Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle – Cardboard Fruit Mix

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ICYMI – E2TG posted a preview of new release of rare field recordings by Alan Lomax which will be released this coming Friday (April 8). Read about it HERE.

Man oh man! There is so much good music that has been or will be released over the next couple of months. I am digging through album streams and downloads and my disorganized inbox and mind and furiously trying to get some reviews done. Expect some soon. And in the meantime, look for tracks from some of these new releases in shuffles – perhaps beginning today…

I think this shuffle fulfills our Wild Wednesday mission. Basically, the “Wild Wednesday” playlist consists of songs that I decided to add to the “Wild Wednesday” playlist for reasons not even I understand. Wild!

“Hole Digging Party/Take On Me” by Discount Ravioli

Throwing it back (I know wrong day) to the very first Discount Ravioli album. Improvisational songwriting at it’s best with an impromptu cover of a 1984 hit single by a Norwegian band that we will not name to avoid possible legal action. Aha! (Note: Another vintage video featuring the Nork brothers was substituted into the shuffle since Discount Ravioli have heretofore eschewed videos. This video shows that the Nork boys have been into music for a very long time.

“Psycho, Pt. 1” by Bill Frisell

The theme from the Alfred Hitchcock classic – performed by the innovative jazz guitarist Bill Frisell from his latest album When You Wish Upon a Star.

“Easy Rider” by Big Brother and the Holding Company

A song from the self-titled debut album by the San Francisco band that was fronted by Janis Joplin during the early years of their existence.

“Emo Girl” by Circus Propaganda

Another track from Botany – an album on the Dord Music Group label by the now defunct band Circus Propaganda – which featured many Dord and former Dord artist who we continue to feature regularly. The song is about an Emo Girl.

“Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard

A definitive song of the early rock and roll era. Originally the song featured extremely ribald lyrics, but to make the song palatable the lyrics were re-written by Dorothy LaBostrie, and as they say, the rest was history.

“What Goes On” by The Dils

The Dils were a California punk band featuring Tony and Chip Kinman who would go onto form Rank and File in Austin, Texas with Alejandro Escovedo. This is a live version of the Velvet Underground classic – which was released on an album called Dils, Dils, Dils in the early 90s.

“Go Down Hannah” by Heritage Blues Orchestra

One of the highlights of the Heritage Blues Orchestra show I saw at The Franklin Theater last year, was their version of this song written by Lead Belly. Coincidently, John and Alan Lomax recording of Lead Belly doing this song was released by the Library of Congress in 1995.

“The RIP Dimebag Song” by Smokey the Firebear

Another Smokey the Firebear song – this time from the Teshio Democracy EP. A song about a rip in a dimebag… I think.

“Poet” by Sly and the Family Stone

From There’s a Riot Goin’ On… the 1971 album by Sly and the Family Stone. Man, I love this music.

“Georgia Grind” by Thomas Morris and His Seven Hot Babies

How about a jazz recording from the 1920s? How about it!

“Gone” by Strange Majik

One of those new releases I alluded to back in the opening paragraphs of this post (remember?)… Strange Majik is releasing his new album on April 22. It is called Raised on Rock ‘n’ Roll, and in some ways it is a return to the blues rock sound of his previous band The Dead Exs but the music still retains the groovier style of his 2015 album Lights On. Expect a full review soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this first listen… such a deep groove… man oh man!

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle – Snoopin’ ’round My Door Mix

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I ain’t gonna lie, it’s been a rough week… Music helps. Music always helps.

Here is our “Wild Wednesday” shuffle that lives up to the name and the concept. This week’s edition features experimental music, some newer Oklahoma music, a classic L.A. punk rock tune, an iconic rock ‘n’ roll song, a song that has been recorded by Rod Stewart and The Carpenters performed by a classic 80s collaboration, some cool jazz, a 1963 hit song, and a relatively obscure song from a British new wave band… hmm…

“Tearin’ Up My Ticket” by Wink Burcham

Another outstanding track from that Oklahoma Room CD I found sitting on a table at The 5 Spot. I am thinking that may be my new submission policy. Just leave a CD on a table at The 5 Spot, and I will be around to pick it up soon. Any way, Wink Burham is a singer-songwriter from Tulsa, and as I type this he is into the last four hours of a successful Kickstarter campaign for his next album, Cleveland Summer Night. So, if you are reading this within four hours of when I wrote it, you can still get in on some of the incentives.

“What We Do Is Secret” by The Germs

A few months ago, I watched the film, “What We Do Is Secret” – a fictionalized account of the short troubled life of Darby Crash and the formation of The Germs – one of the iconic bands of the early L.A. punk scene. Just as a film, I thought it could have been better, but for me, it was carried by my interest in the subject matter and the incredible performance of Shane West as Darby. Anyway, what I listened today was pour quality, ramshackle live performance of this song. In other words, it was absolutely perfect.

“Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton

Three or four years before Elvis, Big Mama Thornton recorded her version of this classic rock n roll song which became her biggest hit. Big Mama Thornton, as her name implies, was larger than life. Her gender-bending demeanor set the stage for so many rock and roll icons for the next sixty years (up to the present). This song – done by Big Mama – most definitely rocks!

“Centuries Ago on Prospect Street” by Atticus Floyd

Atticus Floyd now records under the Jolly Light Brigade (or Connection) name. As far as I can tell, the Atticus Floyd recordings are no longer on-line, but I downloaded some before they were gone. Atticus is part of the Dord Music Group.

“S.A.R. 429” by Smokey the Firebear

We have three Smokey the Firebear tracks in the shuffle today. This is some first class noise from the BNGFKR album. It is really fun when these tracks come up in a shuffle – I think of them like a palate clearing for the ears and the mind.

“Reason to Believe” by Camper Van Chadbourne

Eugene Chadbourne has been making his unique brand of experimental music for about forty years. After having worked with them previously, Chadbourne teamed up with college radio darlings, Camper Van Beethoven, for the album from which this track is taken. “Reason to Believe” is a Tim Hardin song, which was popularized by Rod Stewart and The Carpenters.

“P.S. Unless One Has” by Ornette Coleman

The legendary jazz saxophonist and his orchestra from a 1975 release of some 1959/1960 recording that were compiled without input from Coleman.

“All Our Heads Together” by Smokey the Firebear

Our second Smokey The Firebear song – this one from the Teshio Democracy EP. That record contains a Modest Mouse cover. E2TG 2014 artist of the year, Darrin Bradbury recently did a set of Modest Mouse songs at a recent Coverfest event. Isn’t it funny how music connects often in the most unlikely of ways?

“Distance” by Exedra

Another track from Elemental from a band that features Jeremy Gluck- who you may recall we featured several times last year when we were spinning songs from his Memory Deluxe record. Exedra is very ethereal and dreamy music. I dig it quite a bit.

“Song No. 4” by The Soft Boys

This is the band that featured the great Robyn Hitchcock along with Kimberley Rew (who would later be a part of Katrina and The Waves – who had the hit song, “Walking on Sunshine”). This track was included as a bonus track on the reissue of The Soft Boys second album Underwater Moonlight. It is very different from “Tainted Love” (which was by Soft Cell – an unrelated band of the same general era and who are mentioned here only as a semi-inside joke).

“Little Deuce Coupe” by The Beach Boys

Years ago, there was a theme park out by the Grand Ole Opry – called Opryland USA. Now, there is just a mall. But when it was open, I had countless good times. “Little Deuce Coupe” was a ride at Opryland. I remember how wonderful it was to spin around under a mirror ball and strobe lights on a hot summer day after eating heavy, greasy theme-park food. Good times…

“God Confirmed for Dead” by Smokey the Firebear

We close things out with our third Smokey the Firebear track – this one was released as a b-side to a single called “Timberwolf Atka”.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle – It’s Only Natural Mix

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Remembering George Martin on his passing at age 90. I don’t think music over the past half century would be what it has been without the Beatles, and I don’t think the Beatles would have been what they were without George Martin. Rest in Peace.

ICYMI, E2TG premiered a new video by Jon Latham. You can check it out here.

Been checking out some music to be released in the next couple of months. Really excited about Eli Rhodes (Benchmarks) new album and the new one from Knoxville-based Adeem the Artist (formerly known as Kyle Adem – who I saw at a New Faces night at The Basement some time ago).

Several names you read about on E2TG will be releasing new music in the coming months. Some of them have preorders going on. Keep your ears to the ground.

Also, there is some cool live music tonight in Nashville – on the west side, Tim Carroll, Joe Nolan, Andrew Adkins, Jon Byrd, and Tommy Womack will the sharing a stage at The Country beginning at 7:30. Across the river, Lindsay Ellyn, Sara Syms, and Carrie Welling will be playing the late show at The 5 Spot which is set to begin around 9:00.

Keep checking E2TG for an exciting announcement coming soon.

Now, it is Wild Wednesday! Today’s shuffle fulfills by loosely defined expectations for this theme nicely.

“The Attic” by Circus Propaganda

Circus Propaganda was like a candle in the wind (cue Elton John). They burned brightly for a short time and left behind a really excellent album and a Jason DeRulo cover as they dissipated into several different musical projects – many of whom you do or will read about here at E2TG (a few of them in this shuffle). The album was called Botany.

“Ol’ Black Buck” by Captain Luke and Cool John Ferguson

From the Music Maker Relief Foundation. I have said it before, and I say it again, I think Music Maker Relief Foundation has a fantastic mission of not only preserving music but of helping out the legacy artists who helped to make some of the roots music that informs today’s Americana bands and more. The help they provide includes (but not limited to) improving living situations, assistance with medical bills, and help getting some music to be recorded. Captain Luke passed away last year, but before he did, MMRF helped put Captain Luke together with guitarist Cool John Ferguson.

“It’s Doesn’t Mean Anything” by Bashful Hips

Last week, I finally got to see Bashful Hips live to celebrate the release of his new album After I Died, I’ve Never Felt So Alive. This is a track from that album. This is truly original music that comes from the heart.

“Plastic Machine Head” by Zaibatsu

Another track from Italian pregressive rock band, Zaibatsu and their album Zero.

“Come Dancing” by The Kinks

Wild – up to this point in the shuffle, we have had three tracks that could fall under the term experimental and one song that was authentic blues music. This is an early 80s hit song by the British Invasion band The Kinks. The Kinks have a complicated history, but they made some truly memorable music. I caught onto this song in the heady days of my youth thanks to MTV relentless playing the music video.

“No Depression” by Uncle Tupelo

And in true Wild Wednesday style, we move on to the song that helped to define a musical movement and which gave its name to an iconic and enduring music publication/website. Uncle Tupelo were not the first “Alt-Country” band, but they were definitely one of the best.

“Tentland,USA” by Discount Ravioli

Is it just me or has the shuffle been bringing up quite a bit of Discount Ravioli recently? Well, they sure are prolific. This goes back to their debut release (all the way back to 2015). This time, I scoured You Tube and found a film by Evan Nork featuring a song by The Flaming Lips.

“Knysna” by Bosveld

Veldbrand is a really great album that received some well deserved attention from the CBC at the time of its release. The band, which features long time E2TG favorite Veledrones, is known to tour around Canada on bikes. This is a really lovely song.

“Paraphrasing” by Smokey the Firebear

The shuffle was kind enough to wrap up today’s shuffle with three tracks in a row from Smokey the Firebear. Cade Williams (aka Smokey the Firebear) was part of Circus Propaganda (who kicked off the shuffle) along with Quinn Harley is a regular contributor to Smokey the Firebear. This is a brief sound collage from B.N.G.F.K.R.

“Jilm Spill” by Smokey the Firebear

This was a single release that I don’t think is still available. I dig it, though.

“Tinderhead” by Smokey the Firebear

I like “Tinderhead” a lot. It is from the Mira Leo Sun EP which was released last June.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle – All the Way to Peter’s Gate Mix

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I hesitate to report again about how awesome $2 Tuesdays are at The 5 Spot. Derek Hoke and DJ Tim Hibbs throw a massive weekly party. It cost you just $2 to get in and you can get Yazoo pints for just $2 all night. I hesitate because it was packed out last night, and maybe enough people know about it… but hell. For that $2, every single time I have gone, I have seen and heard some pretty amazing music. Hell, $2 would be cheap just to hear Derek Hoke and his amazing band play a couple of songs. Dead Horses from Wisconsin were awesome, Quinn from here in Nashville (and featuring E2TG Artist of the Year Jon Latham on guitar and BGVs) have an awesome sound. Probably the only complaint I have (and I guess my age is showing) is that I left before the last band played and it was already midnight. But, the young folks love it – ah, I remember… I remember…

Wednesday? What the hell is it? Some call it hump day and celebrate having reached the mid-way through the work week, what does that say about us? 1. We are wishing our lives away and/or 2. We hate our week day existence so much and/or 3. We are optimists (I mean we would say we’ve toiled away for days and still have days of toil ahead). Who knows? Wednesday are wild! Wild used in the same way as “Jokers Wild”. Wednesday can be anything. Or maybe wild used in the sense of wild!

Welcome to the first ever Wild Wednesday Shuffle. Make sure your seatbelts are locked and loaded… or whatever…

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Here goes nothing!

“Lucky” by The Dead Milkmen

How awesome! The very first “Wild Wednesday” shuffle, randomly kicks off with The Dead Milkmen with a deep cut from Big Lizard in My Backyard. How lucky!

“Jesus Everyday” by Treat Her Right

How sad is it that this brilliantly satirical song could un-ironically be the campaign theme song for the top GOP candidate (whose name I refuse to mention)… Treat Her Right, as you may or may not know were a Boston-based blues rock band fronted by the late, great Mark Sandman who went on to front the band Morphine. This is from the self-titled debut of the band which came out the year following The Dead Milkmen album mentioned above.

“Yr Hallway” by Youngstrr Joey

In the spirit of Wild Wednesday, we jump ahead about 30 years for this track from Glascow based – experimental musician, Youngstrr Joey from his album Grilled Wiig. And, yes all of those words are spelled as intended.

“Feels So Right” by Discount Ravioli

The debut from Discount Ravioli (Robin Schultz and the 21 Prayers) is a gift that keeps on giving. This is a favorite of mine from that album. The combo has just released yet another record (Ermilaw EP). I guess it keeps the kids off the street. 😉

“Dirty Cop” by Ricca Vita

Ricca Vita is an eclectic electronica project of Timothy Joe Ryssemus who co-produced the new Zachariah Red album, and who also has the best hair in Nashville. This EP is available on Noisetrade where it is currently “New and Notable”. Recommended to spice up your music collection.

“Laundromat Song” by The Dead Milkmen

Wild! Two songs from Big Lizard in My Backyard. One of the coolest things garnered from posting this album is that I now follow Rodney Anonymous on Twitter, and his tweets are awesome. I hope somebody on the new WXNA plays “Bitchin’ Camaro” (I will if no one else will), because back in the day on the old WRVU, I must have heard that song a couple hundred times.

“Nothin'” by Townes Van Zandt

We finally wrap up the early live recording of Townes Van Zandt with this song which I like a bunch.

“B.N.G.F.K.R.” by Smokey the Firebear

Six minutes of noise via the title track from Smokey the Firebear’s noisy album. To bad, I couldn’t add this to the video playlist.

“Clickin'” by Whistlin’ Britches

Proving that noise is not limited to teenagers from Connecticut – this mouth noise track comes to us via Music Maker Relief Foundation. Haskel Thompson (known as Whistlin’ Britches) passed away in 2011, and Music Maker Relief Foundation helped him to spread his unbridled joy with the world.

“Out” by Mouth Reader

This final track from Mouth Reader’s Hands EP has been hanging out in our playlist for several months. You may or may not recall that the EP was released on Record Store Day as a limited edition Playable pop-up book. Mouth Reader are from Murfreesboro, TN.

“Weather Report Suite” by Lena Horne

I actually may need some help with this one. This was an unlisted track on my friend Ronnie’s annual mix CD. According to Amazon Firefly, the track is as listed above. I could not find this recording on You Tube, and my quick research created a bit of mystery for me. The Grateful Dead have a 12 minute, 3-part song called Weather Report Suite, however, this track appears to be a cover of another Dead song called Franklin’s Tower. I hope either Ronnie or one of the Grateful Dead fans I know will shed some light. Anyway, the track is awesome. I did find it on Amazon (UK) and it is titled as above and playing a sample proves it to be song I have. Either way, Lena Horne covering the Grateful Dead is a pretty darn cool thing. Since, I could not find a video of this, I posted Lena Horne doing “Stormy Weather” which is cool, but still not this…

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle – Great Day Mix

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Well, it’s premier week at E2TG as I unveil my new “programming schedule”.

Welcome to debut edition of Trending Tuesday! Why trending? Well, for one thing, it starts with the letter “T” which was a requirement in naming this day. Also, my social media consultants advise me that the term “trending” is er, um… trending these days.

So, what is “Trending Tuesday”? In some ways it is similar to Featured Friday. Basically, it is songs/artist that have been fresh on my mind (new – or fairly recent acquisitions/releases), like all “rules”, I play fast and loose. The Trending Tuesday playlist is different than the Featured Friday playlist, but they have a lot of overlap. Well… enough exposition – here is the first Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle….

“Shotgun Behind the Door” by Kevin Gordon

Kevin Gordon has been “trending” at E2TG since we got his album Long Gone Time shortly before it was released. I got to see Kevin backing up Paul Burch recently for weeks one and four of Burch’s residency at The 5 Spot. A little bird tells me Gordon will have his own 5 Spot residency within the next couple of months. Also, to hear more about Kevin Gordon (including some words about the song featured today), I highly recommend you check out Country Fried Rock’s interview which was recorded in Nashville during Americana week and recently released. You can hear it HERE.

“Der Zerfall Von Backerbsen” by Balu and die Surfgrammeln

Until Balu and die Surfgrammeln became my favorite Austrian surf rock band, I did not know that I was missing having a favorite Austrian surf rock band. I didn’t even know that they surfed in Austria???? Seriously, I am digging this music.

“Stop Listen and Love” by The Naddiks

Late last year, our friends from Canberra (Australia) released a single dedicated to Anti-Bullying efforts. It is a very important subject, and a rocking fun single to boot. Notice we did the Austria/Australia thing again… please note that the two countries are not the same…. in case you were wondering.

“Be My Good Dream” (Excerpt) by exedra

Another track (or at least an excerpt) from Elemental which is the new album by exedra which is lead by Jeremy Gluck from the UK. Dreamy music… good dreamy music!

“Salto Nel Buio” by Le Folli Arie

In addition to having a favorite Austrian surf rock band, I now also have a favorite Italian prog-pop band. I have featured this band several times of late.

“Follow Them to Empty Shores/ Inouye” by Smokey The Firebear

After a four song tour of the world, we return stateside with another track from the brand new album by Smokey the Firebear from Connecticut. The album is called Ohm Atlanta – great experimental, instrumental music. I am guessing that the second half of this song is named after the late Senator from Hawaii????

“Land Where the Blues Began” by Sara Syms

Another album that has been trending for me since I first heard it, is Sara Syms’ album Way Back Home. I was talking with some friends recently about whether or not the “album” was in danger – in this age of downloads and streaming and stupid blogs that shuffle songs… (kidding) but I have always maintained that albums are important. They do not have to be “concept” albums either. Syms’ record carries a cohesive sound throughout, and there are some recurring themes. Certainly, the songs can be heard and work well on their own, but there is also value in listening to the album as a whole piece. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album – one that really sets a mood.

“High on the Plains” (Live) by Leland Sundries

From Live at the Creamery. This is not a “new” album, but one that I have come to know over the last several months. It is trending here – well because I say it is.

“It Was a Great Day” by Lori Kelley

We started with a Nashville artist and we end with another. Lori Kelley recently released an new album, More. It looks like this song has been in Kelley’s repertoire for a few years. It is a catchy, light song about the importance of making each day count.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Kingston Springs Mix

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Sorry for the inconsistency of posts the last couple of weeks… things will smooth out, but life sometimes gets all lifey…

I have been fighting with a cold all week (constantly changing weather -winter to spring and back – doesn’t help), and as a result, I have been mostly laying low this week, but I did manage to venture out (in a cold dreary rain) to The Basement (the original one) for some music. As if the case most nights in Nashville there was awesome music going on all over town, but I just didn’t feel up to venue hopping. In fact, the Basement hosted an early show with Erin Rae and Kelsey Waldron that I totally missed, but I did get to see three awesome sets of music from three of Nashville’s best “on-the-cusp” artists.

Andrew Leahey and the Homestead played their last local show for a bit as they gear up for the release of their new album (on Thirty Tigers) in May. As they have every time I have seen them, they played earnest heartland rock and roll and did not hold back.

Michaela Anne also has an album due out in May. Backed by her awesome band, she played her solid and gorgeous country songs. A highlight was her performance of “Me and Willie” (a CD bonus track from Emmylou Harris’ 1976 album Luxury Liner) which Michaela Anne introduced by recognizing the song’s writer, Laurie Hyde-Smith, who had come to Nashville from North Carolina for the show.

Darrin Bradbury closed the night with his first? full band show since his January Basement East residency (with the band that played with him for those shows). This was an extremely fun set which included an impromptu vocal assist (from the crowd) by Jon Latham. (Do I need to mention that Darrin and Jon are the current and most recently past E2TG Artists of the Year? No? Okay, I won’t then). It was fun seeing so many familiar faces (and awesome musicians/songwriters) in the crowd.

To the shuffle:

“I Believed You (Chicago)” by James Roquemore

This is the penultimate song (for me to feature) from Roquemore’s EP The First – which I got when I saw James opening for Patrick Kinsley’s album release show at The Basement. I really enjoyed his songs that night, and I have enjoyed this EP which was recorded while he was in college in Florida. From Facebook/Instagram, Roquemore is pursuing a variety of interests of late, but I would love to hear some new music at some point.

“Grand Funeral Procession” by The Jolly Light Brigade

The Jolly Light Connection are part of the Dord Music Group. The band is fronted? by Atticus Floyd (whose music I have posted before) and may include Evan and Hayden of The Foresters (who I have been writing about for roughly a fourth of their lives). This song (a lovely instrumental) is from an EP called CAK.

“Show and Tell” by Sugar and the Hi Lows

Nashville super-duo (Amy Stroup and Trent Dabbs) are up next with the lead track from their 2012 self-titled album.

“The Great Unknown” by Better Than Ezra

The long running New Orleans band Better Than Ezra jump into the Ear to the Ground shuffle with a track from their 2014 album All Together Now which came to me via a Noisetrade compilation from last year’s inaugural Pilgrimage Music Festival which was held in Franklin, Tennessee.

“You Caught Me Off Guard” by Brian Keenan

Another cool song from Fits and Starts, the latest album from this Brooklyn singer-songwriter.

“The Question Is” by SuperCrashingStar

Another really fun track from one of my new favorites. SuperCrashingStar are from New York City, and I have been really digging on their music of late.

“I Was a Teenage War Criminal” by Smokey the Firebear (Ft. The Indigenous People of Peru)

Another sound collage from Smokey The Firebear from his BNGFKR record of sound collages. His latest album Ohm Atlanta was released on Valentine’s Day. The video playlist features a track from that album. Note: it appears the $420 CD of BNGFKR is now sold out – probably due to my posts about it. I will wait patiently for my commission… 🙂

“Nobody Dance” by Patrick Sweany Band

One of East Nashville’s best! I have been fortunate to have seen Patrick Sweany a couple of times in the last year. This is a song that goes back about a decade to the album C’mon C’mere.

“Melva’s Wine” by Johnny Cash

From Cash’s 1972 album A Thing Called Love. This song was written by songwriter Vincent Matthews – who I read about in Michael Streissguth’s book Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville. Matthews conceived a concept album about/set in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. This song was seemingly part of that project.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Not Alanis’ Fault Mix

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Well, guess what? I’ll tell you what, we have reached the end of this weird week… and that means it is time for the ever popular* feature here at E2TG, Featured Friday. Where we cut out all the classic, obscure prior year tracks from our playlist and just spin songs of a more recent vintage. These are either tracks that were submitted to me or just newer music that I wanted to feature.

Let’s get right into the shuffle which takes some interesting twists and turns….

“Conversation at the Wedding” by Jon Latham

It’s been a pretty heavy week for me – filled with feelings and stuff… so, what do I get to start of the final shuffle of the work week? Jon Latham singing his song about sitting through a wedding that you would rather be standing through… Catapulted by his being named Ear to the Ground Artist of the Year for 2015, Latham has been getting lots and lots of attention from some pretty important people. Truth be told, I am joking about his having been catapulted by the award I gave him. The success he is experiencing is a direct result of many factors including his ability to write songs like this one. The song features a lilting, uncomplicated melody and a crystal clarity in the lyrics. It conveys devastating heartbreak with engaging references that flow easily and do not distract from the tone or the mood of the song. From Real Bad News

“From A Small Farm in Eastern Australia Comes the Oldest Patch of Earth” by Smokey the Firebear

It is still my understanding that Ohm Atlanta is due out very soon.. In the meantime, there are some new singles and other stuff at the Smokey the Firebear Bandcamp Page. This track with a long title was included on the pre-mastered version of Ohm Atlanta which was available for a time at Bandcamp, but was pulled to prepare for the release of the final version. I am not in the know to say that this will for sure be on the final version. Stay tuned to find out. In the meantime, this is a lovely bit of instrumental ambiance.

“Down in the Delta” by Delta Deep

So far, we’ve moved from a Jon Latham sad song, to a Smokey the Firebear experimental instrumental, so it seems only logical (to me anyway) that we would move on to a raucous bit of hard rocking blues music from a new band that features members of Def Leppard, Stone Temple Pilots, plus an outstanding blues vocalist. The self-titled debut album is out now.

“Back of Yr Mind” by Bosveld

Veldbrand is an amazing album. Bosveld is an octet (with guests) that features Thean from Velodrones. They are from Ottawa. You know, this shuffle may seem schizophrenic to some people, but it actually does make sense to me.

“Dawn” by Paul Zografi

After beginning with a Nashville singer-songwriter and then flying off to Connecticut, down to the deep delta, and up to north of the border, we return to close to my home with another track from Brevity Lane – the latest release from Paul Zografi.

“When Country Singers Were Ugly” by Tommy Womack

One of my favorite song titles. I was fortunate enough to see Tommy Womack in the round Saturday with David Olney, Peter Cooper, and Chris Gantry. Namaste is not due out until the spring, but stay tuned because you are not going to want to miss it.

“Immigrant” by Kevin Gordon

Long Gone Time was one of my favorite albums of 2015. I am so happy that I got the opportunity to write a review of the album and write a review of the CD Release show at City Winery. We still have several tracks from the album to feature in shuffles, which makes me happy because I am no where near tired of hearing these great songs.

“Art of Wire” by Calming River

So, after having three great Nashville-based songwriters in a row, it makes perfect sense, that we should close out the shuffle with a beautiful song from a songwriter from the Denmark and the UK. This track comes from a four song EP called The Ones We Left Behind.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Wintry Mix Mix

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So… Nashville had a light layer of ice this morning followed by a dusting of snow. To translate for those of you in colder climates: NASHVILLE WAS HIT BY A MAJOR WINTER STORM TODAY! EVERYONE PANIC NOW!!!!!

So, when I made to the office (where attendance is very light today), my phone decided to turn itself off and back on which means I lost the record of the shuffle. I was able to remember all of the songs – I think, but the order is screwed up… then again, you would never have known that if I had not told you… shoot, I wish there was a way to erase that, but I heard things on the internet cannot be truly erased…

I am getting really excited for tomorrow night. At the Family Wash – dual CD Release shows happening with two of my favorite people here in town. Stone Cupid (Julie Christensen’s band) is celebrating the release of The Cardinal and Amelia White is celebrating the release of her new album Home Sweet Hotel. Should be a great time!

On to the approximation of this morning’s shuffle….

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Maria McKee has been one of my favorite voices since she was with Lone Justice. This is a favorite of mine from her self-titled debut album.

“Baby Please Don’t Go” by CJ Chenier

A zydeco flavored version of the blues standard via The World Café Sessions.

“Let’s Go to Memphis” by Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen

Some new blues from Nashville’s own Scissormen off of the album Love and Life.

“Fake (About 10 or 12 Cows)” by Discount Ravioli

Discount Ravioli have a new album, but this is off their first which was called Robin Schultz and the 21 Prayers. I still cannot find a Discount Ravioli video (but I did find lots of videos about how to make ravioli which is better than when I tried to find a video of another Dord Music Group band called 100% Beefcake….). I did find a video for another band from that label called Urinal Cakes. Discount Ravioli are on bandcamp. How to explain their sound…. imagine what it would sound like if you gave a group of musically talented but offbeat kids a bunch of caffeine and let them stay up way too late and then recorded the results. Something like that. It’s fun for sure.

“Walt Whitman’s Haversack” by Fendrick and Peck

Another lovely song from the Lucky Penny album by the Nashville-based, hard travelling duo.

“Valley of Rain” by Giant Sand

The lead and title track from the 1985 debut album by the long running Tucson, Arizona band fronted by the great Howe Gelb. The first album featured piano by Chris Cacavas of Green on Red. Over the years, the band has gone by the names Giant Sandworm and Giant Giant Sand.

“Benson Said Something” by Smokey The Firebear

31 seconds of found sounds, random recordings, and noises from the album BNGFKR. Smokey The Firebear’s new album Ohm Atlanta is due out on Valentine’s Day. I think.

“The Wild Side of Life” by Hank Thompson

A true classic country music song from 1952 by the great Hank Thompson. This was the song that inspired the answer song, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” by Kitty Wells which was also released in 1952.

“Time Passes By” by Don Gallardo

Despite what you may hear otherwise, true country music is alive and well here in the middle years of the second decade of the 21st Century. I saw Nashville based Don Gallardo and his band How Far West on New Years Eve Eve at the Family Wash, and they were incredible. Expect a new album in 2016. This one is the lead track from the 2011 album When The Daylight Whispers Darling…

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – MIDI Version Mix

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In the wee hours of the morning, I posted my review of “Shoreline Sessions” a new EP and video project from Weapons of Minor Disruption which features Rob from #E2TG favorite The Danbury Lie. Please check it out. It is really cool (that is the short version of my review, btw).

Last night another of those quintessential East Nashville musical happenings. Hanging out in a kind of funky, kind of divey space with awesome people (many of them incredible musicians) listening to top notch music. Last night, it was the East Room with Kent Eugene Goolsby, Lew Card, and Joey Kneiser and the Living Flames.

Tonight, #E2TG Artist of the Year Jon Latham is playing a FREE show at Soulshine Pizza beginning at 7:00. It is a wrap up to his being Local Artist of the Week for Lightning 100.

On to the Featured Friday Shuffle….

“Anyone’s Game” by Leapfrogtown

Leapfrogtown are a London based band. This song is from their forthcoming album Dreaming on Public which is due out in a few weeks. This was my first listen, and I really dug this. Expect more….

“Pinyin” (MIDI Version) by Batkhi Dahn

So far, we have played the Instrumental Version, the regular version, and now the MIDI version. One more version of the latest Batkhi Dahn single to go. Autotune version coming soon.

“Soft Apocalypse” by Smokey the Firebear

Between the Weapons of Minor Disruption review, the Batkhi Dahn song, and now this one – it is kind of like Connecticut day around here. I have never been to Connecticut. Seems like I need to remedy that. “Soft Apocalypse” is rough mix from the album Ohm Atlanta which is due out in February. The rough mixes have been taken off of Bandcamp in anticipation of the release of the completed album, but there is a ton of music and sounds still out there. Including the CD version of BNGFKR for the incredible price of just $420 (only six remaining – they are going fast… okay probably not).

“Shot in the Dark” by Le Folli Arie

Le Folli Arie are a Prog-Pop band from Milan. A very interesting sound that I like quite a bit. Check them out.

“Sinking Ship” by Killing Kuddles

Of late, I have been rocking my Killing Kuddles swag around East Nashville. He has been a favorite around here for a long time and continues to be. This is a single released last year that I think you will like.

“Harperia” by vod

We featured the instrumental version of this political song from Canada. Here is the version that features the vocal abilities of Gabriel of The Gabriel Construct whose album Interior City was featured heavily here a couple of years ago. I could not find a video for this song, so in the Video Playlist below you will find footage from the live debut of The Gabriel Construct from last October.

“Get It” by Daphne Willis

A ridiculously infectious and upbeat song from Nashville singer-songwriter Daphne Willis. It is the title track of her recent EP. So, do like the title says – get it!

“Alien’s Trip” by Le Folli Arie

We close with another cool track from Le Folli Arie.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – The Joy and the Crap Mix

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Well… It’s Friday! By my estimates, there are eleven work days left in 2015. I am going to have to huddle up with the awards committee* over the weekend to take stock of where things stand. I know I will leave somebody important out, so expect some adjunct awards early in 2016.
*I am the awards committee, by the way….

Now to today’s “Earie”Award.

The Award: the “There Going to Put Me in the Movies” Award aka the “Act Naturally” Award aka the “Buck Owens” Award….

The premise: No premise really, just a way to connect two awesome songwriters/musicians so that I can give them both an award for being awesome.

The Awards go to:

1. Joe Nolan – Joe recently signed a new publishing agreement with Creative Songwriters Music which is hopefully mean we will be hearing some of his great songs in movies and television shows soon. In addition, Joe Nolan is by the best definition I know, a true modern day renaissance man. In addition to his extensive journalistic work – among other things he is the arts editor for the Nashville Scene, a regular blogger, etc. etc. etc. He was recently awarded a commission by the Metro (Nashville) Arts Commission to create a song based upon a piece of public art, and he has an on-going Nashville Public Radio series about Nashville’s many “Pikes”. Makes me proud to be a “Joe”.

2. Andrew Adkins – Andrew has an excellent track record of having songs used in movies and trailers. Most recently, one of his songs was used in the trailer for Colin Hanks’ film about Tower Records, All Things Must Pass. This was cool to me for two reason, 1. Tower Records played an important role in my musical development – particularly in the early 90s. 2. Colin Hanks was in Orange County and he’s Tom Hanks’ son. In addition, Adkins has kept busy making music under a variety of names before consolidating it all under his own name. Semi-coincidently, he just released the first single from his forthcoming album, Glass Castles (which will be released the day after my birthday). The single is called, “May the Stars Fall At Your Door” and it marks a bit of a departure from the kind of music Andrew Adkins has been doing.

On to the shuffle:

“This I See” by Dan Coyle

Another track from Dan Coyle’s Random Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences. The album is a few years old, and maybe shouldn’t be on my “Featured” playlist, but hey, it’s new to me, plus it’s my playlist, my blog, my rules.

“Oklahoma” by Nellie Clay

I got to hear Nellie Clay perform some of her music Wednesday night at the Family Wash and then I ran into her last night. She is one of my newest favorite local songwriters. Originally from Oklahoma, she moved to Nashville from Alaska. Her new album is called Never Did What I Should Have Done.

“Write it Down” by Tom House

The first of three songs from Tom House’s latest album, Songs Like Dreams… More Like Blood. The album features a cover image shot by E2TG favorite Brock Zeman. Tom House is hands down one of Nashville’s best songwriters and I am glad I finally caught on to his music. This song really speaks to me as a creative person.

“The Sky is the Color of Wow” by Tom House

I love almost everything about this song. The title is great. Some of the lines just blew me away to the point that I wanted to go back and hear them again to get the full impact. The subtitle of this post comes from a line in this song.

“True North/Magnetic North (Metro North)” by Smokey the Firebear

Yesterday, Smokey the Firebear posted the following:

The rough mix of Ohm Atlanta is finished! I now have two months to wear myself out over every little detail and probably rerecord half if it

— Smøkey The Fįrebær (@smokefirebear) December 11, 2015

This track is one of the rough mixes which is available on Bandcamp. Today, Smokey the Firebear tweeted that tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Smokey the Firebear. I currently have almost 40 Smokey the Firebear songs in my playlist. As I have said before, these Connecticut kids don’t mess around.

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“I Do the Worst Things” by Tom House

Back to Tom House. Sadly, I can relate to this song, too. I posted three different Tom House songs in the video playlist but be sure to search out Songs Like Dreams… More Like Blood.

“Prayer Emoji” (feat. Supa Bwe) by Rich Robbins

Another track from Nimbus on of my favorite albums of 2015. I love the title of this one.

“Can’t Be Satisfied” by Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen

Closing out the shuffle with two blues songs by gentlemen who know more than most about the genre. Earie Award winning Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen had been on my radar before 2015, but with the release of Love and Life and having had the opportunity to see them live a few times this year, they have jumped into my favorite artist category big time. By the way, some E2TG trivia, Ted’s Scissormen played a show up in New York with E2TG Hall of Famers and fellow “Earie” award winners The End Men – a couple of months ago. I wish I had been at that show!

“Goodnight” by Bob Margolin

Our first listen to My Road the forthcoming new album by “Steady Rollin'” Bob Margolin. Mark Robinson recently got me up to speed on Bob Margolin. I had heard the album before I talked to Robinson and I knew right away this was something special. Margolin is a legendary blues guitarist who spent of backing Muddy Waters and even appeared with Waters and The Band in The Last Waltz. Like Ted Drozdowski, Bob Margolin is a respected journalist who has been contributing to Blues Revue for many years. As I said, even without the background, one listen to My Road leaves little doubt as to the genius behind it.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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E2TG: MUSIC/WORDS

Words about music/Music inspired words

Category: Smokey The Firebear

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Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle – It’s Only Natural Mix

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Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Kingston Springs Mix

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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Wintry Mix Mix

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – MIDI Version Mix

Featured Friday Morning Music Shuffle – The Joy and the Crap Mix