
Sony Nashville notified radio programmers today (8/31) of changes to the label group’s imprints Arista Nashville, Columbia/BNA Records, and RCA Records. This restructuring affects promotion department team members and shuffles some artist’s label homes.
Among the changes:
• Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, and Josh Thompson are moved to RCA from Columbia.
• Columbia and BNA have combined.
• Regional rep shuffle: Columbia Midwest regional promo rep Bo Martinovich will assume Midwest region duties for Columbia/BNA. Columbia Dir. Field Promotion David Friedman will segue to the Southeast region for Columbia/BNA. BNA SE Regional Chris Waters will now move to the SW Regional position under the Arista imprint. Columbia West Coast regional Larry Santiago will continue working the West Coast under RCA.
• email addresses remain firstname.lastname@sonymusic.com.
This comes in the wake of last week’s lay-offs at Sony Nashville, and are part of a company-wide restructuring following Doug Morris taking office as CEO.
This story is being updated in real time.
ARISTA NASHVILLE
Arista Roster: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Jerrod Niemann, Brent Anderson, Adam Brand, Kristen Kelly
Arista Promotion Team:
VP Promotion: Lesley Tyson, lesley.tyson@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4436, cell: 615-480-7698
National Director: John Sigler, john.sigler@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4416, cell: 615-484-9140
MW: Jeri Cooper, jeri.cooper@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4381, cell: 615-496-6354
NE: Ryan Dokke, ryan.dokke@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4426, cell: 615-585-7075
SE: Tyler Waugh, tyler.waugh@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4470, cell: 404-668-7100
SW: Chris Waters, chris.waters@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4494, cell: 615-300-1590
West Coast: Lauren Thomas, lauren.thomas@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4421, cell: 615-260-2500
Promotion Coord: Rusty Sherrill, rusty.sherrill@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4423, cell: 615-457-0446
COLUMBIA NASHVILLE/BNA RECORDS
Columbia/BNA Roster: Wade Bowen (BNA), Kenny Chesney (BNA), Casey James (BNA), The Lunabelles (BNA), Kellie Pickler (BNA), Tyler Farr (BNA), Bradley Gaskin (Columbia), Jordyn Shellhart (Columbia), Joanna Smith (Columbia) *Tyler Farr remains on BNA, despite being inadvertently omitted from the original list serviced to radio.
Columbia/BNA Promotion Team:
VP Promotion: Bryan Frasher, bryan.frasher@sonymusic.com
National Director: Buffy Cooper, buffy.cooper@sonymusic.com 615-301-4456
West Coast: Dave Dame, dave.dame@sonymusic.com 866-505-9410
SW: Mark Janese, mark.janese@sonymusic.com 214-763-7816
NE: RJ Meacham, rj.meacham@sonymusic.com 615-301-4458
Midwest: Bo Martinovich, bo.martinovich@sonymusic.com 615-858-1364
SE: David Friedman, david.friedman@sonymusic.com 615-301-4415
Coord: Mary Allison, mary.allison@sonymusic.com 615-301-4418
RCA RECORDS
RCA Roster: Bush Hawg, Sara Evans, Danny Gokey, Miranda Lambert, Love and Theft, Jake Owen, Pistol Annies, Josh Thompson, Chris Young
RCA Promotion Team:
VP National Promotion: Keith Gale, keith.gale@sonymusic.com 615-301-4357
Dir. National Promotion: Norbert Nix, norbert.nix@sonymusic.com 615-301-4311
Dir. Regional Promotion: Dan Nelson, dan.nelson@sonymusic.com 603-626-9898
Mgr. Regional Promotion: Matt Galvin, matt.galvin@sonymusic.com 615-301-4384
Mgr. Regional Promotion: Josh Easler, josh.easler@sonymusic.com 615-301-4368
Mgr. Regional Promotion: Liz Sledge, liz.sledge@sonymusic.com 615-301-4465
Dir. Regional Promotion West Coast: Larry Santiago, larry.santiago@sonymusic.com 818-290-3104
Coord. National Promotion: Parker Fowler, parker.fowler@sonymusic.com 615-301-4417
Reporting by Sarah Skates, Jon Freeman and Christie King
Sony Restructures Rosters, Promo Teams
/by contributorSony Nashville notified radio programmers today (8/31) of changes to the label group’s imprints Arista Nashville, Columbia/BNA Records, and RCA Records. This restructuring affects promotion department team members and shuffles some artist’s label homes.
Among the changes:
• Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, and Josh Thompson are moved to RCA from Columbia.
• Columbia and BNA have combined.
• Regional rep shuffle: Columbia Midwest regional promo rep Bo Martinovich will assume Midwest region duties for Columbia/BNA. Columbia Dir. Field Promotion David Friedman will segue to the Southeast region for Columbia/BNA. BNA SE Regional Chris Waters will now move to the SW Regional position under the Arista imprint. Columbia West Coast regional Larry Santiago will continue working the West Coast under RCA.
• email addresses remain firstname.lastname@sonymusic.com.
This comes in the wake of last week’s lay-offs at Sony Nashville, and are part of a company-wide restructuring following Doug Morris taking office as CEO.
This story is being updated in real time.
ARISTA NASHVILLE
Arista Roster: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Jerrod Niemann, Brent Anderson, Adam Brand, Kristen Kelly
Arista Promotion Team:
VP Promotion: Lesley Tyson, lesley.tyson@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4436, cell: 615-480-7698
National Director: John Sigler, john.sigler@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4416, cell: 615-484-9140
MW: Jeri Cooper, jeri.cooper@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4381, cell: 615-496-6354
NE: Ryan Dokke, ryan.dokke@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4426, cell: 615-585-7075
SE: Tyler Waugh, tyler.waugh@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4470, cell: 404-668-7100
SW: Chris Waters, chris.waters@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4494, cell: 615-300-1590
West Coast: Lauren Thomas, lauren.thomas@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4421, cell: 615-260-2500
Promotion Coord: Rusty Sherrill, rusty.sherrill@sonymusic.com, direct: 615-301-4423, cell: 615-457-0446
COLUMBIA NASHVILLE/BNA RECORDS
Columbia/BNA Roster: Wade Bowen (BNA), Kenny Chesney (BNA), Casey James (BNA), The Lunabelles (BNA), Kellie Pickler (BNA), Tyler Farr (BNA), Bradley Gaskin (Columbia), Jordyn Shellhart (Columbia), Joanna Smith (Columbia) *Tyler Farr remains on BNA, despite being inadvertently omitted from the original list serviced to radio.
Columbia/BNA Promotion Team:
VP Promotion: Bryan Frasher, bryan.frasher@sonymusic.com
National Director: Buffy Cooper, buffy.cooper@sonymusic.com 615-301-4456
West Coast: Dave Dame, dave.dame@sonymusic.com 866-505-9410
SW: Mark Janese, mark.janese@sonymusic.com 214-763-7816
NE: RJ Meacham, rj.meacham@sonymusic.com 615-301-4458
Midwest: Bo Martinovich, bo.martinovich@sonymusic.com 615-858-1364
SE: David Friedman, david.friedman@sonymusic.com 615-301-4415
Coord: Mary Allison, mary.allison@sonymusic.com 615-301-4418
RCA RECORDS
RCA Roster: Bush Hawg, Sara Evans, Danny Gokey, Miranda Lambert, Love and Theft, Jake Owen, Pistol Annies, Josh Thompson, Chris Young
RCA Promotion Team:
VP National Promotion: Keith Gale, keith.gale@sonymusic.com 615-301-4357
Dir. National Promotion: Norbert Nix, norbert.nix@sonymusic.com 615-301-4311
Dir. Regional Promotion: Dan Nelson, dan.nelson@sonymusic.com 603-626-9898
Mgr. Regional Promotion: Matt Galvin, matt.galvin@sonymusic.com 615-301-4384
Mgr. Regional Promotion: Josh Easler, josh.easler@sonymusic.com 615-301-4368
Mgr. Regional Promotion: Liz Sledge, liz.sledge@sonymusic.com 615-301-4465
Dir. Regional Promotion West Coast: Larry Santiago, larry.santiago@sonymusic.com 818-290-3104
Coord. National Promotion: Parker Fowler, parker.fowler@sonymusic.com 615-301-4417
Reporting by Sarah Skates, Jon Freeman and Christie King
CRS 2012 Agenda Delves Into Social Media, Radio Research
/by Sarah SkatesThere will be entry-level panel “Social Media 101” and “Social Media 201” for more advanced users, exploring revenue opportunities, analytics and how to grow the radio audience.
Making its debut at CRS 2012 is the CRS Digital University, a series of eight roundtable discussions covering topics such as social media sites, website development, search engine optimization, smartphone applications, interactive radio, online marketing and digital revenue. Among those who will share their expertise are CMT’s Stephen Linn, and Laura Fitton, co-author of Twitter for Dummies and CEO of OneForty.com.
Sessions about Country radio research studies are also on the agenda. These national studies focus on the habits and opinions of the Country radio listener and consumer and provide attendees with the most in-depth research ever presented at CRS.
Clear Channel Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms Bob Pittman officially kicks off CRS 2012 with his keynote address on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 9:30 a.m. CDT. He has served as CEO of AOL Networks, Quantum Media, Time Warner Enterprises and MTV Networks, where he led the team that created MTV.
The detailed agenda and limited time $399 registration is available at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.
Nashville Symphony Lines-up Country Performances
/by Sarah SkatesRestless Heart is teaming with the Nashville Symphony for a benefit for the Nashville Rescue Mission.
Numerous country artists are scheduled for performances with the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn over the coming months.
A just-announced concert by Restless Heart and the Symphony on Oct. 16 will benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission, and includes guests Tracy Lawrence, Keith Anderson, Gary Morris, Lee Roy Parnell, Charlie McCoy, Steve Gibson and the Grand Ole Opry Band, Jaci Velasquez and host Demetria Kalodimos of WSMV.
Béla Fleck will world premiere his Concerto for Banjo, one of the first ever written for the instrument, with the Nashville Symphony on Sept. 22-24, with the opening performance to be webcast live via the Symphony’s website.
Also on the Symphony’s line-up is a three-night run by Wynonna Sept. 15-17, and holiday-themed shows by LeAnn Rimes (Dec. 8), Asleep at the Wheel (Dec. 20), and Ricky Skaggs (Dec. 22).
The 2012 schedule includes Kenny Rogers (Jan. 21), Kathy Mattea (March 22-24), Steve Wariner (April 5-7) and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with The Del McCoury Band (April 9).
For more information about the concerts or to purchase tickets, call (615) 687-6400 or visit NashvilleSymphony.org.
DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/31/11)
/by Robert K OermannThis stack of platters contains everything from Johnny Rivers doing acoustic pop on a soul oldie to Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s new group swinging through a jazzbo Bob Wills standard. There’s a disc of reggae performances of country songs, as well as a stunning country-rock set by Richie Owens & The Farm Bureau.
It will come as no surprise to anybody that Lady Antebellum has the Disc of the Day. “We Owned the Night” will own your ears.
It might come as more of a shock to find that hit country writer Dave Berg has a dazzling, unclassifiable and brilliantly produced pop platter up his sleeve. Give that man a DisCovery Award.
PAUL NUNN/Bein’ Strong
Writer: Albert Maylen; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; PN (www.paulnunnband.com)
—This cleanly produced country ballad is an audio pleasure. He sings in a pure heartache tenor, and the band knows exactly when to fill in notes and when to shut up. Which is the mark of true country artistry.
LADY ANTEBELLUM/We Owned The Night
Writer: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Paul Worley & Lady Antebellum; Publisher: Warner Tamerlane/DWHaywood/Radiobulletspublishing/EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher, BMI; Capitol Nashville (MP3)
—The tingling mandolin notes give way to Charles’s robo cool voice and then to a firestorm of thudding percussion, vocal harmony, rocking guitar and a shout-to-the-heavens melody. Those little yelps of joy don’t hurt, either. In a word, Awesome.
JEFF DAYTON/Never Been Better
Writer: Dayton; Producer: Jeff Dayton; Publisher: Jeff Dayton, BMI; Little House (track) (www.jeffdaytonmusic.com)
—Getting older doesn’t have to be a downer. His old man “might’ve been stronger, faster, younger,” but he’s “never been better.” What a cool attitude, and the rocking track backs it up all the way.
BILLY RAY CYRUS/Nineteen
Writer: Gary Nicholson/Jeffrey Steele/Tom Hambridge; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Gary Nicholson/Jeffrey Steele/Bug/Songs of Windswept Pacific/Tom Hambridge, ASCAP/BMI; Buena Vista (track)
—The number 19 is on the high school football star’s jersey. It’s also the age when he dies at war as a hero. Stirring stuff. Billy Ray’s entire I’m American CD is loaded with well written tunes in this vein. Worth your while.
DAVE BERG/Believed In
Writer: Dave Berg; Producer: Dave Berg & John Hurley; Publisher: Cal IV/Stupid Boy, ASCAP; DB (track) (www.daveberg.com)
—Top Music Row tunesmith Berg has a new, 14-song showcase titled Not Quite So Alone. It doesn’t contain any of the many hits he has written for others. Instead, it is full of solo-written (gasp!) gems like this pop-ish, rhythmic set opener. The production dazzles and his dry, earnest, folkie vocals are quite engaging. Seek this one out—it is a really refreshing audio change of pace.
LUKE BRYAN/I Don’t Want This Night To End
Writer: Luke Bryan/Dallas Davidson/Rhett Akins/Ben Hayslip; Producer: Jeff Stevens; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher/Rhettneck/WB/Melissa’s Money/Get a Load of This, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (track)
—The monotonic verses don’t do much for me, but the soaring choruses sure do take off.
RICHIE OWENS & THE FARM BUREAU/Rye Whiskey
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bil VornDick & Richie Owens; Publisher: Indian Gap, ASCAP; Red Dirt (track) (www.richieowensandthefarmbureau.com)
—Veteran Nashvillians will recall Richie as a valued fixture of our music community of long standing. He’s Dolly Parton’s cousin and has played in her band. He’s also worked with a wide variety of others, including Leon Russell, The Georgia Satellites, Vince Gill, Steve Forbert, Jason & The Scorchers, The Kentucky Headhunters and The Bangles. His new band, The Farm Bureau, tears this folk standard to shreds and reconstructs it as a churning, frothing Americana rocker. By the way, the rest of Richie and his band’s CD is absolutely and equally superb.
ROMAIN VIRGO & LARRY GATLIN/California
Writer: Larry Gatlin; Producer: Cristy Barber, John Rich, Dean Fraser, Charlie Pennachio, Chris Chin & Raymond Barber; Publisher: MCA/Sony-ATV Tree/Parker Lou, no performance rights listed; Elektra (track)
—Reggae’s Gone Country is a new, various-artists collection that revisits country classics (”King of the Road,” “Wolverton Mountain,” “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” “The Gambler,” “Flowers on the Wall,” etc.) as reggae tracks. The only one of the songs’ originators to show up for the revamp is Gatlin, and dang if he doesn’t pull it off. Way to go. For another ear-opener, check out Tarrus Riley’s rhythm-happy take on “The Chair.”
JOHNNY RIVERS/I’ve Got To Use My Imagination
Writer: Barry Goldberg/Gerry Goffin; Producer: Johnny Rivers; Publisher: Screen Gems EMI, BMI; Soul City
—Johnny Rivers’s recent visit to Music City included a well-received guest spot on the Grand Ole Opry. His take on this Gladys Knight & The Pips classic strips it down to a swampy, acoustic-based lament. He remains a pre-eminent blue-eyed soul man.
THE WRONGLERS/Time Changes Everything
Writer: Tommy Duncan; Producer: Eric Drew Feldman & Jimmie Dale Gilmore; Publisher: Red River Songs, no performance rights listed; Neanderthal (track) (www.thewronglers.com)
—The four words that follow “The Wronglers” on the jacket are “featuring Jimmie Dale Gilmore.” And that’s about all you need to know. The album title tells you the rest, Heirloom Music. The songs are string-band chestnuts performed by this sterling ensemble with the ethereal voice of Gilmore in the lead. Originators include Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, The Delmore Brothers, Charlie Poole, Flatt & Scruggs, Johnny Bond, Doc Watson and, as is the case here, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys. Old-time music lovers or those charmed by the O Brother sounds, step right up.
Photo Round-up
/by contributorBig & Rich Upped Ante On WMN’S Patio
Last Thursday (8/25) Warner Music Nashville upped the ante on its signature Pickin’ On The Patio event with a performance by multi-platinum duo Big & Rich. The set included hit single “Lost In This Moment” and a surprise appearance by Cowboy Troy who joined in on “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy).”
(L-R): Marc Oswald, B&R co-manager; John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville Pres./CEO; Big Kenny; John Rich; Peter Strickland, Warner Music Nashville Sr. VP Brand Mgmt. & Sales; Dale Morris, B&R co-manager; and Greg Oswald, William Morris Endeavor Co-head of the Nashville Office. Photo: Sarah Lee Photography
Deborah Allen Recognized for Multi-Million Airplay
Delta Rock Records artist Deborah Allen was recently recognized by BMI for two million broadcast performances of her crossover smash, “Baby I Lied,” and one million broadcast performances of “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby,” a No. 1 hit for Janie Fricke. Allen has written songs for artists including LeAnn Rimes, Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless, Brooks & Dunn, and Fleetwood Mac. The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter just released her latest album Hear Me Now. “Anything Other Than Love” is the first single.
(L-R): BMI’s David Preston, Deborah Allen and BMI’s Jody Williams.
Combustion Plays The Bluebird
Combustion Music recently hosted a songwriter’s round at the famous Bluebird Café featuring longtime Combustion writers as well as new signees. Ashley Gorley, Kelly Archer, Brett James, Matt Jenkins and Ken Johnson shared a mix of sing-along hits and previously unheard songs.
(L-R): Combustion’s Ken Johnson, Matt Jenkins, Brett James, Chris Farren, Chase Foster, Ashley Gorley, Kenley Flynn, Kelly Archer, Chris Van Belkom and Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland.
Paisley Wraps Overseas Run, Racks Up Duet Downloads
/by Sherod RobertsonOn the set of the video for "Remind Me."
Duet With Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me”
Brad Paisley’s duet, “Remind Me,” with fellow country artist Carrie Underwood has already surpassed 750,000 digital downloads and was certified Gold earlier this month by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 downloads.
Written by Paisley, Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace, “Remind Me” is Paisley’s third single from his Gold certified album, This Is Country Music.
Paisley and Underwood will team up once again on November 9 when they co-host the CMA Awards for the fourth year.
• • • •
Paisley and US Ambassador Charles Rivkin. Photo: US Embassy - France
Visit To US Embassy In France
While on tour recently in Paris, France, Paisley made a stop at the US Embassy and met with US Ambassador to France Charles Rivkin. This was Paisley’s first visit to Paris.
While at the Embassy, a staffer filmed a short interview with Paisley for their Facebook page which can be viewed here.
• • • •
Plays To Over 40,000 Fans During European Tour
Paisley completed his two-week, eight-show European tour with a performance in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday night (8/28). Over 40,000 European fans came out to see the shows in London, Dublin, Castlebar, Killarney, Stockholm, Oslo, Gothenburg and Copenhagen.
Stockholm, Sweden. Photo: Ben Enos
Oslo, Norway. Photo: Ben Enos
Paisley and Darius Rucker in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photo: Ben Enos
Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Ben Enos
Glen Templeton Promoting Single
/by Sarah SkatesTempleton opened for Kenny Rogers on a recent date. Pictured (L-R): Logan Hannah, audio engineer; Drew Lambert, bass player; Glen Templeton; Kenny Rogers
Black River artist Glen Templeton is making the promotional rounds supporting new single “I Could Be The One.”
He recently hosted a social media promotion that encouraged fans to share the song on Facebook which qualified them for a drawing for iTunes gift cards.
On the road, Templeton is visiting radio, and recently opened for Kenny Rogers at the Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood, SD. He also stopped by MusicRow’s offices for a performance of several new songs.
The music video for “I Could Be The One” will debut in the coming weeks, in the meantime, check out the song here.
“I Could Be The One” is on Templeton’s upcoming self-titled album, which also features a guest performance by musical legend, Leon Russell. The album was produced by Grammy-winning Mark Lambert (Leon Russell, Elton John, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Milsap).
Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Templeton spent years cutting his teeth in Nashville honky-tonks, and headlining the house band at the numerous Cowboy’s Dancehalls in Texas. In 2008, he was hand selected by Conway Twitty’s family to portray the country icon in the biographical musical, “It’s Only Make Believe.”
Templeton visits MusicRow. Back row (L-R): Sherod Robertson, Glen Templeton, Jon Freeman, manager Lance Combs. Front row: Sarah Skates, Black River's Dawn Delvo, and Christie King
Parallel Entertainment Opens Music Row Office
/by adminParallel has always had a Nashville presence, but recently decided to open a full-scale artist management operation here in Music City. Founder/CEO J.P. Williams felt the increased exposure and visibility of a Music Row address would create opportunities for the company’s Nashville-based and L.A.-based clients.
Parallel Entertainment is a full service talent management and production company. It has produced everything from motion pictures to music albums to programming for a variety of cable television networks, including HBO and Comedy Central. Its talent roster boasts comedy acts like Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, and Lisa Lampanelli as well as music acts like Zella Day and Warner Music Nashville recording artist, Dean Alexander. It also manages actors including former CMT Insider host, Lance Smith.
Parallel Entertainment
1505 16th Ave. S
Nashville, TN 37212
615-750-2613
Neal McCoy Recruits Famous Collaborators For New Album
/by Freeman“Having Miranda and Blake involved in this project is huge for me. Not only do they have great vision, but they know when to have fun and when to get serious along with being fantastic musicians,” says McCoy.
The first single from XII, “A-OK,” was penned by Barry Dean, Luke Laird and Brett Eldredge and is due for an October release.
The news was revealed by Lambert and Shelton on YouTube over the weekend. See the video here.
Alison Krauss & Union Station Represent Bluegrass’s Finest at Ryman
/by Sarah SkatesAlison Krauss and Union Station during a sold-out series at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Steve Lowry
Alison Krauss and Union Station set up shop at Nashville’s revered Ryman Auditorium for a two-night stand Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26 and 27. It was an evening showcasing all bluegrass’s finest points, crisscrossing from smooth and contemporary, to deep-rooted traditionalism.
Alison Krauss sings "Ghost In This House." Photo: Burney Skates
Krauss and longtime bandmates Barry Bales, Ron Block, Jerry Douglas and Dan Tyminski offered a set of fans’ most-loved songs laced with newer material. Touring in support of their first new album in seven years, they fittingly opened the Saturday evening concert with the project’s title track, “Paper Airplane.”
The acclaimed musicianship of the group tallies up to a sum greater than its parts. Driven partly by Block’s rollicking banjo, the evening’s uptempo pace never grew sleepy, even on the ballads. Throughout the night, Krauss’s celebrated fiddle-playing balanced her soaring, delicate vocals.
A video panel changed with the mood, showing colors and scenery from cityscapes to countryside as the group offered well-known songs “Let Me Touch You For A While,” “Ghost In This House” and “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You.”
It’s remarkable how Krauss and Union Station manage to make bluegrass so welcoming—exciting even—for genre outsiders. While the set included more accessible songs like “Whiskey Lullaby,” originally recorded by Brad Paisley and Krauss, it shined equally on genre basics, particularly when Dobro master Douglas took the stage alone for a mid-show breakdown. Tyminski’s deep, powerful vocals—a fitting complement to Krauss’s soprano—steered the sound into deep bluegrass territory several times, offering “Rain Please Go Away,” and “Dust Bowl Children.”
Angel Snow opened the two-night stand. Photo: Burney Skates
Krauss noted that in attendance that night were four of the songwriters behind the band’s cuts over the last 20-plus years: Robert Lee Castleman, John Pennell, Sidney Cox of the Cox Family, and, of course, Union Station’s own Ron Block.
Krauss also used the opportunity to highlight a newer writer on the scene—inviting songstress Angel Snow to open the two-night series. Snow, together with songwriter/musician Viktor Krauss, penned “Lie Awake” and two other songs recorded by Union Station for the deluxe edition of the band’s newest release.
At the Ryman, Viktor backed Snow onstage for an acoustic set that ranged from sunny toe-tapper “Stay Away” to moving ballad “These Days,” one of the songs recorded by Union Station.
Snow pleased longtime followers with her older solo-writes “Coals And Water,” and “Holiday.” She also offered new material, written with Viktor, such as the groove laden “As You Are.” He is producing her upcoming release, due this November.
Near the end of the evening Krauss and Union Station gathered around the center mic for “Down To The River To Pray” and a few other songs, in a soulful closing moment showcasing the band’s talent and harmonies.
Douglas says his favorite part of being on the road with Alison is that she sings the band to sleep every night. And who wouldn’t enjoy that?
The fiery red backdrop, which changed throughout the show, reflects the blazing musicianship. Photo: Burney Skates