AEG / Live Nation Now Coming for Music’s Mid-Sized Independent Venues
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The catalysts for the catastrophic implosion in mid-sized independent venue ownership in the United States is about to make matters much worse with Live Nation and AEG investing heavily in the space.
Steve Cash of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils Has Died
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Steve Cash, an original member of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and co-writer of the band’s two biggest hits “If You Wanna Get To Heaven” and “Jackie Blue,” passed away Sunday, October 13th at the age of 73 after a prolonged illness. He is the first original member of the iconic and influential band to pass away.
$3,000 Reward Offered For Junior Brown’s Legendary Guit-Steel
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The reward is now up to $3,000 for the return of the legendary “Big Red” guit-steel guitar owned by country music performer Junior Brown. Burglarized from a vehicle parked at a hotel in North Attleboro, Massachusetts on Sunday, October 6th, the legendary instrument has been the signature of Junior Brown for nearly 35 years.
Album Review – Dori Freeman’s “Every Single Star”
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Music is what we turn to for reprieve from the common irritations and emotional burdens of everyday life. Galax, Virginia’s Dori Freeman is uncommonly blessed with the ability to dispel those difficulties and replace them with a warm appreciation for the simple joys of living through the pacifying nature of her songs.
Here’s Why Zac Brown’s “The Controversy” Got Yanked Initially
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Not to spend too much time on the country music washout that is Zac Brown in 2019, but just to wrap a bow around the weird situation surrounding his recent solo pop album called The Controversy, we finally have an explanation of why the surprise album was pulled from multiple outlets and retailers after its release on September 27th.
Randy Travis Cancels Portions of the “Music of Randy Travis” Tour
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Many of the scheduled dates for the upcoming “The Music of Randy Travis” tour have been canceled. The unique collaboration putting together many of the original members of the Randy Travis backing band with actor and singer James Dupré at center stage was scheduled to make 12 separate appearances from mid October to November.
Newest Additions to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#51)
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Every Friday, more and more killer albums just keep coming, especially lately, and at such a rapid pace that it’s hard to keep on top of it all. That’s part of the point of keeping the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist, so you can listen your way through staying informed about the latest songs and albums being released in country and roots.
Album Review – Chris Knight’s “Almost Daylight”
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It’s uncanny how Chris Knight takes such simple notions, and turns them into exaltations for the common man, their common struggles, and imparts solutions to everyday dilemmas. He’s the headwaters of erudite knowledge served in plainspoken terms that all other country songwriters seek.
Carly Pearce Says “I Really Want To Be A Purist”
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Sure, talk’s cheap. And we saw that illustrated perfectly when Sam Hunt released a new single recently called “Kinfolks.” But the case is a bit different with Carly Pearce. Unlike Sam Hunt and other current mainstream stars, Carly started out in the traditional country ranks, and she’s also backing up her claims with her music.
Album Review – “After The Fire” by Cody Jinks
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Where Cody’s last album ‘Lifers’ seemed to focus more on his dedicated fans and the hardscrabble, blue collar lives they lead, ‘After The Fire’ is much more introspective and inward-looking. It’s about Cody’s struggle to balance music and life, trying to be a good husband first before becoming the big star some would love to see him become.
Sam Hunt’s New Song “Kinfolks” Is His Sad Excuse for “Country”
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“Kinfolks” is Sam Hunt thinking you’ll consider this a country song just because the lyrical hook is a rural colloquialism. This is what passes for “country” in Sam Hunt’s book, while we’re supposed to ignore the clap track and hip-pop phrasing. Sam Hunt left a huge mess behind in country music when he disappeared a few years ago.
Album Review – Whiskey Myers (Self-Titled)
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When frontman Cody Cannon takes the stage, he struts around like a cock of the walk, more resembling his hard rock heroes than a down home, humble country boy. But when he sits down in front of a legal pad or starts scribbling songs ideas on a fast food napkin, something resembling country is just as likely to emerge.
Sturgill Simpson’s New Album Doesn’t Belong on Country Charts
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“It’s definitely not a country record,” Sturgill Simpson told Sarah Silverman point blank back in November of 2018 about the new album. The “definitely” underscores that there’s no wiggle room in that interpretation. So the question is, why is Sound & Fury on the Billboard country charts?