Last night, I made my first visit to Little Harpeth Brewery (I love their beer) which located just about five minutes from where I park for work. It was a fun night of good beer, cheap friends, and music (to paraphrase an obscure Darrin Bradbury song lyric). Speaking of which, the music for the evening was provided by the aforementioned Bradbury and Hushabye Baby (who I saw for the first time and really liked).
It is Friday! Time for some Featured music… via the shuffle function…
“Too Close to Home” by My Life in Black and White
My Life in Black and White are from Portland, Oregon. Their latest album is called Columbia. I can’t remember how or where I came across this, but I’m glad I did. I happened to notice that they are playing a show tomorrow night in Hood River, Oregon with The Harmed Brothers (with whom Darrin Bradbury toured in December). Always with the connections at E2TG.
“Glassy Eyed” by Brian Keenan
Another nice one from Fits and Starts. Brian Keenan is from Brooklyn.
“The Dangerous Kind” by Aaron Lee Tasjan
It’s hard to go anywhere in East Nashville these days and not see or hear Aaron Lee Tasjan. He is on the cover of the current issue of The East Nashvillian – with a great article and last night they were playing his music over the PA at Little Harpeth. Believe me, this is not a complaint, and I am happy to jump on that bandwagon. Today’s song is a stand out from In the Blazes.
“Conversation at the Funeral” by Jon Latham
After our conversation last night, Darrin Bradbury is going to think I purposely posted a Jon Latham song today, but I swear it’s all random. I think if you read this blog, you know how I feel about Jon Latham. This song is the closing track from Jon’s debut, Real Bad News. Inspired by his late grandfather. It is filled with the kind of emotionally honest truth-telling that make me feel like I do about Jon’s music.
“Settle the Score” by Freaks for Geeks
Freaks for Geeks are a Chicago band whose music combines rock and hip hop in a very effective way. They recently released their third EP, TIN.
“Schadenfreude” by Mellor
Schadenfreude is a German word. Mellor is a band from Reading, UK. Their EP Damage/Joy is out now. This song is on it. They refer to their genre as Pop Smack. I dig it. Up beat, power pop music.
“The Test of Time” by Some Kind of Illness
The lead track from the self-titled album by UK band Some Kind of Illness. A kind of atmospheric indie rock track. Like it.
“Jubilee (Land of The Free)” by Andrew Adkins
We close out the week with another song from Glass Castles by Andrew Adkins. Andrew organized Wednesday night’s amazing round at The Country. Andrew is joining the throngs (including many of my musician friends) who are heading down to Austin for SXSW.
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Sorry for the inconsistency of posts the last couple of weeks… things will smooth out, but life sometimes gets all lifey…
I have been fighting with a cold all week (constantly changing weather -winter to spring and back – doesn’t help), and as a result, I have been mostly laying low this week, but I did manage to venture out (in a cold dreary rain) to The Basement (the original one) for some music. As if the case most nights in Nashville there was awesome music going on all over town, but I just didn’t feel up to venue hopping. In fact, the Basement hosted an early show with Erin Rae and Kelsey Waldron that I totally missed, but I did get to see three awesome sets of music from three of Nashville’s best “on-the-cusp” artists.
Andrew Leahey and the Homestead played their last local show for a bit as they gear up for the release of their new album (on Thirty Tigers) in May. As they have every time I have seen them, they played earnest heartland rock and roll and did not hold back.
Michaela Anne also has an album due out in May. Backed by her awesome band, she played her solid and gorgeous country songs. A highlight was her performance of “Me and Willie” (a CD bonus track from Emmylou Harris’ 1976 album Luxury Liner) which Michaela Anne introduced by recognizing the song’s writer, Laurie Hyde-Smith, who had come to Nashville from North Carolina for the show.
Darrin Bradbury closed the night with his first? full band show since his January Basement East residency (with the band that played with him for those shows). This was an extremely fun set which included an impromptu vocal assist (from the crowd) by Jon Latham. (Do I need to mention that Darrin and Jon are the current and most recently past E2TG Artists of the Year? No? Okay, I won’t then). It was fun seeing so many familiar faces (and awesome musicians/songwriters) in the crowd.
To the shuffle:
“I Believed You (Chicago)” by James Roquemore
This is the penultimate song (for me to feature) from Roquemore’s EP The First – which I got when I saw James opening for Patrick Kinsley’s album release show at The Basement. I really enjoyed his songs that night, and I have enjoyed this EP which was recorded while he was in college in Florida. From Facebook/Instagram, Roquemore is pursuing a variety of interests of late, but I would love to hear some new music at some point.
“Grand Funeral Procession” by The Jolly Light Brigade
The Jolly Light Connection are part of the Dord Music Group. The band is fronted? by Atticus Floyd (whose music I have posted before) and may include Evan and Hayden of The Foresters (who I have been writing about for roughly a fourth of their lives). This song (a lovely instrumental) is from an EP called CAK.
“Show and Tell” by Sugar and the Hi Lows
Nashville super-duo (Amy Stroup and Trent Dabbs) are up next with the lead track from their 2012 self-titled album.
“The Great Unknown” by Better Than Ezra
The long running New Orleans band Better Than Ezra jump into the Ear to the Ground shuffle with a track from their 2014 album All Together Now which came to me via a Noisetrade compilation from last year’s inaugural Pilgrimage Music Festival which was held in Franklin, Tennessee.
“You Caught Me Off Guard” by Brian Keenan
Another cool song from Fits and Starts, the latest album from this Brooklyn singer-songwriter.
“The Question Is” by SuperCrashingStar
Another really fun track from one of my new favorites. SuperCrashingStar are from New York City, and I have been really digging on their music of late.
“I Was a Teenage War Criminal” by Smokey the Firebear (Ft. The Indigenous People of Peru)
Another sound collage from Smokey The Firebear from his BNGFKR record of sound collages. His latest album Ohm Atlanta was released on Valentine’s Day. The video playlist features a track from that album. Note: it appears the $420 CD of BNGFKR is now sold out – probably due to my posts about it. I will wait patiently for my commission… 🙂
“Nobody Dance” by Patrick Sweany Band
One of East Nashville’s best! I have been fortunate to have seen Patrick Sweany a couple of times in the last year. This is a song that goes back about a decade to the album C’mon C’mere.
“Melva’s Wine” by Johnny Cash
From Cash’s 1972 album A Thing Called Love. This song was written by songwriter Vincent Matthews – who I read about in Michael Streissguth’s book Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville. Matthews conceived a concept album about/set in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. This song was seemingly part of that project.
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It’s been a weird week filled with annoyingly insignificant snow “events”, a day off, a significant life event, just one (so far) live music night, and some pretty cool shuffles…
Shuffle…. pretty cool….
“Benedikt’s Blues” by Steve Wynn
Whether as a member of the Dream Syndicate, as 1/2 of Danny and Dusty, as part of The Baseball Project, or just as Steve Wynn – Steve Wynn’s music has been a significant part of my music universe for a very long time. This song is the title track from a recent release which is a “Sonic Companion to Season 4 of Dag”. “Dag” being a Norwegian television series. This track features Wynn’s wife Linda Pitmon and Scott McCaughey (both of The Baseball Project).
“Radar” by Brian Wright
From the Café Rooster Sessions Vol 1 – the most recent release by Brian Wright. I am looking forward to seeing Wright open for Dan Baird and Homemade Sin on Sunday at The Basement East.
“Parents” by SuperCrashingStar
A whimsical tune and our second listen to this New York band. I am really digging their music.
“Cross Paths” by Brian Keenan
Our second Brian in the shuffle, this one is a singer, songwriter from Brooklyn. His latest album is called Fits and Starts. A really good tune.
“She’s the One” by Bruce Springsteen
The studio version from Born to Run. Fun fact, I sometimes peek ahead to see what the next song (after the last) in a shuffle would have been and to see how it might have changed the overall tone of the shuffle. Today, had the shuffle continued past the Killing Kuddles song below, the next song would have been a live version of this song from the Chicago show.
“Be My Enemy” by The Waterboys
Another track from the classic This is the Sea album. “If you’ll be my enemy, I’ll be your enemy, too.”
“Dirty Mouth” by Killing Kuddles
From Sinking Ships. Shhh…. don’t tell Elwood’s mother, but I hear he has a dirty mouth.
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Hey, I needed to get some “stuff done” today, and I decided to shuffle some music while I got the “stuff done”. So, welcome to a rare Saturday shuffle. Limited descriptions – just a ton of cool tunes.
As I mentioned yesterday, E2TG’s reigning Artist of the Year was selected by Nashville’s Lightning 100 to be their Artist of the Week. As part of that, he played a free show yesterday evening at Soulshine Pizza, and he played one of the best shows I have ever seen him put on. I could not have been more proud.
“Bluebird” by Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies
The title track… one of the best songwriters I know!
“Bright Dreams, Lonely Days” by Sara Syms
“Earie” Award winner from Way Back Home
“The Pilgram (Chapter 33) by Paul Burch
From Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down – a tribute to Kris Kristofferson. Burch is doing a residency at The 5 Spot in February.
“Oh, The Places” by Fendrick and Peck
From Lucky Penny
“Dying Oceans, Poisoned Seas and You” by Bashful Hips
From Too Old for a Coming of Age Story
“The Marriage of Coyote Woman” by All Them Witches
From Lightning at the Door
“Way Back Home” by Sara Syms
The title track…
“Mountain” by All Them Witches
Another from Lightning at the Door
“I Love My Dad” by Sun Kil Moon
From Benji
“All Across the World” by Dan Coyle
From Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences
“University Blvd.” by Los Straitjackets
The seminal modern day surf rock band!
“For the Swans” by Bosveld
Another from Velbrand
“Backstreets” by Bruce Springsteen
From Born to Run
“Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars” by John Moreland
From High on Tulsa Heat – one of the best of 2015.
“My Mother’s Son” by All the King’s Men
From the EP Making My Escape
“Old England” by The Waterboys
From This is the Sea
“Honky Tonk Moan” by Cale Tyson
From Introducing Cale Tyson
“Eunice Two Step” by Beausoliel
Some sweet Cajun music – this is from the World Cafe Sessions
“I Don’t Think They Understand” by Tom Schreck
A favorite of mine. From The Added Glory EP (aka Added Glory) (not aka The Added Glory – EP)
“Coming Soon” by Brian Keenan
From Fits and Starts
“Problems of an Atheist” by Bashful Hips
Another from Too Old for a Coming of Age Story. Atheists have problems, too.
Well, here we are. Another late posting. Tomorrow likely will be, too. Let’s jump to it. Plus by stupid bluetooth earphones have bitten the dust. Replacements are on their way.
We’ve been doing the “Earies” for about a week now. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves. I am coming up with winners faster than I am coming up with Award names…. but it’s all good. I just hope I don’t forget anyone, but I probably will…
Today’s award is the “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” Award.
The premise: I have known for some time that Nashville is the home to some amazing blues players and music, but that fact came into sharp focus for me this year. The other thing that came into sharp focus for me is that “The Blues” is not a narrow genre of music and it is very much alive and well in this middle year of the second decade of the new millennium. This award is meant to recognize some of the best of the blues and it so happens both of this years winners come from Nashville, and they both bring their own unique twist to the genre.
The Award goes to Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen and Eight O’Five Jive.
Ted Drozdowski is a journalist and scholar of the Blues and an amazing guitar player. With his trio, he brings Mississippi to Nashville and rolls into a sweet psychedelic coating while telling stories and blowing minds. Love and Life was one of the best albums of the year and one of the best albums Ted Drozdowski has made. An electrifying live act (no stage can contain Ted and no utensils or glassware are safe from being used as a guitar slide.
Eight O’Five Jive play upbeat, swinging jump blues that evokes an earlier era while remaining firmly rooted in the present. Their album, Too Many Men, was smart and sexy and a whole lot of fun. They won a couple of awards at this years Nashville Independent Music Awards including Best Blues Artist, and now they can add an “Earie” to their award cabinet,
On to the shuffle: “Pissing At Will” by Ohioan
As I think I mentioned when I played them before, Ohioan are not from Ohio. They are from Tucson. This is the a-side to their recent single. I grabbed this off of Aquarium Drunkard a few months back, and I like it a bunch.
“Fits and Starts” by Brian Keenan
The title track from the new album by Brooklyn singer-songwriter Brian Keenan. I am really enjoying his new album.
“Goodbye Girl” by Squeeze
Originally the first single from Cool for Cats. Another in a long string of classic songs by the newly reformed Squeeze.
“None of That Now” by Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis is a Boston singer-songwriter. This track comes from her Live at Club Passim EP. The video performance I found is from Belcourt Taps here in Nashville.
“I’m Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail” by Porter Wagoner
I was introduced to this song on the Knitters’ Poor Little Critter on the Road album back in the latter part of the 1980s. It struck me (not for the first time) that here I was a good Tennessee boy, and it took a bunch of L.A. punks to introduce me to classic country and western music. Ah well… I do remember Porter Wagoner coming to my hometown and stopping the in the store where my Mom worked. So there is that.
“From Here to Burma” by Blake Babies
Another from the live Blake Babies album. In the introduction to this song, they say it will be on an album some day, and it was included on the band’s album Earwig.
“Cumberland Mountain” by Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau
2015 “Earie” award winners, Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau with a song and story that comes from the same source material as the book, “Cold Mountain”. At least I think that is what Richie told me… it had been a long night of big fun so I could have that wrong.
“Beggars and Choosers” by Soul Asylum
And we close out the shuffle with a song from one of my all time favorite albums, Hang Time.
“Being afraid of living is just the same as dying.” This line from Two Cow Garage seems like one of the most important for me to remember today. More about Two Cow Garage and last night’s other great music is few…
First, the next 2015 E2TG “Earie” Award:
The premise: “Kids these days.” I write those words, but how did I mean it? Was it said with exasperation, as it has been said for generations? Well, in this case, that is not how it was meant. We live in a time of incredible possibilities – really! Just thinking about music (keep in mind, I know next to nothing about the recording, mixing, mastering etc. process), the potential for DIY recording, distribution etc. seems pretty amazing. But of course, availability of technology is just a part of the equation. It is when and where ripe and fertile minds meet this “new” technology that things start to get exciting. The driving force for me when it comes to music is the constant search for something new. E2TG has always been (in part) a balancing act between incredible new music being made all over the globe and maintaining a health appreciation and passion for the music that made the new music possible. It’s about connections. Right? Yes! Some “kids” these days are using the tools of the day to make some really cool music, and sometimes, this exciting new music is forged by an appreciation of music way older than those who are making it.
About three years ago???? I was introduced (by Papa Tune’s – of course) to a young band of brothers from Connecticut called The Foresters. At the time, I think only one of the brother was a teenager – the rest were pre-teens. I made a joke that their average age was 10 3/4 but that their amps go up to eleven. (or something like that). The Foresters were a pop punk band – formed after the three brothers, named Nork, attended a Green Day concert and asked for a received instruments. The early music was really good power, pop punk. Over the past couple of years, The Foresters have released a couple of EPs, recorded with and as several different side projects. The influences have expanded and diversified and the music has gotten more complex and better. The band’s latest album, Sun Songs, finds the band reaching a new plateau – while the possibilities remain endless. A couple of years ago, the band were given the Hope For the Furure award by the Couch by Counchwest Music Festival. Well, the future is now, and The Foresters appear poised to find out what happens next – which at this moment is a 2015 “Earie”. Actually, special mention for this award needs to go out to all of the artists on the band’s homegrown record label, Dord Music Group.
Congratulations to The Foresters – you are the 2015 “Kid These Days…” Award winners.
Last night was a quintessiential Nashville live music night – with some great shows going on in different venues. Me, I hung out at The Five Spot. Early, was a show featuring Fats Kaplin, Kristie Rose, Paul Burch, and more. Later, I was introduced to my new favorite band. They are called Red Collar from Durham, NC. They are a high energy, punk influenced band. Austin Lucas – who I saw for the third time this year was as amazing as ever, and Two Cow Garage who I saw for the second time this year (and who barely made it due to mechanical issues) blew me away as they did the first time I saw them.
Tonight, I’m excited to see Jon Latham opening up for the legendary Malcolm Holcombe at The Basement (not East).
Now, we have a Featured Friday shuffle to close out the post-holiday work week.
“Darling Valentine” by Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau
2015 “Earie” award winning, Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau are up first in the shuffle with the first of a pair of songs today from Tennessee (the album and the state).
“Sweeten the Deal” by The Deadline Shakes
Another listen to infectious Glasgow band, The Deadline Shakes and a song from their album, Zealots.
“L and N” by Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau
First of all, this title should have an ampersand rather than the word “and” but every time I use an ampersand I get really weird HTML formatting issues. If anyone knows a way around that, shoot me a message – I’d prefer to get the song name right… This is one of my favorite songs on the album Tennessee.
“Collateral Language” by Zaibatsu
A rocking instrumental – the last song on the album Zero from the Pregressive Rock band from Rome, Italy.
“Pinyin” by Batkhi Dahn
Batkhi Dahn is the brain child of Hayden Nork, the middle brother of the “Earie” Award winning The Foresters. Pinyin is the latest single from Batkhi Dahn – this is the a-side. There are some really awesome things happening here.
“This Broken Gall Bladder Wants to Kill Me” by Bashful Hips
This is the final song on Too Old for a Coming of Age Story – from experimental artist – Bashful Hips.
“Into Your Arms” by The Naddiks
This is our last track to post from the 21CB album. The Naddiks are from Canberra. They have a new single called “Stop Listen and Love” which delivers an important anti-bullying message. Look that up – we will get to that one soon.
“Used To” by Brian Keenan
Another listen to Fits and Starts the new album from Brooklyn singer-songwriter Brian Keenan. I like this song a bunch.
“One of These Days” by Jeremy Nash
Another from Get Away Driver – from Nashville (via New York) singer-songwriter Jeremy Nash.
“If We Don’t Find Love Tonight” by Barney Goodall and The NightHawks
A first listen, and one I was very impressed with. From Liverpool, this is some pretty cool, music which brings to mind Nick Cave or Tom Waits. The video I found is of Barney Goodall doing a Wait’s song which gives me one more chance to plug the Tom Waits tribute and benefit tomorrow night at The 5 Spot. I will be there late – after Drivin’ ‘n’ Cryin’.
Well, it is time for the last shuffle before the long Thanksgiving weekend. I hope if you are travelling that you have safe travels, I hope you find a place of gratitude, I hope you remember those for whom the holidays are a painful or difficult time. I hope you do all the things you want to do. For my Canadian friends, you can like, #tbt tomorrow to Canadian Thanksgiving or whatever…
We have one more awesome featured music shuffle to see this work week off in style.
“Shut Up and Kiss Me” by Tim Lee 3
Long time friends of Ear to the Ground kick things off with a track from their album 331/3 which was a celebration of the vinyl anniversary of Tim and Susan Bauer Lee. Sometimes words just get in the way….
“Just Try Me Out” (Home Recording) by Tom Schreck
Nashville Outside, Tom Schreck released Added Glory, an EP companion to his two full length records, Outsider and Save Your Glory. The latter of those two records has a turkey on the cover, so maybe this holiday weekend would be a good time to get hold of all of Tom’s albums so you can join me in being grateful for such an amazing songwriter.
“Waitressing Sucks” by Jon Latham
Why bother with subtlety? This straightforwardly titled song, delivers some gut wrenching emotional power. From Real Bad News which is rightfully getting a lot of attention these days. Once you are recovered from the holidays, Jon Latham will be opening for the legendary songwriter Malcolm Holcomb at The Basement on December 4. Doors at 7:00p.m. You do not want to miss that show! As a Thanksgiving bonus, we present, a brand new Jon Latham video of a song he co-wrote with Darrin Bradbury called, “Kimberly Met Billy” which the good folks at Flour Sack Cape released this week. Enjoy.
“Night Sounds” by Brian Keenan
This is the first Ear to the Ground appearance by Brooklyn songwriter Brian Keenan. He just released what I believe is his second album called Fits and Starts. This was my first listen – more ahead. Dig it!
“Paper People” by The Foresters
Sun Songs, the latest album by Connecticut band, The Foresters, is a bold step forward. The band of brothers began making music after their father took them to a Green Day show a few years ago. While their early music, showed a definite influence of the pop-punk leanings of that band (which was all well and good), the band has matured and broadened their sound over the last couple of years, and Sun Songs represents a plateau of sorts for this particular stage of the journey. The maturity also highlights the fact that although the band members are still quite young, they are ready to be judged solely on their merits not as a “good band of young kids” but just as a “good band”. Sun Songs is one of my favorite albums of the year.
“My Mind” by Dan Coyle
Another great track from Dan Coyle 2009 album Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences. This is on the featured music playlist for a couple of reasons: 1. it is new to me and 2. It’s my playlist and I can put what I want on it. Oh and 3. It’s a great album.
“Second Sight (for Shlomo)” by Bosveld
Velbrand is the debut album by the Canadian band Bosveld which includes among it’s members Velodrones who has been featured on this sight before. This is envelope pushing folk music. I was first introduced to Velodrones through Valued Customer. Like that band, Bosveld manage to make experimental music accessible without compromising on the originality. It is not an easy feat. Bosveld have been known to go on bike tours around Canada. This album was recently featuring on CBC.
“Ain’t Dead Yet” by Nellie Clay
Nellie Clay is a relatively new Nashville songwriter from Oklahoma by way of Alaska. I have been fortunate enough to see her live a number of times over the last month or so – including last Friday when she opened for Will Kimbrough’s CD Release show. She just released, Never Did What I Should Have Done. It has rapidly become a favorite of mine.
“Crocodile Tears” by Dale Watson
We close out the shuffle with another song from Dale Watson’s Call me Insane album. Watson has a distinctive outlaw country voice, and through his work with the Ameripolitan Music movement, Watson is dedicated to making authentic American music for the 21st Century.
E2TG: MUSIC/WORDS 