Hayley Williams vs. Morgan Wallen, and Understanding Lower Broadway
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Hate on Lower Broadway all you want. But if you really want to make a difference about how that area is evolving, steer people to the places down there that are still doing it right, that act like beacons of true artistic expression.
Who Should Host the New “Hee-Haw” If It Comes to Pass?
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The prospects of a new incarnation of the long-running country music-themed television show Hee-Haw being in the works opens up a whole realm of delicious possibilities of how the show could take shape, and who could comprise the cast. So if a new Hee-Haw show comes to pass, who should be part of the cast?
Old Crow Medicine Show Signs to Columbia – To Release ‘Blonde on Blonde’ Tribute
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Announced Tuesday morning (2-21), Old Crow Medicine Show has signed with Columbia Records Nashville. Put this on top of being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2013, and the band isn’t showing signs of age, they’re solidifying their place as a serious traditional roots band with mainstream and major label acceptance.
George Strait Was Pitched “Tennessee Whiskey” and Passed
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In a recent interview with Kacey Musgraves ahead of her opening for George Strait in Las Vegas, Strait said “Tennessee Whiskey” was one of the songs he most regrets punting on when it was first pitched to him early in his career. “Dean pitched me to that in the 80’s … and I missed it,” George Strait says.
Song Review – Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy”
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“I’m a dirt road, in the headlights. I’m a mama’s boy, I’m a fist fight,” is how “Small Town Boy” starts off. What does this stuff even mean? It’s just nonsensical self-referential, self-ingratiating pap. There’s no point to it except identity politics tied to the demographic country radio is looking to serve, which is primarily people who don’t live on dirt roads.
Album Review – Ags Connolly’s “Nothin’ Unexpected”
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‘Nothin’ Unexpected’ is traditional country, meaning you’ll hear fiddle and steel guitar, and many other indicators that your brain will immediately recognize as the familiar modes of country’s original and authentic sound. But it’s all done in a voice and perspective authentic to Ags himself instead of trying to stretch the truth, or do his best impression.
Folk Alliance 2017: John Craigie’s Stories Match The Quality of His Songs
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Fans of oldtimers such as Townes Van Zandt, Todd Snider, and Ray Wylie Hubbard know that when it comes to the best songwriters, they don’t just know how to put a good story into song, they know how to take a good story back out of a song to introduce a live performance. California-based songwriter John Craigie has perfected this art just about as good as any.
Hank3: “I’ll Be Seeing Y’all On The Road Real Soon”
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At Wednesday night’s (2-15) Ameripolitan Awards hosted by Dale Watson and Ray Benson, Hank Williams III, who not much has been seen or heard of for a few years now, was up for Best Outlaw Male. Also for those who can’t wait to hear Hank3’s voice again on some new music, he actually appeared on a track by Rudy Parris recently.
Chris Stapleton Preps New Album, Announces Massive Tour
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It don’t matter who’s on country radio, Chris Stapleton is still the current king of country music when it comes to recognition and album sales. A solid 16 months since he shocked the world at the 2015 CMA Awards, and he is still the perennial chart topper on the country albums charts with Traveller most every week, and there is no signs of it slowing down soon.
The ACM’s Announce 2017 Award Nominees (Observations and Predictions)
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The Academy of Country Music has just announced its 2017 batch of award nominees, and as you can imagine, it is the same usual suspects of superstar names receiving circumspect recognition in an event that is not much more than an infomercial for the industry, and fails to recognize the impact many of country’s independent artists.
Saving Country Music’s 2017 Ameripolitan Awards LIVE Blog
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Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2017 Saving AMERIPOLITAN Music LIVE blog from Austin, TX and the historic Paramount theater. Since the awards will not be broadcast or televised, the will be the live portal into the festivities for the folks who can’t be here. We’ll keep you informed of the winners, performers, doings, photos and other observations.
All Three Sturgill Simpson Albums See Sales Surge After Grammy Awards
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‘A Sailor’s Guide to Earth’ rocketed to the top of the iTunes charts, landing at #1 in country, and #7 overall. And that wasn’t the only album that saw a sales spike. What’s also a bit surprising is how the country music industry seems to be ignoring the surge, while talking about the surge for other artists.
Tim McGraw’s Move from Big Machine to Sony Is Surprising
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What’s so strange about the news is Tim McGraw seemed to be doing so well on Big Machine after fleeing Curb Records. There was a lot of symbolism in McGraw moving to Big Machine after a lengthy court battle with Curb, which tried to keep him on the label indefinitely and was ruining his career.