhile, here is a song from 2013 #E2TG Band of the Year - The End Men which is sadly relevant once again.



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Okay. Last night, I headed out west - West Nashville that is... my first time at Betty's Grill. Probably my first show that far out west since Stone Fox closed. Pretty cool DIY venue.

A pretty cool line-up of rock and roll music - as the kids call it. Local band Sad Baxter opened the night with some grungy, thumping sounds. I dig them a bunch.  I had previously seen them backing up Bill Eberle at Andrew Leahey's CD Release show last August.

Next up was The Regrets from Brooklyn.  I had previously posted one of their tracks from a Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen compilation (btw, I don't remember all this stuff - the search box is my friend). I dug their music and expect to hear much more. The Regrets are currently on tour with another Brooklyn and MCFK related band, NO ICE who played next.

NO ICE is lead by Jamie Frey.  They are a six piece band and they pretty much freaking rock. The band includes Sam Braverman of Logan X* (whose latest release we are spinning these days). About NO ICE - great songs, great energy. I had posted about them before - also from a MCFK comp - but man I am a fan now for real.

*It was great to finally meet Sam in person. He played me an unreleased Logan X song which sounds amazing.  Look for new music from Logan X coming soon.

Closing the night was another local band, The Mumzees.  They are very young (of course - most bands are very young to me....). The lead singer was wearing a The Fall t-shirt - which was a good sign, and wow!  I don't get out to "punk" shows very often, and so, it is nice to be reminded that the
"kids" are still alright. It was loud and distorted and aggressive (at times), and it was awesome.

All in all, a nice change of pace for me, and nice to get out to a show - after spending most of the week working on stuff.

It's Friday - let's get right to the Featured Friday shuffle...

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Tennessee Sun Mix

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I have been getting some positive feedback on my recent spate of Op/Ed comments at the beginning of many of these posts. This has been heartening because - honestly, I don't like doing it, but at the same time, I know at this point in history - I must.  Honestly, there is a surreal quality to much of what has been going on with this current administration. And it's not good surreal (I love good surreal as much - or maybe more - than the next guy).  Yesterday - competing headlines talked about the President's son-in-law being questioned about previously undisclosed meetings with Russian officials AND this same son-in-law being appointed to a previously non-existent position with sweeping authority. In what bizarro realm does this make sense?
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In better news, in the next week, I hope to be announcing most (if not all) of the musical artists who will be part of the E2TG 6th Anniversary/Residency at The 5 Spot in May. Go ahead and mark Wednesdays on your May calendar. I'm excited about this lineup. Expect surprises and maybe even giveaways.

It's Tuesday, I spent last night uploading a bunch of music into my phone's memory.  I don't think any of that music came up today, but soon.... Tons of great music being released, and a bunch of it is finding its way to my ears.

Trending Tuesday reflects a shuffle of my "New Music" playlist. This is primarily (but not exclusively) music that has been submitted to me. I also add some other notable current music just for variety.  Let's see what shuffle comes up with today...