Bluegrass Legend & Oldest Living Opry Member Jesse McReynolds Dies
21 CommentsIt’s the end of an era as one of the last living links to the very formative years of bluegrass has passed on to the sweet by and by. Jesse McReynolds was a bluegrass legend, an influential and innovative mandolin player.
Tyler Farr Freaks The Hell Out in “Withdrawals” (A Review)
72 CommentsTyler Farr has morphed into the hardcore emo post grunge “my dad hated me so I’m angry at the World” guy of country music, and it’s not pretty. What a bizzaro world we live in where Aaron Lewis of Stand is sitting on stools and singing fairly straight laced country songs, and Farr is all bent over like he’s taking a BM, and clasping the mic like it was his bag of jewels after getting kicked in it.
Guy Clark Hospitalized After Bad Reaction to Medication
8 CommentsGuy Clark is in an Austin area hospital after having a bad reaction to medication right before he was scheduled to appear at an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction ceremony on his behalf. On Thursday evening (6-18), Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Asleep At The Wheel, and Flaco Jiménez were all inducted into the long-running TV show’s sophomore class of Hall of Fame inductees.
Sara Evans: “Which Came First, Fans Wanting This or Fans Only Getting This?”
76 CommentsIn the aftermath of #SaladGate—stimulated by country radio consultant Keith Hill’s comments that to increase ratings, radio stations should cut the amount of females they feature in a given hour—Sara Evans has emerged as one of the leading voices sticking up for females receiving their fair share of representation from the genre.
Katie Armiger In Dispute with Record Label / Locked Out of Social Network Accounts
47 CommentsRight as Armiger was getting ready to release her fifth album through independent label Cold River Records, it was revealed on Wednesday (6-17) by label President Pete O’Heeron that Katie had decided to take a “breather” from country music to pursue her “next career aspirations.” However, Katie Armiger herself is refuting the news that she’s moving on from country music, or at least she’s trying to.
Sir Mashalot Releases 7th Song Based Off of Viral 6-Song Mashup
18 CommentsAs part of the original mashup, Sir Mixalot (aka Greg Todd) told us that a new song taking the same mashup formula and imprinting it onto an original song was in the works, thus proving the formula could be implemented on virtually any song idea using the same tempo, same key, and same structure. Now Greg Todd has released the 7th song to the mashup called “Even Better.”
Song Review – Jake Owen’s “Real Life”
43 CommentsUpon first listen, this new Jake Owen single is a superior candidate for an unabashedly scathing review. What, is he trying to rap again for goodness sakes? And though there may be a message, there’s really no story. At it’s heart, “Real Life” is yet another example of replacing rhythm for melody, and lists for story. So much for all of Jake Owen’s rhetoric about bringing more substance to country music.
New Details Emerge in the Shooting Death of Outlaw Country Artist Randy Howard
36 CommentsA Tennessee Bureau of Investigations case is open into Howard’s death at the hands of the bounty hunters—a father/son duo working for A Plus Bail Bonding in Dunlap, TN. But the main question many friends and fans of the slain artist are asking is why did Howard have to die over a simple bench warrant, and did he believe he was acting in self-defense against an intruder?
They’re Back: The Dixie Chicks Announce New European Tour
150 CommentsBatten down the hatches, and brushen up on your freedom of expression barbs because the most controversial and successful female band in American music history is dusting off the cobwebs and getting ready for a European tour stint that could be the precursor to a re-invasion of the United States and a relauncing of their […]
In The Moment with Chris Stapleton – An Interview on “Traveller”
28 CommentsIt isn’t often that a musician achieves an illustrious 15-year career that includes five number one hits, Grammy Award nominations, feature film contributions, producer credits and the respect of his peers before he ever releases his first solo album. But Chris Stapleton isn’t your average musician. The near-universal critical acclaim that has been heaped upon his debut album “Traveller” has been nothing short of amazing.
Sturgill Simpson Announces “Living The Dream” Tour
49 CommentsFresh off of his sold-out theater tour this late winter and spring, and a host of festival appearances at Coachella, Stagecoach, Bonnaroo, and others, insurgent country artist Sturgill Simpson has just announced a slew of new tour dates as part of his “Living The Dream Tour.” Focusing on theater-sized venues, a few choice opening spots, some more summer festivals….
Jon Hensley Death Case Remains Open Pending Autopsy
100 CommentsArtist manager Jon Hensley was unexpectedly found dead in his home in Bowling Green, KY on June 1st, and nearly two weeks later, questions still remain on how the 31-year-old manager for Wanda Jackson and Shooter Jennings passed away. The investigation into his death remains an open matter according to the Bowling Green Police detective assigned to the case, Jared Merriss.
The Deslondes: A New Way of Making Old Music
15 CommentsThe Deslondes is not a songwriters project per se. This is not a superpicking troupe or a project that’s all about exuding a bunch of punk energy through unplugged instruments. On paper, this band doesn’t work at all. It’s too busy, there’s no discernible frontman, and there’s nothing fashionable or cutting edge about their approach or style. But The Deslones have something that every band wants but few have…