Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#131)
21 CommentsBefore you get bombarded with Christmas music for the rest of 2023, let’s run down some of the best songs from the latest releases in country and roots music you can be guaranteed mainstream radio won’t play.
Review – Vincent Neil Emerson’s “Fried Chicken and Evil Women”
30 CommentsGood ol’ vintage Texas country music bliss is what greets your happy ears when you pipe up Vincent Neil Emerson’s “Fried Chicken and Evil Women.” It’s a little bit of Western Swing flavor added to Texas Troubadour Ernest Tubb styling that nestles right in your sensibilities as an old soul, filling you with fuzzy feelings.
Emily Scott Robinson & Charles Wesley Godwin at AmericanaFest
19 CommentsThe 2019 installment of AmericanaFest seemed especially packed with top-level talent, and both Emily Scott Robinson and Charles Wesley Godwin made the trek to Nashville hoping to put renewed interest behind their 2019 efforts. And like their albums, they both stood out in the crowded field of country and roots music performers and hopefuls.
Quaker City Night Hawks Drummer Apologizes for AmericanaFest Incident
13 CommentsDrummer Aaron Haynes of the Ft. Worth-based Quaker City Night Hawks offered a lengthy apology early Tuesday (9-17) afternoon for his conduct at AmericanaFest last week where he berated the sound man working one of the band’s shows, and eventually punched and shoved employees of the venue, and threw parts of his drum set across the stage.
Review – Episode 2 Of Ken Burns Country Music Film, “Hard Times”
82 CommentsThe first episode of the Ken Burns Country Music documentary tasked itself to define what country music is by delving deep into its origins and original purveyors. The second episode called “Hard Times” began the work of explaining why the music means so much to so many people.
Sierra Ferrell Makes Stunning Debut at AmericanaFest
89 CommentsTo a packed audience, Sierra Ferrell absolutely dazzled with her incredible songwriting and singing, backed by a simple band of fiddle, upright bass, and vintage drums. Sierra has a spunk and power to her, yet it’s all encapsulated in a flawless delivery. There are such amazing layers and textures in her voice and style.
Review – Ken Burns Country Music Documentary, Ep. 1 “The Rub”
79 CommentsOver seven years of full-time labor on the part of numerous people, over 101 interviews conducted, countless hours of archival work digging up old photographs, audio, video, and other vintage material, and an elongated year-long promotional effort finally culminated in the broadcast of the debut episode for the Ken Burns Country Music epic.
Ken Burns Country Music Film Comes at the Best & Worst Time
83 CommentsThe broadcast of the Ken Burns-produced 8-part, 16-hour documentary on country music could very well be the most significant event to happen in country music in 2019, if not in the next few years. For country music to receive the expansive documentary treatment for America’s preeminent filmmaking archivist could have significant implications.
Chris Stapleton’s Creative Juices Appear to be Flowing Again
21 CommentsThough Chris Stapleton started on the mainstream side of music as a songwriter specifically, his output has significantly slowed over the last few years. However this might be changing. Over this summer during his All-American Roadshow Tour, Stapleton has been featuring a couple of new songs.
What’s Been Bothering Me About This New Tanya Tucker Album
94 CommentsAs 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.
Quaker City Nighthawks Drummer Melts Down at AmericanaFest
99 CommentsAfter the Americana Music Awards Wednesday night (9-12), Paul Cauthen hosted his “Big Velvet Revue” showcase at the Basement East in Nashville. After an extended delay in the show, the drummer for the band, Aaron Haynes, decided to come out from behind the drum set, and accost the sound man from the mic.
Blackberry Smoke to Open for Guns n’ Roses – Plot Live Album
12 CommentsThe 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.’
2019 Americana Music Awards Winners and Recap
81 CommentsThe 18th Annual Americana Music Awards transpired Wednesday night (9-11) at the Country Music Mother Church, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, with lots of love spread out among a diverse list of winners, but John Prine emerging as the biggest winner walking away with both Album of the Year for ‘Tree of Forgiveness,’ and Song of the Year