Category: Grumsling

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Skeleton Frames Mix

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Here we are….

Last night, I went to 3rd and Lindsley to see Bebe Buell and her band.  Bebe Buell has been an iconic figure in Rock and Roll for many years.  She relocated to Nashville a little over a year ago. She has a relatively new band and her show was a lot of fun.  Crystal Gayle joined her and The Blackfoot Gypsies closed the show with some of their high-energy shenanigans.   Read more: My review for No Depression.

Another swell shuffle this morning… a mix of songs I am pretty sure you will not see duplicated at one of those run-of-the-mill music sites….

“Sleepless Nights” by Dan Coyle

#E2TG favorite Dan Coyle recently released a collection of songs over at Noisetrade (Free Download – Tips Encouraged). The collection is called Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences.  This is the lead track.

“Green Light” by Paul Zografi

A chance encounter at a Tim Carroll and Joe Nolan show at Bobby’s Idle Hour on Music Row, lead me to meet Paul Zografi and to get a copy of his latest CD Bright.  The album has become a favorite of mine.  This is the lead track from that album.

“Pressure Beat” by Our Daughters Wedding

From the Thirteen O’clock compilation put out by Atlanta-based PPNW Records, comes this previously unreleased 1981 live recording by this New York Synthpop/New Wave band.  Like much of the compilation, this track is like opening a trunk to find tons of old music that I had previously missed out on but which sounds like the music that I was listening to in those day.

“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen

In my humble opinion, one of the best opening songs from one of the greatest albums of all time. So many great lines – rock and roll poetry that sets a very clear scene…

“Skyline” by Grumsling

Another nifty track from Full Coverage. Grumsling is definitely on my list of favorite artists – new to me in 2015.  The hail from the Bay Area of California…

“Can’t Leave the City” by The Jackals

Another great band that came into my consciousness this year!  From the album People!

“Turn Into Earth” by Al Stewart

Al Stewart’s hits “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages” were iconic parts of my childhood experience. I probably heard those two songs hundreds of times in the late 70s or so.  This cover of a Yardbirds’ song came to me via Aquarium Drunkard – I think. The original song was on the album Yardbirds (aka Roger the Engineer) which was released in 1966.

“Insomniac’s Lullaby” by Man Named Pearl

We close out today shuffle with a track from Quietus Make, the new album by Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen artist Jesse Turits who has begun recording under the Man Named Pearl moniker.  Really digging this.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – The Black Bruce Wayne Mix

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Well… another work week is just about done… Since it is Friday, it means it is time for Featured Friday in which we shuffle songs from a smaller subset of our usual playlist. This subset includes mostly songs from albums released this year which have been sent or given to me to include at Ear to the Ground.

Let’s just do it….

“Big Star” by The Poorhouse Says

Another track from as patterns go, the most recent album from St. Louis based, The Poorhouse Says. I am continuing to enjoy this record.

“Want” by [debut]

Our final track from Postcards from Berlin… some really cool electronic music from Los Angeles.

“Hammer” by Angela Easterling

The opening track from Angela Easterling’s new album, Common Law Wife.  I mentioned that I got to meet and hear this song and others on Tuesday night at The 5 Spot. Angela and her common law husband and guitar player Brandon Turner sounded great, and this is a wonderful album that features many of Nashville’s best musicians backing it up.

“Revolutions” by Grumsling

This is the last song on Oakland based Grumsling’s album called, Full Coverage. The band call their sound New Classic Rock and Story Rock.  I really dig the band’s sound which is pretty unique. And as I’ve mentioned before, they have their own character (mascot???, avatar???) that looks pretty mischievous.

“uMakemeFeel” by Rich Robbins (feat. Janel Leea and Taniesha Broadway, prod. Since ’93)

Another great track from Nimbus – the debut album by Rich Robbins – a young hip-hop artist who is from the suburbs of Chicago by way of other places and who attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison on a hip-hop scholarship.  How cool is that?  This is one of my personal favorites from the album.  A killer hook and some great voices backing up Rich Robbins.

“Common Law Wife” by Angela Easterling

Back to Angela Easterling – this time with the title track of her new album.  She did this one, also, on Tuesday.

“Tyger Bay” by Reckless Johnny Wales

The enigmatic troubadour is back in the shuffle with another track from his new album American Heart.

“Celestialism” by The Foresters

It seems fitting to end the week with a track from the new album, Sun Songs, by The Foresters of Bethany, Connecticut.  We have had different artists from the Dord Music Group in our shuffles all week long, and The Foresters are the first and foremost Dord Music Group artist.  To recap for the uninitiated.  Several years ago, Jack Nork took his three young sons to a Green Day concert, the boys came home and wanted to start a rock and roll band. So their parents bought them instruments. That the kids had talent was apparent to me and many others the first time I heard them – back in 2012.  They generally played Pop Punk music heavily influenced by the band that got it all started.  At the time, I made a joke that the band’s average age was just over 10 years old, but that they played their music at 11… Flash forward three years, the band is older, and as a good listen to Sun Songs reveals, the band’s sound has evolved and broadened.  “Celestialism” is the penultimate song on the album.  A gorgeous instrumental rock song that seems a million miles away from their (albeit awesome) Pop Punk roots. With multiple side projects and a laser-focused dedication to music, the future looks bright for The Foresters.  (the recap of the Foresters’ history is mine based upon a shoddy memory of things I have read.  It was probably way cooler than I made it out to be, and possibly different.)

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VIDEO PLAYLIST

Feature Friday Music Shuffle – Swim to Japan Mix

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Here we are at the end of the work week! 

I had such a massively fun time last night at The Basement East.  Two shows, six full band sets, seeing and hanging out with some of my favorite people.  Music-wise: Nancy Terzian and the Leg Men, Stone Cupid featuring Julie Christensen rocked the early show.  Lauren Farrah, Raelyn Nelson Band, Darrin Bradbury leading Hot Garbage (which included Margo Price on Drums and Andrew Leahey on Guitar), and Brian Wright closed the night with four very different but all incredible sets.

Onward, we have our second installment of the newly repurposed Featured Friday… enjoy!

“Middle” by Paul Zografi

We start out our last shuffle of the work week with another great song from Paul Zografi’s album Bright. 

“Magnetized” by Wilco

We continue to dig into the recent surprise Wilco release Star Wars.  “Magnetized” is the final song on the album.

“Whiskey” by Grumsling

“Whiskey” is the first track on Grumsling’s album Full Coverage. The song goes down easy and leaves a warmth in your belly… just like fine whiskey…

“Uniform” by The Poorhouse Says

Has anyone else noticed that the first four songs in today’s shuffle all had one word titles?  The streak ends after this song, but a happy coincidence. as patterns go is one of my favorite albums of 2015 – delightfully understated and brilliant. The Poorhouse Says are a relatively long-running band from St. Louis.

“Great Highway” by Dog Without Warning

Dog Without Warning have been an #E2TG favorite for a few years.  Great Highway is one of a handful of  new songs the band has released in the last couple of months. As they seem to do at every opportunity, the band has once again reinvented their sound while maintaining their integrity of writing great songs. Great Highway comes off to me as a classic-sounding California rock song.

“The Deadly Depression of a Sad Salesman” by Bashful Hips

Word on the street is that Bashful Hips may be returning to Nashville. After our run of one word titles followed by a two word title, this one comes it at seven words!  The music is unique and the songs are very good. 

“I’m Through Hurting” by Dale Watson

Another track from Dale Watson’s Call Me Insane album.  Watson has been making music for close to 40 years, and his latest album finds him sounding as good as he ever has – offering hope that the best is yet to come.  

“Poseidon’s Daughter” by Susan James

Susan James’ new album, Sea Glass, finds the California singer-songwriter adding a page to the rich and storied California Pop Song lexicon.  There is a delicate and subtle psychedelic vibe to this opening song. Or at least that is the feeling the song evoked in me.

“Don’t Wanna Fight No More” by Patrick Kinsley and A Fistful of Dollars

We close out the week’s music with a favorite song from Patrick Kinsley’s For a Thousand Miles album which I reviewed earlier this month. Kinsley’s music falls into a musical gray area that often gets labeled as Americana these days. Kinsley favors verse-heavy songs over choruses, but as in this song, he shows that he is capable of writing a mean hook when necessary.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Noisey Mix

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Well… let’s just jump into today’s shuffle!

“186” by The Vigilance Committee

From the album Exit a Hero – some most excellent, proggy sounding, Indie Rock out of Long Island, NY. 

“Watching the Sun Go Down” by Kevin Gordon

We’ve started listening to Kevin Gordon’s forthcoming album, but this one goes way back to his 2005 album called, O Come Look At the Burning.  We got it off a Noisetrade Sampler that this still available at that site.

“Trap Door” by Stars

Stars are from Canada.  Their Facebook Page lists their genre as Melodramatic Popular Songs, Amazon lists it as Alternative Rock.  E2TG doesn’t care too much for genres.  Pretty upbeat fun sounding music. 

“SGS” by Grumsling

Another track from our new friends from Oakland, California.  Grumsling are one of my favorite “discoveries” of the year so far.  This song is from their 7 song release from 2014 called Full Coverage

“Noise” by Jesse Terry

Connecticut based singer-songwriter Jesse Terry with a track from his latest EP called, The Calm and The Storm. This is one of those  gorgeous songs that seems like it should have always existed.  From some reason, it struck me that this song would not be out of place on Billy Joel’s classic Cold Spring Harbor – and I mean that as high praise. 

“Pictionary” by APE MEN

“Edgy indietronica formed on the post Iron Curtain fringe of the European Union.”  From their debut EP Zero which was released earlier this year. Pretty cool sounds… and a fun reminder of when me and my sister ruled at Pictionary the game.

“Destroy Me” by The Naddiks

The Naddiks are a high energy Alternative band from Canberra. This is the opening track from their EP called 21cb. 

“Mama’s Don’t Let Your Cowboys Grow Up to be Babies” by Dale Watson

So far, the shuffle has moved between singer-song writers and alt/prog/indie bands from all over the world.  Let’s bring this whole mess together as only E2TG can… with Dale Watson covering Tony Joe White’s answer to the Ed and Patsy Bruce song made famous by Waylon and Willie.  This song is on Dale’s latest album Call Me Insane.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


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Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Pain in the Butt Mix

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Let’s jump right into the shuffle… some music for a  rainy Thursday morning here in Nashville….

“Hole in My Head” by Human Radio

So… I lived in Memphis for a couple of years back in the last days of the 1980s.  I had been really into the Nashville independent music scene, and to be honest (for a lot of reasons which are more about me), I never really caught up with some cool stuff that was happening in Memphis. But, I remember seeing signs on utility poles all over downtown and midtown for Human Radio.  My first thought was that this must be some sort of hip-hop artist – like a human beatbox or something, but again that was probably just me.  Anyway, at some point, I did finally catch up with Human Radio, and their self-titled album is one of my favorites.  Through a set of circumstances, the original line-up of Human Radio found themselves all living in Nashville recently (the band had relocated here shortly before parting ways).  They began playing some shows (I had the good fortune to finally see them live just a month or so ago), and now they are making plans to record and release some new music.  You can help.  Click HERE and see what you can do to make this happen.

“Lonely and Blue” by Black Vincent

Black Vincent of Michigan (fronted by Coley Kennedy) recorded their album here in Nashville with the production team responsible for the recent Diamond Rugs release (also releases from Deer Tick, Middle Brother, Sallie Ford, and T. Hardy Morris).  This opening track immediately brought to mind Roy Orbison – the best possible ways.  Coley Kennedy sings here with a classic sounding croon and is backed by some highly original and yet classic sounding Rock and Roll heartbreak music.

“Too Many Men” by Eight O’Five Jive

One of Nashville’s swingingest (did I make that word up?) bands, is up next with the title track from their current album.  There are all kinds of problems in the world, and Eight O’Five Jive makes this one sound like a whole lot of fun.

“Sunday Papers” by Joe Jackson

From Look Sharp!  “They wouldn’t print it if it wasn’t true…”

“Boy Got it Bad” by KaiL Baxley

L.A. bases singer-songwriter KaiL Baxley has a new album called A Light That Never Dies.  This song goes back to his 2013 album Heatstroke/The Wind and the War.

“Wild” by Royal Teeth

Another track from the World Café Session mega-download.  Royal Teeth are based in Louisiana, and the create a fun brand of Indie-Pop…

“PreGame” by Grumsling

From the EP A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea… Grumsling are from San Francisco, and they are absolutely fun.  They combine innovative music with a full-frontal multi-media attack.. plus they have their own avatar/mascot who looks kind of evil but in a really fun kind of way.  Cute evil… maybe.

“Fuck On” by Christopher Aaron Slade

What can you say?  Christopher Aaron Slade approached me with some of his music which he described as AC/DC meets Blondie meets Scissor Sisters (or something like that).  I was intrigued enough to listen, and so far I have liked what I have heard.  Basically a lot of power chords set to a danceable beat with just enough New Wave funkiness to keep things interesting.  *By the way, I decided not to censor the song title so, if you are offended… well…  I don’t know…

“Gwan” by The Suffers

And we close out the day and the work week (I’m off tomorrow) with some Soul music from Houston Texas – another from the World Café Sessions.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Crying for You Mix

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Having come of age musically speaking in and around Nashville in the late 80s, it would not surprise anyone that last night’s show featuring Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks, Bill Lloyd and his fantastic band, Warner Hodges and his fantastic band, and the newly reunited Government Cheese would be an exciting thing for me to see. I think what impressed me the most was that it wasn’t all or even mostly about nostalgia or looking back.  I mean sure, I got a certain thrill when Webb did Poolside from It Came From Nashville – his first album. And there were significant memories stirred in the Nashville Jam finale – when everyone returned to the stage to do the late Tim Krekel’s “I Can’t Help Myself” (a song that Jason and the Scorchers recorded). The most significant aspect of the evening was that everyone had newer material and seemed to be looking forward not back.  Government Cheese has a brand new album after decades apart. And Warner Hodges, I dare say, rocked the Music City Roots stage about as hard as it has even been rocked. 

On to the shuffle…

“Rufus Baker, Mermaid” by Atticus Floyd

From the album Russell Stover Stole My Baby.  Some awesome experimental noise rock  stuff.  I could not find any videos of Atticus Floyd so since Atticus Floyd is a member of Circus Propaganda, I posted a Circus Propaganda video instead.  Check out Atticus Floyd, though, y’all.

“Tree” by Grumsling

From A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea… The Oakland, California based Grumsling are back in the shuffle with another highly original, cool song.

“Brushy Mountain Conjugal Trailer” by Old Crow Medicine Show

For the record, Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary closed in 2009.  Old Crow Medicine Show are truly Nashville musical treasures. This song is the lead track from the band’s ninth studio album, Remedy which was released about a year ago.

“Hitler’s Tears” by John Wesley Harding

Only a master songwriter could write a song like this… Another from the fabulous Why We Fight?

“Tinsel and Lights” by Tracey Thorn

Another from the World Café sessions.  It is always refreshing to have a Christmas song in the shuffle in early June.  Even better when said Christmas song is by a member of Everything But the Girl. From the 2012 holiday album of the same name.

“Foot of the Hill” by Boxed In

Boxed In is Oli Bayston a producer and former member of the band Keith. This song his from the self-titled debut album which was released around the first of this year.

“Low” by [debut]

Another swell sounding Electronic/Indie song from the album Postcards from Berlin.

“Coney Island” (Live from the City of Brotherly Love)  by Good Old War

The Philadelphia band have a sampler out on Noisetrade that includes songs from the latest Good Old War album, Broken Into Better Shape.

“North Country” by American Scarecrows

We close out the shuffle with another song from the Yesteryear by this awesome Minnepolis rootsy rock band.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Beer into Air Mix

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Ever wonder what would happen if you created a playlist with a wide variety of music from different genres and different eras and then hit shuffle and wrote about the 8-12 songs that came up randomly during your morning commute?   Well, wonder no more, here at Ear to the Ground, we do this just about every week day and an occasional Saturday or Sunday if I am bored…  In fact, we did it today…. here’s what happened:

“A Redneck Oughta Be the President” by Mike Thomas

Middle Tennessee songwriter Mike Thomas engages in some non-partisan political speculation…

“You Spin Me ‘Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive

Sometimes, the 1980s were like this… just saying…

“Columbus Stockade” by Tigerman WOAH!

Another day, another Tigerman WOAH! song.  This one is about time spent in the state of Georgia.

“Burn.Flicker.Die.” by American Aquarium

American Aquarium are one of the best and hardest touring bands out there.  Their new album, Wolves, is out now.  This is the title track from the album that preceded Wolves. I saw them at a packed out show at the Basement on a Monday night of the week between Christmas and New Years.  It was fantastic.

“The Original Miss Jesus” by John Wesley Harding

One of my favorite songs on Why We Fight.  If my memory is correct, I saw him play an early show at an old downtown club called Ace of Clubs around the time this album came out.  If my timeframe is right, I was living in an apartment right next the club (on the other side of the Shelby Street Bridge – before it was a pedestrian bridge).  If all of that is the result of faulty memory, this is still one of my favorite songs from Why We Fight.

“Teach Me (Say It, Don’t Spray It)” by Tom Schreck

Always good to have a song in the shuffle from one of my favorite local songwriters.  When local is Nashville, being a favorite local songwriter is a big deal.  Tom Schreck is a big deal.  Get on it.  From his album, Save Your Glory.  The video I included in the video playlist is Tom doing a cover of Billie Jean which I have posted before, but which is worth repeating. 

“Calico Valley” by Susan James

Ear to the Ground first caught up with California singer-songwriter in 2013 with her brilliant Americana album, Driving Toward the Sun.  She has recorded her follow up album called, Sea Glass which will be released June 16.  This is a song from that forthcoming album, which she says is a departure from the previous album and a return to her singer-songwriter roots.  To my mind, the music classic California pop music with maybe a hint of psychedelic influences on some tracks.  I have enjoy the album very much, and this track made a great addition to this morning’s shuffle.

“It’s Tricky” by Run DMC

What’s that you say? Ear to the Ground has been thin on old school hip hop classics?  It can be hard keeping a balance of all the different types of music out there.  Dare I say, it’s tricky?  Dare I?  Released in 1986, “It’s Tricky” was the last single released from Run DMC’s third album, Raising Hell.

“Down Time” by Grumsling      window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;     

I absolutely love it when I “discover” innovative new music that combines an original sound with flat out great songs. When the band in question has a cool name and an even cooler avatar, I like it even more.  Grumsling.  Got it?

VIDEO PLAYLIST


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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – A Czech at the Blue Line Mix

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I saw a remarkable show at City Winery – Nashville last night.  It was a CD Release show for Darrell Scott’s new album which features the songs of the late Ben Bullington.  You can read my review on No Depression here.

On to the shuffle….

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“In Between Drinks” by Tim Carroll

My visual interpretation of the awesome song that I get to hear at least once just about every week.

 

“An Arrow in the Gale” by Magnolia Electric Co.

From the 2009 album Josephine.  Jason Molina is very much missed in this world.

“Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)” by Warren Zevon

A song about the importance of knowing your role and waiting for the right opportunity to rise above it. Or something like that… It’s Warren Zevon singing about hockey! What else do you want?

“Sleeping Bag” by Patrick Sweany

Patrick Sweany filled in for Tim Carroll a few weeks back for the Rock and Roll Happy Hour, and he did a mighty fine job.  This is an awesome song from his 2011 album, That Old Southern Drag.  Sweany is from Ohio but now resides in East Nashville.  He was worked with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys among many others.

“Saint Valentine” by Gregory Alan Isakov

The South African born, American singer-songwriter with a song from his 2013 album The Weatherman.  This came off of a Noisetrade Bonnaroo sampler.

“Glacial Flood” by the transcendents

There is a reason I still check out as much of the music that comes through my e-mail as I can…  This band from New Zealand has rapidly become one of my favorites simply because their songs and music is so amazing.  They seem like descent people, too, and it will be good to know some people if I ever wake up and find myself in New Zealand…

“Love/H8” by The Danbury Lie

Interestingly, I have been reading a book written by someone named Dan Burylie.  I have no idea if the book is connected to this #E2TG favorite, but the cover of the book and the cover of the album (Choose Your Delusion) are identical.  So if the two works are not related there may be a lawsuit in the future…  come to think of it, the title is similar, too… hmm… 

Choose Your Delusion: Stream-of-Consciousness Ramblings from the Mind of Dan Burylie
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“Argosvinis Moni” by Imam Baildi

Also from that Noisetrade Bonnaroo sampler.  This is a band from Athens… such a great history of music from  Athens –  B52s, R.E.M…. oh wait, this band is from Athens, Greece.  Never mind.  Anyway, it some cool exotic sounding music to expand your musical vocabulary.

“Roberta Sparrow” by Grumsling

From the EP, A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea.  This highly creative Oakland, California band has captured my attention in short order.  I highly recommend the Philosophy of Time Travel if you want to know where the title of this song came from…

“Tying Ten Knots in the Devils Tail” by Townes Van Zandt

I kind of sort of think that maybe I featured this song before, but it may have been on one of my Facebook posting sprees… which you would know about if you “Liked” by Facebook page (link at the top of this entry).. hint, hint…  either way, it is Townes Van Zandt so even if this is a repost, you know what?  I don’t care… the song was written by Gail Gardner.

“Belly of the Beast” by Holy Sheboygan!

I had the wonderful opportunity to see Wisconsin based Holy Sheboygan! last month when they brought their little bus and inventive, upbeat music to Nashville.    They brought everything but the kitchen sink to the stage of Foobar… and it was kind of dark, so I’m not completely sure that there wasn’t a kitchen sink.. Cameron Carrus who plays bass for Darrin Bradbury and Tim Carroll among others is a long time member of this band. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – The Thrill is Gone Mix

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Of course, the dominant news of the day is the passing of B.B. King, and my Facebook feed is filled with people from all different genres of music weighing in on the passing of this legend.  King’s death comes just days after the death of a much lesser known Blues singer named Captain Luke Mayer at the age of 87 and serves as a reminder that we are losing/have lost so many of the greats of the modern music era. I do not see a need to compare and contrast the  lives and careers of B.B. King and Captain Luke (at least not here and now), just to say how grateful I am that the music will endure.  Which means I am grateful for all the groups and people who are making sure that the music lives on.  And for me that means, the preservationists and historians and traditionalists as well as those who are continuing to innovate to keep all forms of Roots music (no matter how broadly that term is defined) a living breathing thing.

R.I.P. B.B. King and Captain Luke.  Thank you for the gifts of your music.


“Spilled Years” by Darrin Bradbury

“We will never be that dumb and young again…”  Nola – Darrin and Megan Palmer are in your city as I type this.  Make them feel at home!

“Monster Inside” by Broken Guru

A favorite of mine from Bent up Halo.

“Grounds for Divorce” by Elbow

From their 2008 album The Seldom Seen Kid.

“Leavin’ Sound” by The Ghoul Goes West

The next to the last song we have to present from Ghosts and Bones and Blood and Things.  Please check out this band and give them some support. They are great.

“Gnab Gib” by Grumsling

Grumsling are a San Francisco area band that I really just got a hold of… they have a fascinating story that I will expound upon as more songs enter the shuffle.  In the meantime, just a listen.  The is for the EP Full Coverage.

“Hard Day Coming Down” by The Record Company

Some great bluesy music from this California band.

“The Visit” by Richard Barone

Another track from Cool Blue Halo….

“Keep Your Promises” by Sean Watkins

All I Do is Lie is the album..

“Sally, I’ve Been Shot” by Two Cow Garage

The Columbus Ohio band currently counts among its members Todd Farrell Jr.  This is from their Sweet Saint Me album.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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