E2TG 11/29/2021 - Music City Monday - Free to Be Mix (Applebees Remix Remix)

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We are back after the long holiday weekend.  

Here is a the LINK and playlist from Thursday's Thanksgiving edition of Greetings from Nashville on WXNA 

6:02am Greetings from Nashville by Jason and The Scorchers on Still Standing (EMI/EMI Records (USA))

6:02am The Day Before Thanksgiving by Darrell Scott on A Crooked Road (Full Light)

6:06am Going Home by Madeleine Besson on Journey Home (Madeleine Besson)

6:08am A Family Thing by Raging Fire on Everything Is Roses (1985 -1989) (Pristine Music)

6:11am To the Harvest Look Ahead (Live) by Kane Welch Kaplin on Live at the Bluebird (Dead Reckoning Records)

6:17am Come & Get It by Year of October on Trouble Comes (Year of October)

6:20am Dinner Plans by Todd Snider on Peace, Love and Anarchy (Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol. 1) (Aimless Records)

6:20am Bake My Beans by Tom House on That Dark Calling (Catamount)

6:24am Little Glass of Wine by Paul Burch on East to West (Glider Ltd.)

6:30am Soybeans, Cotton and Corn by Tim Carroll on All Kinds of Pain (Gulcher)

6:33am Daddy’s Little Pumpkin by John Prine on The Missing Years (Oh Boy Records)

6:35am Sweet Potato by David Olney on One Tough Town (Red Parlor Records)

6:38am Mama, Bake a Pie by Peter Cooper on The Lloyd Green Album (Red Beet Records)

6:43am Plain Apple Pie by Gina Sicilia on Hey Sugar (SwingNation Records)

6:45am Clean Your Own Tables by Johnny Cash on John R. Cash (Columbia Nashville Legacy)

6:49am Rubbermaid by Tommy Womack on Stubborn (Sideburn Records)

6:50am The Pilgrim: Chapter 33 by Kris Kristofferson on The Silver Tongued Devil and I (SMSP)

6:53am For Which We Are Truly Thankful by Lambchop on How I Quit Smoking (Merge Records)

6:58am Turkey In The Straw by Vassar Clements on Grass Routes (Rounder)

Today's Music City Monday Shuffle is below....

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 10/11/2021 - Music City Monday - Doin' Fine Mix (Free to Breathe Remix)

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Featured Friday Playlist recap (part 2) (songs 9-12)

9. "Learn to Lose" by LadyCouch

First up, we have a track from the recent and long-awaited debut album from the Nashville band led by Allen Thompson and Keshia Bailey. 

10. "OK I'll Believe Ya" by Microwave Mountain

Last week, we featured the first of five songs and videos in five days by the Nashville band led by Jamie Timm.  This week, we have the fifth song. 

11. "Strong" by Charles Wesley Godwin

Up next, we have the second single from the forthcoming album by this singer-songwriter and West Virginia native. The album, How the Mighty Fall, is due out next month. 

12. "Half-Life Wilderness" by Glass Dove

And, we close out this segment with the title track from the new album by this synth rock/indie pop artist from Nashville. 
 

 

    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 - Who'd've Known Mix

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No April Fool's Day jokes here at E2TG..,

Here we are at the beginning of another month. It is easy to despair in these times. Very easy to despair.  I still believe that as Martin Luther King, Jr said,  "...the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."  It can be easy to doubt this when your focus is too narrow.

A  few years ago, when we were seeing several positive developments (i.e. the affirmation of same sex marriage), I predicted that we would see counter reaction. I'll be honest, I never expected the reaction to be as powerful as it has been, but I still believe it is just a reaction to the overall progress. 

This does not lessen the need to continue to fight and resist.


Well, it is Monday, and we have another super-cool "Music City Monday)  featuring some of my favorite musicians (some of whom are among my favorite people).  Let's shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Hearts and Bones Mix

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For your holiday shopping: The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)


Hey, I've done the math, and I can get through the year recap and still do this week's and next week's Music City Monday shuffle.  So, we will detour from the Earies - just a bit - but there may be some embedded Earies in this shuffle.... so you better read up...

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Hard Feelings 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! I can tell you this isn't really an E2TG event.  It is connected to my novel, The Drift, and we have some super cool guests lined up.  Announcement soon!


Every single day.... every single day for the last almost two years... there is some atrocity, some outrage.... Remember when candidate Trump mocked a reporter with disabilities and it didn't negatively affect his campaign?  Remember when Trump called Mexican immigrants "criminals, drug dealers, and rapists" and his crowds cheered?  Remember when president-elect Trump appointed White Nationalists to high level positions in his administration?  Those of us who called these atrocities out for what they were - were labeled as having "Trump Derangement Syndrome".  Make no mistake, what is happening today is not a coincidence or an accident. The neo-Nazis and White Supremacists and White Nationalists and anti-Semites are being emboldened and encouraged by the White House - and nothing is being done about it. I know that there are reasonable, good people in the Republican Party - at least I have always believed that - but failure of the Republican led Congress to provide checks and balances to the madness that is occurring (EVERY SINGLE DAY) is causing me to doubt this. And I'm not talking about the Flake and Collins and other so-called moderates - who make statements that seem reasonable but then fail to back those statements with any meaningful action.

The fact is, we are a nation without a moral leader. The fact is 60-70 percent of the country does not have a leader and all. And the 29-39 percent who think they have a leader - are lied to daily and are either too willfully ignorant or too blind to see it.  Even if a Blue Wave happens on November 6, our nation is in deep trouble.  If it doesn't happen, I don't know what will happen next, but it will not be good.

My heart goes out to the victims in Kentucky and in Pittsburgh. To those who live in feat because of the color of their skin or because of their religion (or religious or ethnic heritage), or because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We are in dangerous and unprecedented times. Choose acts of love today. Resist, persist, vote, get others who care about all people to vote...

In the midst of all this, I am in the middle of a move - set for Wednesday and I am listening to music as I pack and prepare. Music is a balm for me. Let's do this Music City Monday shuffle.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Love Comes, Love Goes Mix

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

We are just over two weeks away from the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency at The 5 Spot.  Rayvon Pettis, The Big Dumb, and Clark Paterson will be lighting up the stage.

Consider this a soft release announcement, but my debut novel The Drift is now available from Amazon.  If you are in Nashville and would like a copy, let me know, and we can make some arrangements. Full announcement coming soon.  (They said 3-5 days until it was available, so I wasn't expecting it today!)

Needless to say, I have a lot going on right now, and as is my nature, I'm feeling wholly out of sorts about everything.

Nothing like music to calm my savage beast of a monkey mind - and it is Monday - so we have another fabulous Music City Monday for your enjoyment.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Be Real Mix

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I am someone who, despite my strongly held political opinions, believes in the value of those who hold differing opinions. What we have lost in recent years is the concept of the loyal opposition. Still, I am not arrogant enough to believe that my opinions are 100% right, 100% of the time, or that those who have different opinions are 100% wrong, 100% of the time.

That being said, I am 100% sickened by the supposed adults personally, viciously, and childishly attacking the teenage survivors of a horrific school shooting. I am 100% disgusted (though not surprised) by the same people who refuse to bake a cake or issue a marriage license to two people who are in love just because they are the same gender, but who have no problem supporting a "president" who has done the things it is clear that the "president" has done.

I strongly believe we, as a nation, need to find our way back to a place where differences can be debated and compromises can be made, but I am increasingly unsure how we can get to such a place.

So, for now, I hope we can get rid of the clear and present danger in front of us (sooner rather than later) and undo the damage that has been done, and that in taking these steps we can find a path to what now seems an impossible destination.

The March for Our Lives across the country and around the world was inspiring. The vileness of some of those who criticized this movement was depressing.
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As usual, when life/the world/whatever gets me down, I turn to music to lift me up. It is Monday, so, I dig into the Music City Monday Spotify playlist to get a sample of just some of the incredible music that has come and is coming from this awesome, frustrating, wonderful city.

Let's shuffle!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - I Don't Even Try Mix

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I haven't been posting too much about current events here. I never wanted or intended to... but as you may be aware since last year, I have felt compelled. When I do make posts like this, I do not consider them political though some might. I believe there is value in all political viewpoints being heard and respected. I do not, however, there are things happening that go far beyond political differences.

I am proud of and support the young people speaking up about the cancer of gun violence which has gripped our country.  I am disgusted by those who attack, threaten or belittle these engaged young people.

On another note, as the Mueller investigation moves forward, we are clearly in uncharted territory as a nation. I don't know how this will end or even how it should end, but it is clear that our nation is and has been under attack and we need to do something.

Personally, I think our democracy is broken and needs to be repaired. I don't know how or if it will be repaired.  These are definitely interesting and troubling time.

The near constant barrage of information is overwhelming. I believe there is a concerted effort to instill a sense of chaos and confusion to keep American's back on their heels. I, for one, need to find solid ground.

As always, I turn to music as a solace.
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I am super excited to announce that E2TG will be back at The 5 Spot every Thursday in June. We will be celebrating our seventh anniversary in style with a different awesome line up every week. I am currently finalizing acts and dates, but expect further announcements soon!

Now, it's Monday, and as you may know, on Monday, we shuffle up songs from Nashville's past and present.  We call it Music City Monday. Since the beginning of the new year, we have been shuffling up a special Spotify playlist made up of some of the awesome people who have called Nashville home.

If you want to explore the playlist at your own leisure, you do so HERE.  As always, when I post from Spotify, I remind you that if you hear music you love, go ahead and purchase it. Spotify is a tool for hearing music, but it does not, unfortunately pay artists well. Saving or downloading music on that site is not the same as buying the music.

Anyway, we have a cool list today - so let's shuffle!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Dr. Strangelove Dough Mix

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Americana Music Association Fest 2017 rolls on... I think my total sleep for this week is still in the single digits. Maybe the very low double digits...I'm too tired to figure that out.  But no rest for the wicked... and things roll on tonight. Once again, there is way too much going to catch it all, but there are numerous really cool things happening:

Early this evening: The Wild Ponies host their annual Happy Hour - at The Family Wash.  Three years ago, it was at that event that I first me Julie Christensen and Grant Peeples - not a bad day.

Also, Bloodshot Records is holding their party - outdoors at The Groove in East Nashville with Jon Langford and much more, Tim Carroll's Rock n Roll Happy Hour is an official AMA event, if you are from out of town, that is a slice of the real Nashville experience that you should check out, and the fine folks at Green Room Music Source are throwing a party at the American Legion in Inglewood.  Technically, it may be possible to catch at least of part of all of these... I'll leave that to you to figure out.

Later, much to be recommended... Joey Kneiser's showcase is at The East Room, India Ramey is at The Country, and The Basement East has a great lineup that includes Little Bandit, Patrick Sweany, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and E2TG Artist of the Year 2016 Brian Wright.  There is also great music at The OG Basement and other venues across the city. It is probably physically impossible to catch all of these, but you are more than welcome to.make an attempt. Better yet, pick one and then enjoy that show and don't stress over all that you are missing.

Hey - ICYMI, we have an AMA-themed guest blog post from Collins de la Cour.  I love the way she writes, and she has some good things to say.   Check it out HERE.


Well - I have managed to keep up on blog posts during AMA, and today is FRIDAY! This is the day when we post about "featured" music on E2TG.  Let's shuffle!