Album Review – Jamey Johnson’s “Midnight Gasoline”
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The music of Jamey Johnson doesn’t go anywhere fast. But when it arrives, heaven and earth succumb to its power as it vibrates and envelops every atom in its presence. That’s the experience of ‘Midnight Gasoline.’
IBMA Announces 2015 International Bluegrass Music Awards Nominations
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The nominees for the 2015 International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced Wednesday morning (8-12) with the supergroup The Earls of Leicester (Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp, Barry Bales, Tim O’Brien, Charlie Cushman and Johnny Warren) grabbing the most nominations, Billy Keith and Larry Sparks receiving Hall of Fame inductions, and comedian turned banjo ambassador Steve Martin receiving an award.
Album Review – Luke Bryan’s “Kill The Lights”
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Luke Bryan did not get here by happenstance, and he’s not going to blow his opportunity to remain on top by making poor decisions. Tell yourself his music won’t last through the cruel inquisition of time. Tell yourself he has no talent, and that he’s an idiot on and off the stage. Reassure yourself that eventually he will be relegated to a laughing stock of history with his shallow songs and shortsighted goals.
Willie Nelson & Classic Country Credited for Helping Save Life of Premature Baby
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“So we started playing music for her on a daily basis, and when I played old country music, she would respond well to it, so we started playing that all the time and she loved it. Any time she was having a bad day, you could play Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash or Ray Price, and her stats would come up, almost immediately.”
Song Review – Don Henley w/ Dolly Parton, “When I Stop Dreaming”
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I don’t expect Don Henley’s entire country record to sound this classic, but his take on the old Louvin Brothers standard with Dolly helping out was a welcomed treat that tells you this album isn’t going to be Don reaching for commercial relevance. It’s going to be Don making the country record he wants to make.
The Gatekeepers of Country Music are Going Away
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“. . . we play all of our own instruments, we write the best songs that we can, and we put harmony on the songs, we have a real band,” Zac Brown said in response to Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind of Night” not two years ago. And now the exact criticisms he leveled at Luke Bryan could be leveled at him. But they won’t be.
40 Years Later: Hank Jr.’s Fall from Ajax Mountain (The Full Story)
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Looking to clear his mind and hopefully help find the inner voice he needed to persevere on his new career path, Hank Jr. took a retreat to Montana before a big tour was scheduled to commence. Hank went climbing on a mountain called Ajax Peak that straddles the border of Montana and Idaho, accompanied by a rancher named Dick Willey from nearby Wisdom, Montana.
Daniel Miller Gives Personal Touch to New Album “East Tennessee”
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The most defining element to any great song or album is when the writer or singer is captured sharing something very personal with the audience. It could be something heart-wrenching, or it could be something happy. It could be a story, or a message, or something learned or realized. But either way, it has to be one human conveying something very personal to another.
Album Review – Lindi Ortega’s “Faded Gloryville”
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Out there on the club and honky-tonk circuit are women with skins on the wall, proven talent, and built-in fan bases that go regularly overlooked as options to bring compelling female voices to the big leagues of country. One such artist is the Canadian-born Lindi Ortega, who has just released her latest album through Last Gang Records called ‘Faded Gloryville.’
Merle Haggard Cancels Headlining Set at Ink-N-Iron Fest Last Minute After Contract Dispute
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This weekend in downtown Nashville, the inaugural Ink-N-Iron Festival is being held in Bicentennial Mall Park. Promoted by the same individuals who’ve been putting on tattoo conventions in Long Beach, California for the last 13 years, the 3-day festival features a diverse mix of performers, including headliner Merle Haggard. Merle also performed at a pre-festival event held Thursday evening.
Ryan Adams Covering Taylor Swift’s “1989” Album is the Worst Idea Ever
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So apparently Ryan Adams is in the process of recording a complete cover album of Taylor Swift’s recent record 1989 done in the style of the Morissey-fronted British rock band The Smiths. At least that is what he’s alluding to through his Twitter and Instagram accounts, which were dominated with Swift postings Thursday (8-6) as the press and curious fans spectated along.
Making Sausage: New Thomas Rhett Song Has 14 Songwriters
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I guess my first question is why stop there? If you already have 14 songwriters on board, why not go for the world record? Throw the barn doors wide and make a party out of it. You want to contribute a word or two? Then come on in! Order some pizza. String up a piñata. Put a homeless guy on there for shits and giggles. Throw that guy that used to pick on you in high school in the songwriting credits as an inside joke.
Zac Brown’s Next Single Will Be Controversial EDM Song “Beautiful Drug”
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When many country and Southern rock fans got their copy of Zac Brown Band’s latest release Jekyll + Hyde, they feverishly ripped off the cellophane, struggled with the stupid sticker the runs across the top edge and never comes off in one piece, and then put that puppy into the CD player so full of excitement and anticipation, they found themselves nothing short of crestfallen and shockingly confused…