Brent Cobb Puts It All Into Perspective with “When Country Came Back to Town”

While living through the musical moments of our era, it can be hard to quantify them in real time. You really have to zoom out, look at the bigger picture, and realize just how far we have come in country music over the last decade or so.
When Saving Country Music commenced in 2008, none of us could ever imagine our favorite little independent/underground country artists and bands rising to the point where they were topping albums charts, being nominated for and winning Grammy Awards, minting Gold and Platinum singles and albums, and selling out theaters and arenas, or even just building sustainable careers where they could support themselves and their families.
This was always the goal, and it felt like a point of injustice that our favorite artists weren’t enjoying these things, while those pansies in the mainstream were. Of course there has always been, and will always be pop in country. All we were asking for was a place at the table, and a level playing field to compete on. And thanks to technology, and the groundswell of independent music fans like yourself, that goal, and that dream, was realized.
That doesn’t mean there still aren’t artists out there that struggle, bad “country” songs that still find success, or that country music has been “saved.” But whether it’s Cody Jinks and Tyler Childers minting Platinum singles, Sturgill Simpson and Brandi Carlile annually competing for top Grammy Awards, Blackberry Smoke, Aaron Watson, and Jason Isbell topping the Billboard Country Albums chart, Tyler and Sturgill selling out arenas, or just your favorite artists and bands like Mike and the Moonpies, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Charley Crockett, and so many more packing out clubs and theaters across the country, all the signs point to positive developments, and the continued gaining of market share by independent artists of substance.
One can screed on and on about all of this, but thankfully, one of the many beneficiaries of this groundswell—the wise and reflective Brent Cobb—has illustrated what has been happening in country music more than mere words ever could with a new song called “When Country Came Back to Town.” As opposed to criticizing where country music is at the moment or has been in the past—which is such an easy and appealing thing to do—Brent Cobb, through the forum of his own experiences as a songwriter and performer, uses the names of artists who’ve risen from obscurity over the last few years to illuminate just how far we’ve come.
“Took me about 15 years to write this song,” Brent Cobb says. “Finally finished it up a few days ago. Next time you’re trying to tell your friends about all the cool country artists you listen to just send them to this song. I got as many as I could in there. Proud to know these folks. Been a long time comin’…
You won’t find “When Country Came Back to Town” on an album or streaming service yet. Brent Cobb just released a Gospel album called “And Now, Let’s Turn To Page…” And normally we may not share an unreleased song and spoil the fun for a future album. But in this instance, Brent Cobb has shared the song himself via a video taken on February 7th at The Basement in Nashville, and this song is just too good, and too important not to celebrate.
Yeah, it’s a name dropper. But in this instance, that’s the entire point. It’s like a playlist of the best country and Americana artists from the last decade. And hopefully as time goes on, the names continue to grow, and so does the support, as country music continues to “come back to town.”
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(Find a list of the names mentioned below the video. And P.S.: don’t be THAT guy saying, “Hey, it sucks because so and was named, or so and so was NOT named.)
Names Mentioned:
Shooter Jennings
Jamey Johnson
Jason “Rowdy” Cope (The Steel Woods)
Leroy Powell
Cousin Dave (producer Dave Cobb)
Cody Canada
Ryan Bingham
Hayes Carll
Brandi Carlile
Nikki Lane
Sturgill Simpson
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Morgane Stapleton
Kacey Musgraves
Tyler Childers
Cody Jinks
Margo Price
Whitey Morgan
Adam Hood
Elizabeth Cook
Sarah Shook
Paul Cauthen
Luke Combs
Jason Isbell
Jason Eady
Courtney Patton
Mike and the Moonpies
Turnpike Troubadours
Colter Wall
Charley Crockett
Aaron Ratiere
February 14, 2022 @ 12:33 pm
I love Brent Cobb. Seems like he’s repeatedly overlooked by some of the readers of this site, at least compared to some of the bigger names, but to me he’s arguably the best songwriter in country right now, with a good voice, a neat sound, and none of the pretentiousness that many of the “songwriter types” seem to have. Just seems like a genuine good dude and is a great artist.
February 14, 2022 @ 4:23 pm
And still my favorite version of White Lightning (Levon Helm on the skins)…
https://youtu.be/hIRIzJUc27Q
April 17, 2022 @ 3:12 pm
Another great singer-songwriter is Adam Hood. He and Brent are friends.
February 14, 2022 @ 12:48 pm
A couple of years ago I had just left work and I was walking to the train to go home. I passed a park and I heard some one singing and the voice was super familiar. I walked in and it was Brent Cobb starting a free concert in the park. It was such a surprise and delight.
February 14, 2022 @ 12:54 pm
KILLER melody! I love the nuances! I don’t think it is name dropping but rather using examples to prove the point.
February 14, 2022 @ 2:16 pm
Not to make you blush, but it wouldn’t be amiss to include this website between the lines of Brent’s song. I know I first heard about a handful these artist right here.
February 14, 2022 @ 3:53 pm
I’m a huge Brent Cobb fan, even if I passed on the gospel album
February 14, 2022 @ 5:07 pm
After Fridays Feb11 show with Brent in Philly there is no one better out there to bring the truth back to Suits n Ties. In a weird venue crowd wise. Young and Old Black and white …He absolutely struck a chord as Ive never seen in my 57 yrs of country seen anyone absolutely take us to church. Not a soul left and I was along with the crowd danced to his new Gospel Album in its entirety and afterwards Btent gave the band a break and stripped it down with some acoustic requests, then the band jammed for another 30 min. It was the greatest show Ive seen since original Skynyrd. In my heart your a shoe in for a Dove Award and I cant wait to see how you invent something even cooler although i dont get how it can be done.
Bravo for giving props to these people named in this song. Nailed it Again.
February 14, 2022 @ 5:24 pm
Will check it out.
The channel that you pulled it from, Music City Maven is so good! I forget the girl’s name that runs it but from the times I have chatted with her, she is awesome.
February 14, 2022 @ 6:22 pm
Shout out to trig. You had a monster part in country coming back to town.
February 16, 2022 @ 9:30 am
Second. I counted 15 names on that list that I discovered through this site +Brent Cobb. BTW, I really like the 3 songs Aaron Raitiere released and look forward to hearing that album in May! The attached video proves that he and Brent Cobb aren’t the same person because they sound very similar to me!
February 14, 2022 @ 6:23 pm
Saw him open for Whiskey Myers. He and his band put on a great show. Came home and downloaded an album………it was something totally different. His live performance is special. If he could harness his live set into an album, he would gain a greater following.
February 14, 2022 @ 7:46 pm
Saw Brent Cobb the first time a few years ago at a Chris Stapleton concert just outside of Memphis. Instantly hooked. Then saw him at a small little show down in Oxford, MS, a couple years later. Awesome person and artist. No one like him. Congrats on the gospel album! I love his music deeply and hope he goes on to do as well as can be done in all his endeavors!
February 15, 2022 @ 7:29 am
One of my favs dropping the names of many favs of mine.Perfection.
February 15, 2022 @ 11:23 am
He is doing shows right now at smaller venues with Gabe Lee as an opener. Lots of musical talent on display if you can make it to a show.
February 15, 2022 @ 2:23 pm
Hey, this sucks because Brent Cobb wasn’t named!!
February 15, 2022 @ 3:39 pm
I was hoping to see Sierra Ferrell on the list. I’ll be seeing her in Eureka Springs this weekend!
February 16, 2022 @ 6:37 pm
Yes, love this. Love most everybody on that list, and a few I’m not familiar with that I need to check out.
Incidentally Brent Cobb himself (through recommendation from this very site) was one of the first contemporary indie country artists that set me on this country music path I’ve been on for about five years now, after a lifetime of ignoring country music ‘cause I didn’t know better.
Now country music is possibly my favorite genre, and I have Brent, all these artists, and this site to thank.