Category: The Delta Saints

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Chill Out Mix

Today’s shuffle takes us from the Mississippi Delta via one of Nashville’s hottest bands, up to New York with a singer-songwriter who’s lead instrument is the bass.  To the North Mississippi Hill Country with a legendary blues player, to New York City where a cover of a Howlin’ Wolf classic gets a dub remix, and ends up with some Connecticut teens taking on a lo-fi classic from the Pacific Northwest.  Not a bad ride for a Tuesday…

“Old Man” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee

The penultimate track from our survey of the Death Letter Jubilee album. 

“Chill Out” by Sam Davison from Always Around

Another great track from this album and the source of today’s post subtitle.

“You’re Gonna Fine Your Mistake” by Junior Kimbrough from Root Damage/God Knows I Tried

Lately, it seems like I have been loading a lot of blues music into my mix… probably for good reason.  But to me, the Blues isn’t about wallowing in your misery, but rather it is about letting it all out so you can rise above…

“Moanin’ at Midnight (Ras Jah Ames Dub Remix)” by Tomas Doncker Band from Moanin’ at Midnight: The Howlin’ Wolf Project

I don’t feel like I can say enough about this amazing project by New York City’s Tomas Doncker Band.  To do a fabulous Howlin’ Wolf tribute album is one thing – a noble achievement.  But to take that classic and well-loved music and to transform it and to make it your own… that is what makes the Moaning at Midnight project one of my favorite albums of the year. Case in point – this dub remix of the title track – which loses none of the power of the original and simultaneously takes it higher, higher, higher. 

“I Want Wind to Blow” (The Microphones Cover) by The Foresters from Download Home Recording!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”);

The Microphones was Phil Elvrum before he was Mount Eerie. The Microphones primarily released music between 1996 and 2004.  The music was lo-fi and folk-based modern music.  This cover is done by recurring E2TG favorites The Foresters, and it happened to be released as a download yesterday. 

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js The cover (along with the band’s recent Neutral Milk Hotel cover) marks yet another milestone for this very young and very promising band.  It is scary exciting to think about where this band of brothers could take their music.  Meanwhile, just sit back and enjoy the music. (The video playlist includes a full almost two hour Snow Day show live from The Foresters’ home.

VIDEO:

SHOP FOR MUSIC:

http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3765208637/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/

http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1877890928/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/

http://astore.amazon.com/e2tg_chill_7-29-2014-20

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Backup Plan Mix

I don’t have anything particularly clever or important to say today.  Just that we have an awesome mix of music that continues a Blues theme from Friday and which features not one, not two, but three examples of why Nashville is Music City and not Country Music City.

Get to the mix after the jump:

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“Just Keep on Rockin’” by Roomful of Blues from Alligator Records: 21st Century Blues and Roots/45 Live (Original version on Standing Room Only)

The long-running Rhode Island Blues/Swing band Roomful of Blues with a live version of a song which was originally on their 2005 album.
 

“Find the Love” by Deena from Rock River

Another great track from Rock River – the newest album by New Jersey Indie legend Deena Shoshkes from The Cucumbers.  Delightfully wistful and delightfully free from empty sentiment.
 

“Out to Sea” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee
The first of three Nashville bands which round out this Monday Shuffle.  The Delta Saints bring a little taste of the Mississippi Delta to what they call Swagger Rock.

 “Backup Plan” by Mark Robinson from Quit Your Job – Play Guitar

A song from Music City Blues Guitarist extraordinaire and a good friend of this blog, Mark Robinson from his 2010 album.

“Tennessee” by Great Peacock from Single
We close out this shuffle with one of my favorite songs of the last year or so.  They were the 2013 CXCW Best Dressed award winners – the year they covered The National and then teamed up with Wess Floyd to do an absolutely kick ass version of the Alabama Shakes’ “Hold On”.  This is a song that has been getting quite a bit of attention locally and hopefully elsewhere as well.
 
So, the week gets off to a roaring start… come back all week….
 
VIDEOS to WATCH:
 
 
MUSIC TO BUY:
http://astore.amazon.com/e2tg_backupplan_7-21-2014-20 

     window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Bells and Italian Food Mix

The 700th post here at Ear to the Ground arrives with another great mix of music. We have two sub-themes going in this otherwise loosely constructed collection of songs.  Bells and Italian Food.  Read on…

“Liberty Bell” by  The Gathering from How to Measure a Planet (6:01)

The first of two songs with bells in the shuffle today comes from a Dutch progressive metal/alternative rock band which formed in 1999.  I’ll be honest, I don’t know when I added this to my playlist, but here it is, and it’s a atmospherically cool way to start the morning.

 “Ethiopian War Chant” by Tomas Doncker from Power of the Trinity (4:26)

How about this awesome track from Tomas Doncker’s Power of the Trinity release.  Tomas and band are bringing their Howlin’ Wolf tribute to the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City tomorrow night. If you are in the city, you should be there.

 

“Pizza N Drugs” by Darrin Bradbury from Death in my Left Ear (2:29)

Darrin Bradbury brings us the first of two songs which mention types of Italian food with a little ditty about spending a Sunday with Pizza, Drugs, and someone special.  Darrin just started a weekly series with the awesome Tim Carroll at a dive bar in East Nashville called Fran’s.  It’s every Wednesday night, and you and I really need to check it out.

 

“Foggy Notion” by Jane Wiedlin from American Velvet: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground (4:07)

Go-Go Jane Wiedlin covers one of my favorite Velvet Underground songs (read one of my favorite songs) from one of who know how many VU tribute albums.

 

“Rigatoni Macaroni” by Sam Davison from Always Around (2:17)

Are you hungry yet?  New York singer/songwriter and bassist. With a fun song from his stellar Always Around album which was released last October.

 

“Dream Away” by The Yugos from Life is Awesome and Then You Live Forever (4:25)

Are a young band from Covington, Kentucky.  They came to my attention via a post by Dan Stuart (Green on Red, Danny and Dusty, solo), and when Dan talks, I listen. I’m glad I did.  Cool stuff.

 

“When Silence Was Golden” by David Schnaufer from Appalachian Picking Society (3:05)

Some sweet Appalachian music from the late, great, Nashville dulcimer player David Schnaufer.

“Jericho” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee (4:18)

First of a couple of songs by Nashville-based Louisiana-tinged rock band The Delta Saints.

 

“Bell Ringer” by Gumshen from Protronica (7:06)

Our second “bell” related song comes from this Seattle based band.

 

“Albatross” by Stoney from More Than Animals (4:14)

We have featured several songs from the latest album by Austin based Stoney.

 
“Blank Maps” by Cold Specks from  I Predict a Graceful Expulsion (3:12)

I may be late to the game, but consider me a Cold Specks fan.  This is an awesome song, and I want to hear more.

 

“Drink it Slow” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee (4:08)

Another great track from The Delta Saints.  My music play crapped out after this, and I had to restart the shuffle, but what a way to go.

 

“Long Way Home” by Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray from Lean into the Wind (4:29)

A beautiful heart wrenching track from the latest album by our friends and CXCW darlings Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray.

“Diamond Joe” by Guy Clark (with Verlon Thompson) from Guy Clark (2:51)

We close things out with a song that’s been in my active playlist for a long time. Glad it finally came up.  An classic performed by a pair of legendary Nashville songwriters.

Video Playlist:

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Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Guess That I Just Don’t Know Mix

!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”);https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js I guess that I just don’t know… Shuffle after the jump—

Shuffle: “River” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee (2013) – The Delta Saints come from Nashville but their music rises like the high humidity from a swampy place down where the Mississippi River joins the Gulf of Mexico.

“A Switch Behind the Poster? (Let’s Push it!)” by Black Doctor Jr. from Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen – Section 5 (2014)/Single (2013) – The good doctor returnes to #E2TG with their latest single which is compiled on the latest Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen compilation (the fifth, I’m guessing) which filled with great music. The song is chunky and soaring and freakin’ awesome. http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=378487843/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2678306607/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/“99 Shades of Crazy” by JJ Grey and Mofro from Alligator Records: 21st Century Blue and Roots (2014)/This River (2013) – We’re all crazy – get over it.  Some southern blues rock from Jacksonville, Florida from a recent Alligator Records compilation.

“Sleep/Whatever” by Ghost Pal from God Save MCFK (2013) – some sweet psychedelic sounding pop music from another Mama Coco’s band which is fronted by the ubiquitous Oliver Ignatius the man behind the curtain at the Funky Kitchen.  Which provide a good opportunity to remind you of their on-going plan to build-out a new space.

https://www.indiegogo.com/project/help-mama-coco-s-funky-kitchen-build-a-new-studio/embedded

http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2606593525/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/“Take Your Makeup Off the Wall” by The Foresters from Living Hold (2014) – the kids from Connecticut are back in the shuffle with another great track from their latest album.  Their CXCW performance of this song (included in the video playlist below) earned them the There is Hope for the Future Award.  Hope indeed.

“Heroin” by The Velvet Underground from The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967) – I’ve never done heroin.  Thanks to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, I feel like I don’t need to… 47 years later VU are still way ahead of the time.

“Perfect Storm” by Jenny Leigh from Tipping Point (2013) – A nifty Country song by a powerful singer – fairly recently relocated to Nashville.

“Shops” by The Jean Jackets from Field Theory Blues (2013) – I just realized I’m a whole album behind on this great indie pop band – yet another Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen member.  Memory and time shortages allowing, I will catch up, but in the meantime, check out this evocative final track from their second most recent album.

http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=677418331/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/“Too Many Cuts” by Pork Chop Willie from Love is the Devil (2014) – North Country Alabama blues with a Brooklyn edge helps make this album by Pork Chop Willie one of the best of 2014.  Garnering a lot of well deserved attention from the Blues community, the music is fresh and suitable for music fans of all types. Highly recommended!

VIDEO PLAYLIST


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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Pure and Noble Breed Mix

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We press on…

In the shuffle today:

 
“Some Day” by Rewpart
 
“Mother of Exiles” by Joseph Arthur
 
“The Devil’s Creek” by The Delta Saints
 
“David Watts” (Kinks Cover) by The Jam
 
“Kayla of Colorado” (2008) by Darrin Bradbury
 
“The Great Airplane Strike” by Paul Revere and The Raiders
 
“Redemption City” by Joseph Arthur
 
“When You Get That Way” by Taylor Brown
 
“Nobody” by Killing Kuddles
 
“Girl/Room” by The Jean Jackets
 
“II. A Common Theme (The Dream; Life’s Odyssey)” by Left of Logic
 
“Hymn for the Road” (2012) by Darrin Bradbury
 
“Go Away” by Solardrive
 
“Diddler” by Sam Davison
NOTES
 
 
Since I began writing Ear to the Ground, I have come to music or music has come to me from a variety of sources: Twittter, Facebook, Google +, Music Promoters, direct contacts from artists, Noisetrade, ReverbNation, Bandcamp, Brite Revolution, and recommendations by friends and family.  Today, I feature my first “discovery” via the About.me website. Nineteen year old British solo dream-pop artist Rewpart (aka Rupert Roberts).  His latest EP is called “1/2”
 
 
More music from recent frequent flyers: Joseph Arthur, The Delta Saints, Darrin Bradbury, and Left of Logic.  Nashville people: The Delta Saints have an upcoming show with our friends Humming House.  Also, I dare you to listen to Darrin Bradbury’s song “Kayla of Colorado” and not sing along.
 
More #MCFK goodness from The Jean Jackets and Sam Davison.
 
The Jam made “David Watts” their own so well that some times I forget that it is a Kinks’ cover.
 
Paul Revere and the Raiders – downloaded on a whim. Silly costumes. Great song.
 
 
A new song from Killing Kuddles!  I repeat, a new song from Killing Kuddles!  It’s every bit as awesome as one would expect!
 
 
I have mentioned in passing that Solardrive is the newish project by one Balthazar Getty.  In case you didn’t know that or why Mr. Getty is so awesome, I present a rare #E2TG list
 
1. He is descended from those Gettys.
2. He starred in the 1990 film version of Sir William Goldings’ classic novel, The Lord of the Flies
3. He starred in TV’s Brothers and Sisters with the totally awesome Sally Field. I like her, I really like her.
4.  He followed me back on Twitter
5.  and most important, Solardrive is some truly amazing music.
 
 
SHOP




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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Wheels of a Cadillac Mix


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Lovely to see you….


We have 11 songs in our shuffle today….

Shall we?  Let’s….

“Always Around” by Sam Davison
 
“Suddenly” by Swear and Shake
 
“Five Years” by David Bowie
 
“Just Got Punched in the Face by Schmee and the Bad Boys” by Ghost Pal
 
“Defiantly Loved” by Stoney
 
“Run” by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
 
“Night Clothes” by Joseph Arthur
 
“Liar” by The Delta Saints
 
“Railroad of Sin” by Sturgill Simpson
 
“Visit Us” by Joseph Arthur
 
“God Save Mama Coco’s” by Ghost Pal

NOTES:

Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen #MCFK is well represented today with yet another track from Sam Davison (I’m not complaining, but I hope he doesn’t think I’m stalking him. It’s all the shuffle’s fault).  This one kind of brings to mind Jonathan Richman at his best (unless it doesn’t in which case I’m just a music blogger pulling stuff out of his ass.  Which is pretty much the case, if you haven’t figured it out, but I work hard to make that stuff look pretty.  All this to say, I love this song.  Plus two tracks from Ghost Pal featuring Mama Coco’s ubiquitous presence: the incomparable Oliver Ignatius.  God Save Mama Coco’s indeed!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are from Detroit which I never thought of as a NASCAR city, but it does have the whole auto industry thing going so what do I know.  I mean really – what do I know about Detroit or about NASCAR? Not a hell of  lot. I do know that the band name is part of what got me to listen to these guys in the first place, and I’m kinda, pretty much glad I did.

Joseph Arthur – I just keep loving these songs.  I can’t help it.

Maybe it’s my Louisiana roots or maybe it’s a Nashville thing, but when I hear The Delta Saints, I just want to dance… and I’m not much of a dancer…  this was the song which propelled me from my car into the walk up the hill. Talk about getting a body moving!

I know that when most people say that they don’t like Country music, they are talking about the Country radio hit song kind of stuff sung by guys named Brad and Keith and Toby.  You know the kind that gets mashed up with really questionable hip-hop stuff… you know stuff about trucks and beer and girls and dogs and dirt roads.  Sturgill Simpson plays COUNTRY MUSIC. I don’t know much about the other stuff I was describing, but I know I like COUNTRY MUSIC.

SHOP

 
WATCH


 

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Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Orange Crepe Paper Mix

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Continuing a tradition that dates back to January 14, 1993…

We have a great shuffle to help me celebrate… 😉

“The Score” by Stoney

“Boogie” by The Delta Saints

“Velvet Goldmine” by David Bowie

“Down in Blue” by Marla Mase

“Jesus Christ is Just Rock and Roll” by The Harmonica Lewinskies

“This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)” (Talking Heads Cover) by Bhi Bhiman

“Airstream Girl” by Susan James

“Free” by Mission South

“Move Back” by Sam Davison

“Bosnian Waffle” by The Walking Who

“Sweets to the Sweet” by Tom Tom Club

Notes:

I was introduced to the music of Stoney by James Moore of Independent Music Promotions. As with most of the music he submits, this was an excellent discovery.

I’ve been hearing a lot about Nashville’s The Delta Saints recently. There music is a dark, spicy, soupy gumbo of swamp blues inspired rock and roll.  If you haven’t done so already, check them out as soon as possible.

It’s my birthday and I’ll play Bowie if I want to…

New music from Marla Mase? New music from Marla Mase!  One of my favorite new discoveries of 2013 (again thanks to James Moore of IMP).  Mase has a new EP due out at the end of next month.  I got a sneak peak, and so far, I am digging what I’m hearing.  The EP is called Half-Life.

How about some fairly new music from the Harmonica Lewinskies?  Don’t mind if I do.  Dig this song. Yep, it’s another #MCFK connection.

This is my last post from Bhi Bhiman’s awesome cover album Substitute Preacher. The Talking Heads’ classic gets the Bhiman treatment.  You can compare this to the recent Lumineers’ cover or to the original. Either way, it is a unique take on a great song.

Susan James  was another “discovery”. Susan is an amazing California Folk/Americana/Singer-Songwriter.  We go back to her 2011 album Highways, Ghosts, Hearts and Home for this incredible track.

We caught Mission South  at one of Grimey’s New Faces Nights at the Basement this past fall, and we captivated by their youthful energy and infectious grooviness. 

How about another from the talented Mr. Sam Davison. More #MCFK goodness.  I earned my Generation X creds when moved back home in 1990. 

If you have to have the flu – how about Candy Flu? Which is the name of the release from Psychedelic Rockers The Walking Who from Sydney. We got up with them on the Brite Revolution site.

The Shuffle closes in groovy, funky  style with some fine confections from the legendary Tom Tom Club.

SHOP

WATCH
 


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