This is HUGE. Dave Cobb Announced as Chief Creative Officer at UMG Nashville
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Producer Dave Cobb has been announced as UMG Nashville’s CCO, or Chief Creative Officer. This puts one of the primary actors in the country music turnaround of the last decade in a direct position of power.
Johnny Lee on Modern Country: “I Don’t Even Listen To That Crap.”
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Johnny Lee was one of country music’s biggest stars in the early 80’s, amassing five #1 hits, twelve Top 10’s, and was the singer of one of the era’s most iconic songs, “Lookin’ For Love” made famous by the movie Urban Cowboy. The movie was inspired and filmed at the club of Johnny Lee’s good friend, Mickey Gilley.
On Kacey Musgraves’ Saturday Night Live Performance
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Song selection was just the beginning of the disappointment in Kacey’s performance. Her “High Horse” rendition began by the camera zeroing in on a bedazzled saddle hanging from the rafters, and that was apt symbolism of how the performance would be much more about presentation and appearance as opposed to substance.
First Aid Kit Announces Rebel Heart Tour
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Swedish Sister Duo First Aid Kit will be making their way to the United States and parts of Europe as part of the extensive Rebel Heart Tour in 2018. The sisters will be in the United States in June, and then again in September through October. In July and August they will be touring in Europe.
Song Review – Luke Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy”
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“Beautiful Crazy” is much more similar to what we were hoping from Luke Combs when he first emerged on a major label. Full of steel guitar and fiddle, and ramping up to be a quality showcase for his barrel-chested country voice, “Beautiful Crazy” is easy to love regardless of your country music alignment.
Lucero to Celebrate 20 Years with New Album “Among The Ghosts”
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Now celebrating 20 years hacking away at blending country, punk, soul, blues, and R&B smothered in Memphis gravy, the band is readying the release of their latest studio album, ‘Among The Ghosts.’ It features 9 new songs written by Ben Nichols and was recorded at Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis.
Brent Cobb Proves He’s Country Music’s New Smooth Pimp on “Providence Canyon”
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Somewhere on the highways and byways of Heaven, Jerry Reed is driving a semi truck full of Coors on a delivery for Jesus, slapping the dashboard maniacally with a big ol’ Georgia peach-eatin’ grin screaming “Hot damn son, get after after it!” as the tunes of Brent Cobb’s new album ‘Providence Canyon’ come blaring out of the speakers.
Jason Isbell Explains Why It’s Important to Criticize Bad Music
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It comes up so often in the realm of music criticism: “If you don’t like something, just don’t listen.” But they’re missing the point. The point is not just about what music you like or you don’t like. And in some respects, the point is not about music at all.
Kane Brown’s “Super Awkward” ACMs Moment Was Choreographed by Producers
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It’s easy to pawn off the fault for the inappropriate moment on Kane Brown, but Kane is surprisingly saying he wasn’t on board with the moment either, and it was the ACM choreographers and producers who insisted on it. “It was super awkward. Lauren was like, ‘Might as well go ahead and grab his butt too!'”
Lori McKenna to Release New Album “The Tree”
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If there’s any hope for the future of mainstream country music, it lies in songwriters like Lori McKenna. Whenever you see a quality song from a major label country artist, it’s uncanny how often Lori McKenna’s name comes up in the songwriting credits. True country fans know that if you want to find the best music, you have to go straight to the source.
Album Review – Parker Millsap’s “Other Arrangements”
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It doesn’t matter if you’re playing your music with an acoustic or electric guitar. Are you testifying? Is it washed in the blood? Are you conveying your true emotions in all their ugliness? If the answer is “yes,” then it’s still roots, and righteous. And Other Arrangements is downright righteous, whatever you want to call it.
Single Review – Jason Aldean “feat.” Miranda Lambert in “Drowns The Whiskey”
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Country music in 2018: “Man Artist feat. Woman Artist.” Wash, rinse, repeat. This is one way to get Miranda Lambert back on the radio I guess, releasing Jason Aldean’s “Drowns The Whiskey” as a single. Too bad Jason Aldean has to be involved, and the only way virtually any woman gets on country radio these days is being “feat.”
Wild Hare Countryfest Helps Continue Texas Music’s Expansion
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Texas music and independent country continue to gain market share and offer a better, and more healthy alternative to the mainstream, and we’re continuing to see this reflected in the ever-expanding festival space. A new festival in Oregon is gearing up to offer the Pacific Northwest their first taste of the Texas festival experience.