It’s Americana Music week here in Music City, and this edition of DisClaimer celebrates that fact.
There is a lot to like here. So much that we’re giving Disc of the Day prizes in Male, Female and Group categories. All three of them are going to Nashvillians. The Male disc du jour belongs to Derek Hoke. The always reliable Lee Ann Womack nails the Female division. The Group award goes to The McCrary Sisters.
The DisCovery Award goes to Travis Linville. He’s showcasing tonight.
RUSTY YOUNG/Gonna Let It Rain
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Blue Elan (track)
– This longtime mainstay of Poco has recorded his first solo CD, Waitin’ for the Sun. This track from it is on a Blue Elan compilation disc that was in the Americana convention’s goodie bag. It has an inspirational/gospel vibe with organ/guitar backing, loads of vocal harmonies and a deep, pounding rhythm track. Righteous.
CHRIS HILLMAN/Here She Comes Again
Writers: Chris Hillman/Roger McGuinn; Producer: Tom Petty; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
– He’s a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member with a musical journey that includes The Hillmen, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Desert Rose Band and more. This “lost” Byrds tune features chiming guitar, hearty vocal harmonies and a solid, country-rock groove. You’ll find it on Bidin’ My Time, which drops next Friday. Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson will hit Music City to promote it via an Opry appearance on the 30th and a City Winery performance the next night. Be there.
JEFFREY HALFORD & THE HEALERS/Door #3
Writers: Jeffrey Halford; Producer: Adam Rossi/Jeffrey Halford; Publishers: none listed; Shoeless (track)
– This Californian has stripped down his sound to just evocative twang guitar, thumpy drum and bass on his appropriately titled lo-fi dreams CD. This moody, lonely track finds him moaning for love in a dry, dusty, drawling voice. The lyrics are super cool throughout the set. Join this songwriter fan club at once.
LOWLAND HUM/Folded Flowers
Writers: Daniel Goans/Lauren Goans; producers: Daniel/Lauren Goans; Publisher: Daniel Levi Goans/ASCAP; LH (track)
– This folky duo has a current album called Thin that features this laconic, drowsy, lulling ditty. Do not operate heavy machinery while listening.
MICHAEL JOHNATHON/The Dream
Writers: Johnathon; Producer: Johnathon; Publishers: Rachelaubreymusicinc, BMI; Poet Man (track)
– Johnathon is perhaps best-known as the NPR/PBS host of Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. The title tune of this folk singer’s latest outing features a full orchestra and multi-lingual children’s choirs. With over-the-top sincerity, it yearns for world peace. Thus, the record is being released on the International Day of Peace, which is next Thursday. Not my cup of tea, but whatever floats your boat.
LEE ANN WOMACK/Hollywood
Writers: Lee Ann Womack/Adam Wright/Waylon Payne; Producer: Frank Liddell; Publishers: none listed; ATO (download)
– Sad and ethereal. She sings of a fading relationship while a steel guitar sighs forlornly and a soprano wafts above. Echoey and haunting. Lee Ann’s Americana Week events include her YeeHaw Tent whoop-di-do tonight (Thursday, the 14th) and a Q&A appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater at 2 p.m. on Saturday (the 16th). The party for her CD The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone was Wednesday at The Crying Wolf. The collection drops on the 27th.
DEREK HOKE/Bring The Flood
Writers: Derek Hoke/Dexter Green; Producer: Dex Green; Publishers: Slow Hoke/Made With Blank Ink, BMI/ASCAP; Little Hollywood
– This East Nashvillian has a downbeat collection of overcast, shadowy, gloomy and utterly compelling tunes. This is its title track, an unsettling slab of doom with a demonic figure threatening spiritual destruction and soul annihilation. The crunch guitars and shuddering rhythms underscore his swampy vocal. Fascinating and essential.
THE MCCRARY SISTERS/Let It Go
Writers: Deborah Person/Kevin McKendree; Producer: Tommy Sims; Publishers: Person Mac/East Fork, BMI; MCC (track)
– The McCrary Sisters Live CD and DVD is a showcase for how thrillingly accomplished Alfreda, Regina, Deborah and Ann have become as songwriters. There is one cover, of The Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There,” but otherwise the set’s tunes are all originals. Deborah’s shoulder-shaking rhythm rocker is about shedding yourself of trials and tribulations. It will make you want to clap your hands, shout and maybe even pick up a tambourine like Regina does during the percussion-solo breakdown. You need the music of these soul-gospel women in your life.
Travis Linville
TRAVIS LINVILLE/Wishes
WRiters: Travis Linville; Producer: Travis Linville; Publishers: none listed; TL (track)
– This Oklahoman is best known as a sideman for Hayes Carll. But with his CD, Up Ahead, he has stepped into his own spotlight this year. Its current single has a buoyant, hopeful lyric delivered in a youthful tenor. Percussion rumbles in the background while his own guitar twangs along. Highly listenable. Catch him this evening, the 14th, at The Country as an Americana showcaser.
SARA PETITE/It Was Just A Kiss
Writer: Sara Petite; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Sweet P, BMI; Sweet P (track)
– This San Diego troubadour recorded her last two CDs in Nashville but for her current Road Less Traveled collection, she relied on her road band back home in California. This country-rock track illustrates how catchy a song crafter she can be, but also reveals her vocal tendency to slide into flat notes.
Nashville AIMP Chapter To Host Third Annual Songwriter Series
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers will host its third annual Songwriters Series on Monday, Sept. 25 at The Country from 4-6 p.m. CT. The series will feature six new-and-noteworthy independent songwriters in writers’ rounds.
The series was created by a committee of industry professionals and is headed by SMACKSongs’ Michael Baum and Wrensong’s Ree Guyer, and launched in 2015 to showcase some of Nashville’s standout songwriters and bring the Nashville independent publishing community together for a night of celebration.
The Class of 2017 was chosen from more than 50 submissions and voted on by a committee of industry professionals. The six songwriters chosen for this year’s class are Hannah Ellis, Ross Ellis, Michael Hardy, Ashley McBryde, Daniel Ross and Sarah Turner, who each represent different independent Nashville-based publishers.
Writers of the last two years’ classes have continued to receive cuts and acclaim within the industry including current charting singles, ACM nominations, and number one songs.
Previous songwriter classes include:
Class of 2016: Brinley Addington, Ash Bowers, Dustin Christensen, Erik Dylan, Jeffrey East and Josh Jenkins
Class of 2015: Maggie Chapman, Luke Dick, Jameson Rodgers, Matt Rogers, Hailey Whitters and J.P. Williams
Alabama To Offer Up Christmas Cheer On First Holiday Album In 21 Years
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“To all our fans: Christmas is a special time for Alabama. We hope it is for you. From our hearts to you, we give you this Christmas gift. Thank you for the love and support, all these years,” said Jeff, Teddy and Randy, “Merry Christmas!”
The album will be available at Cracker Barrel and other retailers and online digitally at Amazon, iTunes and Spotify and other outlets.
BMI And Dualtone Celebrate Lumineers Day In Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): BMI’s Vice President of Writer Publisher Relations Jody Williams, BMI’s Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships & Events Mason Hunter, Jeremiah Fraites and Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers, Dualtone Co-Founder and CEO Scott Robinson, Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers and Dualtone President Paul Roper
It was Lumineers Day in Nashville on Thursday (Sept. 14) as the group’s successes were touted by Dualtone at a special celebration at BMI. The group was presented with plaques during the event honoring the successes of their triple-Platinum self-titled debut album and certified Gold follow-up album Cleopatra.
Their three platinum singles – “Ho Hey,” “Stubborn Love,” and “Ophelia” – and two gold singles – “Flowers in Your Hair” and “Cleopatra” – were also recognized by BMI’s Vice President of Writer Publisher Relations, Jody Williams, who presented the group with MillionAir awards in recognition of 3 million radio performances.
The special ceremony concluded with a surprise from Williams: a proclamation declaring September 14, 2017 “The Lumineers Day” in Nashville signed by Mayor Megan Barry.
BMI’s Jody Williams, The Lumineers and BMI’s Mason Hunter pose after the award presentations
Weekly Chart Report (9/15/17)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
ASCAP To Donate $25K To MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund
/by Jessica NicholsonASCAP will donate $25,000 to MusiCares and its hurricane relief fund, supporting members of the music community, including the tens of thousands of ASCAP songwriter, composer and music publisher members affected by the recent devastation of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
“Our hearts go out to our members who must now recover from these catastrophic storms,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “ASCAP has always believed in harnessing the strength of our collective community to build a stronger future for music creators. In that spirit, we are pleased to join forces with our friends at MusiCares in helping to rebuild a future for those members of our community who need our help putting their lives back together.”
“ASCAP has more than 75,000 members who live in Texas, Florida and other communities hit hard by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. “In seeking the most effective and efficient way to provide assistance to our affected members, the choice was easy. As our longtime ally in supporting music creators, MusiCares has the experience, infrastructure and resources to provide essential assistance to our members. We know our donation is in good hands.”
To donate to the fund, visit musicares.org/donate and choose “Hurricane Relief” in the gift designation drop-down menu.
Zach Williams Releases Deluxe Version Of ‘Chain Breaker’ Today
/by Jessica NicholsonSinger-songwriter Zach Williams will digitally release the deluxe version of his breakthrough Chain Breaker album via Provident Label Group/Sony Music today (Sept. 15). The physical version of the deluxe album will be available Nov. 3.
The deluxe version features 15 songs, including new additions “Home,” “Freedom,” a live recording of “Washed Clean,” “Promised Land,” and a cover of the Allman Brothers Band classic “Midnight Rider.”
Williams’ debut single “Chain Breaker” topped the Christian singles charts for 15 consecutive weeks, and also entered the Top Rock Songs chart. His followup, “Old Church Choir,” is in the Top 10 on the Top Rock Songs chart.
Chain Breaker: Deluxe Edition
Promised Land *
Song Of Deliverance
Chain Breaker
Old Church Choir
Survivor
To The Table
My Liberty
Fear Is A Liar
Everything Changed
Revival
So Good To Me
Home *
Midnight Rider *
Freedom *
Washed Clean (Live) *
*denotes new songs
Memorial Service Set For Jessi “Zazu” Wariner
/by Jessica NicholsonJessi Zazu. Photo: Daniel Meigs
The life of Nashville singer-songwriter and former Those Darlins frontwoman Jessi “Zazu” Wariner will be celebrated during a memorial service on Sunday, Sept. 17, beginning at 3 p.m. at Fort Houston (2020 Lindell Ave., Nashville).
Wariner died Tuesday, Sept. 12, following a public battle with cervical cancer. She was 28.
Those Darlins, which formed in 2006 out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, also included Nikki Kvarnes and Linwood Regensburg and rotating players after Kelley Anderson left the band in 2012. The band would release three albums, including a self-titled project in 2009, followed by Screws Get Loose in 2011 and Blur The Line in 2013. The band broke up in early 2016 shortly before Wariner announced her diagnosis.
A fund has also been set up to aid in paying for remaining medical expenses at youcaring.com.
The Oak Ridge Boys To Explore Uncharted Territory On Second Dave Cobb-Produced Album
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban, Dave Cobb, Peter Cooper. Photo: Jon Mir
The Oak Ridge Boys announced this week they will release a project with producer Dave Cobb in the first quarter of 2018.
At a listening event this week during the Americana Music Association AmericanaFest at Nashville’s RCA Studio A, where the album was recorded, the Oaks previewed some songs from the yet-untitled project. This will be the group’s second album with Cobb, who produced the Oaks’ acclaimed The Boys Are Back album released in 2009.
Cobb’s vision for the Oaks on this new project was to dig way back into their gospel music roots. “Everyone has heard the Boys sing gospel, but nobody has heard it quite like this,” said Logan Rogers, founder of Lightning Rod Records. “Under Dave Cobb’s direction, they touch on unchartered territory—and for a long-tenured act like The Oak Ridge Boys, that’s saying something.”
The album will be released on Lightning Rod and distributed by Thirty Tigers.
Rodney Atkins Raises Funds For Nashville’s W.O. Smith School
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Jordan Morrison (W.O. School), Greg Hill (Hill Entertainment Group), Melony Wilson (MCGB,LLC), Jim Ed Norman (Curb), Rodney Atkins, Chrysa Kovach (W.O. Smith), Jonah Rabinowitz (W.O Smith), Lynn Adelman (W.O. Smith), Becky Gardenhire (WME), Josh Hunter (Hill Entertainment Group)
Rodney Atkins visited Nashville’s W.O. Smith School, whose mission is to make affordable music instruction available to children from low-income families, on Sept. 14 to donate money raised from his annual “Music City Gives Back” concert.
This year’s seventh annual MCGB on June 6 was headlined by Kip Moore and brought together artists Brett Young, Granger Smith, Cole Taylor and duo Walker McGuire to play the official Nashville hockey tailgate ahead of the Stanley Cup Finals game and to kick off the CMA Festival week’s events all while raising money for a good cause.
W.O. Smith’s Development Coordinator Chrysa Kovach, Program Coordinator Jordan Morrison, Executive Director Jonah Rabinowitz and Assistant Director Lynn Adelman welcomed Rodney to receive the $20,000 check.
DISClaimer: The Week In Americana
/by Robert K OermannThere is a lot to like here. So much that we’re giving Disc of the Day prizes in Male, Female and Group categories. All three of them are going to Nashvillians. The Male disc du jour belongs to Derek Hoke. The always reliable Lee Ann Womack nails the Female division. The Group award goes to The McCrary Sisters.
The DisCovery Award goes to Travis Linville. He’s showcasing tonight.
RUSTY YOUNG/Gonna Let It Rain
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Blue Elan (track)
– This longtime mainstay of Poco has recorded his first solo CD, Waitin’ for the Sun. This track from it is on a Blue Elan compilation disc that was in the Americana convention’s goodie bag. It has an inspirational/gospel vibe with organ/guitar backing, loads of vocal harmonies and a deep, pounding rhythm track. Righteous.
CHRIS HILLMAN/Here She Comes Again
Writers: Chris Hillman/Roger McGuinn; Producer: Tom Petty; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
– He’s a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member with a musical journey that includes The Hillmen, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Desert Rose Band and more. This “lost” Byrds tune features chiming guitar, hearty vocal harmonies and a solid, country-rock groove. You’ll find it on Bidin’ My Time, which drops next Friday. Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson will hit Music City to promote it via an Opry appearance on the 30th and a City Winery performance the next night. Be there.
JEFFREY HALFORD & THE HEALERS/Door #3
Writers: Jeffrey Halford; Producer: Adam Rossi/Jeffrey Halford; Publishers: none listed; Shoeless (track)
– This Californian has stripped down his sound to just evocative twang guitar, thumpy drum and bass on his appropriately titled lo-fi dreams CD. This moody, lonely track finds him moaning for love in a dry, dusty, drawling voice. The lyrics are super cool throughout the set. Join this songwriter fan club at once.
LOWLAND HUM/Folded Flowers
Writers: Daniel Goans/Lauren Goans; producers: Daniel/Lauren Goans; Publisher: Daniel Levi Goans/ASCAP; LH (track)
– This folky duo has a current album called Thin that features this laconic, drowsy, lulling ditty. Do not operate heavy machinery while listening.
MICHAEL JOHNATHON/The Dream
Writers: Johnathon; Producer: Johnathon; Publishers: Rachelaubreymusicinc, BMI; Poet Man (track)
– Johnathon is perhaps best-known as the NPR/PBS host of Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. The title tune of this folk singer’s latest outing features a full orchestra and multi-lingual children’s choirs. With over-the-top sincerity, it yearns for world peace. Thus, the record is being released on the International Day of Peace, which is next Thursday. Not my cup of tea, but whatever floats your boat.
LEE ANN WOMACK/Hollywood
Writers: Lee Ann Womack/Adam Wright/Waylon Payne; Producer: Frank Liddell; Publishers: none listed; ATO (download)
– Sad and ethereal. She sings of a fading relationship while a steel guitar sighs forlornly and a soprano wafts above. Echoey and haunting. Lee Ann’s Americana Week events include her YeeHaw Tent whoop-di-do tonight (Thursday, the 14th) and a Q&A appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater at 2 p.m. on Saturday (the 16th). The party for her CD The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone was Wednesday at The Crying Wolf. The collection drops on the 27th.
DEREK HOKE/Bring The Flood
Writers: Derek Hoke/Dexter Green; Producer: Dex Green; Publishers: Slow Hoke/Made With Blank Ink, BMI/ASCAP; Little Hollywood
– This East Nashvillian has a downbeat collection of overcast, shadowy, gloomy and utterly compelling tunes. This is its title track, an unsettling slab of doom with a demonic figure threatening spiritual destruction and soul annihilation. The crunch guitars and shuddering rhythms underscore his swampy vocal. Fascinating and essential.
THE MCCRARY SISTERS/Let It Go
Writers: Deborah Person/Kevin McKendree; Producer: Tommy Sims; Publishers: Person Mac/East Fork, BMI; MCC (track)
– The McCrary Sisters Live CD and DVD is a showcase for how thrillingly accomplished Alfreda, Regina, Deborah and Ann have become as songwriters. There is one cover, of The Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There,” but otherwise the set’s tunes are all originals. Deborah’s shoulder-shaking rhythm rocker is about shedding yourself of trials and tribulations. It will make you want to clap your hands, shout and maybe even pick up a tambourine like Regina does during the percussion-solo breakdown. You need the music of these soul-gospel women in your life.
Travis Linville
TRAVIS LINVILLE/Wishes
WRiters: Travis Linville; Producer: Travis Linville; Publishers: none listed; TL (track)
– This Oklahoman is best known as a sideman for Hayes Carll. But with his CD, Up Ahead, he has stepped into his own spotlight this year. Its current single has a buoyant, hopeful lyric delivered in a youthful tenor. Percussion rumbles in the background while his own guitar twangs along. Highly listenable. Catch him this evening, the 14th, at The Country as an Americana showcaser.
SARA PETITE/It Was Just A Kiss
Writer: Sara Petite; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Sweet P, BMI; Sweet P (track)
– This San Diego troubadour recorded her last two CDs in Nashville but for her current Road Less Traveled collection, she relied on her road band back home in California. This country-rock track illustrates how catchy a song crafter she can be, but also reveals her vocal tendency to slide into flat notes.