Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Errol Flynn Mix

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While I am still smiling, thinking out last week's kick off to the E2TG 7 Year Anniversary Residency, it is time to shift our attention to this week's show.  And what a show! 

Once again, I going to recommend you get there early - things will kick off around 6:15-6:20 or so with a solo set from an absolute favorite songwriter of mine - Ben de la Cour. His latest album is The High Cost of Living Strange, and if don't have it - well, you need to fix that situation right away. Ben is about to start a big tour of Canada, but he agreed to do Thursday show before leaving. 

Whenever people ask me why I keep doing E2TG after seven years, my answer inevitably is about the incredible music I've heard that I might have missed if I didn't do this blog and the amazing people I have met and gotten to know.  The End Men are the prototypical example of both of those things.  When I first heard their music toward the end of 2011 (the year E2TG started), I was completely blown away. That their is music out there as good as what they were doing that I had  not heard, is my motivation to keep my ears to the ground.  Over the years, as I have gotten to know Matthew Hendershot and Livia Ranalli, they have become two of my favorite people. Badass musicians and all-around great people.  The End Men are based in Brooklyn.  I've seen them twice here in Nashville,  but it has been a few years, and I am so excited to show them off to some of my favorite Nashville friends.

Rounding out the music will be Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus. If you have never heard psychedelic blues music, you need to witness their set.  If you have seen psychedelic blues but have never seen Ted and his amazing band, you are only partially prepared for what you are going to see and hear.  If you have seen Ted perform, but not seen his latest incarnation of his band, you are still in for surprises and delights.   I have grateful to be able to help Ted celebrate a milestone birthday yesterday, and  the celebration will continue Thursday!

All this, and I will reading a short passage from my novel, The Drift.  I will have copies for sale, and I will try to do a better job of being near the merch table (this is new to me).

It all goes down - at The 5 Spot on Forrest Avenue in East Nashville at 6:00pm. A low, low $5.00 cover.

Meanwhile, we still have the normal course of E2TG business.... it is Monday - the day when we explore some of the best of what Music City (Nashville, Tennessee) has to offer (past and present - including music by current and former Nashville residents that may or may not have been made here in Nashville).

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Seasons Songs Mix

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Well Week 1 of the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency is in the books!  Thanks to all who came out. Special thanks to The 5 Spot, Clark Paterson and his great band, Rayvon Pettis, and The Big Dumb.  Inspiring music and good times.

We turn our attention to Week 2 coming up next Thursday, June 14th!

One of the best songwriters in Nashville, Ben de la Cour - who's most recent album is The High Cost of Living Strange will be stopping by to open the on his way to begin a Canadian tour.  Long time E2TG favorites, The End Men will be making a rare Nashville appearance. I believe this will be there first Nashville appearance since playing the Post-Americana all-day thing at The Basement a few years back. I am so excited for some of my Nashville friends to see and meet my Brooklyn friends.  Ted Drozdowski has recently started playing shows under the Ted Drozdowki's Psychedelic Circus moniker. He is a blues man - steeped in the traditions and yet willing to use those traditions a jumping off point for his otherworldly experimentation.  He has been hard at work on a new album, and I hope we hear some of his new music Thursday.

It is CMA and Bonnaroo weekend which means the temperatures have soared into the 90s.  Stay hydrated no matter what you do.

It's time for our Featured Friday shuffle. Currently, this shuffle comes from the "New Music" playlist - the same one I use for Trending Tuesday and Trending Thursday. I'm thinking of creating a Featured Friday playlist - with the idea that I can chose to "Feature" music that isn't technically "New" - which I already do - but I always feel like I have to disclaim.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Gonna Leave a Mark Mix

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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!

E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency Preview Shuffle - Month of Thursdays Mix

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TOMORROW!  The E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency kicks off at The 5 Spot in East Nashville.

The show starts at 6:00pm.  The music should get underway no later than 6:15pm (since we have a ton of great music on tap).  Clark Paterson will kick things off with a full-band set. Followed by Rayvon Pettis and The Big Dumb (including a set of The Big Dumb doing their own music).

I decided to create a Spotify playlist to showcase some of the great music we have in store of you in June. I was listening to some of it last night, and we have some pretty amazing artists and music in store (if I do say so myself).

For the month of June, I will be forgoing our usual "Wild Wednesday" shuffle to feature a very special E2TG Residency Shuffle... Let's get started!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Daisy Shotgun Mix

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This is just a couple of days away!   Make your plans now!

Check out Rayvon Pettis on Spotify
Check out Clark Paterson on Spotify 
Check out Griffin Winton (of The Big Dumb) on Spotify


Once your plans for June 7 are set - go ahead and mark your calendar for the rest of the E2TG Residency!

June 14 - We have Ben de la Cour opening, plus The End (Brooklyn) making a rare Nashville appearance, and Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus. 

June 21 - Brian Milligram will open for Microwave Mountain and The Coalmen. 

June 28 - Joanna Barbera opens for Eli Cook (Virginia) and Bee Taylor.  

These shows will be the most fun you are legally allowed to have before the sun goes down!  

I plan to have copies of my novel, The Drift, available for sale, and I will be reading short passages each week. 

$5.00 21+ (bring a valid ID - even if you are old like me). The 5 Spot is located in East Nashville at 1006 Forrest Avenue.  Doors should be open by 5:45pm or so.  Come early - we are jam packed with great stuff so we will aim to get started by 6:15 or so. 



Now, let's jump into this Trending Tuesday shuffle and see what it has in store for us!

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - Just a Baby Mix

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Thanks to everyone who donated to the Spring Pledge Drive at WXNA! We reached our goal!  Also Happy Birthday to WXNA which is now two years old!

We are now just a few days away from the E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency at The 5 Spot. It all begins THIS Thursday June 7 at 6:00pm.   Clark Paterson will play a full-band set, followed by Rayvon Pettis and The Big Dumb.  The Big Dumb are Pettis' amazing backing band, but they are also one of my favorite bands - featuring quality players and boasting four amazing songwriters among their members.  I have compiled a woefully incomplete video playlist featuring some of the folks playing on Thursday.

Also, I will reading a short excerpt from my novel The Drift  and I will have copies for sale $10.  I hope you will come out if you are in Nashville - it promises to be a fun night of great music.

Music City Monday has proven to be one of my favorite days here on E2TG. It's a great opportunity to highlight some of the incredible artists who make or have made Nashville home. It's a lively cross-section of songs from different decades and different genres.  It is also an opportunity to showcase musical heroes and musically talented friends - and heroes who have become friends and vice-versa.

Let's shuffle!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Dreaming of Snakes Mix

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My novel, The Drift is out now!  Paperback or Kindle (Buy the paperback and get a Kindle version for just $.99)

E2TG 7th Anniversary Residency is coming in June to The 5 Spot! The first night is LESS THAN ONE WEEK away.  Come early for Clark Paterson, Rayvon Pettis, and The Big Dumb. 

Week 1 June 7:  Clark Paterson, The Big Dumb, Rayvon Pettis (LESS THAN ONE WEEK AWAY)

Week 2 June 14: The End Men, Ted Drozdowski's Psychedelic Circus, Ben de la Cour

Week 3 June 21:  Brian Milligram, Microwave Mountain, The Coal Men

Week 4 June 28: Joanna Barbera, Bee Taylor, Eli Cook

As you may be aware, for the past two years, I have been fortunate enough to co-host a radio show (Double Shot with Joe and Sue) along with my good friend Sue Havlish on WXNA-LP Nashville. This experience has been one of the most wonderful of my life. 

WXNA went on the air just under two years ago. It is a low-power, all-volunteer community, non-profit radio station, and it has taken this city by storm. I am so proud to be a part of it. It is time for the Spring Pledge Drive.  WXNA is People Powered Radio and relies on the generous support of the community to keep things going.  You investment (small or large) pays off everyday - by helping the station to keep on providing a home for independently programmed shows covering a variety of musical genres and topics of interest and benefit to the community.  The drive runs through Saturday at midnight. You can donate at wxnafm.org or by calling 615-933-WXNA (9962). 

Also, WXNA is throwing a huge birthday bash Sunday at The Basement on 8th Avenue from 3-6pm.  I don't know many details yet, but I will share them when I do. Nevertheless, I hope folks in Nashville will come out - this is a celebration of what YOU have helped to make happen. 

It is FRIDAY!  It has been a very weird week - holiday on Monday, working from home Tuesday, plus other things... I'm ready for a bit of reset - and then next week - I can hop back in... lot's going on!

I loved today's shuffle- a couple of first listens plus some other new and relatively new things... a wide variety of music from all over the world - in other words everything a good music shuffle needs.  Let's do it!