Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - The Devil Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Okay - expect two posts over the weekend to wrap-up 2018.  I have one final Earie Award post - for all the ones that didn't come through during the eleven Earie posts I made in December.  Then, we have the highly anticipated 2018 "Golden Earie" Awards for Bands and Artists of the Year.  Who will it be?  Check back with us later this weekend.

Now, we wrap-up our first week of shuffles for 2019.  This is Featured Friday.  From today until further notice, Friday will be only day in which our shuffle comes from the large "Featured Music" playlist.  Essentially, this list will be all the music from the New Music playlist used last year, plus any new music submitted to E2TG, plus any other music acquired.

Let's get to it!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle- Big Damn Baby Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

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)

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!)


Well, it's the end of another, albeit short, week of work.  Heading into the weekend (aka the calm before the American Fest storm).  My final bit of advice for anyone coming to AMA for the best time is to pace yourself. Also, if there is something you REALLY want to see at a smaller venue like The Basement or Station Inn (for example) - than plan to get to that venue early and stick it out. Otherwise, there is a good chance you won't get in - especially if it is a really popular artist (or there is a really popular artist after the show you want to see). Have fun, hit up the parties, and say hello if you see me around.

We close with our usual Featured Friday shuffle. A few first listens today. Let's shuffle!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Mayhem and Maidens Mix

Tweet #E2TG


Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

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)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - Junly2018.  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 NEW!
E2TG July 2018 NEW!


As much as I hate to miss a Music City Monday, it was good to have a day off. I spent yesterday recovering from my Sunday at Muddy Roots Festival. This was my first time at this festival, and I am grateful to Smoky White Devils and Richie Owens for helping me get there. 

I had a wonderful experience.  Music performances from Smoky White Devils (who rule hard!), Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Dexateens, Joshua Black Wilkins, The Dead Boys, L.A. Witch, Meat Puppets, and X - plus a few more I heard partial sets from. Also, great hanging with the WXNA contingency and the Smoky White Devil folks. Wonderful food. And meeting interesting people who come to Muddy Roots from all over the country.

Speaking of WXNA - there are just a couple days left to vote for WXNA as Best Radio in the Best of Nashville 2018 Readers Poll - at the Nashville Scene. You must vote in 25 categories for your votes to count.  Best Radio Station is located in the Media and Politics section.

Time to jump back into the shuffle with a Trending Shuffle.  We have some cool first listens and the return of some favorites.  I also have some new music I still need to add to the playlist. This year of great music rolls on!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - In the Cold Cold Ground Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

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)

Hey! Someone encouraged me to create an E2TG Playlist on Spotify.  I was going to do one for the first six months of 2018 but that was going to be too long a playlist - so I created one for artists/albums featured in January 2018.  These are not all January releases  (some were released earlier and some later) but all were featured on E2TG during that month. I am planning to create playlists for every month - once I catch up, I will create the playlist right after a month ends.

Anyway, if this is something you'd like to check-out, you can do it HERE. I may just expand this playlist or eventually, I may have a current E2TG playlist and periodically update it. We'll see. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, it's time to jump back into the "New Music" playlist on my phone - and today's "Trending Tuesday" shuffle.

Let's go!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Gonna Leave a Mark Mix

Tweet #E2TG


Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

TONIGHT!!!!!   I am so excited to kick off the month-long E2TG Residency at The 5 Spot in East Nashville. I am looking forward to each week and each artist/band on the bill.  If you are in the Nashville area, I sure hope you can make it.

We kick things off in fine fashion tonight with Clark Paterson who has put together a great band.  After that, I will read a brief passage from The Drift (copies will be available for purchase). Then - Rayvon Pettis will take the stage - backed by The Big Dumb.  Finally, The Big Dumb will close things out for Week 1 with a set of their own original music.   All this for $5.00. 

21+ Be sure you have a valid ID for admission.

Today, we jump back into the "New Music" playlist with a typically eclectic collection of songs...

Let's go!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Are You Having Fun Boys and Girls? Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Reminder the Magnolia Roads American Roots Hoedown III kicks off tonight with a pre-party at Dee's.  Details and feature on Taylor Kropp (plus links to the first four parts of my preview and features on other artists can be found HERE.

Among the artists performing tonight at Dee's is Allen Thompson.  I went out (for the first time in over a week) last night for the last night of Allen's residency at The 5 Spot.  Maxwell Putnam opened -and as usual he was awesome.  Allen played with a ten piece band that he dubbed Lady Couch.  The band included Jack Silverman, Clint Maine, and Lilly Winwood, and the Nashville Horns. They played a loose, fun set of originals and choice covers. Pretty awesome for an early show (it would have been awesome regardless of the time).

Now, it is FRIDAY!  We have a very mixed bag of music to "Feature".  So sit back, as we take the week out in style.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Please RSVP Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Marching on into the week. The news of the world continues to depress and terrify me. I continue to take comfort in good music and knowing there are good people in this world.

Speaking of good music, I am inching closer to beginning to reveal the bands/artists who will be playing the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency (Thursdays in June at The 5 Spot). I will tell you that we will have a current E2TG Artist of the Year and a past E2TG Band of the Year. Plus lots of surprises. Stay tuned!  Once the lineup is revealed, I will not shut up about it.

It is Tuesday, and that is the day, we dig into our "New Music" playlist and shuffle it up to see what comes to the surface that we will say is "Trending" on E2TG.

Let's shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Hard Head Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Whew! It's Friday.

Last night, I was at The 5 Spot for the early show, and I caught Will Payne Harrison and Tommy Womack.  I had previously seen Will at Dee's one Monday night for just a few songs, so it was good to see an even longer set.   Tommy Womack was...well he was Tommy Womack. Backed by a great band including John Jackson on guitar. He played some of his best known songs, "Betty was Black, Willie was White" "90 Miles An Hour Down a Dead-End Street" some new songs, a Daddy song, and even a song from Government Cheese. He ended the set with his version of "Penny Lane".

As always, Nashville has a ton of great live music - every single night. Get out and find something that interests you.

Mark Robinson is playing tomorrow night at The 5 Spot.  He is hands down one of my favorite entertainers in Nashville. His live shows are just no-frills great music.

Time hit the shuffle on my "New Music" playlist for what we like to call Featured Friday on E2TG.

Let's shuffle:

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Self Confidence Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Well, after talking about all of the consecutive nights I went out to hear live music, it all kind of caught up with me... I started feeling a little not great, so I decided to stay in last night and just rest. But, it did give me time to reflect on the incredible place in time and life and the world where I find myself.  The incredible talented people I interact with on a regular basis - some well-known, some not, but all talented. As a long-time fan of music, I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded.

Well, it is Tuesday and time to dig back into the New Music playlist and see what is "Trending" on E2TG....

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Before and After Temple Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Fun night last night checking out The Coal Men and The Truehearts at The 5 Spot.  Both are top-notch bands who have deservedly achieved a great reputation in this music city. This was evidenced by the stellar musicians and songwriters in attendance.

It is Thursday and time to dive headlong into the "New Music" playlist for this "Trending Tuesday".  All of these tracks are (more or less) recent additions to my collection, and artists/albums that I waited to feature here at E2TG.

Let's shuffle!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Repeat Me Mix

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Alright. Well, I'm back with a regular shuffle... songs listened to and written about on the same day.

By the way, I added a bunch of music to my New Music playlist.  Last week, it was down to just below 400 songs, now it is over 500 again. We have a pretty eclectic shuffle today - including a few "first listens"

Let's go ahead and shuffle!