Album Review – Juliet McConkey’s “Southern Front”
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It’s a thing of beauty how the gentle but powerful musings of Juliet McConkey overwhelm your emotional faculties in disarming waves, awakening feelings often left dormant in the passing of everyday life.
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.
Jason Isbell Releases New Tour Dates for Spring 2018
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Jason Isbell has just added a slew of brand new tour dates for the spring to go on top of an already-packed winter touring schedule. The new dates now take Jason Isbell’s touring schedule well into April and May, with marquee performances at the Savannah Music Festival, and the Stagecoach Music Festival.
Who Are These Cretins Raising Hell with the Houston Rodeo for Booking Leon Bridges?
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The announcement of the main stage lineup at the Houston Rodeo is an annual head scratcher for many across the Lone Star State and beyond who actually pay attention to the music native to Texas and Houston, and wonder why one of the biggest events in Texas all year chooses to import most of its talent from out of the state.
Teea Goans Won’t Let Anything “Swing, Shuffle, or Sway” Her Away from Her Country Roots
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The sincere love of authentic country music is something that a genuine country artist cannot be swayed from. It’s a bond, almost like an oath or affirmation, that becomes affixed to the soul, and grounded so deeply with penetrating roots, it is impossible to snap or even strain them, regardless of the allure.