Steve Earle Slams Hayes Carll, Modern Country as “Hip-Hop For People Afraid of Black People.”
Let’s call it what it is at this point: Steve Earle is going scorched earth. Ahead of the release of his latest album So You Wanna Be An Outlaw, the 62-year-old alt-country songwriter isn’t just refusing to pull punches, he’s looking for targets. He already tussled with a Canadian reporter in defense of Canadian artist Colter Wall, and at the expense of songwriter Richard Buckner. And now in another foreign periodical, he’s taken on a whole host of new adversaries, including the new trend of including hip-hop elements in country.
Speaking with Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian, when asked the ultimate set up question of what he thinks of today’s country, Steve Earle responds,
“The best stuff coming out of Nashville is all by women except for Chris Stapleton,” Earle responds. “He’s great. The guys just wanna sing about getting fucked up. They’re just doing hip-hop for people who are afraid of black people.”
It’s a bit hard to argue with that assessment, except you perhaps could broaden your people doing good music beyond Chris Stapleton. A few of the other targets of Earle in the interview will probably be more controversial. When the topic of British Premier League Soccer comes up, Earle, who is apparently a big fan of Arsenal, slams former Oasis member Noel Gallagher when Manchester is addressed, while equally praising someone better, which appears to be Earle’s preferred style of take down.
“I dislike Man City because it is Oasis’s club,” said Earle. “Noel Gallagher is the most overrated songwriter in the whole history of pop music. They were perfect for the Brit press because they behaved badly and got all the attention. Blur were really great. That guy Damon Albarn is a real fuckin’ songwriter.”
The Steve Earle ire hit a little bit closer to home when he criticized the new husband of his former wife and fellow songwriter Allison Moorer. Moorer and Earle have an autistic child together, of which a bulk of the new Guardian article spends its time on. But it’s his slam of Hayes Carll, who is the current partner of Moorer, that made the headline of the piece.
“She traded me in for a younger, skinnier, less talented singer-songwriter,” Steve Earle says of Moorer, and Hayes Carll.
Of course all of this overshadows the fact that Steve Earle’s new album comes out on June 16th, or perhaps it shines a greater spotlight on it. Competing with Jason Isbell’s new record The Nashville Sound in a very similar space in the alternative to country, Earle will need as much attention as he can get. And he’s apparently not afraid to try and get it at other people’s expense, or by doing something you’re not supposed to do in music: being brutally honest no matter the consequence.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:36 am
Steve Earle’s act has worn so thin.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:41 am
Just like his hair !
June 15, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
It’s hard to disagree with his modern country assessment. He actually hit it perfectly
December 20, 2018 @ 4:02 pm
No, he hasn’t hit it perfectly. This is Steve Earle VIRTUE SIGNALING because he is scared of blacks. Hick Hop is actually the work of leftists LIKE Earle trying to destroy country music…. those are HIS folks pushing it
June 18, 2017 @ 1:51 pm
If you listen to his hardcore troubadour show ya know this is just how he converses, plus since promoting his new album he’s getting copious press coverage where his lack of a filter is more evident.
Besides being one of the best contributors to American music, he is the ultimate fanboy. As such he compares and ranks everything.
His treatment of Hayes sucks, but it’s understandable. Who wouldn’t be salty about their marriage failing and their ex ending up with someone of a younger generation & a member of same small community of Texas folk country singer songwriters.. By all means those two should be buds and I’m sure Steve actually enjoys Hayes’ music.
June 19, 2017 @ 10:56 am
His comments were hilarious.It’s funny cause it’s true!
June 14, 2017 @ 8:37 am
He’s an angry old man who has a severely over inflated sense of self worth.
July 9, 2017 @ 2:18 pm
Well if that’s true he’s been angry since the 1980s… haha.
A buddy of mine once opined that every other Steve Earle album is pretty good… but I haven’t heard any of his in many years.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:37 am
“the new husband of his former wife”
Hard to take anything he says about Hayes Carll serious knowing that. Hayes is a fine songwriter, I enjoy his work. Sounds like sour grapes and more than a tad petty to me.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:38 am
This is also the same guy who said:
“Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that”
June 14, 2017 @ 8:46 am
You don’t like Townes?
June 14, 2017 @ 9:04 am
I like Townes, but he wasn’t near the caliber of songwriter Dylan is.
June 14, 2017 @ 12:14 pm
deer trig wood u kindlee banish this ccommunist the hell outta here like u did Clint go back to nu york ciity u hippy thank u lil dale antiock tennassee
June 15, 2017 @ 5:11 am
Lil Dale is back! Where ya been, Brother?
June 15, 2017 @ 8:59 am
metro davidson county detention facility
June 14, 2017 @ 9:07 am
Won’t speak for the other commentar, but my take on why that remark is insane. He trashed Dylan!! Of course Townes was good. It’s well acknowledged. But Dylan influence is so deep and vast, his catalog is its own genre! Of course Townes was Steves mentor so understandable he’s biased towards him.
Steves remarks are interesting coming from a guy who’s fan base is largely white NPR types with money. Not that there’s anything wrong with that mind you, but the irony grabs me. As for the swipe at Hayes, i dismiss itas an emotional response. Divorce is awful and hard to be objective to anyone getting with your ex!
June 15, 2017 @ 5:14 am
He didn’t trash Bob……!!!
He knows Bob and the point is that he elevated Townes.
Please don’t miss what was REALLY being said here.
June 19, 2017 @ 6:26 pm
It’s a line. The guy’s an entertainer. He was not speaking in a court of law.
He’s said plenty of other things about Dylan since then.
June 14, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
steve earle has denied ever saying that and no one has called him a liar so probably just a great story that kept getting passed along like the story about willie nelsons harmonica player
June 14, 2017 @ 1:33 pm
i was referring to the Dylan story
June 18, 2017 @ 1:29 pm
What’s the story about Mickey Raphael? The one about how he and Willie met and Coach Royal and all?
July 25, 2020 @ 6:11 pm
What story about Willie’s Harmonica player ?
June 18, 2017 @ 9:42 am
What do you expect from a guy whom named his son after Townes Van Zant
June 14, 2017 @ 9:14 am
Hayes Carll is a great artist, and a good dude for voluntarily entering into a relationship with someone who has a child with special needs, which is never the easiest path forward for someone, and takes an incredible toll and responsibility on all involved. Whether it was a playful jab a his ex-wife’s new beau, or a deeper animosity, Earle’s comments on Hayes Carll don’t make me look at Hayes any different. Earle has his dander up, and it’s fun to gawk as he goes after these people. But you can watch without losing the underlying respect you have for the people Earle’s going after based on your OWN opinions.
I have respect for both Steve Earle and Hayes Carll as musicians and songwriters. No need to choose sides.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:15 am
When you’ve been divorced 37 times, chances are, its the man in the mirror…
June 14, 2017 @ 11:17 am
So much this.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:48 pm
He should get his own life in order before spewing garbage. Especially garbage that only harms the already fragile perception of country music.
June 14, 2017 @ 12:26 pm
Yeah, Earle’s just being a dick because he thinks it’s funny, there…rather than spitting truth like he is everywhere else.
June 14, 2017 @ 1:07 pm
Easy Trig…not sayin anything negative at all about Hayes. I dont have any hard take on Hayes either way. I do like Alisons music a lot though.I’m relating though to the pain of divorce. Been there. It’s awful seeing someone you love, or loved with someone else. Human emotion. Not defending Earle the blowhard either, but I understand why he might be negative about that particular subject. Besides I’ve already weighed in on Earle , great music sometimes, insane viewpoints and over the top atittude make him challenging to say the least. Not likely to ever be called Nice Guy!
December 28, 2017 @ 4:30 pm
Sorry to have missed this before I went to see Earle headline the Ryman in July. When I read that quote on Hayes, I thought, that isn’t fair about a less talented song writer as Earle is one of the most talented – hard to be second best. I thought the was funny because it was true. Earle is of course incredibly talented and aware of it but I have found him quite approachable and humble in many ways. I love that he speaks his mind and his politics that many people avoid him for. Unbelievable that a Lucero/Steve Earle show did not sell out the Ryman but Toby Keith sells out that damn riverfront amphitheater. Steve and Hayes are on the same team but when he stole your girl it doesn’t feel that way.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:38 am
I am sure there are going to be plenty of hot takes on Steve Earle’s politics in these comments. I am politically to the left like him, but the more relevance he loses, the louder he talks — which is typical of the fringe. I find myself paying little attention to him and hope others follow suit (buy Isbell’s album, not his).
June 14, 2017 @ 4:36 pm
Or get both? 🙂
June 14, 2017 @ 8:39 am
By the way, that line about modern country being, “hip-hop for people who are afraid of black people” I have to say is pretty spot on. It’s not racist to NOT want hip-hop elements in country, it’s arguably racist to appropriate those elements into country, homogenize them and take the edges off, and then call them your own because true hip-hop is too scary for you.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:42 am
I don’t think it’s spot on at all. Why would you assume people are afraid of black people? Rednecks have always adapted parts of black culture into their culture, and always will.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:55 am
Maybe saying people are “afraid” of black people takes it a step too far, but I definitely think there’s a lot of folks who are afraid of black culture, or love to interact with it from the outside looking in, and appropriate it for themselves because it’s seen as “edgy” while not getting the true gist of what it’s all about. Hank Williams could identify with the black man, and moan the blues right beside him because he grew up in it, and it was in his blood. Florida Georgia Line and Sam Hunt, they take all the catchy elements from it, but leave the pain and strife behind to make music for the pampered. I agree it’s irresponsible to say that Florida Georgia Line fans all fear black people, but it’s totally accurate to say Florida Georgia Line misappropriates black music for audiences unwilling to actually delve deeper into the roots of the music.
You won’t see any self-respecting hip-hop fan listening to Florida Georgia Line. You can be assured of that.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:26 am
“You won’t see any self-respecting hip-hop fan listening to Florida Georgia Line. You can be assured of that.”
You won’t see any self-respecting fan of ANYTHING listening to Florida Georiga Line.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:25 pm
What about Nelly fans?
June 15, 2017 @ 5:06 am
I’m not afraid of black people or black culture, but I do hate black culture, inner-city culture to be more precise. It absolutely glorifies violence and degenerate behavior. That’s partly why I hate rap. But I mainly hate rap because it sucks.
I’ve known rural blacks in my life that I thought the world of. They had nothing to do with inner-city culture.
March 25, 2018 @ 10:51 am
spot on
June 14, 2017 @ 9:07 am
Read Thomas Sowell’s “Black Rednecks, White Liberals”. It suggests what you said is actually backwards. But still a similar message, that they’re not so different.
I don’t agree that cultural appropriation is a real thing, but if it is, Sam Hunt is a major offender.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:19 am
I have. Some of Sowell’s stuff is ok, but he is WAY off base with that. His general thesis is that blacks misbehave because they learned how to act that way from rowdy, drunken Celts. The problem is that Ireland and Scotland are (or were until very recently) clean, orderly, devout, highly-literate societies. They have a weakness for the bottle and they’ll knock your hat in the creek if you look at them sideways, but there is not a general lawlessness, degeneracy, laziness, etc. The other problem is that the areas where the Celts predominated in the US were generally in the high country of western NC, eastern TN, western VA, present-day WV, etc. These areas had almost no blacks, so the mountain Celts rarely interacted with blacks. Its a busted thesis.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:51 pm
Most Highland Scots migrating to America in the 17 & 18 hundreds settled in the upper Cape Fear / Sandhills region on NC, far from the Mountains. Many Scot-Irish moved down Great Wagon into Piedmont region of the Southeast, not all later moved into mountains. Heck, I knew people that still spoke a little Galic late in the 20th century and I live closer to the NC coast than mountains.
June 14, 2017 @ 11:53 am
A) that book should never be read as anything other then a joke
B) cultural appropriation is absolutely real. The question is really to what extent, if at all, it is okay/permissible
June 14, 2017 @ 3:20 pm
cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of one culture by another culture, so of course it’s absolutely real. My question is what’s wrong with that?
June 14, 2017 @ 5:07 pm
Cultural appropriation has been going on since the dawn of civilization.
I would respect the cause more if the ringleaders weren’t so darn hypocritical. One year at my university for Halloween, some people put up posters showing Asian and Mexican costumes saying that their culture shouldn’t be boiled down to those costumes. That is fine. I understand the sentiment. But what about the German and Irish costumes? Those are pretty stereotypical of two diverse cultures that reduce both to excessive drinking. Not a mention.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:43 pm
Cultural appropriation is what made two white women have to close down their burrito shop in Oregon recently which is absurd. Have we reached a point where it is wrong to own a pizzeria unless your Italian? What about a white man that plays the blues? Do you need to be from Appalachia to play bluegrass? American culture is a melting pot of a lot cultures so I don’t understand this cultural appropriation garbage.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:44 pm
In truth all culture is appropriated, and I don’t think we have a right answer…but it’s something to be aware of. If German & Irish people want to put up a poster, I think that’d be fair..but it’s also important to note, that at this point in American history German & Irish have been incorporated into the dominant race, they don’t have a harder time getting promoted at work, or get described in a political speech as racist or (to tell an anecdote) have someone tell them “I didn’t know you people could do that” as happened to my friend who is AA last week, after she told them she was a vet. Those realities make a difference.
To WRS if you recorded a Chris S song, and made a ton of money without crediting him, we’d all agree it was wrong right? Similarly if someone from a city, started recording songs about the country without ever having visited it, and making a ton of money off of those songs, bc people preferred to buy from a “city” person we’d all call the person a) fake and b) have a problem with it. So clearly at some point you are allowed to own something cultural. The question is where is the line. But the most important part is really to recognize that it’s happening & to at the very least give credit & appreciation. For a lot of reasons, almost no one has a problem with Eminnem.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
To seak5 if I recorded a Chris S and made a bunch of money without crediting him or giving him royalties it would be against the law. If I was a person from the city and wrote songs about the country yes I agree with you I would be disingenuous but who and how would I give credit and appreciation?
June 14, 2017 @ 8:46 pm
That just sounds like a bunch of excuses to justify pushing white guilt.
A caricature of a culture is a caricature of
a culture regardless of “dominance” and “privilege.” Frankly, as someone with German ancestry, it doesn’t bother me if a person wants to dress up as a Beer garden boy or girl but it does annoy me when people start a campaign against cultural appropriation Halloween costumes and only targets a select few but they still claim to fight cultural appropriation.
June 15, 2017 @ 4:03 am
In all seriousness, I’ve found that most of your comments should be read as jokes. This one I’m responding to is a perfect example.
June 15, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
Wrong moron, not all black culture glorifies violence.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:48 am
That might be my favorite quote of the year so far! I spit my damned coffee reading that.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:51 am
Except he’s categorizing hip hop as music “about getting fucked up.”
June 14, 2017 @ 10:03 am
No, he’s saying that these modern country acts are taking the “getting fucked up” part of hip-hop and throwing it into country while forgetting the “scarier” parts of hip-hop.
June 14, 2017 @ 4:17 pm
Yes,he left the part of hip hop out about big bootie hoes
June 14, 2017 @ 11:50 am
This part was super accurate, perhaps afraid is a poor word choice, but disliking/distrustful/dismissive of African-American and/or urban culture, and then enjoying its music when it comes wrapped in an inoffensive unthreatening sam hunt package.
But you can be honest and civil, Earles comments as personal attacks aren’t examples of honesty, they’re examples of douchery.
June 14, 2017 @ 12:55 pm
Yeah, that’s a stunningly eloquent distillation of everything wrong with modern country into just a few words.
Earle’s an unabashed asshole, but he’s smart, insightful and a hell of a writer.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:57 am
I have never like Steve Earle and always thought he was overrated. However, it doesn’t get much more country than griping about your wife running off with some younger (and inferior) man. Maybe he can/has channel that into some good country songs.
June 14, 2017 @ 2:44 pm
Overrated? How well do you know his catalogue? He’s simply one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, and one of the greatest in country, ever.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:01 pm
Are you his newest wife?
June 15, 2017 @ 1:08 am
i actually agree he is a bit overrated though i still enjoy his stuff and the new album is pretty good. earle plays up the ‘townes was my mentor’ thing a lot but he still can’t touch kris, guy clark, tom russell, terry allen, etc if we’re talkin about great texas songwriters.
June 15, 2017 @ 2:35 am
from reading all the comments here it’s obvious that Earle’s outspokenness (and occasional obnoxiousness) have hurt his reputation as a songwriter. I think for quantity of great songs, he easily ranks with all those you’ve mentioned, and above a couple of them, including (gasp!) his mentor.
June 15, 2017 @ 4:41 am
i really don’t give a dog shit about his politics, nor do i know much about them. i just don’t think he’s as good of a songwriter as the others mentioned. i’ve never met a single person who volunteers steve earle’s name when talkin of great songwriters. just an opinion i suppose, but yea i just don’t find his words very compelling. he doesn’t have the chops to write a tune like ‘gallo del cielo’ or ‘best of all possible worlds’…in my opinion.
June 19, 2017 @ 11:00 am
You need to meet more people
June 15, 2017 @ 7:53 am
“i’ve never met a single person who volunteers steve earle’s name when talkin of great songwriters.” If that’s true I suggest you’re not talking to knowledgeable people. I’d wager if you ask any of the artists whose names those people *do” mention, they’d all put Steve Earle at the top of their lists. Off the top of my heard, here’s some of Steve’s great songs to check out: Over Yonder, The Rain Came Down, Hillbilly Highway, Someday, Billy Austin, Back to the Wall, Another Town, I Don’t Want to Lose You Yet, I Can Wait, Devil’s Right Hand, Copperhead Road, Nothing But a Child, The Mountain, Ben McCulloch, Tom Ames’ Prayer, Goodbye. Funny you should mention Gallo Del Cielo. About two weeks ago I listened to Tom’s “Road to Bayamon” album for the first time in a long time — lots of great songs on that one — and that inspired me to go to iTunes and download Gallo del Cielo, which is indeed a bonafide classic. I had it long ago on cassette but lost track of somewhere along the line.
June 15, 2017 @ 11:01 am
Good grief. Even Taylor Swift fans aren’t this ardent in defense of their golden calf.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:58 am
Steve Earle is the Michael Moore of “roots” music, or whatever that douchefest passes for today. He talks out his ass and acts like he speaks for rural America, or outlaw country, or whatever bullshit delusions his depression meds have twisted his fucked-out mind into on this particular day. Hey fuck, just play Guitar Town so I can go home.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:54 am
Spot on!
This is what it looks like when a bitter old commie has-been, is trying to desperately claw his way out of obscurity.
“Full of sound and fury… signifying nothing.”
June 14, 2017 @ 5:00 pm
A Scottish play reference always makes my day.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:32 pm
Hmmmm. Stupid me. I thought it was from Faulkner. You’re correct. Macbeth.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:39 pm
Either way, we are talking great writers. Maybe, Earle could review them for tips.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:02 pm
I always love how they claim to speak for us. They don’t. They speak for the penthouse people who are afraid of getting dirt on their Jaguars.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:58 am
What a bitter, petty, little man. Allison Moorer must be so relieved.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:04 am
I’d leave Steve for Hayes, too. Steve can be a little, well, Steve sometimes. And why only mention Chris? I don’t care about his politics–I’m more to the left also, but honestly I’m to the point where I don’t want to know what party anyone belongs to anymore. Steve is good, of course, but he’s never blown me away. I’m not sure why–he’s good live, but there other artists I’m more Gaga over. I’m probably in the minority.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:08 am
Love it!!
I have to think the Hayes Carll comment was a little tongue-in-cheek. But, the hip hop for people afraid for black people …. awesome!!
June 14, 2017 @ 9:14 am
I was thinking that (about the Hayes Carll quote) as well – seemed like a joke to me, although it’s hard to say for sure.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:10 am
At least she didn’t leave you for Jesus, Steve…
June 14, 2017 @ 9:02 pm
best response yet…
June 14, 2017 @ 9:11 am
Steve is an asshole, but even this is better than his obnoxious politics. That being said, Hayes Carll’s last album was boring and monotonous, which is rarely the case with Earle.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:00 am
Loved Carll’s last album.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:37 am
That’s why they make ice cream in 31 flavors bud.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:16 am
hahahaa… awww… god bless steve mthrfkn earle. who’s gonna fill those shoes?? i hope carll and moorer and colter and buckner and stapleton are all somewhere having a chuckle bcs lord knows that the gallagher brothers will punch back enough for everyone. rebranding mainstream country as “hip hop for people who are afraid of black people.” legendary. didn’t even say “white people.” just “people.” savvy.
he’s also spot on about women as well. this is a good year for women in alt. country. everyone knows about sunny sweeney and angaleena presley and jaime wyatt but there’s more. great new albums by pieta brown and lauren barth and lydia ramsey. albums on par with anything being made by the guys. check them out if you haven’t already.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:18 am
Chad, in my opinion is right on. I’ve got everything Steve Earle ever did. But I’m sick of him. I am all for artists getting any and all of their political and social views across through their art/music. For me, I get turned off by the extended preaching “between the songs” by some, namely this guy. Paraphrasing Todd Snider, I don’t need some barefoot stoner folksinger telling me how the world should work. Not that I have a problem with barefoot stoner folk singers at all. Tell me in a great song, sure. The rest is hard to take for me.
When you think you’re the best songwriter in the room, much less say it… you probably aren’t. This Hayes comment seals the deal for me.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:22 am
Steve Earle making off color comments…uh nothing new there. I hate when a few jerk comments come to light everybody claims theyve always hated an artist. Copperhead Road, Guitar Town, yeah, he sucks. Really? We owe alot to him for the alt country genre. Sturgill, even alot of our Legends have said alot of stupid things, but the music is what matters. In that regard, im a Steve Earle fan, not ashamed of it. Looking forward to the new album, and Isbells.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:56 am
Thank you Brett, I started losing the hope of humanity after reading the other comments … America is still a democracy, Isn’t.? In every democracy
Have people the right to both have an opinion and to express it …
June 14, 2017 @ 9:22 am
Give me younger Steve Earle over any iteration of Hayes Carll. But I’ll take Carll if we’re looking at the past decade or so. Hmm… I might also add that in the past few years I haven’t cared for either of them, not necessarily based on the songwriting but more on the fact that they seem to take themselves way too seriously.
That said… I agree with the hip hop statement and at the same time find it interesting that Earle is using the hip hop standby of dissing other, similar artists in order to inflate his own standing. I’m excited to find the time to listen to the new album.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:25 am
Dude’s a Yankees fan. What do you expect? 😀
Seriously he has written some truly great songs, but I find his overall output to be uneven. Plus I saw him in concert and it was short and expensive. And excluding everyone BUT Stapleton is just some old man, get off my lawn b.s.
I’ll be buying Isbell’s album on the 16th and Shelby’s and Allison’s album in August. Earle’s? Probably pass.
June 14, 2017 @ 2:55 pm
His overall output is uneven. No argument there. Same can be said of Dylan, the Stones, the Beatles, Hank Williams Sr., Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson…..you get the point.
June 14, 2017 @ 4:29 pm
(Which is not to say that Steve’s output can’t be seriously uneven at times.)
June 15, 2017 @ 5:08 am
Fair enough. As a Stones fan I can attest that there are several albums that NEVER get played.
He’s still a Yankees fan. 😉
June 14, 2017 @ 9:27 am
You should avoid the word “slams” at all costs. It’s a word often used at sites with articles posted by writers who simply can’t write.
Interesting story. The whole Hayes Carll insult seems almost arbitrary. I agree with his assessment of modern country, that is for damn sure.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:52 am
Meh. Trigger is a good writer. I wouldn’t worry about that, even if he is a little sensitive. Trigger is a smart dude.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:21 am
I apologize if the title to this article comes across as buzzy or misleading. There were two major topics that came out of this interview, and I wanted to represent both in the title, but there are only so many characters you can cram into the title bar. I did the best I could, and it still reads a little funky.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:48 am
Yeah, you don’t want to be like Whiskey Riff. “This unreleased song by (insert artist name) will rip your heart out through your ass and light your nuts on fire”
June 14, 2017 @ 9:47 am
Always a safe bet to play the race card when you’ve got nothing else to throw.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:18 am
I’m skipping Isabella new one, I might stream a few songs on spotify. So far, there’s nothing on there that makes me want to buy the album besides “we were vampires” I’m probably going to get Steve earles and Jon wolfes. Hopefully Wolfe can spend some time as #1!
June 14, 2017 @ 10:19 am
*isbell
June 14, 2017 @ 10:20 am
gotta love Steve. always telling it like it is.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:29 am
Famous quote from an iconic R&R Hall-of-Famer during one of SE’s signature rants: “I liked him better on heroine.” A good Hayes Carll song, perhaps?
June 14, 2017 @ 10:35 am
To Steve Earl (and others), “putting out another’s light doesn’t make yours shine brighter”.
June 14, 2017 @ 10:48 am
Like the saying goes “opinions are like assholes,everybody has one” Thanks Steve for being our asshole
June 14, 2017 @ 11:08 am
As far as “Country Music” these days,, It’s about what sells,not what’s necessarily “good”.. And it has ALWAYS been that way..If you look back at country music over the years there is definitely the stand out “Good” stuff,which is what is usually remembered the most.There was plenty of hokey,less than shit released,,just like now.. As far as the “rap””hip hop” influence in country music,it’s the same thing,when Rock’nRoll started seeping into country music,there were plenty of fans that hated it.Which reminds me of a friend of mine,Montana Cy(rip) He told me that ANY country music that has drums in it,is NOT country music.. So to each his/her own.. I’ve recently found it easier to just let go and not give a rat’s ass what other people think is “Real Country”.. Even Stapleton,don’t get me wrong,I think his voice is really great,but I liked his stuff with Steel Drivers and find his new stuff more R&B than country….
June 14, 2017 @ 11:33 am
See, I don’t agree with Steve politically, but I’m divided on this whole thing.
See, with the Buckner comments, most people flipped shit because someone just criticized an Americana artist (truth be told the independent scene needs more criticism IMO). However, Steve kept it on Richard’s music with that one. I’m all for criticism that puts the music first rather than who they are as people. Is it right? Who fucking knows? If you like Buckner, keep on liking him. If you don’t like him, well that’s cool too.
The Hayes comments are a little off though…I mean, it’s one thing to call out the music, it’s another to just be pissed because some dude stole your wife (don’t get me wrong, Haye’s last album made a good cure for insomnia, but he didn’t deserve that).
So is this all a marketing gimmick? Oh yeah, and hey, whatever I guess. Like I said, I agree with one instance and don’t agree with another instance. The new album sounds pretty good after 3 listens though.
June 14, 2017 @ 11:52 am
Yea well I’m more to the right in politics and I wish those two folk artist would stop sneaking up on my Pandora country playlists. They just don’t give me a thrill up my leg.
———————————————————————————————–
“They’re just doing hip-hop for people who are afraid of black people.”
Yea that’s not the reason. This isn’t about being afraid of black people. It’s the unintentional bastardization of country music by pulling from other genres of music to have a much greater appeal to the general public. This allows Nashville to maintain relevancy in the world of music and to continue the sales/profit of a dying genre (country music) that historically has catered to a white audience.
The landscape of America has changed and so will the music. Today Americans are more diverse and less homogeneous than ever before. The vast majority of immigrants don’t come here and start listening to traditional country music. As a matter of fact they laugh at it. To them it’s redneck music. What they listen to is rap, hip-hop, electronica (EDM), and pop music. Those are the genres of music they feel comfortable with. Everywhere you go now you see more and more people from different parts of the world. There’s no escaping it. So how do you get those people’s attention and look at country music?
Well what Nashville has figured out is that by throwing elements of pop, electronica (EDM), and rap/hip-hop in the mix you can attract people from different backgrounds despite dismantling a beautiful genre that has been able to standalone for a very long time. Of course Nashville’s defense is to say that country music always goes through these phases but this time I strongly believe it’s different.
Still not convince? Look at how they put Beyoncé or Justin Timberlake and so many other artists from entirely different music genres on a country music award shows. It’s the same thing. They’re hoping to intrigue and eventually attract as many people as they can to watch their award shows. We’ve got Florida Georgia Line with Nelly (Hip-hop) or with EDM duo Chainsmokers (Electronica/EDM) and Moonshine Bandits (Rap/Hip-hop) with David Allen Coe playing on the airwaves. Gone are the days where you would hear a story from the heart and a steel guitar accompanying wistfully. Nashville is just trying to cast a big enough net to capture all sorts of people from different backgrounds to line their pockets. They don’t believe in traditional country music. It’s just too white. Too redneck. It certainly doesn’t help that we live in a political climate where being white is oftentimes demonized because of past transgressions. It’s all connected.
June 14, 2017 @ 12:21 pm
One more thing…I’m not trying to cast a dark cloud over immigration or get into U.S. immigration policy. It’s just that how do we the average young Persian-American or Mexican-American to listen to traditional country like George Strait or Cody Jinks? Or maybe be country artist? I think that’s the key.
Nashville thinks it’s best to incorporate other genres into country music and completely change the genre.
June 14, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
A problem is that country music has an industry. It about selling “product” rather than making musc. I don’t care about country radio because I don’t listen to it. That stuff is not in my wheelhouse. Musically speaking, the country artists I listen to are on the same playing field as ertists that I support from other genres. There is no reason for me to listen to Nashville product or the stations that play it. No shortage of excellent new music around my house. Life is good without those radio stations.
June 14, 2017 @ 2:01 pm
For Mexican-American maybe someone should play this song for them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsy6gqni1go or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eoW7RnwINg 🙂
Or maybe a little more Steve Earle
And show them that country music is a little bit more nuanced than they think…
June 14, 2017 @ 3:49 pm
A good way to get immigrants and people of other races to listen to country is for country fans not to go full racist when Beyonce sings at a country award show. Sam Hunt could be used as a stepping stone for newcomers but lets vilify a man because he sings something you don’t like. It just strengthens people’s opinions that country is for right leaning racists.
June 14, 2017 @ 5:49 pm
If country music wanted to diversify it’s fanbase, it could probably start by no longer embracing the confederate flag & the culture war it has come to symbolize. And that ain’t on the bro’s. I mean Hank Jr wrote an entire song basically wishing the south won the civil war, and overlooked the whole slavery thing.
Most minorities feel like the dominant culture in country music alienates them.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:32 pm
So you are the voice speaking for “most minorities” in this matter?
June 14, 2017 @ 6:41 pm
Or you could go look up & research it? So here’s one poll from 2015, 72% of African-Americans see the confederate flag as racist. Then go count the number of confederate flags at your avg country music festival (I gave up at the last one I attended), or the number of references to confederate flags as a source of pride in country music songs.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:50 pm
That’s quite a limb you’re out on there. Your better bring a hell of a lot more than that if you want to be taken seriously after making an absurd comment that speaks for “most minorities” and their thoughts on country music.
June 14, 2017 @ 7:17 pm
lol k, keep pretending man…and then wondering why everyone at the concert is white
June 14, 2017 @ 7:41 pm
Your experience at a country festival is your own, speaking for everyone else is preposterous. Ever been to Willie’s Picnic? Plenty of diversity in race and a helluva lot more American flags on display than Confederate.
June 14, 2017 @ 7:41 pm
I sort of hate anecdotal evidence, but here you go…my friends group is pretty racially mixed. I can occasionally get my friends who are racial minorities to listen to country music, I can never get them to a country concert (& lets be real here, last time I tried was Chris S & he’s very npr crowd country, especially where I live). They associate country with southern white redneck, & southern white redneck with a group of people who aren’t overly sympathetic to racial minorities. The confederate stuff is a BIG part of that, and it’s symbolic. It is also (at least) equally as political as anything on Isbell’s new album.
June 14, 2017 @ 7:47 pm
The fact that more than 0 or 1 person felt comfortable publicly flying the confederate flag is basically the point I’m trying to make. And Willie is on the progressive end of the country spectrum.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:00 pm
That makes sense, and I understand your friends’ reluctance to attend. I’ll assume that your friends are not narrow-minded, and are open to the idea that there are plenty of white fans in attendance that see us all as brothers and sisters that all bleed the same color. I hope they are one day able to not have to directly associate country music with “white southern redneck,” and i hope i can do my part to assist in us all getting there. I’ll end with this: Two weeks ago, I saw Bill Kirchen at Gruene Hall on Sunday afternoon, a free show on my birthday. There was an interracial couple with a toddler front and center, enjoying the music. The dad (who was black, incidentally) was dancing to the music, as was his young son, oftentimes together, sometimes separately. At one point, Bill walked over mid-song and serenaded the young boy, and after the song gave a shout out to “the dancers.” It was a happy moment for many of us. I hope your friends get to experience something like that sooner than later.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:44 pm
Legit nothing would make me happier than to see country move beyond that stereotype. It’s about the stories and the lyrics…but as long as it (or at least part of it) leans into that part of the culture war, think country is going to have a hard time getting minorities to show up. (and of course for most people outside of country, they associate country with the mainstream country festivals, musicians etc).
Btw one exception is the dixie chicks, and then look what happened to them at country radio, and then the whole Beyonce thing…which just reinforced perceptions.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:39 pm
So you are saying that country music needs to give up part of its culture to attract new listeners? What happened to expecting newcomers to adapt? If I moved to a new country tomorrow, I wouldn’t be asking the locals to speak English.
Imagine the outrage if someone said the same thing about rap or hip hop. I know I wouldn’t ask them to change their background to appeal to me.
BTW, I am saying this as a PA Yankee who hasn’t ever flown the Confederate flag and never plans to.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:52 pm
Clearly though you don’t see the confederate flag as racist. So lets be clear: historically the confederate flag stands for a defeated group of individuals who committed treason in order to attempt to preserve the practice of enslaving an entire race of people, and in the process caused a 4 year war where at least 618,000 people (on both sides) were killed, the greatest loss of life in American history.
I’m going to go with, maybe that shouldn’t be something you celebrate. Like in Germany they don’t celebrate the Nazi flag. Maybe it’s time to stop celebrating the confederate flag. Or at least recognize why people find it offensive. Also don’t get me started on the number of Confederate flags in PA (or upstate NY where I’ve spent a lot of time), which btw was never part of the south, so how the crap is it part of the culture, yeah exactly.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:13 pm
Clearly, you just make assumptions. I merely said it was part of the country music culture.
Treason. The colonies did the same when we left England. Personally, in my opinion and the Founding Fathers’, any state has the right to leave if they so desire.
It takes two to fight a war. The South shouldn’t have fired on Fort Sumter but Lincoln raises the stakes when he called for more troops.
The war wasn’t entirely fought over the pleasure to own slaves. Slavery played a major role because what people forget is that the South was an agricultural economy and all the eggs were all in one basket. There is more nunace than joy in owning human beings.
Of course, you use the Nazi example. How lazy and incorrect.
Recognizing its place in Southern culture is not celebrating it. And most people know why it can be offensive.
That is your own experience. Purely anecdotal evidence. I have seen some flags up in PA. For some reason, those people find it as a dumb way to thumb their nose at society. I just shake my head at them.
I know those two states were never part of the South. Cut out the condescending implication. And cut out the implication that I have a Confederate flag.
Your last sentence is laughable. How is it part of the culture? Well, country music, at its core, is the music of Southerners. I am sure you can figure out the connection. And since people in the North listen to country music (oh dear, cultural appropriation, don’t have a fit about that), some people borrow the symbols.
Also, clean your grammar and punctuation.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:22 pm
Dude, the civil war was fought over slavery. I know why the south wanted to keep slavery, it was still fought over slavery.
The AR was treason, but the colonists won. Also, the reason WHY you commit treason matters. Tyranny, go for it. Slavery, bad choice.
Also the nazi example was deliberate. Discrimination based on race & large number of people forced into labor & killed bc of said discrimination.
Oh and if you’re flying a flag, you’re celebrating it. Nobody said it wasn’t part of the country culture, I said I find that problematic. Sometimes parts of culture should be retired to a museum.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:29 pm
Dude? What are you, in high school or something?
Never said it wasn’t fought over slavery.
Winning doesn’t negate treason.
The only comparison to the Nazis that is even close would be the Soviets.
It is because, not bc. That is Before Christ.
You find it problematic. So do I. But unlike you, I don’t feel the need to tell people what to do.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:37 pm
Wait, wait…so if you see someone behaving like a racist, or misogynistic (etc) ahole you just let it go? Yeah, you’re right I think it should be pointed out.
Also, standard has changed it’s now BCE – before common era, and CE – common era. Even if you were going to use that it would be BC for before Christ. bc=because, which you very clearly understood from your need to be condescending. And nobody in high school says dude anymore.
June 14, 2017 @ 9:43 pm
Depends on what they are doing. You made the same argument regarding treason. If they are flying a flag at a music show. Whatever. If they are engaging in violence, I will be there to stop it. Of course, right now, that is the domain of the Left.
Citation for that change. Either way, I am still using BC and AD. It is part of my culture.
Of course, I understood it. See, it is not hard to spell out because, so why didn’t you do it earlier?
Really? You know this how? Because you are still in high school? It would explain your reasoning and simple thinking.
June 15, 2017 @ 1:03 pm
There’s no “nuance” in whether the Civil War was fought over slavery…just like there’s no nuance as to whether someone flying a flag is celebrating what that flag represents.
It was. There’s no ambiguity, or room for debate. In the final days of the War, when Lee wanted to free slaves to fill out what was left of his Army of Northern Virginia, the Charleston Mercury even published an editorial titled: “We Want No Confederacy Without Slavery.”
And, of course, agricultural production had a massive spike after the War, because slavery was an idiotic and inefficient economic system, that only made it to the 19th century because of the joy some men found in owning other humans as chattel. At the time of the War, the common argument from Southern intellectuals was for the moral superiority of the “mutual obligation” (explored to great effect by Eugene Genovese in Roll, Jordan, Roll) of their Slave Society to “rapacious” Northern Capitalism.
But hey, it’s not like you’ve ever let your lack of basic knowledge about just about everything prevent you from ineffectually trying to pontificate on a subject before!
June 14, 2017 @ 7:19 pm
Also, Mexican’s and other Latin American countries have their own versions of country music. This isn’t something America owns.
June 15, 2017 @ 1:08 pm
Seriously. Forro music, out of Northeastern Brazil, is absolutely stunning, and has a ton of the same bones as country.
I mean, uh, make Tejano music white again!
June 14, 2017 @ 4:57 pm
Whiskey Pete,
There was an article in a major magazine, I don’t exactly recall which one, a couple of years ago that showcased the diversity of the new country music fan. The thing was, they were all fans of FGL and other Bro-Country acts. They weren’t new fans of real Country Music. They didn’t love Country Music; they loved how Country Music changed. Country Music shouldn’t abandon its roots to obtain new fans.
June 15, 2017 @ 10:49 am
I’m with you, I don’t think country music should abandon its roots either; It is diluting the genre. However, like I pointed out earlier Nashville has this perception that mixing in elements of rap/hip-hop, EDM, soft-rock, and pop is the only way to attract a more diverse fan base as a way to continue their sales. They feel traditional country music is too “redneck.”
Ultimately, I have to believe that with good song writing and bringing back traditional elements to country music that we can continue the genre without any sacrifices. Also, I rarely see any of that “the south will rise” type songs in country music so it shouldn’t be an issue anymore. Yes, I sometimes still see confederate flags at concerts but the individual is not a full fledge white supremacist but instead he’s hanging out with his attractive Mexican-American girlfriend playing beer pong with friends. It’s more of a prop these days here in California.
Based on my observation Hispanics seem to be the most receptive minority group towards country music. Especially Mexican and white mix individuals. There’s probably good reasoning behind it (Ranchero/Vaquero lifestyle and blended family cultures). So there’s still hope we can attract other communities into the country music fold.
June 15, 2017 @ 1:36 pm
The other massive reason for the receptiveness of Mexicans to country is that traditional Northern Mexican music has a lot of the same bones as country.
June 14, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
“The best stuff coming out of Nashville is all by women except for Chris Stapleton,” Earle responds. “He’s great. The guys just wanna sing about getting fucked up”
Not trying to stir the pot at all cause yall know what I side I’m on here but this quote isn’t exactly accurate considering almost every song on Traveler has a booze or smoke reference in it.
I know that is not Steve’s point; just sayin’
June 14, 2017 @ 1:34 pm
The first couple of times I read that quote, I thought Steve was talking about Stapleton with the “The guys just wanna sing about getting fucked up.” The ‘s’ on “guys” is crucial, but if you removed it, that sentence could go either way.
June 14, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
fair point but I believe the following sentence is the tell “The guys just wanna sing about getting fucked up. They’re just doing hip-hop for people who are afraid of black people.”
June 14, 2017 @ 12:18 pm
When is someone going to step up and criticize Steve Earle’s music in print? To my ears,he hasn’t made a good record in a long while. As I mentioned afew days ago, the last one I liked was “Transcendental Blues” (I have heard everything he has done except “Townes”). For some reason, this “legend” always gets a pass. The vocals just aren’t there anymore; the songs, I find tedious. And let me point this out: I do not disagree with Earle’s politics. And I not particularly a Hayes Carll fan, so it’s not about that either. It is all about my reaction to his music. The faux attitude on this new album is annoying in its contrivance. Also, that Shawn Colvin collaboration is one messy record. And what about his pro-tools phase? Is there something I am missing with the continued fawning over Earle’s music?
June 14, 2017 @ 1:17 pm
I personally like his last three albums (Outlaw, Colvin & Earle, Terraplane), but I hear you otherwise, right down to Transcendental being being his last truly great album. I think he’s got a right to criticize Buckner’s music if he doesn’t like it, but at the same time if someone criticized Steve’s music, even as a fan I think it’s justified – not so much to just “do it”, but hey, your opinion is your opinion and you have a right to say it, no matter what or who it’s about.
June 14, 2017 @ 1:38 pm
I actually had some fairly critical things to say about “Terraplane” vis a vis Earle inflecting his voice like an old black guy (cultural appropriation, anyone?). Even though I ended with a positive review (7/10) and enjoyed the album, I got ripped apart in the comments section by folks saying I was being too hard on him. It was kind of a melee at the time.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/blues-review-steve-earles-terraplane/
June 14, 2017 @ 8:21 pm
Trigger – I love what you do, but you have to drop the whole appropriation thing. This comes from someone who lives in a city where the local press throws the term around in such a pathetic way that the term has lost all meaning. Music has been borrowing influences from many cultures for hundred of years, and while there are instances of problematic appropriation out there in other areas, Steve Earle singing in a more bluesy “old black man” style, or even some douche bro pop singer incorporating elements of hip hop, is not problematic appropriation. I mean, was Stevie Ray Vaughan guilty of anything for singing the way he did? Or do you have a problem with an African American choosing to sing country?
July 5, 2017 @ 6:18 pm
I’m a long time lurker, first time poster. I’ve noticed Trigger does this all of the time. It’s not enough for something just to be gimmicky, cheesy, or just downright garbage. He seems intent on adding political buzzword tags to it as well. So bros singing about drinking beer and pretty girls are evil mysoginists and Sam Hunt’s a culture appropriating racist as well. It’s frankly a bit ridiculous. He should stick to criticizing music instead of the Gawker-type shit slinging.
June 14, 2017 @ 4:33 pm
Gotta say, I’m a huge Earle fan, but I didn’t like his Townes album.
June 14, 2017 @ 1:01 pm
Darius Rucker is afraid of black people.
June 14, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
I just died laughing
June 14, 2017 @ 3:04 pm
Earle is GOD
June 14, 2017 @ 3:31 pm
Sorry Steve, I actually enjoy Hayes Carll stuff more than lot of your music I heard lately. But you still did create some of my favorite songs.
June 14, 2017 @ 3:35 pm
Old man yells at clouds. Writing a few good songs doesn’t exempt you from being a contemptible douchebag.
June 14, 2017 @ 3:38 pm
If you can’t say what you want by the time you reach 62 – even if you ARE a songwriter and have been trying artistically to do just that for a lifetime – when the the hell CAN you say what you want . Steve’s being honest and doesn’t give a shit , obviously , about who cares . Don’t we do that here all the time ?
June 14, 2017 @ 4:16 pm
Gee Steve, you meet a jerk in the morning, they’re the jerk, but if you meet jerks all day …
June 14, 2017 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks, Raylan.
June 14, 2017 @ 4:28 pm
Rap sucks. “Country” music sucks. Steve Earle sucks.
That’s all.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:24 pm
I like the new strategy, Honky. Just boil your posts down into a concise few words…..that is, “(insert article subject) sucks”. Makes things a lot easier!
June 14, 2017 @ 8:33 pm
It could be called the Beavis and Butthead approach…
June 14, 2017 @ 4:53 pm
Dumb comment.
Modern “country music” sounds like it does because the gatekeepers are gone and the new stars have no one to stop them from incorporating the rap and hip hop music that they listened to as kids. Also, Music Row supports it because it supposedly brings in fans from outside the country arena. Plus, it is evolution!
Additionally, remember the words or Sammy Kershaw, “country music is the only genre that hates itself.” Why? Because, as this Yankee well knows, country music is the music of Southerners. What group is the acceptable target of the media? Southerners. No backwoods stereotype is too extreme. This, either they embrace whatever culture is popular (Trigger mentioned several times that hip hop has been the choice) or they double down on the country stereotypes as a way to bat their noses at the hostile forces. When you constantly degrade a culture that is what happens.
And to say that every male in Nashville, outside of Stapleton, is garbage borders on idiocy.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:21 pm
If an artist releases 3 memorable albums in their career that is a major accomplishment! Earle has at least 5. If friendship / artist appreciation depended on political stance I would be very lonely but I would have a bunch of albums. Earle being outspoken ( asshole if you insist) keeps him on people’s minds. For everyone that gets pissed off there will be a couple of people that just go, “hey SE’s got a new record out! Hey he’s coming to town,” When they go on Amazon and type in the little box his name pops into their heads when it wouldn’t have otherwise.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:29 pm
…assuming of course that Steve Earl is in a place to pick what the standards are as opposed to just another asshole with an opinion.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:42 pm
Both boring singer-songwriters. At least Earle will say something interesting in the press time to time. Good for a laugh I suppose.
As far as Dylan goes any of Strait’s (for example) first 10 or so records have better songwriting than the entirety of Dylan’s output. It always bugs me out seeing these Dylan fans crawling out of the woodwork to proclaim him the greatest songwriter ever on a Country music website. I guess its the whole straightforward and poetic vs abstract and vague thing.
June 14, 2017 @ 6:47 pm
I was a huge Earle fan until the towers fell and his politics took over and he moved to New York and lost his accent…he now bounces from genre to genre without anyone calling him out on his bullshit…he could have been one of the greats, but his mouth and ego have been his shot in the foot..fuck him cause it’s self inflicted. I still love his Guitar Town lp though.
June 14, 2017 @ 8:45 pm
It was time for him to go sit in a fucking corner and shut the fuck up, loooonnnggg ago…
June 14, 2017 @ 10:25 pm
That’s Steve Earle for you. He writes great songs and makes great music, but he’s still a crazy old commie son of a bitch. I still love his music, but I just ignore everything he says these days.
June 15, 2017 @ 12:15 am
Yesterday, I streamed (on NPR First Listen) Isbells and Earles albums back to back in one sitting – Jasons first. I wish I’da done it the other way around.
June 15, 2017 @ 4:12 am
I’m starting to not even care about the state of country music anymore. It’s turning into such a piece of shit genre.
June 15, 2017 @ 5:33 am
Say what you want, i think Earles new album is his best since Guitar Town!!
June 15, 2017 @ 7:53 am
I can’t wait for the review.. I was surprised how solid it was myself.
June 15, 2017 @ 7:55 am
I’d say it’s his best since Transcendental Blues…which is better than Guitar Town, haha.
June 15, 2017 @ 10:21 am
Vinny got his picture taken with Steve Earle a couple years ago at Chief Records in the Ft. Worth Stockyards. Steve was wearing a NY Yankees ballcap. Vinny was wearing a Cross Canadian Ragweed shirt.
June 15, 2017 @ 12:06 pm
The question is, what’s with Allison Moorer and guys with beards?
June 18, 2017 @ 6:23 pm
The new album is a cracker one of his best.I find Steve’s interviews interesting even if I don’t always agree with him.There’s probably a bit of Gallows humour in his Hayes Carll remark anyway
June 20, 2017 @ 7:10 am
This is hilarious. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/howcomeyouhaventplayedcopperheadroadyet
August 25, 2017 @ 7:39 pm
Ok I came back in here to give it up. Grumpy old man made a really fucking good record.
January 5, 2018 @ 8:04 am
And this is why Steve Earle is the Euronymous of country music.
June 30, 2018 @ 11:50 am
Steve Fuckin Earle.
Really?
Consumate Figjam
Figjam= “FUCK I’M GREAT JUST ASK ME”
The best thing about your son (who sucks slightly more than you, btw) is his middle name.
September 6, 2020 @ 12:44 pm
I don’t have an opinion on Steve Earle but I enjoyed his take on Oasis.