Friday, July 16, 2010

Country Music Pride

Country Music Pride

Charlie Louvin – Hickory Wind: Live at the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, Waycross, GA – (Tompkins Square Records)

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 07:46 PM PDT

Merle Haggard: Country Music Traditionalist, Internet Prophet

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 04:19 PM PDT

In April 2010, Merle Haggard's latest album, I Am What I Am hit stores and radio stations around the nation. Amid the smooth, polished, heavily produced (some would say overly-produced) opus of much of the modern Nashville sound, I Am What I Am was like a revelation — a voice and sound that seemed to spring straight from an AM country station in the early 1980s.

10 Questions with Coy Bowles from Zac Brown Band

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 01:42 PM PDT

The motto is: Do what you love, love what you do. That certainly seems to be the way the members of Grammy-Award winning Zac Brown Band look at life. The band's debut album, The Foundation, is platinum certified, and played a big role in landing the boys with a Best New Artist award in 2009. Their hit singles "Chicken Fried," "Whatever It Is" and "Toes," all peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Chart, and "Highway 20 Ride" is still all over the airwaves. On Sept. 21, the band will release its sophomore album, You Get What You Give, featuring "Colder Weather," "Who Knows" and "As She's Walking Away." Country Music Pride snagged some of guitar/organ player Coy Bowles' time while on the road, and chatted about touring, summertime fun and what fans can expect at the band's upcoming Sailing Southern Ground cruise.

CMP:  What’s your favorite summertime activity when you’re not on the road?
CB: Floating the Flint River in my hometown. I float it almost every time I come home.

CMP:  Any cool vacation plans? And who throws the best backyard barbecues?
CB: I plan to go out to San Diego this October to hang with my pro surfer friend Peter King. When I was a kid I was huge into skateboards. I met Peter through making music videos with ZBB and he hangs out with all my skateboard heroes from when I was a kid.  Bob Taylor, from Taylor guitars, is also out in San Diego, and he’s invited me out to tour his factory and maybe go on a desert safari ride. Bob went to Iraq with us and has since become very close friends with the band. 
     I’d say Mr Zac Brown throws the best BBQ I know. Zac knows food and knows how to do it up right.

CMP: You guys seem to play a lot of festival-type shows. Do you enjoy that more than a regular concert that you headline?
CB: I personally enjoy them all. Each one has its own advantage. For example: we usually play 90-minute to two-hour sets at festivals. We go out and hit it hard. But on our shows, we play three to four hours, so we have time to let loose and relax a little and do different songs and whatnot. But I enjoy each one. You know moderation and balance are the key to life.

CMP: Around Labor Day you’re hosting the first-ever Sailing Southern Ground cruise. Who came up with that, and who chose Grand Cayman as the destination?
CB: I’m pretty sure Zac had in the back of his mind, “one day I’ll do my own boat,” as soon as he step foot on the first Rock Boat that ZBB ever did. Zac’s just like that if he sees someone do something then he’s gonna wanna do it, but do it his way. I have that in me, too. If someone else can do it, then I usually think I can do it, too. I’m not exactly sure who chose Grand Cayman.

CMP: How will you prepare for the five-day festival?
CB: We’ve had multiple sit-downs with everyone in the band and been passing around e-mails for months about what would be cool. It ultimately boiled down into a list of things that were cool and possible. Each band member threw out things that they were good at and interested in doing. Like, for example, I taught guitar for years, so I’m doing that on the boat. Jimmy D. is big into working out, so he’s doing workout classes. Basically, everybody in the band is doing something that they like and enjoy, and giving that experience with the fans. I’m stoked about it. ZBB is a good group of guys.

CMP: What are five things you MUST bring with you on the ship?
CB: 1) Money for booze. 2) Suntan lotion. 3) Advil for waking up from having too much fun. 4) Sunglasses 5) Swimsuit.

CMP: Who gets the worst sunburn?
CB: I think I have got the worst sunburn of anyone in the band. We had a gig in Hawaii one time. I started snorkeling at like 10 a.m. and didn’t come out of the water till almost dark. I was out there swimming with sea turtles, which by the way, might be on my top 10 list of coolest things I’ve done. I was so burnt that I put Aloe on my back every 10 minutes. I think I used about four bottles of Aloe before bed. And it hurt so bad to lie on the bed to sleep that I finally woke up in the middle of the night and squirted the Aloe all over the top sheet of the bed to form a film of Aloe to lie in. It was nasty, but it worked.

CMP: Are there any surprises in store for fans aboard the ship? And will you be testing out any new music while you’re there?
CB: There are definitely surprises on the ship. If I say then they won’t be surprises. But you can expect us to pull out all the stops. Zac can play music longer than anyone I know, so you can expect to see a lot of Zac brown sitting in and jamming with other people. ZBB has invites to all of our closest and best musical friends on the boat, so you can expect to see every member playing with other bands all the time.

CMP: You’re not a “no-name” band with fewer than 200 fans. Why on earth would you want to lock yourselves away on a cruise ship full of 2,000 crazy fans for five days?
CB: I think the one thing that separates us from a lot of other bands is that we want to be accessible. The bigger things get the harder that is to do. So this is a perfect chance for us to have a controlled environment where we get to be close and hands-on with the fans. We didn’t start doing this to be famous. We play music because we are artists and it’s in our hearts to express ourselves via music. It just so happens to be that we are all country as hell and a bunch of nuts, too.

CMP: You’ve previously performed on the Rock Boat. What’s your best/worst memory from that? And has a fan ever stalked you on the ship?
CB: This is gonna be good. I tore my ACL one year before the cruise. I think it was the Skynyrd cruise. I was on crutches and on a cruise — not a winning combination by the way; it was horrible. Everyone kept leaving me and walking up steps, and by the time I’d get there, they would be getting ready to go somewhere else. About a year later, we went on the Rock Boat. I walked on the boat crutch-free and thankful for my recovery. I saw a guy in crutches and walked up to him and said, “Man, it sucks to be on a cruise on crutches." He said, “Tell me about it." I replied, “Yeah, I was on the Skynyrd boat last year on crutches." I said, “I was on crutches for eight weeks." I then asked how long he had been in crutches for … you know … I was trying to make small talk. He said, “I’ve been on crutches for 17 years now." Without thinking I said, “Man, you really must have messed yourself up." This is where I opened up my mouth and stuck my foot all the way in. It didn’t occur to me in that moment that you can be on crutches for multiple reasons. It finally hit me that the guy had a physical ailment that had caused him to be on crutches. I then started backpedaling and trying to over explain myself and whatnot. He said, “Man, I don’t care, I’m just happy to be on this boat." I said, “Me too, brother man." He asked if he could buy me a beer, and I said there’s no way, I owe you one.  He said, “I won’t drink it unless I buy." I said, "Well I guess you’re buying me a beer. Life is good today."

Nashville Skyline: Lady Antebellum Carry Country Music These Days

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 10:12 AM PDT

One year ago, Taylor Swift was the best-selling recording artist in the world. Now, who is? Maybe Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga?

It does not come as any great surprise that it’s Lady Antebellum. Their Need You Now is the best-selling album in all music genres in the world for the first half of this year. In just the first six months of this year, the trio’s album Need You Now has sold almost 2.4 million physical copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan. It has impressively outpaced Bieber’s nearly 1.4 million sales of his CD My World 2.0.

Need You Now was released Jan. 26. In the first three months of this year, it sold 1.6 million copies. In the past three months, it accounted for another 708,000 copies sold — even as overall CD sales in all music genres continue to drop. Additionally, digital downloads of the single “Need You Now” have reached 2.1 million copies.

Swift’s Fearless album sold a total of 3.2 million albums in all of 2009, so it’s quite likely that Need You Now, with a six months’ sales period still ahead, will outstrip Fearless’ numbers. Lady A came along just in time to prop up country music’s still-declining sales. Country sales for the second quarter of 2010 are down by 3 million copies from this time a year ago — down to 8.4 million total copies. The big reason? No new releases from the major artists.

Lady A’s songs resonate especially well in the country music market, but they also impact with the pop and AC music audiences, with their across-the-board appeal. So far, Lady A have done everything right. They’ve got the looks, the voices, the songwriting chops, good live show, all done with an unfailing sunny optimism. Everything that country music needs right now.

If the pop music market is so broad and national and international, why have Taylor and Lady A — both young newcomers — been able to take over and dominate that arena?

It’s simple: it’s music that people like to hear. Well-crafted, heartfelt peer-group music will always draw an audience.

And, hey, it may well sound familiar and reassuring. The opening to Lady A’s song “Need You Now” evokes the Fleetwood Mac era. Nothing wrong with that.

Very much like any Eagles or Fleetwood Mac album that came long before or even the Mamas and the Papas’ records before them, Lady A’s music has a lyrical little bit of a special something for everyone. Most of all, Lady A have melodic songs. Nothing trumps melody with most music fans. If the words mean something to the listeners’ lives, if they can remember the words, if they can sing it — well, then, it’s a personal hit to them.

And with the album’s second single, “American Honey,” Lady A’s Hillary Scott was — deservedly — established as the lead singer. She’s now the group’s icon voice. There’s a reason why Fleetwood Mac flourished with Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks as star lead singers.

I think it’s pivotal to Lady A’s success that they were co-writers on eight of the album’s 11 tracks. And it’s revealing that the three of them wrote their very large hit single, “Need You Now” (with songwriter Josh Kear).

It also comes as no large surprise that producer Paul Worley had a large hand in this project, producing the album, along with the three Lady A’s. As a co-producer, he was greatly responsible for catapulting the Dixie Chicks from a regional Texas act into a national and international phenomenon and getting the Chicks their Grammy awards for the albums Wide Open Spaces and Fly. He started out in Nashville as a session rhythm guitarist, working on recording sessions ranging from Mickey Gilley to Janie Fricke, and has produced artists ranging from Pam Tillis to Martina McBride to Collin Raye. A lot of studio time logged there.

The Dixie Chicks exemplified well-written songs and catchy melodies. The same goes for Lady A. Good songs and melody and harmony go a long way with music fans. Simplicity works. Honest, direct music works. Why is it so few people ever try that route? 

Courtesy of CMT.com.

Charlie Daniels’ Real America

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 09:26 AM PDT

To the world at large, no musician epitomizes country music more than Charlie Daniels. His name is shorthand for epic fiddle playing. His albums are country music classics. Not only is "Devil Went Down to Georgia" one of the most widely recognized country music songs in the world, it is the most celebrated face-off between an American musician and infernal powers since Robert Johnson made his alleged trip to the crossroads.

Still going strong, Daniels will soon release an album celebrating a topic with which he has become inseparably associated — patriotism.

CMA Songwriters Series returns to Joe’s Pub starring Jamey Johnson

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 08:48 AM PDT

NASHVILLE – CMA Songwriters Series will returns to New York City's Joe's Pub, on Wednesday, Sept. 8 (6:30 and 9:00 PM/ET). Tickets for the popular series will go on sale Wednesday, July 14.

Featuring two-time CMA Song of the Year Award winner and Universal Music Nashville recording artist Jamey Johnson ("Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" recorded by Trace Adkins, "Give It Away" recorded by George Strait, and "In Color" recorded by Johnson), the CMA Songwriters Series allows music fans insight into the stories behind some of their favorite songs.

Joining Johnson will be Buddy Cannon ("Give It Away" recorded by George Strait, and "Set 'Em Up Joe" recorded by Vern Gosdin, and "She's Not Cryin' Anymore" recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus), and Bobby Pinson ("She's A Hottie" recorded by Toby Keith, and "Want To" and "All I Want To Do," both recorded by Sugarland). Bob DiPiero ("Southern Voice" recorded by Tim McGraw, "Blue Clear Sky" recorded by George Strait, and "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" recorded by Brooks & Dunn) will serve as host for the evening.

Tickets for the Sept. 8 CMA Songwriters Series at Joe's Pub are $25 each. For information about Joe's Pub or to order tickets, visit www.joespub.com or call (212) 967-7555 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM/ET. Joe's Pub is located at 425 Lafayette St. in New York City. Official sponsors for the CMA Songwriters Series include American Airlines, ASCAP, BMI, and Great American Country (GAC). American Airlines is the official airline of the CMA Songwriters Series.

Courtesy of CMAworld.com.

Golfer ‘Long John’ releases second studio album

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 05:55 AM PDT

Iconic golfer John Daly, or to those familiar with his backswing – “Long John” – released a new album off Nashville-based digital recording company GMV Nashville.

“I Only Know One Way” is Daly’s second studio recording, and includes a mix of country, blues, ballads and covers. Country star Darius Rucker is also featured on the record.

"The album itself is really my life," Daly said in a release.  "All of the songs have a meaning to them … Most of the record is happening – or has happened in my life.  I hope people can relate to some of the troubles I have had along the way.  Everyone around the world has problems, and I want to connect with those people."

“I Only Know One Way” is currently as a digital album through GMV Nashville.
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