E2TG 3/10/2021 - The Trouble with Normal - Fools Mix (Sky Tourism Remix)

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I don't know why the Bruce Cockburn song title popped into my head when I was starting this post. And, what I am thinking now doesn't really have anything to do with the song - which I love by the way. 

To me, the trouble with normal is that it is never precisely clear who gets to define the term and what exactly it means, and if being "normal" is even desirable. For some reason, I think normal gets conflated with average - like the average person does this or that - so that is normal behavior.  The problem is that there is not really an average person - it is a construct. Like - when it is said that the average family has 2.5 kids... no family has 2.5 kids, therefore, there is no average family. 

Then you have people like me who have constantly fought an internal battle of trying to fit in and trying to stand out.  Are those mutually exclusive concepts? Maybe or maybe not - depending on where you are trying to fit in and what fitting in actually means to you. 

Certainly, there is a danger - in trying to stand out - to be "weird" for the sake of being weird - which I don't think is a good thing - although admittedly, I have done precisely that in my life. 

Also, can "normal" be a code word for excluding or discriminating against people who are different? Sure it can. White is "normal", straight is "normal", cis-gender is "normal"... Can "normal" also be a way for those in power to control the masses? Sure it can.  Normal behavior is to work 40 hours a week, normal behavior is to buy a new car every 3-5 years (if not more often). 

And the thing about that kind of control is that it can - at its worst - be self-regulating.  Peer pressure (which while strong in school age kind - exists across all age classifications) seeks to force everyone to conform to some "normal" behavior. 

So -  to paraphrase Aaron Lee Tasjan... the trouble with normal is that it ain't no trouble at all. I don't have a problem when it comes to blindly trying to fit in... at least I don't anymore- most of the time...

We move along in our Featured Friday Playlist recap - today, songs 23-27:

23. "Bug Hunter" by Dude Safari

We begin this segment of music with the debut single from a new grunge pop band from Surrey. A really fun track, that I am happy to have in the playlist. Hope to hear more from this band. 

24. "Salvation" by Megan Lacy

Next up, we have the title track from the debut EP by this Austin based singer-songwriter. A stunningly beautiful song. 

25. "birds and the bees" by Elizabeth & the Catapult

Next up, we have an incredible track from the new album by Brooklyn's Elizabeth & The Catapult. Really great song. 

26. "They'll Remember My Name" by Kristian Montgomery and the Winterkill Band

Next up, we have a track from Prince of Poverty. Kristian Montgomery was born in Florida and raised in New England. He has one of the more colorful stories I've come across, and I have come across some colorful stories. The music is powerful and speaks from the pain of experience. 

27. "Alone" by Matthew Avery

And we close this part of the Playlist with a contemporary classical solo piano composition from this San Diego based composer. A perfect way to take us out of the recap and get us ready for today's shuffle.  

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - No Mas Chem Trails Mix

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Bad news!  Microwave Mountain have had to pull out of Thursday night's E2TG Residency Show at The 5 Spot.  Fortunately, E2TG All-Time Favorite (and 2014 Artist of the Year) Darrin Bradbury is stepping in to do a solo set.  The revised line-up.  Brian Milligram will be on first around 6:15-6:30. Darrin Bradbury goes on around 7:00, and The Coal Men take the stage around 7:45 or so.

It's going to be a great show, and I hope you will come out.  I'm hopeful to have the chance to work with Microwave Mountain again very soon.

If you haven't done so, my novel, The Drift is still available via Amazon. I will have a couple of copies available Thursday night with more on the way.

Now, it is Tuesday and we have our "Trending Tuesday" shuffle. I am still thinking of making two playlists - one for Trending Tuesday and Trending Thursday and another for Featured Friday - for now, though, all three shuffles come from the "New Music" playlist - which consists of music relatively new or relatively new to me that I am choosing to feature.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Duplex Castle Mix

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I AM  BACK!  Thanks everyone for your patience.  I should be back to a normal posting schedule now.

I am a bit behind on adding new music to my playlist and answering e-mails, but we'll get there. 

In the meantime, after today's post, there are still 428 tracks in my New Music playlist including some awesome songs that haven't popped up yet in a shuffle- so stay tuned! 

Last night, at Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge - the amazing Kevn Kinney (Drivin' n Cryin') played a awesome set of music backed by the equally amazing Laur Joamets (aka Little Joe - previously from Sturgill Simpson's band and currently of Drivin' n Cryin').  As an added bonus/surprise, due to Mr. Kinney being delayed by car troubles, Jon Latham played a set that included two covers - "Thirteen" by Big Star and "My Hometown" by Springsteen.  Plus of course, some of his great songs from Real Bad News and his current album Lifers.  Dee's co-owner, Daniel Walker led a wonderful house band who rounded out the night.

Now, let's jump right into this Trending Thursday Shuffle!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Five More Minutes Mix

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Well, I'm running a bit late today, and for some reason, I am really tired. So, I'm going to power through this shuffle.  I created a special playlist of artists I wanted to highlight for the end of the year for my "Earie Awards".  Step right up!

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Gonna Be Okay Mix

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Well... here we are. It is December!  The 3rd Annual Earie Awards will kick off next week.

Two years ago, I awarded the very first "Earie" Award to Darrin Bradbury. He is about to enter the studio to work on a new album of all new songs. I am excited to hear the results.


A great night of live music in Nashville. I checked out WoodMackFleet (formerly Carpetbaggers 615) at The 5 Spot followed by the one and only Stuffy Schmitt.  After that, I headed across the river to Springwater to see Connor Rand and Matthew Moon performing as Acquired Tastes followed by a rare full band show my Tom Schreck Escapes.  Great seeing some awesome people at both shows.

Well, we have some cool songs fired up in the shuffle, so let's hit it!

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Leave the Rest Mix

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Another reminder to donate to WXNA during this week's Fall Pledge Drive!  If you donate at least $72.00 (that's just $6 a month as a recurring payment), you get a spiffy WXNA coffee mug, and more importantly, you get the satisfaction of knowing you helped keep Nashville's Best Radio Station on the air! 

Well, the sun is shining and my mood is much improved. I'm not sure if it's the sun or the fact that I got some things done last night (or both). 

Anyway, it is Tuesday, and we have a shuffle into what is trending at WXNA . Between adding some new music to the playlist and cleaning up some of the previously played songs that never got deleted, the list stands at 415 songs. 

Mondo Monday Morning Shuffle - Terrified Humming Mix

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Hey! It is Fall Pledge Drive time at WXNA. As you may know, this is the non-profit, listener-supported community radio station that hosts the weekly show I co-host called Double Shot with Joe and Sue.  Beyond that, the station has had a tremendous positive impact on the Nashville community (as evidenced by Nashville Scene readers recently naming us Best Radio Station in Nashville).  If you're a WXNA listener, please consider donating during this drive. wxnafm.org or 615-933-9962 #LoveWXNA

Another week is here and we have some songs to feature from the New Music playlist which I am still tweaking from my recent switch over to a new music player.

Let's shuffle:

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Bruised Orange Mix

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Kind of a gloomy day in Nashville, and Daylight Savings Time is approaching which means it will get darker earlier. 

The world is pretty dark, too, to be honest, but music is my light, and we have some good stuff today to fight the darkness.

Here's today's shuffle of our "new music" playlist.  "new" as defined by me to fit my intention for this playlist.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Trippin' Balls Mix

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Man - music sure is good for the soul.  After getting into a bit of a funk earlier in the week, I have gone out to hear live music the last two nights and I feel so much better.  Last night, I headed out to Dee's in Madison. Allen Thompson has been hosting a semi-weekly residency there for a few weeks - but this was the first time I was able to make it out, and I am glad I did.  2015 E2TG Artist of the Year, Jon Latham played solo and as he tends to do - he kind of sort of ruled hard.

Allen Thompson and his band were up next... I was reminded of how much I love hearing Allen Thompson sing - whether it is a cover or an original, I know of few singers who throw so much of themselves into a song.

The crowd was filled with lots of my favorite people from the Nashville music community and some of them joined Allen and his band - including Todd Snider, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and Rorey Carroll (and Jon Latham).

Anyway, it is Thursday and for now, we are still working our way through the "New Music" playlist.  The playlist had been down below 400 songs for a day or so, but I added some new music last night and it is up over 400 again. 

Today's shuffle is a good one...