Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Here Comes the Night Mix

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We are back after taking yesterday off to celebrate Labor Day here in the U.S.   I have seen 8 different live performances since my last post. 

Sunday night at Foobar, I saw Ryan Dishen, Sioux City Kid, Adrian and Meredith Krygowski, and then long time #E2TG favorites Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray (full band).  I saw Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray back in July as a duo where they really stripped their songs down, and that was a fun show.  Here the band was tight and they blew the roof off the place. 

Last night, I headed out to The East Room for a show that featured three Nashville acts and one band from New York.  Toot Sweet from NYC opened the show. We featured them on Ear to the Ground before. They are part of the Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen collective, and thus became the first MCFK band that I have seen live. They were remarkable. Highly distinctive and original sound rooted in interesting older music in a style they call Cabaret Soul.  My good friends, Western Shore were next, and they delivered like they always do with their unique brand of Americana music.  The Wooly Mama’s were next and delivered a high energy performance that was a lot of fun. The headliners were The Lonely Bastards who were celebrating and giving away copies of their new vinyl single.  I had seen them some time ago, and I remember that I enjoyed them, but it was good to be reminded of what I liked.

Tonight, Megan Palmer, Amy Speace, Tim Easton, and 2014 E2TG Artist of the Year, Darrin Bradbury are doing a round at the legendary Bluebird Café.  It will be Darrin’s debut at the Bluebird, and is either a sign that Nashville is changing or else it is some other kind of sign…  either way, I am so proud of him.

Today’s shuffle as well as the recent live performances I have seen have been further evidence that there is so much great much out in the world right now. The old music business may or may not be dying, and yes it is hard for band’s to make money, and yet, every day, I discover and rediscover people who continue to make highly music and then put it out into the world.

“Meteoright” by Futurisk

Another track from the awesome 13 O’clock compilation put out by PPNW Records.  Futurisk were an early 80s synth punk, new wave band from Florida.  They are getting some latter day reissue treatment.

“Independence Day” by Discount Ravioli

From what I have gathered, the Discount Ravioli album, Robin Schultz and the 21 Prayers, was mostly recorded in a tent in the early hours of the morning of July 5. Independence Day is not to be mistaken for the Will Smith Sci-Fi Action flick of the same name, however, if you really want to mistake this song for that movie, then who am I to harsh your buzz.

“Check the Setlist” by Tom Schreck

Nashville songwriter/Outsider from his album Save Your Glory.  Rumor has it, Schreck is finishing up an EP called Added Glory. (Actually he posted about it on Facebook, but it is more fun to call it a rumor).

“Dead Men’s Garden Part II” by Bashful Hips

Another track from Too Old for a Coming of Age Story. So good…

“This Lonely Road” by Brian Carpenter and the Confessions

Another cool track from The Far End of the World which is due out in early October.

“Night Still Comes” by Neko Case

Last week we had Neko Case as part of the band The New Pornographers. Here she is solo from her 2013 album The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, the more I Love you.                                                                                                                                                                                                       

“Here She Comes Now” by The Velvet Underground

Another gem from White Light/White Heat.

“St. Roch Blues” by Hurray for the Riff Raff

A glorious song from New Orleans band, Hurray for the Riff Raff.

“Can’t Back Out” (acoustic) by The Silent War

The Silent War is the relatively new duo that features singer songwriter Garrison Starr and Adrianne Gonzalez. This came from a Noisetrade sampler.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Glorious Sound Mix

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(All though he probably won’t read this): Thanks for Kevn Kinney for raising the bar for the 5 Spot residency, for putting on four very different and very awesome shows, and for reminding me once again why I love this town. (took someone not from town to do it, too!).  Last night was phenomenal with Kinney generously sharing his time with Todd Snider, Rorey Carroll, Tom Clark, Chuck Mead, and Warner Hodges (who was backed by Dan Baird, Joe Blanton, and Brad Pemberton). There were so many amazing moments.

Tonight should be another amazing night of music… did I mention I love this town?  The Basement East will be my destination tonight for Nancy Terzian and The Leg Men and Stone Cupid (starting at 7:00)  and then four full band sets from Darrin Bradbury, Brian Wright, Raelyn Nelson, and Lauren Farrah (starting at 9:00)

Now to the shuffle… and we have a great one today….

“Angel in the Snow” by Whiskey Shivers

A perfect antidote for the blistering heat we’ve been experiencing this summer… this glorious sounding song from Austin, Texas based Whiskey Shivers.

“Everybody Knows (For Trayvon)”  by Hurray for the Riff Raff

A heart-breaking, powerful, moving, and beautiful song from the New Orleans based band.

“All I Know” by Lydia Loveless

The great songs continue with this one – the lead track from the 2013 EP Boy Crazy.

“Little Bit of Whiskey” by Bill Morrissey

The late folksinger with a song from the 1991 rerecording of his self-titled debut album with was released in 1984.  Pure songwriting at it’s very best.

“Out of Road” by Lindsay Ellyn

The title track from Lindsay Ellyn’s EP – released back in May which is one of my favorite releases of 2015 so far.  “Lindsay Ellyn represents all the best qualities of the “New Nashville” music scene… She brings a fresh perspective and a new voice to town, while maintaining an understanding and interest in the traditions that made us Music City in the first place.” (I said that!)

“Broken Heart Tattoos” by Ryan Bingham

From Bingham’s latest album, Fear and Saturday Night.  By this point in my shuffle- I knew the random feature was onto something pretty cool.  “Accidently” pulling together a fantastic string of really great songs.

“Mr. Musslewhite’s Blues” by Ray Wylie Hubbard

From Hubbard’s latest album Ruffian’s Misfortune.  This song was one of the highlights when I saw him live earlier this year.

“Rods and Cones” by A Color Engine

The lead track from Voyage Underwater; 56 Knots.  A fantastic song from the now defunct band/duo that paired Eric Burchfield from E2TG featured band Elephant Goes West with Don Ryan who is one of my all-time favorites.  A little bird… told me Don’s new album is getting close to being finished… but that bird actually has “lie” in its name, so who knows…

“Love is All Around” by Husker Du

And what better way to end the shuffle then with Minneapolis post-punk legends doing a cover of the theme song to the classic sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  “We’re gonna make it after all!”

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Ain’t It Just Like Rain Mix

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Got to meet Alex Giorgetti of the long time #E2TG favorite The Gypsy West.  He was in town with his girlfriend Laura.  I always like meeting the people I write about in real life.  Word has it there could be some new music from The Gypsy West later this year.  Cannot wait!

Saturday, I got to hang out and hear some music from Patrick Kinsley who is getting set to release the first single from his forthcoming album.  I am super stoked for the new album and the first single “Back in Illinois” name drops Ear to the Ground – which I am going to just assume is intentional tribute… Don’t try to correct me on this!

Last night was another fine Eastside Invasion at Bobby’s Idle Hour.  All of the performances were fantastic.  Taylor Alexander, James Tomberlin, Vanessa Darian and Steven Cooper (Van Darien), Joe Nolan, and Luella and Some Fella (Tim Carroll) filling in for Darrin Bradbury. and more…

Now, it is Monday – a grey, drizzly morning – not feeling 100% – pushing through because it is what I do…  Music motivates in it’s own way… shuffle up!

“Gimme My Rock n’ Roll” by The Satisfactors

New, classic-sounding straight ahead Rock music from the New Jersey supergroup.  The song name drops, The Ramones, Richard Hell and more…

“N2DEEP” by B A S E C A M P

Electronic/Dubsteppy  R ‘n’ B cover of the Genesis song “In Too Deep”… from the Noisetrade Bonnaroo mixtape.

“The Semplica Girl Diaries” by Ben Arthur

From the  forthcoming album Call and Reponse – this song is a response to a short story by George Saunders and includes some input from the author.  You can read about this and more about the concept of art “answering” other art in this article by Ben Arthur.

“Big Fish” by Giant Sand

A fantastic song from Howe Gelb’s band taken from the benefit album, Sweet Relief – a 1993 album that included many artists covering the songs of Victoria Williams – who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“Mothers” by Circus Propaganda

Another great song from the Bethany, CT band. Just in time (a week and a day late) for Mother’s Day… or not…

“Different Darkness” by Carl Anderson

Still working on that Best of 2015 (so far) list, but Risk of Loss from which this one is taken, is still likely to be high up there. Carl Anderson is on the road and if he comes within driving distance of where you are, go see him.

“Run” by Storm Chronicles

Some lovely progressive music from the album Looking Backward.  I have been enjoying the gorgeous soundscapes present on this album.

“The Bear Came Over the Mountain” by Ben Arthur

Another from Call and Response.  This one is an “Answer song” to the Alice Munro Short Story.  By the way, I think I picked the same video for both Ben Arthur songs… but the second version was posted by SXSW and contains some additional background into Call and Response. 

“The Ghost in You” (Psychedelic Furs cover) by Robyn Hitchcock

Yeah… I was pretty much sold just by the idea of Robyn Hitchcock covering the Furs… fortunately, the execution lives up to my expectations… a great song well covered.

“The Body Electric” by Hurray for the Riff Raff

From the second time in as many weeks, we have the New Orleans based Hurray for the Riff Raff.  This time we have a song from their latest album Small Town Heroes.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Crazy Flipper Fingers Mix

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First off, I witnessed a great night of music at The 5 Spot last night. Jon Latham, Allen Thompson, Zach Schmidt, Tim Easton, and Darrin Bradbury – powerhouse stuff there!  As a bonus, I get to stick around and see long-time Ear to the Ground favorites Year of October as part of the late show line-up.  I am really proud of how they have grown musically in the past few years since I first heard them.

Also, my review of the Wednesday Night Bobby Memphis Benefit show is currently (at press time) on the front page of No Depression, and although, I can admit that I always happy when something I wrote gets featured like that, what I really hope is that it leads some people to helping out a man who I do not know and did not know of, but who is obviously respected and loved by a large number of people.  You can read the review here.

“True Love Doesn’t Beg” by Jesse and Noah

Jesse and Noah are brothers who come from a rich musical background.  Their father and uncle are The Bellamy Brothers who you should know from “Let Your Love Flow” among many other great songs.  Jesse and Noah have taken their musical background as a starting point and have been working hard for many years to forge their own path in the word of music. They have a new EP of acoustic covers called Brethen due out soon.  That collection includes their incredible cover of the Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” which they played for Couch by Couchwest a year or so ago.  Today’s track is from the duo’s 2013 album, Driven Back.

“Magnolia” by Matt Prater

North Alabama Country Music traditionalist, Matt Prater is up next with a beautiful song from his most recent album Tables and Chairs.

“Throw it Away” by Joe Jackson

Power Pop may mean different things to different people, but the connotation I take from it is that of high energy music backing up superb, hook-laden songs.  I’ve always liked “Throw it Away” for it’s punk attitude and incessant beat.  It hard for me to hear it and not want to move.

“This is Love” by Self

It’s funny, I added this to my playlist a while back, but I was just thinking about Self, Matt Mahaffey, and Spongebath Records.  In the mid 1980s, Nashville had a thriving local music scene with a lot of bands getting national attention and signing the highly coveted “Major Label” deals. I grew up as a Nashville Rock music fan and witnessed and read about this vibrant and wild period. I moved to Memphis is 1988 and officially moved to Nashville in 1991.  By the early 90s, the local music scene was decimated.  It was a combination of disillusionment, self-destructive behaviors, and maybe just the natural flow of life. In any event, Self and the label they helped form, Spongebath were instrumental in rebuilding the local music scene  (or perhaps more precisely in building the next phase of the local scene).  Anyway, this song is from the last official Self album called Porno, Mint, and Grime (2005).  The song also appears on the soundtrack to Another Gay Movie (for you trivia buffs).

“Share Your Adderall” by Mike Thomas

Our second Mike Thomas of the week – an uplifting number about legal troubles and prescription drug abuse… seriously, it is a really cool song.  I was only able to find one video on You Tube, so the Video Playlist contains the same song I used the other day, but it’s a good song, too, and most of you probably didn’t watch it. For those of you who want to hear it (which should be all of you), I’m going to try to post a Widget of the song below…

“Fine and Mellow” (Billie Holiday cover) by Hurray for the Riff Raff

What’s that you say?  I haven’t posted a Billie Holiday cover by popular New Orleans band, Hurray for the Riff Raff?  Well, consider that omission covered!

“Walking in the Dark” by Brock Zeman

This song was one of the highlights of the night when I saw Brock Zeman (along with David Olney, Will Kimbrough, and Samantha Crain at the Bluebird Café a couple of weeks ago.

“1000 Years” by Direct Divide

Direct Divide are a relatively new band from Seattle which features symphonic and cinematic rock music with a blistering violin and powerful lead vocals.

“Pinball Wizard” (from Tommy) by Rod Stewart

From the 1972 album by the London Symphony Orchestra.  Originally, Rod Stewart had been tapped to sing all of Roger Daltrey’s lead role, however, soon Daltrey and Pete Townsend became more involve in the project, and Stewart’s role was reduced this one song.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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