Album Review – American Aquarium’s “The Fear of Standing Still”
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Out of the wreckage of the American experience comes the pointed, propulsive, sometimes polarizing, and at other times gentle and ruminative musings of B.J. Barham and his long-running band of alt-county misfit toys.
The Closing of Willie’s Place & Carl’s Corner
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Willie’s Place was built about three years ago. Though it wasn’t very old, it was the last of a dying breed of unique places that America can boast, where commerce happens, but not at the expense of regional taste and local appeal. What it didn’t have was a well-recognized company logo out front, like 98% of the gas stations and truck stops in America do. It had a hand-painted sign.
Album Review – Caitlin Rose “Own Side Now”
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Own Side Now is the freshman offering from Nashville songstress Caitlin Rose. It is a breath of fresh air in the non-mainstream music scene that seems at times to be polarized between hipster and hardcore. Own Side Now strives for originality, not acceptance; yearning for it’s own niche while not being pretentious. The songs are masterfully-produced and patient. The main influence is country, but there’s some late 60’s hard pop to almost heroine sheik influence…
Nashville To “Go Country”
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In response to the recent trend of many high-profile celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga “Going Country”, a whole city has decided to jump on the trend, and one you may have not expected: Nashville. That’s right, Nashville is “Going Country” according to Butros Butros Frankenfurter, a representative for the recently-formed “Nashville Goes Country Inc.”
Album Review – Slim Cessna’s Auto Club’s “Unentitled”
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At first I didn’t know what to make of this album. In places, this is the most accessible, most non-dark music they have ever done. There are many bands that if they had put out an album like this, grumbles of “going mainstream” or “selling out” would be heard. But The Auto Club is so weird, so fey to begin with, being more normal actually makes them even more weird than they were before, adding to the mystique and mythos behind the band.
This Lady Gaga “Gone Country” Thing
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Ah ha. So everyone wants to tell you that pop megastar Lada Gaga has “gone country”. And everyone wants to know what I think about it. Well to be honest with you, I think it is a brilliant stroke of mad genius. The song is horrendous of course, but that goes without saying. It’s not even meant to be good, so smattering it with criticism is irrelevant. What does matter is that you are talking about it…
Hellbound Glory and Lone Wolf LIVE!
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Just announced, this Sunday night (3-27), Hellbound Glory will be broadcasting their performance at Will’s Pub in Orlando, FL on SCM LIVE! Tune in at 9 PM Eastern, 8 Central for opening act Lone Wolf OMB, who just released his debut album a few weeks ago. I just had the fortune of seeing Hellbound Glory less than a week ago at South by Southwest. It’s a rarity to get such a great mix of top notch songwriting, with an energetic…
Songwriters Salute Hank Williams at Hall of Fame
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The Country Music Hall of Fame has just announced that on April 16th, 2011, they will honor Hank Williams in a special presentation called “I Saw The Light, Songwriters Salute Hank.” I Saw the Light, which is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy…will feature Rodney Crowell, Ashley Monroe, the Secret Sisters and Steve Young. During the program, which will be hosted…
Kiss My Country Ass Blake Shelton! (A Rant)
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I thought we had moved on from the “new Outlaw” era, to pop country stars trying to be the next Taylor Swift. Well apparently not. Now Miranda Lambert’s hubby Blake Shelton wants in on the fun, releasing a song called “Kiss My Country Ass”, an unapologetic, unveiled attempt at the Music Row “Laundry List” songwriting formula, that takes it to another level by rehashing David Allan Coe’s “If That Ain’t Country” and introducing “Outlaw” Blake to the spoon-fed masses.
Roger Alan Wade Releases New Album “Too Fat To Fly”
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Only six months removed from releasing the Saving Country Music Album of the Year called Deguello Motel, Roger Alan Wade is right back at it, just releasing a brand new album that is light years away from the sober and reflective DeGuello, called Too Fat To Fly. Roger made the announcement about the release on Blue Ribbon Radio Episode #50…
Recap – South by Southwest 2011
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South by Southwest last year was my first full on experience with the event that brings over 8,000 bands from all over the world to Austin for 5 days of musical mayhem, and it went great. With proper pacing and maybe a little luck, I got everything out of the experience I could ever want. 2011 was one of those experiences you hear many people talk about that is proceeded by “…and I will never go back.”
RIP Ralph Mooney – The Best Steel Guitar Player Ever
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Ralph Mooney was the best steel guitar player ever. Period. End of story. And anybody who disagrees with me, I will come to where you are and personally kick your ass. And beyond the steel guitar, he was one of the most important and most influential musicians in country music history. Top 5. Maybe even top 3. Hell, right now I can’t even think of one I would put above him. Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs? Yeah, I would include him in that company.
Izzy Cox “Comes Clean” About Hank III Tour
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In June of 2010, Hank III set out on his first Canadian tour in years, and ended the run playing a string of shows from Washington State back home to Nashville. Opening for Hank III on that stink was the self-proclaimed “steampunk crooner” (before Sugarland stole the “steampunk” bit) Izzy Cox, but unfortunately Izzy didn’t make it very far.