Pistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Miranda Lambert. Photo: CMHoF/Instagram
The Pistol Annies gave their first show in five years during the second of Miranda Lambert‘s Country Music Hall Of Fame (CMHoF) Artist In Residency slot on Sept. 26.
Designed to give artists a blank canvas to showcase their art, Lambert chose to use her final evening after the week prior to welcome the Annies sisters. Shortly after the evening ended, RCA Nashville released the three tracks previewed during the show, and by morning their third studio album Interstate Gospel had been revealed (below) for release Nov. 2.
“Surprise, y’all,” said Lambert in welcoming the sold-out CMHoF crowd of 800. “This will be the very first Pistol Annies show in five years.” Shortly after the release of their sophomore album in 2013, the Pistol Annies unexpectedly cancelled all tour dates.
The new hoppin’ rocker “Got My Name Changed Back” featured Lambert’s bold annunciations of wily lyrics anticipated after her highly public divorce. The audience reaction to: I don’t let a man get the best of me/Spent an afternoon at the DMV/I got my name changed back, were jogged by an unapologetic, jeering Lambert: “Y’all get it?”
Additional new songs—now on streaming services and available for immediate download with an album pre-order—included the album’s washboard toe-tapper, driving title track and single “Interstate Gospel” and the yearning, “Best Years of My Life,” about numbing dreams of breaking out of a settled relationship.
The Annies joked of reading lyric sheets from “hymnal” music stands in brushing up on lyrics from their catalog. With the cleverness and honesty of Loretta Lynn in “Takin’ Pills,” the crescendoing “Girls Like Us,” and the smoldering and empowering “Hell On Heels,” the Annies are able to perfectly showcase their female-empowered craft in a unique way inside country music. What they may have lacked at times in vocal dynamic or harmony was made up for in charisma and wit.
Songs like “Blue Tick Hounds,” about small town, simple, tender and true life echoed within “Trailer For Rent,” and even family reunion dynamics in “Hush Hush.” The bad girl side was explored with the swampy “I Feel A Sin Coming On,” the feisty “Unhappily Married,” or the steel-driven hula in “Bad Example.” All that eased into less colloquial, heartbreakingly honest titles like “House On Fire”—which Angaleena Presley said Lambert jumped all over because it was about burning something up. Their depth and seriousness continued with “Dear Sobriety” and even the brilliant “Housewife’s Prayer,” before the more gentle, carefree clogger “Damn Thing About It” and whistler, “Lemon Drop.”
Despite two ex-husbands between them, Lambert herself touted her singleness from the stage, echoed in the fervent “Boys From The South.” “I want y’all to love us for our mistakes, and celebrate our victories tonight,” said Lambert.
“Thank you for loving the Annies and welcoming us back to the world,” she summed. “We needed this. We’re just three girlfriends that live a lot of life. We’ve got husbands, and ex-husbands, and babies and family things, and all the things you deal with in life and we sit around write about our lives. Our records are slumber parties on wheels.”
With a pregnant Presley in a black tee shirt standing middle-ground, Annies Ashley Monroe and Lambert flanked with a black flapper and thigh-high boots, and thin suede black fringe dress, respectively.
All with a guitar available, the trio was backed by four during the CMHoF’s 14th residency. Musicians included Jonny Lam (steel), Scotty Wray (guitar), Boo Massey (guitar) and Mike Rinne (bass). Although the evening lacked drums, Lambert brought out a tambourine and washboard to keep tempo at times.
Three similar, intimate concert events will invite fans “into their living room to hang, talk, laugh and commiserate” surrounding the 14-track album’s release, which has also been revealed to fans throughout this week via an old school postcard campaign. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Oct. 5 for three dates: Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 25, NYC’s The Town Hall on Nov. 2 and Los Angeles’ The Novo on Nov. 7. Additionally, the trio will play at BMI’s Maui songwriter festival between Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
Interstate Gospel Track Listing
1. Interstate Prelude
2. Stop Drop and Roll One (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
3. Best Years of My Life (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
4. 5 Acres of Turnips (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
5. When I Was His Wife (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
6. Cheyenne (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
7. Got My Name Changed Back (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
8. Sugar Daddy (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
9. Leavers Lullaby (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
10. Milkman (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
11. Commissary (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
12. Masterpiece (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
13. Interstate Gospel (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
14. This Too Shall Pass (Monroe and Presley)
Pistol Annies. Photo: Miller Mobley
UMG Nashville’s Royce Risser Rises To EVP, Promotion
/by Jessica NicholsonRoyce Risser
Universal Music Group Nashville has named Royce Risser Executive Vice President of Promotion for the label group, comprised of Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, Mercury Nashville and MCA Nashville.
Previously Senior Vice President of Promotion, Risser will continue to oversee promotion initiatives for UMG Nashville’s artist roster which includes Alan Jackson, Adam Hambrick, Billy Currington, Brandon Lay, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Caylee Hammack, CB30, Chris Stapleton, Clare Dunn, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Gary Allan, George Strait, Jon Langston, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Josh Turner, Kacey Musgraves, Kassi Ashton, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Lauren Alaina, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton, Sam Hunt, Shania Twain, Travis Denning, Tyminski and Vince Gill.
Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO Universal Music Group Nashville, says, “Royce rides herd on four major label imprints, while landing all the planes, ensuring that each of the singles and the artists receive the best effort possible, and remaining focused on the big picture job that always goes farther than #1 on the charts. Yet he saves just enough energy to occasionally push people into bushes. I am proud of Royce, honored to work beside him, and happy to announce this promotion.”
Risser, a southern California native, was recruited to play football and attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and his master’s degree. He joined MCA Records in 1991 as an intern before being hired full-time as a promotion assistant. Through the years, Risser climbed the ranks as the Director of Northeast Regional Promotion, Director of National Promotion, and Vice President of Promotion before assuming the role of SVP of Promotion for UMG Nashville in 2007. During his time at UMG, Risser has been a part of over 160 No. 1 singles to date.
Risser shares, “I am always so proud to tell people that UMG has been my only home now for 27 years. I really do still get up in the morning and can’t wait to get to the office to be around wonderful friends and unbelievable artistry. I am also so proud of what this team has accomplished and I’m looking forward to many more years of working with the best in this business. Go Team UMG!”
ACM Elects New Officers
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): ACM Secretary Tommy Moore, (incoming) ACM Vice President Lori Badgett, ACM Treasurer Carmen Romano, ACM Chairman Ben Vaughn, ACM President Duane Clark, ACM Parliamentarian Paul Moore and ACM CEO Pete Fisher
The Academy of Country Music has elected new officers for the 2018-2019 term. Newly-elected officers of the board become effective in November.
The ACM has also announced they received a total of $800,000 in contributions to the Lifting Lives program in 2018. The contributions serve Lifting Lives’ ongoing mission to improve lives through the power of music and to fund the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund.
Chairman of the Board: Duane Clark, FBMM
President: Ed Warm, Joe’s Live
Vice-President: Lori Badgett, City National Bank
Treasurer*: Carmen Romano, FBMM
Parliamentarian: Paul Moore, PGM Connections
Sergeant-at-Arms: Tim DuBois, Artist Management Partners
Secretary: Tommy Moore, Academy of Country Music
*Treasurer elected in 2016 for a three-year term
Spotify Launches Educational Networking Series Co.Lab
/by Jessica NicholsonSpotify has launched Co.Lab, a new Spotify for Artists event series designed to connect artists and their teams with experts in various segments of the music industry, including label reps, tour experts and creative directors. The series aims to help artists build networks and to better understand the modern music industry.
Every Co.Lab event will be organized around a particular theme in the music business today. Experts will draw on their experience, offering practical advice and insider knowledge on the most meaningful topics facing artists.
Our first season of Co.Lab will take place over the coming months in New York and Los Angeles.
Topics will include Collaboration, Release Strategies, Touring, Merch, and Revenue Streams. Featured speakers include Annie Flook (Dir. Touring & Artist Development, Atlantic Records), Malia James (Video Music Director), Jenny Swiatowy (VP, Head of Creative Sync Licensing, Capitol Music Group), Jamal Dauda (Global Head of Music, WeTransfer), Jeff Ellis (Studio Engineer), Christian Coffey (Tour Director), Mitra Khayyam (Creative Director), Loric Sih (Live DJ for Kelela), Alex Gvojic (Lighting Designer), Kacie Lehman (SVP of Partnerships for MAC Presents), Morgan Rhodes (Music Supervisor), Sam Hockley-Smith (Music Editor for Vulture), Laura Escudé (Ableton-Certified Trainer and Live Show Designer), and more. Panels will be moderated by Frosty (Founder of dublab) and Mindy Abovitz-Monk (Founder of Tom Tom Magazine).
Applications are now open for the first five events. Applicants should be at least 21 years old and verified on Spotify for Artists. As each event has a limited capacity, artists with 1,000 or more Spotify followers will be given priority.
Pistol Annies Surprise With First Show In Five Years At Lambert’s CMHoF Residency, Reveal Third Album
/by Eric T. ParkerPistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Miranda Lambert. Photo: CMHoF/Instagram
The Pistol Annies gave their first show in five years during the second of Miranda Lambert‘s Country Music Hall Of Fame (CMHoF) Artist In Residency slot on Sept. 26.
Designed to give artists a blank canvas to showcase their art, Lambert chose to use her final evening after the week prior to welcome the Annies sisters. Shortly after the evening ended, RCA Nashville released the three tracks previewed during the show, and by morning their third studio album Interstate Gospel had been revealed (below) for release Nov. 2.
“Surprise, y’all,” said Lambert in welcoming the sold-out CMHoF crowd of 800. “This will be the very first Pistol Annies show in five years.” Shortly after the release of their sophomore album in 2013, the Pistol Annies unexpectedly cancelled all tour dates.
The new hoppin’ rocker “Got My Name Changed Back” featured Lambert’s bold annunciations of wily lyrics anticipated after her highly public divorce. The audience reaction to: I don’t let a man get the best of me/Spent an afternoon at the DMV/I got my name changed back, were jogged by an unapologetic, jeering Lambert: “Y’all get it?”
Additional new songs—now on streaming services and available for immediate download with an album pre-order—included the album’s washboard toe-tapper, driving title track and single “Interstate Gospel” and the yearning, “Best Years of My Life,” about numbing dreams of breaking out of a settled relationship.
The Annies joked of reading lyric sheets from “hymnal” music stands in brushing up on lyrics from their catalog. With the cleverness and honesty of Loretta Lynn in “Takin’ Pills,” the crescendoing “Girls Like Us,” and the smoldering and empowering “Hell On Heels,” the Annies are able to perfectly showcase their female-empowered craft in a unique way inside country music. What they may have lacked at times in vocal dynamic or harmony was made up for in charisma and wit.
Songs like “Blue Tick Hounds,” about small town, simple, tender and true life echoed within “Trailer For Rent,” and even family reunion dynamics in “Hush Hush.” The bad girl side was explored with the swampy “I Feel A Sin Coming On,” the feisty “Unhappily Married,” or the steel-driven hula in “Bad Example.” All that eased into less colloquial, heartbreakingly honest titles like “House On Fire”—which Angaleena Presley said Lambert jumped all over because it was about burning something up. Their depth and seriousness continued with “Dear Sobriety” and even the brilliant “Housewife’s Prayer,” before the more gentle, carefree clogger “Damn Thing About It” and whistler, “Lemon Drop.”
Despite two ex-husbands between them, Lambert herself touted her singleness from the stage, echoed in the fervent “Boys From The South.” “I want y’all to love us for our mistakes, and celebrate our victories tonight,” said Lambert.
“Thank you for loving the Annies and welcoming us back to the world,” she summed. “We needed this. We’re just three girlfriends that live a lot of life. We’ve got husbands, and ex-husbands, and babies and family things, and all the things you deal with in life and we sit around write about our lives. Our records are slumber parties on wheels.”
With a pregnant Presley in a black tee shirt standing middle-ground, Annies Ashley Monroe and Lambert flanked with a black flapper and thigh-high boots, and thin suede black fringe dress, respectively.
All with a guitar available, the trio was backed by four during the CMHoF’s 14th residency. Musicians included Jonny Lam (steel), Scotty Wray (guitar), Boo Massey (guitar) and Mike Rinne (bass). Although the evening lacked drums, Lambert brought out a tambourine and washboard to keep tempo at times.
Three similar, intimate concert events will invite fans “into their living room to hang, talk, laugh and commiserate” surrounding the 14-track album’s release, which has also been revealed to fans throughout this week via an old school postcard campaign. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Oct. 5 for three dates: Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 25, NYC’s The Town Hall on Nov. 2 and Los Angeles’ The Novo on Nov. 7. Additionally, the trio will play at BMI’s Maui songwriter festival between Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
Interstate Gospel Track Listing
1. Interstate Prelude
2. Stop Drop and Roll One (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
3. Best Years of My Life (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
4. 5 Acres of Turnips (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
5. When I Was His Wife (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
6. Cheyenne (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
7. Got My Name Changed Back (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
8. Sugar Daddy (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
9. Leavers Lullaby (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
10. Milkman (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
11. Commissary (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
12. Masterpiece (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
13. Interstate Gospel (Lambert, Monroe and Presley)
14. This Too Shall Pass (Monroe and Presley)
Pistol Annies. Photo: Miller Mobley
Canaan Smith To Join Florida Georgia Line’s Las Vegas Residency
/by Jessica NicholsonCannan Smith
Florida Georgia Line will welcome Canaan Smith to join their five-nights-only Las Vegas residency inside Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino this December. Smith is a singer-songwriter signed to FGL’s music publishing company Tree Vibez Music.
The shows are set for Dec. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 11. Each show begins at 8 p.m.
Smith has penned songs recorded by FGL, Jason Aldean and Cole Swindell and is in the studio working on his own music. Smith’s name is also on Big Loud Records and Atlantic Records’ artist Mason Ramsey’s single “Famous,” the lead single off his six-track Famous EP.
“I’ve always wanted to tour with FGL and what better place than America’s playground,” shares Smith. “Seriously, I’m amped, y’all. I’m gonna make the most out of every minute on that stage. These crowds have no idea what’s comin’.”
Hard Rock Label Eleven Seven Music Launches Nashville Venture With Flagship Artist Cory Marks
/by Jessica NicholsonCory Marks
Cory Marks has signed a multi-album record and publishing deal with newly-launched Eleven Seven Nashville, the Music City office of New York-based rock label Eleven Seven Music. Headed by Allen Kovac, Eleven Seven works with acts including Mötley Crüe, Five Finger Death Punch, All That Remains, Bad Wolves, and Papa Roach.
Marks, a native of North Bay, Ontario, has been writing and recording with rock producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed) over the past two years to create a brand of amped-up country music.
“To be the flagship country artist on such a successful label is exciting for me. I’m honored to be working with such a great team from Churko to the whole Eleven Seven team,” Marks said, after the signing in New York.
“Cory Marks is an incredible talent who has made an amazing album,” commented Steve Kline, CEO of Eleven Seven Label Group. “As part of our global expansion into new territories and musical genres, we are excited to launch Eleven Seven Nashville and proud to have Cory as our premier signing.”
Cory Marks, formerly known as Cory Marquardt, grew up playing drums along to songs from Rush, Deep Purple, and Shania Twain on a drum set he built out of paint cans in the basement. When he hit sixth grade and was showing promise on his paint cans, the investment was made to get Cory on a real drum kit. He initially dreamed of becoming a pilot. He enrolled in flight school and obtained his student pilot permit at age 19 and enrolled at the Royal Military College of Canada.
After a night spent at a bar with some buddies playing cover songs of Vince Gill and Merle Haggard hits, Marks was encouraged to pursue music. He began writing songs and performing across Canada and opening for artists including Brantley Gilbert, Marty Stuart, Toby Keith and more. That led to his signing with Eleven Seven Music.
Eleven Seven launched in 2006. The full-service label was named Billboard‘s Rock Label of the Year in 2010. In 2015, Papa Roach’s F.E.A.R. debuted at No. 15 on the Top 200 and the band’s 2017 release, Crooked Teeth, debuted at No. 1 on the Hard Rock album chart, with their single “Help” spending six weeks atop the rock radio chart. In August, another of the label’s artists, Bad Wolves, celebrated their song “Zombie” being certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Cory Marks signing with Eleven Seven Music
Mike Farris, The Foxies Sign With Skyline Artists Agency
/by Lorie HollabaughFarris won the Best Roots Gospel Grammy for his 2015 album Shine for All The People and his new release, Silver & Stone, on Nashville’s Compass Records is currently No. 7 on the Americana charts.
The Foxies just bested over 150 bands in the Road to Roo competition to win a coveted slot on Bonnaroo 2018, and followed it up with a slot at “Live On The Green.” Managed by Nashville’s Charles Vergara, the band is working on a new release via ONErpm.
Dan+Shay’s “Tequila” Tops 100 Million Spotify Streams
/by Jessica NicholsonDan+Shay. Photo: Patrick Tracy
Dan+Shay have reached another milestone in a year of career achievements. The duo’s Platinum-selling single “Tequila” has reached 100 million streams on Spotify, which contributes to more than 250 million on-demand streams.
The song is currently in the Top 15 on the Hot AC chart, and earned a multi-week run at the top of the country charts. The song is also the second most-streamed country song of the year, with nearly 75 million combined views of the track’s accompanying videos.
Together, Dan+Shay are nominated for Duo of the Year, Single of the Year and Video of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards, the latter two nominations earned for “Tequila.” Additionally, the duo’s Dan Smyers is nominated for Song of the Year and Producer, also both for “Tequila.”
Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Luke Combs To Perform At Maui Songwriters Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonThe festival runs Nov. 29-Dec. 1, hosted by Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.
Other top songwriters featured over the three-day festival include country music hitmakers Dallas Davidson, Jon Randall, The Warren Brothers, Jessi Alexander, and Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers. Returning for the second year in a row is Randy Houser, who will attend the festival directly following the release of his 5th studio album, Magnolia, out Nov. 2. Ashley Monroe will be performing solo as well as joining Angaleena Presley and Lambert as part of the Pistol Annies. Presley will also treat the crowds to a solo set. Country rocker Lukas Nelson, nine-time Grammy Award winner Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel, and local favorite Lily Meola round out the impressive lineup.
“It is such an honor to return for our fourth annual Maui Songwriter Festival,” says Mason Hunter, AVP, Creative, Nashville. “This year’s lineup is stellar and the folks on the island are always so welcoming. We look forward to once again bringing the world’s best songwriters to Maui for a magical event.”
Hosted by Storme Warren of SiriusXM’s The Highway, these concerts will fill Maui’s premiere venues including Fleetwood’s on Front St., Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Many of these acoustic sets will feature Nashville’s signature “songwriters-in-the-round” where in addition to performing, songwriters share the stories behind their hit songs.
Adding a philanthropic element to the Maui Songwriters Festival presented by BMI, a portion of the proceeds will once again benefit Dorvin and Betty Leis Charities, Inc., the Maui Arts & Cultural Center and the BMI Foundation, dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, grants, and commissions.
SteelDrivers, John Prine, Actor Bill Murray Share “Opry Moment”
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured: Richard Baily (SteelDrivers), Brent Truitt (SteelDrivers), Tammy Rogers (SteelDrivers), Bill Murray, Mike Fleming (SteelDrivers), John Prine and Kelvin Damrell (SteelDrivers). Photo: Chris Hollo/Opry
A special “Opry moment” happened last night at the Tuesday night performance of the Grand Ole Opry when The SteelDrivers were joined by a surprise appearance from actor Bill Murray and folk singer-songwriter John Prine. The performance marked Murray’s debut appearance on the Opry.