Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Six Pack and a Bottle of Gin Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Well, the weather has moderated somewhat in Nashville, and it was a very nice night to hang out on the patio at Drifter's in East Nashville and hear Tim Carroll and Luella play some cool tunes.  Tim, Luella, and the band (Toby Caldwell and Cameron Carrus) will be at The 5 Spot tonight for Tim's weekly Rock 'n' Roll Happy Hour show (no cover (mind the tip jar) and cheap drinks). It is always one of my picks of the week, and this week in particular they will have the incredible Reeves Gabrels sitting in on guitar.  Reeves played with David Bowie for several years, and he is currently the guitarist for The Cure who have been touring the US. I have seen him play with Tim and band before and he is awesome.  Unfortunately, I cannot make it, but I do highly recommend it if you are able.

Before I went to Drifter's I caught some of the last week of Don Gallardo's month-long residency at The 5 Spot. His guest was Carey Ott, who was amazing.  Don Gallardo and How Far West are simply one of my favorite bands around.   Don Gallardo will be having his CD Release show in July at The Family Wash.  More details will follow.

I should also mention that the radio show I co-host with Sue Havlish (Double Shot with Joe and Sue) will be on the air tomorrow morning at 11 (central time). Our theme this week, is "One Hit Wonders" and includes some folks that I bet you do not think about as one hit wonders (and some you may).

On Monday which is July 4, The East Nashvillian will be hosting Independence Day - a benefit for WXNA-LP (where Double Shot airs).  The benefit will be held at The Family Wash in East Nashville and will run from Noon - 11:00pm.  There is a $5 suggested donation, and music will be provided by various WXNA DJs - while others of us will be hanging out.  Come spend the or an hour or so with us.  Sue and I will be there at least from 12-2 (and I will likely be there most of the day).  More info at the Facebook Event Page (HERE)

For the first time in over a week, I made time to add some new tunes to the playlists and a couple of those new tunes came up today.  It is Featured Friday - for this first day of July.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Weakness and Strength Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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

I didn't post the link yesterday, but if you are on Facebook - here is the Event page for the #E2TG 5 Year Anniversary show...  Actually, it is the event page whether or not you are on Facebook... but anyway...

We have a great Trending Tuesday shuffle...  let's dive in....

E2TG Video Premiere: Zachariah Red - "40 Miles"

Tweet #E2TG

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

Why not go for the trifecta?  Back in October, I had the great honor of premiering the song "40 Miles"  - I had this to say:

"40 Miles" is pure Mid West, Blue Collar American Music. It drips with the blood sweat and tears of its characters and of its creator. This is not manufactured Country/Rock music - it is as real as it gets and it has been built brick by brick, and to that point, it is a brick in and of itself, and I for one cannot wait to see what Zachariah Red will build next.

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Marshall Tucker on My Stereo Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Back at it on a Monday!   Had a good time Friday at The Country (after checking in with Tim Carroll and company at The 5 Spot) - Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau  + Saint Luke's Drifters.  Richie and company have a new album out now.  Saint Luke's Drifters are finishing up their new album.  If you get the chance to see either one or both of these bands, I highly recommend it.

Tonight: My recommendation is Matt Phillips and the Philharmonic from 7-9p.m. at Charlie Bob's on the eastside.   Here is the Facebook event, if you Facebook.

This is definitely prime season for new music - look for some awesome new albums coming up in the next few months - I think I got at least 5 albums to listen to and possibly review over the last four or five days.

Shuffle:

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Shortnin' Bread Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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


Once again, I am back with another Morning Music Shuffle! 

I was a little under the weather - so no shuffle yesterday....

So, here is a recap of some live music I experienced since the last post:

Friday - After venue hopping on Thursday, I decided  to stay put in one place (not that there weren't ample opportunities to venue hop), and it was nice because there was so much great music in one spot (Bobby's Idle Hour).  Three rounds of three singer-songwriters featuring: Round 1: Joe Nolan, Renee Wahl, and Daryl Dasher; Round 2: Jeremy Nash, Lindsay Ellyn, and Sadie Hart; Round 3: Jeremy Staubus, Lori Kelley, and Lori's sister Michelle Nielson (in town from Iceland).

Saturday - Another one venue night (Douglas Corner) for Charlie Whitten (who has been featured on E2TG), Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau, and Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen. 

Two wonderful night's of music with wonderful company at two venerable Nashville institutions.

#ICYMI:  The WXNA Radio Show that I am hosting with Sue Havlish, Double Shot with Joe and Sue,  has a Facebook Page for you to like.  After you "Like" that page (if you want to), it might be a good time to double check to make sure you have liked the Ear to the Ground Facebook page (link up top).  Hope to be able to announce the date of our first show, soon.

Now to the shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Still a Human Being Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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

Got to make this quick - I'm running late.  Saturday is another one of those impossible choices (musically-speaking in Nashville):  The Foobar is holding a multi-act afternoon show that features: Jeff Shepherd, Year of October, Susie Oleson, and Adrian + Meredith, and more!  Intersecting with the Adrian+Meredith part of the show will be some other awesome options:  David Olney returns to Bobby's Idle Hour, Jon Latham opens for The Whistles and The Bells at The Basement.  Aaron Lee Tasjan returns to Nashville for a full band show - and his band include the also recently returned Brian Wright at Soulshine Pizza, and then later on Zach Schmidt + Patrick Kinsley & A Fistful of Dollars open for Cataline Crime at The 5 Spot.  And probably tons of other cool stuff...  get out and do something... you cannot go wrong with any of these selections...

Tonight: Tim Carroll Happy Hour 6-8:30 at The 5 Spot, and later on Kevin Gordon and his band are at The Family Wash.  If you have tickets, Those Darlins are playing their final show (a sell out) at The Basement East.

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Snow Day Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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

A rare snow day off work, but the shuffle must go on....

Had a blast last night before the winter weather descended... a night at The Family Wash for a pair of CD Release shows by two of my favorite East Nashvillians.  Amelia White and The Blue Souvenirs (tonight featuring Sergio Webb, Justin Amaral, Megan Palmer, and Ron Eoff). Amelia's new album is called Home Sweet Hotel.  Stone Cupid (Julie Christensen, Sergio Webb, Chris Tench, Bones Hillman, and Steve Latanation). Stone Cupid's new album is called The Cardinal.  Amelia and band were wonderful as always, and Julie and Stone Cupid rocked the house.

To the shuffle:

The Importance of Framework - Backbone by Zachariah Red: The E2TG Review

Tweet #E2TG

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

The backbone is  literally part of the skeleton or framework of the body. A carpenter by trade, Zachariah Red, knows about the importance of framework.  On his aptly titled new album, Backbone, he frames the album with a solid mix of Midwestern County, heartland rock and roll, and solid songwriting skills that he has sharpened to a fine point during his time in East Nashville.

Building a Dream - E2TG Song Premiere: "40 Miles" by Zachariah Red

Tweet #E2TG

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


The classic Nashville story - I mean the real one not the fantasy - is this: talented musician moves to Nashville to pursue his or her dream - only to be chewed up by the big machine, disillusioned, and sent packing.  That is the "old Nashville" and maybe it is all too often the "new Nashville", but there are new stories being written and word is getting out.

Many of these new stories are being played out on the east side of the Cumberland River.  The East Nashville mystique is far from a new thing, and to hear some tell it, it may be in its dying days.  But the new stories are still being written and new songs are being sung, and people are listening.

Zachariah Red is one of those new Nashville stories.  Zach came to East Nashville a little of a year ago with not a little talent and some pretty solid music credentials from his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin.

East Nashville is not a place that is short on talent.  Take a walk to the corner bar, and you more than likely will see someone who played on a record you love. Go to a coffee shop - pretty much any coffee shop - and chances are pretty good that 90% of the people in the place are musicians and that includes the baristas.

The old Nashville story was about competition, but it seems like this new Nashville story is more about cooperation and collaboration, and in the midst of those two things it is more importantly about creative people pushing each other to be better.

Zachariah Red is a carpenter by trade - from a long line of carpenters. Building things is in his blood. Music is in his heart. So how does a carpenter from Racine, Wisconsin go about building a dream in music in East Nashville, TN?

Now, this writer does not know much about building things, but what I do know is that to build something of quality you begin with quality parts and you build brick by brick, board by board. I also know that it takes well crafted skills and it usually takes more than one person.

Zachariah Red is releasing a brand new single today called, "40 Miles".  Having followed Zach for a bit over a year, when I first heard this song, the word that came to my mind is growth. I have been impressed by Zach's songs and voice since I first heard him, but listening to "40 Miles" it became clear that he has been hard at work and he has been building something remarkable adding parts and working with skilled people.

Ah yeah, that East Nashville story... over the last year or so, I have met some incredibly talented people who have been doing some amazing things. But, I have seen something else, I have seen these talented people get even better at what they do. I've seen it happen for everyone from veteran musicians with long, distinguished careers to young people just beginning their musical journeys. And, I have seen it happen for Zachariah Red.  "40 Miles" is pure Mid West, Blue Collar American Music. It drips with the blood sweat and tears of its characters and of its creator. This is not manufactured Country/Rock music - it is as real as it gets and it has been built brick by brick, and to that point, it is a brick in and of itself, and I for one cannot wait to see what Zachariah Red will build next.

A Very Ear to the Ground Christmas

Tweet #E2TG

To tell the truth for a variety of reasons, my Holiday spirit has been lacking this year, but nothing gets me pumped up for the Yule Season more than hearing some brand new Christmas songs from some of my favorite artists.

Now, these songs may still come up in a Shuffle soon, but with the number of posts before Christmas dwindling fast, I thought I would dedicate a special post...  so jump past the break and listen to Christmas Ear to the Ground style.

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Middle Man Mix

Tweet #E2TG

I am more convinced than ever that I did not delete my playlist (as mentioned Friday) through some incredibly bone-headed clumsy ass maneuver.  No, it appears that my phone is possessed.  My cell phone contract ended in November, and my now two year old phone has developed a mind of it's own.  It has begun initiating screen touch activities all on it's own... typing (and sending) gibberish text messages, taking pictures, opening applications, etc.  I think it knows that it's days are numbered.

So, until I get a new phone, any activity which comes from me should be suspect.  Including this post... am I writing this or is my phone writing this?

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Protective Leather Skin Mix

Tweet #E2TG

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.



Let's get to the shuffle -

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Puppies, Vultures, and Jackals Mix

Tweet #E2TG

We try to cover as much as we can in our all too brief time together...  Today our shuffle begins with a Hall and Oates cover, heads to a Top Peoples Health Farm, a cover of a 80s New Wave song by an 80s Punk band, some of the minor lakes of Wisconsin, a prelude, some words of wisdom (and a barn with six red stripes), some Nashville-based ska-core music from Built for BBQ, a love story straight from a shitty motel room in New Orleans, a song about Tibetan sites for above ground putrefaction of human remains as a place of spiritual practice, some early period Style Council, and a song about Fast Cars by one of my new favorite Nashville songwriters. 

Details to follow: