Jimmie Allen’s Apology is Tone-Deaf and Underhanded
Jimmie Allen’s ill-advised, lacking, and underhanded “apology” deserves great scrutiny here.
Random Notes
The 2023 ACM Awards LIVE Blog
Feel free to follow along as we razz performers for their bad music, poke fun of people for poor style decisions, and maybe give some praise for the good stuff that transpires as well.
Rape Allegations Against Jimmie Allen Should Be Taken Seriously
In a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of Tennessee, Jimmie Allen is being sued for sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, sex trafficking and emotional distress.
Jelly Roll Is Everywhere in Country Music
Former rap and hick-hop artist Jelly Roll is poised to become one of the biggest artists in country music in the coming weeks, months, and years.
Willie Nelson’s Now a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer … and a Rock Artist Isn’t
Even though you want to root for your favorite country artist for any honor they might receive, it feels like Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions should be reserved from rock and roll artists first and foremost.
Delving Into The Disconnect Between Zach Bryan Lovers & Haters
Zach Bryan has become one of the most popular artists in country. But mention his name, and a vocal minority pop up to complain.
Remembering Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023)
Gordon Lightfoot was a Canadian, not a Statesman. He was only country in spurts, or by accident. But even the kickers and the honky-tonkers out there will conclude that Gordon Lightfoot was undeniably essential.
A Country Fan Appreciates the Catalog of Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond. The Jewish Elvis Presley as some have referred to him over the years. But country? That’s probably not what you think of when you think Neil Diamond.
Country Fans Aren’t Unwitting Pawns (a Response to Ketch Secor & NYT)
It goes without saying that at this moment in history, everyone in America is incensed and sickened by the level of gun violence plaguing society, and specifically the prevalence of mass shootings, and especially school shootings.
Morgan Wallen Duffs It Once Again
You can’t let fans load into the venue, get a beer in their hand, and then last minute, pull the plug. It’s not cool. And this is what Morgan Wallen did in Oxford, Mississippi on Sunday night, April 23rd at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, even waiting until after openers Hardy and Ernest had performed.
Charlie Marie: “I’m Here to Do Music. I Don’t Want to Sell My Soul.”
One of the most promising voices and songwriters in independent country to emerge in the last few years has been Charlie Marie from the unexpected origination point of Rhode Island. Flooring folks with her 2019 self-titled EP that drew immediate comparisons to Patsy Cline.
On Sturgill Simpson Collaborating with Diplo
I would be lying if I said that Sturgill Simpson’s first emergence out of supposed retirement wasn’t a little disappointing, since in comes in the form of a dance track with the pretty scuzzy country music carpetbagger Diplo. That’s not a commentary on the track itself called “Use Me (Brutal Hearts)”…
The CMT Awards were NOT the CMA Awards, or Indicative of Country
The 2023 CMT Awards could very well go down in country music history as a significant moment, but it won’t be for the reasons the producers of the presentation or their proponents in the media hoped for, or will purport it to be. And no, we’re not just talking about the polarizing political moments…
Lower Broadway vs. 6th Street, Comedy vs. Music, & Joe Rogan
There is nothing more hip than complaining about what Lower Broadway has turned into over the last half decade or so. But the situation could be so much incredibly worse. It could be 6th Street in Austin, which is supposed to be the entertainment epicenter of the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
Police Say No Rules Broken in Mark Capps Killing. Rules Say Otherwise
Instead of admitting to any potential mistakes made in the Mark Capps killing, while meeting with The Tennessean’s editorial board, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake told the paper that SWAT Officers who responded to the home of Mark Capps acted within department policy.
On Miranda Lambert Leaving Sony Nashville After 20 Years
Similar to Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert has been one of those mainstream artist that delineates herself from most mainstream contributors by following her heart, sometimes to the detriment of her commercial appeal or success, while then sliding right back into the good graces of the industry.
Oh Great. Yet Another Country Music Awards Show Is Coming
After NBC Universal purchased a 30% stake in the Grand Ole Opry’s parent company Ryman Hospitality in 2022, you knew there would be an effort to cross-pollinate the two companies for better or worse. Lo and behold, come September we will now have the “People’s Choice Country Awards.”
Police Killing of Mark Capps Curiously Ignored by Press & Justice Dept.
When these officer-involved killings occur, they immediately dominate the news cycle nationally, let alone locally, and for good reasons. It is the job of the public, and the press as the fourth estate to scrutinize law enforcement, and push for accountability. But that is not happening with the killing of Mark Capps.
Study: More Writers = More Repetitiveness in Country. Zach Bryan is the Exception
You would think that if you had more cooks in the kitchen, they would come up with something more creative. But that’s not the case when it comes to country music songwriting, and a new study corroborates what our ears have been telling us for years. As the amount of songwriters per track has increased…
How Country Beat Back Rap in Mainstream Country
For the last dozen years or so, one of the most contentious battles within the realm of commercial country music has centered around the incursion of hip-hop influences into the genre, and specifically the use of verses that are rapped as opposed to sung, and electronic beats replacing organic drums.
Luke Combs Agrees on Saving Country Music’s 2022 Song of the Year
While on the Red Carper at the 2023 Grammy Awards if February, someone from CBS shoved a microphone into the face of Luke Combs, and asked him “What song can you not stop listening to?” Luke’s answer? “John Prine’s son, Tommy Prine, wrote a song when his dad passed called ‘Ships in the Harbor.'”
The Importance of Music to the World (an excerpt)
For every pleasure, there is a cost, or a consequence. Relaxation comes at the loss of productivity. A luxury comes at the expenditure of wealth. The one exception to the entanglement of weighted outcomes when it comes to the partaking in the pleasures of life is the illustrious gift of music.
Paying a Visit to Eddie Rabbitt
Eddie Rabbitt’s career wasn’t just accomplished, it was downright Hall of Fame worthy. But you almost never hear Eddie Rabbitt’s name brought up in the context of the Hall of Fame. In fact, you barely ever hear the name of Eddie Rabbitt in country music at all these days.
Zach Bryan’s Ticketing Was an Overwhelming Success, & Still a Failure
Make no mistake about it. Whether you’re a happy camper with a pair of tickets to an upcoming Zach Bryan concert securely in hand or not, his effort to completely eliminate scalpers and bots from the ticket buying process was a success, … unless you didn’t get tickets/