That Nashville Sound: 2009-08-30

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Alt-country rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed have just released their new album, Happiness and All the Other Things, this week. Hailing from Yukon, Oklahoma, the quartet has been a staple of the live circuit since their start in the late 1990s. Although not a household name in the mainstream rock world yet, Cross Canadian Ragweed have already built a huge and loyal fanbase through their gritty live shows. They’ve also long-been celebrated by the music press with USA Today gushing, “This ferociously rocking band is one of the better-kept secrets around…As usual, their best stuff is so good you wonder why more people aren’t noticing…”

Happiness and All the Other Things is Cross Canadian Ragweed’s 7th album and was produced by the band’s longtime compatriot and artist in his own right Mike McClure. And, yes, being from a small town in Oklahoma and two of them now residing in the Lone Star State (where they are kings of the thriving Red Dirt/Texas music scene), Cross Canadian Ragweed also qualify as country, and have even played The Grand Ole Opry. It’s only natural, part of the musical heritage that the members of the band grew up on.

Ragweed’s utterly natural Southwestern rock style abounds on Happiness and All The Other Things. The 12-track opus opens with a one/two punch/kiss combo that sets the band’s wide parameters: The fiercely rocking road tale “51 Pieces” followed by a sweet taste of the Texas Hill Country springtime on “Blue Bonnets,” whose sparse and lovely arrangement features harmonium by Joe Hardy (the star recording engineer who mixed the album) and dobro by noted musician and producer Lloyd Maines (also the father of Dixie Chick Natalie Maines). The band will be out throughout the rest of the year and well into 2010 promoting the record.

Listen to their new song "51 Pieces" HERE...

Friday, September 4, 2009

Listen To The New Ronnie Milsap and Trace Adkins Duet Here

This week, BLEVE Records released their debut single titled “My First Ride,” by legendary performer and recording artist Ronnie Milsap. The rockin’, feel good tune about first car bliss also features multi-platinum and Capitol recording artist Trace Adkins.

The label has aligned with the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Fire Fighters to market music to benefit police officers, fire fighters and their families in the United States and Canada who have suffered financial hardship in the wake of natural or man-made disasters, including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires or civil disturbances.

"I admire what police officers and firefighters do every day for this country," says Ronnie, "I want to help in any way I can."

You can listen to the new single HERE.

Lady Antebellum Gets Pranked By Kenny Chesney

This week's Lady A Webisode (Lady Antebellum hosts a weekly video clip that they post on YouTube each week) features scenes from their very last show on Kenny Chesney's summer tour. And they get pranked multiple times- highlights include Kenny's entire road crew coming out on the stage and performing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" dance and Lady A's Hillary Scott having a her set interrupted by the Burger King "King" delivering a Whopper mid-show.

Bellamy Brothers and Bacon Brothers Make First Public Appearance Together on Grand Ole Opry

Legendary country duo The Bellamy Brothers appeared with special guests The Bacon Brothers on the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday, September 1st. The Bellamys performed "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)," then invited the Bacons on stage for their current single and collaboration, "Guilty of the Crime." The two pairs of brothers closed out the set with a rocking version of "Let Your Love Flow." The appearance marked the first public appearance for the Bacons and the Bellamys together and the first time the Bacon Brothers had ever performed on the Opry.

Kentucky Headhunters Prepare New Live Album For 9/22 Release

With their 1989 debut album, Pickin' On Nashville, the Kentucky Head-hunters bucked the fashion of slick, homo-genized, country pop and laid down a loose and rowdy, working class Southern rock that won fans around the world. On the 20th anniversary of Pickin' On Nashville, the band is releasing a brand new CD called The Kentucky Headhunters Live at the Agora (Mercury/UMe), to be released on September 22, 2009. Singer and rhythm guitarist Richard Young says, "People have been waiting 20 years for us to put out a live record. This is one of our favorite nights early on; we were definitely hitting on all eight cylinders."

Not only did Pickin' On Nashville reach #2 and remain on the Country charts for 147 weeks (nearly 3 years), go double platinum and spin off four Top 40 Country hits--a cover of Bill Monroe's "Walk Softly On This Heart of Mine," "Dumas Walker," "Rock 'n' Roll Angel" and a Top 10 cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me"--but the band earned a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, the Best New Vocal Group award from the Academy of Country Music, and both the Album of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Producer of the Year awards from the Country Music Association. Not bad for a demo tape recorded with a borrowed $4,500 and originally intended to be sold at the live shows of a band with its Kentucky roots in a '60s group called Itchy Brother that enjoyed regional success in the '70s and morphed into the Kentucky Headhunters in the '80s.

Today, the Kentucky Headhunters, with four of the five original members who perform, are still on stage and still rockin'. See them perform “Dumas Walker” below on the Marty Stuart Show.

J.D. Souther To Receive ASCAP Golden Note Award

J.D. Souther, the pen behind the power of the Eagles, will receive the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award this fall. He will be honored during the 47th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, set for Monday, October 19, at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium.

Souther co-wrote some of the Eagles most beloved hits including “Best of My Love,” “Heartache Tonight,” “New Kid In Town,” and “Victim of Love.” Artists including George Strait, One Flew South, Linda Ronstadt, The Dixie Chicks, Glen Campbell, and Michael Buble have recorded his songs.

“Having written hits for nearly four decades, J.D. Souther is in a class all his own,” says Connie Bradley, ASCAP Senior Vice President. “Many of the hits he’s written have become part of the soundtrack of the lives of multiple generations. We are thrilled to honor J.D. with the ASCAP Golden Note Award.”

The honor is reserved for songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients include Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson among others.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

One Flew South Debuts New Music- "2 Drunk 2 Say Goodbye"

Our favorite "Last Of The Good Guys," One Flew South, have unveiled a brand new song on their MySpace page called "2 Drunk 2 Say Goodbye." While Chris Roberts, Royal Reed and Eddie Bush seem to have developed their own unique version of a country sound that's hard to pin down, one thing is for sure, they have some of the most amazing harmonies in the business. You can listen to the brand new song HERE.

Cracker Barrel To Be Serving Up Some Zac Brown Band

The Zac Brown Band and Cracker Barrel have joined together to put out an exclusive version of The Foundation, which includes three previously unreleased tracks and will be available in Cracker Barrel stores only on September 7th. In addition to the band’s two #1 songs, "Chicken Fried" and "Whatever It Is," you will find live versions of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "I Lost It" and "I Shall Be Released."

AND, beginning in early October, Cracker Barrel will also be introducing "Southern Ground Grub," Zac Brown's own food line featuring his spice rub and a “Brown Sauce” that are his own recipes he has shared with his family and friends through the years, as well as a cookbook of Zac's recipes.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sugarland Prepares Christmas CD For October Release

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas?

Already?

Fresh off their Pop and Country chart-topping CD/DVD combo Live On The Inside, superstar duo Sugarland is set to release a 10-track holiday-themed record titled GOLD AND GREEN on October 6, which includes 5 original songs co-written by lead members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush(*). With the purchase of GOLD AND GREEN, available everywhere, fans will be able to access exclusive content such as downloads and the chance to enter special sweepstakes.

TRACK LISTING:

1. City Of Silver Dreams*
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Holly Jolly Christmas
4. Coming Home*
5. Gold And Green*
6. Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day)*
7. Nuttin' For Christmas
8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
9. Little Wood Guitar*
10. Silent Night

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

9513 Interview With Richard Sterban From The Oak Ridge Boys

As most of our TNS readers know, I handle interviews for another wonderful country music site called The9513.com. This last week, I had a chance to interview one of the iconic voices in the industry, Richard Sterban from the Oak Ridge Boys. The deep-voiced singer, whose “ba-oom papa oom papa mow mow,” on “Elvira” (the best-selling record in Nashville recording history) is indelible on the country music landscape. Richard talks about the Oak Ridge Boys’ latest album, The Boys Are Back, as well as talks about the Country Music Hall Of Fame, their involvement in gospel music and what thefuture holds. It’s a great interview and can see the whole thing HERE.

“The thing that we’re most excited about is that after all of these years, we’re still doing this. I’ve been an Oak Ridge Boy for 36 years. Joe Bonsall came about a year after I did–he and I have been doing this 35 or 36 years together. And William Lee Golden and Duane Allen have been in the group for over 40 years. So the fact that we’ve been able to do this for this long and experience this kind of longevity in the music business is pretty phenomenal. It’s pretty mind-boggling, actually. So many of the country music acts that were our contemporaries have retired. But we have not. The Oak Ridge Boys have no plans on retiring. We’re still having fun doing this. We love everything about our career. We still enjoy taking our music live to our audience. It’s still the most fun thing that we do. Most days, when we are on the road, we live for that night to get up on stage and do our music live. It’s because even after all these years, it’s what we love doing.”

Trace Adkins Adds Movie Actor To His Resume

Country music star Trace Adkins has joined the cast of the independent feature film LIFTED, currently shooting in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the first feature to be made under the new Alabama incentive program that was passed to develop the state's entertainment industry. Written and directed by Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans, Punisher: Warzone) and produced by Deborah Del Prete (Wedding Planner, The Spirit), Lifted is the story of Henry Matthews, an exceptionally talented young singer, whose happy family life is disrupted when his Marine father is re-deployed to Afghanistan. Henry, despite many obstacles, is inspired to compete in a teen singing competition.

Adkins (American Carol) plays country superstar, Jimmy Knox, the guest judge at the American Idol-like "Teen Starquest." The cast includes Dash Mihok, Nicki Aycox, James Handy, Ruben Studdard and newcomer 12-year-old Uriah Shelton as Henry Matthews. The film will be dedicated to all the fallen heroes of Operation Freedom.

Lifted, the first project under Del Prete's new banner Coronet Films is being produced in association with Birmingham based Hunter Films, topped by brothers Alan and Hugh Hunter who serve as co-producers. The film is expected to be released in September 2010.

John Fogerty Releases New Country Album This Week

Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member and Creedence Clearwater Revival former lead singer John Fogerty has a new country album out this week titled The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again. It is being featured as a Daily Deal on Amazon.com- you can download the entire album on Amazon for only $3.99.

With the release of The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, Fogerty joyfully resurrects his mythical group. After Creedence Clearwater Revival broke up in 1972, Fogerty released his first solo album under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers. He played all the instruments on this album of gospel and country covers, which earned critical accolades and produced two Top 40 hits, "Jambalaya" and "Hearts of Stone."

John Fogerty The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again Amazon Daily Deal click HERE.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Tammy Wynette Receives Induction To Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Tammy Wynette will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 18th along with an induction class that includes longtime songwriters Kye Fleming and Mark D. Sanders. Wynette will be honored in the Songwriter/Artist category, while Fleming and Sanders will be recognized in the Songwriter category.

“Kye, Mark and Tammy have made many poignant and enduring contributions to the music world and certainly deserve to take their places among their gifted peers,” said Roger Murrah, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “It’s an honor for us to recognize them for their outstanding accomplishments.”

Fleming’s songwriter credits include hits such as “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” (Barbara Mandrell) and “Smoky Mountain Rain” (Ronnie Milsap). Sanders’ resume is known for “I Hope You Dance” (Lee Ann Womack) and “It Matters To Me” (Faith Hill). Wynette popularized many of her own compositions, including the standard “Stand By Your Man” and “‘Til I Can Make It On My Own.”

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony features tributes and performances of the inductees’ songs by special guest artists. NaSHOF’s sister organization, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), also presents its annual awards for the year’s best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by its professional songwriters division.

Carrie Underwood Announces November 3rd For Next Album Launch

Carrie Underwood's camp announced that her next album, Play On, will hit stores on November 3rd.

Up & Coming New Nashville- Zoe Muth & The High Rollers (With Exclusive Interview)

Our weekly column about new country music artists takes us up to the Great Northwest to Seattle, Washington where we uncover a new traditional country band named Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers.

Zoe and the Lost High Rollers are part of a close-knit community of musicians who make up and increasingly respected roots, folk, country and Americana scene that has seen bands like The Cave Singers, The Moondoggies, Sera Cahoone, and Neko Case break into the national spotlight. Zoe was recently part of the No Depression music festival as part of the All-Star revue of the Northwest’s best Roots musicians which included Star Anna, Mark Pickerel, Kristen Ward, Sera Cahoone, and members of The Maldives and North Twin. Initially a solo artist, Zoe Murth has compiled a cadre of seasoned musicians in a group that takes its name from a Townes Van Zandt song “No Lonesome Time.” Zoe has been compared to county legend Emmy Lou Harris by Seattle Weekly and finds inspiration in Bob Dylan and Woodie Guthrie when it comes to writing music. Her unhurried lyrics have a strong narrative and are complimented by her lilted and confident voice.

"My main focus has been on writing songs, and I always just figured if I can write a good song and sing it well, then it really doesn't matter how good my guitar playing is," Muth says. "I appreciate artists that write about work and class issues, but not in a really outwardly political way."

Listen to their new single “You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying” HERE.

You can visit Zoe and her band at the website HERE.

We had a chance to sit down with the songstress who was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about her musical background...

That Nashville Sound- What brought you to music in the first place?

Zoe Muth- What brought me to music? I don't come from a particularly musical family, but my dad has always been a big country/rock music fan with a huge record collection. My sister and I would play his 45's on our mini record player and make up dance routines and lip-sync. I always wanted to be on a stage I guess. When I was pretty young 5 or 6 I started writing songs and did throughout high school, but never really thought I had enough talent to be successful, plus I was shy. I figured out after college that I could never have and truly enjoy what anyone would call a normal job. I've worked as a preschool teacher ever since. It's the only way I can incorporate my loves of art and music and not have to deal with adults and computers all day.

TNS- What’s the mission behind the music?

ZM- My music started out as really folksy Carter Family or Bob Dylan but has really evolved with the musicianship of the band to incorporate a lot of traditional country and rock and roll elements. There's no real mission, just trying to be good and have fun, hopefully we can make a meager living doing what we love.

TNS- What might people be surprised to find out about you

ZM- I have lived in Seattle my whole life. People wonder why I sing like I do and love country music so much being from Seattle. I can't help it, whenever I sing, it just comes out that way, I guess somebody or something somewhere just wanted there to be another country singer in the world.

TNS- What kind of music are you listening to? What's in your iPod?

ZM- I don't have an i-Pod, I pretty much try to stay away from computerized devices as much as possible. Some of my favorite newer artists are Sera Cahoone, Caleb Klauder, Elvis Perkins, and Kathleen Edwards.

TNS- If you had a crystal ball and looked forward five years, what do you see for yourself?

ZM- What I hope for myself is to be able to travel and play music. It would really help all of us musicians out if we got this universal health care thing worked out.

TNS- Quick questions… Favorite Hobby?

ZM- I love gardening and making art.

TNS- Record stores or downloads?

ZM- Record stores and thrift stores for records for sure, I rarely have access to a decent computer to get stuff online anyway. I like having the real deal anyway, plus I hate to see cool little record stores going out of business.

TNS- Favorite food?

ZM- Anything Greek,

TNS- West Coast or East Coast?

ZM- I don't know much about the East Coast, I'm sure it's nice though.

TNS- Nickname for your guitar or other instrument(s)?

ZM- No nickname for my Yamaha guitar, I usually borrow my pedal steel player Dave Harmonson's 70's Martin for gigs. Someday, I'll get a credit card and by my own.

CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock Airs Tonight On ABC

With a whole crew of country music's top superstars on this ticket, tonight's show on ABC will be a sure-fire entertaining watch. High voltage stage performances, along with revealing special segments about fan favorites, will mark the return of ABC's hottest music event this summer when CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock airs TONIGHT, Monday, August 31st on ABC Television Network. The annual music bash, expanding to three hours for the first time, will air in HD with 5.1-channel surround sound.

Scheduled to perform are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley,Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band and others. In addition, Kid Rock performs his smash hit "Picture" with special surprise guest Martina McBride and Wynonna and The Judds reunite and perform together FOR THE FIRST TIME at the CMA Music Festival in six years.

We can't wait to see show highlights from the CMA Music Festival held June 11-14 in Nashville. On-and off-stage segments and day-in-the-life vignettes showcasing the personalities and lifestyles of fan favorites will be presented:

As one of the main attractions at CMA Music Festival, Jason Aldean's sky rocketing popularity is evident in his legions of female fans. Later, at his nightclub performance Aldean welcomes them--declaring "Ladies Night at the CMA Music Festival" and treats us all to a performance of his hit, "She's Country" that segues to a performance at LP field.

We also encounter Brad Paisley during a quiet moment alone on his tour bus speaking about his fans then encountering hundreds of them as they greet him outside his bus. His personal recollections then segue to Paisley and his band electrifying a standing-room-only crowd at Fuel club with his hit song, "Then" to LP Field where he sings "American Saturday Night."

Kellie Pickler's off-stage persona is captured as she spends the day with fans, charming them with her quick wit and sweet disposition. Pickler's admirers join her for some shopping at famous Nashville stores such as Ernest Tubb's record shop, where she autographs and gives some lucky fans her own CDs and stops by Mike's Soda Shop to taste "Kellie Pickler" ice cream. Later that night we see Pickler perform "Best Days of Your Life."

The special takes a candid look at the hectic and fun day-in-the-life of Julianne Hough from getting ready at home to the convention center to a slew of press interviews such as Good Morning America with All My Children's Cameron Mathison. She then heads to sound check and wardrobe changes all the while meeting fans all along the way.

Throughout the special, Kellie Pickler brings us interviews with some of the Festival's biggest performers in this multi-star segment. Darius Rucker, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland and Martina McBride offer celebrity insight and share their personal stories from the road, home and tours with viewers. Then Taylor Swift answers submitted questions from her six biggest fans and later she surprises them in a meet-and-greet.

The annual CMA Music Festival is unlike any other, with four days filled with more than one hundred hours of live music, 30 hours of autograph signings by Country Music's biggest names and up and comers, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid fans. This is the fifth time ABC will broadcast this special, which invites all of America to the biggest Country Music bash since the original Fan Fair was launched in 1972. This year an average of 56,000 fans attended each day of CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet.