Music City Monday Morning Shuffle – The Road Got Blurry Mix

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So, spring has arrived and here in Nashville that has meant a brief cold snap. I seem to be over whatever it was that kind of knocked me out at the end of last week… ready to take on a new week. According to Facebook, I have 12 events with 51 friends coming up this week.  Fortunately, I do get Friday off work…

I did manage to venture out into a misty rain last night for a fine night of music at The Basement. Despite some vocal duress, Jon Latham was amazing as always.  Throwing a new song (for me anyway) into the mix and inviting up Peyton Parker to sing on a couple of tunes.  Peyton Parker has been on the current season of The Voice.   Next up was Charlie Whitten, who I saw a few weeks back, I once again was struck by his awesome songwriting, gentle good humor, and his whistling (which especially impresses me because I cannot really whistle).  Closing the night was Caleb Caudle who recently released Carolina Ghost to widespread acclaim. A great ending to a great night of music at a pretty pack out Basement.

It’s Monday – I’m in Music City… let’s do Music City Monday….

“Helpless” by Lindsay Ellyn

Lindsay Ellyn’s EP Out of Road (one of my favorites of the year) was named Number 1 EP by Queens of Country. This is a great track from that EP.  Readers in New York City, Lindsay and Jeremy Nash (both Nashville songwriters who moved to town from NYC) will be playing at Rockwood Music Hall tonight, and I highly recommend both of them. 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. EDT.

“Feels Like Rain” by John Hiatt
 

John Hiatt moved to Nashville very early in the 1970s and been making incredible, ground-breaking music ever since. This is the final track from his 1988 album, Slow Turning. The song was later covered by the great Buddy Guy.


“Mockingbird” by Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons
 

Cory Chisel moved to Nashville from Appleton, WI.  This song is from his 2009 album Death Won’t Send a Letter.  I think I was first introduced to his music around this time when I saw the band open for Peter Case at 3rd and Lindsley. More recently he was nominated for a Grammy award for his co-write of the Rodney Crowell/Emmylou Harris song “The Travelling Kind”. He also recently toured with Robert Ellis and Jonny Fritz as Traveller.


“Still With Me” by Charlie Hager
 

Among the events I regretfully missed during my brief convalescence at the end of last week was the CD release show for Charlie Hager’s new album American Saga.  It sounds like it was an awesome night packed with tons of great artists.  I really hate that I missed it, but at least I get to hear the album, and it’s out so you can hear it, too.  To me it is pure and honest songwriting at its best.

 

“You Could Be My Baby” by SHEL
 

This is a track that will be on SHEL’s new album, Just Crazy Enough which is due out in May.  They will be playing the Safety Harbor Song Fest in a couple of weeks, and they are scheduled to play Nashville’s Earth Day show later in April.  

“Fun Machine” by Colorfeels
 

This is another track from that Music the Film: Music City Underground.  Colorfeels were a Nashville band that broke up in 2014. I don’t know much about them, except that I like this song and a bunch of my East Nashville friends were fans of the band.


“Speed Trap Town” by Jason Isbell

 

It’s been pretty interesting to watch the meteoric rise of Jason Isbell over the past several years. I was lucky enough to see Isbell with the 400 Unit in the back parking lot of Grimey’s a few years ago for Record Store Day.  There was a decent crowd, but nothing like what it would be today.  This is a track from his latest album, Something More Than Free which won the Grammy for Best Americana album. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST
 

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Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – For Money or Against Your Will Mix

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And so it goes, and we reach the end of another work week here at #E2TG.  Heading into the weekend just ahead of Thanksgiving here in the United States. There is  a ton of great music happening this weekend at different venues.  Choose your poison and get out there. 

Among the shows coming up today and tomorrow (and no I cannot make it to all of these):  Today: Joey Kneiser of Glossary is releasing a new record, and he will play this evening at Grimey’s.  Will Kimbrough is also he releasing a new record, and he will be playing The Basement at 7:00 with Nellie Clay opening. Today is Tommy Womack’s birthday, and we will playing around 9:00 at The Family Wash. Also tonight, the East Nashville Underground: A Magical Reunion is going on at The Basement East.  Plus there is the weekly, Tim Carroll Rock and Roll Happy Hour at The 5 Spot. Plus probably tons of other stuff.

Tomorrow night: One of this blog’s favorites Mark Robinson Band will be playing an early show at The 5 Spot (6:00 start).  Joey Kneiser will be playing that venue after that.  Meanwhile, over at the Family Wash – Knoxville poet and songwriter R.B. Morris will be playing.  Plus the aforementioned East Nashville Underground event continues at The Beast.  and More…

We have a Featured Friday Shuffle that I am really happy about today… let’s take a gander…

“Pieces of Things” by Lindsay Ellyn

What can I say?  This is another track from Lindsay’s Out of Road EP which is one of my faves of the year.  Lindsay somehow manages to pull of great fashion sense, amazing songwriting ability, and being one of the most generous and genuine people I know.  Plus, she surrounds herself with some incredibly talented people (both on this record and in her live performances). 

“Broken As I Am” by Stone Cupid

From the forthcoming album, The Cardinal.  This is one of two leaving California songs that Julie Christensen sings. While, we know that California misses her, Nashville is awfully glad to claim her.  Backed by an amazing band of Nashville’s finest, Stone Cupid serves as wonderful encapsulation of Christensen’s storied career and life.

“All My Nightmares” by Maxim Ludwig

Way back in at the very beginning of this blog, when I was still trying to figure out what Ear to the Ground was going to be, I decided to create an Artist of the Week feature (the feature lasted several months and gave way to the Featured Artists feature which lasted several more months).  The very first Ear to the Ground Artist of the Week was Maxim Ludwig.  At the time, he was performing with his band, The Santa Fe Seven.  Later he recorded under a different band name, and now he is back with music recording under the name Maxim Ludwig.  He has new single, which I am really digging.  I really like keeping up with the music and artists I have “discovered” through writing this blog, and it is always a great thing when one of them puts out new music.  

“So Long, So Long” by Jeremy Nash

My shuffle function seems to really be enjoying Jeremy Nash’s Getaway Driver record, and I cannot say that I blame it one bit.  This is another fine track of that album.

“Killing Women and Children” by Tom House

Tom House is a songwriter and a poet who has long been a fixture on the Nashville music scene.  His latest album is called Songs Like Dreams… More Like Blood.   Looking forward to hearing and writing more about his music.

“Sorry You’re Sick” by Mary Gauthier

Another track from Cold and Bitter Tears: The Songs of Ted Hawkins.  This track features Mary Gauthier.  I got to see her perform this song at the meet and greet for the record, held during Americana week.  A really lovely song.

“Major Key” by Jon Latham

“What are you wanting out of this?  A little more Steve Earle, a little less heroin.”  So opens Jon Latham’s Real Bad News – that studio banter is followed by this song on which Latham delivers.  This is the defining song on the album and sets the tone. A steady rocker that hits on all cylinders (clever and intelligent references, powerful lines and a crystal clear musicality).  This should be your new favorite song.

“Sweet Magnolia Love” by D.L. Duncan

And we close out the day with some more excellent blues from the self-titled record by D.L. Duncan which features some amazing players including Delbert McClinton, Sonny Landreth and many more.  If this music does not make you feel better, I am not sure what will.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


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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 – I Said That Mix

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It’s Monday and man it sure is hot here in Nashville…  you know what else is hot? Today’s shuffle!  Hot off the presses…  The #E2TG shuffle at it’s best – widely and wildly divergent styles and themes of music congregate on my music player on a weekday morning…  enjoy!

“Bowling Green” by The Barefoot Movement

Another traditional tune from The High Road EP.  A great way to start the week.

“Another Green World” by Brian Eno

At this point, it seemed like the shuffle might be going for some sort of “green” theme.  It ended here… the title track from Brian Eno’s classic 1975 album.  I would say chances are good that even if you aren’t a Brian Eno fan, you’ve likely heard this short instrumental piece.

“Gorilla Girl” by The Dead Milkmen

So far we’ve moved from traditional bluegrass music to ambient art pop and now onto whatever it is that The Dead Milkmen do… From Big Lizard in My Backyard.  “I love my groovy Gorilla Girl.”

“Jonesin’ for Jones” by Dale Watson

And from a song about a girl who looks like an ape, do a fine bit of traditional country music in the form of a tribute to the late great George Jones.

“Blood Oranges in the Snow” by Over the Rhine

As the heat index breaks the triple digits for the second or third day in a row, it’s refreshing to hear a song about snow.  Blood Oranges are pretty good, too.  This is the title track from the 2014 Holiday album by Ohio folk/Americana band Over the Rhine.  The first of what amounts to a mini-Ohio theme embedded in the shuffle.

“Ain’t That A Lot of Love” by Webb Wilder

I got to see Webb Wilder play with the Beatnecks a couple of weeks ago.  He still packs quite a wallop.  This is a cover of a song by Homer Banks and it was later covered by Simply Red (but you’d hardly know this is the same song).  Webb makes the song all his own.  From Hybrid Vigor.

“Modern Life” by Mothers

A slice of Modern Life from Mothers – another track from Panamanian Times.

“American Tan” by Aaron Lee Tasjan

Our second Ohio artist in the shuffle – although East Nashville claims him now!  From the new EP, Telling Stories to the Wall.  Dig it! 

“I Woke Up in a Race Car” by Batkhi Dahn

So Batkhi Dahn founder Hayden Nork just finished middle school.  Listen to this song and let that sink in.  Hayden’s other band just released the second single ahead of their forthcoming album Sun Songs (which will be their third release).

“You or No One” by Chrissie Hynde

This is recorded for World Café and is the lead track from the debut solo album by The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.  She was born in Akron, Ohio, and thus completes our Ohio mini theme (unless there are other Ohio connections that I missed – which is entirely likely).  The album is called Stockholm and it was released in 2014.  Kind of hard to believe that Chrissie had not released a solo album before then.

“Pax Romana” by The Great Game

The Great Game are an international band – their Hometown on Facebook is listed thusly: “Somewhere between south of Spain and North of Scotland, Passing through Prague and Antwerp.”  The Great Game is the name of their debut record from which this track is taken.

“Glory, Glory” by Lindsay Ellyn

Lindsay Ellyn’s EP Out of Road is one of my favorite records of the year, and this may will be my favorite song from that record.  At a time when it would appear from reading social media that everyone has everything figured out, it is nice to hear a song about good old fashioned doubts.

“Ballad of Billy Joe McKay” by Shawn Mullins

From his 1998 album Soul’s Core.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – The Drifting Mix

I am thinking about starting a new weekly post or something promoting the #E2TG recommended  shows around Nashville each week.  I have not decided upon a format or anything, but if you have suggestions or events for consideration, hit me up.

In the meantime, get ready to kick off the last full week before Christmas with a pretty awesome show at The Building in East Nashville tonight.  It is Open Road Monday.  Doors open at 7:00 with music starting at 8:00.  The show features The Western Shore, Sarah Potenza, Darrin Bradbury and Jon Latham.  An open mic follows so bring you guitars and songs down and dig it. The BLDG is BYOB or you can cross the patio to Drifter’s BBQ and bring something back. The Building is at 1008 #C Woodland Street right behind Drifter’s. Come out for some Ear to the Ground recommended musical offerings..

“The Drifting” by The Torn Images

The opening track from the new album by California Indie Rock artist Briand Arabaca aided by some other California Indie rock musicians. Check it out.

“Harmless Sparks” by American Aquarium

I really dig this song off of the album Burn. Flicker. Die. It’s been playing quite often on my music player. It may just be my favorite track on this album which is full of great songs.

“Runnin’ Away” by Heather Powell

I’m about 90% sure this was a song that I already featured that got added back when I had my playlist delete incident. If so, you may have missed it or like me, you may be very happy to hear it again.  This is from Believe it to Life.  Her latest album, A Haze of Grays and Blues is due out in early 2015 on the True Groove label out of New York City.

“Car Cleveland” by John Lurie

I am a huge fan of director Jim Jarmusch.  This track comes from the Soundtrack of Jarmusch’s 1984 film Stranger Than Paradise which stars John Lurie who also wrote the music for the film. 

“All I Do is Wonder” by D.C. Bloom

This may well be one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in a long time. It is listed as Unreleased on his ReverbNation page.  If this is still the case, I hope it will end up on album soon.  In the meantime, head over to his Website and signup.

“Shores” by Lindsay Ellyn

Okay, New York, you better enjoy Lindsay while you have her because Nashville wants her back!  I have this feeling (and I am not the only one) that 2015 is going to be a big year for Lindsay.  She has new music coming out in the new year, and I’ve been lucky enough to have heard some of it performed live… get on board the Lindsay express early or else I will tell you that I told you so.  This one his from her Shores EP.

“It’s Too Late to Live in Austin” by Grant Peeples and the Peeples Republik

Another song that has been coming up fairly often on my music player.  A great song that references a midnight show of James McMurtry and his band.  Another one from the awesome album, Punishing the Myth.

“Trim Your Tree” by Jimmy Butler

With a hat tip to David Horton (Popa Tunes) we offer up another highly suggestive and inappropriate Christmas song from days of yore. This song from the album, “I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus.”  Mojo Nixon covered this song in the early 90s on his album Horny Holidays.

“Samson in New Orleans” by Leonard Cohen

And we close things out with a song from the latest album from Leonard Cohen – called Popular Problems. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Slow Drive Mix

Okay… I’m tired – physically and emotionally drained, but I got a shuffle and it’s a good one… so  let’s do this thing!

“Like Coming Home” by Matt King from Raw

Just is just a flat out great song. Matt King is a Nashville-based songwriter/musician whose brand new band features Matthew and Livia from reigning E2TG Band of the Year, The End Men. Expect a new album featuring this new band in 2015.  In the meantime, I picked up with stripped down sounding album at a thrift store recently, and I am enjoying the hell out of it.

“Iris (Hold Me Close)” by U2 from Songs of Innocence

Another track from the audaciously released latest album from the long-running Irish rock band.  As I’ve felt about much of what the band has done in the past several years, there is nothing I actively dislike, but also no much that I am terribly excited about.  If you dig it – dig it – if you don’t – don’t.

“Where You’re Going” by Lindsay Ellyn from Shores EP

It’s always a good week when I get to see Lindsay Ellyn sing just about every night.  A highlight of this week was her amazing Short Sets appearance at The Family Wash on Tuesday night. She performed a stunning version of Tim Carroll’s “Always Tomorrow” as well as performing the song that is in our shuffle today – a song about an amicable breakup.

“Wish You Well” by Bad Cop from Wish You Well..And Goodbye

It’s good to have Nashville band, Bad Cop back on Ear to the Ground.  They were a featured artist a couple of years ago, and now they have a brand new EP, and we have the (sort of) title track.  Some excellent Rock for my morning commute.

“Slow Love” by Prince from Sign O’ The Times

What’s your rush?  The Artist Formerly and Currently known as Prince sings about the virtues of Slow Love. 

“My Funny Valentine” by Victoria Williams from Sings Some Ol’ Songs

Another delectable Jazz/Pop standard from this album of great old songs.  This is a Rogers and Hart song originally from the musical Babes in Arms. The song has appeared on over 1300 albums performed by well over 600 different artists.  Here Ms. Victoria Williams puts her unique spin on the song.  In the video playlist, we have a version by Miles Davis.

“The Messenger” by Brown Bird from Fits of Reason

I picked up this album by Brown Bird (featuring the late David Lamb) on Record Store Day this year, and it has been great having this incredible songs in the shuffle.  We still have a few more to go.

“Drive” by Grey’s Fool from Drive

When Ear to the Ground started, the primary way I found new music was from Twitter. Nowadays, I get music from a variety of sources, but it’s good to get back to where I began.  I am pretty sure that is how I was introduced to this band.  Gray’s Fool are a singer/songwriter duo from Pittsburgh.  A strong song – lyrical and yes – driving.  Digging the male/female vocals on this track.

“No Saint’s Day” by The Radicals from Halloween Rhymes and Children’s Crimes!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   

Some blogs would drop off the Halloween tracks once that day passed. But, as we have long established, #E2TG is not your run-of-the-mill, Brand X music blog.  We first came across The Radicals on the Built4BBQ sampler.  They recently made their 2011 Halloween album available for free download, and we jump all over it.  This is a wholesome, uplifting song about the joy of Halloween and children and candy… or maybe it’s not.

VIDEOS

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Working Up a Sweat Mix

I need to give some credit where it is due….  About a year and a half ago, based upon a suggestion from the enigmatic and amazing The Danbury Lie, I began compiling a daily Video playlist based upon my daily shuffle.  Before that I just posted videos with the song, but my hope was to create an easier listening experience. 

Now, due to the newishness and/or obscurity of some of the music I feature – as well as the vagrancies of what is available on You Tube, sometimes I can find the exact song, sometimes I can find a different song from the same artist or a different version of the same song, and sometimes I just have to punt.

Anyway, I mention this today because many of videos in the playlist today are not the exact song I listened to during my morning commute.  It’s still a fine video playlist, and I hope you like it. 

I should also say that we don’t really do theme shuffles here at #E2TG – we used to, but whatever… still by the laws of randomness and selective playlist creation, we do have some Halloween themed songs…

Shall we…

“Working Up a Sweat” (Alice Cooper cover) by Royal Court of China from Welcome to Our Nightmare: A Tribute to Alice Cooper

Some people like to start their morning by working up a sweat… there are different ways to accomplish that.  We start off with a song that was on the last album that featured the original Alice Cooper line-up as performed by the awesome Nashville band Royal Court of China.  The video is from the original recording since we couldn’t find the cover on-line.

“What Do I Know (About Love)” by Lael Summer from Burden to Bear

We move on to True Groove recording artist Lael Summer with another great song from her album Burden to Bear. 

“Lions” by The Features from Old Familiar Melodies – 2008-2013/Some Kind of Salvation

Tennessee band the Features are up next with Lions from their 2009 album Some Kind of Salvation.

“Bringing Mary Home” by Vernon Oxford from Keeper of the Flame (disc 4)

How about a ghost story to get us into the Halloween season… this one is a touching pure country ghost story from Vernon Oxford.

“Iblis” by Brown Bird from Fits of Reason

A great instrumental track from this Brown Bird album we’ve been featuring for several weeks.

“Call Me D” by David Dondero from The Pity Party

As previously reported, I had the great pleasure of seeing David Dondero sing a few songs during my near-weekly foray to Fran’s Eastside Tavern.  It was an incredible treat.  The song we have today goes all the way back to 1999 and what I believe to be his debut solo album.  The video is from a more recent album.

“Memphis Woman” by Lulu Mae from Deer Head Music  Presents: Indie Mixtape Nashville/Mean River

The Deer Head Music Presents – Indie mixtape of Nashville bands which we have been wearing the heck out of was curated by the band members from Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes.  They did a fine job putting the compilation together, and we have another great track from the album today – this time from Lulu Mae who offer up a rocking song from their most recent album.

“Moonlight Man” by Lindsay Ellyn from Shores EP

I could make some lame attempt to pass this off as a Halloween-themed song.  Moonlight Man = Werewolf (get it?), but there isn’t any need for that.  Nashville-based Lindsay Ellyn is hard at work on her next release, and I have had the good fortune to hear some of the songs and potential songs from that record.  This song is from her previous EP called Shores.  I love Lindsay’s voice, and I think you will, too.

“Dracula Mountain” by Lightning Bolt from Wonderful Rainbow!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”);

#E2TG isn’t shy about awkward and abrupt transitions, and so we slide gracefully away from the lovely music of Lindsay Ellyn to seasonally appropriate instrumental track from Providence, Rhode Island based Noise Rock purveyors Lightning Bolt.  To paraphrase the band Alabama, “Play me some Dracula Mountain music….”

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Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Addicted to War Mix

Last night was so much fun…  Went to the Rocking Roots Guitar Showcase at The 5 Spot.  Four trios lead by incredible guitarists.  Nick Kane, Richie Owens with the Farm Bureau, Ted Drozdowski with his Scissormen, and Mark Robinson.  Great players with distinct and unique styles falling into the blues/roots area if labels mean much.  All of them were mind-blowingly awesome in very different ways.

Ted Drozdowski getting up close and personal at The 5 Spot


After that showcase, I stuck around to see a long-time favorite of Ear to  the Ground, Pony Boy.  She was a Featured Artist in August 2012, and since then she has spent some time in Nashville, had a song featured on the ABC show named after our fair city, and last night she played a bunch of Nashville’s hottest players.  The qualities which first lead me to her music were all present – an amazing voice, great songs (the originals and covers), and a great stage presence.  It was good to finally meet her.

Let’s jump into the shuffle:

“Devil in my Soul” by Pork Chop Willie from Love is the Devil

I got to spend part of the evening talking to Sue Havlish who sent me this record early this year.  It is North Mississippi Hill Country Blues meets Brooklyn – it somehow walks a great line between traditional and modern.  Hell, it’s a great blues record.

“Libertango” by Clocks and Clouds from The Creation of Matter

Alternative rock and classical music meld perfectly here.  It’s silly, but for some reason, what came to my mind this morning was “Football Fugue” from Pete Townsend’s Another Scoop album. 

“Caves” by Brown Bird from Fits of Reason

There is a persistence to this song that I really like… repetition with progression…

“War” by The End Men from Odds and Ends

The End Men joined by Dion Freewheelin Troubadour Power from London.  A song which unfortunately seems more and more timely every day.  Sunday Night!  Did you hear me? Sunday Night – The End Men – reigning E2TG Band of the Year, and all around awesome people will be melting faces at The Basement under Grimey’s.  There will be music there from 1pm until… come early, come often, but come on down around 9 or so to have your faces melted.  Seriously come!  There is a great line-up including Tim Easton, Blackfoot Gypsies, and Bebe Buell.  $2 draft pints.

“Twin Void” by The Grey A from My Country

I can’t believe it’s been a week… Was so glad to see the Nashville CD Release show for this album.  This song, lyrically, is one of my favorites.  And! We have now have a video for “My Country Song”.  If you are in D.C. and reading this, the band is playing their hometown CD Release show tonight at Comet Ping Pong.  The Grey A is also the newly elected Band of the Month from Washington Deli Magazine.

“Time is Not Your Own” by Solomon Grundy from Solomon Grundy

This one is from the August Feel Bad for You mixtape via the awesome Too Much Country from here in Nashville.  Solomon Grundy were a hard rock/psychedelic band from Washington state featuring Van Conner who was a co-founder of the legendary Screaming Trees. 

“Somebody Love Those Girls” by Lindsay Ellyn from Shores EP

I was fortunate enough to hear Lindsay Ellyn sing with Darrin Bradbury at Fran’s this week.  She has an amazing voice.  Glad to have this wonderful song in today’s shuffle.

“Da Doo Ron Ron/I Wanna Be Sedated” by The Dollyrots from Barefoot and Pregnant

This incredible mash-up was included as a pre-order bonus track on the fifth and most recent album by The Dollyrots.  The Crystals meet The Ramones…. lots of fun.

“Addiction” by The Foresters from Living Hold!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”);

This week marked the fourth anniversary of the brothers’ Nork buying their first instruments. They have come a long way in four years, and as proof – I offer this song from their latest album Living Hold.

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