Reckless Kelly, Steve Earle & More Help Arlyn Studios Celebrate 40 Years
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The walls of some of of Austin’s recording spaces have witnessed such incredibly iconic moments being made, they have become iconic themselves. That’s definitely the fate of Arlyn Studios on Academy Drive.
Darci Carlson Impresses with Debut “Release Me” EP
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Written solely by Carlson, the 5-song Release Me EP is a throwback, honky-tonkin, foot-stompin’ true country affair that lays full throttle on the twang and layers in the steel guitar hard and heavy. But this isn’t just all about styling and posturing to prove how country it is. Darci crafts some really smart songs and has an understanding of chords and arrangement and songwriting that separates her from the crowd.
Rick Perry? Freaking HUGE Country Rap Fan.
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At Gov. Rick Perry’s formal announcement that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for a 2016 Presidential bid, he debuted a new customized version of the Colt Ford country rap song featuring some loser named J.J. Lawhorn called “Answer to No One.” Some of the lines were changed to specifically cater to the Rick Perry campaign.
The Good & the Bad of the Mickey Guyton EP
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The only thing I conclusively walked away with from this new Mickey Guyton EP is that Capitol Records Nashville has absolutely no idea what to do with this young lady. And that’s about par for the course for just about any up-and-coming female country artist at this moment. Mickey Guyton already released a 4-song EP in March of 2014. So what’s the deal?
Jon Hensley Remembered As He’s Laid to Rest
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David Macias is the President of Thirty Tigers: the marketing and distribution company. Jon Hensley, the manager for Shooter Jennings and Wanda Jackson who unexpectedly passed away on Monday June 1st, was a former employee of Thirty Tigers. David reached out to Saving Country Music to post a remembrance of Jon as he travels to Kentucky to attend his funeral.
Album Review – Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard’s “Django & Jimmie”
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You look at these two guys, and it is living history right in front of you. But they aren’t living history museum pieces. They are lucid, active participants in the music community, still writing and singing songs, still with the fire inside them to contribute to the genre they helped create, and pay country music forward to yet another generation of loyal and appreciative fans.
Logan Brill Talks New Album “Shuteye”
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There’s been much ado about country artists of the fairer sex over the last couple of weeks. For Logan Brill, whose Carnival Records album Shuteye came out on June 2, that debate is all just noise. Sure, she’ll righteously stand up for women artists and songwriters. But for Brill, music is pursued for the passion of good quality songwriting and the artistry of storytelling—everything else comes secondary.
Jon Hensley’s Funeral Set / Police Report Released
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Family, friends, and fans of artist manager Jon Hensley continue to morn the passing of the 31-year-old who was found dead in his home in Bowling Green, KY on Monday, June 1st. Known for his work with Wanda Jackson, Shooter Jennings, and others, Hensley was a well-known personality in the independent roots music community.
Listen to Uncle Lucius’ “Gulf Coast Gypsies” Ahead of New Album “The Light”
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Austin-based road warriors Uncle Lucius are getting ready to release their fourth album The Light on June 9th through Thirty Tigers, and Saving Country Music has an exclusive track for you to listen to early called “Gulf Coast Gypsies.” Produced by George Reiff at Austin’s Treefort Studios, the new album includes songwriting contributions from all of Uncle Lucius’ four members.
The Best Country Songs of 2015 So Far
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Being willing to see where a song takes you is at the heart of every music lover, and in this spirit I present eleven hand selected songs released in the first half of 2015 that will hopefully take you someplace you want to be, or somewhere you’ve never been before. This is the cream of the crop in my opinion; the gut punchers not for the faint of heart.
On The Jon Hensley Obituary (An Update)
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Jon Hensley, an artist manager known for his work with Shooter Jennings and Wanda Jackson, has died. Recently Hensley was best known as the manager and right hand man of Waylon Jenning’s son Shooter Jennings. Along with managing the second-generation performer and regularly traveling with him on the road, Hensley helped to operate and launch Shooter’s record label BCR Media.
The Best Country Albums of 2015 So Far
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So we’re close enough to the half way pole in 2015 to start thinking about what the best has been so far, and to get ready for what is sure to be a pretty exciting second half of 2015 for album releases. There’s been some big surprises, a few letdowns, but overall 2015 so far has been a pretty varied season for releases.
Song Review – Randy Houser’s “We Went”
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Some bad songs make you angry that such a monstrosity would ever be released under the country banner. Some make you sad for what country music has become. This one? Randy Houser’s entry into this new R&B sexy time Bee Gees-inspired country music disco craze? This thing had me laughing out loud so hard from being so embarrassing and absurd, I had milk shooting out of my nose. And I wasn’t even drinking milk.