50 Years Ago: Willie Nelson Scores First #1 Song … At Age 42
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By the time Willie minted his first #1 in country music, he’d been hired and fired from the Grand Ole Opry. He’d been married and divorced. He’d retired from music, put on 40 pounds, and become a pig farmer.
Album Review – The Pistol Annies’ “Interstate Gospel”
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On the Pistol Annies’ third record and their first in a long while, you will find the songs you would expect from the supertrio. But beneath the Southern female glitz and unruly frivolity on the surface of the Pistol Annies’ persona is perhaps the trio’s most involved work.
Movie Review – “A Star Is Born” 4.0
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How many times can you remake the same movie and it still be good? If it’s a classic story told with passion, is well-acted and directed, and expertly updated for the modern context, the answer would be at least four. “A Star Is Born” is a big moment for Americana music.
Founding Member Brad Rice Leaves Jason Boland & The Stragglers
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Founding member of Jason Boland and the Stragglers, and long-time Texas/Red Dirt community member Brad Rice has left the band to pursue other interests. Brad Rice had been Jason Boland’s drummer for over 20 years. The two met while attending Oklahoma State University in Stillwater Oklahoma in the late 90’s.
Jesse Daniel Sings His “SR-22 Blues” in Santa Cruz
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Every year Saving Country Music travels to the West Coast during the summer to scout for musical talent that is often overlooked in the Nashville and Texas music echo chambers. In 2018 the biggest discovery was singer, songwriter, and recovering punk musician Jesse Daniel of Santa Cruz, California.
Blake Shelton’s Morphed Into Dad Country & It’s Not An Entirely Terrible Thing
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Grrrrrrr, Blake Shelton! He’s the guy who said that “Old Farts and Jackasses” thing and is on that stupid reality show! Plus we’re supposed to hate him if we like Miranda Lambert, or something. But if you believe in reform and forgiveness, Blake Shelton would be one of the select few who would be worthy of it in the mainstream.
The Tao of Jamie Lin Wilson and “Jumping Over Rocks”
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It’s not exclusively the music from our favorite artists that inspires us. It’s how they’re gifted with the tenacity to pursue their dreams fearlessly, and with a willingness to sacrifice we all wish we had, or maybe we did have at one time before life got in the way. But they don’t let life get in the way. They get in the way of life.
Travis Tritt Makes Quality Picks for “Real Country” Contestants
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Travis Tritt’s “team” has been revealed, and regardless of where this show goes, how many people watch, and who wins, Tritt has done a superb job picking out his contestants. I don’t think Hank done it this way, but if someone’s going to win, hopefully it’s Tritt’s hopefuls, 4 of which who’ve been featured on SCM recently.
The Turnpike Troubadours Put Current Tour On Hold After Personal Issues
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After last-minute cancellations this weekend at the Centurlink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana, and appearance in Corpus Christi, Texas at the Concrete Street Amphitheater, the Turnpike Troubadours have announced they’re putting their current tour on hold as one of the members of the band deal with personal issues.
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Top Sales Charts with “Live From The Ryman”
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Live records can often be a wild card when it comes to sales, but Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s “Live From The Ryman” has proven to be a hit. The successful debut also comes as Jason Isbell just wrapped up another sold-out six night run at the Ryman Auditorium October 22nd through the 28th.
Charlie Parr Back on the Road After Breaking Shoulder Skateboarding
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The gray bearded and bespectacled Charlie Parr is not exactly the person you would envision tearing up city parks on a skateboard like some stoner kid in Vans. Charlie Parr’s usually caught out in the wild performing as one of the most world-class slide and fingerpicking dobro resonator players in existence.
Album Review – Carson McHone’s “Carousel”
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It’s not just the words, but the music of Carson McHone’s Carousel that help create an audio illustration of this emotional battlefield that it’s haunting at times in how well it mirrors our own experiences. This is her opportunity to slip out of the “velvet handcuffs” of Austin. “Carousel” is worthy of that charge.
William Michael Morgan Criticizes Modern Country’s Sunny Disposition in “Brokenhearted”
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William Michael Morgan has sent us selling our stock, and then buying it all back again just in a matter of a couple of weeks. The first taste from his upcoming and unannounced sophomore record was a song called “Tonight Girl.” And then here comes “Brokenhearted.”