Friday, June 28, 2019

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Before the Dawn Mix



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It is Friday!  It is also the final Shuffle of June - thus the end of the first half of 2019. In my opinion, it was been a great year for music. I am sad for people (often people my age or so) who say there isn't any good music these days - especially when they are friends of mine on Facebook, and I literally post playlists of great music every single day.  Makes me feel like Don Quixote sometimes - but I can't seem to stop tilting at windmills.

Anyway, I have another great list to counter the "no good new music" crowd!  Enjoy!

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Daddy Issues Mix



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No philosophical rant today  - the shuffle is just to good, and I want to get right to it.  I added a bunch of new music to my playlist last night. I think only one of those new songs came up today, but expect much more in the days and weeks to come.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - No Mystery Mix



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So - in reference to my long pre-shuffle post yesterday, music is what sustains me when the world gets me down. Music has saved my life. Music is not just important to me, it is vital to my existence.

On top of all of the other worldly problems, I am troubled by the devaluing of music by our culture. Technological advancements which should be (and in many cases are) a boon to the goal of getting music out to the people - has - like many parts of society - fallen into the hands of a few "power" players - who exploit the true creators to line their own pocket.

The people I know who make music - mostly do so because they have to - not in absence of other skills but it is a drive. A model has to be developed that adequately rewards the creators. The so-called music business is a microcosm for the rest of society. The gap between the haves and the have-nots.

I do not have a solution, but I think there is one out there. The question is - what will motivate those who are benefiting from the current system?

So, for most of us - who love music- the call is to act on whatever scale we are able. Go to shows, buy merch, buy music in a physical format - even if you mostly listen to electronic formats, if there is a tip jar for the band - use it. Share music!  Social media companies intentionally limit the reach of artists and others - to encourage "boosted" posts. It even happens to E2TG - once my Facebook page like count reached a certain level - fewer people saw my posts. I don't make a dime from E2TG, so it doesn't make sense for me to pay to boost my posts. The only way to combat this is from everyone to share posts. _ I don't just mean E2TG (although that would be nice), but also posts by your favorite bands.

It has been a rough week in many ways - my spirit is low and my temper has been short. I'm combating all that with music and creativity.

It is Wednesday, and that is the day, we do what I call the "Wild Wednesday" shuffle.  A shuffle derived from all the songs saved to my phone.  Let's see what happens!




Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Animal Bribery Mix



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I know for a while, I posted occasional rants/comments on the state of things - always with the caveat that I never intended or wanted E2TG to have a political agenda.  As events unfolded beginning on or before January 2017, I felt compelled to say something. None of that has changed, but I have more or less stopped posting things on here. To be honest, I have been feeling completely disheartened.  I am not someone who thinks everyone should believe as I do, and I recognize that when it comes to political opinions and social issues - many of them have shades of gray which somehow get distilled down to black or white positions.

That being said, when it comes to neo-nazis, white supremacists, mocking disabled people, science, housing children in deplorable conditions, calls to execute LGBT+ people, working hostile foreign governments to influence elections, freedom of the press - I believed that the majority of people regardless of political persuasion could be counted on to close ranks and stand united.  This has proven not to be true. The callousness, the bald-face lies, the lack of compassion or even basic human decency is horrifying, and I feel helpless.

I am equally frustrated by the reticence of the House Democrats to take decisive action.

In the face of all this, when I see Democrats infighting and people saying they won't support this candidate or the other, I am doubly frustrated. I understand wanting to support the candidate or candidates who most closely match your values and beliefs. but can we not agree that any candidate put forth would be an improvement over what we have. Ideally, the primary is the time to support your best candidate and to convince others of your party to support that candidate. That can be done without demonizing the other candidates. Withing running them down and providing fodder for the general election if your least favorite candidate wins.  I say, get a democrat elected and then fight like hell to convince them to always do the right thing.


Anyway, this has all taken a toll on my mental health, and to be honest, it should - the United States has children being held under deplorable conditions and some of those children are dying  - meanwhile representatives of our government are arguing in court against having to provide basic care to these children. And, frankly if this doesn't have an effect on you, please look into why that is.

I don't have any solutions, but I felt I needed to get this out in writing.  None of this is okay.
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Enough - for now - on with the Trending Tuesday Shuffle!


Monday, June 24, 2019

Music City Monday Morning Shuffle - In the Pink Mix



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A good weekend hanging with friends, listening to friends make music, celebrating the music of my friends, and then having a day to get things done and be creative.

Now, let's dive into the last week of June.  The year is almost half over! 

It is time for another Music City Monday.  Let's shuffle!

Friday, June 21, 2019

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - Dry Clean Mix



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Friday is here!

Last night, I hung out at Dee's in Madison. Saw Chuck Mead - as part of his Honky Tonk tour of Nashville in support of his new album.  His special guest was Carlene Carter.  Interesting to me, Chuck did a version of "Houston" - as song written by Lee Hazelwood and popularized by Dean Martin.  Wednesday night, I saw Rickie Lee Jones do the same song (it is on her latest album).  Interesting because one might not expect crossover between a Rickie Lee Jones show and a Chuck Mead show.  After that, I hung around for Lady Couch - who were fantastic as always.  Saw lots of friends and had a good quality hang with Ryan Sobb - all in all not a bad night.

Now, we have one last shuffle for the week!  Let's get to it!

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Acadian Driftwood Mix



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Moving on!

I had the opportunity to see Rickey Lee Jones last night at City Winery.  She sounded great, was funny, and the show was a blast. Her latest album Kicks was recorded in New Orleans and an eclectic mix of covers from the 70s and earlier. 

On to the shuffle!