Old Crow Medicine Show Announces Album, Plans Tour

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Nashville’s Old Crow Medicine Show has announced the release of its latest album Carry Me Back, due out July 17 via ATO Records.

Carry Me Back is the fourth studio release for OCMS and first since 2008’s Tennessee Pusher. The album was produced by Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly) and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios.

“Ted Hutt asked us to really dig deep as artists, as songwriters, to get to the heart of the matter of these songs and, especially, not to settle for anything less than their greatness,” says OCMS member Ketch Secor. “For me, Carry Me Back is all about the songs, how they line up, intertwine, switch partners, and promenade home. Each of these songs was an accident waiting to happen.”

OCMS (Ketch Secor, Critter Fuqua, Kevin Hayes, Morgan Jahnig, Gill Landry, and Chance McCoy) will also hit the road in summer to support the album’s release. The trek gets underway July 19 in Indianapolis, IN and includes stops at New York City’s Central Park (8/6) and Nashville’s The Woods at Fontanel (7/28).

Old Crow Medicine Show Tour Dates
June 30 – Owensboro, KY @ ROMP Festival
July 19 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
July 20 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
July 21 – Kansas City, MO @ The Crossroads
July 26 – Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre
July 27 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
July 28 – Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel with Special Guests
August 1 – Richmond, VA @ Maymont Park w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest
August 2 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest
August 3 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest
August 4 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 6 – New York, NY @ SummerStage, Central Park w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 8 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 9 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 10 – Burlington, VT @ Waterfront Park w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE w/The Lumineers
August 17 – Salem, VA @ Salem Civic Center w/The Lumineers
August 18 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre w/The Lumineers
August 19 – Charlottesville, VA @ nTelos Wireless Pavilion w/The Lumineers & Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three
August 23 – Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre w/The Lumineers & Milk Carton Kids
August 24 – Knoxville, TN @ The Tennessee Theatre w/ The Lumineers & Milk Carton Kids
August 25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theater w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

Martina Sells Out Midwest Tour Dates

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Photo: Becky Fluke

Martina McBride recently sold out all three of her recent Midwest tour stops during the One Night theater tour. The sold-out dates included Shooting Star Casino (Mahnomen, MN); Surf Ballroom (Clearlake, IA) and Honeywell Center (Wabash, IN).

Throughout most of the summer, McBride will be on the One Night tour, but on May 27 she will head to Indianapolis, IN to sing the national anthem at the 96th Indianapolis 500.

A couple weeks later on June 10, she will headline the CMA Music Festival’s LP Field show in Nashville. For more information click here.

UPCOMING DATES:
May 17           Austin, TX                           Austin City Limits Live
May 18           Houston, TX                        Arena Theatre
May 27           Indianapolis, IN                   Indianapolis Motor Speedway
June 8            Winstead, MN                     Winstock Country Music Festival
June 10          CMA Music Festival             LP Field
June 13          Vienna, VA                           Wolf Trap Filene Center
June 14          Kettering, OH                       Fraze Pavilion
June 16          Riverside, IA                         Riverside Casino & Golf Resort

Jimmy Barret Inks Booking Agreement

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Singer/songwriter Jimmy Barret has signed an agreement with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for booking representation. WME will also be overseeing Barret’s television, film, and sponsorship opportunities, with Rob Beckham and Braeden Rountree serving as the responsible agents.

Barret’s team is lead by former Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP Promotion Skip Bishop, who is also currently assisting promotion efforts for Blaster Entertainment’s Aaron Lewis. Producer Jay Joyce is working with Barret in the studio, and his single “Southern Places” will be released to country radio in summer.

(L-R): Braeden Rountree (WME), Barret, Rob Beckham (WME), Skip Bishop (B Major Music)

Country Throwdown Tour Adds Corey Smith, Plans New Dates

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The third annual Country Throwdown Tour Fired Up By Kingsford will get underway Friday, May 18 in Gulfport, MS, and a new performer and dates have been added for the popular outdoor summer trek.

Corey Smith will play select dates (May 19, 20, 26, 27, and July 8) of the tour, joining previously announced performers Gary Allan, Josh Thompson, Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore, Eric Paslay, Sunny Sweeney, Florida Georgia Line and Maggie Rose. Atkins is set to play June 1-30 and July 1, while Moore will be on board May 18-27.  In addition to the performances on the tour’s two main stages, the Bluebird Cafe stage will spotlight emerging songwriters Channing Wilson, Rose Falcon, and Carly Pearce for intimate sets throughout the day.

The tour will hit 20 cities nationwide and has recently added stops in Lampe, MO (5/19); Bonner Springs, KS (5/20); Milwaukee, WI (6/28); and Nashville (7/8). Special guests Jonathan Singleton and the Grove, Drake White, and Mama’s Blue Dress will play at the Nashville tour stop.

Pictured at the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour kick-off event on April, 24 at the famed Bluebird Cafe are (L-R): Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Gary Allan, Channing Wilson, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Thompson, 4Fini's Kevin Lyman and Sarah Baer and Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. Photo: 4Fini

Tickets are on sale now for select cities at www.countrythrowdown.com.

Full dates:
5/18-Gulfport, MS @ Jones Park
5/19-Lampe, MO @ Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater
5/20-Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
5/26-Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
5/27-Bangor, ME @ Waterfront Park
6/1-Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
6/2-Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
6/3-Anderson, IN @ Hoosier Park Casino
6/13-Glen Allen, VA @ Innsbrook Pavilion
6/14-N. Lawrence, OH @ Clay’s Park Amphitheater
6/15-Danville, VA @ Carrington Pavilion
6/16-Washington, PA @ CONSOL Energy Park
6/17-Syracuse, NY @ NYS Fairgrounds
6/22-Sioux Falls, SD @ W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds
6/23-Rockford, IL @ Davis Park / Metro Center
6/28-Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest 2012
6/29-Marion, IL @ Rent One Park
6/30-Bridgeview, IL @ Toyota Park
7/1-Norfolk, NE @ Divots Conference Center
7/8-Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel

Lucero Brings Memphis To Nashville

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It probably goes without saying, but there’s just no substitute for playing live and making fans city by city.

Memphis band Lucero understands that, having spent more than a decade touring relentlessly and expanding its country/punk/soul/rock sound. The band’s new album Women & Work (ATO Records) is its second for a major (10th overall) and already the best-selling of its career. ATO Records currently has a hot hand with other beloved touring rock bands like My Morning Jacket, Drive-By Truckers, and The Alabama Shakes.

It wasn’t exactly a packed house when Lucero played Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom last Friday (5/11) with John Henry & The Engine, but it was an incredibly loyal one. Like the kind of loyal that screams the words to every song and repeatedly shouts out requests between tunes.

Which was perfectly fine with the band. “We’ve been on tour for about two months, and I gotta tell you: it’s nice to be back in Tennessee,” said leader Ben Nichols, flanked by bandmates Brian Venable, Todd Beene, Roy Perry, Rick Steff, John C. Stubblefield and a killer horn section. Nichols writes evocative songs about forlorn brawlers who get their hearts broken, smoke too many cigarettes, medicate with booze, and wander the streets alone at night. In other words: kind of perfect for a rowdy Friday night audience trying to blow off a little steam.

The band opened with “On My Way Downtown,” a new track from Women & Work that married a danceable rock ‘n’ roll groove to the deeply soulful horns closely associated with the band’s hometown. On “Nights Like These,” weepy pedal steel (courtesy of sometime Glossary member Beene) pushed the band into tears-in-your-beer country territory. Women & Work’s title track showcased Steff’s righteous boogie woogie piano along with the horns, bringing to mind some of the great ramshackle bar bands like Faces.

Nichols was very congenial, in a tattooed tough guy kind of way. With cocktail in hand, he addressed each song request: “Yeah, we’ll definitely do that,” or “No, not a chance,” or “It’s 50-50.” Fan favorites included “Here At the Starlite,” “I Can’t Stand To Leave You,” “Bad Tattoos,” and “Tears Don’t Matter” with help from fellow Memphian Cory Branan.

The band returned for an encore with “Hearts On Fire” and “Nobody’s Darlings,” before Nichols announced that he had one more song left in him. “I know how this works–you’re not supposed to end with a new song, or a slow song,” he said. “So here’s a new, slow song.” The band closed it out with Women & Work’s gospel-inflected “Go Easy,” and the reverent audience hung around.

But hey, that’s loyalty for you.

Chesney Debuts Single, Starts Rehearsals With McGraw

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Chesney (L) and McGraw (R) start rehearsals for Brothers of the Sun run.

With the release of his next album set for June 19, Kenny Chesney is busy with a new single, rehearsing for his tour with Tim McGraw, and performing at a charity event spearheaded by Matthew McConaughey and Drew Brees.

Chesney’s 13th studio album Welcome To The Fishbowl will be available June 19 via BNA Records. The first single, “Feel Like A Rock Star,” a duet with McGraw, debuted in early April and has quickly ascended the charts. Chesney is following that with single “Come Over,” written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. The music video, directed by longtime collaborator and friend Shaun Silva, was filmed off the coast of Florida. “‘Come Over’ is the most intimate journey I’ve captured of Kenny in the 10 years we’ve been making music videos together,” said Silva.

He and McGraw recently had their first onstage, joint rehearsal for upcoming the Brothers of the Sun Tour. “Rehearsal with Tim and I and our bands was as electric and exciting as we anticipated,” Chesney reported. “It’s been a long time since we’ve played on stage together and the chemistry and excitement is just so natural. It’s going to be a dream come true to have our years of friendship come together on stage for what will be one unpredictable, loud, hell of a summer, and I can’t wait.” The tour featuring Jake Owen and Grace Potter kicks off June 2 in Tampa, Fla. and is set for more than 20 stadiums across the country, including a June 23 stop at Nashville’s LP Field.

Chesney recently performed at the House of Blues in New Orleans for the 3rd annual Amazing Race Charity Event. The fundraiser was put on by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and wife Brittany, and Matthew McConaughey and fiancée Camila Alves. The three stars capped the night with a performance of "Boys of Fall." Amazing Race provides after school fitness and wellness programs.

Chesney Recruits “Guitarist of the Year” For Summer Tour

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Chesney (L) and McGraw (R)

Kenny Chesney has added guitarist Kenny Greenberg to his touring band for his Brothers of the Sun Tour with Tim McGraw. Greenberg is the Academy of Country Music’s 2012 “Guitarist of the Year” and is a veteran Nashville session musician who has previously collaborated with Bob Seger, Willie Nelson, and Etta James.

After moving to Nashville at age 21, Greenberg began writing, producing, and recording for artists in a wide range of genres, including folk, gospel, pop, and country. Between producing several Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated songs, Greenberg has frequently collaborated with Chesney, including on his upcoming album, Welcome To The Fishbowl and 2010’s Hemingway’s Whiskey.

“Kenny is one of the best guitarists out there today, period,” Chesney said. “He’s been a great friend and collaborator over the years, right through Welcome To The Fishbowl, and it’s going to be amazing to have him at the party each night this summer.”

In addition to Greenberg, Chesney’s band features Wyatt Beard (keyboards), Sean Paddock (drums), Steve Marshall (bass), Clayton Mitchell (guitar), Jim Bob Gairrett (steel guitar), and Jon Conley (guitar/fiddle). The coast-to-coast Brothers of the Sun Tour, with Chesney and McGraw, kicks off June 2 in Tampa, Florida.

For tour dates, click here.

Paisley to Resume Virtual Reality Tour

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Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality World Tour will pick back up on Friday, May 18 with shows in St. Louis, Indianapolis and Cincinnati that weekend. Continuing on the tour will be The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery, with Easton Corbin on select dates.

Paisley continues the Plaza tradition for the third year with “The Escape” – a fun-filled outdoor plaza area with games, contests, photo ops, food vendors and a performance stage. Continuing with the tour theme there will be a “Virtual Opry” stage that incorporates a futuristic Grand Ole Opry backdrop and signature mic stands. Performing on the stage starting at 5:00 p.m. will be Kristen Kelly, Jana Kramer and Love and Theft. All three artists will be signing autographs immediately following the performances.

Other elements of “The Escape” include the Lawn Lucky Seats Game where fans can win sponsor prizes and ticket upgrades, the Air Force Reserves mock jet plane photo station, Mossy Oak Camo-Jam Snapshot Station and Camo Cabanas, slip n slides and inflatables. Sea Ray Boats will host an outdoor boat display. Details at www.facebook.com/BradPaisleyTour or on Twitter @BradPaisleyTour.

Select venues will be collecting food for food banks and fans who bring a donation will be entered to win a meet and greet with Paisley.

Lady A to Debut Single Tonight on “The Voice”

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Lady Antebellum will debut single “Wanted You More” on the season finale of NBC’s The Voice tonight (5/8) at 8:00PM CT where Justin Bieber, Flo Rida and Hall And Oates are also scheduled to perform.

“Wanted You More” was released to radio yesterday (5/7). The song was penned by the trio along with band members Jason Gambill, Jonathan Long, Dennis Edwards and musician Matt Billingslea.

“One of the added benefits of being out on the road so much is the time it gives us during the day to write,” said Lady A’s Dave Haywood. “The three of us love writing together, but it’s always special when something starts organically with the guys in our band.”

Wednesday (5/9) and Thursday (5/10) Lady A will appear on Anderson to surprise a member of the studio audience with tickets to a sold out Own The Night 2012 World Tour date (check local listings).

Fans can catch the tour this weekend in Jacksonville, FL (5/10), Tampa, FL (5/11) and West Palm Beach, FL (5/12). For a full listing of upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit www.ladyantebellum.com.

To preview “Wanted You More,” click here: www.thegreenroompr.com/ladyantebellum.html

Church Brings Blood Sweat and Beers To Nashville

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Pyro blasts were a key part of Eric Church's show at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

Smoke rolled across the stage Saturday night (5/5) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, parting to reveal a chest-thumping Eric Church performing “Country Music Jesus.” Pyro spewed skyward as he sang “there’ll be fire on the mountain.” Raucous energy leads Church’s onstage agenda. He told the sold-out audience he didn’t care if he died, he was going to give us one hell of a show.

Partying is a top priority at a Church concert. Appropriately, dozens of kegs lined the sparsely decorated stage and Chief was never far from the red solo cup situated firmly in a cup holder on his mic stand. In fact, his Blood Sweat and Beers tour gladly revels in party-hearty, self-destructiveness with songs from latest album Chief: “Hungover & Hard Up,” “I’m Getting Stoned,” and “Jack Daniels.” But he didn’t spend all night celebrating his drinking habit, he also devoted much of the set to older hits including “Guys Like Me,” “Hell On The Heart,” and “How ‘Bout You.”

Church bonded with the crowd during his acoustic set.

Chief is an incredible album; one of the best out of Nashville in recent years. It’s a showcase for Church’s unique lyrical perfectionism, and Jay Joyce’s superior hard rock production. Unfortunately a lot of the production nuances that make the album so spectacular got lost in translation from studio to stage.

Thankfully Church’s songwriting fared better in person, particularly when he braved the spotlight solo. Armed with just an acoustic guitar, Church bonded with the crowd on a singalong of “Love Your Love The Most,” and a return to his first album with “Two Pink Lines” and “Sinners Like Me,” which he dedicated to an unnamed Nashville exec who told him early on to pack up and go back to North Carolina. Church more warmly recalled his first tours when he played acoustic sets to crowds of 20. This part of the show was authentic and relatable—it was where he shined.

He should strip away the bravado more often. Instead he has embraced his outspoken and aggressive public persona, even selling merch that says Eric F*%&*n Church.

His stage set is reminiscent of a rock club, offering minimal production save for the sky-high pyro and a few backdrop scrim changes. Had the venue in fact been a smaller club, there’s no doubt that Church would have fulfilled his screaming mid-set promise which was met with wild enthusiasm from the audience: “I am pissed off and I intend to burn this son-of-a-bitch to the ground tonight. Bridgestone Arena give me everything you got.” For a club run energy may be all that’s required, but major arena tours need complex production—video elements, elaborate sets, or a venture into the crowd—to meet the entertainment quota.

Eric Church is Chief.

Toward the end of the night Church upped the performance ante, offering a verse/chorus of “A Country Boy Can Survive,” switching to an upright piano to pick out the notes to latest hit “Springsteen,” and, for the grand finale, shooting smoke from guitars while playing “Smoke A Little Smoke.”

Church and opener Brantley Gilbert are cut from a similar rock-bred rebel cloth. As far as arena headliners go, Church has had somewhat limited radio success. Still, the fans that filled the arena knew every Church hymn and every Gilbert anthem. It was a reminder of the popularity of albums and that artists can build strong careers by steady touring.

Gilbert, who also shares some rock similarities with fellow Georgian Jason Aldean, primed the crowd with the Aldean hit he co-wrote “Dirt Road Anthem.” He was ready to fight on “Take It Outside,” and then cooled down for “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do.” Near the end of his set he left the stage and reappeared at the rear of the arena for a run through the crowd on the floor.

Before the concert, Gilbert was surprised with a Gold plaque to mark shipments of over 500,000 copies of Halfway To Heaven. The Valory Music Co. and CAA hosted the pre-show celebration. After the concert, Capitol Records Nashville hosted a soiree at the arena’s Patron Lounge.

Church performs "Springsteen" on piano.