Album Review – William Beckmann’s “Whiskey Lies & Alibis”
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As classic and cool as a pair of Wayfarers, William Beckmann’s music evokes the body curves of the fender on a vintage Cadillac, and the sheen on the burl of a Wurlitzer juke box.
New Jamey Johnson Deal with SESAC Could Be Key To New Music (Finally)
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Announced Tuesday (2-28), Jamey Johnson has signed a new deal with music rights organization SESAC. Though these rights organization deals happen all the time on Music Row, with artists moving back and forth from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for various reasons, this one feels significant if for no other reason than the rhetoric that accompanies it.
Texas Country Artists Come Together to Celebrate Ben Dorcy Day 2017
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Ben Dorcy is the nearly 92-year-old original roadie who started in 1950 and worked with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and June Carter, Jerry Jeff Walker, and even more modern artists like Randy Rogers and Jack Ingram. Though he may not be as well known as the artists themselves, Ben Dorcy is one of the most beloved individuals in all of Texas music.
Sturgill Simpson Promises to Take On Scalpers Amid Soaring Secondary Ticket Prices
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On Tuesday (2-28), Sturgill Simpson addressed ticketing issues with his fans who are seeing these immediate sellouts and tickets getting posted for $400 and up on secondary sites, especially after his popularity has taken a sharp rise due to his Grammy awards and nominations, and a viral Saturday Night Live performance.
Alison Krauss and “Windy City” Hit #1 on the Country Albums Chart
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Windy City from Alison Krauss comes in at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the week ending February 23rd, and also comes in at #1 on the Bluegrass Album Chart, #2 on the Americana chart right behind Ryan Adams’ Prisoner, and #5 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Think Horns Don’t Belong in Country? Then You Don’t Know Don Markham
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For 40 years, Don Markham was the horn player in Merle Haggard’s backing band, The Strangers. In fact he outlasted every other permanent member in the band, and aside from a few hiatuses throughout the years, was the only constant member. He also played on every single Merle Haggard release since 1974, though you may have not noticed him.
FINALLY: Nashville to Host a Tribute to the Late Great Merle Haggard
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A tribute is finally planned for The Hag, and it promises to be a star-studded event. ‘Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard’ will take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, April 6th to honor what would have been Merle Haggard’s 80th birthday, and to mark the one year anniversary of his passing.
Details In The Serious Accident Involving Texas Artist Rich O’Toole
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O’Toole had flown earlier on Saturday from Houston’s Hobby Airport to Amarillo, TX in preparation for a show at the GoldenLight Cafe and Cantina with the Corey Hunt Band. After arriving at the airport, he contacted an Uber ride to take him to his hotel.
John Moreland to Release New Album “Big Bad Luv”
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‘Big Bad Luv’ promises to be a shift in John Moreland’s focus. Where before you could expect some of the most tear-soaked material you could hear in all of roots music, the new album is said to be more sentimental. This should not come as a shock to Moreland fans since he was recently married, and has seen a shift in his personal life.
Sturgill Simpson On ACM Awards Snub: “Good. Dodged a Corny Bullet.”
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After Sturgill Simpson and his recent album A Sailor’s Guide to Earth took home the trophy for Best Country Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards and was in contention for Album of the Year, some wondered if the ACM Awards would finally wise up and offer Sturgill Simpson a nomination.
Movie Review – “Hell or High Water” Is More Than Just A Good Soundtrack
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If you’re going to make a movie based in West Texas about the destruction of the agrarian economy and the way the banks rape the poor and why so much of the American heartland has turned into a ghost town husk of what it once was, what better way to embellish the moments than to include the songs of artists like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Scott H. Biram, & Colter Wall?
Aaron Watson Takes Center Stage at the San Antonio Rodeo (Photos)
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If you want to appreciate just how far independent Texas country artist Aaron Watson has come with his career, take a moment to reflect that in 2017, he was asked to play the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo—the same big stage that Willie Nelson, and even big pop country names like Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley played this year.
Album Review – Aaron Watson’s “Vaquero”
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Aaron Watson is an optimist, and a pragmatist. And though a swath of independent and traditional country fans tend to find themselves generally turned off by these things—only identifying with country music that breaks the heart—Aaron Watson is adhering to the very first rule of independent and traditional country: be authentic to yourself.