Album Review – Cam Pierce’s “A Thousand Lonely Horses”
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Even those well versed in the wide expanses of the Western music canon will be strongly intrigued and delighted to hear the decidedly singer/songwriter-style of Western music that Cam Pierce crafts.
African Americans Helping to Keep Country & Roots Music Alive
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Let’s face it. For a host of reasons, it’s pretty rare to see African Americans making country and roots music. But when they do, more often that not, they’re doing it the right way, pushing the music forward creatively while fiercely helping to preserving the past, becoming part of the solution instead of prolonging the problem.
Mickey Lamantia Speaks to Both Sides of the Outlaw Legacy in “Every Bad Habit”
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Nobody really wants to be an Outlaw. They just think they do. All that black leather and badass attitude, booze and women, it looks like the essence of cool from afar. But it’s a lot easier to admire the Outlaw life from a distance than it is to actually live it yourself.
Folk Alliance Celebrates 30 Years – Sweet Beaver Showcases Worthy Roots Artists
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Folk Alliance International will be celebrating 30 years of supporting roots music in North America and beyond at their annual conference taking place on February 14-18, 2018, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. For the second year running, Saving Country Music will help sponsor the Sweet Beaver Showcase.
Song Review – Carrie Underwood’s “The Champion” ft. Ludacris
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Context is everything here, and it’s critically-important we regard what the end game with this song is. The impetus for Carrie Underwood’s “The Champion” is to be a TV theme song for the Super Bowl on NBC. But I don’t know folks. As was expressed recently, we need Carrie Underwood in country right now, but not necessarily this version.
An Editor’s Note on Recently-Posted “Rant” Against Walker Hayes & His Album “Boom”
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Dear Saving Country Music readers, country music listeners and lovers, fellow journalists, and especially fans of Walker Hayes and the work of country music producer, Shane McAnally . . . On December 18th, 2017, I wrote a “rant” entitled, “‘Boom’ By Walker Hayes Is The Worst Album In ‘Country’ Music History. Full Stop.” . . .
Country Hall of Fame Readies New Major Exhibit, “Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s”
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Yes, Yes, and Yes! On Thursday (1-11), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville announced their newest major exhibit to open on May 25th, 2018. Not just part of the regular rotation of smaller exhibits, the major exhibit creates the cornerstone for the museum’s focus for the next few years.
Willie Nelson Feeling Better After Confirmed Flu – Reschedules Cancelled Shows
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Willie Nelson is feeling better after suffering from the flu and having to stop down a show near San Diego Saturday evening (1-6), unable to make it through the opening song, “Whiskey River.” Willie’s Harrah’s Resort SoCal show became one of six shows Willie was forced to cancel due to the illness.
Courtney Marie Andrews to Release Highly-Anticipated Album “May Your Kindness Remain”
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Announced on Monday (1-10), Andrews will be making her debut on Fat Possum Records in conjunction with Mama Bird and Loose Music with May Your Kindness Remain. Featuring ten tracks produced by Canadian Mark Howard, it is said to awaken more gospel influences in Courtney, and this certainly can be heard in the album’s title track.
Dear 8 lb. 6 oz. Infant Jesus, Let “The Mountain” Be The Return of the Old Dierks Bentley
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Though we don’t have a proper release date yet or a full song to digest, the prospects for The Mountain at this point are very promising. Dierks wrote and recorded the record in Telluride, Colorado, which is the Rocky Mountain State’s bluegrass haven. He was inspired to make the record there when performing at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
Sturgill Simpson Maps Out 2018 Festival Schedule
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In the last few days Sturgill’s festival schedule has come more into focus as many of music’s major gatherings announce their lineups now that the Holidays are in the rear view and folks are mapping out their 2018. These may be your only opportunities to see Sturgill in 2018 if you’re so inclined, so start planning now.
Song Review – David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”
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What’s the value in late career success when you sell out to attain it like David Lee Murphy has done here? You can forgive the lightness in the writing. You can even excuse the cavorting with Kenny Chesney. But that stupid electronic drum beat is the type of thing David Lee Murphy should be railing against.
Willie Nelson Leaves Stage in San Diego Due to Breathing Issues, Cancels Additional Shows
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Willie Nelson had to abruptly cancel a show near San Diego Saturday evening (1-6) when he was too ill to perform, and has since canceled multiple shows to head back to Texas and recuperate. Subsequent shows have also been canceled due to the illness.