Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Later Than You Think Mix

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You know the Nashville Conundrum I mentioned a couple of weeks ago?  Well the is a addendum to that conundrum (or something like that).. that is… there are amazing things happening every single night of the week, and (especially if you work a day job), there are nights that you just have to stay in to recharge, refresh, and do some of your own work…  Last night was one of those nights, and yes, I missed some amazing things happening around town, but I am glad that I stayed in, and I got something accomplished…

Case in point, I added a couple of things to my Soundcloud… bits and pieces from my novel-in-progress which you can check out… (there may be some NSFW language/themes, depending where or if you work…)

On to the shuffle:

“Love You Till Friday” by The Replacements

#E2TG Rule # 15*: Any shuffle that begins with a Replacement’s song is a good shuffle.   *I decided to start making up random rules so that when being a Earie (as in Trekkie) becomes a thing, someone can compile them all… you know like the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition.  I may make a language, too. Who knows…  But, yeah, this is from Sorry Ma… and cheers to those seeing the ‘Mats in Chicago tonight.

“Episode in a Town” by Jeremy Gluck/Robert Coyne

After a brief respite, Jeremy Gluck returns to the shuffle with song from his album Memory Deluxe: I Knew Buffalo Bill 2.  This is a reprise of a song on the original I Knew Buffalo Bill album which was released in 1987.  The album featured the late Nikki Sudden and his brother, the late Epic Soundtracks (both of Swell Maps), along with the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce (Gun Club).  Gluck was a founding member of the Barracudas, and he is very actively making a bunch of music with different projects… and I’m sure he will work any factual missteps I made in the above blurb.  I also found out that he lives very close to long-time #E2TG favorite Tipi Valley.  This is a truly great song, by the way.

“Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)” by Guy Lombardo and his Orchestra

Some timely advise from the late, great bandleader… Man oh man, what a great song.

“Waves” by Bahamas

From the Noisetrade Bonnaroo Mixtape.  Bahamas is Afie Jurvanen a musician from Toronto. If you know anything at all about Bahamas, then you know more than I do… This was (I think) my first exposure to his music, and I kind of dig it.

“Molly and Ten Brooks” by Townes Van Zandt

#E2TG Rule #28: Any shuffle with Townes Van Zandt is a good shuffle. Rule #28.1: If that Townes song happens to be a cover of a song that  Bill Monroe  recorded… well, that is just fine. On this live recording, Townes refers to this as a Bill Monroe song, but it is actually a traditional song from the 19th Century… but Townes didn’t have Wikipedia in 1973 when he said it… so…

“The Bulrushes” by Richard Barone

The opening song from Barone’s Cool Blue Halo.  This song originally recorded by his old band, The Bongos, serves as a gorgeous jumping off point for this extraordinary live album.

“Thinkin’ Bout Chicago” by Rich Robbins (Produced by Nate France)

When we last caught up with Rich Robbins, he was going by Christian Robins.  He released an album called Nimbus.  Robbins was born in Chicago, raised in Philly, and moved back to Chicago for high school.  He is currently attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison which is how I first got introduced to him (Robbins studied under a friend of mine from my hometown). I have really digging his music from day one, and it is good to hear the lyrical and musical evolution which has occurred since then.

“Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy” by The Sadies

Our second Toronto-based artist/band in the shuffle.  This is a cover of a Porter Wagoner song.

“Little Rock and Roller” by Steve Earle

This song from the classic Guitar Town album makes me think of some of my musician friends who balance raising kids with life on the road.  A touching and heartbreaking song.

“The Landlocked Surfer” by Steelism

Another steel guitar driven, surf, instrumental track from 615 to Fame, Steelism will be playing the still brand new Basement East on Saturday.

“Twenty First Century Believer” by The Naddiks

Another song from 21CB, by The Naddiks from Canberra.  I’ve been enjoying the hell out of this album.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Alone in a Crowd Mix

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The end of a long strange week… we have a pretty nifty mix of old and new music of various styles and moods and subjects… all making a cohesive morning shuffle…

“Painted On Attitude” by T. Hardy Morris

An October 2014 single from T. Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate.  He is part of the new project Diamond Rugs along with members of Deer Tick and Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.  Diamond Rugs has a Noisetrade release that includes this track and some music from Deer Tick.

“Blue Light of the Fire” by Heather Powell

Heather Powell’s new album A Haze of Grays and Blues is out (this week).  This song is from her previous album Believe it to Life. A new version of this song (same lyrics,  different tune) is on the new album as “Blue Light”.  The video included is a recent live version of that new song.

“Lost in the Cosmos (Song for Chris Bell)” by Sons of Bill

A song for the late Big Star member whose classic solo album was released some 14 years after his tragic 1978 death at age 27.  The song is on Love and Logic the most recently album by Virginia band Sons of Bill.

“Camera” by R.E.M.

Another classic track from R.E.M.’s second album Reckoning.

“Never Talking to You Again” by Husker Du

From the Short Songs mixtape – taken from the Minneapolis post-punk legends’ classic second album Zen Arcade. A Grant Hart composition.

“Cat’s Eye Ring” by Steelism

Nashville’s favorite instrumental steel guitar driven surf rock band from the debut album 615 to Fame. I have been following Jeremy Fetzer and Spencer Cullum Jr. since I saw them play with Caitlin Rose a few years ago. 

“Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” by Paul Simon

From Graceland…

“The Long Run Out” by The Unforgiven

You don’t know how good it feels to say a new song from The Unforgiven.  The Unforgiven was an 80s band that by all rights should have been huge.  They had the look and the sound, they were larger than life and seemed to have stepped right out of a Spaghetti Western. To call them a Big Guitar band is an amazing understatement.  Circumstances being what they were and are, their sole, self-titled album ended up being their only release.  In 2012, the band reformed for a show at Stagecoach Festival and in 2014 their album was finally given a new release.  This song was a bonus track recorded around the time of the 2012 reunion, and it is pure The Unforgiven.  If you (like way too many) missed out on this band the first time around or haven’t had a heard them in a long time, climb on board.  Hang ’em High!

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“Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?” by The Waterboys

Our second song about a late musical great in the shuffle.  From Fishermen’s Blues comes this song about the late Country music icon Hank Williams.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

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E2TG at Americanarama VI 9/21/2013

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Grimey’s know how to through a party.  Their annual Record Store Day event is always awesome, and Saturday wasthe sixth installment of the original Americanarama – a free day of music in the middle of the Americana Music Association Conference.

Grimey’s which began in a small shop in the Berry Hill section of Nashville and blossomed into one of the best and most respected record stores in the world. They are a magnet for musicians and music lovers.  Metallica recorded a secret show at The Basement located below the shop but named the ensuing record “Live at Grimey’s”.  Just about every cool band that comes through town, does an in-store at Grimey’s.  In addition, they are champions of many of the great up and coming bands.

Believe it or not, this was the first year that I was able to make it out for Americanarama, and I think I picked a good year.

The day began with The Reneaus who are either from Bowling Green, Kentucky or Nashville depending on who you ask.  Regardless, I was not familiar with The Reneaus for this performance, but I now consider myself a fan. 

Steelism were next, and although I was already familiar with them, this was the first chance I had to see them live. Steelism is the brain-child of Spencer Cullen Jr. and Jeremy Fetzer (Caitlin Rose).  They have an amazingly original sound. Fronted by a Pedal Steel Guitar and featuring two drummers… favorite quote of the day, “I’m still hung over and the stage is leaning…”



Next up were The Dexateens. I’ve liked their music for a long time, but seeing them perform live was revelatory. I now count myself as a huge Dexateens fan. This was one of the most fun and energetic shows I’ve seen in a fair bit of time. The band’s extensive and entertaining bio on Facebook mentions that they began as a punk band, and this spirit shows through.



After The Dexateens set, I decided to go inside to Howlin’ Books and Grimey’s, Too, and then I grabbed some lunch from Mas Tacos. Somehow,  I made it back in time to introduce myself to a couple of The Dexateens and then to see Daughter play their set.  I had ever heard of Daughter, but they have almost 300,000 likes on Facebook. They are from the UK.  They played a stripped down set due to their regular instruments already being at the Exit/In where they were playing that night. They had a awesome atmospheric, moody sound which I really liked.  Quite a transition from The Dexateens, but it was good.  After their set, they were surrounded by hordes of young people (and by young people, I mean people younger than me which was I guess about half the crowd – give or take a few dozen).



Next up was T. Hardy Morris who is in the band Dead Confederate. We’ve played a few songs from his solo album Audition Tape, so it was good to see him live. I enjoyed the music, and I’m not sure if it’s a persona or a personality but there was a bit of aloofness which I found a bit off-putting. Maybe especially after the complete openness of The Dexateens. But, I do know it’s dangerous to compare bands, and like I said, the music was great.



Next up was The Autumn Defense featuring John Stirratt and Pat Sansone of Wilco. This was just some amazingly glorious music. Some delicious melodies and classic sounding vocals.  Just brilliant. The inclusion of The Troggs classic Love is All Around Me underscored the classic sound that this band has captured.



Next up was one of most anticipated sets of the day.  British Folk/Punk legend Billy Bragg took the small, slightly sloped stage and for about thirty minutes spoke truth and held court. After playing a few songs from his latest album including a Woody Guthrie cover which he introduced by referencing the brilliant Mermaid Avenue albums and acknowledging the presence of John Stirratt who along with the rest of Wilco played on those records, Bragg acknowledged that it was the 30th Anniversary of the release of his first album, Life’s a Riot With Spy Vs. Spy.  He said since the album was only 17 minutes long it was not worth renting out the Ryman or hiring symphony and that he could play the whole album as an encore and that he actually had enough time left to play it, and thus he launched into a blistering song by song cover of that masterpiece.  There was a palpable energy running through the crowd.   



After Billy Bragg headed inside to sign autographs and meet and greet, the ones of us who remained heard a couple of songs from the soon to be released High Cotton: A Tribute to Alabama. T. Hardy Morris came back from a ragged yet somehow brilliant version of the title track, and then the always amazing Amanda Shires (joined by Rod Piccott) performed her contribution to the record as well as one song from her new album.  To be honest, I expected more from this set, but hey, I got a free t-shirt and seeing Amanda Shires perform is always a plus.



As the sun began to descend, the crowd thinned a bit, which is a shame because those who left, missed out on the final set of the day. Willie Sugarcapps is the new project (supergroup really) featuring Will Kimbrough, Greyson Capps, Sugarcane Jane, and Corky Hughes. They play a break amalgam of traditional music from the South. Folk, Blues, Country,  what have you, and they have a whole lot of fun doing it.  I’ve been a Will Kimbrough fan since his days leading the Bushmen, and I thoroughly  enjoyed this set.  Their new album is out now. Check it.

 

It was truly a great day of great music. Special thanks to all the staff of Grimey’s for putting this thing on. And a shout out to Sandy – a long time Billy Bragg fan for buying me a beer.

Stay tuned for a quick run down of our normal shuffle in a bit…

I created a You Tube Playlist to commemorate the day…





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