Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Still Covers the Sun Mix

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We've reached the midpoint of the week.... let's jump right into the shuffle....

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - This is Definitely Not Offensive Mix

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Some pretty remarkable things have been happening in regards to me music writing.  I can honestly say that I see completely overwhelmed sometimes (in the best possible way), and that I truly feel humbled. In the last day or so, I have seen words that I wrote showing up on Facebook posts and websites and other places, posted by people I respect a whole bunch. I am continuing to find my place in the crazy mixed up circus that is the Nashville/East Nashville music world.  I just recently got invited down to Safety Harbor Songfest this weekend in Florida to hang out with awesome people and hopefully write some words.  Gratitude is a overused, underappreciated emotion, but one that I am feeling in abundance today.  I am not going to name names simply because I will leave people out, but I know for a fact that none of this would be possible but for some of the people who read this blog in the early days and connected with me so that I knew I was not writing into an abyss (or to the disproportionate number of site visitors from Russia in those early days). Nor, would I have continued with the encouragement and concern expressed by some when I had to take an unexpected break from blogging. Nor would any of these good things be happening with the friendship and support of those who helped me through one of the roughest patches of my life. 

To think this whole vast empire (sarcasm intended) was built on the foundation of a random shuffling of songs...   Let's shuffle, shall we...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Just Another Story Mix

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#CXCW15 wrapped up this weekend....  Day 6, 7, 8 featured tons of great music... I feel like I am certain to leave some out, so please consider this a partial recap...  visit couchbycouchwest.com to experience or re-experience the whole thing. Anyway, some of the highlights of the last three days included: Nikki Sue and the Bad News, Young America, Modern Day Poets (which includes members of the now defunct band Cupla), Joe Nolan, Darrin Bradbury, Two Cow Garage with Todd Farrell, and a second video of Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray doing a Superchunk cover.

Way more great music than I could keep up with, but the good news I can go back and try to see what I missed, and so can you...  apologies to any FOE2TG (friends of ear 2 the ground) that I missed in my recaps...

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Stand in Line to Die Mix

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Greetings... I am in a much better place than yesterday.  Still a little rushed, but I can get through this shuffle...   

First up my recap of CXCW15 Day 5:  I am way behind on my couchin', but there was an awesome Irish showcase that featured the legendary Glen Hansard.  Plus videos from my friend Eli Rhodes who plays with Todd Farrell and the Dirty Birds  and also writes some amazing songs of his own.  Look for a solo record soon.  #E2TG favorites Tim Lee 3 return to the couch with another great video, and the closing video of the day came from Nashville's own Will Kimbrough playing a song he wrote with Sam Baylor from Will's legendary band Will and the Bushmen.  Sam passed away this week.  Life is short, ya'll...

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Save a Few for Left, Too Mix

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When you are having a stressful day, sometimes a Townes Van Zandt song is all you need to turn things around.  Other days, you need two Townes songs...  well today, for me, it is definitely a 3 TVZ kind of day... Fortunately, the shuffle obliged....

For the same reason I needed three Townes Van Zandt songs, I cannot add any commentary.  I apologize for that, but enjoy the music and if you are interested in any of the artists, look them up and support what they do...

BTW, Day 4 of Couch by Couchwest included some Nashville heavy weights like David Olney, Tommy Womack, Amy Speace, Wild Ponies, and #E2TG favorite Mark Robinson channeling the Possum on his lawn mower....

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Swallowing the Ocean Mix

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#CXCW15 rolls on... Day 3 brought tons more videos including some of E2TG's all-time favorites... Among the many great clips were some from old friends like Sci-Fi Romance, MAKAR, and Imperial Rooster.  Plus an explosive clip from relatively new friends Two Mule Blues.  Head to the couch and visit couchbycouchwest.com  to get in on the fun.  By the way, they are still accepting submissions so get to videoing and get it done!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Gypsy Now Mix

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Lot's to cover...

Couch by Couchwest 2015 rolls on, and I am getting further behind on all the great music, but it's a marathon not a sprint... or something like that... actually, I think it is against the rule to use a running analogy when talking about CXCW...  Day 2 included appearances by #E2TG favorites Batkhi Dahn and Matt Prater, and the day ending video featured East Nashville's own Tim Easton playing Ray Wylie Hubbard's guitar from the Netherlands or something like that.  I hope I didn't miss anyone, but I feel like I did.  If so, I will make it up - as I plan to do a mid-week recap as well as a end of festival summary... UPDATE: I remember who I forgot - Tipi Valley - how could I?

Went out last night to see some friends play music...  Kiely Schlesinger was stunning as always, Lindsay Ellyn sounded fantastic, and Taylor Alexander from Young America (who released an EP yesterday and who was joined by Lindsay Ellyn) was awesome and the imagining of a Cher as a traditional country singer was brilliant.

In the opening mic that followed, I enjoyed seeing Fendrick and Peck, Eddie Crummer, Darrin Bradbury, and Zachariah Red.

Now, we have a shuffle to put on....