Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#160)
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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats.
Album Review – Jason Boland’s “Squelch”
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Angry, subversive, pointed, and powerful, the eighth album from one of the few performers left who can call themselves Red Dirt and nobody will cry foul is a lot to digest, and hard to leave behind. Squelch is what Jason Boland and his backing band The Stragglers chose to name this work, which is the same name given to the knob that truckers use to eliminate the static and idle chatter.
Song Review – William Michael Morgan “I Met A Girl”
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Quietly, stealthily, some of country music’s major labels are starting to retool with very young, and very country performing talent. Whether they’re hedging their bets, or hoping for a hard country resurgence, Mo Pitney is not just an anomaly anymore, he is one of a number of traditional-leaning performers being groomed for what may be the next big movement in country after the current R&B disco craze invariably crashes.
Three Arrested in Murder at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival After Committing Another Murder
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Three suspects have been arrested in Portland, OR in the murder of 23-year-old Canadian backpacker Audrey Carey who was found dead in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park during the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival the first weekend of October. In a strange twist, possessions belonging to Audrey Carey were found in the vehicle of another murder victim named Steve Carter.
Dwight Yoakam Working On New FOX Comedy Series “Belles & Whistles”
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Details are limited, but Belles & Whistles is said to be a “single camera” comedy with strong musical elements. It will be based in Nashville, with the plot centered around a bored man from Silicon Valley who uproots his family to Nashville to chase his dreams of country music stardom. Alex McAuley from the series Eastbound & Down is said to be on board as a writer and executive producer.
Album Review – Corb Lund’s “Things That Can’t Be Undone”
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‘Things That Can’t Be Undone’ is one of those albums you ultimately enjoy, but you may have initial reservations about, or maybe even concerns over, or downright complaints about for some listeners because it is full of unexpected curve balls. This album is not like anything Corb has ever released before. Pairing up with Corb is producer extraordinaire and the man of the hour in Americana Dave Cobb.
Down But Not Out: The Incarceration of Billy Don Burns
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“Billy Don Burns.” To those country fans that know the name, it looms large. But the truth of the matter is, not many know the name. They know the names of Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck—two men who Billy Don Burns has produced albums for. They know Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash—two acquaintances of Burns who on separate occasions, wrote touching letters for him.
10 Badass Hank Williams Jr. Moments
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Hank Williams Jr.’s politics and boisterous attitude will always make him one of the most polarizing figures in country music history. But those who are quick to overlook his musical contributions both on and off the stage, the amazing body of work he’s amassed over his legendary career, and the mark he’s made on country music are doing Bocephus and themselves a huge disservice.
Luke Bryan Farm Concert Causes Traffic Nightmare in Lexington
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Traffic on the only two lane road leading to the winery backed up so bad, at one point the line stretched upwards of eight miles, and took five and-a-half hours for some patrons to get through. Vehicles ran out of gas, other vehicles were abandoned on the side of the road as their occupants decided to hoof it to the winery, and still other ticket holders missed the concert entirely because of the traffic snarl.
Death at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Ruled a Homicide – Second Similar Attack Reported
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The San Francisco Police Department is looking for information into the death of a 23-year-old Canadian backpacker named Audrey Carey who was found dead in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park during the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival this weekend, October 2nd through 4th. According to an autopsy report, Audrey suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Song Review- Jana Kramer’s “I Got The Boy”
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If there’s any silver lining to the dark, ominous clouds hanging like a low ceiling over country music’s female population, it’s that faced with the reality of their songs systematically failing at radio, they’re inadvertently bestowed the freedom to do whatever the hell they want without having to worry about the radio ramifications.
Study Finds the Dislike for Country Music Growing, While Other Genres Are Becoming More Likable
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You can’t get away from artists and labels in country music these days telling you that the appeal for country music is greater than ever, and it’s because country is branching out to other genres and simpler themes to appeal to everyone. But in a new study, researchers found that the dislike of country music is is what is growing.
Lord Have Mercy on the Boy From Down in the Boondocks: Billy Joe Royal Passes Away
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One of the most revered and recognizable voices in American pop and country music has passed away. The “boy from down in the boondocks,” Billy Joe Royal, died on Tuesday, October 6th at his home in Marietta, North Carolina. The Valdosta, Georgia native and world renown singer was 73-years-old. According to reports, he passed away quietly in his sleep.