Dierks Bentley performs in Milwaukee.
For more than a decade, Dierks Bentley has brought his mix of party-ready tunes and thoughtful ballads to country fans, earning sold-out shows with songs such as “Feel That Fire,” “Riser,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go),” and his latest, “Black.”
This year, Bentley’s 2017 What The Hell World Tour has been peppered with impactful moments.
During an April stop in Fresno, California, Bentley helped reunite a local military family. Sgt. Steven Mendez surprised his wife and two sons, after having been stationed overseas for nearly a year.
“That was so emotional,” Bentley tells MusicRow. “The dad was waiting behind this curtain. I’ve seen it happen on TV before, but I’ve never witnessed one before in person. The older son started crying and the younger son just stood there fascinated. Even talking about it now, it kind of wells me up just processing it. Everyone was crying and after the meet and greet we just had a private moment with all of them backstage. We asked them if we could bring it onstage and let everyone know what happened.”
That steely determination to win over the crowd each night, borne from years of playing small clubs across the country has stayed with Bentley as he has progressed to playing headlining shows in arenas and selling out amphitheaters.
The Platinum-selling singer-songwriter makes it his nightly goal to make sure the crowd is having as much fun as he and his band are having onstage, and he’s willing to go to some risky lengths to make that happen, such as keeping his security decidedly hands-off as Bentley makes his way through the crowd each night.
“When I was doing smaller shows and theaters, I was climbing railings, I would just do whatever I could, so when I got a chance to headline these amphitheaters, that’s a big part of the show for me. With Tom my tour manager and Jay my production manager, it took a few times to figure out how to do it because I don’t want anyone around me. I don’t want security, I don’t want anyone pushing people around. I’d rather risk bodily harm than have anyone be pushed or shoved. I’m dancing with girls in the aisles; I’m giving massages to the security people, like chop sueys on their backs.”
Dierks Bentley holds audience member’s baby in Tampa, Florida
That hands-on mantra does lead to some pretty unexpected moments, such as when, during a show in Tampa, Florida, a father handed his newborn child to Bentley.
“I thought it was a beer, but it was a baby about the size of a tall boy. I was shocked and it’s perfect because you are looking for spontaneous things to happen every night. That, like, exceeds anything I would ever expect. The look on the father’s face just makes it. He was so excited. The kid is going to look back and be like, ‘Dad, what the hell were you doing?’”
Sometimes his drive to bring fans new and unexpected experiences can lead to some slightly devious actions. Throughout the tour, Bentley and his bandmates disguised themselves as a bluegrass band, opening their own shows with a mix of bluegrass numbers, old-school country tunes and southern rock.
“I love bluegrass music and the guys in my band are some of the best acoustic musicians. Our guitar player played with Ricky Skaggs and is amazing on acoustic guitar. We just started scheming. That first time, even now, I’m more nervous doing the bluegrass gig than doing my own show. You go out there unannounced and fans are all excited thinking that it is Jon Pardi and they are like, ‘Oh, what’s this.’ If we don’t announce it, nobody knows who I am because I kind of stand off to the side and we have to win them over to the music. “
Dierks Bentley and band disguised as a bluegrass band on tour
During a show in Raleigh, Bentley invited his son Knox to join them.
“I need to get him a guitar next year because I have a feeling the bluegrass band is going to expand a member or two.”
After bringing Jon Pardi out on the road with him two years earlier, Bentley again has the “Dirt On My Boots” singer joining him for his What The Hell World Tour.
“He’s made a great record,” Bentley says. “We have the best time on the road. He’s a goofball and will do anything. We were playing Faster Horses and they had a pool set up backstage. My whole thing is ‘Say yes to everything.’ So I was walking by the pool and there were these girls who were teaching standup paddleboard yoga and I was like, ‘Why not?’ So I called Jon over there. It was really funny. He’s been a big part of the tour.
The camaraderie between Bentley and his opening acts stems in part from Bentley handpicking his openers, each of whom he says he calls personally to initiate conversations about the tours.
Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi engage in backstage paddleboard yoga on tour.
Even moments that have long been part of Bentley’s show, such as stage diving or bringing fans onstage for a shotgun race, provide unique points where anything can happen.
“Shotgunning with fans, I’ve thought about taking that out of the show because I’ve been doing it so long. I feel like fans can come to expect it,” Bentley says. “But once you get them onstage, you never know what is going to happen. Someone has peed their pants because they are so nervous. I’ve had people throw up. One girl just poured the beer all over herself, and I was using my shirt to wipe them off so they could go back into the crowd. It’s become a signature thing we do and I’d hate to lose that.
“Same thing with stagediving, which we do every night. It’s not the most comfortable thing to do because you are diving into people and you wonder, ‘Are they going to catch you? What are you going to do when you get down there, how are you going to get back up? But when you get back onstage, it’s like, ‘Yeah! We did that together. I trusted you and you supported me and it’s a thread that knits this whole experience together.”
Dierks Bentley shotguns with a fan in West Palm Beach
Though his What The Hell World Tour is nearing its final tour stops, and Bentley is gearing up to return to the studio, he says he already has some ideas for making his next tour just as memorable.
“I have a ‘90s cover band as well—Hot Country Nights—so that could be an option next year. It’s something we’ll try to hold on to. We come to these venues and it’s ours for the day, so we want to make the most of it.
“I think subconsciously, fans can tell when the lead singer is having more fun than anyone else onstage. It never feels like we are putting on a show, it’s like we are having an experience show. It’s like a hockey game, every night we’re trying to get a win.”
In Cleveland, Bentley holds a bra from a fan onstage.
Bentley dances with a security guard during a tour stop in Ottawa, Canada.
During a stop at the Faster Horses Festival, Bentley helps reunite two fans that saved each other’s lives via a kidney transplant.
Elle King performs with Bentley at the Stagecoach Festival
Bentley enjoys some time off on tour, playing hockey during a stop in Saksatoon, Canada.
Kelsea Ballerini Reveals Track Listing For ‘Unapologetically’
/by Alex ParryBlack River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini excitedly hosted an impromptu dance party with fan club members post-show in Darien Center, New York, to celebrate the midnight launch of her much-anticipated sophomore album, Unapologetically, available for preorder today. The long-awaited track listing was creatively unveiled in a groundbreaking partnership with Foursquare Swarm, while the cover art was revealed on Instagram.
Ballerini revealed her Unapologetically track listing via a first-ever personalized “Kelsea Ballerini Bonus” inside Swarm. All week long, users of the life-logging mobile app have actively kept watch on her social media accounts for special clues on which locations to visit. Upon checking in, they then received an interactive pop-up to swipe – which promoted an exclusive clip of a must-hear album track and Ballerini talking about the highly anticipated tunes.
Unapologetically is produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey and features 12 tracks all written or co-written by Ballerini. Releasing November 3, Unapologetically takes listeners on an intimate, behind-the-scenes journey of the past few years of the country singer’s life. Filled with “blood, sweat, and heartbeats,” the debut single, “Legends,” penned by Ballerini, Whitehead, and Hillary Lindsey, continues its steady climb on country radio.
Unapologetically Track Listing:
Ballerini will co-host ABC’s CMA Fest: The Music Event of Summer alongside Thomas Rhett, airing August 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
NSAI Announces Promotions, Staff Additions
/by Lorie HollabaughYoder moves to the director position after nearly two years with NSAI as Logistics Coordinator. In her new position her primary focus will be on songwriter membership, NSAI special events, and the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival.
”We are beyond excited to expand Shelby’s role with NSAI. She has been a phenomenal member of the team for the past two years and I can’t wait to see how much more she can bring to the organization with her new responsibilities,” said Jennifer Turnbow, Senior Director of Operations. “It’s an exciting time at NSAI as we have been able to bring on some amazing talent and really play to the strengths of our employees. I believe we have assembled a team that will take our next 50 years to a whole other level and allow us to serve songwriters to our utmost potential.”
Four new staffers have joined NSAI as well: Brittni Talley (Marketing Director), Brooke Perry (Executive Assistant), Jolie Grace Wareham (Logistics Coordinator), and Whitney Ingram (Receptionist), with all positions taking effect immediately.
Talley joins NSAI after several years with Country Thunder Music Festivals as a project manager and eventually Creative Director handling marketing, advertising, and event logistics. Prior to Country Thunder she worked as a publicist with Webster Public Relations.
Perry, a recent graduate of the University of Florida, joins NSAI as Executive Assistant after gaining extensive experience through internships and positions with CMT, Warner Music Nashville, Pilgrimage Music Festival, and the Country Music Association.
Wareham graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. in 2017 after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
Ingram, a graduate of Belmont University, returned to Nashville after two years in the Family Criminal Law Division of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in her hometown of Houston, Texas.
Lecrae To Headline Winter Jam West Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughLecrae heads up the star-packed lineup of Christian artists set to perform at this year’s Winter Jam West Tour, which kicks off Nov. 9 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
In addition to Lecrae, Winter Jam West will feature Third Day frontman Mac Powell, Andy Mineo, Building 429, Family Force 5, NewSong, Moriah Peters presenting TRALA, and evangelist Nick Hall. The West Coast Pre-Jam Party is set to showcase Mallary Hope and Westover.
“For the past seven years, we’ve been honored to bring Winter Jam to the West Coast,” said Eddie Carswell, tour creator and NewSong co-founder. “Every year has been a step of faith, as we are committed to sharing these great artists and the Gospel message nationwide.”
Created and hosted by NewSong, Winter Jam exploded from a single show in 1995 to become Christian music’s benchmark tour. Throughout the past 20 years, the tour has provided a powerful platform for the Gospel in major arenas nationwide, consistently showcasing the genre’s top artists.
Kip Moore Pleads The Fifth This Fall On New Tour, Celebrates Platinum Album
/by Lorie HollabaughKip Moore is clamming up and hitting the road this Fall on the Plead The Fifth Tour, which will kick off Oct. 19 in Bowling Green, OH. Drake White and Jordan Davis will join him on the 15-date tour, which runs through Dec. 2. Tickets will go on sale on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. CT.
“Our live show has been such a focus for me and the band for many years,” said Moore. “We are constantly woodshedding and trying to come up with new ways to engage the loyal fan base we’ve developed such a bond with. I’ve always felt Drake is cut from the same cloth and his focus has always seemed to be on the things that matter. We’ve been talking about touring for years and we’re finally going to get that chance. It’ll be a blast to see what we come up with, and also see Jordan Davis build his fan base out here with us.”
Moore exclusively premiered the futuristic video for a new track today, “The Bull” on Billboard, which can be seen here. The song is the first track Moore has shared from his upcoming album Slowheart, due out Sept. 8. Moore shared some insight into the new project at an event last night (Aug. 10), where he celebrated the platinum certification of his breakout debut album Up All Night. Moore was surprised by Universal Music Group Nashville’s Mike Dungan and Cindy Mabe with a commemorative plaque during the event, which was hosted by CMT’s Leslie Fram.
Luke Combs to Kick Off Headlining Tour In October
/by Lorie HollabaughPerforming more than 200 shows a year as an indie artist, Combs first began building the foundation of his career on the road touring while in college. He was tapped in 2017 to join Brantley Gilbert for his Devil Don’t Sleep Tour and also played notable music festivals including Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits and CMA Fest.
Pre-sale tickets for the Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour go on sale August 15, with general on-sale beginning August 18.
Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour
October 3, Los Angeles, CA, The Roxy*
October 4, Bakersfield, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace*
October 12, Milwaukee, Wis., The Rave*
October 13, Des Moines, Iowa, Wooly’s*
October 14, Wichita, Kan., The Cotillion*
October 19, Tulsa, Okla., Cain’s Ballroom*
October 20, Columbia, Mo., The Blue Note*
October 21, Springfield, Ill., Boondocks*
October 26, Fayetteville, Ark., George’s Majestic Lounge*
October 27, Kansas City, Mo., The Truman*
October 28, Denver, Colo., Grizzly Rose*
November 2, Baton Rouge, La., Texas Club*
November 3, Houston, Texas, House Of Blues*
November 4, Fort Worth, Texas, Billy Bob’s Texas*
November 9, Oxford, Ohio, Brick Street Bar+
November 10, Columbus, Ohio, Newport Music Hall+
November 16, Boston, Mass., House of Blues+
November 17, Baltimore, Md., Rams Head Live+
November 18, Asbury Park, N.J., The Stone Pony+
December 1, Atlanta, Ga., The Tabernacle+
December 7, Columbia, S.C., Township Auditorium+
December 8, Charlotte, N.C., Coyote Joe’s+
December 14, Orlando, Fla., House of Blues+
December 15, Jacksonville, Fla., Florida Theatre+
December 16, Asheville, N.C., US Cellular Center+
Bakersfield, Cali. & Oxford, Ohio, on-sale August 19th
Jacksonville, Fla, on-sale August 25th
Columbia, S.C., Charlotte, N.C. & Orlando, Fla., on-sale Sept. 22nd
*Ray Fulcher & Josh Phillips
+Josh Phillips & Faren Rachels
Weekly Chart Report 8/11/17
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
DISClaimer: Ryan Hurd, Brett Eldredge Enchant With New Music
/by Robert K OermannThis week’s country offerings range from over-produced, slick Nashville items to the rootsy charms of EmiSunshine and Margo Price. Kevin Costner is back, sounding as good as ever. And the well-established Rascal Flatts demonstrates that it still has plenty of gas in its tank.
The best newcomer is Ryan Hurd, who earns a DisCovery Award.
The Disc of the Day belongs to Brett Eldredge. Some production, publishing and songwriter credits on both of these winning tunes would have been nice, record companies.
RYAN HURD/Love In A Bar
Writers: Ryan Hurd/Joey Hyde; Producer: Aaron Eshuis; Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Lake Allegan Pub Club (ASCAP). All rights for Lake Allegan Pub Club controlled and adm by Universal Music Corp. ©2016 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI); RCA (ERG)
– Utterly enchanting. The melody swirls beautifully. The production builds and boils with intensity. His vocal delivery is loaded with dynamics as it goes from a whisper to a scream. A mighty debut.
AARON LEWIS/Folded Flag
Writers: Marty Morgan/Luc Nyhus/Yasmine Van Wilt; Producers: Ben Kitterman/Aaron Lewis; Label: Big Machine (ERG); Publishers: Morgan House Music Publishing (SESAC)./ Timberslust Music (BMI)./ Yasmine Van Wilt (BMI).
-Sung from the point of view of a dead soldier. It’s very well written and performed, but I don’t imagine radio folks will clamor to program such a downer.
RASCAL FLATTS/Back To Us
Writers: Cary Barlowe/David Hodges/Josh Thompson; Producers: Jay DeMarcus/Rascal Flatts; Publishers: Castle Bound/We Be Partying/3 Weddings/Songs of Kobalt/Big Music Machine/Two Laine Collections, SESAC/BMI; Big Machine (track)
– I dig the crunchy production and the gripping lyric. Gary’s lead vocal is more chesty and intimate than usual, and he’s not constantly at the top of his range. This is the group’s strongest single in years.
EMISUNSHINE/Ninety Miles
Writer: EmiSunshine; Producers: EmiSunshine/Randall Hamilton/Troy Dixon; Publishers: none listed; Little Blackbird
– Considering the fact that she’s just 13, this is an extraordinary song. It is not only loaded with melodic hooks, it deals with the topic of autism in a strikingly mature way. Available now, it is the advance track of a hard-country CD titled Ragged Dreams that’s due on Aug. 25.
RAELYNN/Lonely Call
Writers: RaeLynn/Nicolle Galyon/Rob Hawkins; Producers: Jimmy Robbins/Nicolle Galyon; Label: Warner Music; Publishers: ©2016 Super Big Music / I Take The Bull By The Horns (ASCAP) admin. by Big Machine Music, LLC / Prescription Songs LLC (ASCAP), admin. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / A Girl Named Charlie (BMI). All rights admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Songs Music Publishing, LLC o/b/o Pneumatic Man (ASCAP), Songs of SMP (ASCAP)
– I don’t like the way her voice is buried in the mix. You have to strain to understand the lyric, and that ain’t the country way.
BRIAN MILSON/I’d Have To Kiss Ya
Label: First Short Road
-Nicely done. He runs into an old flame and resists the urge to rekindle it. Catchy, well crafted and extremely promising.
KEVIN COSTNER & MODERN WEST/Love Shine
Writers: Teddy Morgan/Henry Jack Williams; Publishers: Teddy Morgan/songs of LGME! BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Teddy Morgan; Kevin’s Music
– I have liked this guy’s music from the start. The new single is a doomy, dramatic, minor-key outing that he delivers in a gritty whisper. Despite the dark atmosphere, the overall message is oddly positive. I dig this.
BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Matt Rogers; Producers: Ross Copperman/Brett Eldredge; Publishers: Sony/ATV Countryside/Paris Not France Music; BMI;
Ole Canalco Publishing (ASCAP); Atlantic
– Simply put, he is one helluva singer. This addictive, rolling, rhythmic production surrounds a personality-packed performance that ranges from nearly-spoken intimacies to falsetto quasi-yodels. A brilliant performance.
KAREN & THE SHADOWS/Take Me For A Ride
Writers: Karen Pittelman; Producers: Charles Burst; Publishers: Ocean Born Mary, ASCAP; OBM (track)
– Fiddle and steel in Brooklyn? You betcha. This outfit lays down a country-rock groove that’s as solid as anything you’ll hear in Music City. Plus, Karen shows real promise as a songwriter. Recommended.
MARGO PRICE/Paper Cowboy
Writers: Matt Gardner; Producers: Margo Price, Alex Munoz, Matt Ross-Spang & Jeremy Ivey; Publishers: none listed; Third Man
– Yes, I know I reviewed a single by her last week. The thing is, she has TWO new singles on the market. This one is a toe-tapping, stuttering-steel romp wherein she wails about a no-good guy. The surprising, extended instrumental coda is like a splash of cool water in the face. Refreshingly different.
Exclusive: Dierks Bentley Finds A ‘Win’ In Spontaneous Moments On His 2017 What The Hell World Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonDierks Bentley performs in Milwaukee.
For more than a decade, Dierks Bentley has brought his mix of party-ready tunes and thoughtful ballads to country fans, earning sold-out shows with songs such as “Feel That Fire,” “Riser,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go),” and his latest, “Black.”
This year, Bentley’s 2017 What The Hell World Tour has been peppered with impactful moments.
During an April stop in Fresno, California, Bentley helped reunite a local military family. Sgt. Steven Mendez surprised his wife and two sons, after having been stationed overseas for nearly a year.
“That was so emotional,” Bentley tells MusicRow. “The dad was waiting behind this curtain. I’ve seen it happen on TV before, but I’ve never witnessed one before in person. The older son started crying and the younger son just stood there fascinated. Even talking about it now, it kind of wells me up just processing it. Everyone was crying and after the meet and greet we just had a private moment with all of them backstage. We asked them if we could bring it onstage and let everyone know what happened.”
That steely determination to win over the crowd each night, borne from years of playing small clubs across the country has stayed with Bentley as he has progressed to playing headlining shows in arenas and selling out amphitheaters.
The Platinum-selling singer-songwriter makes it his nightly goal to make sure the crowd is having as much fun as he and his band are having onstage, and he’s willing to go to some risky lengths to make that happen, such as keeping his security decidedly hands-off as Bentley makes his way through the crowd each night.
“When I was doing smaller shows and theaters, I was climbing railings, I would just do whatever I could, so when I got a chance to headline these amphitheaters, that’s a big part of the show for me. With Tom my tour manager and Jay my production manager, it took a few times to figure out how to do it because I don’t want anyone around me. I don’t want security, I don’t want anyone pushing people around. I’d rather risk bodily harm than have anyone be pushed or shoved. I’m dancing with girls in the aisles; I’m giving massages to the security people, like chop sueys on their backs.”
Dierks Bentley holds audience member’s baby in Tampa, Florida
That hands-on mantra does lead to some pretty unexpected moments, such as when, during a show in Tampa, Florida, a father handed his newborn child to Bentley.
“I thought it was a beer, but it was a baby about the size of a tall boy. I was shocked and it’s perfect because you are looking for spontaneous things to happen every night. That, like, exceeds anything I would ever expect. The look on the father’s face just makes it. He was so excited. The kid is going to look back and be like, ‘Dad, what the hell were you doing?’”
Sometimes his drive to bring fans new and unexpected experiences can lead to some slightly devious actions. Throughout the tour, Bentley and his bandmates disguised themselves as a bluegrass band, opening their own shows with a mix of bluegrass numbers, old-school country tunes and southern rock.
“I love bluegrass music and the guys in my band are some of the best acoustic musicians. Our guitar player played with Ricky Skaggs and is amazing on acoustic guitar. We just started scheming. That first time, even now, I’m more nervous doing the bluegrass gig than doing my own show. You go out there unannounced and fans are all excited thinking that it is Jon Pardi and they are like, ‘Oh, what’s this.’ If we don’t announce it, nobody knows who I am because I kind of stand off to the side and we have to win them over to the music. “
Dierks Bentley and band disguised as a bluegrass band on tour
During a show in Raleigh, Bentley invited his son Knox to join them.
“I need to get him a guitar next year because I have a feeling the bluegrass band is going to expand a member or two.”
After bringing Jon Pardi out on the road with him two years earlier, Bentley again has the “Dirt On My Boots” singer joining him for his What The Hell World Tour.
“He’s made a great record,” Bentley says. “We have the best time on the road. He’s a goofball and will do anything. We were playing Faster Horses and they had a pool set up backstage. My whole thing is ‘Say yes to everything.’ So I was walking by the pool and there were these girls who were teaching standup paddleboard yoga and I was like, ‘Why not?’ So I called Jon over there. It was really funny. He’s been a big part of the tour.
The camaraderie between Bentley and his opening acts stems in part from Bentley handpicking his openers, each of whom he says he calls personally to initiate conversations about the tours.
Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi engage in backstage paddleboard yoga on tour.
Even moments that have long been part of Bentley’s show, such as stage diving or bringing fans onstage for a shotgun race, provide unique points where anything can happen.
“Shotgunning with fans, I’ve thought about taking that out of the show because I’ve been doing it so long. I feel like fans can come to expect it,” Bentley says. “But once you get them onstage, you never know what is going to happen. Someone has peed their pants because they are so nervous. I’ve had people throw up. One girl just poured the beer all over herself, and I was using my shirt to wipe them off so they could go back into the crowd. It’s become a signature thing we do and I’d hate to lose that.
“Same thing with stagediving, which we do every night. It’s not the most comfortable thing to do because you are diving into people and you wonder, ‘Are they going to catch you? What are you going to do when you get down there, how are you going to get back up? But when you get back onstage, it’s like, ‘Yeah! We did that together. I trusted you and you supported me and it’s a thread that knits this whole experience together.”
Dierks Bentley shotguns with a fan in West Palm Beach
Though his What The Hell World Tour is nearing its final tour stops, and Bentley is gearing up to return to the studio, he says he already has some ideas for making his next tour just as memorable.
“I have a ‘90s cover band as well—Hot Country Nights—so that could be an option next year. It’s something we’ll try to hold on to. We come to these venues and it’s ours for the day, so we want to make the most of it.
“I think subconsciously, fans can tell when the lead singer is having more fun than anyone else onstage. It never feels like we are putting on a show, it’s like we are having an experience show. It’s like a hockey game, every night we’re trying to get a win.”
In Cleveland, Bentley holds a bra from a fan onstage.
Bentley dances with a security guard during a tour stop in Ottawa, Canada.
During a stop at the Faster Horses Festival, Bentley helps reunite two fans that saved each other’s lives via a kidney transplant.
Elle King performs with Bentley at the Stagecoach Festival
Bentley enjoys some time off on tour, playing hockey during a stop in Saksatoon, Canada.
Dustin Lynch Celebrates Double Gold Before Third Album ‘Current Mood,’ Headlining Tour
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (back L-R): L3 Entertainment’s JT Pratt, BBR Music Group’s Chelsey Flick and Scotty O’Brien, Dustin Lynch, BBR Music Group’s Shaina Botwin and Marisa Coffin. (Front L-R): BBR Music Group’s Andrea Knipp and Jennifer Coen, L3 Entertainment’s Neil Vance, BBR Music Group’s Jon Loba, Sara Knabe and Jay Jones, L3 Entertainment’s Peter Hartung and Steve Mekler. Photo: Daniel Vorlet
Tullahoma, Tennessee can boast hometown to at least two: George Dickel Whisky, and Broken Bow Records star Dustin Lynch.
So it was appropriate for busses to trek media and VIP guests some 70 miles from Nashville to the 140-year old distillery on Wednesday (Aug. 9) to the reveal details of Lynch’s third album, Current Mood, and his second headlining outing, The Ride Or Die Tour 2017.
Simultaneously broadcast on social media, the party announced Current Mood‘s release date for less than a month away, Sept. 8. Pre-orders are available immediately with an instant-grat track, “Love Me Or Leave Me Alone,” featuring Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild.
The complete track listing for the 13 new sides will be revealed gradually. But Lynch gave audience members a sneak listen of six new songs, all leaning towards the sultry and bold grooves built from his sophomore effort, Where It’s At. Below, MusicRow compiled all the track and writer we know so far. Additional writers include Josh Osborne, Justin Ebach, Kyle Fishman, Andy Albert, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley and Jimmy Robbins.
Current Mood was produced by Brent Anderson, Mickey Jack Cones, Ross Copperman, Crowell, and Will Weatherly.
“Current Mood came together as a slow process,” Lynch told the crowd. “It’s a huge relief to start playing music for everyone again…One of the reason’s we’re two singles in before we have a new album is I’ve been touring so much, on top of writing and getting the vocal rest needed to record an album. [In the past three years] I’ve written well over 100 plus songs and listened to thousands.”
Lynch and the producers took care with each song, hand selecting specific musicians to capture a certain feel during sessions, rather than cranking a whole album out in a week.
BBR Label Group’s Jon Loba (R) surprises Dustin Lynch (L) with two Gold plaques. Photo: Daniel Vorlet
“Dustin completely consumed himself in this project,” confirmed BBR Label Group’s Exec. VP Jon Loba. “It’s pretty rare to have an album with a No. 1 already baked in, even more rare to have an album with a No. 1 and soon-to-be No. 1—we’re top 5 with ‘Small Town Boy.’ I don’t know of too many albums that before they’re released have two Gold singles. Current Mood has two Gold singles.”
Loba surprised Lynch with two plaques to commemorate the sales feat.
“We wanted to do something special for this reveal because this is where it all started, I grew up probably a mile from here,” continued Lynch. “Tonight we’re celebrating new music. This is a collection over the last three years of all the adventures, travel, hookups, heartbreaks, growth—as a dude and a band. This is a glimpse behind the curtain of a chapter of my life. This is me in the present moment, which is why I decided to call it Current Mood.”
The celebration continued with a toast “from one rising star from Tullahoma to another” with a sample of George Dickel 17 (17 year old whisky). “This is a very special shot glass of whisky,” prefaced Lynch. “It’s my favorite I’ve ever had, and I’ve drank a lot of whisky all over the place.”
Lynch’s 15-date large theater and small stadium tour will stretch from November to December 2017. Special support comes from a variation of Michael Ray, LANCO and Ryan Hurd on select dates (full details below).
“If you’ve been to our shows, you know they are just big parties,” said Lynch. “The most exciting and scary thing for me is we’re going to try to tackle some small arenas on this tour. So there’s a lot of pressure to see how many tickets you can sell. It’s going to be bigger and better than we’ve ever done.”
Presales for The Ride Or Die Tour 2017 begin Aug. 21. DustinLynchMusic.com will offer first chance access for tour tickets with the purchase of exclusive merchandise bundles from his own clothing line Stay Country and pre orders of the new album, Current Mood. Until then, Lynch will continue on the road through September 24 with Brad Paisley’s Weekend Warrior Tour and an appearance on ABC’s CMA Fest: The Music Event of Summer, airing August 16 at 8 p.m. (ET).
Current Mood Track Listing (as we know it so far):
1) I’d Be Jealous Too (Dustin Lynch, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite)
2) Seein’ Red (Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison, Steve Bogard, Jason Sever)
3) Small Town Boy (Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Kyle Fishman)
4) Why We Call Each Other (Dustin Lynch, Lee Miller, Ross Copperman)
5) —
6) Love Me Or Leave Me Alone [feat. Karen Fairchild] (Dustin Christensen, Chris Gelbuda)
7) Back On It (Brent Anderson, Will Weatherly, Smith Ahnquist)
8) —
9) —
10) Party Song (Brett Tyler, Craig Wiseman, Morgan Wallen)
11) —
12) —
13) —
Confirmed dates for The Ride Or Die Tour 2017:
11/3 – Fayetteville, NC – Crown Coliseum *+
11/4 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy Theatre *+
11/10 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom +
11/11 – San Antonio, TX – Cowboys Dancehall +
11/12 – Houston, TX – House of Blues +
12/2 – New York, NY – PlayStation Theater ^
12/3 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore ^
12/7 – Stockton, CA – Bob Hope Theatre ^
12/8 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo ^
12/10 – Las Vegas, NV – The Cosmopolitan ^
12/17 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live ^
*Michael Ray
+LANCO
^Ryan Hurd
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Dustin Lynch, MusicRow Operations Director Eric T. Parker. Photo: Daniel Vorlet
BMG Partnering With Black Box Music To Expand Reach In Canada
/by Lorie HollabaughThe move demonstrates BMG’s commitment to the burgeoning Canadian music market, which grew by 14.4% in the first half of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016 according to figures from Neilsen. According to The 2017 IFPI Global Music Report, Canada is the world’s sixth biggest global music market.
“Canada has a long history of generating great artists. Canadian people are great music fans. So it is absolutely natural for us to have a strong presence in Canada,” said Katz. “We have made no secret of our goal to build a recordings business as strong as our presence in music publishing. Scaling up in Canada with a trusted and credible partner like Black Box will enable us to further improve our service to artists.”
“In an ever-changing musical landscape that has more than ever before become an industry without borders, it’s exciting to be part of a forward-thinking global music company,” said Murray. “Watching first hand what their team have built in both the publishing and recorded music businesses, in such a short period, is awe inspiring.”
BMG recently signed two of Canada’s biggest stars, singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne and rock band Nickelback. Nickelback’s new album Feed The Machine was released on June 16 and debuted Top 5 in the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Lavigne is currently in the studio finishing work on a new full-length album to be released later this year.
BMG’s publishing roster of Canadian songwriters already features Paul Anka, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings (The Guess Who), WondaGurl (Drake, Rihanna, Travis Scott), electronic musicians Keys N Krates, as well as rising stars NAV (Drake, Travis Scott), Jazzfeezy (Drake, T.I.), Jessie Reyez, and rockers The Glorious Sons.