E2TG 2/28/2022 - Music City Monday - Closing Jam Mix (Talking Dogs Remix)

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It is Monday and time for another jam packed Music City Monday Shuffle - below the jump....

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 4/12/2021 - Music City Monday and More - I Was Sleeping Mix (Star-Crossed Remix)

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Onward into another week....

Last night, I took in my first indoor live music in 13 months. At Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge, checking out Mark Robinson Band.  It was a good time.  My decision to go was based upon my vaccination status and the safety protocols which I know Dee's follows.  I fully understand those who are not yet ready to get out like that. I can report that it was great hearing live music in-person from a great band. I can also report that navigating the new reality is strange and different.  Ultimately, I am sure I will do it again, but I am still not sure about larger gatherings.

Our Featured Friday Recap continues now with songs 11-16:

11. "California Highway" by Dallas Moore

The Rain - the new album from outlaw country artist Dallas Moore is out now.  We featured one or two of the pre-release singles.  This album cut stands as evidence that this is a song album front to back.  

12. "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" by Cole Quest and The City Pickers

I fell in love this this song when it was released on Mermaid Avenue - a couple of decades ago????. Music by and performed by  Billy Bragg with lyrics from Woody Guthrie.  This fantastic new cover features the  late folk singers grandson backed by a band of great musicians. The album Self (En) Titled is due out this Friday.   

13. "Spirits (Having Flown)" by Coke Belda

I am unabashedly a fan of the songs of the brothers Gibb.  This is from 5: A Tribute to the Bee Gees Vol. 2 from this Pittsburgh artist.  The song was the title track to the 1979 album which was the immediate follow-up to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.  

14. "Juniper Jones" by David Wax Museum

The 8th album from Boston-based duo David Wax Museum is out this Friday. This is the first single, and I like it a lot. 

15. "Broken" by Whiskey Fixx

Next up, we have the new single from this relatively new country band from Detroit, Michigan. 

16. "Simulation Theory" by B. B. Palmer
 

We close with a song I just completely fell in love with - it is the recent single from this cosmic country band based in Alabama.  It is the second single from their forthcoming Krishna Country album due out later this year.  Check it out. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

 

E2TG 10/26/2020 - Music City Monday - Amazing Grace Mix (Graveyard Stomp Remix)

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As we head into the final two months of this most interesting year, with so much uncertainty and so many unresolved problems...on a more personal note, I am - as I do every year about this time - evaluated the State of E2TG.  Long-time readers know that I made some major changes to E2TG at the beginning of this year - changes I have fine-tuned throughout the year. I felt the changes were necessary.  As a result of the changes I have been able to cover more music than ever before, however, the trade-off has been that some music does not get covered as extensively as it might have in the past. 

So, the questions I have to ask myself every year are: What is it that I want E2TG to accomplish? Is E2TG accomplishing that? and How, I can I improve on what I am doing to better meet my goal?  

I don't have the answers yet for 2020, but that is where my head will be...  

For my readers, I have certain hopes - one is that you give at least a cursory listen to the music I present here. I can almost guarantee that you won't like it all or at least not like it all equally... but I think no matter where your musical tastes lie, you will find something you do like. If an artist or song really catches your attention- I would hope you would follow the artist on social media and follow them on your favorite streaming service. If you are able, buy a download or a physical copy of their music, when it is safe in your area and they come to town, go see them live. 

Selfishly, if you do discover new music via E2TG, I would love it if you would tell me about it. 

I do not make a dime from E2TG - that was a conscious decision I made a long time ago (although to be fair, I am not 100% certain I could make much money if I tried). I am also not a publicist or promoter for any artists- although I am grateful for my relationships with many fine publicists. E2TG is an unpaid, secondary job for me - and I am a one-man operation - so it is inevitable that I miss out on featuring some music and my timing may not be ideal. I do what I can. 

I do believe that there is so much amazing music being produced and released these days, and there are many fine websites, blogs etc that cover some of the music. I have always tried to keep E2TG interesting (to me at least) by being a diverse and inclusive as possible. There is not style or genre of music that I won't consider for E2TG. 

Anyway, this is Music City Monday and as a rare treat, we have 100% local music.

We pick back up on this week's Featured Friday recap - with songs 11-15 - the quality of these five songs just goes to show how deep this week's playlist truly is... oh and they are all based in Nashville...

11. "Surrender" by LORE

This is the debut single by the new Nashville band featured Laur Joamets and Laura Reed. Their album is due out next year and was produced by Dave Schools and Vance Powell and features Robbie Crowell and Nick Buda.  A wonderful song.

12. "Mostly Ouroboros" by Andrew Adkins

Yet another track from the forthcoming The Echoist (November 13) by E2TG favorite Andrew Adkins. This one shows off his more rocking side. 

13. "Perfect Job" by Kevin Burnstein

Kevin Burnstein moved to Nashville just head of the pandemic and found himself in a new city at an inopportune time. He made the most of the situation recording this politically charged album and releasing at a most opportune time. 

14. "I Want Out" by Will Kimbrough

By contrast to Kevin Burstein, Will Kimbrough has been a Nashville resident over well over 30 years, but he, too, found himself in an unusual situation. Used to keeping up a busy schedule of touring, recording, and producing - Kimbrough found himself - like so many others - grounded. Spring Break is the result of that time, and it is a most wonderful result. 

15. "Do You Realize" by Tayls

Taylor Cole - who leads Tayls - as been in Nashville longer than Burnstein but far less than Kimbrough - but he, too found his usual actives limited or eliminated by COVID-19. He took the time to record a collection of cover songs - often recording remotely with other Nashville bands and artists. We have covered several of the singles released but now the full Kwar in Teens: A Covers Collection is out. This is a cover of a Flaming Lips song.  

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/16/2020 - Music City Monday in the Time of COVID-19 - Thing of Beauty Mix (Randy Rhodes' Flying V Remix)

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Music im the time of COVID-19....

As we settle into this new normal, it seems as if nearly every aspect of our daily lives is disrupted. The virus and the efforts to contain it are having major effects on many peoples livelihoods and lives.  E2TG is a music blog, so my focus, but I want to make it clear that I am not dismissing what many, many people outside of music are going through.

We are all faced with difficult decisions. I mentioned last week that my favorite regular hang out made the decision on Thursday to close for at least a month.  This was not an easy decision, and it would have been understandable if they had chosen not to do so.  On Sunday, the Metro Nashville Health Department and Mayor - declared a health emergency and asked music venues to close and restaurants to reduces capacity.  A group of downtown honky-tonks decided to file suit to remain open.

Now, I have friends who make a living playing music on Broadway, however, I do find it interesting that one small venue made the decision to shut down voluntarily - while other (larger) venues are fighting in court to stay open.  To me, it is further evidence that the tourist parts of Nashville are not really a part of our community. Maybe that is harsh, and I do acknowledge that many Nashvillians work and perform at these venues.

I don't know - I think trying to reduce the number of deaths, trying to protect vulnerable parts of our community is important and I applaud those who are doing their part, and to the best of my ability I want to support those folks.  I will share again the GoFundMe for The 5 Spot. 

Many artists are starting to do virtual shows on-line with venmo, paypal etc for tip jars. Check those out.  If you hear your favorite artist doing a show - consider a tip - even if you aren't able to tune in.  As I mentioned before, buy merc, buy physical copies of music (even if you plan to keep listening on a streaming service).  Find a way to support these independent artists and venues at least to the extent you would if the venues were open.  And for goodness sake, stay in if you are able, practice all of the guidelines if you do have to go out.

Music is my primary community, and I hope my community sticks together and supports each other through this time.  Meanwhile, E2TG will keep doing what we do. Enjoy.

    Featured Friday Playlist

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.