Mo Pitney Reveals Great Promise with “Country” Single
If you’re looking for names to populate your most anticipated projects to be released in 2015, putting Mo Pitney at or near the top would be a savvy choice. With a one in a million country voice conveyed in a smoothness we haven’t heard since Don Williams, Mo Pitney is a chill-inducing traditional country artist with a succulent pentameter and delivery, and a songwriter’s pen engorged with cutting and resonant lines and stories. A handsome young man with nothing but a promising future in country music ahead of him, Pitney could become one of the fore bearers to making true country cool again like a modern-day Randy Travis.
Mo Pitney has been showcasing his songs and voice through traditional avenues over the past few years and has shined every time. A January 2013 episode of Pitney with mentor Bill Anderson by his side on RFD-TV’s excellent showcase Larry’s Country Diner has since become a must-see installment. From his originals like “I Didn’t Wake Up This Morning,” to his cover of Keith Whitley’s “Miami, My Amy,” the cat was out of the bag about Mo Pitney’s country music powers after the show. He was signed to Curb Records by May of this year, and made his Opry debut on June 20th care of Bill Anderson, dazzling the crowd and receiving a standing ovation for his song “Cleanup on Aisle Five.”
Ahead of his much-anticipated album, Pitney has released the first single simply called “Country” co-written with Anderson and Bobby Tomberlin. Smartly crafted to where it captures a relevant sentiment without being a party to pandering to anything or straying away from Pitney’s core, “Country” highlights Mo’s promise of being a classic-sounding artist with the ability to capture a mainstream audience. Authentic as the day is long, Pitney touches on what could be considered the listing off of countryisms, but avoids all of the obvious ones to take a more subdued and warm thematic approach to explaining what “country” really is.
For country music to extricate itself from the iron grasp of Bro-Country and the overriding influence of other genres, it’s going to need artists who don’t need to rely on gimmicks and trends to find appeal, but that can champion the virtues of country itself and illustrate its charisma to a new generation of listeners. Mo Pitney is an artist with the promise and the proper tools to do this very thing.
December 17, 2014 @ 7:18 pm
Well let’s just hope Curb Records doesn’t fuck him up
December 17, 2014 @ 7:24 pm
Wow. Just wow.
December 17, 2014 @ 7:43 pm
I’m glad you wrote about this guy, I think eventually he’ll be huge. He,s one of the best male voices I’ve heard in country music in maybe 15 years. I’ve listened to several other songs of his and I think his debut album will be solid.
December 17, 2014 @ 7:45 pm
Certainly better than what’s getting played on radio now, but didn’t move me a fraction of what Randy Travis did when he broke out.
December 17, 2014 @ 8:11 pm
I’m not comparing Mo Pitney and Randy Travis as far as talent level. I don’t like to compare any two artists in the manner. What I’m saying here is that Mo Pitney MIGHT be an artist who could be a catalyst for a more traditional sound during a non-traditional period in the music, similar to how Randy Travis was in the mid to late 80’s.
December 17, 2014 @ 7:50 pm
Awesome to see a Rockford, Illinois boy make it in Country Music. We can play it up here too!
December 17, 2014 @ 8:09 pm
Prior to the release of his debut album in 2006, Rodney Atkins gave a lunchtime atrium performance at my company. More times than not, I usually skipped these monotonous boardroom and atrium events, but I liked the single “If You’re Going Through Hell” so I thought I’d check him out. The first song he performed had something to do with slamming the breaks and chicken nuggets flying through the air. Disappointed, I turned around, left the building and went to Chipotle. For years my co-workers made fun of me cause that single, “Watching You” would go on to be a huge hit for Atkins.
I got that same nauseous feeling listening about Cherrios in “Clean Up.” Not for me; way too cheesy (or something). But the good news for Mo, he might have a hit on his hands.
December 18, 2014 @ 6:16 am
That’s exactly what I thought of when I heard the Cheerios line.
December 18, 2014 @ 11:13 am
I felt the same way about the Cheerios line when I first heard it, but that doesn’t immediately make the entire song cheesy, or the artist unremarkable. You have to listen to it in the context of the entire song, and when you zoom out and judge it in the context of the story, the line works and actually becomes one of the hooks of the story later. Despite an initial similar reaction, I actually think it becomes one of the strengths of the song.
Generally speaking though, brand names in songs can be very risky, and probably should be avoided by most songwriters.
December 18, 2014 @ 11:43 am
My first reaction to the Cheerios line was “Oh, God. This is why a lot of people can’t stand country music.” The first example that jumped into my head, where mentioning a product in a song actually worked was Guy Clark’s LA Freeway:
“And throw out all those L.A. papers / The moldy box of Vanilla Wafers”
December 19, 2014 @ 8:07 pm
Just to be clear, it wasn’t just the line about cheerios. Using the joking cliche – “clean up on isle ….” – in the chorus was a huge turn-off. I don’t want to pile on this kid cause he has a nice voice and seems genuine. He has much time to hone is songwriting skills.
July 25, 2015 @ 11:33 am
Would like to hear some of your work and see what you consider honed songwriting skills.
December 18, 2014 @ 7:24 am
Well, at least he wasn’t reaching for some ice cold Bud Light.
I think it’s a nice song. A bit more commerical than what I typically go for, but I like it. I feel similarly about Brandy Clark.
From watching a couple of other videos, it looks like he can do a good job entertaining a roomful people with just his voice and guitar.
December 18, 2014 @ 9:19 am
This “cheesy” song you speak of brought the crowd at the Grand Ole Opry to their feet for the 1st time in 14 years (1st time since Josh Turner debuted Long Black Train). I was there. It just shows that people are hungry for that traditional country sound that we all want to save.
December 17, 2014 @ 8:52 pm
Nice song, nice voice — reminds me a bit of Joe Nichols and Easton Corbin. (He’s pretty cute, too!) 🙂
December 17, 2014 @ 9:37 pm
Every once in a while an artist keeps hope alive for traditional country music….Mo Pitney is one of those guys.
December 18, 2014 @ 3:53 am
Song about being country: check
Justin Bieber hair: check
From Illinois: check
Oh hell, I’ll just pass this one up. Not bad, but not feeling it.
December 18, 2014 @ 3:58 pm
I think I can speak anyone else in Illinois when I say kiss my ass.
December 18, 2014 @ 6:40 am
Okay, I’m in. I’ll check him out.
December 18, 2014 @ 8:14 am
I’ve stopped getting my hopes up because every year there is an up-and-comer playing music the “right way” getting ready for that “big break.” Inevitably one of two things happens:
(1) they stay independent and continue to crank out good music that has no popular impact or
(2) they sign to a big record label and get overproduced, drowned out by big drum beats, and convinced to churn out crap songs.
The alternative to the second outcome is that they do try to stake their creative freedom and end up getting delayed and/or buried until they no longer have momentum.
As the rappers say: #RealTalk
December 18, 2014 @ 9:20 am
I feel this way about Chris Janson. Watching some of his YouTube videos and he clearly is super talented as a writer, singer and performer especially. However every single chance he has gotten on a Music Row label has stripped all of those good qualities away with him either choosing or being forced to sing and record “bro-country” crap.
Such a shame cause like I said, some of his Opry performance video’s have been really awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2DGTkYLT8w
December 18, 2014 @ 9:27 am
Give Mo a chance, he is one of the hardest working, honest and humble young men you will meet. I know him personally and know that he is grounded and traditional country music. His music roots run deep and comes from a very musically talented family. Check out this impromptu song with his sister Holly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgx0YrIEq2o
December 18, 2014 @ 11:16 am
I totally understand what you’re saying Big A, but I think that’s one of the reasons we should throw our support behind artists like this when they’re doing it right to hopefully convince both them and their labels that there’s actually consumers who want to hear music like this and not see it get chewed up and spit out by the Music Row system. Who knows, maybe that’s the fate Mo Pitney has ahead of him. But I’m going to hope for the best until I have no other reason to.
December 18, 2014 @ 9:16 am
He seems solid, I’m not blown away by the content of his songs, but he is certainly one of the more promising young Music Row artists right now. I agree that there is some cheese to some of his lyrics, but on the flip side he also doesnt seem terrible either and overall is pleasant enough to listen to when it comes to mainstream artists.
Honestly I feel he is in the same boat as Easton Corbin and Chris Young, at least before Young’s latest album where he chased the “bro-country” sound.
December 19, 2014 @ 11:59 pm
Easton’s first album is one of the best albums any music row artist has put out in ten years. His second album is solid too- hopefully he continues with the traditional sound.
December 18, 2014 @ 11:04 am
I first saw Mo performing with his dad and younger brother at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music festival 6 or 7 years ago. I knew he was the real deal. I have a few videos on YouTube of them performing under the name of Big Mo and the Shytown Bluegrass Band. Check it out. If you dig through my channel, there’s at least one vid of them from the year before, jamming at a camper.
December 18, 2014 @ 12:30 pm
Pitney’s bluegrass roots are what give me hope that he’ll keep it country. Bluegrass music is a labor of love, you can’t fake talent in a bluegrass band, it takes more than good looks to stand out. When you dig into his bluegrass past you can see that this young man has been at it for a while.
This is one case where you do not want to judge the book by the cover. The only thing that I think may hold this guy back is his image, I won’t be specific but I don’t think he has the presence that will give him mass appeal. However, he’s so young and so ahead of the game for his age, that I think he’ll grow into his own skin so to speak.
August 9, 2016 @ 10:57 am
I don’t think he will stick with traditional country music. He will be used by Curb just as they have used others. I too hoped at one time he would truly stay country but recent songs sound like rock n roll. That’s a bummer!
December 18, 2014 @ 11:18 am
I like his voice, very pleasing to the ears. That said, I was not a fan of either song shared here. Time will tell, I suppose.
Also, I second the comments about Chris Janson above, but I actually don’t mind his take on bro-country nearly as much as some other artists. I don’t know what it is, I just like the guy.
December 18, 2014 @ 1:56 pm
I was at the Opry the second time moe played. When this skinny kid came out on stage, looking kind of shy, I didn’t think he would be any good. But the first words out of his mouth were golden and the crowd instantly got quiet and stayed that way till the end of the song when we all broke into thunderous applause for him! his second song brought a standing ovation and continued as he walked off the stage. The crowd was so clapping so loud that Bill Anderson brought him back out to play another one. I think Mo has what it takes to be a real star, and that he is humble and centered as a man can be. I feel lucky that I got to see him.
December 18, 2014 @ 4:03 pm
While his voice in excellent, I’m going to have to echo some of the previous statements ”“ That “Clean Up On Aisle 5” song is just pure cheese. Yes, I’d rather hear that than most of what’s played on country radio, but that’s not saying much. I wish him the best and I will give him another opportunity to convince me in the future.
December 18, 2014 @ 4:44 pm
Why did he have to sign with Curb?
If he has any kind of success, Mike Curb will most definitely find a way to fuck him over so that he can make more money off of him. It’s not exactly a secret that Curb isn’t an artist friendly label with many well publicized battles between Curb and artists who had their albums held back while he released countless greatest hits packages.
Why on earth would an artist with a great buzz who I’m sure had more than one choice of labels to sign with, decide to ignore all the previous stories from hell and sign with this crook?
December 18, 2014 @ 4:57 pm
I cannot stand Curb either, but maybe they offered him a better upfront deal than the other labels? We really don’t know if he had generated a ton of interest or whatnot so hard to say exactly.
The flip side to Curb screwing artists over is they also have a history of sticking with artists longer than other labels. I might be wrong, but I think Lee Brice’s first couple songs totally flopped at radio and they stuck with him through it. I agree they may not be as artist friendly as other labels, but maybe the fact they seem to keep artists on labels longer even if they do not have immediate success gives artists some financial security?
December 18, 2014 @ 8:59 pm
I dunno. He’s got a good voice and is obviously a traditionalist, but the song “country” really turned me off. It’s just pandering to country music stereotypes (maybe positive ones), but all the same it just seems like a checklist song to establish his country cred with no real depth.
December 18, 2014 @ 9:26 pm
I saw him perform on Larry’s Country Diner a couple of years ago and have been keeping up with him ever since.
December 19, 2014 @ 10:28 am
Some of you guys will b!tch and complain about anything. This guy beats the hell out of the likes of chase rice and some of this junk on radio. I guess if Sturgill simspon used Cheerios in a line it would be genius
December 19, 2014 @ 7:43 pm
Right on man. For me, Sturgill Simpson can kiss this kid’s backside.
December 24, 2014 @ 1:03 pm
some of these commenters should read the recent post on scm about the disgruntled roots hipster.
December 19, 2014 @ 10:45 am
A friend of mine told me about Mo, said he was going to be another Whitley, then called me to come and meet him, pulled him up on the web and it was the opry performance, I was amazed at the poise. this young man had a song that he wrote that was perfect for the opry. Why would I say it was perfect? Take a good look at around Nashville and wonder why the record industry disappeared, what happened to all the top 40’s a very few years ago, all gone.I believe Nashville will embrace Mo because they need a voice and singer to put real country music back on top.I am not speaking just to vent as I have played the opry several times, have been a musician most of my life,worked with Keith Whitley Four years , recorded with Keith so I would think I have a pretty good idea about a true singer Keith was and Mo is the talent to do it again.Mo keep your sister singing the tenor, she is awesome Wendy
December 19, 2014 @ 7:38 pm
This kid reminds me of Kevin Denney. Kevin Denney broke into the top 20 in 2002 with a Country tearjerker called “That’s Just Jessie”. He was a young, talented songwriter with a smooth, Country voice. But after one more single, he lost his record deal. He was too Country for 2002, and I fear Mo Pitney is too Country for 2015. Nowadays, Kevin is still writing and playing around Nashville and has a small cult fan base.
Here is his studio, Billboard #16 record from 2002″That’s Just Jessie” http://youtu.be/5TmnkodoGlw
And here he is singing in Nashville in 2010″Whiskey and Whitley”http://youtu.be/y2O98yGIdOs
December 19, 2014 @ 7:39 pm
“Whiskey and Whitley” http://youtu.be/y2O98yGIdOs
December 22, 2014 @ 7:07 pm
laundry list songs in drop d tuning
December 24, 2014 @ 1:00 pm
Well I agree, he has a very nice voice.
Sure,in some ways the tune is a little lyrically light, but it’s very melodic, and it sticks
in your memory right away.
thanks trigger.
January 28, 2015 @ 8:51 pm
Serious question, what do y’all want him to sing about?
February 27, 2015 @ 7:13 pm
Is Mo Pitney related to Gene Pitney… I have seen that question asked many times but never answered!
July 5, 2015 @ 9:16 am
I want to know the same thing. Compare their photos. The resemblance is there. Should be an obvious question, so I don’t know why the subject hasn’t come up in articles.
March 3, 2015 @ 9:52 pm
I think Mo could be s big as Hank Williams!! Mo puts his trust in God and speaks to him daily. Hopefully he can live to be older than Hank did. If you don’t like his voice than you don’t like real country!!! No one called Hank cheesy.
August 11, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
Is Mo Pitney related to Gene Pitney? I cannot find an answer.
September 3, 2015 @ 7:44 am
When Mo appeared on Larry’s Country Diner he said is IS related to Gene Pitney.
November 24, 2015 @ 11:45 am
Mo Pitney. YAWN. This ” country” music exists so yokels with no ears can think they like music too. Trite. Banal. Cliched. Another spindly warbling white boy exploiting THE BLUES. Uninspired. Derivative. Another ” New Country” artist crawlin out of the woodwork. Both LAME and WEAK. GAWD knows what happens to music after it enters those holes on the side of your head. No accountin for no taste.
December 7, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
Mo Pitney you are the next best thing on the horizon of country music.Your song Country has such depth and meaning of what and how people relate to Country and your voice is beautiful.Iused to tell everyone how good Keith Urban was and would be a country super star once he went to America.I love Randy Travis have been a fan since 1986. Mo I know that you will be right up there with Randy,George,Alan Jackson,George Jones and all of the great country singers of yester year and present best wishes Donna xx
August 9, 2016 @ 10:48 am
Pitney is no Don Williams by any means. He should never have signed with Curb! So sad…….