Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
Well, we've reached the end of another week and another month of shuffles...
Temperatures have cooled off in Nashville - it actually is beginning to feel like Fall.
There is much to mourn, there is much in the world that needs to change- and which will only change if people of good conscience fight for that change.
There is also much good in the world, much beauty, and a great need to help share that good and beauty.
It's Friday, and on Friday E2TG plays songs from the "New Music" playlist which is currently just under 500 songs long - and includes songs received as recently as this week and songs added many months ago. Perhaps I will move some of the older songs off the playlist... maybe. Most of what I feature on E2TG will be new to someone who reads.
I am feeling more comfortable being me and doing what I do. I still have a tendency to want to please everyone, but I have learned that when I try to do that I usually end of pleasing no one - least of all myself.
That last is true on so many levels about so many different parts of my life.
Let's just shuffle- 'cause that is one thing that I do...
Friday, September 29, 2017
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Hambones and Spider Queens Mix
Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
About 2/3 of the way through American Aquarium's set at The Basement East last night, I had a thought. I was thinking about all the people (many of them people about my age or older or younger) who say things like "Music these days sucks." or something and then they will usually compare some classic band from an earlier era to some disposable pop star of the moment (as if there have not always been disposable pop stars). My thought, my message to those people, is turn off top 40 radio and go out and see live music. I know I am very spoiled by living in Nashville, but I also know that there is great music (crossing all genres and styles) being made every night and every day all around world. Cordovas opened for American Aquarium, and as I have come to expect from that band, they totally destroyed. Seriously, Cordovas are a band I will never get tired of seeing live.
American Aquarium leader B.J. Barham has gone through some major changes in the last two and half years (which is about the time I first really got into the band). Among those changes was the departure of his entire band. He has a newly formed band, and they were incredible last night. Most of the band comes from Texas (Barham is a North Carolina native) and also includes Nashville's own Adam Kurtz (Buck n Stuff) on pedal steel. I may be bias, being a big Buck n Stuff fan, but I think Kurtz was one of the stars of the night. As of Barham, he seemed energized and he seemed to be enjoying himself - bouncing around the stage and engaging with the band and the audience. He speaks hard truths with love, and explores his own life with honesty.
This show came after taking in the early show at The 5 Spot - which local Sarah Clanton and a band that included the bass player from The Barefoot Movement. Clanton plays the cello and I had just recently been turned on to her by my DJ partner Sue. After Clanton's set, Heather Mae from D.C. took the stage. She injected some much needed positive energy into my soul. I am a fan, now. Turns out she knows my friends in FuzzQueen - proving just how small the music world is, Tom Goss closed that early show, and I dug his music, too.
I hate that I missed Benchmarks at The 5 Spot - as it turned out, I probably could have seen most of their set.... also last night E2TG 2015 Artist of the Year Jon Latham made his debut on Music City Roots with his killer band. I am looking forward to catching the video of this.
Anyway, from my point of view, the state of music is just fine - the business/money side of it may be a different story, but that is a topic for another time.
Today, we jump back into our exploration of E2TG history. E2TG began in May 2011. A vast majority of my posts are the monring shuffles like this one. The basic premise is, "Hey, I heard some cool music this morning on my way to work, let me tell you about." So, let me....
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
About 2/3 of the way through American Aquarium's set at The Basement East last night, I had a thought. I was thinking about all the people (many of them people about my age or older or younger) who say things like "Music these days sucks." or something and then they will usually compare some classic band from an earlier era to some disposable pop star of the moment (as if there have not always been disposable pop stars). My thought, my message to those people, is turn off top 40 radio and go out and see live music. I know I am very spoiled by living in Nashville, but I also know that there is great music (crossing all genres and styles) being made every night and every day all around world. Cordovas opened for American Aquarium, and as I have come to expect from that band, they totally destroyed. Seriously, Cordovas are a band I will never get tired of seeing live.
American Aquarium leader B.J. Barham has gone through some major changes in the last two and half years (which is about the time I first really got into the band). Among those changes was the departure of his entire band. He has a newly formed band, and they were incredible last night. Most of the band comes from Texas (Barham is a North Carolina native) and also includes Nashville's own Adam Kurtz (Buck n Stuff) on pedal steel. I may be bias, being a big Buck n Stuff fan, but I think Kurtz was one of the stars of the night. As of Barham, he seemed energized and he seemed to be enjoying himself - bouncing around the stage and engaging with the band and the audience. He speaks hard truths with love, and explores his own life with honesty.
This show came after taking in the early show at The 5 Spot - which local Sarah Clanton and a band that included the bass player from The Barefoot Movement. Clanton plays the cello and I had just recently been turned on to her by my DJ partner Sue. After Clanton's set, Heather Mae from D.C. took the stage. She injected some much needed positive energy into my soul. I am a fan, now. Turns out she knows my friends in FuzzQueen - proving just how small the music world is, Tom Goss closed that early show, and I dug his music, too.
I hate that I missed Benchmarks at The 5 Spot - as it turned out, I probably could have seen most of their set.... also last night E2TG 2015 Artist of the Year Jon Latham made his debut on Music City Roots with his killer band. I am looking forward to catching the video of this.
Anyway, from my point of view, the state of music is just fine - the business/money side of it may be a different story, but that is a topic for another time.
Today, we jump back into our exploration of E2TG history. E2TG began in May 2011. A vast majority of my posts are the monring shuffles like this one. The basic premise is, "Hey, I heard some cool music this morning on my way to work, let me tell you about." So, let me....
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Sleep Talking Mix
Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
"I mean, I'm not disagreeing with what they are trying to say but..."
"...they could have found a better way than dumping all that tea into the water."
"...why'd they have to sit at the lunch counters during lunch time? I just came to get a sandwich not to see this."
Civil disobedience is supposed to be civil, it is not supposed to be convenient. (although I'm having a hard time understanding why someone respectfully kneeling during the National Anthem bothers people so much. (that is a rhetorical question).
Racism and other forms of bigotry are not new, but it is disheartening to see so many racists and bigots being emboldened by the current administration. Maybe it is necessary to bring evil into the light in order to destroy it. That, at least, is my hope.
"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice." Theodore Parker (later paraphrased by Martin Luther King Jr.)
*********************************************************************************
Wow, the 3rd Quarter of 2017 is almost over... It's just about time for me to start thinking about the 3rd Annual Earie Awards and the 2017 Band(s) and Artist(s) of the Year. As is often the case in recent months, I find that I cannot possibly get to all of the music sent my way. I try my best because I know some really awesome stuff is slipping by me. And, even with those that slip by... my "New Music" playlist recently topped 500 songs. Beginning Monday, I am going to adjust my schedule to cover more of the "New Music", and I will also be working to clear some older songs from that playlist. I am really excited about some of the new music that has been coming my way...
Today is Wednesday which is "Wild Wednesday" here at E2TG. We shuffle up all the songs in my phone memory and present a decent cross-section of the diversity of music that I dig. Sometimes, I will think that maybe I could have a bigger audience if I narrowed my focus... but I could also have a bigger audience if I used click-bait headlines and made controversial statements about popular artists just for the sake of being controversial. I don't want to do any of those things... so here is E2TG just being E2TG..... Peace...
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
"I mean, I'm not disagreeing with what they are trying to say but..."
"...they could have found a better way than dumping all that tea into the water."
"...why'd they have to sit at the lunch counters during lunch time? I just came to get a sandwich not to see this."
Civil disobedience is supposed to be civil, it is not supposed to be convenient. (although I'm having a hard time understanding why someone respectfully kneeling during the National Anthem bothers people so much. (that is a rhetorical question).
Racism and other forms of bigotry are not new, but it is disheartening to see so many racists and bigots being emboldened by the current administration. Maybe it is necessary to bring evil into the light in order to destroy it. That, at least, is my hope.
"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice." Theodore Parker (later paraphrased by Martin Luther King Jr.)
*********************************************************************************
Wow, the 3rd Quarter of 2017 is almost over... It's just about time for me to start thinking about the 3rd Annual Earie Awards and the 2017 Band(s) and Artist(s) of the Year. As is often the case in recent months, I find that I cannot possibly get to all of the music sent my way. I try my best because I know some really awesome stuff is slipping by me. And, even with those that slip by... my "New Music" playlist recently topped 500 songs. Beginning Monday, I am going to adjust my schedule to cover more of the "New Music", and I will also be working to clear some older songs from that playlist. I am really excited about some of the new music that has been coming my way...
Today is Wednesday which is "Wild Wednesday" here at E2TG. We shuffle up all the songs in my phone memory and present a decent cross-section of the diversity of music that I dig. Sometimes, I will think that maybe I could have a bigger audience if I narrowed my focus... but I could also have a bigger audience if I used click-bait headlines and made controversial statements about popular artists just for the sake of being controversial. I don't want to do any of those things... so here is E2TG just being E2TG..... Peace...
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle- Lipstick Tubes and S**t Mix
Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
I'm running short on time... It's Tuesday where we take a look at what's "trending" on E2TG. By the way, my "New Music" playlist just topped 500 tracks. Which means I have a ton of new and newish music yet to be featured here.... it's a great problem to have - especially since I only add music I dig.
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
I'm running short on time... It's Tuesday where we take a look at what's "trending" on E2TG. By the way, my "New Music" playlist just topped 500 tracks. Which means I have a ton of new and newish music yet to be featured here.... it's a great problem to have - especially since I only add music I dig.
Monday, September 25, 2017
Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - History and Hell Mix
Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
My take: For a nation that is built upon the idea of freedom, the most patriotic thing one can do is to exercise that freedom in whatever way one deems necessary. I saw video of people shouting obscenities during the National Anthem at men who choose to respectfully and silently protest by kneeling during the National Anthem. I have to ask, who was being disrespectful? And these people who are shouting obscenities are being inflamed and encouraged by the President of the United States. These are difficult and discouraging times, but I do feel some hope that the resistance is growing and the investigations are deepening...
Well, it's the last full week of September. It is officially Autumn -and yet the temperature is going to be near 90 the first part of this week...
And, it is Monday - which means Music City Monday on E2TG. It's no secret that Nashville is experiencing an incredible period of growth. And there are pains associated with that growth. There is the fear of losing somethings that make Nashville distinctly Nashville. There are traffic woes and parking woes and cost of living woes.
I never know how the shuffle will play out any given day - that's part of the fun of using the random shuffle feature... but I purposefully front-load my playlist with a mix of old and new music from people who have been in Nashville longer than I have to those who are recent additions to our fair city.
My hope is that the newcomers will pay attention to the voices of the long-timers. The history of Nashville and its music matters. The best local artists, in my opinion, recognize this and then thoughtfully and purposefully add their voices to that history.
My hope is that the long-time Nashville artists and residents, will open their ears to the voices and songs of the newcomers. Some amazingly talented people are moving here everyday - trying to find their place. They bring with them their own history and stories that will help shape the Nashville of tomorrow.
The fact is, the old Nashville is not coming back. But, as to exactly what new Nashville is going to be is still being written. I hope both the newcomers and long-timers will contribute and help make that new Nashville the best it can be.
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
My take: For a nation that is built upon the idea of freedom, the most patriotic thing one can do is to exercise that freedom in whatever way one deems necessary. I saw video of people shouting obscenities during the National Anthem at men who choose to respectfully and silently protest by kneeling during the National Anthem. I have to ask, who was being disrespectful? And these people who are shouting obscenities are being inflamed and encouraged by the President of the United States. These are difficult and discouraging times, but I do feel some hope that the resistance is growing and the investigations are deepening...
Well, it's the last full week of September. It is officially Autumn -and yet the temperature is going to be near 90 the first part of this week...
And, it is Monday - which means Music City Monday on E2TG. It's no secret that Nashville is experiencing an incredible period of growth. And there are pains associated with that growth. There is the fear of losing somethings that make Nashville distinctly Nashville. There are traffic woes and parking woes and cost of living woes.
I never know how the shuffle will play out any given day - that's part of the fun of using the random shuffle feature... but I purposefully front-load my playlist with a mix of old and new music from people who have been in Nashville longer than I have to those who are recent additions to our fair city.
My hope is that the newcomers will pay attention to the voices of the long-timers. The history of Nashville and its music matters. The best local artists, in my opinion, recognize this and then thoughtfully and purposefully add their voices to that history.
My hope is that the long-time Nashville artists and residents, will open their ears to the voices and songs of the newcomers. Some amazingly talented people are moving here everyday - trying to find their place. They bring with them their own history and stories that will help shape the Nashville of tomorrow.
The fact is, the old Nashville is not coming back. But, as to exactly what new Nashville is going to be is still being written. I hope both the newcomers and long-timers will contribute and help make that new Nashville the best it can be.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Lips are Moving Mix
Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
All right. It's Friday.... saw Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack doing their Daddy (duo) thing last night at The Family Wash. Lisa Oliver Gray joined them for a couple of songs. Always great to see the two of them. There are working on the third DADDY record and it is open to pre-orders now - through Will Kimbrough's PayPal account.
I'm going to jump right into the Featured Friday shuffle...
"Funny Feeling" by Luxury Mane
"Gluten Farmer" by Discount Ravioli
"I Know" by The Maxx
"id" by Ugggy
"Stagger Lee" by Taj Mahal
"Warning Sign" by Black Needle Noise with Kendra Frost
"News Blackout" by Tim Easton
"Song for Brenda" by Taj Mahal with Cool John Ferguson
"Nedobity" by The Foresters
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
All right. It's Friday.... saw Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack doing their Daddy (duo) thing last night at The Family Wash. Lisa Oliver Gray joined them for a couple of songs. Always great to see the two of them. There are working on the third DADDY record and it is open to pre-orders now - through Will Kimbrough's PayPal account.
I'm going to jump right into the Featured Friday shuffle...
"Funny Feeling" by Luxury Mane
We start things off with the last track we have to feature from Lux Runnin Out - the 2016 album by this band from St. Petersburg, Florida. I look forward to what's next from this band.
"Gluten Farmer" by Discount Ravioli
It's becoming a regular Friday thing to have a Discount Ravioli track or two or four as part of every Friday's shuffle. This is (apparently) a sequel to the classic Circus Propaganda song, "Gluten Farm" What is a Gluten Farmer? Check out Discount Ravioli's Baby Arm Sessions and find out.
"I Know" by The Maxx
Next up, we have another track from Funk Box - the latest album by this long-running 70s-style funk/soul band from Atlanta. Adding some groove to my Friday commute.
"id" by Ugggy
This is the opening track from Ugggy's May 2017 release, STŒND ALŒN (uncollected thots), (the third of seven so far this year). It is a fifteen second introduction to the release.
"Stagger Lee" by Taj Mahal
or "Stack-o-Lee". The first of two tracks from the Labor of Love album released in conjunction with the Music Maker Relief Foundation. Taj Mahal originally recorded a version of this song (which dates from 1911) on his De Ole Folks at Home album in 1969.
"Warning Sign" by Black Needle Noise with Kendra Frost
Next up, we have another track from Black Needle Noise - which features John Fryer of This Mortal Coil. The most recent album, called Lost in Reflections features a number of collaborations included this one with Kendra Frost.
"News Blackout" by Tim Easton
Next, we have another cut from Strange Freedom: Songs of Love and Protest which Cafe Rooster put out recently. This track was originally released on Easton's 2008 album Ammunition. The words seem pretty appropriate today.
"Song for Brenda" by Taj Mahal with Cool John Ferguson
Next, we have an instrumental - and a cool one at that - from Labor of Love featuring Taj Mahal and Cool John Ferguson. Ferguson is a frequent collaborator with Taj Mahal (and others). Taj Mahal has said that Cool John Ferguson is among the top five guitar players in the world. He is also the Director of Creative Development at Music Make Relief Foundation.
"Nedobity" by The Foresters
And we close out the shuffle with a track from the latest album (House Stories) by E2TG faves, The Foresters. There is some crossover between Discount Ravioli and The Foresters. Near as I can tell, "Nedobity" is a reference to something or someone or somewhere in Connecticut. In other words, it's a Connecticut thing. Follow E2TG on Facebook and maybe someone from The Foresters camp will explain what it means or not.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Down by the River Mix
Tweet #E2TG
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
And then it was Thursday...
Last night, after work, I headed down to The Country to check out Ben de la Cour and Gaelynn Lea (who you read about in Collins' guest post earlier this week). (if you missed it, click the link).
Ben is one of my absolute favorite songwriters.
Gaelynn Lea (who won NPR's Tiny Desk Contest) is nothing short of brilliant. Playing traditional fiddle music and originals using a loop pedal and her unique playing style, she makes otherworldly and music that is at once dark and beautiful.
After that, I headed to Kay Bob's to hang out with some of my fellow WXNA DJs. Every third Wednesday, Kay Bob's hosts WXNA Night and donates 15% of all sales to the station. It's a fun hang with good food and a great beer selection.
Then, I crossed the river in time to catch Brian Milligram at The Crying Wolf. I was reminded about how much I love his music. Folk-punk delivered with passion. And he can pull off a sad song pretty well, too.
Today being Thursday, we return to our special Topical playlist - said topic being self-referential and we delve into the history of E2TG. It's an interesting history (if I do say so myself) covering a wide swath of musical styles. From the beginning, my approach to E2TG has been to write about music that moves me without much regard to the relative notoriety (or lack thereof) of the artists. To that end, some bands I have written about have gone on to achieve greater notoriety and others have seemingly disappeared - at least from social media. I take no credit and accept no blame from either. In my estimation, the value of the music itself is not really affected at all by what happens next for the artist. But, that's just my take...
Without further ado, here is the Topical Thursday (E2TG-centric) shuffle....
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
And then it was Thursday...
Last night, after work, I headed down to The Country to check out Ben de la Cour and Gaelynn Lea (who you read about in Collins' guest post earlier this week). (if you missed it, click the link).
Ben is one of my absolute favorite songwriters.
Gaelynn Lea (who won NPR's Tiny Desk Contest) is nothing short of brilliant. Playing traditional fiddle music and originals using a loop pedal and her unique playing style, she makes otherworldly and music that is at once dark and beautiful.
After that, I headed to Kay Bob's to hang out with some of my fellow WXNA DJs. Every third Wednesday, Kay Bob's hosts WXNA Night and donates 15% of all sales to the station. It's a fun hang with good food and a great beer selection.
Then, I crossed the river in time to catch Brian Milligram at The Crying Wolf. I was reminded about how much I love his music. Folk-punk delivered with passion. And he can pull off a sad song pretty well, too.
Today being Thursday, we return to our special Topical playlist - said topic being self-referential and we delve into the history of E2TG. It's an interesting history (if I do say so myself) covering a wide swath of musical styles. From the beginning, my approach to E2TG has been to write about music that moves me without much regard to the relative notoriety (or lack thereof) of the artists. To that end, some bands I have written about have gone on to achieve greater notoriety and others have seemingly disappeared - at least from social media. I take no credit and accept no blame from either. In my estimation, the value of the music itself is not really affected at all by what happens next for the artist. But, that's just my take...
Without further ado, here is the Topical Thursday (E2TG-centric) shuffle....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)