Category: Penicillin Baby

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Band of the Year and More Mix

You have before you, the FINAL Ear to the Ground of 2013, so let’s blow this thing out!

First order of business:  As promised, it is time to unveil our 2013 Band of the Year. As announced, for the first time in E2TG history, the Band of the Year will be selected by me, myself, and I.  Back in 2011, I came up with the idea of a Band of the Year, and frankly, I didn’t want the pressure/guilt in picking one band over others. So, I created a Readers’ Poll, and with a massive last minute push, UK band The Mobbs stormed to a narrow victory over underdogs Ubiquity Machine.

Following the success of that initial poll, I began running Band of the Month polls beginning with December 2011, although initially successful, the concept of pitting bands against each other began to stale.  We carried on, and at the end of last year, we had another successfully Band of the Year Readers’ Poll wherein Skeletons in the Piano were selected by popular election.

Since that time, I decided to focus on featuring as much new music as I could, and I dropped the Band of the Month and related features. Although I briefly considered another year-end poll, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t willing to give that power away this time…. oh yeah, and the thing about bands working together for their common good….

So…. after all that background and unsolicited explanation, I am very excited to announce the 2013 Ear to the Ground Band of the Year.

The 2013 Band of the Year were selected for the following reasons:

1. They are among the coolest, most bad ass people I’ve had the good fortune to get to know as the result of writing this blog.

2. They are extremely generous and supportive of other bands and artists.

3. They released on of the best albums of 2013.

4. I got to meet them and see them blaze through an all too brief set back in early Spring.

5. They had a successful tour in the US and in Europe.

6. The followed up their amazing 2013 album with a brand new single which was accompanied by an incredible video that visually depicted their total bad-assery.

7.  Because I said so……

The 2013 E2TG Band of the Year is…..  THE END MEN from Brooklyn, New York!!!!!!

 






Congrats kids!  Here’s to an even better 2014!


Okay, we have unfinished business as we continue to feature some of our favorite music of 2013… let’s do it!



I’ll forgo a whole bunch of commentary, but I will see this extended shuffle does show off the variety of music you hear here at Ear to the Ground:


“We Got Soul” by Christian Robins (prod. Jazz Logic)
“Dropped the Pop” by Killing Kuddles
“Four Flame Candle” by Sturgill Simpson
“The Truth” by Dr. Dog
“You Can Have the Crown” by Sturgill Simpson
“Rock and Roll is Dead” by Killing Kuddles
“Black Eyes and White Lies” by Don Ryan and the Blank Canvas Movement
“From this Valley” by The Civil Wars
“Flying Over Water” by Jason Isbell
“Lost Innocent World” by Gogol Bordello
“Cleaning Your Mind” by The End Men
“Dromedary” by Dog Without Warning
“Long Way to the Ground” by The End Men
“From Afar” by Vance Joy
“Hell’s Kitchen” by The Westies
“Lollygagging” by Less Love
“Stack Chips” by The End Men
“Baby Loves It” by Penicillin Baby
“Your Dreams Will Always Follow” by prattle on, rick
“Permanent/Impermanent_1213” by Peck
“Ratking” by The End Men
“Winged Victory” by Lys Guillorn
“I Had Me a Girl” by The Civil Wars
“Clark Gable” (Postal Service Cover) by Mr. Kind + holychild
“The Lost Art of Idle/Entitled” by Peck
“Cool Kids” by Christian Robins (feat. Lord of the Fly) (prod. 5Star)
“Mercy” by prattle on, rick

NOTES:

Americana told Sturgill Simpson he was too Country for Americana.  His reply, I made a country album.

Peck is Chris Peck who we first met as part of the Brooklyn-based The Disappointment. He is releasing his new album one song at a time, at we have two of those songs in today’s shuffle.

Confession: I didn’t think I liked Dr. Dog. I lumped them in with a bunch of “Jam” bands that just weren’t my cup of tea (actually tea isn’t my cup of tea either, but that is another story). Anyway, so I got the chance to actually listen to some of Dr. Dog’s new music this year, and believe it or not, I dug it.  Go figure.

Penicillin Baby are part of the growing and impressive Jeffery Drag Records family and like the other Jeffery Drag artists they offer a nice counter argument to any one who says all Nashville indie bands sound alike. 

I don’t know if The Civil Wars are finished. I hope they aren’t, but if their 2013 self-titled album is the swan song, it’s a hell of a swan song.

In addition to their new EP, Mr. Kind released a series of cover songs wherein they teamed up with other indie artists to cover indie rock classics.  Here they team up with fellow California band holychild to cover The Postal Service classic.

SHOP
 
WATCH

 



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Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Reflections Mix

A lot of ground to cover….  as promised, I added a virtual ton of music to the playlist – 196 songs in all bringing the total before today’s post of 471 songs – which I think is a record.

First off – you have to understand that Lou Reed tributes are not going to stop anytime soon.  His death seemed to affect people who make and listen to all kinds of music.  Today, we have a very special video offered as a tribute to Mr. Reed.  It’s a cover of the Velvet Underground classic (aren’t they all?) and one of my favorites (I know I say this about quite a few VU and Reed songs – but really I mean it) – “I’ll Be Your Mirror” here performed by Richard Barone with the amazing Jane Scarpantoni on Cello from the 25th  Anniversary concert for one of the most lovely records ever made (Cool Blue Halo).  Richard Barone (Bongos) is offering up the song as a tribute to his late friend and influence.



Now – let’s get to the shuffle…. we have a long one today – so join me after the JUMP

“Bumming Me Out” by The Great American Novel (from 😦 .  )

“Love You Strongly” by Amy Stroup (from The Other Side of Love – Session Two.)

“Wilbur Mountain (2012)” by Darrin Bradbury (from NEW!!!!The Almost Great Crepe’s (Demos). Darrin Bradbury was in Big Wilson River who we have featured before. Word has it he has upped and relocated from New Jersey to Nashville.  Nashville take notice!  I love the spoken/story/song featured here.  It makes me think of Gary Larson (The Far Side) meeting Larry McMurtry kind of… and in case you don’t know that would be a damn fine thing indeed.)

 
 
“Break it Up” by Grounded (from an untitled album released 10/31/2013.  Careful and dedicated listeners may remember that E2TG featured the young Florida band Grounded sometime last year. Well, they are back with some new music, and it’s a good reminder of why I was so impressed by this band.)
  

“Pawnshops” by Todd Farrell Jr. and the Dirty Birds (from All Our Heroes Live in Vans.  Todd Farrell is one of the brightest lights in a stunning bright Nashville music scene. Flat out great song here. This one also came out on Halloween.)
 


 

 
 
“Golem” by Black Joe Lewis (from Electric Slave.  I can’t stop listening to this funky Texas rocker.)
 
“Femme Fatale” by Big Star (from Third/Sister Lovers.  What more can be said an iconic band, doing a cover of an iconic song. It’s from the equally iconic Third album by Big Star from Memphis.  Do I need to say that it’s a Velvet Underground cover.)
 
“Cohesion” and “Please Don’t Be Gentle with Me” by Minutemen (from Double Nickels on the Dime.  Back to back songs from the Post-Punk masterpiece. A study in contrast)
 
“All Dolled Up” by Penicillin Baby (from Jams: Volume III. More Psyched out ear candy from this amazing Nashville band – via Jeffery Drag Records)
 
 
“God Bows to Math” by Minutemen (from Double Nickels on the Dime.  And a third song from this album for good measure. ’cause why the hell not?)
 
“Real Child of Hell” by X (from Under the Big Black Sun. From the LA punk band’s third album and major label debut.  Ray Manzarek back behind the boards for the third time)
 
“To Be Someone (Didn’t We Have a Nice Time)” by The Jam (from All Mod Cons. This is the modern world.)
 
“Beware of a Dog” by EdTang (from Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner.  Another great song from this Asbury Park band.  We’ve been digging this album for a while.)
 
 
“Tennessee Whiskey and Me” by Jenny Leigh (from Tipping Point.  Miss Shevaughn introduced me to Jenny Leigh at The Basement last month.  She has recently relocated from D.C. to Nashville, and I hope to catch her playing around town some time.)
 
“Witches” by The Danbury Lie (from ?.  The spooky opening track from the latest full length release from The Danbury Lie.)
 
 
 
 
WATCH
 


 

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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Fast Cars and Loud Guitars Mix

“Fast Cars and Loud Guitars. Local Bars and goin’ to far.” – Tim Lee 3.



So – I headed out Friday night to a well known East Nashville hot spot to meet and see my favorite Knoxville rockers, Tim Lee 3.  I had an awesome night, met some cool folks, and saw some incredible music…

I was so glad to finally get to meet Tim and Susan Bauer Lee in person.  First up, the audience was treated to a 20 minute preview of Tom Weber’s incredible film (10+ years in the making) called Troubadour Blues.  It’s about the modern purveyors of the folk tradition of the travelling musicians who get paid to drive from town to town and get rewarded with the chance to perform for an hour or two.  The film features the likes of Peter Case, Dave Alvin, Mary Gauthier and many, many more.

The live music began with RB Morris of Knoxville. I was shamefully not familiar with Mr. Morris’ music, but that deficiency is in the process of being corrected. He is a top-notch singer songwriter and a poet – gratefully, we treated us to a couple of poems from his latest book.

Next up was Nancy Apple from Memphis.  The undisputed Queen of Memphis Country, Folk, Blues what have you.  Her song about finding out that Johnny Cash had died struck a chord with me.  I got to talk to Nancy and share a couple of my Memphis stories.

Next a couple of locals were invited to join in on the show.  The thing is, when you are in Nashville (and East Nashville in particular), the caliber of locals is pretty darn amazing. Julie Christensen was the first local – a fairly recent arrival. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, try this: she was a founding member of the legendary Divine Horsemen and an integral part of the L.A. Scene which helped bridge gap between punk rock and what would eventually become Americana music. Oh, and she also spent many years singing with the one and only Leonard Cohen.  Beyond that incredible history, she is a breath-taking singer and songwriter.  She performed a song by Memphis song writer Dan Montgomery which has me scrambling to find out all I can about him.

Next was the second local, Amelia White – who we first saw perform last year at the Five Spot. She was every bit as amazing as we remembered.

Next up was the Tim Lee 3. Now, regular readers should already be all over Tim Lee 3, but for the uninitiated, they are a tight three piece rock combo from Knoxville featuring Tim Lee (The Windbreakers) and his wife Susan. They rocked the house thoroughly playing a couple of songs from their latest album, Devil’s Rope, one from their previous double album Raucous Americanus, and a hand full of new songs which bode well for the next Tim Lee 3 album. 

The night ended with RB Morris joining Tim Lee 3 for a few more of RB’s songs including one of his which had been recorded by Marianne Faithful and John Hiatt.

What a night!
Today’s Shuffle is up next:

Okay y’all. Monday morning’s are just freaking hard sometimes. Fortunately, the old Shuffle monster fired up some hard rocking tunes to lead off today’s shuffle and jump start my week.  Here we go:

“Fiasco” by Cloud Gavin  (from Posture – Cloud Gavin are from Danville, Illinois and came to our attention via a Twitter follow – I think. I’ve been listening to this record quite a bit, and I’m glad it finally came up on the shuffle. An excellent way to begin the morning drive.)

“Sleep” by Traams (from Grin – This one came via Amazon’s monthly Rising Artist playlist. Another Rocking tune.  They came from Chichester, England which is also the home of False-Heads another band we’ve featured recently. Hmm.. I’ll have to find out more about that place.)

“Like What They Like” by Goodman (off of the Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen compilation.  Goodman is the brain-child of Michael Goodman of New York.  I don’t know very much about him, but between this and the previous two songs, I was suddenly fully awake and alert. Rock on!)

“Troubled Waltz” by The Howlin’ Brothers (another from The Sun Studio Session. A nice change of pace – with a waltz from this unique Nashville band which was recorded in the studio that helped give birth to this crazy thing we call Rock and Roll.)

“Mumblin’ Guitar” by Bo Diddley (from The Chess Box (Disc One) – You just cannot go wrong with Bo Diddley. Nope. Can’t go wrong!)

“The New Twenty” by Puppet Rebellion (from Chemical Friends EP – another recent Twitter “discovery”. Puppet Rebellion are from Manchester – a place with a storied musical history of its own. I really dig this – my first taste of Puppet Rebellion and can’t wait to hear more)

“Out of Time” by Mr. Kind and Tektite (from Mr. Kind and… – from Mr. Kind’s collaborative covers EP – this time taking on the Blur song and joined by Oakland Extraterrestrial Hip Hop band Tektite. Mr. Kind was formed by Brian Bergeron who was one of the early featured artists at E2TG.)

“The World’s Not Waiting” by Penicillin Baby (from Jams: Volume III – what better way to close out a set that began with three hard rocking songs than with a hard rocking jam from this Nashville band.  Supposedly, I am allergic to penicillin, but I’m just fine with Penicillin Baby.)

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