Music City Rambling

The wait is over Erin McCarley fans. We have finally seen the light.

After an extremely long wait, the Nashville singer/songwriter is beginning the extensive journey of promoting and releasing a new album. Today marked the first step as a new song, “Elevator”, was released for streaming on her revamped website. According to her Facebook fan page, “Elevator” will be the first song off of her new album – which will be called “My Stadium Electric”. The release date of the album is unknown but all signs point to a summer release.

For those who aren’t familiar with her work, McCarley isn’t a new face on the music scene. Her first album, “Love Save the Empty”, was released in December of 2008 on Universal Republic Records. Over the course of the following year, some of those songs received placements in television shows, movie trailers, and even a performance documentary. She has performed in SXSW, been around for a song or two during the Sundance Film Festival, been on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Late Show with David Letterman. While she may not have been “active” in the traditional sense, those who have their ear low to the ground have heard some activity from her camp.

Catch all the latest news on Erin McCarley by following her on twitter, liking her fan page on Facebook, or signing up for her email newsletter.
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Last month when I was visiting Seattle, I had an interesting encounter at the Pike Place Market. I was walking past one of the many fruit stands when I had the following conversation:

Fruit Man: Eat this. (He was holding out an apple)

Me: Silence…Walking

Fruit Man: Eat this.

Me: Ok, I’m eating it. (It was the best apple I’ve ever had in my life. No joke.)

Fruit Man: Where are you from?

Me: Nashville

Fruit Man: Do you like music? (Clearly this guy didn’t know me. Seriously? Do I like music?)

Me: Yes.

Fruit Man: You have to check out my friend’s band, Kansas Bible Company. They’re great!

I didn’t really have any intention of checking them out, but the conversation stuck with me. I had trusted him on the apple and definitely didn’t regret it, so when I got back to Nashville I looked them up and listened to some of their stuff. WOW, the fruit man was right again! (Lesson learned: trust the fruit man) Kansas Bible Company is a super cool, 11-man band that lives all together in a house right here in East Nashville. They’ve got horns, guitars, and drums…what more could you need? They’re pretty much a rock n’ roll orchestra. I hope they realize what a good friend they’ve got out in Seattle. He’s talking up their music to strangers and it’s working! Now follow my lead and listen to the fruit man. Check out Kansas Bible Company. You won’t regret it. And when you fall in love with them, you’ll be in luck because they’re playing 12th & Porter TOMORROW (5/10).

Spring is here and that means the Supper + Song series is back at Imogene + Willie! Tomorrow night will officially kick off the 2012 series, so make sure you come out to their backyard for a FREE intimate night of music with friends and neighbors. The show will kick off with local singer songwriter, Kate Tucker, at 6pm. Then at 7pm, the secret special guest will take the stage. This week on Twitter, Imogene + Willie released a series of clues about the identity of the secret guest. Can you guess who it is?

Clue #1: She’s a little lady with her head in the clouds…

Clue #2: She’s very well-red…

Clue #3: She’s not just another pretty face…

Clue #4: She’s a real model Citizen…

Drum roll please….it’s Karen Elson!

It’s bound to be an awesome show, so grab a blanket and meet us out there for an amazing night of music. It’s free, so you’ve got no excuse. To make things even better, it’s BYOB AND the Mas Tacos food truck will be out there slinging their delicious tacos. If you can’t make it out tomorrow night, Supper + Song will take place the third Wednesday of every month throughout the summer.

Kate Tucker – Where Are You

Karen Elson – Milk and Honey

Tuesday night I attended my very first StageIt show. I didn’t have to go very far. I watched it from the comfort of my desk at work, much to the dismay of the night security guard. I can’t tell you how many times he walked by my desk, confused as to why I was sitting there in the dark watching some guy play guitar on my computer screen. Oh well, I’m not ashamed.

Blake Stratton has been doing StageIt shows every Tuesday in the month of March. It’s a pretty simple concept. He sets up a space to play in his house, links up a web cam, fans buy “notes” which is essentially StageIt money, you pay him $5 in notes, and you get to watch him do a 30 minute web show over the internet. There’s also a chat box on the screen where you can interact with him/request songs. It’s a pretty smart concept for someone that isn’t “touring” right now. It gives him a chance to play for his fans all at once, no matter where they are. I have spun the crap out of his EP, so I was definitely looking forward to hearing some of his newer stuff and it didn’t disappoint. He even threw in a little boyband medley. (How did he know the way to my heart?!) At the end of the 30 minutes, the artist has the option to do an encore up to 20 minutes. $5 for almost an hour of music isn’t bad at all. And he played my personal favorite, Turn Me Loose, in the encore.

Blake is one of my FAVORITE artists that no one seems to know. I would love for this to change. Do me a few favors:

1. Check out his EP, The Bellevue EP. I recommend buying it from his Bandcamp page because it comes with a bonus live demo of Let Him Be Me which I absolutely love! http://blakestratton.bandcamp.com/
2. Check out his last StageIt show of the month on Tuesday 3/27. It may seem like a weird concept, but I actually think its pretty awesome. Get your ticket here.
3. Tweet Johnny T (johnnyt183) and Musician’s Corner (MusCornerNash) and tell them you want Blake to play the acoustic stage at Musicians Corner this spring. (This request not endorsed by Johnny T :-p)

Everyone likes a free show, don’t they? Head on out to 12th and Porter TODAY for a few CMT tapings!

Kip Moore

March 14^th at 12^th and Porter–FREE

Doors at 2:45pm for taping from 3-4:15pm

Lauren Alaina

March 14^th at 12^th and Porter–FREE

Doors at 6pm for taping from 6:15-7:30pm

Marc Scibilia is a name you should know. You heard it here first! I got the chance to see him play at The Basement on Thursday, and that guy can sing! Seriously, you will love him and you will want to buy his music, but you can’t just yet. His EP doesn’t come out until June. I know, I know…so now what? Well, you should do these 3 things to get ready for the release.

1.) Go to Youtube and check out his tunes. Start with “Ain’t My Home”. It’s AMAZING.

2.) Go to NoiseTrade and get a free download of two songs live from The Basement.

The Basement Bootlegs – Vol. 1

3.) Go see him play live at The Basement on March 23rd. It’ll be $5 well-spent!

I’ve been known to have a new music obsession just about every other week. I’ll hear it, buy it, tell everyone I know about it, and then spin the crap out of it…in the car, at work, in my house…everywhere. What can I say? When I like something, I really really like it.

This week is all about Allen Stone. I can’t do him justice trying to describe his music in words. He somehow figures out how to blend r&b, pop, soul, rock, and even some folk into his sound. But first and foremost, you need to know that this guy has got some serious SOUL! (True story, he really is the son of a preacher man.) His lyrics touch on real-life issues and his smooth, power-house voice belts them out in a way that will make you really feel.

If you’re in the Nashville area, he happens to be playing a show at 12th and Porter this Sunday! I haven’t seen him play live yet, but I have a feeling he’s the kind of artist that will blow you away live. I’ll be there and you probably should be, too! Get your tickets here.