Scathing Jason Aldean Concert Review Censored
UPDATE: Interview with the writer of the censored Jason Aldean review, Travis Kitchens.
For the better part of February, Saving Country Music has been following the saga of a concert review published by Baltimore’s alternative newsweekly called the Baltimore City Paper that painted a pretty unfavorable picture of pop country star Jason Aldean. The review in question was written by music reporter Travis Kitchens after attending the Aldean concert at the Baltimore Arena on February 1st. According to Kitchens, he attended the concert with an open mind, wondering if he would “make my traditional folkie friends go crazy” if he actually enjoyed the show. But Travis did not enjoy it, to say the least.
The subsequent posting of the review on February 4th by the Baltimore City Paper has caused a ripple that has shaken the environment of the Baltimore journalism community to its very core, upset huge, nationwide sponsorship companies, and resulted in the censoring of the Kitchens review and potentially subsequent postings by the paper against the will of Kitchens and the paper’s editorial staff. Since then, Baltimore City Paper has been in massive upheaval, with eight employees being laid off, and the rest of the staff being locked out of the paper’s online interface.
The Jason Aldean review was taken down a week after being posted due to pressure from two big advertisers who said they would never advertise in City Paper again if the piece wasn’t pulled. After two days of resisting pressure from upper management and threats against his job, City Paper editor-in-chief Evan Serpick took the review down according to Baltimore Brew. “I’m not proud of it,” says Serpick. “[They said] the review was ‘not objective,’ which was ridiculous, since it was a review. It was opinion, obviously.”
The two sponsors that threatened City Paper were reportedly LiveNationDC who promoted the Jason Aldean concert, and Baltimore-based Under Armour, whose Duck Commander product line is endorsed and promoted by Jason Aldean.
The issue of the Jason Aldean review came up right as Baltimore City Paper was being sold by its parent company, Times-Shamrock Communications, to Baltimore’s daily newspaper, The Baltimore Sun. Apparently Times-Shamrock was told to clean house at City Paper, and eight employees, including a 30-year and 25-year veteran of the publication, were laid off late this week. Other City Paper content has also been censored, and according to numerous sources, the remaining employees of the paper have been locked out of the news blogs, and are being told to forfeit control of the paper’s social network properties.
In the spirit of free speech, and by the request and permission of Travis Kitchens, here is Travis Kitchen’s original review of Jason Aldean’s Baltimore concert of February 1st.
Warning: Language
A review of Jason Aldean’s 1/1/14 concert at Baltimore Arena
By Travis Kitchens
Baltimore Arena smelled like the inside of a Spearmint Rhino Saturday night. Reams of rednecks streamed in from every direction across Baltimore Street and it took a half hour to get through the line and inside to will call. They all came to see Jason Aldean. You might not recognize his name, but that’s okay, because you probably wouldn’t recognize his music either, or at least not be able to distinguish it from anything else on country radio.
I grabbed an $11.50 beer, passing booths selling shirts and koozies reading “I’m About To Get My Pissed-Off On,” and lots of Fireball Whisky schwag. Drinking Fireball gives you a slight cinnamon burn in the throat, then travels to the stomach, and, judging from the men’s bathrooms, immediately evacuates the bowels and gut. The puke smell along with loud shitty music and fog machines reminded me of traveling from Kentucky to Florida for Spring Break in high school, and that makes me part of Aldean’s target market.
Tyler Farr, the opening act, looks like Joey Fatone from N’Sync, and he’s only slightly less talented. Farr shuffled around the stage Saturday night with a prop guitar hanging from his neck like a No Limit chain, announcing the chart position of every song before playing it. “Ain’t’ Even Drinkin’” is the I-hope-this-night-never-ends prom song, a teen smash spell hand-crafted in a Nashville laboratory. “Ain’t even drinking but I’m buzzing baby/ain’t even smoking but I’m so stoned/feels like I’m getting lit/ain’t even took a sip/but I’m already gone.”
The crowd was infected, and showed their enthusiasm by gently poking the sky in a circular motion with I-don’t-give-a-fuck faces on. “Whiskey in My Water,” a shitkicker twist on “Me and My Girlfriend,” starts by ripping off the melody of Shooter Jennings’ “Fourth of July.” The artificiality and repetitiveness of his songs may have contributed to the vomit smell, and I felt like I was being subjected to military torture.
Whatever trivial contribution white people may have previously made to rap music has now been permanently nullified by pop country rap duo Florida Georgia Line. The Line was created from the leftover scraps of the Showbiz Pizza band, and they have an impressive number of programs, or songs. Beach balls were dispatched to the audience for “Party People,” and generic video footage playing on four jumbotron monitors above the band illustrated each song: dirt bike races and buggy mudding, video models molesting muscle cars, and giant all-white stadium crowds waving cell phones and American flags. “Gonna get buckwild/get a little buzz on/David Lee Roth style/might as well jump, jump.”
Each song is basically an advertisement performed live for the audience, the most blatant example being “Cruise.” Footage of new Chevy trucks play on the jumbotrons while they sing: “You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise/down a back road blowin’ stop signs through the middle/every little farm town with you/in this brand new Chevy with a lift kit/would look a hell of a lot better with you up in it.”
Advertising and country music is not a new relationship (Hank Williams shilled for Mother’s Best Flour, etc), but the way it has seeped into the songs and motivations of the artists has reached new and vulgar heights. They mentioned sponsor Fireball Whisky in the song lyrics and several times in between, and said to the roughly 14,000 people in attendance, “You guys truly are life changing.” Considering their latest album has already sold over 1.5 million copies, I would imagine that’s true.
Finally it was time for the headliner, Jason Aldean, whose show was a lot like watching a two hour beer commercial, and I don’t think his fans are unaware of that. You don’t listen to and enjoy Aldean’s music, you take it. It’s a mindless dopamine rush as precise in it’s effects as methamphetamine, and the not-so-subliminal marketing strategy deployed on the audience is as sophisticated as that of a presidential campaign. He struts around the stage with his prop guitar like a rockstar android wiggling his ass in a manner so contrived it makes Madonna look like Miles Davis in comparison. Aldean uses the “Margaritaville” market approach, tailored for the Buckwild generation. His empire is sponsored by Under Armour and Southern Comfort and there’s talk of a new redneck themed restaurant venture called Fly Over Steaks, where patrons are served and sweared at by waiters dressed as the cast of the television show Duck Dynasty (fingers crossed for an Inner Harbor location).
Aldean’s band looks like action figures from Spencers, and play like the American Idol house band. There were occasional flourishes of pedal-steel guitar, along with non-stop ear-splitting bass, a horrifyingly awful attempt at rapping, and brash guitar solos in every song. During “Dirt Road Anthem,” the adults in the crowd air scratched while half-staggering like they’d just had a stroke (imagine your grandma as an extra in the “Nothin’ But A G Thang” video). Aldean also rekindled his ongoing beef with Justin Bieber, this time taking shots at Biebs over who is more influential with hair styles. It was a chilling moment, and it was clear that this crowd did not like Justin Bieber one bit.
But the highlight of the night was Aldean singing a duet with a hologram of Kelly Clarkson. I didn’t know she was a hologram at the time, but I’m now wondering if Aldean was even there, and hoping he wasn’t.
Interview with the writer of the censored Jason Aldean review, Travis Kitchens.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:05 am
Jason Aldean looks like a bad roommate I had in college that we nicknamed “Bed Sores”.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:15 am
One of the most hilarious, yet accurate, concert reviews I’ve ever read. I sometimes feel like some Texas artists’ shows are also like two-hour beer commercials…only with waaaay better beer.
March 5, 2014 @ 6:06 am
Ummm he’s not from Texas. Try Georgia…
March 8, 2014 @ 2:21 pm
Yes Chris…DO NOT associate the trash that comes out of Nashville (Where I live) with the true country /folk movement in Texas.
March 9, 2014 @ 7:48 am
Chris never said Aldean was from Texas. He said “some Texas artists”™ shows are also like two-hour beer commercials” only with better beer (which I also took to suggest better music), which I found HILARIOUS because one of Aldean’s sponsor’s is Coors Light. Not sure why 2 responses appear to be rubbed wrong, but perhaps you’ve never been to a Texas country music show in the summer, because it puts these “country parties” to shame.
Sit there and tell me a Kevin Fowler show outside in June isn’t a beer commercial….for great beer with terrific music. If you can say that it isn’t, well, maybe you’ll eventually get the chance to go to one.
March 11, 2014 @ 6:07 am
given a choice between Texas Red Dirt, Texas Blues, and just music in general coming out of the Lone Star State against the formula crap out of Nashville… yes. Texas music and Shiner Bock are about the only good contributions Texas has made in years.
March 19, 2014 @ 2:07 pm
I find this review and anyone that agrees with it disgustingly biased. Jason Aldean is an excellent performer and his music is great if you actually listen to it. I think that most of the people responding to this are just closed minded people not wishing to actually hear for themselves. If you truly do not like his music that is your opinion, but there is no need to act childish and ridiculous about someone else’s dream that they are making come true.
June 19, 2014 @ 9:16 pm
I almost think this is funny. We should be outraged that they are censoring the news…hasn’t that been what happening for years? One this is a review which mean his opinion, if they didn’t want a true opinion thay should not have paid for it they should have taken out another ad. Second, this was not a journalist this was a reviewer he can give his opinion where a journalist has to keep his/her opinion out of the facts. Which takes me back to my original sentence we have no journalist since the last few presidential races because they use their opinions as facts which they are not and when they do not agree with the money they are pulled. So a newspaper not many people read, writing a review about a at best backup singer who some how made it to headlining should be the lest of our worries.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:20 am
By making a big deal out of this review all LiveNation and Under Armour are doing is giving it more attention than if they said nothing and a couple thousand locals were all that would have read it. This is exactly what you would expect from an alternative newspaper review anyway. Start with the second sentence ‘reams of rednecks streamed in’ to his ignorance of Duck Dynasty this what you get and you just have to live with it.
As much as I loathe these three acts I also think that a lot of their show presentation is not that much different than a lot of major acts through the years. Major companies have been sponsoring tours for years with the commensurate product placement.
This guy wasn’t going to give this a positive review no matter what so I’m not sure why the shock.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:38 am
For what it’s worth, here’s a quote from Kitchens in the Baltimore Brew article:
“His only regret, Kitchens said, was not making clear why he felt alright about characterizing the audience in the review as “rednecks.”
“I only called them ”˜rednecks”™ because that”™s how how Aldean referred to them on stage,” Kitchens said. “He says ”˜Where are my rednecks?”™ And the crowd loves it, they go wild.””
It’s possible that he’s a traditional/bluegrass/old timey coutrny music fan. The Baltimore/DC metro area has a rich bluegrass history.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:50 am
That might be true but I wonder if he reviewed a hip hop/rap concert where the act referred to audience as his n****s if he would have started his review with ‘reams of n****s streamed in’. I think not.
This isn’t that a big a deal to me but I think it shows this guys obvious bias and makes it more ridiculous that anyone would get bent out of shape about his review.
March 1, 2014 @ 1:31 pm
Only a redneck would be so stupid as to equate calling someone a redneck with calling someone a n****r.
Jesus Christ in heaven have mercy. It’s 2014. Know better.
March 1, 2014 @ 1:42 pm
Excuse me! I did not equate the two. I was pointing out that this guy’s reasoning for that line was flawed.
All I was saying was that since Aldean called the crowd rednecks then the writer decided the whole crowd were rednecks.
And what’s with the pathetic name calling?
Jesus Christ in heaven have mercy. It’s 2014.
March 1, 2014 @ 1:48 pm
To further clarify I was making an argument against using crude cultural stereotypes by pointing out that no reasonable person would use crude racial stereotypes to judge an entire group of concert attendees.
Seriously pisses me off to be accused of racism when I was making the exact opposite point.
Jesus Christ in heaven have mercy.
March 2, 2014 @ 9:02 am
Good point, Scotty, although I’d say the word “gangstas” would work better with your analogy than any variation than the radioactive n-word (I assumed you were going the variation that ended in “as”). Also, it might have saved you the aggravation of having to dealing with Zia’s knee jerk accusation of racism. ;).
March 2, 2014 @ 6:56 pm
The word redneck does not appear to be as offensive to southern and western whites as the word n)#$%r is to black people. A lot of southern concert goers do not mind being called rednecks and often call themselves rednecks. Many, if not most country singers refers to themselves and their friends as rednecks in their songs and interviews. There are songs in which country artists, (I am a redneck woman) brag about being a redneck. I am going to go out on a limb and say that you will probably never hear a black woman singing these words in a song, “I am a ni&*$% woman, ain’t no high class broad.” More importantly, the word redneck does not have the same bitter history connected to it as the word ni#$er does. For the most part, the use of the n word to an audience is often limited to rappers and comedians. So no, you cannot compare the two.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:55 am
“Redneck” was the only thing about the article that tainted it. It was just a bad polarizing word to use. Everything else about it seemed dead on and honest to me.
You couldn’t pay me money to go to a Jason Aldean concert. I feel sorry for the guy for having to endure it. Jason’s songs are crap, he can barely sing and he can’t play either. I’m not positive but he may only know one chord. The guitar is just a prop for him inbetween gangster hand sign flashes for him.
March 1, 2014 @ 11:37 am
I find the term “redneck” has lost what little meaning it ever had. It went from being something you were, to something people pretend to be, embracing ignorance because it looks cool on tv and in music videos. Terms like “good ol’ boy” and “redneck” are no longer inner changeable, its been reduced to the lowest common denominator and shoved down young peoples throats since the 90’s.
March 2, 2014 @ 4:20 pm
Once upon a time, redneck was a word used as a term of solidarity among coal miners allied against the oppressive forces of Big Coal and particularly being paid in company scrip. Miners would wear red bandanas around their necks to show their allegiance. Funny how it has evolved into a slur against rural folks. I am a proud Kentucky redneck in the oldest sense of the word, and I cannot stand the new country music. I can imagine the Jason Aldean showed sucked ass for many reasons, and appreciate an honest review. Now I am going to repost this on my social media sites and insure it gets the exposure it deserves!
October 24, 2014 @ 11:16 am
The term redneck originated from the fact that farmers often got the backs of their necks burnt from the sun. City folk would see the sun burnt neck and assume the person was from the country. It was used to point out the person was a hick, lacking the class and sophistication of city folk. The truth was, then, being called a redneck meant you were a hard working farmer. Someone to be admired in my opinion. Although I am not a farmer, I did farm work when I was younger. Those of you who have done it know, but to those of you who haven’t, it’s back breaking with long hours and no matter how hard you work, an early freeze, lack of rain, insects, or a thousand other natural calamities could wipe it all out. I find it slightly disrespectful that drunk country music fans consider themselves rednecks regardless of whether they are farmers, but most of them don’t know any better and don’t mean any harm.
As for the review, it is what I hate about most music journalists. Kitchens intended to not like the concert because he doesn’t appear to like the genre and doesn’t consider the audience to be a hip as he is. And I’ll bet that there isn’t very much he reviews that he likes. While honesty is valued, it is counter productive for a journalist to waste time writing about something so negatively as to close the minds of his readers. While a music journalist, the only bad review an artist would get from me is the fact that I only wrote about bands, recordings or performances that I liked. I didn’t feel like I was doing anyone a favor by dissuading anyone from seeing an artist with a bad review. I also saw writing negative reviews as a waste of space that could be better used to tell people about bands that I did like and get more people out to enjoy music. Certainly, the aims of a music journalist should never be to get less people to listen to music. But I have seen many a journalist over the years who has a very narrow view of what’s good and, honestly, that’s the last person I am going pay attention to. My favorite music? My favorite thing to hear is an artist.song or style that I’ve never heard before. Life is an adventure, don’t limit yourself.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:25 am
Being subjected to a night of Aldean, FGL, and Mr. “Redneck Crazy” must have been painful enough, just judging from the descriptions in Travis’ evocative write-up, but for this guy to have had his honest opinions censored — talk about adding insult to injury. :p
March 1, 2014 @ 10:28 am
I travel for work and the first thing folks ask me when they find out that I am from Georgia is ask me what my favorite Aldean song is, or how often I go “muddin”. I hate all these assholes coming out of the Peach State. Can some other state please start producing douche-country?
March 1, 2014 @ 11:53 am
That is truly sad.
It makes my blood boil, but the things that people see and hear in the media, even obviously stupid things, really do effect their perception. A lot of people already think of the American South as a cartoon, or a scene from Deliverance, or Honey Boo Boo or whatever. I’m sure some people think the country lifestyle genuinely is a nonstop dirt road bro-down.
As for the great state of Georgia, I’m sure there are many artists out there whose good music would reflect positively on the state, who are not given the same opportunity to ply their wares as this recent string of bro-dudes.
March 1, 2014 @ 5:53 pm
The “Deliverance” thing ”¦ ughh, yes. If you mention anything, anything at all about a banjo there are so many people who will immediately say: “LOOOOL, Squeal like a pig! Hahaha, loooool”. And that is it, you absolutely will not get any further with them talking about the instrument, or country / bluegrass, or the south in general. I want to just chalk it up to these people being idiots, but in a lot of cases they really aren’t. They have just let the media construct this ridiculous parody of an entire region, its people, its culture, and its music. And these otherwise normal to intelligent people are perfectly willing and eager to buy right into it.
March 1, 2014 @ 8:41 pm
The sad thing is that the entire country is content to believe inane stereotypes about the people of every other region in the country.
March 1, 2014 @ 7:20 pm
True, but Georgia/Alabama is home to Blackberry Smoke and that’s something your state should be VERY proud of.
March 2, 2014 @ 6:35 am
Good example. The fact that Blackberry Smoke are from the Peach State is a star in its crown culturally.
Another example: I bet the fact that Jason Isbell and the Drive By Truckers originate from Alabama has shifted certain people’s perceptions to think “Huh, there’s more than just ‘rednecks’ down there.” Bro-country music reinforces negative stereotypes IMO.
March 2, 2014 @ 8:57 am
Corporate “Country Music (Jason Aldean/FGL/whatshisname poser)” is featured on corporate television and corporate radio and sponsored by, you guessed it, corporations. So, it’s no surprise that the corporations sponsoring this “show” were upset when they got an unfavorable review. They then used their influence (advertising money) to manipulate their image.
When corporations get results other than what they want, they manipulate the criteria that people judge them by. Corporations want more than people to buy their products. They want people to love and respect(fear) them.
What this clusterf*$# proves is that if you want to listen to quality music and enjoy a quality show, you should probably avoid anything with corporate sponsors. These shows have been programmed to sell merch and refreshment and seats and the less the spend on artists the more money is available for their shareholders. Turn off your radio, turn off your TV, get off your ass and go to your local bar and catch a local or an indie show. I bet you’ll be surprised.
March 5, 2014 @ 9:25 am
It is rather akin to being from Kansas and everyone asking “Where’s Toto?”
March 5, 2014 @ 8:24 pm
Tell them you’re more of a B-52’s and R.E.M. fan. That should confuse them!
October 24, 2014 @ 11:38 am
Yeah. People in other parts of the country don’t seem to understand the rich legacy of the Athens Music Scene… REM, B-52s, Southern Bitch, Jet By Day, Elf Power, Wide Spread Panic, Pylon. Songwriter Matthew Sweet started his career there with Television guitarist and one of the people responsible for the CBGBs new wave scene , Richard Lloyd. Great songwriters like Cory Smith and Vic Chesnut… It’s almost to big to do justice to without writing a book.
November 5, 2015 @ 2:30 pm
Count us out.
Sincerely,
Texas
March 1, 2014 @ 10:39 am
Thanks for posting that Trigger.
The parts of the review making fun of the fog machines and over-produced nature of the concert reminded me of the beginning of the movie “Pure Country”.
March 10, 2014 @ 11:02 pm
You know the difference between George strait using fog machines and jason aldean using fog machines? George straits music isn’t a flaming bag of dogshit
March 1, 2014 @ 10:41 am
One correction to the original article. Fourth of July is not a Shooter Jennings song. It’s a Dave Alvin song that Shooter Jennings covered.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:57 am
Uhh, they are not the same song, just the same title.
This is like saying the Allman Brother’s covered Hank Williams when they did Rambling Man.
March 1, 2014 @ 11:27 am
My mistake. I could have sworn I had heard Shooter cover the Alvin song. Thanks for for the smartass remark, though.
March 5, 2014 @ 8:49 am
You’re thinking of the Robert Earl Keen cover of Dave Alvin’s 4th of July.
March 1, 2014 @ 1:35 pm
I had read about this a couple of days ago and was just waiting for the Triggerman to weigh in.
Scotty J hit the nail on the head. This review would have died a quiet death organically. What initially may have been read by a few thousand people, will now be read by a few million.
Or maybe they (the advertisers) didn’t want it to die. Maybe they wanted it to be more widespread (that may be giving them too much credit), to get to more Aldean fans who would in turn support Buck Commander with more purchases. (Warning: Cheap Shot Alert). That is assuming Aldean fans are literate.
Just throwing that out there. Doubt if that’s the case, but……..
October 14, 2014 @ 8:01 am
Well, here it is, October 14th and I am sitting in St Paul having read the review. Your point is quite true about the reach of this censored review. I hate the product, have always hated it, and now can barely contain my disgust for the corporations that make choices for us and can pull off outright censorship. Not to mention job layoffs. I know that this may be over simplifying it, but it seems to be there.
Coporatocracy is the new Papism, and we will have to face the world under its power until we collectively learn how to walk away from what gives it its power. In terms of music, specifically country, Western and old time– for me– this means I give my money to, and hire, Molly Maher, the Cactus Blossoms, Dakota Dave Hull, Trailer Trash and others whose products and concerns are closer to the human level. Not to mention exquisitely enjoyable.
As for newspapers that censor, and fire at the behest of their corporate sponsors…. well, sorry about all those buggy whips in the warehouse. You deserve to fail and wither.
March 1, 2014 @ 1:58 pm
I live in Baltimore, and I am a live music enthusiast. I try to go see live music in Baltimore and DC every chance I get. I find it hilarious that I had no idea that this show was even happening. That’s how little it was advertised locally.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:19 pm
IronBoss, u going to the Rams Head or something lol to see the ” four on the floor” tour with Randy Rogers, Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen, Stoney Larue ? Saw they are playing in that area in the next few days? Saw it in Tuscaloosa and it was a damn fine show.
March 2, 2014 @ 12:08 pm
Im going to try and get to it. Rams Head is a great venue.
March 2, 2014 @ 6:18 pm
Sounds cool. I’ll have to check it out if I get up that way. Show was great here! Was definitely was my 20 dollar bill.
March 4, 2014 @ 4:52 pm
BrettS,
You will not be disappointed in the Four on the Floor Tour. Those guys are the heart of Texas/OK Red Dirt Music. You want soul and grit in your country? Try four big servings. These guys are the products of Willie, Waylon, Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, and many more. Enjoy!!
October 24, 2014 @ 11:20 am
Randy Rogers is a great artist. Had never heard him until his songs started popping up on a Slacker Radio station I made for myself.
March 1, 2014 @ 2:37 pm
Before I make my comment, I’d like to state that I despise FGL and only like a couple of songs by Tyler Farr (Cowgirl and Hello Goodbye), but while the review is hilarious and I love that it was actually published somewhere, it most certainly wasn’t objective.
Not that I mind, but if the reviewer wants to argue that he was being fair, there’s no way he can make that claim. Aldean plays some great songs live–Fly Over States, I Don’t Do Lonely Well, etc. If he’d have just listed some of the better moments of the show, it would have made the review that much more open.
March 1, 2014 @ 3:09 pm
I completely oppose this review being censored but I did feel he took it as an opportunity to just make fun of people and the Nash Vegas music scene. I think he was largely accurate, but it came off a mean-spirited which hurts his credibility.
When you go to country shows in major cities, I’ve found that you also see a number of suburban teenagers and adults that don’t fit the redneck stereotype. I’d imagine those types were at the Baltimore show but he failed to mention seeing them so he could call everybody a redneck.
March 1, 2014 @ 6:26 pm
agreed. it’s also hard to take a review seriously when he starts judging the concert by the venue it’s held in and the price of it’s beer… I’m glad no one reviews pro sports games in that manner…
don’t disagree though. ha.
March 1, 2014 @ 4:46 pm
The review was pretty scathing but honest as to the experience of the reviewer and from my experience probably represents what most readers of alternative papers would think too. Traditionally alternative or weekly entertainment papers focus on the underground or up and coming not the mainstream or mainstream copycats.
Amongst these comments it has been clarified as to why Kitchens used the term “redneck” – it was because that is what the artist himself referred to his own audience as. Quite revealing in itself.
What I am baffled by though is why more people aren’t upset about the bigger issue here which is that a paper is being censored and people are losing jobs – all over one scathing review. Sounds like the buyout from the larger paper may have already been set to “clean house” but either way – who wants to read lies or glossed over reviews that don’t represent the reality? There are a few papers and magazines in Texas that review country music and oddly they are often full of the same acts rotated each month and you will usually find an ad they have placed as well as their review…follow the money. Sad when freedom of speech is cashed in for mass dumbing down of the people and for a culture of mediocrity.
March 1, 2014 @ 5:20 pm
I think you’re all missing the larger problem here. Someone, somewhere, thought it would be a good idea to name a restaurant “Fly Over Steaks.”
March 1, 2014 @ 6:57 pm
Okay, wow. As much as I really don’t disagree at all with everything that was said in the review, there’s a line between criticizing the music and the concert experience and just taking free form pot shots at easy targets. As much as the endorsements and increased commercialization and fandom might piss you off (they do for me, as a YouTube critic I deal with this shit and its backlash regularly), there’s a certain element of professionalism that really isn’t in this article. I’m sorry, but there’s a line between attacking the music or even the artist and attacking the fans – you lose a lot of credibility when you do that, even if they actively do contribute to a poorer concert experience
March 1, 2014 @ 8:39 pm
Some fans need to be verbally assaulted for their behavior.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/big-mess-fights-left-in-kenny-chesney-eric-church-concert-wake
March 2, 2014 @ 2:05 pm
Hey Mark,
I’m a huge fan of your Spectrum Pulse reviews. There’s a duo called Sundy Best signed to eOne Music and they are releasing an album called Bring Up the Sun on Tuesday. They haven’t had a radio hit since they’re signed to a small label but CMT Pure Country and Zuus Country play their videos a lot and they have a small but loyal fan base. They’re a mix of country, bluegrass and folk and sound fairly unique. I was wondering if you would have time to do a video review of them. I don’t have a Youtube account so I had to ask you here.
Six Sting Richie
March 1, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
It is pretty horrifying that Live Nation wants not only the right to screw us with outrageously high ticket prices, while running a virtual monopoly, but also demands the power to censor critics.
About the review, however, two points:
1. You should never review a performance that you know there is not one chance in hell you’re going to find anything redeeming in. It’s just not the professional thing to do. Lots of people love lots of different kinds of music, and the richest person of all is the one who can love the most.
2. That said, since the reviewer was there anyway, there are many, many strong critical points one could make about how corrupt and nauseating today’s commercial country music scene is. (And that’s from a lover of country who hung in there as long as I possibly could.) The review should have hit more of them, and should not have wasted so much time discussing the opening acts.
March 1, 2014 @ 8:12 pm
Greatest review I ever read in my life.All three acts deserve it and then some.
March 1, 2014 @ 10:15 pm
Sad thing is I live in Tuscaloosa and this tour is coming to Birmingham and they sold out so fast for their Friday night concert coming up that they added another concert for that Thursday night. When I saw it on the news I threw up in my mouth. At least I’m glad the ” Four on the Floor tour ” came to tuscaloosa last week ( Randy Rogers Band, Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen and Stoney Larue). It was like a breath of fresh air, they actually played country music and it was great. Randy and Stoney covered Gary Stewart’s ” Empty Glass ” acoustic with the fiddle, it was awesome. Videoed it and watched it every day since lol.
March 2, 2014 @ 4:42 pm
Randy and Stoney covered Gary Stewart”™s ” Empty Glass ” acoustic with the fiddle, it was awesome.
The RRB also recorded that song on the Live At Billy Bob’s cd. Good stuff. There’s also a YouTube video floating around of Randy nailing the shit out of Steve Wariner’s “Some Fools Never Learn.” I’d really like to see that one show up on a live recording at some point.
Back to the topic at hand, it evokes a not-so-old saying: “The Internet interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.” This post and the Baltimore Brew’s running the review in question are perfect examples of that axiom.
March 2, 2014 @ 9:51 pm
Yes I’ve got the RRB Billy Bob’s version of Empty Glass and it’s pretty good. Also, Stoney does it on his acoustic album and IMO does a damn fine job with. Thanks for the ” Some Fools Never Learn ” recommendation. I will surely look it up with RR doing it cause that’s a great tune!
March 1, 2014 @ 11:34 pm
Regardless of what he says, Kitchens just seems like he hates country music and southerners in general. It’s interesting that so many of the commenters here are saying “yeah, Jason Aldean sucks so much he deserves this and more!” I have a feeling that if this were a review of a Willie Nelson or Sturgill Simpson concert that everyone would be singing a different tune.
March 2, 2014 @ 1:29 am
You make want to take a deeper look in Travis Kitchen’s body of work before you start making those generalizations. The guy is a country music writer. Clearly this was off his regular beat, but he’s not the hoity toity fine art critic they sent to the arena country show.
There are numerous things that Travis did in his review that I wouldn’t have, including the use of “redneck” and not having included at least one positive thing about the show. I also think that context is important, and that is why I personally label things “rants” and “reviews” and other such things to where people tune their brains to whatever your criticizing so even when you’re being scathing, it seems more appropriate because of the way it is being couched. These concerns are also what kept me posting this, even though I had known about it for a while, until the situation surrounding the paper became so out-of-control it would almost be irresponsible of me to not post something about it. But it’s Travis’s piece to write it however he wishes, and he has a right to say whatever he wants, however he wants, as long as nobody is being slandered.
March 4, 2014 @ 11:30 pm
Alright, then I’m in the wrong. Not having been familiar with Kitchens and having neither the time nor the inclination to look up his previous work, I was at a disadvantage. With that in mind, I appreciate your article categories quite a bit more now that I can tell what a different a simple distinction can make on one’s perception. Also, I’ve read your interview with Kitchens since this article so I’ll freely admit that my point was invalid. Either way, thanks for bringing us the news.
March 5, 2014 @ 1:28 am
No worries Acca Dacca, part of the reason I wanted to interview Travis Kitchens was to clear up the misconceptions. There were many out there, and you weren’t the only one.
March 5, 2014 @ 9:03 am
Natalie Maines’ 2003 remarks have shown us that even though we may have the right to say what we think, as long as it’s not slanderous, that doesn’t mean there won’t be repercussions. The Chicks lost their label and most of their fan base with a single statement, not withstanding their body of work. The power of the pen can be powerful, as well as fickle.
March 2, 2014 @ 2:01 pm
I have to say, following Travis’s work has steered me away from this manufactured fake cowboy shit and introduced me to some really solid bluegrass and real country music.
Travis is actually defending Southerners by giving a voice to those of us who hate to be stereotyped by rodeo wannabes and their shallow corporate perceptions of what southern living really means.
March 1, 2014 @ 11:57 pm
This point has been made but I will make it again. The article is about censorship. Kitchens craptastic review…and it is craptastic, appear to have been added so we could see what was censored. The bigger issue is the censorship and laying off of long time employees as well as having other parts of the paper censored. Papers rely on their sponsors to stay in business but a sponsor(s) should never have that much control! What the people who have been laid off have lost compared to what the sponsors have lost doesn’t even come close to equal.
A million bad reviews of Aldean aren’t going to stop his fans from going to see him.
March 2, 2014 @ 1:29 am
Bingo.
March 2, 2014 @ 11:01 am
Really, all this over one review? Many acts get at least one negative review and his sponsors seem paranoid. This reminds me of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6zQO7JytzQ&t=90m25s but Aldean isn’t a public health hazard.
March 2, 2014 @ 12:29 am
ftyler farr does like joey fatone! this guy is very perceptive 🙂
March 2, 2014 @ 1:57 am
this kind of music journalism is what’s making it totally worthless. There is so much nastiness and snide comments that I wonder why critics even bother going to shows. If you’re writing is merely going to lamely mock music you don’t enjoy, then leave that type of writing for the millions of amateurs that write silly comments on a daily basis. Aldean is pretty lame but this music reviewer clearly went into the show with his article already written and his opinion fully formed.
March 2, 2014 @ 3:58 am
It truly sucks that Jason Aldean has fallen so far in commercial light, because each of his 5 studio albums have at least 3-4 downright great songs that never sniffed radio.
March 2, 2014 @ 6:25 am
I’ll never know if that’s true or not. Considering what an unlikeable douche bag Aldean is, I’d never listen to his albums to find out what those songs were.
We’re talking about a guy that when married with two kids, stuck his tongue down the throat of another woman in the middle of a public bar. Then (like the pussy douche bag he is) blames the whole thing on being drunk. I’m pretty sure what really happened is he got drunk enough to slip up and do what he’d been doing a long time in public. Only a few months after that, CMT (the people that brought us “Party Down South”) rewards him with the job of hosting the CMT awards.
This is my favorite picture of Jason Aldean:
http://ll-media.tmz.com/2012/10/01/1001-aldean-video-launch-3.jpg
March 2, 2014 @ 8:50 am
A few things: I am a southerner, I was born and raised in Kentucky, two hours north of Nashville. Green Room PR, who represent Aldean, requested City Paper send a reviewer. I have seen Willie Nelson several times over the years, each time better than the last. I haven’t had the opportunity to see Sturgill yet, but I love ‘High Top Mountain’.
March 2, 2014 @ 10:18 am
I saw Sturgill at Hill Country BBQ in DC back in October. Great, great show.
March 2, 2014 @ 2:03 pm
I thought the best observation you made was that the performance itself was a commercial. Obviously, musicians wish to sell themselves and their music, but they cross a line when their so called music is actually an advertisement for some sponsors product. You were correct to treat the event as a convention rather than a concert. I’d love to read more of your insight into this aspect of the event.
Cheers!
March 2, 2014 @ 6:08 pm
This review sure drops the hammer on Aldean’s crappy travelling show and “made for consumption by the masses” music. Yeah, he’s biased in a couple of areas, but it seems to me he’s spot on in most places. Anyone who goes to any concerts of any kind knows he speaks the truth here.
As mentioned, the censorship of this guy is concerning, but obviously it is due to the politicking and “one hand washing the other” in this business, and someone like this speaking how he truly feels throws the facade off kilter, so it’s not hard to see why he was silenced through censorship.
You know, before Aldean lapsed into the Good ‘Ol Boy Caricature and Poser that he’s turned into, he had a couple of good songs. I particularly liked “The Truth”. I thought, “here’s a newer artist that actually sounds ok”. Turns out the joke was on me, and I was completely wrong.
March 2, 2014 @ 11:24 pm
I saw a Jason Aldean concert when he was co-headlining with Miranda Lambert (I went for Miranda Lambert). I took my sister who is a rock/metal fan. We were both bored. He’s not very entertaining at all. Very little personality and no stage presence. The songs were indistinguishable from one another (blaring drowned out guitars). And my sister felt bad for his band because the music they were playing sucked and they didn’t get a chance to really show off their skills. I have to say though that “the truth” is a good song.
March 3, 2014 @ 12:41 am
I have to say though that “the truth” is a good song.
Because one of the critically acclaimed women (radio doesn’t play) co-wrote it. 😉
March 3, 2014 @ 7:28 am
“The Truth” was written by Brett James and Ashley Monroe and then covered by Jason Aldean. I wouldn’t give Aldean any credit for that song and he’s not a good singer.
Aldean for sure is not entertaining. He’s just another “thug” mentality douche bag with the personality of a tree stump.
March 3, 2014 @ 5:20 pm
That explains it then! I do love Ashley Monroe’s music.
March 3, 2014 @ 8:39 am
As a journalist, it’s really frustrating to see a newspaper seemingly being influenced by advertisers. To me, that’s a huge no-no for a newspaper. A newspaper should never censor any of the work of its employees for the sake of an advertiser, no matter how big of a contributor is is to the paper.
That being said, I have no problem with the review. From a first glance, it seems as though the author wasn’t objective with his review. But after re-reading the review, it seems like he went into the concert with an open mind. So the real problem here is the newspaper censoring its employee for a scathing review that’s an accurate look at a mainstream country music concert. Shame on the Baltimore City Paper.
March 3, 2014 @ 8:50 pm
Wow! He described word for word exactly what I imagined a Jason Aldean to be like.
March 3, 2014 @ 8:51 pm
*show*
March 4, 2014 @ 3:09 am
To this I say, as a fan of “traditional” country music as well as an artist; who gives a shit? Even caring about shit like this is giving it too much credit. It’s not going away, so fuck it.
March 4, 2014 @ 12:12 pm
Joshua,
Though I respect and understand your opinion, and it’s one commonly shared on Saving Country Music, in this specific instance, I think it is somewhat short-sighted. People who have no rooting interest in country music, or music at all have been deeply intrigued by this story because as many other commenters have pointed out, this really isn’t a story about music, it’s a story about censorship, and the influence of money in the media and how that is obstructing the free flow of information, opinions, and ideas. This is something that should concern all of us universally in my opinion.
March 8, 2014 @ 3:30 am
There is nothing wrong with pop music, Neil Diamond, A lot of good traditional country has gone pop Charley Pride. I think and hope that Nashville will shoot themselves in the foot so bad, that popular music fans will turn to Austin, and see it as something new and vibrant.
March 4, 2014 @ 8:55 am
Unfortunately country music has evolved into mindless noise. I am a country music performer and do not listen to or like 95% of new country. It is manfuactured by big corporations and marketed like everything else in this world. Play it long enough and they will learn to like it. No substance, quick $ and onto the next bumble gum performer. Where is the depth? Old country may have been simple but the lyrics had meaning and it is timeless. Tell me what song the new country performers have done that we will remember 20 years from now.
March 8, 2014 @ 3:15 am
How many? the Question U ask. Less than one the answer is. Ha Ha Ha Correction. If they air a song that uses the word Tits allot maybe.
March 4, 2014 @ 9:38 am
This is not censorship…
This reviewer was given the opportunity to say what he felt…
Speech is free, but not without consequence. You have evey right to call your bosses mom a dirty whore, but don’t expect “free speech” to save your job.
Free speech means that you can’t go to jail for expressing your opinion…but push that too far, like threaten to blow up a building and you may very well end up in jail…
This is an idiotic and absurd concert review and it got a response that was deserved…sorry…someone has to speak the truth 🙂
March 4, 2014 @ 10:00 am
I don’t think anyone, somewhat refreshingly, is calling this a 1st Amendment issue. Clearly, the government is not involved, and no one is going to jail for speaking out.
However, this is still censorship of the most vile kind. Our supposedly free press, in this case the Baltimore paper, was forced by advertisers not only to recant it’s controversial content, but make significant changes to personnel and daily operations.
Obviously, that puts a chill on freedom of the press. When journalists and others whom work at a newspaper feel like their jobs are in danger because of the content they put out, we all lose. The remains of the paper will now, no doubt, practice self-censorship lest they piss off their corporate sponsors once again. It’s not just governments that incur censorship.
March 4, 2014 @ 10:06 am
I will agree that this is technically not a first amendment issue in that it was not the government that pressured the City Paper to take down the piece. However, when a sponsor pressures a newspaper to take down a piece it that it has published, it most certainly is a form of censorship.
March 8, 2014 @ 3:50 am
R U sure ? Just sayn. If U felt strongly about something and spoke up , Would it B good for U and Your friends to loose your jobs. Isn’t this more about the abuse of Capitalism? A job keeps your family ,dry, fed and warm. Its an editorialists job to stir the pot I think????
March 4, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
The truth is that this article was not worth publishing. It was written as an opinion peice on writers opinion of the state of country music and was not in any way an actuall concert review. It was written in a hateful manner and those that offended spoke out.
The paper was not forced to not run it. But even they saw that the detriments outweighed the benefits…if they believed in the writer they would’ve stood behind him.
March 4, 2014 @ 12:16 pm
The paper, and the paper’s editorial staff, did believe in the piece and the writer, and did stand behind the piece. It was the parent company, in the midst of the sale of the paper, that made the decision to pull the review. The editor has specifically said he “loves” the review, and purposefully put up resistance against the company to pull it.
If you don’t think the review is good, that’s your opinion, and I would never argue against that. As I have said numerous times, there’s numerous things in the review I would have never said, or would have said differently. But this is a completely separate issue.
March 4, 2014 @ 12:27 pm
Just imagine what the count on this post would be if there were a thumbs down button as well as thumbs up.
July 25, 2014 @ 9:29 am
Feel the Aldean fanboy burthurt! James Riley: Your tears of unfathomable sadness!!! Yummy!!!
By the way, Aldean is a poseur and has no connection to country music. How can we prove it? Here’s an approach:
(1) Gather the people in this thread that hate him, they will be group one
(2) Gather Aldean, his hangers-on, and his entire worldwide audience, they will be group two
(3) Compare which group knows more about country music: Styles, Artists, Songs, Single and LP Records. Granted, group one would be much smaller than group two. However, group one would completely destroy group two. Why?
Because this poseur, other poseurs like him, and the fanbase (of poseurs) that categorize these poseurs as “country” know nothing of country music. Further, they would not like it if they heard it.
March 4, 2014 @ 12:19 pm
That is about the dumbest review I’ve ever read from someone who clearly does not enjoy today’s country music…so, why go to the concert? That would be like be doing a critique on a Korn concert…so stupid!
March 4, 2014 @ 2:15 pm
Good journalism. So, why go to Iraq or the Ukraine? That would be like doing a think piece on Viet Nam…..so stupid!
Oh, brother.
March 4, 2014 @ 2:51 pm
So the guy was honest about his opinion? Who cares? Honestly, his description of Aldean’s concert describes just about every concert I’ve been to, in one way or another.
Opinions are just that… and obviously, since he has the position he has at the paper, his audience likes his opinion.
Move on… this is not news…
Oh… and Jason Aldean is NOT country…
March 4, 2014 @ 3:02 pm
Thank God someone is finally being honest about the state of country music. Most of the crap being broadcast today is musically inept and the message it delivers is even more ignorant. And the primary market for this drivel is young women.
March 4, 2014 @ 3:47 pm
This is one of the best comment threads I’ve read. It’s thoughtful and engaging. Thanks to Trigger for the follow up on his original post and for moderating a great forum.
March 4, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
I like a good trashing now and then and the author was hit and miss for me, mainly because I already knew what he was talking about. I am rather annoyed by the blatant advertising that has run a muck now in the entertainment field. Even the Oscars was LOADED with product placement.
But that aside censorship scares the shit out of me. It’s one thing to read the rants and comments of trolls on youtube and ignore them or join in. But a full on removal of an editorial piece because the overloads didn’t “favor” it is kinda scary. So what now, is any op-ed piece that is met with disagreement going to get shelved? And those involved sacked. All I know about Aldean is from SCM and I could care less about him but I think it would be kinda classy of him to stand up for the review and against censorship since he is an “artist”, but he won’t.
I think this has some parallels to the all the public shaming that goes on when somebody misspeaks (i.e. Alec Baldwin) and the world just drop them a hammer of justice with no context. Maybe the powers that be were hoping for some public shaming not knowing that many people hate the state of popular music, period. I’m glad the author is not apologizing for his words. Alec Baldwin didn’t either. Conviction is become a lost art.
March 8, 2014 @ 2:42 am
In all seriousness the answer to your first question is yes, Sorry . Money talks and the sponsors have most of It. Freedom of speech allows U to say what U feel , just don’t count on having a job. And it is not a Democrat or Republican Issue, they too dance to the tune of big money . I know the station manager at A local Country station .He really trys to play “better” music, but a lot of times the Sponsors actually hand him a play list._)&^*(*&(* We need help!!!
March 5, 2014 @ 9:54 am
Jason Aldean is the perfect example of bottoming out. How he became as big as he is, is because country had bottomed out.
I mean, I got the draw to Chesney and McGraw. Some decent songs but nothing earth shattering or nothing that Aldean couldn’t do, but Kenny and Tim were goodlooking guys that women loved and that was a big part of the success. Aldean is a fucking tool. He’s Brett Michaels without the hair…but Brett actually has more talent than Aldean… a lot more.
But when Aldean was the only thing to market, i.e. the bottom, that is how he got to the top. That is why all the “top acts” today are where they are. You used to need talent. Then you needed talent and looks. Then you needed looks. Since Aldean, all you need to be is willing to take orders. See also Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Blake Shelton.
March 8, 2014 @ 2:47 am
I like your points.. Call me silly but it could get so poor in quality, that they would have to start playing Ameripoliton Music??????!!!!
March 5, 2014 @ 6:29 pm
A rooster one day,
A feather duster the next.
March 6, 2014 @ 3:17 pm
I never heard of this Aldean, nor do I wish to.
But I thought this was good reading.
March 8, 2014 @ 2:03 am
How can I B brief???I If U asked someone from My generation, If U could hear one song right now , half would say Free Bird and half would say Stairway to Heaven. Shallow people should only B allowed to listen to White or Pink noise, they would B perfectly happy and the sponsors would demand it. I think thats about 80?% of the audience. Makes me want to break something .LOL Im glad I don’t have to see these people on the street. I know I would have some kind of wise crack. Other than public radio I would be happy to see commercial radio go off the air. I am a student of the school of Dale Watson, Oh and U to. we met at Knuckleheads KC Long live little Stevie and Apron Strings!!!!!!!!!!
March 8, 2014 @ 6:22 am
Completely accurate. My wife and I went to the FL/GA line concert (against my will) and it was like dangling a treat in front of dogs. It was completely sold out much like the artists themselves. Although the beer was only $5, there want enough quantity available to make me enjoy the show. I left traumatized from what country music had become.
That’s why I enjoy hometown guys like Dylan Bloom Band, Ragweed, Jason Boland and so on.
The important thing in the article to be noteworthy is the censorship.
March 8, 2014 @ 7:40 am
Country music hasn’t been any good since Chris LeDoux died. Hell, even dead Chris LeDoux could play rings around Jason Aldean, Corporate Shill.
Reckon that statement will get me censored in Baltimore?
March 8, 2014 @ 8:14 am
Elizabeth Cook linked to this piece on Facebook. Here’s what she had to say:
“I don’t like to throw fertilizer on sand spurs, but I feel bc there is mystery around why most modern day country music systematically sucks donkey balls, this article is enlightening. Gather information, go forth and love music that moves you. “
March 8, 2014 @ 9:00 am
Was wondering where the spike in interest came from. Been a few of those with this story. Ray Wylie Hubbard and a few others have linked to it.
March 8, 2014 @ 12:21 pm
If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. End of story. I love Jason Aldea as well as many veteran country artists.
March 8, 2014 @ 1:29 pm
Country music today sucks A#@, and the review was right ON! It’s a shame 14,000 people like bad music or that they’re offended! But for the reviewer or anyone else to lose there job is BS. Worse, just cause corporate America is backing him doesn’t make it good! I am tired of Corp America shoving shit down my throat and telling me to like it! It’s NOT country music anymore, it’s just POP music in cowboy hats. Jason Aldeen is making fun of Justin Bieber, thats the pot calling the kettle black!!
March 8, 2014 @ 2:49 pm
Shouldn’t Aldean fans and non-fans be concerned with the fact that since the sponsors/corporations didn’t like ONE review, they forced this newspaper to withdraw (censor) Kitch’s review? Shouldn’t we all be upset that the editor of the paper allowed this pressure to succeed? FREE–a word touted ad nauseam in Country (& Western?)–Press, anyone?
Of course, since our political process is dominated by big fat cash backers, this here is jusst a nick.
March 8, 2014 @ 2:53 pm
I would encourage you to read the entire story and the follow up interview with Travis Kitchens. It appears the editor did everything he could to keep the review from being censored.
March 8, 2014 @ 7:10 pm
Don’t you folks understand, you are not allowed to print the truth, because truth is a language that no longer exist. JA, (equal to all the others from the major labels today, is not an “ARTIST”, he is an entertainer, “entertainer”, no talent, just a monkey in a cage slingin’ crap and depending on the magic at the mixing consoles to put on the show. If you give an honest review, you will be fired. If you don’t follow the political group antics, you will be fired. If you don’t agree, you will be banned! If you want to hear “COUNTRY”, back up 20 years! otherwise, don’t waste your time.
March 8, 2014 @ 8:02 pm
I love the review (and I’m a music writer as well for an alternative weekly)…and the interview that followed…the commentaries on advertisers and corpocracies are dead on…the line about ” Aldean…rockstar android wiggling his ass in a manner so contrived it makes Madonna look like Miles Davis in comparison” – priceless. Well done.
March 9, 2014 @ 5:52 am
I have been saying this for over 5 years. This combining of “country-rap”=CRAP, is just absolutely terrible. I live in Nashville and used to be in the music business. I do spot-on imitations of these country artist, and while people laugh their heads off at it, it is really not funny. Thanks Big & Rich, the Music City Mafia, and the masses of confused younger folks who have no idea what the concept of country music really is.
March 10, 2014 @ 4:05 pm
I would have to agree with the author of the review and most of the comments here. I was a big country music fan growing up in the 90’s with Garth Brooks, Chris Ledoux, etc and then late 90’s-2000’s with Tim McGraw, Dixie Chicks, Shania, etc. The commenter before me got it right that the downfall started with Big & Rich, Toby Keith becoming relevant again and Gretchen Wilson. Country music started pandering to frat dicks and has not stopped since. My favorite singer was and is Martina McBride but there is zero chance of hearing her on the radio any more since these douches get all the airplay. When I listen to the radio now, its 90s rock.
March 13, 2014 @ 5:25 pm
For all of you idiots who constantly complain about how country music has changed, so has technology & every thing else…all music has changed. There are thousands of people who can’t stand “old country” and wouldn’t be listening to today’s country if it hasn’t changed. Everything evoles including your precious music. Jason Aldean is one of the most talented truest country artists ever who sells out stadiums in minutes. So get used to it and shut the f**k up!!! If you want to hear Martina & Garth, then play your 45’s on your record player! Or your casettes in your Yugo!
March 13, 2014 @ 6:59 pm
All music has changed huh? So pop, rap, hip-hop, jazz, classical, alt rock, etc. changed into country? Or is it only some country that has changed into weak pop and rap?
March 13, 2014 @ 5:35 pm
Oh and I’ve seen Jason 7 times and comparing him to Madonna is the most obsurd, most stupid, idiotic comparison EVER! HE certainly does not shake his ass or anything close to it. As a matter of fact, I don’t even think that this douchebag “writer” was even AT this show because I was there (and even met Jason at a Meet & Greet) and the show he is describing doesn’t come remotely close to the real thing! And for anyone to agree with this “review” that didn’t attend this concert is an even bigger douche! You have to give credit to any country singer who wants to come play in the middle of Baltimore city. Nothing like a 65ish yr old homeless man coming up to my daughter, her friend, my friend & I while we’re waiting in line outside…typical city.
March 15, 2014 @ 10:36 am
Travis,
I’ve been driving my Chevy Silverado all night on these dirt roads in the moon light , swilling Fireball Whiskey and thinking about my girl in those cut off jeans at the bonfire by the lake before she left with that other guy.
I got all sorts of my pissed off on and drove right into town blasting Hank, George and Johnny.
Who am I kidding? No stations play those guys. I was blasting Luke and FGL.
Either way, my give a damn was busted, now it’s fixed and I’m fighting mad and tonight we’re gonna get buck wild in this town.
I really have nothing to say.
Sort of like a pop country song.
October 10, 2014 @ 10:05 pm
I am a partner in the studio in which Jason records all of his records……I know his producer, Mike Knox……..Jason uses his “road band: to play on his records…..nuff said!
October 11, 2014 @ 7:35 am
As a country artist and performer, I respectfully disagree with Mr. KItchen’s review and honestly, his review is more of a condemnation and prejudice statements about stereotypes who HE believes listen to and enjoy country music, in ALL it’s forms. To imply that Jason has somehow sold out to his tour and business partners is hilarious since EVERY successful artist in any avenue of the music business seeks and accepts corporate sponsorship to increase revenues. With more and more “fans” stealing music downloads and sales of music being tanked for many years now, corporate sponsorship has become one of the view remaining avenues of income for working musicians. To degrade a group of individuals as he did in his “review” of Jason’s show was irresponsible and frankly, ignorant. If you didnt lije the music, make it about the music. But, as an individual with a B.S. In Psychology, M.A. in Education, and a Docotorate earning over 100k a year, I enjoy country music, don’t drive a pickup, don’t drink beer, don’t wear rebel flag t-shirts, and don’t appreciate being lumped into the stereotypical concepts Mr. Kitchens believes we all adhere to. I am disappointed the paper has buckled in censoring the review and believe in free speech. So, as ignorant and disrespectful as Mr. Kitchen’s so called review was, I feel it SHOULD have been published and allowed to remain in the public forum. If for no other reason than to show his biased against country music and ignorance of country music fans. Of course, like Mr. Kitchens, that’s just my opinion.
October 11, 2014 @ 5:11 pm
I wonder who Travis Kitchens (I’m sure made up for convenient country cred) thinks is a good live “country” performer? That would be very interesting. He would be setting himself up to a lot of criticism himself to admit it, or he doesn’t like this kind of music at all. The perfect person to be “reviewing” it. Let’s have my Aunt Minnie review a baseball game when she hates their scratching and spitting all the time. That would be pretty fair and balanced, don’t you think?
October 12, 2014 @ 12:44 am
SOunds like the way some of the online musical instrument stores are run… if your looking toi buy gear, dont bother with the honest reviews, youll only read positive ones, no negative ones that are truthful and might help you make a better informed choice…. it gets people to not buy some of the more “Sucky” gear, so they cant have that.
October 13, 2014 @ 8:20 pm
If anyone of you think that Jason is not a dumbass-redneck in the worst sense of the word, then you are a dumb-ass redneck.
NEVER associate Texas with this Cracker who can’t sing a lick and is as big a HO as I have seen.
Please retire Mr. Aldean and go possum huntin’ or whatever those of your ilk do, ’cause you sure ain’t an artist.
Who did you or your wife blow to get a record deal?
October 24, 2014 @ 6:07 pm
Travis Kitchens you probably contributed the most useful printed information of the day, when your article ran. As if you’ve insulted the very foundation upon which our entire country is perilously perched, they edited you. I’m a musician and I’m so glad I left Nashville 10 years ago. Keep up the good work.
October 29, 2014 @ 10:24 am
“Aldean’s band looks like action figures from Spencers…” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HYSTERICAL! I will say though, if what followed was meant to be insulting to the band, I don’t know that it worked. Granted, I’ve not watched American Idol since like, season 3, but that house band is full of bada$$es. I mean, say what you will about the arrangements or the kids singing, but the band was full of super-talented, top-of-the-line musicians. I only comment on that because I assume THAT is not what you meant. Either that, or the AI house band has dramatically declined over the last 5-6 years, which, is entirely plausible. At any rate, hilarious article. I’ve only heard that dirt road song out of all 3 of those acts, and even then it was just because I had to learn it to sit in with a friend’s country band (which, that song is an exception to their catalog of mostly older, awesome country classics). I’m guessing this is right on the money though.
October 29, 2014 @ 11:37 am
as a “review” in an “alternative” media outlet, it is what it is. no, it’s not real critical journalism–a “real” media outlet wouldn’t publish such tripe. real critical journalists have class, even if they don’t like what they’re reviewing. that said, the issue of censorship is a tricky one here because an “alternative” media outlet isn’t actually a “news” outlet–it’s an opinion channel. the owners of such a channel could be justified in tagging it as “for entertainment purposes only,” which would give them full license to publish–or not–whatever they wish, and to remove whatever they wish for whatever reason they wish. the issue here, in my view, is that a “real” media outlet has purchased (and gained control of) an “alternative” outlet. when that happens, the editorial independence of the underground press is subsumed in the overtaking entity–one that would rather censor the “alternative” content than lose advertisers or get sued. the fact that LiveNation and Under Armour complained is not surprising at all; such has been the play by a great many offended parties since the beginning of mass media. the fact that the new owners of the baltimore city paper satisfied their demand is not surprising, either, because their new acquisition is just an entertainment rag to them, not real news. if the baltimore sun had published a bad review of the show through its own channel, the review would not have been pulled for any reason–but then, it would have been real journalism and not this kind of “me and my friends hate those guys and all they stand for so i’m gonna let ’em have it with both barrels” crap.
November 11, 2014 @ 8:32 am
Travis Kitchen’s article is absolutely brilliant!!! I was a huge Aldean fan. That is until I went to his concert in Springfield, MO. It has been a couple of years since that concert, however I still have flashbacks of the boredom and disappointment I felt during his set. Even now when I hear one of his songs, I feel deflated. I think it would be less lengthy to list what was right with the concert, which was opening acts Luke B & Thompson Square. If Jason’s band hadn’t saved his little butt, he would have been booed off the stage. His lack of energy, very little acknowledgement of the audience, & downright refusal to move,left most of us staring at him with confusion & puzzlement. Shortly after the concert, his cd was released & in looking over jacket for clues, I found my answer. Jason is not a songwriter. That leaves him in the category of singing monkey. ( I would normally call it “singing & dancing monkey”, however in this case Jason evidently couldn’t connect with organ grinder’s music through his earpiece & therefore could not show me his dancing skills)..Jason is just another talentless prototype for the music industry that no doubt has the audacity to call himself an “artist”. Ha!!!! If access was allowed to articles such as Travis’s, perhaps our younger set would see the teen spirit they are choking on. However, if people do ever get a clue, more Duck Dynasty t-shirts might stay on the Wal-Mart discount rack. The world certainly doesn’t need that!
November 18, 2018 @ 11:12 am
???????????????????? that’s all I got. Best review EVER!!!
July 21, 2023 @ 5:47 pm
Well, some people like songs where the whole arrangement can be predicted in the first beat. I wouldn’t have wasted that much time coming up with a witty review. He doesn’t spend that much time crafting his “music”.