The death of guitar player and songwriter Jason “Rowdy” Cope for the country and Southern rock band The Steel Woods sent shockwaves throughout the independent country community when it was announced on Saturday evening, January 16th.
The amateur, undercooked, and extremely cliche Bro-Country stylings of the 17-year-old “Kidd G” made it onto my radar a few months ago via his aggressively-formulaic “song” called “Dirt Road.” It was so beginner and maladroit, it was deemed not even worthy enough of criticism.
Alt-country turned rock artist Ryan Adams has been cleared of wrongdoing in an FBI probe for his alleged inappropriate texts to an underage girl. The allegations were first reported in The New York Times as part of an extensive probe into the performer’s personal life.
Both of the two previous releases from The Brothers Brothers received unprecedented perfect scores here at Saving Country Music, making Calla Lily a highly-anticipated release, evoking the same magic of all the blood harmony lineage in country music.
If Morgan Wallen was a young male suitor in pursuit of your sister or daughter, he would be one of those beaus where it is undeniable they are trouble, with not just red flags flying right out in the open, but a rap sheet to back up these presuppositions. This is Morgan Wallen’s career and music in a nutshell.
Among all of the accolades and attributes tied to country music’s patron saint Dolly Parton, perhaps her most lasting and impressive contribution is her songwriting. Over 3,000 published compositions have been penned by Dolly personally, including some of the most important songs in music history.
Founding guitarist for fast-rising and critically-acclaimed Southern rock band The Steel Woods, and long time session guitarist and touring member of Jamey Johnson’s backing band, Jason “Rowdy” Cope, has died according to the band. The Steel Woods shared the news Saturday evening.
It’s just unfortunate to even see the talk of cancelling Ricky Skaggs, discounting his music, disinviting him from future events, simply because he decided to accept an award he wholeheartedly deserved, and was likely to get from whomever was President at this moment.
It’s one of those rare occasions where an EP goes from from less than ideal, to just about perfect from the way it encapsulates a moment or a mood that may be diluted in a longer work. It’s a little gem of traditional country music, and a proper tribute to a dear loved one.
The news spread quickly, and put country music right in the middle of the political imbroglio. However, reports by Rolling Stone and other outlets that the awarding of the medal was a quote “reaction” to the impeachment are false. Instead, it was a preplanned ceremony orchestrated in advance.
Oh thank goodness. And all you wing nuts who believe the vaccine includes Bill Gates microchips or jellyfish plasma or whatever, hush up. We don’t want to hear any of it. We just want to hear that Willie Nelson is one step closer to not being the latest victim of COVID-19.
Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis was born and raised in North Carolina, and made his name in Nashville. But lately here it’s been Texas where Randy Travis has not only made his home, but been embraced as part of the community.
In the bleak midwinter, at a time when death and despair are hanging thick in the air, madness seems to be all around, and the Yuletide mood has all but worn off, perhaps it’s as good of a time as any aside from All Hallow’s Eve to delve into the dark, unsettled side of country music.
Like so many modern day true country fans, Tony Rice held a pretty outspoken distaste for what country music had become, and wasn’t afraid to speak about it publicly. “There’s still a lot of good music out there that John and Jane Doe will never hear.”
You can palpably feel the IQ points fleeing your gray matter while in audience with this audio monstrosity. It is not scientifically possible to engineer a conflagration of audio signals that is more indolent, and damaging to the psyche and intellect than this abomination.
Aaron Watson is enigmatic in the way that you won’t find someone more fiercely dedicated to the independent approach to country music in all of its facets, but who will also still release songs that feel like they’re prattling for commercial acceptance …
British film director Michael Apted died on Thursday, January 7th, and though this may not be a name you recognize or see as noteworthy in the country music realm on the surface, the Cambridge-educated film icon played a major part in telling one of the most compelling stories in country music history.
Turning the stereotype that country music can only come from the Southern United States squarely on its head, The Divorcees have been eastern Canada’s favorite honky tonk band for going on 15 years now, and promise to continue to hold that distinction with the drop of their latest record ‘Drop of Blood.’
There are many legendary country songs, and many legendary country songwriters. But few songs are as synonymous with country music to the point where they’re so well-recognized and can be recited by those well outside the country fold like “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”
So much for 2021 being better than 2020, at least so far. But true country fans do have something to look forward to as Cody Jinks has dropped a couple of succulent hints about what he might have in store for 2020. “Demos are done on 20 new songs. Now we just need to schedule some studio time.”
From the Grammy-winning song “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” that became the signature song from The Judds, to Gary Allan’s first #1 hit “Man To Man,” to Ronnie McDowell’s #1 “Older Woman,” songwriter Jamie O’Hara made major contributions to the songbook of country music.
The 70-minute film ‘Nothing Stays The Same: The Story of the Saxon Pub’ might be about a specific venue in Austin. But even if you’ve never been to Austin, the film offers a great encapsulation of why it’s so critical to preserve these performance spaces.
Tapping into the long-standing tradition in country music of the murder ballad, “no body, no crime” features two members of the sister trio Haim. The song tells the story of Este (also the name of Haim’s oldest sister), who suspects her husband of cheating, tells a friend, and then goes missing.
The second night of a two-night residency at the The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville—a.k.a the “Mother Church of Country Music”—Waylon Jennings held court with a now legendary band, and numerous special guests. It did constitute a proper final bow.
