What It’s Really Like to Play a Country Music Festival
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Viral star Oliver Anthony unleashed a firestorm recently when he made multiple accusations against performers at country festivals as part of a greater 15-minute video rant addressing some of the ills of the country industry.
Tracy Byrd Returns After 10 Years with “All American Texan” (review)
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If I were Tracy Byrd, I wouldn’t have released an album in the last decade either. What would have been the point, just to have it summarily ignored by an industry obsessed with youth and debauchery as some of the best country music voices of our time get shoved out to pasture?
A Music Fan Explains Why Bob Dylan Doesn’t Deserve The Nobel Prize in Literature
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Giving the Nobel Prize in Literature to a musician is no different than giving an actor a Grammy or a musician an Oscar or a pop star a CMA Award. Or I don’t know, maybe electing a reality TV star President. And as is being reported, Dylan has yet to acknowledge the accolade, and isn’t even returning the Nobel committee’s phone calls.
Interesting Contributors in Miranda Lambert’s “Weight of These Wings” Track List
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Miranda Lambert isn’t releasing one, but two albums November 18th when her double record ‘The Weight of These Wings’ hits stores. With all that material she was sure to solicit help with songwriting. And as we attempt to read the tea leaves of what we might expect from the new record, the names in the songwriting credits are making the prospects more interesting.
After Historic Sales Week, Americana Positioned to Become Major Rival to Mainstream Country
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One of the reasons we feel so surprised at Americana’s success and so many have been so slow to recognize it is because it has been a slow and steady process. Because of Americana’s model of sustainability, the revolution has been plodding, yet purposeful. And now it’s success is palpable, and measurable by industry-standard metrics.
Song Review – Brad Paisley’s “Today”
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“Today” isn’t particularly great, but it’s actually aimed at adults instead of children, features steel guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, and if we’ve figured out nothing else about Paisley’s still unnamed upcoming album (of which this is the second single), it appears he’ll at least have opportunities to unsheathe the Telecaster again.
UPDATE (Video): Randy Travis Stuns Hall of Fame Induction By Singing “Amazing Grace”
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Despite still attempting to gain the full ability to speak and walk after his devastating health setbacks of 2013, Randy Travis reportedly stunned the crowd when he sang a rendition of “Amazing Grace” for the assembled country music dignitaries.
Courtney Granger Extols The Virtues Of Classic Country in “Beneath Still Waters”
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Courtney Granger delivers a surprising, touching, well-rounded, and frankly stunning performance of classic country tunes made anew by the power and passion behind his voice. Courtney Granger is Cajun music royalty. The grandnephew of the formidable Balfa Brothers, Courtney grew up surrounded by the music of Southern Louisiana, and currently performs in the Pine Leaf Boys.
Sturgill Simpson Makes the Case for the Turning Tide in Country on Charlie Rose
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“I think I was ahead of the curve honestly. Now if I tried to release that first record I would probably find a lot of homes for it. This was 2012-2013. It’s been a very progressive three years in terms of people searching harder to find sounds that maybe they’ve realized they’re missing.”
Blackberry Smoke Hits The Target with “Like An Arrow” (review)
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Blackberry Smoke isn’t just saving country music, they’re rehabilitating the status of all American music by baptizing it in the muddy waters of the all-immersive guitar riff delivered unencumbered and fully amplified, flying in the face of all notions of present-day style or trend that acquiesce to eepish tones and textures.
Song Review – Garth Brooks’ “Baby, Let’s Lay Down and Dance”
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If Garth’s comeback is going to be broad based and lasting, he’s got to impact beyond being a vessel for nostalgia. He needs a “Kokomo,” or at least something that impacts radio even slightly so he’s not just re-singing “Friends In Low Places” forever. And that’s what you get with “Baby, Let’s Lay Down and Dance.”
Ray Price Artifacts and Masters Could Be In Jeopardy in Estate Dispute
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The estate of Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Price is currently locked in a contentious legal battle, and the outcome could have ramifications upon the ownership of his music masters, and many of the artifacts that help tell the story of his legendary career.
Album Review – Bill Kirchen & Austin De Lone’s “Transatlantica”
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Just as Bill Kirchen was the country twang compass for country rock’s Commander Cody, Austin De Lone was the keyboard-playing rock maestro for the country rock outfit Eggs Over Easy. Both their sensibilities and respective expertise make them a complimentary pairing that just downright works, and that is evidenced in their new album together.