Category: Daughter

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Unfinished Business 2013 Mix

Well, it’s a brand new year, and I already have some great stuff queued up to get 2014 off to a good beginning.  But, before we dive headlong into the new, there is some unfinished business – namely more 2013 favorites I wanted to offer up.  So today and tomorrow, I will wrap up the end of 2013 Mix and then Monday January 6 –  E2TG will kick off 2014 with a rousing start.

I’ve decided that the subtitle of this end of the year wrap-up should be: “If you think music sucked in 2013, then you were listening to the wrong music.” 

I humbly offer #E2TG has your antidote to the bad music blues….




Here’s today’s shuffle:

“An End to a Means” and “A Path of Footprints Forged in the Midnight Sun” by Liquid Casing

“Headed for the Promised Land” by James Crawford

“Suit and Tie” by Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z

“Long Days of Longing” by James the Giant

“Requiem for the Disconsolate” by James Crawford

“Still” by Daughter

“Swept Under the Rug” by Francie Moon

“Checkpoints and Borders” by Liquid Casing

“Leave it Buried” by James the Giant

“Too Scared to Run Away” by James Crawford

“Work” by The End Men

“Thin Edge of a Knife” and “My Guitar” and “All the While” by James Crawford

“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

“Riot Path” by Liquid Casing

“Oh God” by Those Darlins

“Tremble Town” and “Go Home Daddy (You’re Drunk)” by James Crawford

NOTES


Progressive Alternative Rock band Liquid Casing from Texas have been around for several years with several line-up changes.  We caught up with them in 2013 with their release A Separate/Divide – a concept album covering the topic of immigration.  Musically, the album covers a wide path of avant-garde jazz, post-punk, alt-rock and uses emotionally evocative vocals and lyrics to draw the listener into the experiences of people making difficult decisions and facing unimaginable hurdles.

I am very happy to feature 8 count ’em, Eight song from James Crawford’s stunning self-titled album.  He is promising more new music in 2014 plus some long anticipated live dates.  Stay tuned.

Here at Ear to the Ground, we aren’t above featuring some big hit songs when we feel like it.  Thus today’s mix features 2013 music from Justin Timberlake and Daft Punk.

I’ve seen the UK band Daughter on several Year End lists on those Brand X music blogs, and to be honest, they probably wouldn’t be here except for a cool happening back in September.    The band was added to the impressive Americanarama line up at Grimey’s here in Nashville, however, their instruments were locked away at the Exit/In where they were scheduled to play that night.  So, the band borrowed some instruments and delivered an impressive set of music that won over this music blogger.  Check them out if you haven’t yet.

Papa Tune’s kept mentioning Francie Moon. Guess what, he was right as usual. I’m not even sure if I had the chance to feature this during 2013, but nonetheless, she deserves to be in this mix.

We had to include another song by our 2013 Band of the Year – The End Men.  Work is their single released in the later part of the year.

In 2013, a… um.. revealing poster appeared on the side of Grimey’s and other record stores across the country.  The purpose was to announce the forthcoming new album by Those Darlins. With Blur the Lines, the band sealed the deal as one of the best Nashville bands around.

SHOP

 
WATCH
 


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E2TG at Americanarama VI 9/21/2013

Grimey’s know how to through a party.  Their annual Record Store Day event is always awesome, and Saturday wasthe sixth installment of the original Americanarama – a free day of music in the middle of the Americana Music Association Conference.

Grimey’s which began in a small shop in the Berry Hill section of Nashville and blossomed into one of the best and most respected record stores in the world. They are a magnet for musicians and music lovers.  Metallica recorded a secret show at The Basement located below the shop but named the ensuing record “Live at Grimey’s”.  Just about every cool band that comes through town, does an in-store at Grimey’s.  In addition, they are champions of many of the great up and coming bands.

Believe it or not, this was the first year that I was able to make it out for Americanarama, and I think I picked a good year.

The day began with The Reneaus who are either from Bowling Green, Kentucky or Nashville depending on who you ask.  Regardless, I was not familiar with The Reneaus for this performance, but I now consider myself a fan. 

Steelism were next, and although I was already familiar with them, this was the first chance I had to see them live. Steelism is the brain-child of Spencer Cullen Jr. and Jeremy Fetzer (Caitlin Rose).  They have an amazingly original sound. Fronted by a Pedal Steel Guitar and featuring two drummers… favorite quote of the day, “I’m still hung over and the stage is leaning…”



Next up were The Dexateens. I’ve liked their music for a long time, but seeing them perform live was revelatory. I now count myself as a huge Dexateens fan. This was one of the most fun and energetic shows I’ve seen in a fair bit of time. The band’s extensive and entertaining bio on Facebook mentions that they began as a punk band, and this spirit shows through.



After The Dexateens set, I decided to go inside to Howlin’ Books and Grimey’s, Too, and then I grabbed some lunch from Mas Tacos. Somehow,  I made it back in time to introduce myself to a couple of The Dexateens and then to see Daughter play their set.  I had ever heard of Daughter, but they have almost 300,000 likes on Facebook. They are from the UK.  They played a stripped down set due to their regular instruments already being at the Exit/In where they were playing that night. They had a awesome atmospheric, moody sound which I really liked.  Quite a transition from The Dexateens, but it was good.  After their set, they were surrounded by hordes of young people (and by young people, I mean people younger than me which was I guess about half the crowd – give or take a few dozen).



Next up was T. Hardy Morris who is in the band Dead Confederate. We’ve played a few songs from his solo album Audition Tape, so it was good to see him live. I enjoyed the music, and I’m not sure if it’s a persona or a personality but there was a bit of aloofness which I found a bit off-putting. Maybe especially after the complete openness of The Dexateens. But, I do know it’s dangerous to compare bands, and like I said, the music was great.



Next up was The Autumn Defense featuring John Stirratt and Pat Sansone of Wilco. This was just some amazingly glorious music. Some delicious melodies and classic sounding vocals.  Just brilliant. The inclusion of The Troggs classic Love is All Around Me underscored the classic sound that this band has captured.



Next up was one of most anticipated sets of the day.  British Folk/Punk legend Billy Bragg took the small, slightly sloped stage and for about thirty minutes spoke truth and held court. After playing a few songs from his latest album including a Woody Guthrie cover which he introduced by referencing the brilliant Mermaid Avenue albums and acknowledging the presence of John Stirratt who along with the rest of Wilco played on those records, Bragg acknowledged that it was the 30th Anniversary of the release of his first album, Life’s a Riot With Spy Vs. Spy.  He said since the album was only 17 minutes long it was not worth renting out the Ryman or hiring symphony and that he could play the whole album as an encore and that he actually had enough time left to play it, and thus he launched into a blistering song by song cover of that masterpiece.  There was a palpable energy running through the crowd.   



After Billy Bragg headed inside to sign autographs and meet and greet, the ones of us who remained heard a couple of songs from the soon to be released High Cotton: A Tribute to Alabama. T. Hardy Morris came back from a ragged yet somehow brilliant version of the title track, and then the always amazing Amanda Shires (joined by Rod Piccott) performed her contribution to the record as well as one song from her new album.  To be honest, I expected more from this set, but hey, I got a free t-shirt and seeing Amanda Shires perform is always a plus.



As the sun began to descend, the crowd thinned a bit, which is a shame because those who left, missed out on the final set of the day. Willie Sugarcapps is the new project (supergroup really) featuring Will Kimbrough, Greyson Capps, Sugarcane Jane, and Corky Hughes. They play a break amalgam of traditional music from the South. Folk, Blues, Country,  what have you, and they have a whole lot of fun doing it.  I’ve been a Will Kimbrough fan since his days leading the Bushmen, and I thoroughly  enjoyed this set.  Their new album is out now. Check it.

 

It was truly a great day of great music. Special thanks to all the staff of Grimey’s for putting this thing on. And a shout out to Sandy – a long time Billy Bragg fan for buying me a beer.

Stay tuned for a quick run down of our normal shuffle in a bit…

I created a You Tube Playlist to commemorate the day…




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