Western Artist Zach Aaron and the True Meaning of Authenticity
15 Comments
What exactly “authenticity” is, and what role it plays or should play in country and Western music has always been a fiercely-debated topic; almost as fiercely debated as what country music even is by definition.
Loretta Lynn at 90, and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop
26 Comments
With so many of the artists that reach superstar status, there is a “moment” that put them there. Sometimes, it’s a number of these moments. For Loretta Lynn, that moment came through Ernest Tubb, and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop’s Midnite Jamboree.
Willie Nelson Joins Tami Neilson for “Beyond The Stars”
12 Comments
It was one of those moments only music can make, and it happened in Luck, TX. The “Beyond The Stars” duet with Tami Neilson and Willie Nelson ultimately was the talk of the Luck Reunion, and the talk of SXSW.
Texas Music DJ Justin Frazell Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault
47 Comments
Former North Texas country radio host Justin Frazell has plead guilty to the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl as part of a plea deal according to authorities in Tarrant County. The show host of 95.9 KFWR “The Ranch” in Fort Worth was a pillar of the Texas radio community.
30 Years Ago: Alan Jackson Writes (& Performs) “Chattahoochee”
44 Comments
“Chattahoochee” was the exception, not the rule. And co-written by Nashville songwriter Jim McBride, there’s a pretty interesting story on how it came about, and how it came to life, going from finished product to being performed on stage the same day, April 12th, 1992.
Album Review – The Ben Jarrell Band’s “Up and Headed West”
36 Comments
Once again chock full of half-time Waylon beats, Jerry Reed hot licks, with a touch of Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd influence as well, it’s the kind of 70’s cool a lot of the hipster kids in country music try to emulate these days, but colossally fail at.
Album Review – Ray Wylie Hubbard’s “Co-Starring Too”
21 Comments
This album will have you blowing speaker cones and doing air guitar poses on coffee tables—sideways looks from your significant other be damned. I don’t know what’s gotten into Ray Wylie Hubbard, but this album is anything but retread. It’s a grizzly ol’ middle finger to bad music.
Scoping Out The Future Home of Reba McEntire’s “Reba’s Place”
28 Comments
Reba McEntire definitely deserves an extra level of respect and admiration for deciding against opening up yet another tourist trap monstrosity on Lower Broadway in Nashville, just like every other big star has done over the last decade. Calle, Reba’s Place, it will be in Atoka, OK.
Dwayne Johnson’s Daughter’s Favorite Song is by Dale Watson
24 Comments
We’ve known for years about the affinity Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has for traditional country and true blue independent country artists. But just about nothing illustrates how big of a role true country music—or in this case, “Ameripolitan”—actually plays.
It Happened In Tulsa: The Turnpike Troubadours Reunite
88 Comments
With no effort at embellishment, what happened in Tulsa will go down in history—for the historical venue of Cain’s Ballroom, for the Turnpike Troubadours, for independent country music, and for country music in general. It was that paramount, and that profound.
Steve Earle to Release Tribute Record to Jerry Jeff Walker
69 Comments
Jerry Jeff Walker died on October 23rd, 2020, but not before becoming a folk hero from the song “Mr. Bojangles,” and helping to set up the conditions in Austin, TX that would ultimately make it the Live Music Capital of the World, and an alternative to Nashville.
Paying a Visit to Billy Joe Shaver
31 Comments
Billy Joe Shaver could be a hero to someone even if they didn’t give a fig about country music. But eventually, and somewhat inexplicably, Billy Joe Shaver did die, on October 28th 2020. Turns out, only his songs were immortal. But you can still see him.
After Conservatorship Worry, Sam Williams Appears with Hank Jr. & Sister
23 Comments
In early February, Sam Williams had the music and entertainment world in a stir after a series of social media posts implied that he was in a restrictive conservatorship under the repressive thumb of his father Hank Williams Jr., and half-sister Holly Williams.