Category: Gretchen Peters

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – I Forget What Eight Was For Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”); Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Ah, Thursday!

Last night was the opening night of the Jason Ringenberg residency at The 5 Spot in East Nashville.  Ringenberg is the Jason from Jason and the Scorchers (the seminal Nashville band beginning in the early 1980s).  He is also the Jason from Farmer Jason (host of a PBS kids show and creator of albums for children).  His special guest for week 1 was Webb Wilder (another quintessential figure on the 80s Nashville music scene).

Playing to a pretty packed house, Ringenberg and Wilder really seemed to be enjoying themselves. Jason opened with “Halcyon Times” – the title track from a Scorchers album before turning the stage over to Webb Wilder who moved through a set that encompassed his long career. Including, classic Webb Wilder songs like “How Long Can She Last” and “Human Cannonball”. 

Ringenberg’s set included several classic Scorcher’s songs as well as songs from his solo albums, and a cover of “Trail of Tears” by the great Georgia band, Guadalcanal Diary. 

Wilder then joined Ringenberg to close out the night by each singing a song by the other.  Jason sang, “Sitting Pretty” from 1991’s Doo Dad and Webb sang “Shop it Around” from the first full-length Scorchers album Lost and Found.  They then performed a Farmer Jason song before closing the evening with a really awesome version of Buddy Holly’s “Rave On”.

Tonight, I am going to check out Joey Kneiser and his band at The East Room.  His new album, The Wildness is getting rave reviews.

“Mary” by Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies

East Nashville songwriter Brian Wright is one of those rare performers who when you hear them for the first time, you think, “Who is this guy? Why did I not know about him before now? and Why doesn’t everyone know about him?”  He’s that good.  I have been fortunate enough to see him perform live several times over the last year or so, and he never, never fails to impress.  He recently made a bunch of his music available digitally.  This song is from an album called Dog Ear .  If you don’t know Brian Wright’s music.  Make yourself a New Year’s Resolution to fix that right away.

“Hot Rod Lincoln” by Bill Kirchen

A classic rock and roll car song. The original version of this song was released in 1955 by the writer of the song Charley Ryan with The Livingston Brothers.  It has been covered several times, notably in 1971 by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.   Kirchen was the lead guitar play for that version. His version of the song is notable for including a tribute to several of the great rock and roll guitar players – as imitated by Kirchen.  Check it out  – played live in the Video playlist.

“Every Road” by The Transcendents

We wrap up the EP Lay Where You Collapse which was released last July.  The follow up, Common Ground was released in October. I really love the unique sound of this band from New Zealand – which is experimental but firmly grounded.  This track is very evocative and the lyrics are top notch. At one point, the lyrics reference Bob Dylan’s album Blood on the Tracks and Eleanor Catton’s 2013 novel The Luminaries in the same stanza.  (a silly but kind of cool aside, when I was tagging The Transcendents, I typed The Tr and among the suggestions offered was Blood on the Tracks.)

“Dark Angel” by Gretchen Peters

A gorgeous song from Peters’ 2012 album Hello Cruel World.

“Kiss Off” by Violent Femmes

The self-titled Violent Femmes album played such a important part in my younger days and to be honest, I never get tired to revisiting it.  The teenaged angst here is so palatable.  I don’t know how many times I sang along to this at top volume just to try to express what was for me at the time so inexpressible.

“Lost to the Deep” by Simon Fagan

Singer, songwriter Simon Fagan was one of the earlier artists I covered on Ear to the Ground.  I always dug his songs, but I had kind of lost touch for a while.  Toward the end of 2015, though, I got this track from his new album Gilded Bird.  I look forward to hearing the whole thing.

“To the Kill” by Violent Femmes

We close out the shuffle with another from Violent Femmes.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

     window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – The Rainbow Didn’t Bring Me No Luck Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Welcome back… No shuffle yesterday because I was off work for Veteran’s Day.  Lot’s to recap…

Tuesday night, I attended the weekly $2 Tuesday show at The 5 Spot.  As it always is, it was a great time at a great price.  Included: a second opportunity to see Brock Zeman and Blair Hogan – who killed it.  Bob Lewis with great band that included my old friend Joe Bidewell plus Lemuel Hayes and Issac Anthony.  Plus Derek Hoke’s always awesome set, and the late night spot was rocked hard by new Nashvillian K. Phillips whose band included by friend Steven Cooper.

Since, I was off I got to hang out in the studio and observe the making of Darrin Bradbury’s next album.  A lot of people are going to be surprised by his turn toward gangsta rap, but I never question an artistic genius.

Last night, a great night of songwriters at Mad Donna’s featuring the always awesome Kiely Schlesinger who was backed by Drew Kohl – who did a killer version of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City”, Violet Delancey who was backed by a great band that included Andrew Leahey on guitar, and Lindsay Ellyn who was awesome as always backed by Raun Schultz and Buddy Woodward and for the first time by fiddle player – Holly Parks. 

In the midst of all that, I wrote a review of the (still fairly new) Sara Syms album, Way Back Home.  The title track (coincidently) showed up in the shuffle today, so I will post the links when I get to that song…

On to the shuffle

“Frying Eggs (The Roadkill Song)” by Darrin Bradbury

Decades from now, musical historians will look back and note that this was the first sign of Darrin’s eventual turn toward gangsta rap… what is more gangsta than singing about a dead raccoon?  Seriously, this our last track to post from The Story of Bob – the record which made my face famous…  By the way, I did not find a video of this song, but I did find a nine year old clip of Darrin.

“Saint Francis” by Gretchen Peters

Another from Hello Cruel World. Gretchen Peters is, hands down,  one of the best songwriters  working today.

“Side of the Mountain” by Carl Anderson

Another chance to talk about Carl Anderson’s amazing album Risk of Loss. The year is almost over and this is still on my mind as one of the best of 2015.

“Goodbye Marie” by Gear Daddies

Billy’s Live Bait – along with Let’s Go Scare Al – were part of the soundtrack of particularly interesting portion of life.  I think the songs (as all great songs do) have held up well in the decades since they were released.

“Florida Water” by Jesse and Noah

Another from Jesse and Noah – this one is from their Driven Back album of original songs.  It is a tribute to their home state.

“Way Back Home” by Sara Syms

As I mentioned in the Intro – I have written a review of Sara Syms’ awesome new album, Way Back Home.  This is the opening and title track which sets the tone for the album.  My review can be found on No Depression and right here on Ear to the Ground.

“Walking Down the Road” by Tymon Dogg

Tymon Dogg is a stalwart of the London underground music scene – whose credits include being a part of Joe Strummer’s last band, Mescalero’s.  He also contributed to Sandinista! and Combat Rock by the Clash.  Made of Light is the name of his new album which was released last week. Check it out!

“Tears Fall the Same” by Tiffany Huggins Grant

We return to local favorite, Tiffany Huggins Grant with another track from her album, Jonquil Child which also has to be on my list of favorites for the year.

“Motel Matches” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

And, we close out the shuffle with some classic Elvis from Get Happy!  Get Happy! was Elvis Costello’s fourth album – his third with the Attraction, and it was released in early 1980 and remains one of my all time favorites.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Time Heals, Time Forgets Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Time rolls on, and suddenly it is Thursday – that means tonight is Week 2 of the Campfire Propaganda residency at The 5 Spot, followed by Coverfest at The Basement East.

Shuffle time!

“Tara” by Roxy Music

We begin the brief and beautiful instrumental from one of the best albums of all time (Avalon).

“Two Sad Tales” by Bang OK Bang

The first of two songs in the shuffle from the Nashville-based Heavy Rockers. This is from a recently release live album – Live at East Nashville Underground. It was recorded at The East Room back in the spring. Bringing some heaviness into the shuffle for a Thursday of what has been a pretty crappy week so far…

“The Matador” by Gretchen Peters

The always amazing Nashville singer-songwriter with a track from her 2012 album, Hello Cruel World.  By the way, the title song from the album is my default ringtone – kind of a pessimistic view of calls from numbers I generally don’t know.

“Time Heals” by Gear Daddies

Another track from the album Billy’s Live Bait… “You should smoke those goddamn cigarettes…”

“All the Lonely People Left Behind” by Bang OK Bang

The second track of the day from the live album. I really dig this song a bunch. 

“Ambition” by Velvet Elvis

Velvet Elvis were a band from Lexington, Kentucky that caught the attention of Mitch Easter (of Let’s Active) whose production credits included the early albums by R.E.M. Through Easter, the band caught the attention of Enigma Records which released the Easter produced self-titled album in 1988.  Great to hear this song again.

“Amazing Grace” by Cora Fluker

From the Music Maker Relief Foundation… A stirring and powerful version of the spiritual classic sung by the late singer who was born in Alabama around 1920.

“Wehmut” by Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe

Our second listen from the album I Declare Nothing by Canadian singer and the founding member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.  Good stuff…

“Physics of Form” by The Vigilance Committee

Time to close out this Thursday shuffle with a track from Exit a Hero from the Progressive rock band from Long Island.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Another Magic Mart Mix

Kiely Schlesinger, Lindsay Ellyn, and Jon Latham at Two Old Hippies 1/21/2015

Had a great time watching three of my favorite songwriters trade songs yesterday evening in The Gulch.

Reminder, TONIGHT: Darrin Bradbury and the Fran’s Eastside Super High Band will be starting off a great night of music at The 5 Spot in East Nashville.  Be there! 9:00p.m. $5.00.

Shuffle….

“Drinkin’ In My Sunday Best” by Maria McKee

From the very first time I heard Lone Justice, I knew Maria McKee was something special.  This song is off of her solo debut, and it was a fine burst of energy to start my morning.

“Little America” by R.E.M.

R.E.M.’s second full-length album Reckoning ends with their “road” song. “Jefferson, I think we’re lost…”

“More Than This” by Roxy Music

The emotional connections I have made to this song are numerous and deep.  This is the first track on the classic Avalon album.  For some reason, this song brings to mind a hungover/still buzzing sunrise at the end of a wild night.

“Love On Low-Fi” by J.R. Wyatt

Another track from J.R. Wyatt’s excellent solo record, Empty Room Sessions.  I dig the songwriting and the voice of this song Nashville songwriter.  Glad I got to see him on Tuesday at The 5 Spot playing with a full band.

“Natural Disaster” by Gretchen Peters

Speaking of fine Nashville songwriters.  Gretchen Peters is a living legend.  Another stand out track from her album Hello Cruel World.

“The Boogie Man” by The Cadillacs

I think this one has been creeping (pun partially intended) around the Playlist since Halloween, but really is it ever not the right time for the Boogie Man?

“Can’t Leave Well Enough Alone” by Matt Prater

This is an awesome track off the forthcoming Tables and Chairs by Alabama based songwriter/performer Matt Prater.  Recommended if you dig great songs and REAL Country music.

“Metropolis” by The Belle Brigade

The Belle Brigade are an LA Brother and Sister duo.  This is from their 2014 album Just Because.  This was on a friend’s annual mix CD, and I really dig their sound, and I definitely want to check out more.

“On and On” by Joey Bada$$ (feat. Maverick Sabre and Dyemond Lewis)

How about some Hip Hop sounds to take us out of this Thursday Shuffle.  Brooklyn-based Joey Bada$$ released his latest album B4.Da.$$ just about a week ago.  This song is on that album.  I am by no means an expert on Hip Hop music, but I also am not willing to dismiss it all without listening.  I didn’t really expect to, but I do like this a great deal.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);     window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Leather and Chrome Mix

Back at it after a long weekend…. some days, you just don’t feel it, but you press on and music always helps.

“Little World” by Gretchen Peters

A beautiful song from Peters’ 2012 album Hello Cruel World.  Her next album is due in February and is called Blackbirds.

“Don’t Say You Love Me” by Sean Watkins

From the latest solo record by a founding member of Nickel Creek. The album is called All I Do Is Lie, and it was recently made available on Noisetrade. I dig the well written songs played by top-notch musicians.

“Fisherman’s Blues” by The Waterboys

The lead and title track from one of my favorite albums.  At the time, Fisherman’s Blues was a radical departure from The Waterboys’ signature “Big Music” sound, and although I am huge fan of the early Waterboys’ records, I have always had a soft spot for Celtic Music and this is an album I find myself returning to again and again.

“Big Blue Sun” by Amelia White

Another great track from the Old Postcards album. This is always one of my favorites to hear Amelia perform live.

“Holy Moses” by Echo and The Bunnymen

I’ll be honest, I haven’t really kept up with Echo and the Bunnymen in recent years.  This track is off their latest album Meteorites which came out last year. A friend included on his annual mix CD.  I didn’t immediately recognize this has a Echo and the Bunnymen song, but taken out of context (for me), I have to say I like this song.

“1952 Vincent Black Lightning” by Richard Thompson

What exactly can I say. As I’ve stated before, Rumor and Sigh is a favorite of mine, and this song has gone on to become a modern folk music standard that will likely live on for years. I just don’t seem to get tired of hearing this song.

“Stones” by Dead and Lovely

Another great song from my friends in Dead and Lovely from their EP called Heavy.  I love this music.

“Johnny’s Gonna Die” by The Replacements

From Sorry Ma…. the song was written about Johnny Thunders…. but (and forgive me if I am stating the obvious), but this could easily be seen as prophetically about Bob Stinson.

“The Morning After the Coup” by Grant Peeples and the Peeples Republik

“Meet the New Boss…”  Coups are fun and all, but what comes next?  Another great song from Punishing the Myth.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”); window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Dream Too Much Mix

Had a great time last night on my first visit to the (relatively) new City Winery Nashville.  The first ever Nashville Nights featured Darrin Bradbury and Tim Easton with Megan Palmer with special guest Amy Speace.  It’s a gorgeous building and the music sounded great.

A bit short on time.  As I do every year on this date, I begin the Video Playlist with a song (not part of the shuffle) by Cracker from their self-titled debut.

“Kumbayah” by Guadalcanal Diary

Let’s sit around the campfire and hold hands!

“Paradise Found” by Gretchen Peters

So happy that Gretchen Peters’ awesome 2012 album Hello Cruel World is available on Noisetrade.com.

“Control Issue” by Manilow

Fun fact, it is next to impossible to find this band on YouTube without seeing hundreds of Barry Manilow videos… Also, wouldn’t it be funny if this was actually a secret project by Barry Manilow. It’s not, but it would be epic.  This is some great sounding punk inspired music.

“Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones

One of my favorite Stones’ songs.  Old and in the Way  (Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Peter Rowan and Vassar Clemons) do an awesome cover of this song.

“Fire from Heaven” by Guadalcanal Diary

Hearing this got me reflecting on how great a band Guadalcanal Diary were.

“Nomadic” by Nicke Borg Homeland

It’s been a good week for cool music from Sweden.  This is another random find on Freegal that I like quite a bit.

“Okay is All She Said…” by Batkhi Dahn

Another from the amazing Batkhi Dahn (aka Hayden Nork of The Foresters).  Cool stuff!

“High Fidelity” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

Keeping it going in High Fidelity!

“You Dream Too Much” by Richard Thompson

Can you dream too much? Apparently so… Rumor and Sigh is the bomb!

“Camille” by Gretchen Peters!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Closing things out with another from Hello Cruel World which made me think about seeing the Greta Garbo film Camille in high school drama class…

VIDEO PLAYLIST

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

3.14159265358979323846264

https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js
Couch by Couchwest 2014 rocks on!

 



Day four ended with a pair of videos of two of the absolute gems of my town.  Gretchen Peters and Dave Olney. 

Day five ended with music from two of the amazing musical couples I’ve had the good fortune to meet as a result of writing this blog.

The End Men ROCKED!!!!!! a brewery and provided more evidence (as if it was needed) as to why I named them Band of the Year for 2013. I’m a sucker for the saxophone – so yeah!

Day five ended with Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray offering up five songs from their recent wedding.  They will be swinging through Nashville in a week and half or so on their triumphant honeymoon tour.  I’ll be there.  Will you?


One of the highlights from Day 5 was a Talking Heads cover performed in a lovely backyard living room by Atlanta’s Sans Abri.


Finally in non-CXCW news – Last week, I had the good fortune of meeting Marla Mase and Tomas Doncker. I already wrote about that.  Marla and Tomas returned to New York and on Tuesday, they joined the rest of the True Groove All-Stars for a celebration at The Cutting Room.  True Groove Global Soul is the artist run record label founded and run my Tomas Doncker.  When I met them, I took home a stack of True Groove CDs and I am really impressed at what they are up to.  The All-Stars included the newest True Groove signee, legendary No Wave saxophonist James Chance.  Here’s a review of the show.




Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Death-Defying All Odds Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js <!– google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5465441380757075"; /* E2TG #2 */ google_ad_slot = "6306625404"; google_ad_width = 728; google_ad_height = 90; //

I hope you haven’t forgotten to check out Couch by Couchwest, but if you have, no worries. Unlike that other festival, you can go right now and get caught up. In a day and a few hours, we’ve already seen our friends: The Foresters, Kassy Key and the Raindogs ,and Cupla. Plus tons of bands who are new to us, but who we are digging on big time.  We hope to have some highlights up soon.

Today was a rainy day, a Monday and it was the first work day after Daylight Savings Time began. How do you improve on that? How about a killer playlist of cool music.

Today’s pre-shuffle shuffle included: The Avett Brothers, a triple shot of classic Elvis Costello, Delta Spirit, and The Dead Exs.  All of these songs are included (or represented in the You Tube Playlist embedded below. We have four songs in our actual shuffle today.  Check those songs out – after the jump:

  •  “This is PiL“ by Public Image Limited from This is PiL (2012)
 

The title track from Public Image Limited’s first studio album in 20 years sounds about like you would expect. Your perception and tastes will determine whether that is a good thing or not.  As the title implies, the song is about the band. Johnny Lydon still sounds like Johnny Lydon.

  • “Summer ’78” by THEY KNOW from Reverbnation download (?) 

THEY KNOW are a couple of guys from Pennsylvania who I connected with through Twitter (I’m pretty sure).  “Summer of ’78” is a great sounding tune, and I look forward to checking out more of their music soon. We have a performance of a different THEY KNOW song in the playlist below.

  • “Hello Cruel World” by Gretchen Peters from CXCW12 Mixtape (2012)

Gretchen Peters is a two-time Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter who Nashville claims as our very own.  She performed the title track from her (then) brand new album for last year’s CXCW.

  • “Disorderly Boy” by Calicocat from Mighty Superfluous (2013)

Another Nashville favorite and a former featured artist at E2TG. Calicocat have called it quits after two and a half years. They leave behind and catalog impressive in it’s quantity and quality.  Might Superfluous is proof that the band left it all on the floor and we wish them all well in their future endeavors.

Now here is the playlist representing all of our pre-shuffle and shuffle shuffle songs:

 

–> http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js