There is so much I want to write at this moment. I am not sure where to begin. These are truly frightening times on many different levels. I was not in a good place yesterday even before American journalists were arrested on live television. Even before the President of the United States threatened violence against American Citizens.
I had to make my basically weekly trek out of my place to pick-up groceries. It seems like most people I saw are just going about their lives as if the pandemic was over. The thought that went through my head was in March and early April, it did basically feel like we were "all in this together", but that is no longer the case. Wearing masks has been politicized to the point that people wearing masks are being accosted by people not wearing masks.
What is happening in Minneapolis has eclipsed all of the those concerns. It is a mess for sure, but it did not start with George Floyd, I hope this time will be a turning point for our country, but I don't know... We are so fundamentally divided as a nation - we aren't just split in two, we are shattered in many different ways. Everything can potentially be political - from fried chicken and pizza to public figures and yes, masks. At this point, we can watch the same video clip or read the same quote and our perception of can be the opposite depending on our political leanings.
So, here I sit at the end of another work week and work month. I will be working from home for at least another month. I am not sure when I will feel safe going out for more than the brief moments I have to venture out. With the way people are acting, it may be a while.
I continue to lean into music. I miss live music, but not enough to put myself or others in danger.
But, this is a music blog, so let us get on with it!
Well, it is Friday and time for a new Featured Friday Playlist. As we did last week (and plan to do going forward), we will be highlighting all the songs/artists in this week's Playlist. Beginning with songs one through six down below today.
You can listen to and follow the playlist on Spotify - now!
Well, we are almost through another week and another month in the new reality. I feel so much uncertainty and anxiety. It does feel easier for me to stay in and limit social interactions, but I do miss people. I have very little confidence that things are not going to get worse. I no longer expect a return to "normal" anytime soon, but I also see people who are trying to force that return and it frightens me.
I am dismayed again at where we are as a nation when it comes to a lot of things. I try to identify and recognize privilege, but I suspect I don't always do well at this. I struggle with knowing when and how to speak up while acknowledging that that struggle is a function of my privilege.
Someone how, I still believe that most people are basically good, but I also believe that it takes more than being good to counteract the people who are bad.
I recognize that critical thinking is a sadly lacking skill, and that emotional intelligence is also sadly lacking in many people. I fully support freedom of thought and freedom of expression, but I recognize with that freedom come responsibility, and that many want the freedom without the responsibility.
I think the real danger lies with the apathetic and not the zealots.
And now, as we prepare for a brand new Featured Friday Playlist coming tomorrow, we conclude our review of this week's list with songs 18-22:
18. "Forget Me Nots" by Town Meeting
Town Meeting is a folk rock band from Ayer, Massachusetts. They are a fast rising band who have opened for Bob Dylan, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and more. Digging the sound of this band's evocative and rich sound.
19. "Cama" by Dru Flecha
Dru Flecha is from Caracas, Venezuela by way of Paris, France. A rich combination of sounds combined with a killer hook and a smoldering passion.
20. "Regional Diction" by Miss Rayon
Miss Rayon is from Portland, Oregon and they have been releasing a song every week during the pandemic. Really digging this track which reminds me of a modern take on new wave music.
21. "Emptiness" by Lékan Tella
Lékan Tella is a New York based singer-songwriter with a funky R&B, soul vibe. A great addition to this week's Playlist.
22. "I Know" by CLOUDNINE
Last, but not least, we have a track from CLOUDNINE who is a singer-songwriter based in France. A really cool song to close out this week's list.
It is Wednesday already! A rainy day in Nashville. The news of the day is depressing and disheartening. It is one of those moments where I cannot believe we have gotten to the place we are. I try to be positive and hopeful, but today I am not feeling it.
I do know that music has ALWAYS been there for me, and I expect that nothing will change that. So, let's get to what we do here!
And now our Featured Friday review continues with songs 13-17
13. "World on Fire" by Blue Eyed Christ, En Esch, Mea Fisher
A state of the world statement from this Chicago based industrial electronic rock band. Hard and pretty cool.
14. "Bed of Sun" by Cap'n Marble
Indie pop duo from California who met in Boston at Berklee School of Music. Breezy and catchy.
15. "Truth Be Told" by The Attic Movement
UK based alternative rock band with a beautiful song.
16. "Conipher's Song" by Lazaris Pit
Hardcore psychedelic post punk from Raleigh, North Carolina. Digging it.
17. "Can't See the Light" by The Wolfhounds
The Wolfhounds formed in 1984 and were included on the C86 compilation. The broke up around 1990 but reunited in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of C86. This is their latest release.
We are back after an extended weekend. I remain skeptical about the reopening, and I fear that many people are acting like the pandemic is over when it is not.
I am choosing to stay in most of the time, and frankly, it is less stressful for me to do so than to go out and worry about myself and others. That is just for me. And to be honest, staying in IS beginning to wear on me - especially seeing so many people getting out.
I think what makes me angry is that the people who refuse to wear masks and practice social distancing (and this can be seen all over the country) make it more difficult for me to consider easing back out. Not to mention how polarized this all has become. I fear being out in a mask and being attacked by someone without a mask. I don't know if that is a reasonable fear, but I have heard about such things and so my fear is real even if it is unreasonable.
We are living in strange times, and it does not help to have a President who purposefully spreads misinformation and seems to relish in the division and chaos. So, I am restless and reluctant and fearful. On the other hand, I do better than some at keeping to myself, and I am trying (not always with success) to stay connected via social media and the like.
Ah....Onward!
Continuing our review of our Featured Friday Playlist (songs 7-12)
7. "Life During Wartime" by Nichole Wagner
Austin, Texas singer-songwriter from the EP Dance Songs for the Apocalypse. This is a really cool cover of the Talking Heads classic. The EP also includes covers of Sia, Rilo Kiley, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and Neil Young.
8. "Sunrise" by The Mouse Outfit (feat. One Only)
New track from the Manchester Hip Hop collective that we featured extensively last year.
9. "Pray for Me, Pray for You" by Glass Cabin
New single from a new Nashville based duo project featuring Jess Brown and Dave Flint.
10. "One Day At a Time (Baby)" by Jake Stopar
Recent single by this Chicago based singer-songwriter. Stopar is the guitarist for the Chicago band The North and Wells Band.
11. "Runes" by BYSTS
Next, we have the latest single (from a forthcoming new album) by the L.A. duo. Dark and loud and really awesome music.
12. "Not Me. Us" by Ethan Gold
And, we close today's recap with this single from the L.A. by way of S.F. singer-songwriter with his call for unity in these divided times.
Today is Friday, and that means it is time for a brand new and all new Featured Friday Playlist of New and Recent Releases. Remember you can follow, the E2TG Featured Friday Playlist on Spotify.
So, I have been trying to figure what exactly I want to do with this space of the blog - besides my observations on contemporary life. On Friday, I try to write about the songs in the Featured Friday Playlist, but it is hard to get to them all on Friday - so I thought why not spread that out over the week. For today, I will be providing some info and reflections on the first six songs in the list down below because we don't do a regular shuffle on Friday and then I will cover the rest up here throughout next week.
Right now, I want to highlight a couple of recent releases that aren't on Spotify (yet or at all).
We met Ugggy has a member of Valued Customer who were early favorites of E2TG and eventually were named Band of the Year. A few years back, Ugggy released new music every month for a whole year and in the midst of that, we named him our Artist of the Year. Since that onslaught, he has been quite in terms of releasing music, but he has been busy making really interesting art. A month or so back, he released a stunning new song, and I wanted to highlight it here.
Very few artists can be credited with creating genres of music. I have no idea if that is true, but it seems like it might be. A few years ago, E2TG became aware of The Electric Grandmother who invented the Sit-Com Core genre. Their early albums referenced and were based upon classic sit-coms. It is kind of an obsession (not be judgmental here) of the bands principal members Pete and Mary Alice. We featured their non-sit-com album Cancelled a couple of years ago. That was a concept album about a man whose favorite t.v. cop show was cancelled. They are back now with yet another concept album Relaunch - which involves Ronald Reagan, the Space Shuttle, and more. I can guarantee you that The Electric Grandmother is like nothing you have ever heard.
Now, given a listen to the Featured Friday Playlist and scroll down to below the jump for the first six songs in the playlist.
So, I have continued to think about E2TG and what I can do differently. It is just something I do.
This space was meant to be a place for... well... that is a good question. An introduction... Originally, I thought this would be where I would post short recaps of live music, but... well you know how that one goes...
So, I have this idea to try starting next week. We shall see. That is what E2TG has always been a long-running experiment. I can't even begin to count how many "New Features" I have introduced only to abandon after a few (or even one) occurrences. Sometimes, ideas sound good in my brain but in reality they don't work out...
Anyway, tomorrow, we will unveil a new Featured Friday Playlist. Remember you can follow the playlist on Spotify so you don't have to wait until I do my blog post tomorrow.
The week's press on, and even though I support the need for continued precautions and shutdowns and social distancing, that doesn't mean that all of this isn't weighing on me.
I miss seeing live music, and I am not sure when it will be possible or reasonable to see it again. I miss hanging with my friends. I really want to visit my Mom.
We are approaching a three-day weekend, and I don't really have any plans - which in and off itself isn't that unusual. But, I won't be going to The 5 Spot on Friday night, and I won't be driving to Georgia to visit my Mom and we won't be going out to eat. This is not a rant or even a complaint - just an acknowledgment of the reality.
I will be doing a live Greeting from Nashville tomorrow and a live Double Shot on Saturday. Plus, I will be recording next week's Double Shot on Sunday. Precautions and protocols will be followed for all of those. And it is a pain, but it is necessary.
One final thought, I sometimes hear people who are pushing for reopening or resisting taking any precautions at all, say that it is only dangerous to the elderly or those with preexisting health conditions. First of all, that is not 100% true (some people have died who were not elderly and who did not have any known preexisting health conditions), but even it were true, I still don't understand that argument. Are they saying that the lives of the elderly or those with certain health conditions are worth less than their inconvenience? Or that otherwise healthy and asymptomatic people can transmit the virus to those who may be at risk.
Finally, when you see numbers of deaths or hospitalizations, even though the numbers may look "not bad, considering..." (as some people have said), each number represents a husband or parent or child or sibling or friend to someone. I know people who contracted the virus and were very sick, and I know people who have lost love ones. My inconvenience is not more important than those lives.
Okay, really finally, if you decide to share information on social media, make sure it is accurate and up-to-date. There are reliable sources out there - better than an out-of-context YouTube clip or a clickbait headline article from a questionable outlet. In Nashville, asafenashville.org is a good way to track what is going on here and what the current recommendations are for members of this society.
So, I realized that I have reported on how I am doing, but I don't think I have asked how you are doing? I know a lot of people are struggling on several different levels. But, what about you?
How are you coping? Are you coping? What do you need?
All sorts of confusing information and differing opinions, but today, I just want to know, how are you?
Featured Friday Playlist
Tuesday Morning Shuffle
Short on time today, but we have a nifty little shuffle.
"Graham Smith is The Strongest Man Alive" by Kleenex Girl Wonder (from Ponyoak 20th Anniversary Edition)
From the 20th Anniversary of their classic album. Graham Smith is the sole constant member of this indie rock band that formed in the suburbs of Chicago.
"Wahoo" by John Paul Daniel (from All is Well)
A track from the 2016 album by the singer-songwriter and folk artist from Kingston Springs, Tennessee.
"paperboy" by Pat Power (from Original Nature EP)
Our old pal, Pat Power (Valued Customer) with a track from a 2017 EP. This track is not on YouTube (that I could find), so I found another Pat Power track.
"North GA Blues" by Nathan Bell (from Er Gwaetha Ped a Phopeth)
A live recording from a tour in Wales by the singer-songwriter from Middle Tennessee.
"I Don't Love You Back" by Stuffy Shmitt (from Industrial Love)
And we close with a track from the 2012 album by the inimitable Stuffy - the shuffle really loves his music and so do I .
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NEW AND RECENT RELEASES
This Week
5/20 - Town Meeting - Make Things Better (LP)
5/22 - Victor Wainwright and the Train - Memphis Loud (LP)
5/22 - Lazaris Pit - Conifers (LP)
5/22 - Beauty in Chaos (feat. Steven Seibold) - "Almost Pure" (single)
5/22 - Ethan Gold - "Not Me. Us" (single)
5/22 - Nichole Wagner - Dance Songs for the Apocalypse (EP)
5/22 - Adam "Ditch" Kurtz - Storms of Steel (LP)
Last Week
5/10 - Brett Ryan Stewart - "Let Her Know" (single)
5/11 - Sofia Talvik - "Broken (Steel Guitars in Heaven)" (single)
5/11 - Jonny Polonsky - "Sign in the Window" (single)
5/11 - Scott Howard - The Language of Clouds (LP)
5/12 - Kory Quinn & Co. - The Blueroom (LP)
5/15 - Special Consensus - Chicago Barn Dance (LP)
5/15 - Zach Aaron - Fill Dirt Wanted (LP)
5/15 - Secret Emchy Society - The Chaser (LP) 5/15 The Room in the Wood - We're the Martians, Now (LP) 5/15 - Wicked Messenger - "Golden Eyes" (single) 5/15 - Lazerine - "There's Nothing in It" (single) 5/15 - Klashing Black - Thoughts on the Matter (EP)
5/15 - Aimee Steven - "Darling" (single)
5/15 - Wolfhounds - "Can't See the Light" (single)
Happy Monday! In case you missed it Friday - our new Featured Friday Playlist is up on Spotify (embed below). A ton of great music from old and new favorites.
I am just getting caught up from week before last, and expect a ton of new music on this week's Playlist. Be sure to follow the Playlist on Spotify and Follow E2TG on Facebook or Instagram for the latest. Hint: I sometimes link to the new playlist on Instagram Stories shortly after midnight.
It is time for another Music City Monday - featuring music from Nashville of various genres and eras. Some newer and newish music in this week's shuffle.
Hey, it is Friday, we have another all-new Featured Friday Playlist which you can stream below and follow on Spotify. I have some words about this weeks list below.
In the show Stranger Things, there is the concept of the Upside Down. If you haven't seen the show (I highly recommend it), but basically think of the Upside Down as an alternate world where things are just wrong and off. (If you've seen the show, sorry for the grossly inadequate explanation). Lately, I feel as if we are all living in some sort of "Upside Down". Obviously, we are facing unprecedented challenges as a world, and we have seen people rise to the occasion in many ways to help their fellow man.
However, as I see it, the darker side of all this is the continued politicalization of everything. I guess this should not surprise me at a time when eating fried chicken or ordering pizza has become a political statement. But, it does surprise me. Here we have a virus that really doesn't care if you are a Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Libertarian, Communist, Whig, No Nothing, or an Anarchist. In a normal world, we would find a way to at least somewhat unite to face this threat, but here, again, my naivete is showing.
Here is my bottom line. I have friends who have lost parents and spouses to this virus. I have friends who right now have parents in the hospital. And, yes, I have a lot of friends who have been significantly impacted financially by the shutdown. I have been hesitant to say too much, because I am among the very lucky in that I have continued to work uninterrupted (albeit from home since mid-March). I want everyone to get back to work. I want to go see live music again and hang out with all my friends. But, I want to do so safely and responsibly so that people do not suffer and die needlessly. So, when I see people running around without masks and ignoring social distancing guidelines, I will say something. Not too "peer pressure" (although if that is what it takes I will do that), but because I know, these people are putting people at risk and they are putting the eventual recovery at risk.
I think about the protesters - carrying assult-style weapons - who are terrorizing citizens and government leaders. I think about how these same people criticized football players for kneeling. I think about how these people do not protest when an unarmed black man is shot by the police or by so-called vigilantes. How these same people think government should tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her own body. How these same people, care little about the rights of the LGBTQ+ in the face of government sanctioned discrimination.
People in public without masks are extending this crisis and putting innocent people at risk. We have a huge hole in the soul of our government. I think about past leaders of both parties who would have and who are leading better than the current occupant of the White House. I think about the lack of compassion and concern which filters down from the highest levels of power to the dregs of our society. And, it saddens and worries me. But, I also think about the men and women who are ignoring and rejecting this soullessness to find creative ways to help others and each other.
I believe we will get out of the Upside Down world, but I also believe we will be changed by the experience, and I believe to a great extent it is up to us to decide how we are going to be changed.
So, since I realized that this week (tomorrow actually) marks the ninth anniversary of E2TG, I have been thinking quite a bit about the blog, how it started, how things have changed, where I am now, and where I see things going.
Without a doubt, E2TG has changed my life. So many important people in my life today are only there because I started writing E2TG in May 2011. Some of them may not even know that E2TG is the reason we know each other - but it is.
I have been getting some memories on Facebook and Instagram about my visit to the Cash Cabin on May 13, 2015. That would never have happened if it was not for E2TG. I likely would not be a DJ on WXNA if not for E2TG.
It all started because I had been making daily posts on Facebook with my morning shuffle - usually three or four songs that I listened to on my walk from the parking lot to my office. I had been doing that for at least a year, and I started adding some commentary. Someone, suggested a do something more than just social media posts and that something became E2TG. A big change was that I suddenly had a reason and motivation to start seeking out new music. At first, obviously, no one knew who I was and so no one was sending me music - that took time - so I went out and found bands that were following me on Twitter.
Pretty early on, I began thinking of any band or artist that I featured as part of the E2TG "family". Sometimes they didn't know they were part of this family and sometimes they might not have cared, but I did.
At that point in my life, I didn't go out to shows much and I was out of touch with a lot of local music, and then I made some friends from the New York and New Jersey area and suddenly a large percentage of the music I wrote about was from those two Northeastern States. It was kind of funny, but kind of cool - then came Connecticut. Of course eventually, I got in touch with Nashville's incredible community, but the Northeastern influence is still alive and well.
Honestly, I didn't have a master plan when I created E2TG, and I still tend to just go where the muse and the shuffle function take me. I always wish for more time and sometimes I really want to give more attention to an artist or album than I do, and sometimes, I miss opportunities. But, it is just what it is, and for every missed opportunity there have been so many blessings to come my way. I use the word blessing because that is what it feels like. I don't necessarily assign any specific theological meaning to the term nor I know what it all means.
About the E2TG avatar.
This was a drawing I did for a novel I was (and still am writing). I did a few drawings (I originally envisioned a multi-media book), but this one - it is supposed to be a self-portrait of a character named Kevin who is an artist - is the only one that stuck. At some point, I used this as my profile pic on-line and when I needed an image for E2TG I just grabbed this one because it was handy. So, yeah. I don't fancy myself any sort of visual artist, but I always kind of dug this drawling.
As for the future... it is unwritten. Now more than ever, there is a lot of uncertainty. I know some of the people I have grown to know and love are hurting financially and missing playing shows, and I and missing going to shows and seeing friends. So, I will just keep going until I stop. For today, I am not stopping.
Near as I can recall and tell, E2TG began on May 15, 2011. So, Friday will be the official ninth anniversary of this blog. I find it a little hard to believe in some ways, but in others it is hard for me to remember when E2TG wasn't a part of my life.
I have featured a lot of music here over the years, and I have been fortunate enough to meet a ton of awesome folks either directly or indirectly because of E2TG.
So, as we move into the tenth year of the blog, I think I want to focus on making what I do be better rather than focusing on what I don't do. I have had ideas for 2020 that for various reasons have not come to fruition. Some, I still hope will come when the time is right, some I have reexamined and am going a different direction.
I have a process down for sorting through the dozens of e-mail inquiries I receive every day. It is not perfect, but it is manageable for me. I generally do not reply to e-mails - unless a specific question is asked that seems like it needs an answer. I would prefer to answer all, but this was a decision based upon the time I have available.
I do hope you will check out the Upcoming and Recent Release list at the bottom of this e-mail. There is a ton of new music being released, and I can't always specifically highlight it all. I do get a lot of inquiries for album reviews and song and/or video premieres. I don't really do full album reviews, and while I have done a few song and video premieres, it is not something I do on a regular basis. I love to them, but again time is the enemy.
Anyway, on to the Wednesday shuffle.
Featured Friday Playlist
Wednesday Morning Shuffle:
"Criminal" by Ships Have Sailed (from Moodswings)
We start with a track from the 2015 release by the L.A. band who we featured about five years ago.
"Hell is a Teenage Girl" by Aimee Steven (from single)
Next up, a recent single and recent Featured Friday Playlist add - from this UK singer-songwriter. Dig this song.
"Smoke More Pot" by Ali Handal (from That's What She Said)
A 2017 release from the Texas based singer-songwriter who we first encountered a while back when she was singing with Raindoggs. Handal has become an E2TG favorite.
"Ludwig Meidner" by Mayflower Madame (from Prepared for a Nightmare)
Next up, we have another 2020 release, and I think we have had them in the Featured Friday playlist before. Mayflower Madame are from Norway. The released their debut in 2016, and I really dig their sound.
"Wings of Love (Alas Del Amor)" by Stuffy Shmitt (from Dog Steal the Moon)
We close with the lead off track from former MTV personality Stuffy Shmitt's 2002 album Dog Steal the Moon. A beautiful song from a beautiful person to close out the shuffle.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
This Week 5/10 - Brett Ryan Stewart - "Let Her Know" (single) 5/11 - Sofia Talvik - "Broken (Steel Guitars in Heaven)" (single)
5/11 - Jonny Polonsky - "Sign in the Window" (single)
5/12 - Kory Quinn & Co. - The Blueroom (LP)
5/11 - Scott Howard - The Language of Clouds (LP)
5/15 - Special Consensus - Chicago Barn Dance (LP)
5/15 - Zach Aaron - Fill Dirt Wanted (LP)
5/15 - Secret Emchy Society - The Chaser (LP) 5/15 The Room in the Wood - We're the Martians, Now (LP) 5/15 - Wicked Messenger - "Golden Eyes" (single) 5/15 - Lazerine - "There's Nothing in It" (single) 5/15 - Klashing Black - Thoughts on the Matter (EP)
5/15 - Aimee Steven - "Darling" (single)5/16 - The Electric Grandmother - Relaunch (LP)
Last Week 5/04 - Black Needle Noise with - "Seed of Evil" (single) 5/04 - Killing Kuddles - "Too Cool" (single) 5/06 - I Like Trains - "The Truth" (single) 5/07 - Julius and Julia - "Why We Are Here?" (single) 5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
