Tune in tomorrow morning at 6am on WXNA wxnafm.org or 101.5FM in Nashville to hear a special edition of Greetings from Nashville - as we celebrate Nashville legend Mac Gayden and his work as a songwriter, producer, band member, session musician, and solo artist.
A long daily shuffle follows - after the jump below.
In all the commotion this week, I forgot to say, congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris.
Today - we wrap up our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 27-31:
27. "Hard to Get" by Kafeeno
Up first, we have a really cool track from Gregory "Kafeeno" Whealton Jr. Who draws upon his experience as a young person travelling the world with his family to bring multiple influences. This track features steel drums and flutes to great a fun sound.
28. "Hell Yeah" by Paul Alexander Low
Next up, we have the title track off of the new EP by this UK based singer-songwriter. I dig it.
29. "Usaxpsa" by I Could Live in Hope
Up next, we have some Nashville music via fellow WXNA DJ Travis Trevisan. Really good indie rock with a shoegaze sound and a political message.
30. "Sweet Talk" by Madisyn Whajne
Next up, we have a new single from this Ontario-based First Nations artist. I immediately thought of the Go-Gos when I heard this - it is really good. Check it out.
31. "Going Home" by Deleo
And we close out this week's Playlist with the third single from the forthcoming album by this French band. We have featured this band before, and I dig what they are doing. It is always great to end a playlist on such a high note.
Be on the lookout for an all-new Featured Friday Playlist - hitting around Midnight. And, again, thanks to everyone who is following the Playlist.
Final note: Please remember that while Spotify is a great way to share and discover music - they do not treat artists fairly in terms of compensation for the art they create. Buy music, buy merch, watch livestreams and tip, and when it is safe go see your favorite independent artists live.
Today, we wrap up our recap of this week's Playlist and make way for a new list coming up around midnight Central Time. (songs 23-26):
23. "The Fever" by Thrillsville
We previously featured L.A. based darkwave/goth pop band Thrillsville and their quarantine inspired song "Lockdown". This new single is inspired by the Twilight Zone episode of the same name. Both song and show deal with addition and obsession and the elusive satisfaction that the object of the obsession promises but never delivers.
24. "Mandriliando" by Mandril!
I recently started getting e-mails from the Bogota, Columbia based label Discos Infante. The text of the e-mail is in Spanish and is contained in an image so it is possible to cut and paste into a translation tool. But, that is okay, because the labels social media posts - when translated are beautifully poetic but give little information about the bands. The two bands I featured so far seem to have little or no social media presence themselves. Regardless, the music is wonderful. Check it out.
25. "Going Up" by Jabbawoki
Next up, the lead track from Something's Cooking - the debut EP by the Leeds band Jabbawoki. The band's sound mixes indie, hip-hop, and funk in most interesting ways. The lead track is a short, vibey piece featuring murmured voices. The track "Unkle Funkle" was the first single and probably a better representation of the band - so check them out.
26. "Ffoi" by Ghostlawns
We close out this week's Playlist with the second single by the Cardiff, Wales based Ghostlawns - The track is pronounced ph-o-ee. The atmospheric song is from the band's forthcoming debut album Motorik - due out October 30. A nice way to close out the week's Featured Friday Playlist.
A gentle reminder that "Outrage fatigue" is real and is actually a tool of fascists like Trump. Keep fighting but give your self permission to step back and relax and rest before picking up the fight again. I was thinking about this today, and in my head, my initial counter-thought was that it was my white privilege to think I could take a break (and that is a question worth considering), but I say this for everyone in the fight.
The other thing is recognizing what is productive. I absolutely hate comment sections - it brings out the shittiest side of everyone. But, (if you critically evaluate the role of trolls in such forums) it can be a way to understand the "other side". If a person making comments is being genuine and honest, even if you think they are misguided or wrong, the words they use and the arguments they make can help to shed light on what we are up against.
That being said, I can waste time and energy getting worked up over posts in the comment section of articles, tweets, or Facebook posts. It can (and does) put me into a mental tailspin and contributes to my exhaustion and burnout. Like all of life, balance is important. This fight is essential and critical and vital, but it is not everything. Quite moments, laughs with friends, music, art, nature are all important, too.
Continuing our Featured Friday Playlist recap with songs 9-12. We will cover songs 13-15 tomorrow to wrap up this week's list.
9. "I Love You (Don't Laugh)" by Andre Salvador and the Von Kings
Andre Salvador and the Von Kings is the moniker of indie pop singer-songwriter Tim Cheplick who is based in Brooklyn. This is the debut single from the forthcoming self-titled album. The album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Robin Eaton. Proving that coincidences reign supreme here at E2TG, Robin Eaton has worked with numerous artists and friends including Tommy Womack, Tim Easton, and Swan Dive to name a few. Most famously (I guess), he has worked alongside Jill Sobule on several albums.
10. "Hold On (Italians in the Night)" by Beth McKee
Friend of E2TG Beth Mckee is back with a new single that captures the feelings this time in which are are living. The song was co-written at the beginning of the pandemic with fellow Orlando singer-songwriter Terri Binion. McKee's drummer husband plays on the album. And she once again works with producer John Pfiffner who produced her Dreamwood Acres album - which was our introduction to her music.
11. "Your Parents (Dancing with the Stars)" by Benedict Sinister
Next up, a rather interesting track from electro-pop artist Benedict Sinister which is a pointed and clever take on meeting the significant other's parents - told with a distinctively New York bent. The song is packed full of references - pop culture, politics and more. The cleverness never overwhelms the joy of the track.
12. "Barcelona (Memoryy Remix)" by Kevin Herig
A remix of a recent single by indie-pop singer-songwriter Kevin Herig by electro-pop artist Memoryy. I dig it. A cool addition to this week's playlist.
I hate using the word unprecedented, but here we are. With major festivals being cancelled or postponed, major sports tournaments and even whole seasons being cancelled, music venues closing down, schools closed - this is not something I have ever experienced in my lifetime. I am someone who likes to help when people are in need - as I am able - but lately the need seems so overwhelming. Nashville is still recovering from last week's tornado, and now this...
Right at this moment, I don't have a solution, except to love each other and help when and where you can, exercise caution... And be creative. We are in difficult times, and people I care about are suffering from loss of income and other losses. But, we are creative people, and maybe, just maybe, we can find a creative way to get through this time of crisis - together. In the meantime, if you love music (and if you reading this), you can support your favorite independent artists by buying physical copies of their music or buying merch, viewing and tipping for virtual shows, and maybe other ways, I haven't thought of. If you are choosing or forced to stay away from seeing live music, consider donating the money that you would have spent - door cover, drinks, tips, etc. to The 5 Spot GoFundMe or some other cause supporting artists.
I love you all, and I still believe we will get through this.
Now, it is Friday and that means two things: New Release Day and a new Featured Friday Playlist.
Taken from my New Release listing below - here are the albums, EPs, and Singles being released today - March 13, 2020
Today!:
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)
3/13 - Ayla Brook and the Sound Men - Desolation Sounds (LP)
3/13 - The Academy of Sun - "The Parts That Need Replacing" (single)
3/13 - Sunday Morning - Consequences of Love (EP)
3/13 - Rosemary Fossee - "Tu me manques" (single)
The Flatmates, Kleenex Girl Wonder, Kalee Smyth, The Losing Touch, Gerry Gareau, Ayla Brook and the Sound Men, and The Academy of the Sun are all in the new Featured Friday Playlist - joined by Nathan Kalish, Marco Bonvicini, Telepathic Teddy Bear. Terry Presume, and Vega Maestro.
Check it out below and on Spotify - where you can Follow the playlist for all your weekly updates.
Middle Tennessee is still reeling from Tuesday Morning's Tornado touchdowns. This is not a situation that will be resolved quickly, and for some the scars will be permanent. But, we are moving forward and people are coming together.
Something that hit me yesterday. The place where I grew up and the place where I spend most of my time these days were both hit hard by the storm. These communities are geographically less than 80 miles apart, but at least to my eyes, they can seem light years away. In terms of how and what people believe, how they vote, their interests... BUT, what I have seen over the last couple of days are images from both communities of people coming together to help their neighbors.
Who is my neighbor? Not to get theological, but when Jesus as asked that question, he answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. As I understand it, the meaning of the parable is that everyone of - even those who I have been taught to despise are my neighbors.
We live in trouble times - we are conditions to feel animosity toward those on "the other side". Neve mind that the idea of binary choices is fundamentally wrong - the fact remains - when something happens like these tornadoes - and someone shows up to help you, all those differences that separate us - melt away - at least for a time. You don't care who that man with the chainsaw - removing fallen trees voted for. You don't care how that woman clearing the debris feels about (fill in the blank with a divisive issue of your choice).
I know - at some point, we will go back to choosing sides and arguing on Facebook - goodness knows the next eight months will be particularly rancorous - but I wish/hope that we can at least hold on to a fragment of a memory of the unity we feel now.
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)
Today I'm mostly gonna let my Topical Thursday playlist speak for me. I will say that the world and history and many Americans are watching. We are seeing those who are in positions to do something about the corruption and nepotism and dishonesty and... - and who are doing nothing. Meanwhile, many, many people who are not in positions of power are actively resisting.
Last night, another really excellent night of music at The 5 Spot. Beginning with a full-band set from Adrian + Meredith followed by TV Mike and the Scarecrows (who were fabulous), Quinn Deveaux (who is now local - after leaving LA) also wonderful, and ending with the triumphant return of Buck n Stuff. I even got a shout-out from the stage before they did their version of "A-11", This will likely be the last time I see this band for a while - as 2/3 of the band are headed to Europe next week. The American Legion recordings are being worked on - so maybe some Buck n Stuff recordings are out on the horizon somewhere.
Well... Nashville is staring down the barrel of some potentially bad storms this afternoon and evening. But...
Tonight at The 5 Spot. Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau are celebrating 25 years of great music with appearances from the many members over those years. As an added bonus, The Movement are said to be reuniting to open the show. The last - and only time I saw The Movement live was Labor Day Weekend 1985, when my friends Boyd and Ron along with a younger guy named Greg drove from Cookeville to Cat's Records on West End (there is a bank or something there now) to see The Movement, Tim Krekel and the Sluggers, and Jason and the Scorchers. I sure hope the weather cooperates and that I am not huddled in an interior space.
After that show, the Family Wash is to be my destination to see Russell Thompson, Megan Palmer, and Sergio Webb.
Okay - time to move on to the Topical Thursday shuffle. Usual disclaimers... I have a topic in mind, but I'm not explaining it. The songs may only fit due to an alternate interpretation of the title, or some loose connection in my mind, or they may explicitly fit the topic. In all cases, I am not implying in any way the artists/writers/performers share any particular view point.
Also, I think there may be some repeats from previous Thursday shuffles - I refreshed the playlist and may have added some songs back - whatever- they are all good songs and they all still fit the topic. Other than that - enjoy.
Welcome to Tuesday.... so, at some point in the past (for reasons which may have made since at the time), I signed up to get e-mail updates from one of the local television channels. I don't always read them, but today, I did... and there was a story about a music video addressing East Nashville gentrification. I had heard about this, so I actually clicked on the link and watch the video, and there was Ear to the Ground Artist of the Year and my friend, Darrin Bradbury lip-synching and acting like a champ... Here is a link to the article.
Time to ease into a new week, a new month, and for some of us a new time structure - as Daylight Savings Time ends and Standard Time begins. It's Monday... Let's do this shuffle thing...
Let's see.... So apparently, Foo Fighters are playing at The Ryman on Halloween.
Last night, I got hang out with some awesome songwriters and talk music and the movie Road House, plus hear some of them do what they do best. I also hopped over to the Mercy Lounge to finally see Dogs of Oz live. They were awesome, and I hope to see a longer set from them soon. Here is a picture.
One of the best side-effects of writing this blog (and certainly not one I expected or intended) has been the incredible people I have met. Honestly, that is one of the main reasons, I have kept this up for three years. One of the very first people I "met" way back in the early stages of Ear to the Ground was Howard Rabach. Last night, I was fortunate enough to meet him in person and have an enjoyable dinner. Tonight, I get to see him again - playing bass for The Grey A for their CD Release Show at The Stone Fox.
So, Nashville is getting a lot of hype these days... East Nashville more specifically. Is it deserved or not? I'll let someone else answer that deep and complicated question. However, what I will do, is tell you just a bit about one particular night in East Nashville (last night to be specific), and I will let you process this information how you will....
The night began with David Olney in his penultimate* Happy Hour show at The 5 Spot opening his show with an incredibly awesome recitation of Kubla Khan, and the night ended (almost) about six hours later at Fran's Eastside with Tim Carroll and Darrin Bradbury doing a version of Freebird that made me a fan of that song (or at least a fan of their version).
We have a mixed bag of cool tunes in today shuffle, so let's do it!
Life is a balance of patience, hard work, dumb luck, and the occasional moment of happy coincidence. Or so it seems from this particular moment in my existence. I was thinking about the two recent reviews I wrote, and the circumstances that lead me to having the opportunity to write those reviews. In 2011, when I started Ear to the Ground, I was trying to find a blog platform that would be easy to use and be visually interesting. I came across Posterous which seeming fit the bill. Through that site, I came into contact with Howard Rabach and his enigmatic band Ubiquity Machine. We became Facebook friends, and now Howard plays bass for The Grey A, and he sent me their new album to review.
About six months later, around the time that I decided that Posterous could not do everything I wanted to do*, I happened upon a cool band from New Jersey called Those Mockingbirds. That band lead me to Don Ryan, Popa Tunes, The Dead Exs, The End Men, and my whole fascination with New York/New Jersey/Connecticut bands and artists which continues to this day. Through all of that, and I think through a direct recommendation from Don Ryan, I became familiar with a band called Big Wilson River - a cool band which featured Darrin Bradbury who put out Motel Oatmeal, the other album I reviewed last weekend.
Just thought I'd share... I don't know what it all means... The End Men have taught me the idea of saying yes to almost everything, and so far that philosophy seems to be working out okay.
Well we have a shuffle to put on... so enough musing...
Casual readers may not know this, but although I was born in Tennessee, my parents were both born in Louisiana, and I still have some deep roots in that state. There is quite a bit of Louisiana in today's shuffle by some twist of fortune/juju...
My phone did feel heavier this morning - probably due to the nearly 100 songs I added to the current playlist. How much does an MP3 file weigh anyway?
On a Monday which began with a spilled cup of coffee... (and did I mention it was Monday?) the shuffle comes up with a fine collection of music. No oddball pop gems, none of the usual suspects, just a nice collection of cool music from around the country...
Oh - I recorded a new bit of short fiction to my Soundcloud account. Check it if you want...
