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Good day, hepcats! Had a blast seeing Matt Phillips and The Philharmonic out at Charlie Bob’s last night. The band sounded fantastic and it was great hearing how much Matt’s sound has evolved since I saw him last year at Music City Roots (which was awesome, too by the way). I hope he makes it back to Nashville for a more extended visit.
Lots on the horizon, trying to keep all those juggles balled… no wait, that is not it…
It’s Tuesday! Time to find out what we have “Trending” on E2TG.
“Picture” by Jean Synodinos
First up, another track from Love and Blood the latest album from this Austin-based singer-songwriter. I dig this album.
“Stop this World” by Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue
Next, we have our first listen to this new album by a band made up of great bluesmen from California and Texas – including Mark Hummel and Anson Funderburgh. The band’s self-titled album is due out April 15. This is authentically, real blues music. Dig it!
“It’s Gonna Be (alright)” by Ricky Mirage
I am pretty sure (but won’t swear by it) that I was turned onto this record by a Facebook post of Aaron Lee Tasjan. Ricky Mirage is the alter-ego of Chicago musician Nick Harris. The album Pop Goes the Sun is a trippy, poppy good time. The last couple of tracks have been hanging around the playlists for a while – it is great when they come up.
“C Vitae” by Leapfrogtown
Another awesome track from Dreaming in Public. I am really digging this band from London – so is my shuffle function.
“The End of Mystery” by Jason P. Krug
I think I am just figuring out what the term “Spirit Animal” means in popular vernacular. It’s like a “Patronus” from Harry Potter, right? Well, anyway, I think Jason P. Krug is my spirit animal. Long-time E2TG readers will recall that I have been writing about Jason’s old band Grimm Generation for several years – including an interview which was when I first felt like Jason was someone I knew – someone who could be me… He just released The Zen of Losing. Expect a full discourse/treatise on the album – which has blown me away upon initial listening. In the meantime, as logic would dictate, the first track up on the shuffle is the last track on the album. The album comes with my highest recommendation. It is about as real and raw and powerful as music gets these days.
“Stolen” by Elephant Revival
Elephant Revival released Sands of Now last year as a live album/DVD. It was recorded at the Boulder Theater. We have been featuring this one for several months – still have a couple more tracks to go. Enjoy!
“I’m Alright” by Angela Easterling
If I had had one more song in the shuffle with “alright” in the title, I was going to subtitle this one, the Matthew McConaughey Mix. This is another from Common Law Wife. It is an infectious uplifting song for those days when life does not feel so uplifting.
“My Dog Thinks I Am” by Lori Kelley
Our second Lori Kelley song in as many days. Lori is one of the best songwriters working today. I know she is beginning to get some songs cut by other performers. If Nashville knows what it is doing, this is a trend that will continue. Awesome catchy songs with a lot of spirit and heart.
“Carpetbagger Song” by Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau
Richie and company just recently released Dia De Los Azules, and I got to hear the band tear through some of those new songs last Friday. (This is a band you want to see live as often as you can – by the way). Today, we have a timely tune from the album Tennessee. (Speaking for myself), I don’t think of everyone who moves to Nashville as a Carpetbagger… to me it is those people who come here and begin buying up and tearing down historical landmarks and putting up non-descript over-priced condos and trendy upscale mixed-use. This is becoming an all too frequent occurrence on Music Row and elsewhere in the city. Anyway, this song is about that kind of person/enterprise. As someone said yesterday, if this trend does not stop soon, tour buses will soon drive down Music Row and tell the wide-eyed tourist, “see that Bed, Bath, and Beyond?, Elvis (Presley or Costello) once recorded in a studio that used to be on that spot.” Editorial over… anyway a great tune from one of my favorite Nashville bands. The band members have all been part of the local music scene for a long time.
E2TG: MUSIC/WORDS 