Well Americana Music Association week in kicking into high gear here in Nashville. So many incredible musicians in town, official and unofficial showcases and shows and whatnot everywhere you go. Music that represents the pretty diverse collection of genres and subgenres that fall loosely or tightly under the big Americana umbrella… “It’s a big enough umbrella, but it’s always me who ends up getting wet.”
Forever, swimming against the wind or pissing into the stream or whatever, Ear to the Ground presents a shuffle which includes some 1950s Portuguese Fado music, some 1970s Afro-jazz from Nigeria, a 90s lo-fi band from Olympia Washington, some awesome alternative, jazz, funk, electronic music from Philly, a 90s Rock band from Knoxville, along with some other great stuff which should or could fit in nicely at Americana Fest. Shall we?
“Home Sweet Home” by Taco Land from Home Sweet Home
My now famous quote is “Taco Land is everything you’d expect from a band from South Texas called Taco Land and nothing you’d expect from a band from South Texas called Taco Land” This is the title track from their latest album… and it is not a Motley Crue cover.
“The Mooooooon (Version)” by Microphones from The Glow Pt. 2 Disc Two: Other Songs and Destroyed Versions
Okay, so I’m not too proud to admit that some young teens from Connecticut turned me on to this band… after hearing a killer cover by The Foresters, I decided to see what I had missed out on…
“Saturday Song” by Mustard from Mustard II – The Unnamed, Unfinished Album
A lot of life happened in the 90s, and I missed a bunch of great music. h/t to the Feel Bad for You monthly mixtape (which is about due for a new edition) for introducing me to this now defunct Knoxville band. I’ll have to see what else I can dig up.
“Sunshine” by Left of Logic from In Formation
From the city of brotherly love, comes the awesome sounds of Left of Logic. A note on their Facebook page indicates that the band played their last show at the end of August and that “Left of Logic” is complete. They left a great legacy of music, and hopefully in some combination or form, we’ll hear more music from these guys.
“Carmencita” by Amalia Rodrigues from 20 de Amalia
Amalia Rodrigues died in 1999. She was an actress and singer from Portugal and billed as the Queen of Fado. This is some really awesome stuff.
“Ikom Allah” by Bala Miller and the great Music Pirameeds Of Africa from Ikom Allah
Did you know that Nigeria produces some funky grooves in the 1970s? I didn’t, but now I do. You have to hear this – video included, and you will have to move when you hear this! By the way, the last two tracks came to my attention from the Peacefork blog put out by my friends Valued Customer. Trivia: I was first introduced to Valued Customer via their alternative hip-hop song, “Frank Ocean”. Music is a weird and wonderful thing.
“You n Me n XTC” by Chris Stamey from Lovesick Blues
This has been my groove ever since I first heard it. I mean, c’mon a former db singing about XTC – how can this not be all kinds of awesome?
“Friday Night Special” by Joe Sundell from The Hat Thief
Two days in a row… another great new/old folk song from Austin.
“Hitchens” by Brown Bird from Fits of Reason
We close things out with a cool song about the late writer Christopher Hitchens from a 2013 album by a band from Maine fronted by the late David Lamb. A really nifty way to bring us back to an Americana sound with subject matter maybe not what one might expect from Americana music.
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E2TG: MUSIC/WORDS 