E2TG 10/21/2020 - New Glasses - Shadow of Your Smile Mix (Ad Nauseum Remix)

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So, I got a new pair of glasses yesterday.  For those of you who don't wear glasses, it is a big deal. 1. the new glasses potentially change your face - which is a big deal - although my quarantine beard is probably a bigger deal, and the new frames aren't dramatically different from the old ones. 2. If your prescription has changed, there is a moment of clarity when you first put on the new glasses - as if the world seems brand new. It is a passing feeling - at most lasting a day or two - but it is...er um... eye opening. 

Seeking improved clarity is a worthy goal whether talking physical eyesight or something more philosophical. The world can be so confusing with conflicting messages bombarding us all day/every day. People try to cast doubt on facts, you wonder who you can trust, news is filtered through the lens of people with agendas. Even with the unfortunate right/left, red/blue, conservative/liberal dichotomy, even if you align yourself with one side or the other, there are factions on either side of the ideological aisle who offer different perspectives.  And you are left wondering what is real, what is truth.

Forgetting politics for a minute... looking at diet - one message will say - eat "this" instead of "that" but then a different voice will say - well "this" is no good, you need to eat "something else" or you actually do need to eat "that' because it is not as bad as people say. 

So, we all need more clarity in a variety of ways, so that is why - that momentary clarity of a new pair of glasses is so refreshing. Maybe, we all need to get a new pair of metaphorical glasses on a regular basis...

We continue to recap this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 21-25:

21. "Black Summer" by The Red Step

We start things off with the first single from the eponymous debut album by The Red Step from Belgrade, Serbia.  The band features Tobias Nathaniel from The Black Heart Procession. I am digging the garage/post-punk sound here. Can't wait to hear more. 

22. "Mama's Got a Gig" by New Yeller

Next up, we have an absolutely wonderful track from New Yeller who are from Vermont and Brooklyn.  The song - written by the band's singer Laura Schweizer and features a gorgeous violin solo from 17 year Charlotte Knutsen.  Zachariah Hickman (Josh Ritter, Ray Lamontagne, and Barnstar!) guests on upright bass. 

23. "Seeing Shapes" by Teen Creeps

Teen Creeps are a Belgian three-piece band with an affinity for fuzzy guitars and fast-paced drums. This is their latest single. A great addition to the Playlist. 

24. "Grand Scheme of Things" by David Woodard

Next up, we have the title track to the new EP by Nashville based jangle pop artist David Woodard. Really digging this. 

25. "Fascination" by Watch Clark 

Watch Clark is an electronic musician from Seattle. We covered the previous EP back in the Spring. This hard-hitting track is a great way to close out this segment of music. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - 1000 Words 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)

It is always fun when talented friends share a bill. Last night, it was Chris Moyse (with Sean Quinn and Erin Nelson in his band), Andrew Adkins, and Smoking Flowers. A fun night of music.

Also, may I just say, I could live with seeing various incarnations of the Collins family every week or so. Last week, it was Justin and the Cosmics, a couple of weeks before that it was Smoking Flowers, and them Smoking Flowers again. Looking forward to the next one.


A friend of mine once described E2TG as wildly inclusive. I like that description. If I hear music that moves me in some way, I want to write about it without concern for what "kind" of music it is. I have nothing but respect for more sharply focused music sites - whether that focus be genre-specific or geographic or whatever.  It's just not what I want to do. The plain fact is that there is way more awesome music than I could ever cover. I know that because I often "discover" a band/artist that I think is awesome - and then discover that they have been awesome for years.

From day one of E2TG, I knew I could not be a comprehensive source of everything worthwhile that is new. The fact is - even with the wildly diverse song selections I present - it is amazing how connections keep happening all the time.

Onward!  We have another diverse selection of music from all over the world today.  Let' shuffle!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Lucky 7 Mix

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On May 15, 2011 - because I didn't have anything better to do - I started a music blog which I called Ear to the Ground. I'm not exactly sure why I did it.  In the years prior, I had begun to share music (including my morning playlist) on Facebook and Twitter, and some people encouraged me to do something more with these posts. I started the blog on a site called Posterous - which later got bought out by Twitter and eventually got killed. So that first post is gone into the ether.  It wasn't all that substantive anyway. Fast forward 7 years, and much in my life has changed. I didn't have much of a plan when I started E2TG (which I would eventually decide to call Ear to the Ground for short), but I can assure you I never dreamed I would still be doing this in the far off year of 2018 nor that I would have met the amazing people I have met and had the incredible opportunities I have been given.

Next month will be the official celebration of 7 years (every Thursday in June) at The 5 Spot, but I didn't want to let this day pass without acknowledging the anniversary.

Week 1:  Clark Paterson, The Big Dumb, Rayvon Pettis
Week 2: The End Men, Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus, plus guest opener TBA
Week 3:  Brian Milligram, Microwave Mountain, The Coal Men
Week 4: Joanna Barbera, Bee Taylor, Eli Cook


Tonight, I am going to see Kris Kristofferson at The Basement East!

The genesis of E2TG was me posting my morning playlist. When I started the blog, I didn't think that was enough for a music blog.... and it may not be, but here I am... and here is my morning shuffle seven years down the road....

Mondo Monday Morning Shuffle - Beans, Rice, and Bleached Ravioli Mix

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Thanks to everyone who donated to WXNA during the Fall Pledge Drive, we exceeded our goal!  I know WXNA is a true labor of love for everyone involved, and it is very refreshing to feel that love echoed back from our community.  I am extremely proud to be a part of this incredible radio station!


Heading into a holiday shortened week of shuffles.. thinking about all I have to be thankful for. 

Here is the latest shuffle from our "New Music" playlist.

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Get Off the Pot Mix

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Last night was one of those nights that reminds me why I love Nashville so much.  Bill Lloyd did an early show at The 5 Spot with a great band doing classic and new songs - both those he wrote and choice covers.  He will be back next week and then again for the final Tuesday in November.

Then, I hung around for Derek Hoke's $2 Tuesday. One of the absolute best things this town has to offer. $2 cover, $2 Yazoo beer, consistently great music, and an awesome hang with the coolest of people.

Seeing Rayvon Pettis and Megan Palmer together was a highlight.  And Derek Hoke and his band were as always fantastic.

The audience was filled with a who's who of great artists.  If I believed in namedropping, I would tell you that Aaron Lee Tasjan, Bobby Bare Jr., Zach Schmidt, Jon Byrd, Jon Latham, Joe Fletcher and more were there.  But, like Wynonna told me when I met her a couple of years ago, namedropping is unseemly.

Seriously, I had some inspiring and motivating conversations, and so what if I am really tired today....

Add on the encouraging election results from different places, and I am actually feeling pretty good today.

It is Wednesday and we get "Wild" on Wednesday.  Let's shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Want to be a Cube Baby Mix

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On my mind...  A couple of white supremacist rallys are schedule tomorrow in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro.  Just so I am clear, the only "fine people" are those who oppose these people with out reservation or qualification...  This people represent evil and the worst in humanity. No if's, and's or but's.  To my friends who are planning to go to oppose them in person - be safe and have a plan.

To those who choose to spend the day celebrating love and diversity - be intentional. (that's my challenge to myself).

To be clear, you are okay to have opinions about other groups (AntiFa or whomever), however, 1. make sure you base your opinion on facts and 2. leave those opinions out of our condemnation of the white supremacists.
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#WXNARocktoberfest is tomorrow!  Due to predicted chilly temps, the live music will be happening in The Basement (all-ages) and the WXNA DJ sets will be in Grimey's.  Make a day of it in the most musical building in Nashville.

I worked on adding some new music to my phone which means my "New Music" playlist is now over 400 again....  really pleased with today's shuffle... let's jump to it!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Turned 24 Today Mix

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Several years ago, someone pointed out that I would often make a very subtle sarcastic comment or joke, and then ruin the effect by saying "Just kidding". This guy even started calling me "Just kidding Joe".  I think he was right. My desire was to make sure I was understood. Like, if people thought I was being serious they might think I was an idiot or mean or whatever. But, it's not my job to explain myself to everyone and it is not my business what they think about me. 

I have tried since then to catch myself when I want to add a "just kidding" - although full disclosure: emojis have kind of given me a cheat on this  ;-) And I'm working on that now, too.  Twice in the last two days I have posted something on social media that was facetious without a "tell" that I was kidding. The first case, if anyone took me as serious, they would think I was kind of stupid and maybe a little self-important. The second case, could potentially lead to a political reaction of some sort...

I don't know. 51 1/2 years in and I'm still working on this life thing, and I'm kind of okay with that for today....

Let's jump headlong into some featured music for a lovely Friday in Nashville...