‘Landman’ Releases Season 1 Soundtrack, Renews for 2nd Season
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“Landman” Season 1 was an excellent forum for showcasing independent country and roots artists, picking up where Sheridan’s series Yellowstone left off. Season 2 is on the way.
Review – The Defibulators “Debt’ll Get ‘Em”
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Somewhat weird, certainly smart-assed, but seriously entertaining, The Defibulators from New York, New York have unleashed their latest album Debt’ll Get ‘Em, ripe for weird looks and rank misunderstanding, but filled with some really good times. The line between where the sarcasm ends and the seriousness begins with The Defibulators is hard to define, and they appear to like it that way.
Why The Stagecoach Festival Lineup is a Good Thing
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A couple of days ago, The Stagecoach Festival out in California announced their 2014 lineup, capped by headliners Eric Church, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan. Since its inception 7 years ago, Stagecoach has been the California contingent to America’s big corporate country music festivals, but what makes Stagecoach different is that they actually include independent and up-and-coming artists as well.
Charlie Robison Sets The Perfect Vibe on “High Life”
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Don’t be spooked too much by the Haight-Ashbury circa 1967 album cover on this record. There’s no acid trips or space jams inside, though in its own way the cover conveys the laid back mood that the music of High Life embodies, and the harkening back to the cowboy hippie vibe of Austin in the mid 70’s that this album evokes. What you do get with High Life is some damn fine Texas country.
Randy Travis to Finally Return Home This Weekend After Health Problems
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Country star Randy Travis, who suffered a series of major health issues beginning in July, will finally be returning home to his ranch this weekend in Tioga, TX, just northwest of Dallas according to the singer’s representative. Travis was initially admitted to the hospital on July 7th, 2013 for viral cardiomyopathy, or a weakening of the heart muscle.
Dale Watson to Finally Play Austin City Limits
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37 years ago, Austin City Limits was founded to be the visual accompaniment to a book called The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock by Texas author Jan Reed. The book set out to chronicle the formation of the Austin, TX music scene that transpired in the late 60’s and into the 70’s, along with its many artists and side characters.
Ray Price in Hospital Battling Severe Sepsis Infection
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Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Price is currently in the hospital battling Sepsis, a bacterial infection in his blood line. He is currently in a cardiac intensive care unit being treated by Dr. Red Duke. “Rays blood pressure dropped too low and his heart rate too high. We were in watchful crisis all night long and through out early morning hours before he stabilized,” Ray’s wife Janie Price told fans.
10 Cool Country Bands From Europe
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You talk to most any independent country, roots, or Americana artist, and to a man they will tell you their fortunes tend to be better in the European market. With so many European tours and the continued spread of American country music, it was only a matter of time before country began to rub off on the locals and American roots music spread like wildfire throughout the Old World.
Was Miley Cyrus Really Raised on Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings?
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Yes, Miley Cyrus. That sledge hammer-licking slut. Did you see her on the VMA’s with that foam finger? And then riding that big wrecking ball wearing nothing? Let’s all wag our fingers, shield the children from all the spectacle, position ourselves as self-righteous and above it all….and then watch her latest video 4 times in a row once the kiddos go to bed.
Lindi Ortega’s “Tin Star” Shines Bright
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Whereas Lindi’s last album had a definitively dark, Gothic tinge, Tin Star is more of an equitable, neotraditional take, though the dark shades still tickle the edges and emerge from the shadows here and there. In fact Tin Star is downright boot stomping in places, traversing the carnivorous streets of Nashville defiantly, taking a trip down to Louisiana, finding inspiration in the tragic character of Frida Kahlo.
Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” (A Rant)
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Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” isn’t for jilted male lovers looking for solace, it is for socially awkward, introverted, creepy-ass chronic masturbaters that hold a minor in megalomania. This song doesn’t need a rant, it needs a restraining order and ankle bracelet. True rednecks ride their problems out, rub their wounds in the dirt and move on, not whine about them like a panty waist…
Five Feet From Stardom: The Story of Zach Sweeney
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The fate of the sideman in music is one of always playing second fiddle to the big star. But one of the things we love about the other players in a country band is they generally don’t care. Though many times they do an equal share, if not the majority of the heavy lifting for the music, they’re just fine blending into the background.
Review – Alan Jackson’s “The Bluegrass Album”
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To have Alan Jackson—3-time CMA Entertainer of the Year winner, and a man that has sold more than 60 million records worldwide—release a straightforward, traditional bluegrass album with no caveats, no tangents, simply straight ahead acoustic instrumentation in a traditional style, is a feat and a victory all on its own. And the music ain’t too bad either.