Teeming with Shooter Jennings as producer, B.J. and American Aquarium capture ‘Lamentations’ as a postscript to the broken American Dream, sent through the filter of a Southern perspective, and stamped into 10 songs that are sure to compel your consideration.
Get as hot and bothered as you want about the newest names hitting the independent country scene, but those who know their stuff know that Leroy Virgil and Hellbound Glory are the some of the original country insurgents of the modern era who helped turn country music upside down, and open the doors for many of today’s heavy hitters.
Like we saw with American Aquarium’s last record, the very well-received “Things Change,” BJ Barham might perform best when his back is against the wall, folks are counting him out, and he’s got something to prove. He relishes the underdog position.
Few performers in the last few years have embodied the Outlaw honky tonk spirit and injected it with a dose of West Coast and Bakersfield flavor like Jaime Wyatt. Now she’s back with a full LP called “Neon Cross” to be released by New West Records, and is once again being as honest and unapologetically country as ever.
It’s been a long road for Tanya Tucker, but she has finally received distinction from the Recording Academy. In fact, she received a few of them during the 2020 Grammy Awards Premier Ceremony Sunday (1-26) afternoon before the televised portion of the program for Best Country Song and Best Country Album.
Ever since the Netflix series The Ranch debuted on April 1st, 2016, folks have wanted to get their hands on a copy of the new version of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” which finds Shooter Jennings and Lukas Nelson getting together to recreate the magic of their famous fathers.
Shooter Jennings and Lukas Nelson got together to recreate the magic of their famous fathers on a new rendition of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” originally written and performed by Ed Bruce with his wife Patsy. But of course you only get a teaser version of the song in the opening segment of ‘The Ranch.’
Add Sturgill Simpson to the list of things in society that are extremely polarizing, right up there with politics, religion, LeBron James, pumpkin spice, and whatever else people get worked up about, with half the world professing something or someone is utter and unequivocal garbage, while the other half can’t contain their enthusiasm.
As Tanya’s first original record in 17 years, ‘While I’m Livin” has undeniably helped put Tanya back on the map. Producers Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings deserve all the credit in the world for taking the initiative to make this record happen. However, there were a couple of curious and concerning things about the project.
The big opportunities keep coming for the preeminent Southern rock band of our time, Blackberry Smoke. They recently played some big gigs opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd, and now have been tapped by Guns n’ Roses on their upcoming fall tour. They also are releasing a new live album, ‘Blackberry Smoke Homecoming: Live in Atlanta.’
Tuesday, September 10th is Suicide Prevention Day, and the day has been observed with renewed importance by many in the independent country and roots world after the recent passing of songwriter, player, and producer Neal Casal. The 50-year-old took his own life on August 26th leaving many with lingering questions about his passing.
It’s the voice of Tanya Tucker that compels the country listener to seek her records out. It’s always been a mixture of worn leather and honky tonk smoke, even at a tender age. Some may call it husky, including those who mean that in a demeaning manner. But it’s hard not to fall prey to the “lived it” notions the tone of Tanya Tucker conveys, and how it cracks in all the right places to punctuate emotions in the most important moments.
As if true country music fans didn’t have enough on their plates Friday (8-2) with Tyler Childers releasing a new record Country Squire, formidable Texas honky tonk outfit Mike and the Moonpies came out of left field with a new record of their own, completely by surprise both in its arrival, and in its approach.
Recently signed to Concord Music’s Fantasy Records, Tanya Tucker is readying the release of her first record in 17 years called ‘While I’m Livin.’ Rumored and talked about in bits and pieces over the last few months, we now have all the details for the record co-produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings.
Country legend Tanya Tucker has just signed to Concord Music’s Fantasy Records, and is readying the release of her first record in 17 years later this summer. Not just your average album release, Tanya’s new title tentatively called ‘While I’m Living’ is being touted as a comeback record, and was recorded in Hollywood in January.
You have to go all the way back to 2002’s ‘Tanya’ to find the last time country icon Tanya Tucker released a proper album of new material; her classic covers album from 2009 notwithstanding. That’s 17 years to save up songs and inspiration, and now Tanya is ready to make a roaring return.
Brandi Carlile is the big winner coming out of the 2019 Grammy Awards Premier Ceremony, where some 70+ awards are handed out ahead of the telecast version of the awards show. This makes Brandi Carlile three for three with the six nominations she is up for on the night.
If come July you’ll be looking to get out of the summer heat, and don’t mind trekking to darn near the Canadian border, the inaugural Under The Big Sky Festival has assembled a pretty impressive lineup that includes Dwight Yoakam, Cody Jinks, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Amanda Shires, Nikki Lane, and more.
Terry Jennings, the oldest son of country music legend Waylon Jennings, as well as an author, manager, publisher, roadie, and talent scout, has passed away. He died Friday morning (1-25) at the age of 62 according to his son Josh. He had spent the later part of his life living near Waco, TX.
Most will recognize Ted Russell Kamp as the long-time bass player for Shooter Jennings, starting off with Shooter way back in the .357 days with Leroy Powell and Bryan Keeling in what many consider as one of the best backing bands of the era. But Ted Russell Kamp is so much more than just someone’s bass player.
The nominees for the 2019 Grammy Awards were announced Friday morning (12-7), and some of the things we anticipated happening have happened. But the biggest takeaway, and surprisingly so, is Brandi Carlile earning six total nominations, including all-genre nominations for Album, Song, and Record of the Year.
The Turnpike Troubadours have canceled yet another round of shows affecting performances in late August and up to their appearance at the Medicine Stone Festival on September 21st, which is still on. Their show Thursday night (8-30) at the Beaumont Event and Concert Hall in Wayne, Nebraska was canceled Thursday afternoon.
There is a strange project that is preparing to be released on September 7th by a pair of country music performers called The Stryker Brothers that has folks trying to figure out what the hell is going on, and who the hell is behind it all.
Just the name “Shooter” elicits strong opinions from people in country music. This is the result of being the son of a country hero whose legacy looms so large, the history of the man himself could never match the mythos. Hank Williams Jr. was saddled with such burdens. He’s also the primary inspiration behind “Shooter.”