DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/23/13)

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Phil Lee

Phil Lee


What a bunch of crap. There was precious little pleasant listening during this session, since nearly half the discs were dogs. The bright spots included Joel Crouse, John Damian and Chris Wall. The critically acclaimed and criminally unrewarded Phil Lee has the Disc of the Day. All country lovers should shower him with their love and money. The brightest spot of all was the DisCovery Award winner. Tyler Farr grabbed ahold of my ears and didn’t let go for a second.
JOHN DAMIAN/Gingerbread Man
Writer: Vernon Rust; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Reptile 
—The chiming, driving track has plenty of catchy, sitar-ish guitar work and his vocal on this well-written, hooky country rocker is packed with passion. Nicely done.
EASTON CORBIN/All Over the Road
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville (ERG) 
—Bland. In one ear and out the other.
JORDAN ANDERSON/Toxic
Writer: Anderson/Robbins/Wilson; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed; GTR (www.jordanandersoncountry.com)
—It’s a wild, super-energetic rocker laced with fiddle. Her vocal is ever so slightly flat.
Tyler Farr

Tyler Farr


EMERSON DRIVE/She’s My Kind of Crazy
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; TTA Quarterback (ERG)
—She has a tattoo on her butt, wears a ponytail and drives a junk car. Naturally, he’s completely smitten. I’m not. Pass.
CHRIS WALL/Six Shiny Strings
Writer: Chris Wall; Producer: Chris Wall, Lloyd Maines & Merel Bregante; Publisher: Shallow Pockets, BMI; Cold Spring (track) 
—This Texas favorite recorded his new El Western Motel CD in Austin with the gifted Lloyd Maines providing instrumental support. This acoustic, folk-country lead-off track is the tale of a boy who falls under the spell of music making. It’s like listening to a good buddy tell you a story. A sound of warmth and charm.
TYLER FARR/Redneck Crazy
Writer: Josh Kear/Mark Irwin/Chris Tompkins; Producer: Jim Catino & Julian King; Publisher: Global Dog/Big Yellow Dog/Lunalight/Words & Music/Green Vinyl/Big Loud Songs/Angel River/Big Loud Bucks, ASCAP; Columbia 
—I listened to him introduce this song on the Opry on Saturday night. It sounded good to me then, and it sounds good to me now. It’s a gripping little record. He sings with fevered, raspy emotion, and the creepy, quasi-stalking lyric is kinda scary in its obsessiveness. Well worth your spins.
DALE WATSON/Daughter’s Wedding Song
Writer: Dale Watson; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Dale Watson/Bug, BMI; Red House (track) 
—I just can’t get over the fact that this guy is not a gigantic country superstar. He sings like a lost son of Merle Haggard, writes songs with the best of them and looks cool to boot. This sweet, slow waltz appears on his new El Rancho Azul collection. It is a mite repetitive, but daddies everywhere will melt for its sentiment.
JOEL CROUSE/If You Want Some
Writer: Joel Crouse/Jamie Houston/Luke Laird; Producer: Jamie Houston; Publisher: Joel Crouse/Happy Cake/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Twangin’ and Slangin,’ BMI/ASCAP; Show Dog Universal 
—Happy and youthful, it’s an invitation to a party that is just about irresistible. Love his drawl and his phrasing. The track chugs right along.
PHIL LEE/She Don’t Let Love Get in the Way
Writer: Phil Lee; Producer: Richard Bennett; Publisher: Grim Reminder, BMI; Palookaville (track) (www.philleeone.com)
—Lee is the greatest honky-tonk singer in the modern history of Lower Broadway in Music City. His new CD is called The Fall & Further Decline of the Mighty King of Love. This track blends blues, country and calypso with just a touch of Mexicali while he intones like a young Dylan. I remain an enormous fan.
COUNTRY YOUTH ASSOCIATION/Trailer Trash
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; WSR 
—Completely incompetent, from vocal performance to instrumental noise to studio sonics. Easily the worst record I have heard in decades. Must be heard to be believed.

Nashville Artist Management Companies Merge

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888 Management LogoGeorge Couri and Bruce Kalmick are joining forces by merging their companies, Triple 8 Management and Ambiance Artists.
The blended staff of each of the companies are working under one roof as Triple 8 Management. With 18 full-time employees, the company will focus on radio promotion, marketing, new media, merchandising and tour marketing.
“Since forming Triple 8 Management back on 08/08/08, we have been building and structuring the way we do business a specific way, and once Bruce and I began talking it became immediately clear that he had been doing it the very same way on his own,” says Couri. “So its very exciting to join two similarly-built teams together and get even more done for our clients.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about joining forces with a group of people as motivated, skilled and talented as George and his team,” says Kalmick. “Together, we will continue to do what we both do best; break new ground for our clients on all levels.”
The combined roster includes Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville), Josh Abbott Band (WMN/Atlantic), Joe Nichols (Red Bow/Broken Bow) and The Cadillac Black.
 
 

Tin Pan South Dates Announced

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tin pan south 2013The Nashville Songwriters Association International has announced that the 21st Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will take place April 2-6 in Nashville. Regions Bank will return for the seventh year as the presenting sponsor.
Produced by NSAI, Tin Pan South is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival. In 2012, nearly 350 talented songwriters performed 92 shows at ten of Nashville’s top music venues. Over 9,000 music fans attend the event annually to hear songwriters tell stories behind hit songs they have written and perform the songs as they’re were originally composed.
For the sixth consecutive year, students from Watkins College of Art, Design & Film competed to design the artwork for all Tin Pan South marketing pieces, passes, posters and banners. This year’s winning artwork was designed by Kelsey Goessman. The southern Illinois native is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design.
 

Artist News (1/22/13)

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Kasey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves


Mercury Records singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves is scheduled to release a debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, March 19. In addition to maintaining writing credits on all of the album’s tracks including her current single “Merry Go ‘Round,” Musgraves shares co-producing credits with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird. Musgraves is scheduled to appear on Little Big Town’s Tornado Tour starting January 31, and Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Nation stadium tour this summer. The 24-year-old previous Nashville Star contestant is also up for her first award, an ACM New Female Vocalist nomination. Fans can vote here.

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LA
Lady Antebellum has revealed its latest single, “Downtown,” as the lead single from its fourth forthcoming studio album. The band will debut the track next week (Jan. 28) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, then a second performance the following week (Feb. 6) on CBS’s The Talk. For a preview of “Downtown,” click here. The track is available now for radio via Play MPE.

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EYBEli Young Band performed its current single “Say Goodnight” and No. 1 title “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” during last night’s (Jan. 21) episode of The Bachelor. Nearly 7.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the ABC show, which featured a private concert between the bachelor himself, potential love interest AshLee, alongside two chronically ill teenage fans of the band. Watch the performances at the 52:04 & 57:40 marks here. The group is in the middle of recording a sophomore Republic Nashville album and will hit the road with Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Nation tour in March.

Entertainment Evolution Promotes Mullins, Adds Porisch

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Shelly Mullins

Shelly Mullins


Entertainment marketing, management and consulting company Entertainment Evolution announces the promotion of Shelly Mullins to the role of Vice President and adds Johann Porisch as Account Executive.
Entertainment Evolution handles the newly created music program at Buffets, Inc., which includes restaurants Ryans, Country Buffet, Fire Mountain, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and Granny’s Buffet. They also manage Janie Fricke and The Roys.
Mullins has over 25 years experience in entertainment, including stints at Cumulus Radio, High Five Entertainment, William Morris, Creative Workshops/Southern Writers Group and Shop at Home.
Johann Porisch

Johann Porisch


Porisch graduated from Baylor University in December of 2012 where he majored in Music and Entertainment Marketing.  At Baylor, Porisch served as a Producer for All-University SING, one of the largest non-professional, off-Broadway productions in the world, and founded Uproar Concert Promotions with the aim of bringing quality entertainment to campus. Porisch will report directly to Mullins.
Mullins can be reached at shelly@entertainmentevolution.net. Porisch can be reached at johann@entertainmentevolution.com.
 
 

Rascal Flatts and Journey Pair for CMT Super Bowl Crossroads

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Journey & Rascal Flatts at 2012 CMT Awards. Photo: Rick Diamond

Journey & Rascal Flatts at 2012 CMT Awards. Photo: Rick Diamond


Rascal Flatts and Journey are scheduled to pair for CMT’s Super Bowl Crossroads concert, airing at 11 p.m. ET  on Feb. 2, the evening before Super Bowl XLVII.
This year’s event will mark the second collaboration between the two bands, who closed the CMT Music Awards together in 2012 with a performance of Journey’s signature, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Rascal Flatts has delivered 14 No. 1 singles and recently celebrated over 7 million concert tickets sold since debuting in 2000. Formed in 1973, Journey has delivered 19 Top 40 singles with the band’s Greatest Hits album having been certified 15 times platinum.
The event will be taped the night of the airing (Feb. 2) with an hour delay from the New Orleans Sugar Mill, in Louisiana. Fans can register to be a part of CMT Crossroads as NFL Insiders at www.1iota.com.

Industry Ink (1/22/13)

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thebandperryBB Gun Press has signed The Band Perry for independent publicity representation, working with Splash! PR on the trio’s upcoming project. Brian Bumbery heads the Los Angeles based company which reps Green Day, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more.

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bernie taupin1Nashville art gallery The Rymer Gallery will present “Beyond Words,” a collection by legendary songwriter and lyricist Bernie Taupin beginning March 30. Taupin will make special appearances April 6  and 7. Details at www.therymergallery.com.

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NELVector Management’s Jon Romero is among those selected for the Nashville Emerging Leaders 2013 class. The 11-week program begins in February.

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clive davis1South By Southwest will welcome Clive Davis as a speaker this year on Thursday, March 14 from 2 p.m.–3 p.m. Davis is currently Chief Creative Officer for Sony Music Entertainment. He has been closely involved with a large list of notable artists through his tenures at Columbia, Arista and J Records. From early signings Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Billy Joel and Earth, Wind & Fire, to Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead, and Santana, to Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson among many others, Davis has made a profound impact on popular culture.

 
 

Rare Hank Williams Sr. Live Recordings Become Available

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hankwilliams1The Hank Williams estate, overseen by his children Jett Williams and Hank Williams, Jr., is making over 200 live performance recordings directly available to movie houses, television production companies, and advertising agencies, where before these rare live recordings had never been accessible for licensing directly from the Estate.
“After years of litigation and tribulation, we can now make these recordings available directly from the Hank Williams Estate, as well as make a decision in a heartbeat,” adds Keith Adkinson, lawyer for the Hank Williams Estate. “This will only allow for a little more Hank out in the entertainment world.”
“I am honored to join my brother Hank Williams, Jr. in making available these original recordings of our dad for multi-media use,” says Jett Williams. “Many experts have said they are better than the MGM masters. You decide–but we can carry on the legacy of my dad with pride.”
“Daddy’s music has lasted decades and is being discovered by a new generation of fans. Not only did he influence country artists, but he also crossed over to influence rock artists,” says Hank Williams Jr. “Today, the Williams legacy continues to endure with the release of these recordings for movies, commercials, documentaries, among others things.”
143 songs from the 1951 radio shows by “Mother’s Best Flour Company” are available, along with 49 other songs, including:

Happy Rovin’ Cowboy Wedding Bells
Lovesick Blues Old Joe Clark
Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies – Audrey Williams Sally Goodin’
Happy Rovin’ Cowboy You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave)
(There’s) Bluebird On Your Windowsill – Audrey Williams Fire On The Mountain
A Tramp On The Street Sally Goodin’
Happy Rovin’ Cowboy I’m A Long Gone Daddy
I’m Telling You – Audrey Williams Bill Cheatham
When God Comes And Gathers His Jewels Sally Goodin’
Happy Rovin’ Cowboy Lost Highway
I Want To Live And Love Bile Them Cabbage Down
I’ll Have A New Body (I’ll Have A New Life) Fingers On Fire
Sally Goodin’ Happy Rovin’ Cowboy
A Mansion On The Hill There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Wagner The Prodigal Son
Sally Goodin’ Happy Rovin’ Cowboy
Pan American Lovesick Blues
Arkansas Traveler I Saw The Light
Sally Goodin’ Happy Rovin’ Cowboy
Mind Your Own Business Wedding Bells
Cotton-Eyed Joe I’ve Just Told Mama Goodbye
Sally Goodin’ Happy Rovin’ Cowboy
I Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
Fisherman’s Hornpipe Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
Sally Goodin’

 
 
 
 

Crownover, Blevins Moves to Music Row

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-1Crownover, Blevins, P.C. is expanding and moving this week. The business, music, and estate planning law firm will occupy the old Cumulus Broadcasting space on the second floor of 54 Music Square East, located on Music Row in Nashville.
“Bryan Switzer and Kix Brooks were nice enough to let us move in early, while they wait on their new studio to be built on 2nd Avenue. So we’ll share some space with them for a few months and then occupy the entire space in March of 2013,” said Derek Crownover, the firm’s founding partner.
The phone numbers and e-mails for the lawyers, paralegals and staff will remain the same; however, the physical and mailing address will change immediately to: 54 Music Square East, Suite 250, Nashville, TN 37203.
For more information about Crownover, Blevins, visit: www.dcablaw.com
 

Artist News 1/22/13

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RH

Pictured (L-R): Jen Joe (Stoney Creek), Houser, and Kerry Wolfe (WMIL)


Randy Houser celebrated his first No. 1, “How Country Feels,” after playing WMIL’s Class of 2013 Show in Milwaukee. The song is the lead single from Houser’s Stoney Creek debut CD, which was released to stores today (Jan. 22) and can be seen in iTunes, here.

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BJPop, country and gospel artist B.J. Thomas will celebrate half a century creating music with a new album of stripped down re-imaginings of 12 of his most popular songs, produced by Kyle Lehning. The Wrinkled Records album, titled The Living Room Sessions, will feature guest artists including Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Keb’ Mo’, Isaac Slade of The Fray, Richard Marx, Steve Tyrell, and more, with a yet-to-be announced Spring release date. For more information, click here.

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SMSteve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, featuring Edie Brickell, will kick off a North American tour on May 22 in Ft. Meyers, Fla. The tour, showcasing a unique hybrid of bluegrass and comedy, will promote the band’s forthcoming April 23 Rounder Records release, Love Has Come for You. Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center is scheduled to host the group on Wednesday, May 29. For a list of dates, click here.