Featured Friday Playlist recap (part 2 - again) (songs 16-21):
16. "West Reservoir" by Alice Hubble
First up today, we have the lead track from Hexentanzplatz by UK synth pop artist Alice Hubble.
17. "Treasures" by Astral Brain
Next up, we have the second single from the forthcoming The Bewildered Mind album by this Swedish dreampop duo.
18. "Words to Live By, Suits to Die In" by Queen's Pleasure
Next, we have the title track from the debut album by this garage rock band from Amsterdam.
19. "Open Chest" by Sitrekin
Next, we have a new single from Danish - Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjærg - whose song on the Twilight Saga soundtrack hit 100 million streams. This is a wonderful song with diverse influences.
20. "Half In, Half Out" by The Kundalini Genie
Next up, we have the title track from the forthcoming fifth album by this Scottish psychedelic rock band.
21. "Family Tables" by IVORY BLUE
And, we close his section of the playlist with the latest single from this singer-songwriter from Kansas City, Missouri. A great way to take us out for the day.
According to my phone it is now 62 days until Labor Day. To my way of thinking, we are heading into the heart of the summer. Summer unofficially begins with Memorial Day and unofficially ends with Labor Day. The technical boundaries are the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox - I guess. Either way, to my mind, once we get past Independence Day in the US, we have entered the heart of the summer, and Labor Day marks the end of that period. For sure - especially lately - the hot weather can and often does linger long past that date, but after that - there is, at least, the possibility of some reprieves.
I don't really have a point to all this - except we are now officially half way through this year of change and transition. There was at least a inkling of an idea that somehow, magically, all of the bad of 2020 would just fly away on January 1 and we could look back. We were quickly dissuaded from such ideas. Even now, as things seems to be returning to normal (or at least a facsimile of normal), one cannot help but wonder what the future holds....
Featured Friday Playlist recap (Part 2) (songs 14-21):
14. "Dreamlike" by Electric Kif (feat. Aaron Parks)
Latest single from the Miami based jazz band featuring pianist Aaron Parks.
15. "S.O.S." by ilo ilo
Latest single from the L.A. based alt-electronic duo.
16. "Treading Water" by Tom Sless
Next up, we have the new single from Fort Worth, Texas based Americana rock artist Tom Sless.
17. "Wait" by Aaron J Trumm
New Mexico based singer-songwriter and label owner Aaron J Trumm with his "obligatory" COVID single. A great message and a great song.
18. "Heidio Mae'r Locustiaid" by BOI
Welsh band BOI with a track from their new album Coron O Chwinc.
19. "Hot Sweaty South" by Tenth Mountain Division
This was my introduction to Denver based Tenth Mountain Division and their brand new Butte La Rose album which was produced by Railroad Earth's Tim Carbone, and I am a fan.
20. "Good Day Sunshine" by Kate Taylor
James Taylor's "kid sister" reunites with legendary producer Peter Asher 50 years after her debut album for this stunning Beatles cover.
21. "A Little More" by Jennifer Tefft
And we close this segment of music with our second single for feature from Boston-area singer-songwriter Jennifer Tefft. A great tune to take us out for this part of the Playlist.
Well... here we are... on the precipice... of what, I don't know... this does feel like a tipping point. The only thing I have left to say is if you are reading this and you are registered and eligible to vote and the polls are still open in your area and if you haven't vote - do so. A lot of "Ifs" and an awkward sentence but you get my point.
I think I always have some anxiety on election day, but I have never felt like this in my life. The stakes are high. I have voted. I don't plan on watching continuing coverage. I will likely check in, and otherwise keep myself busy or distracted.
The thing is - I don't know what the path forward looks like - regardless of the outcome. I do think one path is much more hopeful than the other - but no matter what - we have a long, difficult journey ahead.
One last thing I have to say... in the past, I have understood the perspective of people who say - both sides are the same. I may not agree, but I do understand. Over, at least, the last nearly 30 years, the vote for President has been a vote for Center Right vs. Center Left. All that being said, I do not understand those who are saying that today. I think the choice today is as stark and definite as it can be - and not because Joe Biden is a far left candidate but because the other choice is fascism and dictatorship.
So, vote if you haven't. If you have, well then I wish you peace and serenity to the extent possible, and if you have any tips for coping with the stress of it all - please let me know.
Meanwhile, the best thing I can do is to do what I do everyday and that is talk about the music that I am listening to today.
Let's get back to our recap of this week's Playlist... Songs 15-19...
15. "Am I Dreaming" by EG Vines
This is the second song by Nashville singer-songwriter EG Vines that we have featured, and I can honestly say that I am a big fan of his music now. The only reason I wasn't before is that I hadn't heard it. There is appropriately enough a dream-like quality to this song - which is nonetheless firmly rooted in everyday life. It is a remarkable song with a verse perfect for today.
16. "Nothing's Sweeter Than Loving You" by Andy Kahrs
Next up, we have another Nashville singer-songwriter. This is our first listen to Andy Kahrs. This song has a sweet southern soul vibe to it - and Kahrs vocals fit like a glove. I like this song a lot, and I look forward to hearing more.
17. "Alabama Gone" by Jackson Capps
Our third Nashville singer-songwriter in a row. This is the second single we have covered by Jackson Capps. This one has a bluegrass feel to it. Just a flat out good modern country song. A great addition to my playlist.
18. "Close Enough for Government Work" by Mike Stinson (feat. Johnny Irion)
This is a perfect song to show up on the blog on Election Day. Singer-songwriter Mike Stinson has ties to Houston and Los Angeles. He wrote the song "The Late Great Golden State" which Dwight Yoakam covered on his 2003 album Population Me. Stinson wrote this song while in quarantine in Massachusetts. It is a direct response to the President's handling of the pandemic and uses Trump's own words. Stinson worked with Johnny Irion who we have mostly recently heard about for his work with This Frontier Needs Heroes. We also Featured Irion's own music earlier - his tribute to Ravi Shankar - that featured Jeff Bridges.
19. "When the Devil Knows Your Name" by Ben Arthur
And we close out this segment of music with another track from Ben Arthur's new Collision album. Over the years that we have been covering Ben Arthur's music, one thing that has been crystal clear is his dedication to the craft of songwriting - most obvious in his Songcraft Presents program. What I am seeing with this release is more evidence that his study and practice at his craft has paid off. The songs here are top-notched.
So, this line from a Tommy Womack song seems to replay in mind almost constantly. We're in uncharted waters, this much is true... this song was written and recorded before 2020 so it is even more true today - and I try to hold on to the hope of that song which is called "We'll Get Through This, Too.".
So this next paragraph is going to get a little political and is purely my opinion:
I have been thinking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a political - right vs. left issue. The easy answer is that we live in such a polarized time that everything is potentially political - from sports, to friend chicken, to coffee... but I think there is a deeper answer.
In the early days of the pandemic - I mean Trump was being Trump and there is a lot to unpack about the abysmal failure of the U.S. response. But, there was at least on some level a sense of unity. Shutdowns happened - people were sharing their quarantine stories and "we're all in this together" was a common theme. While the response time and language varied, the shutdowns happened in Red states and Blue states and Purple states.
Then, time wore on and things seemed to be getting better - a little. And that, to me anyway, is when all hell broke loose. No doubt, the shutdown had a massive impact on the economies - federal, state, local, personal. So, the push to reopen came and it seems like mostly Republican governors pushed for quick reopening of the economy - even when numbers did not support it.
This, to me, is Republicans being Republicans. Making decisions for the benefit of short-term financial reasons without concern for the long-term implications. We have seen this for years on environmental issues, budget issues, etc. Regulations to protect the environment may negatively impact short-term profits and so they must go - even if the eventual costs of the destruction of the environment is massive. Cut taxes on the wealthy without decreasing spending and the wealthy spend and invest more and the stock market rises until the government faces massive deficits and then the economy crashes... and typically, the Democrats come to the rescue until the cycle repeats.
So, here we are with the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 and the push to reopen. When the folly of this push became clear that is when the conspiracy theories and denial and minimization really took off. Anything to avoid another shutdown. Now - this is not taking into account that many people just seemed to decide that the pandemic was over and that they could return to life as normal. But, it comes from the same place. Short-term comfort and pleasure at the expense of the disease continuing to ravage the country for longer...
I don't know, man, I can't stop thinking about this stuff. I just want to visit my Mom and see live music and hang with my friends at a bar, but I don't know when any of that will happen and then I see people doing whatever the hell they want consequences be damned, and it pisses me off.
Our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist rolls on. Today, we bring you songs 16-22...
16. "From the Ashes" by Pozzi
First out of the gate today, we have the brand new single from L.A. singer songwriter Pozzi. We featured his earlier single a few weeks back. I am really digging his sound. His debut full-length album is due in August - called Tyrant.
17. "Let Go" by Other Child
Next up, we have a recent single from this 5-piece indie pop band from Dublin. Just a funky, feel good kind of song. I dig.
18. "Roll the Dice" by Abby Reign
Next up, we have some country-flavored pop with some attitude. Abby Reign is a native of Nebraska who now lives in Nashville. This is her latest single.
19. "There is Always a Light" by Civic Green
Next up, we have the new single from this four-piece rock band from South Yorkshire, UK. I like this song a whole bunch.
20. "Anonymous Future" by The Wild Blue
Post-punk quartet, The Wild Blue - from NYC are up next with the title track of their new EP. I hear a variety of sounds that come together to form something unique. Good stuff.
21. "Too Long" by Certain Animals
The Dutch trio - Certain Animals are up next with their latest single. Their music boasts some definite 70s influences, but with a firm grasp on modern indie music. I want to hear more from them.
22. "Better" by Kyle Maher
We close out this segment of the playlist with the latest single from Australian singer-songwriter Kyle Maher. The song was produced by German producers OUHBOY. The song was inspired by lessons learned during a tumultuous two years - that included a taste of success, heartbreak, and major eye surgery. His first single appeared in the Netflix series Terrace House: Tokyo.
I have a bad tendency to put things in a box - and consider it bad or good - when in reality things are almost always more nuanced and complicated.
Last night, I attended a book signing for John Partipilo's new book Rancho Beyondo - his second book. John is a true visionary artist and journalist (the two don't have to be mutually exclusive). John and the book's designer Beth Inglish talked a bit about John's artistry, and the point was made (and taken - by me at least) of the importance to staying true to your vision as an artist. We are all given many chances to compromise our vision. Advise from well-meaning friends and family, unappointed arbiters of societal norms and literary (or other conventions).
(I need to point out that I am expounding on the words that were spoken - offering my own thoughts - not implying that either John or Beth said these specific things - just that their comments led my mind down these paths). As an artist (of whatever medium) my job is not to help people remain comfortable. I think the Cesar Cruz quote: "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable". John's photographs are not staged and although he does sometimes photograph musicians, he does not usually capture them on stage but rather in quiet moments.
So, the event last night was at a boutique hotel in East Nashville. This location was the inspiration for my first sentence. From the outside, I probably would consider this spot - fancy, expensive cocktails, pricey rooms (only eight total rooms) - to be part of the problem with all of the changes. But, it was a lovely event and the expensive cocktail I had was delightful. And the hotel seems really interesting (out of my price range but interesting). John Partipilo in discussing his book - which contains images of ordinary and extraordinary people and situations.
John said that he loves Nashville and reflected on his responsibility to report everything he sees. It struck me, because it is so easy to reflect on all the changes and just to see the negatives or just bemoan the losses. Through John's lens, it is possible to see the glorious shades of grey (literal and figurative) that as a whole create the Nashville of 2020.
The crowd that gathered included some heavy-hitters from all walks of Nashville life, and also some of the people who appeared in the book (in some case both in one person).
I kind of got side-tracked from my thoughts about art. The line between art and commerce are sometimes razor thin (or at least seem to be). I know, I see musicians struggling with making the art they want vs. trying to make some sort of viable living doing what they love and often what they are best suited to do. It is easy to sit on the outside and say, "always keep art pure, stick to your vision, don't compromise", but it isn't that simple and it is not fair to put that simplification on others. I do know, however, that the pure pursuit of art (or as pure as possible) is important and needed in the world. I guess I don't have an answer, but I am grateful for this book signing in a fancy, boutique hotel with delicious, expensive cocktails for triggering all of these thoughts in my head.
Featured Friday Playlist Final day to check out this week's list
Thursday Morning Shuffle:
A timely statement from Steve Earle, a few live cuts and more...
"City of Immigrants" by Steve Earle (with Forro in the Dark) (from Washington Square Seranade)
"All of us are immigrants"
"Oklahoma Blues (live)" by Watermelon Slim (from Traveling Man - Disc 2 - The Depot)
The inimitable Watermelon Slim with our first listen to his forthcoming double live album.
"The One" by Bridge 19 (from In the Afterglow)
"Hot Cha (live)" by They Might Be Giants (from Flood Live in Australia)
One of my favorite albums, Flood, turned 30 years old back in January. This is from a live performance of the album released for free by the band (I don't think it is still available).
"Don't Do It (live)" by Mrs. Henry (from Mrs. Henry Presents The Last Waltz)
Another track from that The Last Waltz tribute by L.A. band Mrs. Henry. We have some new, original music from them.
"Shootin' For The Moon" by Sonny Landreth (from South of I-10)
"Showboat" by Josh Ritter (from Gathering)
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 1/07 - The Singing Butcher - "Top 40" (single) 1/08 - Luis Mojica- Shaman Food (LP) 1/10 - Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Mary Bragg and Drivin' N Cryin' - "Don't Walk Away" (cover) (single) 1/10 - Them Airs - "Food Pyramid" (single) 1/10 - Lilly Hiatt - "Brightest Star" (single) 1/10 - Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) (E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Dean Fields - "Armadillo" (single) 1/10- Chicago Farmer - "All in One Place" (single) 1/10 - RB Morris - Going Back to the Sky (LP) 1/10 - Guided By Voices - "Volcano" (single) 1/10 - Sunshine Boys - "Infinity Girl" (single) 1/11 - Dolour (Shane Tutmarc) - "The Snake Eye" (single) 1/12 - Francesco Mariano - "Nine Lives" (single) 1/13 - Lauren Anderson - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (cover) (single) 1/14 - Drive-By Truckers - "Thoughts and Prayers" (single) 1/16 - Margo Price - Stone Me (single) 1/17 - Mark Hummel - Wayback Machine (LP) 1/17 - Jonny Polonsky - "The Weeping Souls" (single) 1/17 - Them Airs - Union Suit XL (LP)(E2TG First Impression) 1/17 - Innocence Mission - See You Tomorrow (LP) 1/17 - David Dondero - The Filter Bubble Blues (LP) 1/17 - MONO INC. - "Warriors" (single) 1/17 - Damen - "Americana" (single) 1/17 - The Singing Butcher - "Circus Girl" (single) 1/19 - Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/21 - Broads and Milly Hirst - "Happisburgh" (single) 1/22 - Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/24 - Kailey Nicole - Kailey Nicole (LP) 1/24 - Mrs. Henry - Live at the Casbah (LP) 1/24 - Aeronautical Pioneer - "Hop High" (single) 1/24 - Three Rivers Project - Confluence (LP) 1/24 - MONO INC. - The Book of Fire (LP) 1/24 - Dispel - Lore (LP) 1/24 - The New Nostalgia - "Nothing is New" (single) 1/24 - The Heliocentrics - "Burning Wooden Ship" (single) 1/24 - Electric High - "Harder to Justify" (single) 1/24 - J. Luke Cloutier - Drown (LP) 1/26 - Nik West - "Tears" (single) 1/28 - Motihari Brigade - Power from Below (LP) 1/29 - Remington Super 60 - NEW EP (EP) 1/31 - Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Daytime Highs and Overnight Lows (LP) 1/31 - Nick Pagliari - Midway (LP) 1/31 - Black Paisley - "Dreams" (single) 1/31 - Jolie Holland - Esconidida (Vinyl Reissue) (LP) 1/31 - John Dennis - Mortal Flames (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Emma Hill - How Could I Have Been So Wrong (EP) 1/31 - Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) + Danielle de Picciotto (Crime and The City Solution) - The Current (LP) 1/31 - Drive-By Truckers - The Unraveling (LP) 1/31 - Kristen Englenz - "Rebound" (single) 1/31 - Damen - "Disco" (single) 1/31 - Tinsley Ellis - Ice Cream in Hell (LP) 1/31 - The Singing Butcher - "Coming Home" (single) 2/01 - Glenn Jones - Ready for the Good Times (LP)
2/02 - Karabas Barabas - Degenerate National Anthem (LP) 2/04 - Mayflower Madame - "Vultures" (single) 2/05 - Joseph Mooradian - "We all Work Too Much"/"Dash My Dreams" (single)
2/07 - Palm Ghosts - Wide Awake and Waiting (EP) 2/07 - Emily Zuzik - "Trouble" (single) 2/07 - Chicago Farmer - Flyover Country (LP) 2/07 - Surrija - "Barcelona" (single) 2/07 - The Flyin' A's - No Holds Barred (LP) 2/07 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single) 2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP) 2/07 - HMS Morris - "Babanod" (single) 2/07 - Tiny Fighter- "Strangest Thing" (single) 2/07 - Wynnm - "Fire on the Moon" (single) 2/07 - The Golden Cage Society - Mira (Mini EP) 2/07 - Alienbaby Collective - "Degenerate Moon" (single) 2/07 - Eric and the Anti-Vaxxers - Timeshare Girlfriend (EP) 2/07 - Sammy Brue - "Teenage Mayhem" and "Crash Test Kid" (singles) 2/07 - Lucille - "Kerikeri" (single)
2/07 - Jon Magnusson - Always a Rebel (Live in Studio Silverräven) (single)
2/07 - Thomas Passon - "Über" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - "Hover" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - Hover (LP)
2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP) 2/14 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP) 2/14 - Johanna Kuvaja - "Back for Good" (single) 2/14 - Sarah Reynolds - "I Need Love" (single) 2/14 - Afterimage - "Six Seconds" (single) 2/14 - Kalee Smyth - "Bring Our Love Down" (single)
2/14 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single)
2/14 - Kid Be Kid - "Blood" (single)
2/16 - Kas Havoc - "Light'em Up" (single)
2/18 - David J - "I Only Hear Silence Now" (single) 2/19 - Paisley Fields - "Ride Me Cowboy" (single)
Tomorrow:
2/21 - Sarah Morris - All Mine (LP) 2/21 - Kindergarten - Iphigenia (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Hot Club of L.A.- Cinema Swing (LP) 2/21 - MUUK - Balbuceo (LP) 2/21 - Aaron Beckum - Songs from a Triangle Room (EP) 2/21 - Every 13 Days - Étant Donnés (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Seablight - High-Rise Mannequins (EP) 2/21 - Various Artists -Typical Girls Vol. 5 (LP) 2/21 - 12xPretty - 12xPretty (LP) 2/21 - Arkane Skye - "Don't Ask Me Out" (single)
2/21 - Easy - "Crystal Waves" (single) Upcoming:
2/22 - Charlotte Eagle Sings - Embracing the Old Ways (LP)
2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP) 2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP) 2/28 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)
2/28 - Scenius - "Glass Rain" (single)
2/29 - Jimmy Who and the Night Creatures - Tinker's Blues (EP)
3/?? - Strange Majik - 20/20 (LP)
3/04 - Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - Chameleon (LP) 3/06 - Surrija - "Sylvette" (single) 3/06 - Dean Fields - While the Baby Was Sleeping (LP) 3/06 - Broads and Milly Hirst - Ollust (LP) 3/06 - The Mastersons - No Time for Love Songs (LP) 3/06 - Ghostwood Development Project (Feat. Kool Keith) - "Gulley" (single)
3/06 - The Mystery Plan - Ballad of JC Quinn (LP)
3/09 - Marco Bonvicini - "Colors" (single)
3/13 - The Flatmates - The Flatmates (LP) 3/13 - Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ponyoak (20th Anniversary Edition) + BLP (demos and out-takes) (LP) 3/13 - Sandwick - Reconstruct (LP) 3/13 - Foley and the Fire - "Springsteen on the Radio" (single) 3/13 - Kalee Smyth - The Ceiling (EP)
3/13 - Sha Davis - Songs I Wrote When You Left (EP)
3/13 - The Losing Touch - "Through the Night" (single)
3/13 - Gerry Gareau - Feet Off The Brakes (EP)
3/18 - Marco Bonvicini - Colors (EP)3/20 - Matt Wilson and His Orchestra - When I Was a Writer (LP) 3/20 - Chris Moyse - Bitter Ballads and Cynical Prayers (LP)
3/20 - Samuel Boller - Kingdom of the Sun (LP)3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP)
3/20 - Jon Hassell - Vernal Equinox (reissue) (LP)
3/20 - Kid Be Kid - Lovely Genders (EP)3/27 - Mayflower Madame - Prepared for a Nightmare (LP) 3/27 - Alienbaby Collective - F I S H B O W L / T E R R E S T R I A L (Double EP) 3/27 - Mairena - "Weird All the Time" (single) 3/27 - Lucille - Come on,Fly (LP)
3/27 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "Money" (single)4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP) 3/27 - Watermelon Slim - Traveling Man (Double Live LP)
4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (LP)
4/09 - Ellison - "Sing" (single)
4/10 - Eliza Gilkyson - 2020 (LP) 4/10 - Dan Montgomery - Smoke and Mirrors (a phonographic memory) (LP) 4/10 - Pokey LaFarge - Rock Bottom Rhapsody (LP)
4/13 - Pilotcan - No More Shan Goodbye (LP)4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)
4/24 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart" (single)
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)
6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)
7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)
So I started a new thing on E2TG called first impressions. It is exactly what the name implies, which is me listening to an album or song and giving you my initial impressions of what I am hearing and what ever else the music brings to mind. I will be doing this fairly often I hope and cover as much ground as I can. These will be separate posts and I will link to them on the Release Calendar next to the related entry. In case you missed the first, here is the LINK. But come back here because we have more goodies.
Other goodies
Please tune in to my WXNA radio show this Saturday (Double Shot with Joe and Sue on WXNA). Our theme will be Before They Were Stars, and we will our special tribute to our friend, hero, and one-time fellow DJ, David Olney. You can catch us Saturday morning beginning at 9:00am on 101.5FM in Nashville or at wxnafm.org If you can't catch the show live, you can check out the archives at the same website. We will have some early recordings from some E2TG favorites like Meghan Hayes, Darrin Bradbury, Adam Kurtz, and Adrian Krygowski (pre-Adrian+Meredith).
Also, please keep checking back with our NEW RELEASE calendar below. I am adding to it almost daily, and I am starting to add links to where you can pre-order, buy, hear/stream the music. I will be fine-tuning that who experience soon.
Words No Music A Reading coming Thursday, November 15, 2018 6:30pm Radio Cafe Nashville. No Cover, tips accepted and books will be for sale. We have an incredible line-up featuring David Olney, Rod Picott, Luke Powers, Rebecca Weiner Tompkins, and yours truly. All but me are incredible musicians and songwriters, but for this show - they will let their words speak for them without music. I will be reading from The Drift plus some selections from a forthcoming book.FACEBOOK EVENT HERE!
I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG. So far, I have completed nine - January - September 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. JUST ADDED! August and September 2018 Playlists! E2TG January 2018 E2TG February 2018 E2TG March 2018 E2TG April 2018 E2TG May 2018 E2TG June 2018 E2TG July 2018 E2TG August 2018(NEW!) E2TG September 2018(NEW!) E2TG October 2018
Hey, it is Pledge Week at Nashville's All-Volunteer Community Radio Station, WXNA. I am thrilled to have a small part in this valuable community resource. WXNA recently announced that we are moving our studio early next year, so one of goals of this Fall's Pledge Drive is to raise funds to defray the cost of that move.
As always, WXNA can be heard at 101.5FM in Nashville (as I like to say, within the Briley Parkway loop) and it can be streamed anywhere at wxnafm.org or through the TuneIn app.
If you want to pledge your support, contact WXNA at 615-933-9962 or go on-line at wxnafm.org
This time around there are four levels of giving (and remember you can make it a monthly donation to spread the cost out). There are some great rewards at each level - including a hoodie, an iron-on patch, and at the top level, an invitation to our exclusive Studio-warming party when we move into the new studio.
Meanwhile, it is Wednesday and that means it is "Wild Wednesday" at WXNA. I think this shuffle lives up to the billing...
Man this sure is an interesting time to be alive. Interesting is a good word because it is kind of neutral. Things being interesting may be good or they maybe bad or maybe just interesting. The thing is, I am of the philosophy that we cannot really ever know in the moment if something is good or bad. Meaning that we don't know the bigger picture. Something happens which we view as bad, but as a result of that thing - something else happens (or doesn't happen) which we then interpret to be a good thing. But even then, we don't really know...
All that to say, that for today, I am choosing to just take in all of the "interesting" things, to act and/or speak when I feel I must, but to stop trying to pretend I know everything or actually much of anything...
I will hopefully have some exciting announcements soon. Ironing out the final details of the June Anniversary Residency at The 5 Spot, and I hope to have a show announcement soon for April. And who knows what else.
Meanwhile, it is Wednesday - the day we get "Wild" at E2TG. Actually, we get wild everyday, but Wednesday, we shuffle from all the songs on my phone - so you never know what will come up... so it's like a wildcard. Thus, Wild Wednesday!
"I mean, I'm not disagreeing with what they are trying to say but..."
"...they could have found a better way than dumping all that tea into the water."
"...why'd they have to sit at the lunch counters during lunch time? I just came to get a sandwich not to see this."
Civil disobedience is supposed to be civil, it is not supposed to be convenient. (although I'm having a hard time understanding why someone respectfully kneeling during the National Anthem bothers people so much. (that is a rhetorical question).
Racism and other forms of bigotry are not new, but it is disheartening to see so many racists and bigots being emboldened by the current administration. Maybe it is necessary to bring evil into the light in order to destroy it. That, at least, is my hope.
"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice." Theodore Parker (later paraphrased by Martin Luther King Jr.) *********************************************************************************
Wow, the 3rd Quarter of 2017 is almost over... It's just about time for me to start thinking about the 3rd Annual Earie Awards and the 2017 Band(s) and Artist(s) of the Year. As is often the case in recent months, I find that I cannot possibly get to all of the music sent my way. I try my best because I know some really awesome stuff is slipping by me. And, even with those that slip by... my "New Music" playlist recently topped 500 songs. Beginning Monday, I am going to adjust my schedule to cover more of the "New Music", and I will also be working to clear some older songs from that playlist. I am really excited about some of the new music that has been coming my way...
Today is Wednesday which is "Wild Wednesday" here at E2TG. We shuffle up all the songs in my phone memory and present a decent cross-section of the diversity of music that I dig. Sometimes, I will think that maybe I could have a bigger audience if I narrowed my focus... but I could also have a bigger audience if I used click-bait headlines and made controversial statements about popular artists just for the sake of being controversial. I don't want to do any of those things... so here is E2TG just being E2TG..... Peace...
It's funny, really... (I like starting blog posts in the middle of a thought). People will say, "It's been a good year." or "It's been a sucky year." or whatever, but for me if I really think about, most years are a little bit of both. Even years that I look upon as my worst, had moments of transcendent joy.
For many people, 2016 is being chalked up on the "bad year" side of the ledger, and it is understandable. In music, we lost some of the all-time greats in 2016. From Bowie to Cohen and so many more. For many in my closest circle of friends, the election did not know as we would have like, and we are worried about what this will mean in the short and long term for the world. Personally, the last half of the year has brought on a series of (ultimately) minor health issues that took the wind out of my sails for a time. And yet, it was also the year, I began doing Double Shot with Sue Havlish on WXNA - which has proven to be one of the great joys of my life. It was also a year of "discovering" lots of new (to me) music and forging some new friendships while building on some older ones. Could it have been better? Could I have done better? Sure. Same with every previous year and likely every future year.
Before we jump into a "Wild Wednesday" shuffle - I have an "EARIE" Award to hand out. Thinking about "new to me music" and new friendships....
I remember seeing Clark Paterson around East Nashville, and I remember hearing people talk about his music. To me, he was kind of intimidating. Really tall with a big beard. A few months back, he contacted me and sent me a copy of his latest album, The Final Tradition. The album features two of my favorite East Nashville musicians - Tim Carroll and Paul Niehaus - so I was intrigued. And when listened, I was impressed. I jotted down a few words....
With The Final Tradition, East Nashville singer-songwriter Clark Paterson has made a gritty and earthy rock and roll record. Backed by some of Nashville’s finest musicians including Tim Carroll and Paul Niehaus, Paterson weaves no holds barred tales of real people living real lives. It is not easy to write about the kind of characters that inhabit Paterson’s songs while avoiding slipping into cliche and sterotypes, but Patersons does so. The secret to his ability to walk that fine line can be found in his bio which reveals a complex and diverse set of experiences which have provided the inspiration to write these songs that ring with a authencity that is refreshing. Standout tracks include “This Dog’s Gonna Hunt”, “Kansas Saturday Night”, and “Hillbilly Shit”. These songs reveal a confident swagger that belies a rough-hewn vulnerability. It is this honest to god vulnerability presented as strength not weakness that sets The Final Tradition apart from most other roots oriented records being made in recent years.
Of course, with life being what it is, I never posted this words until now.. but, with out more ado, I am awarding Clark Paterson the "Rough-hewn Vulnerability" Award for 2016.
