It is undeniable that much of the most creative music being made today is in the Americana genre, and that furthermore much of it comes from Nashville.
In today’s stack of platters, we find such stellar Music City contributors as Darrell Scott, Jeff Black, Rodney Crowell and Paul Burch. We can now add a new name to that list. Lend Bryan Clark and his New Lyceum Players your ears. The man is stepping up to the plate with guitar chops that equal Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner and our city’s other guitar-slinger heroes. He is also today’s DisCovery Award winner.
The Disc of the Day is also packed with Nashvillians. In addition to Crowell and Scott, they include Gary Nicholson, John Prine, Radney Foster, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Camp, Suzy Bogguss, Verlon Thompson, Tim O’Brien and Vince Gill. All of them are saluting the eternal greatness of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Guy Clark. A tip of the chapeau to This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, for it truly is a tribute worthy of the name.
SHELBY LYNNE/Heaven’s Only Days Down the Road
Writer: Shelby Lynne; Producer: Shelby Lynne; Publisher: none listed; Everso (track) (www.shelbylynne.com)
—Lynne’s Revelation Road collection is a true d.i.y. affair. She wrote all of its songs, played all the instruments and produced it. Its current emphasis track finds her emoting soulfully over a nervous beat and rapidly strummed acoustic guitar. The harrowing lyric seems to point back to her father, who murdered her mother and then killed himself while she and her sister watched. Gripping.
JEFF BLACK/Plow Through the Mystic
Writer: Jeff Black; Producer: Jeff Black; Publisher: Lotos Nile, BMI; Lotos Nile (track) (www.jeffblack.com)
—Speaking of doing it yourself, this superb Nashville song crafter produced his eighth CD on his own and played guitar, piano, banjo, bass and percussion on it as well. A few notables dropped by — Matraca Berg, Kim Richey and Gretchen Peters offer harmonies on a couple of tunes. Stellar instrumentalists Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas are here, too. Jerry is particularly prominent on this, the album’s shuffling title tune. Jeff, as always, sings with warm, throaty soul. Other standouts include the ballads “What I Would Not Do” and “New Love Song.” Jeff Black is booked to play at The Hard Rock on March 23 at 6 p.m. alongside Sam, Dierks Bentley and Jon Randall, all of whom have recorded his tunes, as has BlackHawk (”That’s Just About Right”).
DARRELL SCOTT/Hopkinsville
Writer: Darrell Scott; Producer: Darrell Scott; Publisher: none listed; Full Light (track) (www.darrellscott.com)
—This awesome singer-songwriter’s new collection is titled Long Ride Home. Some of its tunes date back to his earliest years as a tunesmith while others are more recent collaborations with Marcus Hummon, Tia Sillers and others. This swinging bopper is a working man’s tune with snazzy steel by Lloyd Green, rolling piano by newly announced Country Hall of Famer Hargus “Pig” Robbins and a tenor harmony by Rodney Crowell. Elsewhere on this multi-faceted audio gem, other guests include John Cowan, Guy Clark, Patty Griffin, Mickey Raphael and Tim O’Brien. If you don’t love Darrell Scott, there’s something seriously wrong with you.
PAUL BURCH/Rave On
Writer: none listed; Producer: Paul Burch; Publisher: none listed; Ramseur (track)
—Burch’s latest is titled simply, Words of Love: Songs of Buddy Holly. His WPA Ballclub band lends the tunes a simplicity that is quite refreshing, considering how overblown most Holly tribute albums are. The arrangement of the set-opening “Rave On,” for instance, puts the spotlight on Burch’s jaunty, energetic vocal with nifty fiddle-and-squeezebox riffs, a simple rhythm section and little else. Ear opening.
MAD BUFFALO/Red and Blue
Writer: Randy Riviere; Producer: Chad Cromwell & Randy Riviere; Publisher: none listed; Mad Buffalo (track) (www.madbufffalo.com)
—Bandleader/songwriter Riviere hails from Montana, but traded Big Sky Country for Music City to record his latest CD. Stellar sidemen Dave Roe, Reggie Young, Jack Hoder and producer Cromwell make these tunes live and breathe as surely as Riviere’s shy, dry vocals do. This ballad title tune builds and swells around the philosophical lyric.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN/We Take Care of Our Own
Writer: Bruce Springsteen; Producer: Ron Aniello & Bruce Springsteen; Publisher: Bruce Spingsteen, ASCAP; Columbia (track)
—Introduced as the opening number of last month’s Grammy telecast, this is also the opening salvo of Bruce’s just-released Wrecking Ball CD. Despite the driving, uplifting track, it is a portrait of American promise denied to the disenfranchised. The theme resonates throughout the album. This is political music at its most majestic and powerful. This is why he’s The Boss. By the way, his eulogy to Clarence Clemons in the liner notes will move you to tears.
BRYAN CLARK & THE NEW LYCEUM PLAYERS/Southern Amen
Writer: Bryan Clark; Producer: Bryan Clark; Publisher: none listed; Rainfeather (track) (www.bryanclarkmusic.com)
—Clark is a transplant to Music City from Texas and the Southern Intermission CD was recorded in Brentwood. But you’ll swear you are listening to a smoking studio session from Memphis or Muscle Shoals or, in the case of this tune, New Orleans. This roars with soul/rock conviction, and the man’s fiery, world-class, fleet-fingered electric guitar work will blow your mind. Guaranteed. Get on board, chillun.
RODNEY CROWELL/That Old Time Feeling
Writer: Guy Clark; Producer: Tamara Saviano & Shawn Camp; Publisher: Chappell, ASCAP; Icehouse (track) (www.icehousemusic.com)
—”Let’s give her a good go and make ol’ Guy proud of us,” says Crowell as he kicks off this opening track of This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark. His subsequent delivery of the wistful waltz is smoky, dreamlike and achingly emotional. But, then, everyone on this outstanding double CD is at their absolute best — Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris & John Prine, Radney Foster, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Joe Ely, Jack Ingram, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kevin Welch, Willie Nelson, Suzy Bogguss and on and on. Buy this at once.
FIERY BLUE/Slow Down
Writer: Paul Marsteller; Producer: Gabe Rhodes; Publisher: Big Moment, BMI; Doubloon (track) (www.fieryblue.com)
—This Texas combo seems to consist of lightly lilting vocalist Simone Stevens, percussionist Hunt Sales and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Rhodes performing the works of songwriter Paul Marsteller (apart from a delightful cover of The Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen a Face”). This lively country rocker has enough hooks and melodic charm to be a mainstream country hit. The album’s title is Our Secret. Well, the secret is out.
FRED EAGLESMITH/Cemetery Road
Writer: Fred Eaglesmith; Producer: Scott Merritt & Fred Eaglesmith; Publisher: Sweetwater/A Major Label/Bluewater, SOCAN/SESAC; A Major Label (track)
—This ruggedly individualistic and independent Canadian has nonetheless had cuts by Toby Keith, Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert, plus Chris Knight, The Cowboy Junkies, Mary Gauthier, Todd Snider, Kasey Chambers and more. This opening track of his new 6 Volts CD is a thudding, minimalist slab of drawled, bluesy, raspy attitude. Spooky, but as compelling as ever.
Industry Ink (3/14/12)
/by FreemanCountry-rock group Parmalee recently signed a publishing deal with Nashville’s Gallo and Landers Music. The North Carolina group also recently inked a recording contract with Stoney Creek Records.
“Our team feels very fortunate to get to work with a talent like Parmalee,” said Gallo and Landers Music’s Jim Landers, “and I look forward to seeing great things happen with them.”
(L-R): Almon Law’s Noah McPike; Gallo and Landers Music's Jim Landers; Parmalee’s Barry Knox, Matt Thomas, Scott Thomas, and Josh McSwain; Gallo and Landers Music's Greg Gallo; and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Photo: Drew Maynard
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“I will always appreciate the guidance Clarence provided during my time with the firm, and I am now thrilled to begin this new chapter with such a genuine and exceptional talent as Maggie Eckford,”says Collins.
Reach her at cnd.collins@gmail.com.
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Warner Music Nashville Adds Two Staffers
/by Sarah SkatesKatie Bright will be joining the WMN radio promotion department starting Mon., March 19. She was most recently working at Diane Richey Promotions.
Bright is filling the Northeast Regional post that previously belonged to George Meeker. She will report directly to Bob Reeves. Meanwhile, Meeker is exiting to open a State Farm Insurance agency. Reach her at Katie.Bright@wmg.com.
Also, Jessica Campbell has joined the publicity department where she is handling events, interviews and tour press. She makes the move from Creative Artists Agency and is reporting directly to Tree Paine. Contact her at Jessica.Campbell@wmg.com.
“On Demand” Chart Arrives, Added To Billboard Hot 100 Formula
/by FreemanBillboard, Nielsen and NARM’s digitalmusic.org announced the creation of the first-ever subscription services “On-Demand Songs” chart, the data from which will also be included in the Billboard Hot 100. On-demand streaming data is now factored into the chart’s ranking, a formula that also incorporates digital download and physical single sales, as well as radio airplay.
In coordination with digitalmusic.org’s Subscription Music Work Group and powered by Nielsen BDS, the On-Demand chart measures every on-demand play request from MOG, Muve Music, Rdio, Rhapsody, Slacker and Spotify. Data from Zune and Sony Music Unlimited is expected to be added in the future. Nielsen began tracking streaming in 2005, and recorded over 4.5 billion streams in the first 70 days of 2012.
“Billboard always recognizes trends in the way fans experience music. With some of these services growing exponentially and integrating into the social web, the time is right to launch a streaming chart and to incorporate this activity into the Hot 100,” said Bill Werde, Billboard’s editorial director.
“The last year has seen an explosion of both subscribers and traffic to music subscription services, and the business is now contributing meaningfully to the music industry’s growing digital music revenues. This chart marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the music subscription business,” said Bill Wilson, VP of Business Development and Digital Strategy, NARM/digitalmusic.org. “The new Billboard chart is the definitive endorsement of the importance of the music subscription market and, as Nielsen continues to track tremendous growth, its influence can only become more important in the future.”
The Hot 100 formula will now account for data from the On-Demand songs chart, as well as non-demand radio streams from Rhapsody and Slacker, video requests on Akoo, and audio on-demand from MySpace and Guvera. Yahoo! radio streams and on-demand videos will continue to contribute to chart rankings.
The first No. 1 on the On-Demand Songs chart goes to fun. and its hit “We Are Young,” featuring Janelle Monae, which had a total of 1.1 million streams. The track also lands atop the updated Billboard Hot 100 for a second consecutive week.
The updated Hot 100 and On-Demand Songs charts will be available on Billboard.com and Billboard.biz tomorrow (March 15), and featured in the March 24 print edition of Billboard, which hits newsstands March 16.
Craig Morgan to Guest Star on “Army Wives”
/by Caitlin RantalaL-R: Wendy Davis, Catherine Bell, Craig Morgan, Kim Delaney and Kelli Williams. Photo: Angeline Herron
Craig Morgan will make his acting debut as a guest star on Lifetime’s hit drama Army Wives, and the episode airs March 18 at 9 pm ET.
Army Wives, Lifetime’s most successful series, returned to prime time television for its sixth season earlier in March. Morgan’s guest appearance will feature performances of his current single and title track from his Black River Entertainment album, “This Ole Boy,” and This Ole Boy album cut “Love Loves a Long Night.”
Dickson, TN will also get special recognition on Sunday night’s episode of Army Wives. Morgan will be introduced with the true-to-life mention that he served 10 years in the US Army, is a recipient of the USO Merit Award and hails from Dickson. Although Morgan is used to being in front of a camera as the host of award-winning show Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors, this marks the singer’s first scripted television appearance.
Fans can also enter to win a piece of Craig Morgan history, as the Grand Ole Opry member’s appearance on Army Wives is supported with a sweepstakes on Opry.com. Click here for more information.
MusicRow Debuts TEA Sales Index
/by bossross2011 TEA benchmarks were 25% country; 27.7% all genre.
The Country Music Sales Landscape is evolving rapidly. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Country tracks are up 19.4% (7% for all genre) and digital album sales are up 30.8% (19.4% all genre) YTD 2012. These numbers show a significant increase in the adoption of digital music by country fans, albeit several years behind the all genre crowd.
Digital album sales are included in SoundScan album sales, which has been the coin of the realm in measuring industry health. But track sales are generating large revenues, and frankly becoming too important to ignore. The TEA index is one of several coming metrics designed to fold track sales back into the discussion.
TEA Index Methodology
We will update the TEA index around the middle of each month. Here’s how it works. We take the total YTD track sales and divide the number by 10 to get TEA (track equivalent albums) units. We then add the TEA albums to the digital and physical albums to get a total. Lastly we determine what percentage of the total is contributed by TEA units.
The percentage shows at a glance how the marketplace is changing. For example, the 2011 TEA index for country music was 25.08% (all genre 27.77%). Three months into 2012 the country TEA index has already risen to almost 31%—a 24% increase.
Looked at another way, the index is dependent upon the balance between tracks and albums. For example, if album sales fall and tracks remain constant, the index rises. Conversely, if album sales increase and track sales remain constant or ebb then the index falls.
TEA Talk
The higher TEA index scores at the start of the year can probably be explained by the post holidays gift card phenomenon when people get new gifts and then rush online to redeem them in the form of buying tracks. But we are also seeing track sale spikes generated by award shows like the Grammys, as well as reality shows such as American Idol and The Voice and sitcoms Smash and Glee which encourage “instant gratification” track purchases.
This past week the index dropped, partially because of some special 25¢ digital album offers, first from Google and then echoed by Amazon which successfully stimulated album downloads (more about that below.) Special sales like this highlight another disconnect between SoundScan numbers and actual industry health—pricing. For example, country album sales last year were down a modest 1.8%. No big deal until you start to realize that albums were selling for less last year than in previous years, so revenues were more seriously compromised than the 1.8% would indicate and of course profits also suffered.
Weekly Sales Shout Out
Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night was the largest single happening of the week for country album sales. Its sales increased 437% W/W. The trio benefited from the aforementioned 25¢ sales price on Google Music—an offer that really “clicked” with fans. Sales moved from 20k to 108k with a whopping 90% of the sales in the digital format!
Informed readers will recall that after last year’s Lady Gaga low debut-week pricing, Billboard added a new chart rule saying it would not include album units sold for less than $3.49 during their first four weeks of release in SoundScan. But Own The Night, now in its 26th week, is way past the four week rule.
Luke Bryan also deserves mention with the No. 2 and No. 3 positions on this week’s country album chart. His Spring Break 4 debut hit almost 30k downloads (it was digital-only) and Tailgates and Tanlines scanned over 17k.
Rachele Lynae to Debut With Momentum
/by Eric T. ParkerLynae co-wrote the single with O’Neal, Jimmy Murphy and Stephanie Bentley. The accompanying music video, filmed in Nashville by Trey Fanjoy, will debut online in the coming weeks.
Lynae built a following from touring the West Coast, and came to Nashville to attend Belmont University. O’Neal came across Lynae’s five-song EP, and signed her as the flagship artist for Momentum. Lynae’s debut album is slated for release later in 2012.
More info on Lynae here.
Leadership Music Digital Summit Gets Social
/by FreemanLivenation.com general manager and BigChampagne founder/CEO Eric Garland will keynote the event, and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will provide opening remarks. Also on the schedule is an in-depth artist interview with Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, who will discuss the importance of social media in his band’s success.
Sessions include “How To Reach Fans on Social Media,” “Monetizing Social Media,” “Analytic Tools For Social Media,” “The Next Wave: Hot Social Startups” and more. The event will also feature live music and a closing cocktail party. Complimentary shuttle service will run between the Music Row area and TPAC.
Early bird registration is currently available for $199–a 20% discount–by using the special code LMDS2012. Register at www.digitalsummit.org.
CMA’s SRO Touring Awards To Return In 2012
/by Sarah SkatesThe Country Music Association hosted its first CMA Membership Roundtable and Discussion yesterday at the Hilton Downtown Nashville. CMA members were treated to lunch and had the opportunity to hear about the organization's initiatives for 2012 including the revival of the SRO Awards, CMA's "Year of Country Radio," and healthcare benefits that are available to the association's constituents. (L-R): CMA Chief Executive Officer, Steve Moore; CMA Senior Manager of Membership & Balloting, Brandi Simms; CMA Sound Healthcare CEO, RJ Stillwell; and CMA Board member and The AristoMedia Group President, Jeff Walker. Photo: Christian Bottorff/CMA
CMA is reinstating the touring industry SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards in 2012. The honors will be presented during Country Music Month in October.
“Following the recent success of the inaugural CMA Touring Musician Award in 2011, the CMA Board felt that the SRO Awards in their entirety should be reintroduced in 2012,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “The touring industry is a vibrant part of our business and these hard-working individuals are very deserving of this recognition.”
Balloting will be conducted with a two-step election process, beginning with a nominating round, then a finalist round. Voting will begin in April.
Ballots will be sent to CMA members in the following categories: Affiliated, Artist, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Publicist, Record Label, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter, TV/Video/Media, and Venue.
The SRO Award categories
Business Manager of the Year
Coach/Truck Driver of the Year
FOH (Front of House) Engineer
Lighting Director of the Year
Manager of the Year
Monitor Engineer of the Year
Production Manager of the Year
Publicist of the Year
Talent Agent of the Year
Tour Caterer of the Year
Tour Manager of the Year
Touring Musician of the Year (approved and implemented in 2011)
Venue of the Year
Video Director of the Year
An individual, company or tour cannot win two consecutive years in the same category. Ballots will be tabulated by accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.
The SRO Awards were created by the CMA Board of Directors in 1990, and were handed out through 1997.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (3/14/12)
/by Robert K OermannIn today’s stack of platters, we find such stellar Music City contributors as Darrell Scott, Jeff Black, Rodney Crowell and Paul Burch. We can now add a new name to that list. Lend Bryan Clark and his New Lyceum Players your ears. The man is stepping up to the plate with guitar chops that equal Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner and our city’s other guitar-slinger heroes. He is also today’s DisCovery Award winner.
The Disc of the Day is also packed with Nashvillians. In addition to Crowell and Scott, they include Gary Nicholson, John Prine, Radney Foster, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Camp, Suzy Bogguss, Verlon Thompson, Tim O’Brien and Vince Gill. All of them are saluting the eternal greatness of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Guy Clark. A tip of the chapeau to This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, for it truly is a tribute worthy of the name.
SHELBY LYNNE/Heaven’s Only Days Down the Road
Writer: Shelby Lynne; Producer: Shelby Lynne; Publisher: none listed; Everso (track) (www.shelbylynne.com)
—Lynne’s Revelation Road collection is a true d.i.y. affair. She wrote all of its songs, played all the instruments and produced it. Its current emphasis track finds her emoting soulfully over a nervous beat and rapidly strummed acoustic guitar. The harrowing lyric seems to point back to her father, who murdered her mother and then killed himself while she and her sister watched. Gripping.
JEFF BLACK/Plow Through the Mystic
Writer: Jeff Black; Producer: Jeff Black; Publisher: Lotos Nile, BMI; Lotos Nile (track) (www.jeffblack.com)
—Speaking of doing it yourself, this superb Nashville song crafter produced his eighth CD on his own and played guitar, piano, banjo, bass and percussion on it as well. A few notables dropped by — Matraca Berg, Kim Richey and Gretchen Peters offer harmonies on a couple of tunes. Stellar instrumentalists Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas are here, too. Jerry is particularly prominent on this, the album’s shuffling title tune. Jeff, as always, sings with warm, throaty soul. Other standouts include the ballads “What I Would Not Do” and “New Love Song.” Jeff Black is booked to play at The Hard Rock on March 23 at 6 p.m. alongside Sam, Dierks Bentley and Jon Randall, all of whom have recorded his tunes, as has BlackHawk (”That’s Just About Right”).
DARRELL SCOTT/Hopkinsville
Writer: Darrell Scott; Producer: Darrell Scott; Publisher: none listed; Full Light (track) (www.darrellscott.com)
—This awesome singer-songwriter’s new collection is titled Long Ride Home. Some of its tunes date back to his earliest years as a tunesmith while others are more recent collaborations with Marcus Hummon, Tia Sillers and others. This swinging bopper is a working man’s tune with snazzy steel by Lloyd Green, rolling piano by newly announced Country Hall of Famer Hargus “Pig” Robbins and a tenor harmony by Rodney Crowell. Elsewhere on this multi-faceted audio gem, other guests include John Cowan, Guy Clark, Patty Griffin, Mickey Raphael and Tim O’Brien. If you don’t love Darrell Scott, there’s something seriously wrong with you.
PAUL BURCH/Rave On
Writer: none listed; Producer: Paul Burch; Publisher: none listed; Ramseur (track)
—Burch’s latest is titled simply, Words of Love: Songs of Buddy Holly. His WPA Ballclub band lends the tunes a simplicity that is quite refreshing, considering how overblown most Holly tribute albums are. The arrangement of the set-opening “Rave On,” for instance, puts the spotlight on Burch’s jaunty, energetic vocal with nifty fiddle-and-squeezebox riffs, a simple rhythm section and little else. Ear opening.
MAD BUFFALO/Red and Blue
Writer: Randy Riviere; Producer: Chad Cromwell & Randy Riviere; Publisher: none listed; Mad Buffalo (track) (www.madbufffalo.com)
—Bandleader/songwriter Riviere hails from Montana, but traded Big Sky Country for Music City to record his latest CD. Stellar sidemen Dave Roe, Reggie Young, Jack Hoder and producer Cromwell make these tunes live and breathe as surely as Riviere’s shy, dry vocals do. This ballad title tune builds and swells around the philosophical lyric.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN/We Take Care of Our Own
Writer: Bruce Springsteen; Producer: Ron Aniello & Bruce Springsteen; Publisher: Bruce Spingsteen, ASCAP; Columbia (track)
—Introduced as the opening number of last month’s Grammy telecast, this is also the opening salvo of Bruce’s just-released Wrecking Ball CD. Despite the driving, uplifting track, it is a portrait of American promise denied to the disenfranchised. The theme resonates throughout the album. This is political music at its most majestic and powerful. This is why he’s The Boss. By the way, his eulogy to Clarence Clemons in the liner notes will move you to tears.
BRYAN CLARK & THE NEW LYCEUM PLAYERS/Southern Amen
Writer: Bryan Clark; Producer: Bryan Clark; Publisher: none listed; Rainfeather (track) (www.bryanclarkmusic.com)
—Clark is a transplant to Music City from Texas and the Southern Intermission CD was recorded in Brentwood. But you’ll swear you are listening to a smoking studio session from Memphis or Muscle Shoals or, in the case of this tune, New Orleans. This roars with soul/rock conviction, and the man’s fiery, world-class, fleet-fingered electric guitar work will blow your mind. Guaranteed. Get on board, chillun.
RODNEY CROWELL/That Old Time Feeling
Writer: Guy Clark; Producer: Tamara Saviano & Shawn Camp; Publisher: Chappell, ASCAP; Icehouse (track) (www.icehousemusic.com)
—”Let’s give her a good go and make ol’ Guy proud of us,” says Crowell as he kicks off this opening track of This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark. His subsequent delivery of the wistful waltz is smoky, dreamlike and achingly emotional. But, then, everyone on this outstanding double CD is at their absolute best — Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris & John Prine, Radney Foster, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Joe Ely, Jack Ingram, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kevin Welch, Willie Nelson, Suzy Bogguss and on and on. Buy this at once.
FIERY BLUE/Slow Down
Writer: Paul Marsteller; Producer: Gabe Rhodes; Publisher: Big Moment, BMI; Doubloon (track) (www.fieryblue.com)
—This Texas combo seems to consist of lightly lilting vocalist Simone Stevens, percussionist Hunt Sales and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Rhodes performing the works of songwriter Paul Marsteller (apart from a delightful cover of The Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen a Face”). This lively country rocker has enough hooks and melodic charm to be a mainstream country hit. The album’s title is Our Secret. Well, the secret is out.
FRED EAGLESMITH/Cemetery Road
Writer: Fred Eaglesmith; Producer: Scott Merritt & Fred Eaglesmith; Publisher: Sweetwater/A Major Label/Bluewater, SOCAN/SESAC; A Major Label (track)
—This ruggedly individualistic and independent Canadian has nonetheless had cuts by Toby Keith, Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert, plus Chris Knight, The Cowboy Junkies, Mary Gauthier, Todd Snider, Kasey Chambers and more. This opening track of his new 6 Volts CD is a thudding, minimalist slab of drawled, bluesy, raspy attitude. Spooky, but as compelling as ever.
Lady Antebellum Hits Touring Milestone, Launches Prom Contest
/by Eric T. ParkerLady Antebellum’s current headlining Own The Night 2012 World Tour stopped at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, on March 11, where the trio was honored with plaques to celebrate its 15th consecutive sold out concert date.
Their Canadian run of tour dates begin tonight (March 13) in Winnipeg, MB at the MTS Centre.
Lady Antebellum is presented with plaques at their Minneapolis concert date. (L-R): Fred Frank (Frank Productions), Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Andy Warg (Target Center)
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The group is also asking for high school-age fans to submit videos for a chance to win a free Lady A concert at their prom this spring. One school will chosen by the band based on creativity, originality and hometown pride and named on March 20.
“‘Dancin’ Away With My Heart’ is one of those nostalgic songs that takes you back to a certain place or moment in time,” says Lady A’s Dave Haywood. “You can picture the disco ball and remember back the last slow dance! We wanted to make someone’s prom extra special this year…we may even dress up! You just never know…”
Entries are being accepted through March 16. More info here.