Category: Bob Margolin

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle – An Affliction Mix

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Some days are like running up a down escalator that is moving faster than you could possibly ever run…  but you keep on running because… well you do… and eventually the escalator slows down or stops or maybe even starts moving up… wait, do escalators ever do that?  What as I talking about…

Eh…

Trending Tuesday Shuffle up coming….

“Might Be Mine” by The Defeated County

The Defeated County are from St. Louis.  Their latest album is called Bar Tabs and Baby Names.  I like their sound, and I think you might, too.  Check them out!

“You Are the Sun” by Annie Oakley

A vintage recording of the legendary wild west star… wait, no… that’s not right.  Annie Oakley are a band from Oklahoma City.  Part of that burgeoning Oklahoma music community that very kindly sometimes sends folks Nashville way (either for tours or to live).  I’ll tell what having my ear to the ground means to me… when you see a  pile of CDs sitting on a table at The 5 Spot with no one around them, you pick it up and look at it, and when you read that it is a compilation from the Oklahoma Room at Folk Alliance put out by Horton Records, LTD, you casually pick up the CD and take it home with you.  This track is from the album Thought of You a God which was released back in September.  It’s good stuff.

“Nobody Got the Blues” by Luella

Another tune from Luella’s sampler CD that you can get at most of her shows – including any given Friday night at The 5 Spot as part of Tim Carroll Rock ‘n’ Roll Happy Hour.  Nobody got the blues like you do, but you can do the “Hot Dog” and everything will be okay… 😉

“The Friar” by Venkman

Several first timer E2TG appearances today – including this funky band from the Midlands area of the UK.  A great sound.  This song is from an EP called Kakorrhaphiophobia which was released late last year.  Really fun music.

“And It’s You” by The Veldt

Another first appearance.  The Veldt were originally from North Carolina, lived in New York City for some time, and their Facebook pages lists their current location as Leeds.  This is excellent soul driven modern dance music. This is also our second set of twins in the shuffle (Annie Oakley featured the first).  The Veldt’s roots go back to the vibrant Chapel Hill music scene of the late 80s/early 90s. The have a new mixtape EP called The Shocking Fuzz of Your Electric Fur: The Drake Equation.  This a track from that record.  Expect to hear more…

“Flower Beds” by Bashful Hips

Another from the new Bashful Hips record, After I Died, I’ve Never Felt So Alive.  Bashful Hips music is unlike just about anything you hear in Nashville (or really any where), and I like it a bunch.

“Dilettante” by Toot Sweet

So far, Toot Sweet are the only band from the Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen collective that I have seen live, and they put on a great show at The East Room a few month’s back.  They recently released a new single and title track from their new album which is set for release this coming Friday. Vintage modern sounds of the cabaret.  Check them out!

“Heaven Mississippi” by Bob Margolin

Another track from My Road, the latest album by Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin who was a long time member of Muddy Waters band.  I think I mentioned this before, but Margolin appears in The Last Waltz alongside Waters.  This is really what they call the blues…

“Vagabonde” by Susan Herndon

Another track from that Oklahoma Room CD I came across.  A really cool sound with a delightful French accent.  Need to find out more. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST


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Featured Friday Music Shuffle – Love Cures Mix

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Last night was a wonderful reminder of the depth and width of the musical offerings that this city has to offer.  Not even to mention the several awesome shows that I was able to attend.  It began with week one of the Fats Kaplin and Friends. Kaplin is an incredible multi-instrumentalist who has worked with everyone from Jack White and Beck to Nanci Griffith and Trisha Yearwood.  He also has several solo albums and albums with his wife – the amazing vocalist Kristi Rose (who sang several songs last night). The show was filled with magic tricks, good humor, and fantastic music.  The residency will continue throughout March (with the exception of March 17), and I highly recommend it if you are in Nashville on one of those Thursdays.

You may recall, I posted several songs some time ago by Bashful Hips.  It is very original music (think alternative hip hop as a jumping off point).  Bashful Hips has a brand new CD called After I Died, I’ve Never Felt So Alive, and he celebrated the release with a diverse and spirited show at The End.  Experimental, progressive rock band Work opened the night, Ted C. Fox played next with a sound that pretty awesomely melded bluegrass with more experimental post-rock elements, Bashful Hips was next delivering his new album song by song. Backed by Nathan Conrad of Spoken Nerd on bass and spieling over a pre-recorded track, Bashful Hips songs are complex and emotional and awesome.  Expect to hear songs from the album in the shuffle soon.  Spoken Nerd closed the night. This is unabashedly hip-hop music  featuring a live band and pre-ordered music. I have a great respect for good hip-hop music – even if I admit to not knowing a lot about it.  This was really good and when joined by Nashville rapper KidDead, the rapid fire word play was impressive. 

It felt good to step out of my comfort zone (both location and musical styles), and I really had a blast.

Today’s themed shuffle is the original themed shuffle “Featured Friday”.  Let’s do it!

“Delta Wave” by Mind the Journey

Mind the Journey is the project of Bostonian Spencer Sabo.  The new album was produced in Sabo’s basement and is called Color in the Gray Machine.  It is dreamy, heady stuff, and I dig it.  A cool way to begin the morning.

“I Shall Prevail” by Bob Margolin

Blues legend “Steady Rollin'” Bob Margolin is up next with another track from his album My Road.  This outstanding blues music without any unnecessary hyphens or frills.

“Love Cures” by Amelia White

We started the week with the title track from Amelia White’s Home Sweet Hotel album, and we wrap up the week with another track.  I have long said music heals, and I do believe love can cure.  Amelia White is a bright light in the East Nashville music community.

“City Lights” by All the King’s Men

All the King’s Men are a Manchester band who released their EP Making My Escape back in November.  This is classic sounding rock with a modern edge to it. This track was catchy and powerful, and a ton of fun.

“Like a Stone” by Andrew Adkins

One of my favorite Nashville songwriters (and “Earie” award winner) Andrew Adkins has been releasing music under a variety of band/project names. For his latest album, Glass Castles, he goes back to his own name and has a made an outstanding record.  The music here manages to defy expectations (even though the diversity of his recent projects have made it difficult to have expectations).  I am looking forward to next Wednesday’s  (March 9) show at The Country which will feature Adkins, his “Earie” co-winner Joe Nolan, Jon Byrd, Tim Carroll, and Tommy Womack in what promises to be a “not-to-be-missed” round.

“Eyes Awaken” by The Jackals

Another great track from People by Scottish cosmic rock and roll band, The Jackals. So good!

“95” by Gavin Chappell-Bates

And we close out with some pretty cool anthemic indie rock music from We Are Ones by UK singer-songwriter Gavin Chappell-Bates.  Chappell-Bates is highly influenced by Manic Street Preachers (and that is never a bad thing).  “95” looks back fondly on a simpler time, is filled with unbridled emotional honesty, and manages to navigate effectively away from nostalgia.  Expect to hear more from this album here…

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Set Me Free Mix

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And we are back!  Life happens…  Here is a brief musical recap:

Sunday night. It was Valentine’s Day and it was Sunday and it was a messy, cold and rainy night.  A relatively small crowd (relative to the Nashville crowd this show should have brought out) witnessed a text book demonstration of what Rock and Roll guitar music should be.  Brian Wright opened with an amazing band that boasted three powerhouse guitar players (including Wright himself). As I have come to expect from Brian Wright, the songs were excellent and the energy and music were intense. Easily one of the best Brian Wright shows I have seen (and I have seen some good ones).  The headliner was Dan Baird and Homemade Sin. The band fronted by ex-Georgia Satellite Baird and featuring the legendary Warner Hodges on lead guitar – tore through a set of songs that spanned Baird’s lengthy catalog.  Backed by fellow former Satellite, Mauro Magellen  on Drums and Micke Nilsson on bass, the band was on point and played as though they were playing a sold out arena show.  The band tours extensively in Europe, but Nashville shows are rare.  I hope next time around, the weather and calendar aligns and Nashville will pack out wherever they play.

A very different evening last night at The Post East coffee house/juice bar/smoothie joint for East Nashville Storytellers #77 which featured renowned poet Bill Brown and Darrin Bradbury (accompanied by Megan Palmer).

Due to circumstances, I missed seeing Jon Latham, Zach Schmidt, Jeremy Pinnell, and Carson McHone on Monday night, but by all accounts it was every bit as awesome as I would expect.

On to the shuffle – since I know you got to be jonesing for one by this point…

“Dead Man’s Glory” by Jonas H. Sjøvaag’s Navyelectre

Some orchestral swinging music from Norway.  The album Large Ensemble has been in rotation here a while, and the songs are all amazing.

“Bye Bye Baby” by Bob Margolin

From My Road, a cover of a Nappy Brown song by “Steady Rollin'” Bob Margolin. Some awesome modern blues music.


“Pending Vegan” by Ben Arthur

Author Jonathan Lethem (not to be mistaken for E2TG Artist of the Year, Jon Latham – although I would love to witness the two in conversation about music) is one of the best contemporary writers and one of the most in touch with the power and importance of music.  It is therefore appropriate that Ben Arthur’s Call and Response will include a song that is not only based upon a story of Lethem’s but is in fact a collaboration.  Since there is not a video yet for this track, I posted a Ben Arthur video along with Jonathan Lethem interviewing Patti Smith.


“Who Carried You” by Malcolm Holcombe

The legendary North Carolina singer, songwriter Malcolm Holcombe from his recently released The RCA Sessions.  “Who Carried You” was originally released on his debut album A Hundred Lies which was released back in 1996.


“Bodysnatchers” by Dave Rawlings Machine

More instant classic music from Nashville Obsolete. I honestly believe this is music that will be listened to and discussed for years to come.


“Happy Halloween” by The Green Pajamas

Happy Halloween! is the name of the 2014 album from this long running Indie Psycho-Pop band from Seattle. I’m sure this was added to my playlist back in October, but really, there is never a wrong time for incredible music like this.


“You Keep Me Hanging On” by Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge with a rocking cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland song which was a huge hit for The Supremes in 1966. The Vanilla Fudge version was a top ten hit. Kim Wilde took the song back to number one 20 years after The Supreme’s version.


“Starless” by Zaibatsu

And, we close out the shuffle with more awesome music from this Italian pregressive rock band – off of their record Zero.

VIDEO PLAYLIST



   

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Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – In My Room Mix

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Good morning. It was a cold one here in Nashville. 

I am back after a day off and still recovering from my 8 Day Birthday Week.  I had a total blast, and I am so grateful for everyone who helped me ring in the next 50 years of my life.  In all the tally was: 8 Nights, 7 different venues, between 25-30 acts (depends on how you count them), tons of friends seen, and a bunch of fun had.

Since I last reported:  Friday night, I visited one of my regular haunts and one of the best weekly events in Nashville – Tim Carroll’s Rock and Roll Happy Hour at The 5 Spot.  Great time. I was beat after that and I had to call it a night early.

Saturday:  The Country on the west side. For the Zachariah Red CD Release show with Jon Latham opening with Neo Tundra Cowboy and Patrick Kinsley and a Fistful of Dollars also on the bill.  Great performances all around and a wonderful time to be had.

Sunday: Acme Feed and Seed to see Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau.  The band have never sounded better and the atmosphere was pure party – a great way to wrap up the week!

Whew!  With the birthday week over, I enjoyed a day off work, did a pilot/audition tape with Sue Havlish for WXNA (Nashville new community radio station).  Then, I made my way to The Basement East to catch Megan Palmer, Michaela Anne, and Darrin Bradbury for Week 3 of Darrin’s residency!  I stuck around to hear Darrin and band kick off the David Bowie tribute in fine fashion.  The Basement East was jam packed and the music was kicking, but my 9 nights out caught up with me and I had to bail fairly early.

On to the chilly morning shuffle filled with some classic and newer tunes.

“Desperados Waiting for a Train” by Guy Clark

Of course the mention of desperados brought to mind Glenn Frey who passed away yesterday.  Guy Clark wrote this song which was first recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker back in 1973.  Clark included the song on his debut album Old No. 1 which came out in 1975. The Highwaymen made the song a hit 10 years after Clark’s version was released.

“Lost in You” by David G. Smith

Another tune from David G. Smith’s new album First Love.  This is an awesome sounding song that did not seem out of place at all coming into the shuffle out of the Guy Clark song.  A great songwriter.

“I Belong to Me” by Richard Barone

This is the song that contributed the title to Barone’s still stunning and groundbreaking 1987 album Cool Blue Halo.  In case you didn’t know, Barone was a member of The Bongos. He posts stunning pictures of New York City on Instagram, and he has a new album coming out in 2016 that is a tribute to Greenwich Village in the 1960.  You can pre-order HERE.  And you should.

“Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

A song that appeared on Let Love In which was the 8th Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album – released in 1994. 

“Arigato Terauchi” by Crazy Aces

Nashville-based instrumental rock band – Crazy Aces are up next with a song from their album Greatest Hits Vol. 2.  I guess I have always enjoyed surf/instrumental rock music, but I became a fan in 2015 after seeing a show featuring Crazy Aces and an Atlanta band called The Mystery Men?  with Jon Latham.

“Hey Darling” by Sleater-Kinney

This is the ninth song from the latest album by Washington state based Sleater-Kinney.  No Cities to Love was released almost exactly one year ago today.  The album was the eighth from the band who formed in 1994 and released their self-titled debut a year later.

“Devil’s Daughter” by Bob Margolin

We close out the shuffle with some BLUES from “Steady Rollin'” Bob Margolin from his album My Road. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Monday Morning Shuffle – Planet Earth is Blue, and There’s Nothing We Can Do Mix

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I had just rolled over to try to sleep when my phone buzzed. A bad habit I know, but I looked at it.  “David Bowie Dead at 69”. And, I thought it was one of those terrible internet hoaxes. I put the phone down – convinced that was the case, but I picked it up again, and I discovered that it was true. I felt numb.

My own exploration of his music was as random – just like all my explorations of music tend to be. I am not even certain where it began or the exact order.  I knew David Bowie from MTV – probably before, but MTV opened up several musical doors for me.. say what you will about it.  “Ashes to Ashes”, “Let’s Dance”, “China Girl”…. Lou Reed was an early influence of mine, and I found out that Bowie has co-produced Transformer – an album that helped transform me. I got a cassette of Hunky Dory and I wore it out. There was a lot I didn’t understand about myself. Bowie’s music helped. Ziggy Stardust…. 

I am having hard time really accepting that he is gone, but I am heartened by all of the posts on my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds – so many vastly divergent musicians and fans sharing many shared experiences some of which echo my own.  Music, for me, has been a companion through many lonely times, but it has also been a source of connection with others.

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As we must, we press on… My week long Birthday adventures kicked off last night with a couple of cool rounds a Bobby’s Idle Hour on Music Row.  First, “Earie” award winners Joe Nolan, Drew Kohl, and Andrew Adkins shared a stage, and they all sounded fantastic.

There was a second round, and I had intended to leave, but I ended up staying.  Three singer-songwriters that I had not heard before –   Kyler Daron, Joey Maloney, and Peter McKeown. Seems an appropriate part of my Birthday Week.

Tonight, the week continues – moving on up to the Eastside for night 2 of Darrin Bradbury’s month-long residency at The Basement East. Tonight’s guest are Zach Schmidt and Tim Easton – two of East Nashville’s finest songwriters.  Come on out and hang and listen to cool tunes.

On to the shuffle –

“Low Life Blues” by Bob Margolin

Bob Margolin released his latest album My Road was released last Friday, and we have another awesome track from that album.  Margolin played with blues legend Muddy Waters from 1973 until 1980. 

“People Who Died” by Government Cheese

No, shuffle – this is in no way funny or appropriate or anything like that… but it is a pretty cool cover of the Jim Carroll Band classic from Bowling Green’s Government Cheese – featuring Tommy Womack.

“Absolutely Sweet Marie” (Live) by Jason and the Scorchers

Speaking of Tommy Womack, he will be Jason Ringenberg’s special guest next Wednesday (1/20).  Jason told a story about bringing this song to the Scorchers and how quickly they took to it and made it their own.  He went on to say, that they were doing a radio interview early on in Europe, and the DJ said something about the Bob Dylan cover, and Perry, Jeff, and Warner all said – “Cover? We thought you wrote that song!”

“Left and Leaving” (Live) by The Weakerthans

This Canadian band’s name came up in a conversation between two friends that I introduced to each other. Somehow, I mostly missed out on this band, so I immediately set about to remedy that.  This is a live version of the title track from the band’s 2000 album.

“Church is Burning Down” by Tomas Doncker

An E2TG favorite returns to the shuffle with a powerful and timely track from his latest album, The Mess We’ve Made.  The album is rightly getting some great press. Expect more here.

“Too Late to Say Goodbye” by Cage the Elephant

Somehow, this track from Tell Me I’m Pretty – the new album from yet another Bowling Green band – seemed to be especially meaningful today….

“Dueling Banjos” by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell

And we close out this Monday shuffle with a tune that was written in 1955 – as “Feudin’ Banjos” by Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith.  The song was featured on a 1963 episode of the Andy Griffith Show played by recurring characters The Darlings who were played by The Dillards.  This version, which permanently ensconced this song in the collective pop culture consciousness, was recorded for the 1972 film, Deliverance.

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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – The Pills Ain’t Working Mix

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I am back after an extended time away…  When I last posted, storms were on the horizon for Nashville and that appears to be the case today six days later. In fact, as I look out the window, the rain has started.

This is always an odd week.  Christmas is over, New Years Eve is still a few days away. There is a sense of winding down of the old year and anticipation of what is to come.  In my office, there are many people out this week.  The overall pace of life seems just a wee bit slower.  But, here at E2TG, we keep pushing to the end.  We have more “Earies” to hand out and more shuffles to be shared.

The “Connections” Award. 

The premise:  Although, I don’t always explicitly state it, one of the central themes of Ear to the Ground has always been the thread of connectivity that runs throughout all music.  The Shuffle (which to me is more than random) can often serve to highlight those connections. When songs that seem to be incongruous are placed together, they can often serve to reveal previously unseen connections. These connections come in all different forms and can be difficult to explain.  Long time readers may recall a post I made a few years ago when I shuffled together the then new records by Imperial Rooster and Black Jake and the Carnies.  These two bands came from different regions of the U.S. and were not even aware of each others existence but I found connections.

The Award:  So for this award, I thought about artists/bands who have come into my consciousness who have no visible connection but who speak to me in very similar ways despite their obvious differences.

1.  Tim Lee 3/Bark – A long time favorite of #E2TG, I first encountered TL3 via Couch by Couchwest.  They are based in Knoxville and have roots in Jackson, MS. As I have gotten to know Tim and Susan Lee, I have discovered their deep connection to much of the music I listened to growing up.  To illustrate, I found out not too long ago, that Tim Lee produced or co-produced Will and the Bushmen’s Gawk album which has been a favorite of mine for a long, long time.  In 2015, Tim and Susan celebrated their vinyl anniversary (33 1/3 years) with the release of a new Tim Lee 3 album (331/3) and the very first EP from Bark.  I was lucky enough to see both configurations live in 2015.  The music of both bands manages to sound both fresh and familiar to me.

2. Susan James – A couple of years ago, I got the opportunity to hear and write about Susan’s then new album, Driving Toward the Sun.  Susan is based in Southern California. At the time, I saw where D.J. Bonebrake of X (one of my all-time favorite bands) had acted as emcee for a CD release show for an earlier album.   In 2015, Susan James released Sea Glass which marked a departure from the Americana feel of her previous two releases.  Sea Glass is a wonderful example of California pop music.  Several times on the album, the Paisley Underground sound is evoked very effectively.  It is an album I want to hear over and over. 

Just to put too fine a point on my premise, Tim and Susan Lee have some very deep and personal connections to the original Paisley Underground scene of the 1980s which is evoked so well on Susan James latest album.

On to the shuffle:  I am going to be shuffling from the “Featured  Music” playlist for the three days I am at work this week.  Trying to get through some of 2015’s featured music to clear some room for the many new releases expected in early 2016.

“Taste the Ceiling” by Wilco

So, I think I read somewhere that Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy did not know that there was a new Star Wars movie imminent  when naming the band’s latest album.  The album, which was initially offered as a free download, made many top ten lists for 2015.  I enjoyed the album as I have much of Wilco’s long and extensive catalog.

“More and More” by Bob Margolin

Another track from the new album by Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin. The album is called My Road.  This is real deal blues music folks!

“Love to a Ghost” by Brandy Zdan

Nashville singer-songwriter Brandy Zdan recently released her self-titled debut solo album.  She was previously a member of the duo Twilight Hotel and the band The Trishas.  I was pleased to find a sampler from her new album on Noisetrade.  Check it out and if you dig – pick up the whole album at the usual spots.

“Pinyin” (Instrumental Version) by Batkhi Dahn

We may be done featuring the Batkhi Dahn Chritmas EP, but we still have several more songs in our playlist.  This is the instrumental version of the latest single. 

“Call Out Mellobird” by The Jackals

Another track from People, the latest album from Edinburgh band The Jackals.

“In the End” by Ilana J

Another listen to the highly listenable debut EP, Free Fallin’ from the Ground Up.  Ilana J is from Birmingham (not Alabama).

“Little Meghan Kelly” by Fendrick and Peck

Fendrick and Peck are a hard travelling, neo-traditionalist folk duo currently residing in Nashville.  They released Lucky Penny this year, and it is one of my favorites of the year.

“Pills” by Carl Anderson

Speaking of favorites, we close out this shuffle with another track from Risk of Loss – which is definitely among my top ten albums of 2015  (if I made such a list).  Carl Anderson is another Nashville artist having moved here from Charlottesville, VA.

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Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – The Joy and the Crap Mix

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Well… It’s Friday!  By my estimates, there are eleven work days left in 2015.  I am going to have to huddle up with the awards committee* over the weekend to take stock of where things stand.  I know I will leave somebody important out, so expect some adjunct awards early in 2016.
*I am the awards committee, by the way….

Now to today’s “Earie”Award.

The Award:  the “There Going to Put Me in the Movies” Award aka the “Act Naturally” Award aka the “Buck Owens” Award….

The premise: No premise really, just a way to connect two awesome songwriters/musicians so that I can give them both an award for being awesome.

The Awards go to:

1.  Joe Nolan –  Joe recently signed a new publishing agreement with Creative Songwriters Music which is hopefully mean we will be hearing some of his great songs in movies and television shows soon. In addition, Joe Nolan is by the best definition I know, a true modern day renaissance man.  In addition to his extensive journalistic work  – among other things he is the arts editor for the Nashville Scene, a regular blogger, etc. etc. etc.  He was recently awarded a commission by the Metro (Nashville) Arts Commission to create a song based upon a piece of public art, and he has an on-going Nashville Public Radio series about Nashville’s many “Pikes”.  Makes me proud to be a “Joe”.

2.  Andrew Adkins – Andrew has an excellent track record of having songs used in movies and trailers.  Most recently, one of his songs was used in the trailer for Colin Hanks’ film about Tower Records, All Things Must Pass.  This was cool to me for two reason, 1. Tower Records played an important role in my musical development – particularly in the early 90s.  2. Colin Hanks was in Orange County and he’s Tom Hanks’ son.   In addition, Adkins has kept busy making music under a variety of names before consolidating it all under his own name.  Semi-coincidently, he just released the first single from his forthcoming album, Glass Castles (which will be released the day after my birthday).  The single is called, “May the Stars Fall At Your Door” and it marks a bit of a departure from the kind of music Andrew Adkins has been doing.

On to the shuffle:

“This I See” by Dan Coyle

Another track from Dan Coyle’s Random Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences. The album is a few years old, and maybe shouldn’t be on my “Featured” playlist, but hey, it’s new to me, plus it’s my playlist, my blog, my rules. 

“Oklahoma” by Nellie Clay

I got to hear Nellie Clay perform some of her music Wednesday night at the Family Wash and then I ran into her last night.  She is one of my newest favorite local songwriters.  Originally from Oklahoma, she moved to Nashville from Alaska. Her new album is called Never Did What I Should Have Done.

“Write it Down” by Tom House

The first of three songs from Tom House’s latest album, Songs Like Dreams… More Like Blood.  The album features a cover image shot by E2TG favorite Brock Zeman.  Tom House is hands down one of Nashville’s best songwriters and I am glad I finally caught on to his music.  This song really speaks to me as a creative person.

“The Sky is the Color of Wow” by Tom House

I love almost everything about this song.  The title is great.  Some of the lines just blew me away to the point that I wanted to go back and hear them again to get the full impact. The subtitle of this post comes from a line in this song.

“True North/Magnetic North (Metro North)” by Smokey the Firebear

Yesterday, Smokey the Firebear posted the following:

The rough mix of Ohm Atlanta is finished! I now have two months to wear myself out over every little detail and probably rerecord half if it

This track is one of the rough mixes which is available on Bandcamp.  Today, Smokey the Firebear tweeted that tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Smokey the Firebear.  I currently have almost 40 Smokey the Firebear songs in my playlist. As I have said before, these Connecticut kids don’t mess around.  

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“I Do the Worst Things” by Tom House

Back to Tom House.  Sadly, I can relate to this song, too.  I posted three different Tom House songs in the video playlist but be sure to search out Songs Like Dreams… More Like Blood.

“Prayer Emoji” (feat. Supa Bwe) by Rich Robbins

Another track from Nimbus on of my favorite albums of 2015.  I love the title of this one.

“Can’t Be Satisfied” by Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen

Closing out the shuffle with two blues songs by gentlemen who know more than most about the genre.  Earie Award winning Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen had been on my radar before 2015, but with the release of Love and Life and having had the opportunity to see them live a few times this year, they have jumped into my favorite artist category big time.  By the way, some E2TG trivia, Ted’s Scissormen played a show up in New York with E2TG Hall of Famers and fellow “Earie” award winners The End Men – a couple of months ago. I wish I had been at that show!

“Goodnight” by Bob Margolin

Our first listen to My Road the forthcoming new album by “Steady Rollin'” Bob Margolin.  Mark Robinson recently got me up to speed on Bob Margolin.  I had heard the album before I talked to Robinson and I knew right away this was something special.   Margolin is a legendary blues guitarist who spent of backing Muddy Waters and even appeared with Waters and The Band in The Last Waltz.  Like Ted Drozdowski, Bob Margolin is a respected journalist who has been contributing to Blues Revue for many years.  As I said, even without the background, one listen to My Road leaves little doubt as to the genius behind it.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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