Song Review – Jon Pardi’s “Friday Night Heartbreaker”
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It’s never smart to judge and upcoming mainstream album on a lead single. It’s often the worst of the album. But it’s also fair to judge “Friday Night Heartbreaker” as being pretty bad.
Song Review – Florida Georgia Line’s “‘Round Here”
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Like pretty much every Florida Georgia Line song, “‘Round Here” works in a very similar formulaic fashion. You take an easily-identifiable pop culturally-relevant lyrical hook (“that’s how we do it ’round here.”), add some inane cultural artifacts to fill out your verses (hammer and a nail, stacking them bails), have the chorus rise in the vocal register, and boom, you’ve got yourself a commercially-viable hit.
Charles Carr, Driver for Hank Williams’ Last Ride Dies at 77
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One of the last man to see country music legend Hank Williams alive, is now dead. Charles Carr, the young driver hired to take Hank Williams from Montgomery, AL to a show in Canton, OH, died after a brief illness at his home in Montgomery. He was 79-years-old. Hank’s daughter Jett Williams has since clarified the famed last ride story, saying that Charles Carr was not the only one in the Hank’s Cadillac when he died.
5 Worthy Artists Finding Success in 2013
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You know how you may root for a hometown sports team for years even though they’re terrible, and then out of the blue when they start to get good you don’t know how to behave because you’ve identified with losing for so long? Well that is what is happening in 2013 with many of the artists Saving Country Music and so many loyal fans have been following for years.
Brent Amaker & The Rodeo’s “Year of the Dragon”
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If someone asked me to pony up an example of how in 30 years from now when we all have jet packs and flying cars, how country music could still respect and represent its roots, but still offer a relevant sound, I would hand them over a copy of Year of the Dragon. But the style of this project doesn’t resort to simple-minded, catchy beats to appeal to kids…
Song Review – “Alone in Memphis” from Austin Lucas
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If you need any more validation that it is a new day in music, just sit back and appreciate that Austin Lucas is now signed to the prestigious New West Records. Preceding Stay Reckless is a song established Austin Lucas fans will already know well. “Alone In Memphis” typifies what makes Austin Lucas such a unique performer.
Patty Griffin’s “American Kid” Is An Inspired Effort
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American Kid is a worthy specimen if someone asked you produce an album that exemplifies Americana’s influence and artistry. From the ultra-traditional “Mom & Dad’s Waltz” by Lefty Frizzell, to the progressive and airy “Highway Song” co-penned by Robert Plant, American Kid presents itself like a tree hanging heavy with fruit, with all but the two aforementioned songs written by Griffin solely.
Band Sets Up Indiegogo to Help Set Up Kickstarter Campaign
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Alt rocking band The Weather Bells from Indiana have done something that up to this point is unprecedented in the burgeoning world of music crowd funding: they have set up one crowd funding campaign to help pay for the setup costs for another crowd funding campaign. They are using Indiegogo to fund the setup costs of their Kickstarter campaign.
Ralph Stanley Still Can Make Indelible Memories (Farewell Tour)
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Today, 86-year-old bluegrass maestro Ralph Stanley announced that he will be embarking on an 80-show farewell tour beginning October 16th entitled the Man Of Constant Sorrow Tour: The Dr.’s Farewell. At 86-years-old, the frail Stanley’s best performance days are probably in the past, but if you’re wondering if it is worth seeing Ralph Stanley on his last go round, I couldn’t encourage it more deeply.
WARNING: The Roots Resurgence Will Not Last Forever
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In the present-day roots music realm we live in times of high cotton. With the widespread commercial success of bands like Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, and the Avett Brothers, artists and bands that for many years were pushing against stones are finally getting the recognition they deserve. But history teaches that it may not be this way for long.
Sturgill Simpson Goes Godzillabilly In “Railroad of Sin” (Video Premier)
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Country music savior and critically-acclaimed songsmith Sturgill Simpson has been making waves all over the country with his new breakout album High Top Mountain released on June 11th, and now he threatens to take the high-flying act international in the the video for his heart-pounding, hot plate, house on fire, country as hell, soon to be hit single “Railroad of Sin.”
David Letterman Reaching Out To Support Roots Artists
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Letterman’s recent run of supporting independent country and roots artists like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Dale Watson, Shovels & Rope, and many more is not the result of some crack team of publicists and booking agents working together to peddle these artists to the right people, it is coming from David Letterman himself listening to these artists and wanting them to be featured on the show.
Big Mess & Fights Left in Kenny Chesney / Eric Church Concert Wake
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For years Saving Country Music has been preaching that the result of these idiotic, bellicose laundry list country songs perpetuated by country music’s belligerent males would result in a trash culture full of fighting and general disrespect for everything but materialism and the consumer culture. This was on full display this Saturday (June, 22) when Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoe’s Nation Tour” stopped in Pittsburgh.