Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Close Your Eyes, Breathe Slow and We'll Begin Mix

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"Close your eyes, breathe slow, and we'll begin..."  - from "The Pan Within" written by Mike Scott and recorded by his band, The Waterboys from their album This is the Sea.

Last night I took the Blackstone Bus to Music City Roots at the Factory in Franklin.  I think the bus is one of this town's best kept secrets.  Every Wednesday, the bus departs from The 5 Spot in East Nashville makes a stop at Soulshine Pizza in Midtown and then makes its way down I65 to Franklin. 

Reasons it is such a cool, awesome deal:  1. The ride is free.  You pay your (usually $10) Roots ticket, select the Blackstone Bus option. 2. They serve samples of different varieties of Blackstone Beer (the longest currently operating local brewery). 3 You get some free hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Monnells.  4. There is usually awesome live music on the bus and 5. You don't have to drive.

About #4 - the scheduled music performer was under the weather, but because Nashville - it turned out that The Worry Dolls were on board.  The Worry Dolls are recent transplants from London. I had seen them at a showcase during Americana, and they graced us with some songs on the bus.  I nice treat to be sure.

This weeks Music City Roots was pretty eclectic.  Host Jim Lauderdale opened the show with a song from his new album - which I now really want to check out.  A bluegrass band from Italy played one song.  I really dug them a bunch - they are called La Terza Classe.  The Orphan Brigade played next, they are a really interesting group of experienced players with a pretty fascinating story. They completed their current album in Kentucky at what is called the Most Haunted House in America. I really liked their music which is kind of moody roots music - I guess.  LynnMarie was next with her polka band.  They won me over by opening their set with a cover of The Who's "Squeezebox" and a song written about LynnMarie's son who has Down's Syndrome. The latter song really spoke to me.

Amy Black was up next - backed by some of the players who joined her when I saw her CD Release show at The Bluebird Café and supplemented by a horn section and noted Nashville bassist Hags Haggerty.  They sounded fantastic.

Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen played the final set of the night and did what they do best - bringing the authentically original take on psychedelic North Mississippi blues music. And for those who read yesterday's post - no, the MCR stage could not contain Ted Drozdowski.  Drozdowski is a phenomenal guitar player and his band provide some amazing support. 

The closing Music City Jam featured a pretty awesome version of a song Muddy Waters recorded called "Rollin' and Tumblin'".  It was amazing to hear the different takes from everyone on stage.

On to the shuffle: