Benjamin Tod Talks Smack on Bad Country, Retools Touring Band
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Benjamin Tod came up playing street corner string music with his underground roots outfit called the Lost Dog Street Band. But recently he’s gotten a burr under his saddle about the state of country music.
Aaron Lewis Signs to Big Machine, Releases Protest Song “That Ain’t Country”
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Aaron Lewis, the frontman for the emo noise band Staind, whose been dabbling in country music for years now, has just signed to Dot records—a division of the Big Machine Label Group—and will be releasing a new record called Sinner on September 16th. And as part of the announcement, Aaron has released a country protest song called “That Ain’t Country.”
Album Review – Jon Pardi’s “California Sunrise”
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If country music is ever to be saved, it’s not going to be by the hands of just one artist. Chris Stapleton can win all the awards he wants, but without a more broad movement represented by multiple artists doing well, and real inroads into country radio, progress remains mostly symbolic. That is where someone like Jon Pardi comes in.
Rory Feek Announces “To Joey, With Love” Film
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To Joey, With Love that is set to air at select theaters on Tuesday, September 20th for one night only. Rory announced the film on the latest installment of his This Life I Live blog, which he uses to regularly keep the world updated on the tragic story of his wife and singing partner Joey Martin Feek.
The Best Country Songs (& Videos) of 2016 So Far
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As was said in reference to the Best Albums of 2016 So Far, it has been fairly slim pickings for the first part of the year for finding music that really touches the heart, and has the fortitude to last beyond the calendar year. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions, and 2016 already boasts a number of serious, gut-punching songs.
Country Greats Who’ve Passed Away So Far in 2016
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Every year we mark the passing of music legends in country music and beyond, but 2016 has been an especially dark year for the passing of music greats. From Prince and David Bowie in the pop and rock world, to Merle Haggard and Guy Clark in country, to the dozens of others who may have not been as well-known, but still had a great impact on American music.
Album Review – Dierks Bentley’s “Black”
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At the 2016 CMT Awards, when they needed someone to walk out to center stage and give an all-too-brief, but nonetheless meaningful tribute to Merle Haggard, they chose Dierks Bentley for the task. Why? Because of all the attendees present at that made-up awards show, with the exception of maybe Chris Stapleton, nobody else had the street cred.
“Humble and Kind” Is First Solo-Written Song to Hit #1 in 4 Years
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Written solely by female songwriter Lori McKenna, “Humble and Kind” becomes the first #1 country song written by one person in more than four years. In this era when everything is written by a committee of three or more, and the expressions of female artists are generally stifled, this is quite the feat.
David Allan Coe Narrowly Avoids Jail, Fined $1 Million by IRS
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David Allan Coe will not be going to prison for an obstruction charge levied by the IRS, but he will be on probation for the next three years, and will have to pay fines and back taxes totaling $980,911.86 for his tax delinquency between 2008 – 2013, and before. This was the sentence brought down in Cincinnati on Monday (6-13) in Federal court.
Legendary Highwaymen Producer and “Luckenbach” Songwriter Chips Moman Dies
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One of the most influential, prolific, diverse, and long lasting producers, songwriters, and guitar players in American music has passed away. Chips Moman, the writer of Waylon Jennings’ #1 “Luckenbach, TX,” the producer for Elvis Presley’s hit “Suspicious Minds,” a seminal figure in the formation of the Stax record label, died in a hospice facility in LaGrange, Georgia on Monday, June 13th.
The Golden Ponies Are “Unstabled” In New Record
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Don’t think of the foul-mouthed escapades of Wheeler Walker Jr. (there’s not a cuss word on this record), the parody efforts of Cletus T. Judd, or the protestations of some angry underground country band. The Golden Ponies do offer their own commentary on today’s country, as well as adult humor about drinking and dipping with the ladies.
Why is Pharrell Running Around Nashville in an American Aquarium Hat?
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Superstar pop R&B artist and producer Pharrell Williams spent the better part of last week in Nashville performing with the vocal troupe Little Big Town, and the entire time he’s been repping for an unlikely band: alt-country/Americana outfit American Aquarium.
They Should Have Let That “Nashville” Show Die
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Now ‘Nashville’ has moved to CMT, where it will play second fiddle to a sitcom starring Billy Ray Cyrus as an Elvis impersonator, 16 airings of Smokey and the Bandit per year, and some reality show hosted by wrestling washup Steve Austin. And it only costs the City of Nashville and Tennessee government $11 million dollars in grease money to make it happen.