I don’t usually reduce myself to celebrity stalking but I will admit I have been following Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) on Twitter. The guy tweets like every 10 minutes, seriously- but anyway… I noticed he’d put up some posts about an upcoming tour and one thing led to another and it got me thinking about all the concerts I’ve ever been to and if I could remember them all. What a scrapbook I would have now if I’d kept all my ticket stubs.

These are the concerts I remember attending. I tried to do this somewhat chronologically but it’s impossible. Some of these I’ve seen more than once…

-Aaron Carter (yes that baby face backstreet brother waving a lollipop was my first concert!)

-The Backstreet Boys, X2

-Britney Spears

-The Moffatts, X5

-Psycho Blast (The Moffatts, Soul Decision, McMaster & James, Christina Auguleira)

-Finger Eleven

-Paul Brandt

-Shania Twain

-Emerson Drive, X3

-Rob Thomas

-David Lee Murphy

-Reba McEntire, X2

-Gil Grand

-Brad Paisley

-Taylor Swift

-George Fox

-Jessie Farrell

-Gord Bamford

-Aaron Pritchett

-Rodney Atkins

-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

-Carrie Underwood

-Sara Evans

-Sammy Kershaw

-Shane Yellowbird

-Terri Clark (I saw her concert from a distance at Stampede when I left the Reba concert on the same night.)

-Beverly Mahood

-The Wilkinsons

That’s all I can think of right now but I know there’s more. Maybe I’ll remember them later.

**The BEST by far: REBA, Emerson Drive, and Brad Paisley. All were GREAT entertainers!** 

“Finally, we can listen to some normal music…”

Yes, I heard this very sentence come out of one of my roommate’s mouth just the other night right before rap began spewing out of her computer speakers.

To her credit, I’m fairly sure she didn’t realize i was in the room.

ANYWAY
Here is the question I pose tonight:
What makes one set of music normal and one set not normal?

I listen to things that are not mainstream. I also listen to things that are mainstream. I listen to punk, goth, classic rock, country, emo, german rock, classical…pretty much a little of everything but rap. I just don’t really see the point in rap; I don’t have anything against it, it’s just not really my style.
I listen to Green Day, Longing for Tomorrow, the Sex Pistols, Tool, Incubus, The Clash, Emerson Drive, Alesana, Sunny Day Real Estate, Four Year Strong, Rammstein, Siouxsie and the Banshees, 3OH!3, Tears for Fears, The Cure, the Doors, Alice Cooper, I See Stars, David Bowie, Bring Me the Horizon, and Beethoven (note: i did not make any of the videos, i just provided links to youtube for anyone who is curious). All things considered, I would say I am fairly open to all kinds of music.
The main question here is why is what I listen to “not normal” when most of it gets just as much air play as any rap or R&B song, it’s just on a different station.

I guess the real question here is not what makes my music deviant from the norm, but what is considered the norm for music?

Is degrading women really the norm? Because if it is, I’m pretty sure I would much rather stick with my weird music and sit in a corner in my black hoodie with my headphones on murmmering lyrics to myself with a comp book full of torn and stained poetry.

While I am not saying all of my musical choices are normal, the best, or even for everyone, I have been forced to consider what makes music normal. The only answer i have is that society has, again, dictated to our generation (I think I’ll call us Generation X from now on, in honor of Richard Hell) that we, and Generation X, should only like music that involves a monotone voice repeating completely meaningless and useless lyrics over either sampled bits of great songs or the same four pre-programmed drum beats that come on a keyboard when you buy it.

This being said, long live the deviants of Generation X.

Turn it Up by Aaron Lines (258): Happy summer music and a happy someday.

Everclose by Matt Wertz (247): I fall asleep to music on repeat.

Good-bye My Lover by James Blunt (229): I know hurt.

Ever the Same by Rob Thomas (173): Chill happy

Girl Next Door by Saving Jane (164): Sometimes I feel like this.

Home by Michael Buble (162): I love home and the feeling of being home even when it’s not a place.

When You Say Nothing at All by Ronan Keating (160): Songs from movies make me happy.

I Always Liked that Best by Cyndi Thompson (153): I like that feeling…

For All Time by Soluna (146): So…what? I like love songs

Crush by Mandy Moore (145): I love being sparkled

Kiss the Rain by Billie Myers (141): I know what it’s like being far away

That’s Where it is by Carrie Underwood (141): Once again…I like that feeling

You’re Like Coming Home by Emerson Drive (130): Home is where my heart is

Take You Back by Jeremy Camp (126): I love Jesus

My Jesus by Todd Agnew (123): I want real, authentic life

Have a Little Faith by Mandy Moore (112): All about faith, hope and love

You Said by Shane and Shane (112): I say a little prayer for you

The Lover after Me by Savage Garden (102): Sometimes it hurts

Misconception by Matt Woods (97): I listen to catchy songs on repeat

On a Night Like This by Dave Barnes (95): I believe in love stories

Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me by Chris Cagle (93): Real love, real life

Every Little Thing by Hawk Nelson (91): I want to be that girl

You’re Beautiful by James Blunt (90): Tragic, but powerful

Summer Girl by Jessica Andrews (87): I wear flip flops

Everything There is To Know About You by Mark Wills (84): I love asking questions

*Disclaimer: Just to clarify the playcount totals are from my computer only and not the combined totals from both my computer and iPod.  So, in all reality I’ve probably listened to Turn it Up over 500 times. hehe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Emerson Drive to Travel To El Salvador for Compassion International Tour

Nashville, TN – The Valory Music Co./Midas Records artists Emerson Drive are teaming up with Compassion International for a 2009 awareness campaign targeted to the country music community. The band kicks off the partnership the week of March 23rd with an exploratory trip to El Salvador with Compassion executives.

“I am thrilled to have Emerson Drive join us on this trip to El Salvador and help build a significant partnership between country music and Compassion International. I know first hand what incredible guys they are and believe this trip will not only be an important experience for the band, but will help give hope and a future to children in desperate poverty around the world,” says Mike Severson, Country Format Artist & Radio Relations for Compassion International.

Emerson Drive is the first country band to ever become involved with Compassion International and they are excited about the upcoming opportunity to learn more about Compassion’s mission to release children from poverty in developing countries around the globe.

“One of the best things that we get to do as entertainers is support great charity organizations like Compassion International,” states lead singer Brad Mates. “This trip will give us a first hand look at life in third world countries and I have no doubt that it will leave a lasting impact on us individually and as a band. We’re excited about the partnership with Compassion and doing whatever we can to raise awareness about their child sponsorship program.”

While in El Salvador Emerson Drive will visit with Compassion volunteers on the ground as well as some of the children benefiting from the support of sponsors. The band has invited photographers from Country Weekly and an independent film crew to accompany them on the trip to document their journey. The footage gathered from the group’s visit will be utilized in a viral video campaign in conjunction with the song, “There’s My God,” a track that will be included on Emerson Drive’s upcoming album BELIEVE, due in stores later this year.

Emerson Drive continues to brainstorm with Compassion executives on additional opportunities to increase the number of child sponsors with hopes of involving their growing fan base and country radio. The guys in the band hope that their involvement will garner more awareness about Compassion International as well as encourage people to sponsor a child or make a donation to this worthwhile organization.

Compassion International was founded on the belief that changing the lives of children in third world countries by providing them with the basic needs and education to help them overcome poverty will empower them and ultimately change their communities and nations. According to statistics, of the world’s 6.3 billion people, nearly 30 percent are under the age of 15. In most developing countries, children comprise half of the population, yet almost 11 million children each year – about 30,000 a day – die before reaching their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes. Compassion strives to influence a child’s life at the earliest stages possible, and support the child’s development through young adulthood. Those interested in finding out more about Compassion or how you can help can visit

http://www.compassion.com.

For more information about the Emerson Drive and to see video clips from their life out on the road, which will include an episode from their El Salvador trip beginning in April, log on to

http://www.emersondrive.com

or visit

http://www.myspace.com/emersondrive.

Source- Vanessa Davis – Splash! Public Relations

Newlywed, Brad Mates, of Emerson Drive and his wife Jana will be featured in the premiere episode of GAC’s Our Song.

The show will feature the couple’s love story, like the first time they met til the time they got married in Maine.  Brad even sang Emerson Drive’s single, “Belongs To You” at their wedding.

Our Song premieres Thursday on GAC.

Upcoming Las Vegas Headliners Feb 2009
As Reported by Click2Vegas.com

2/01 – 2/28   Wayne Brady – Venetian
2/02 – 2/18   David Copperfield – MGM Grand
2/03 – 2/15   Elton John – Caesars Palace
2/03 – 2/28   Donny and Marie Osmond – Flamingo
2/06 – 2/07   Charo -  SouthPoint
2/06 – 2/07   Heart – LV Hilton
2/13 – 2/15   Chris Isaak – Orleans
2/13 – 2/14   Doobie Brothers – LV Hilton
2/13 – 2/14   Jay Leno – Mirage
2/17 – 2/28   Terry Fator – Mirage
2/18 – 2/28   Barry Manilow – LV Hilton
2/20 – 2/22   Dana Carvey – Orleans
2/21 – 2/28   Cher – Caesars Palace
2/26 – 2/27   Bill Engvall – TI
2/27 – 2/28   Emerson Drive – SouthPoint
2/27 – 2/28   Kenny Shepherd – The Orleans
2/27 – 2/28   Ron White – Mirage
2/28 – 3/04   Wayne Newton – MGM

Tickets and Information at Click2Vegas.com

“Growing up, I wanted to be Vince Gill as much as anything.  He set the standard.”

-Brad Paisley tells the Tulsa World

“He’s been an influence on… God anyone who turns on the radio, really.”

-Blake Shelton on why he is honored to be touring with George Strait

“You’re singing and you’re looking at Teddy in the control room and it’s like, ‘That’s so weird.  I’m singing in front of Teddy from Alabama.’”

-Emerson Drive’s, Danick Dupelle, on Teddy Gentry producing their album

The former bass player for Alabama, Teddy Gentry, turns 57 today.

His most current project is producing Emerson Drive’s Countrified album.

It’s Linda Blair’s birthday too, you know the lady from the Exorcist…. she turns 50…and is not producing anyone’s album…

For the second year in a row, Emerson Drive is up for Best Major Performance on the college circuit.

This is interesting because I had no idea college students even remember concerts from all the heavy drinking involved.

Regardless…. Brad Mates, lead singer of Emerson Drive says, “To see it’s made an impact with schools across the country is a pretty cool feeling.”

Of course it’s made an impact… a HUGE hangover in the morning , will impact your studies Bradley.

Their next college date is at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

Brad Mates, lead singer of Emerson Drive, and his wife had an emergency plane landing on a flight recently. 

Brad wrote on his myspace blog, “Without the flaps being able to deploy, an airplane basically comes into a landing speed unsafe for tires, brakes, and control.”

Flight attendants instructed passengers to get into the crash landing position and educated those seated by the emergency doors to get the passengers ready to go down the inflatable slides…

UMMMMMMMM Scary… 

GOOD NEWS… they landed safley to cheers and applause to everyone on board.

Glad everyone’s safe… I would be freaking out..

Miley Cyrus tells MTV, “I think it’s really cool that I’ve had the opportunity to step out with that but I still embrace it. I love it when people are like, ‘This is Billy Ray’s daughter, Miley,’ It’s really nice.”

Emerson Drive’s drummer Mike Melancon wrote on their website, “We all love taking some time off, but after a while you start itching — itching for being on stage and playing live music for everybody.”

AND Martina McBride on Reba McEntire, “She’s so nice and so sweet and down-to-earth, and she always goes out of her way to make me feel really welcome, but I just love her so much, and I admire her, and I never know what to say.”