Carrie Underwood Continues Blown Away Tour in February 2013

Carrie Underwood Continues Her Popular Blown Away Tour with Dates Starting February 2013! Carrie Underwood kicked off her Blown Away Tour last year, and it was extremely well received by fans (no surprise!). Underwood will be taking the popular tour into 2013 by kicking off a series of dates this month that will continue through June, so far. The first date hits Colorado Springs, CO on February 13th! Notably, Carrie will be making a stop in the UK’s O2 arena to headline the first ever Country 2 Country Music Festival in March! Get complete ticket info below.

Eli Young Band New Album and Tour In 2013

Interview: Eli Young Band Touring, New Music, Recent Success and More, Headed for A Big 2013! Hailing from North Texas, Eli Young Band has been hard at work for over a decade, and they are nowhere near the finish line. Many of us have had EYB on our radar for some time, but in the last year or so it seems this foursome has really started to hit their stride. Mid-success, and on the verge of an arena tour with Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation, drummer Chris Thompson took a few minutes to chat with me about all things EYB! The CMNB team will be catching the talented group when they head to Fayetteville, AR (fun fact: one of EYB’s favorite towns to play!) on Thursday, February 7th, and this date along with a few other mark their return to the road after almost two months off. They weren’t sitting idly, though. These boys were hard at work in the studio working on a new album we can expect later on this year, probably around early summer. So far, they have eight tracks complete, and this album is the first time the band members have taken on the role of co-producing. EYB consistently releases quality music, and it’s exciting to hear that they’re taking an even larger role in the recording process. It’s pretty remarkable that this group has been together for as long as they have…no easy feat. They started “jamming” together when that met at the University of North Texas in Dallas. From playing local nights at a bar in Denton, their friendships and love of music grew into a partnership that has served them well. You still have to wonder…what’s their secret to sticking together and making things happen? “I think some of the magic for us was we got a lot of the stupid fights out of the way before the success and the pressure came and realized that we needed to focus on the friendships and I think a lot of just really like bands. In a lot of ways, even though we’ve been a band for awhile it feels like we’re just arriving. Doors are starting to open, and we’re learning that when opportunities arrive, you take them.” -Chris Thompson Having recently played live at the 2012 CMA Awards, experiencing a great reception of singles from their current album, Life At Best, and other milestones, Eli Young Band seems to be hitting all the right notes lately and having their hard work of the past few years pay off. Speaking to this, Thompson had a few words of advice for aspiring artists, “I would say we just took every opportunity that we had…didn’t say no to a lot. Had a lot of perseverance and making a point of being around people that are driven is key. The four of us have always been really driven and we drive each other. We always think there’s something better around the corner. You know, great things happen Continue reading Eli Young Band New Album and Tour In 2013

Sarah Darling 10 Random Questions

Interview: Sarah Darling Fills Us In By Answering 10 Random Questions. Sarah Darling is just a small town girl from Iowa with a big dream and a big voice. Her single “Home To Me” has been attracting attention all over country radio, and you can now find her on tour with Scotty McCreery starting February 14th and through the Spring. She also made a special appearance on ABC‘s “The Bachelor” Monday, February 4th as the musical guest, and had viewers wanting more from this talented artist! I put my 10 questions to the test to see if I could find out more about the darling herself. 1. At what age did you know you wanted to be a singer? I’ve been singing since I could walk and talk! My first solo was in preschool where my music teacher told my mom I was going to be a singer. 2. What was your favorite song of 2012? I love “Merry Go Round” by Kacey Musgraves. 3. Do you have a favorite place you like to perform? Hands down playing the Opry stage. 4. Do you have any pets? I have a shichon puppy! He looks like a teddy bear, maybe the cutest dog in the world. 5. If you could duet with any male artist who would you pick? I would love to duet with Michael Buble. His voice is like butter. 6. What is one thing you can’t live without? Coffee and my Bible. 7. What was the last movie you saw? “You’ve Got Mail,” I’m a chick flick girl all the way. 8. Sweet or spicy? Sweet. 9. What do you like to do in your free time? When I’m not on the road I’m in my kitchen creating something delicious. 10. Is there anything you want the world to know about Sarah Darling? Darling is my real last name. So I really am a darling 🙂 You can follow Sarah on twitter @_sarahdarling, and be sure to check out her brand new EP “Home To Me“ if you haven’t already! She’ll be heading out on tour with Scotty McCreery this month! Darling also participated in a “Twangout” #CMchat on Monday, February 4th, and CMNB’s MissMolly was one of the panel members!! Get more on Sarah Darling here. Brittany is a guest contributor! You can find more from her via .

Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom Out Today

Tim McGraw’s Latest New Album Two Lanes of Freedom Available Now. Tim McGraw‘s highly anticipated new album, Two Lanes of Freedom, finally released today (Tuesday, February 5th). The new record features eleven tracks (the deluxe version offers up four additional songs), and it seems to offer up to slightly different versions of McGraw. On one side, there is the party anthem belting (hate to say it) trying to stay young Tim with songs like “Truck Yeah.” On the other hand, there are more traditional sounding, heart string strumming tunes like “Nashville Without You,” “Annie I Owe You a Dance,” “Tinted Windows,” and “Number 37405.” On yet another hand all together, there is the Tim that is continuing to push the boundaries of “country” with pop infused upbeat tunes, like “Southern Girl” (complete with a little autotune thrown in…), “Mexicoma,” and “It’s Your World,” that could easily crossover to Top 40 stations like The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, and (of course) Taylor Swift have done in recent years. Speaking of Tswift, there is the collaboration with her and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care,” that is sure to appeal to just about everyone. Its a pretty good song, and their three voices really meld together well. Essentially, with Two Lanes of Freedom, Tim McGraw gives a healthy selection of tracks to music fans across the country, right on over to pop, spectrum. For his first album release on Big Machine, following the Curb Records debacle, I think this is setting the right tone for McGraw. He still has a lot left to offer fans, and he isn’t afraid to keep pushing boundaries. I really feel like he’s trying to say, ‘I’m not done yet,’ and from what I’ve heard on this record, I’m okay with that. Find the deluxe version here, and the regular version here via iTunes. Next up, Tim heads out on his Two Lanes of Freedom Tour with Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft. Two Lanes of Freedom Complete Track Listing. 1. Two Lanes of Freedom 2. One of Those Nights 3. Friend of a Friend 4. Southern Girl 5. Truck Yeah 6. Nashville Without You 7. Book of John 8. Annie I Owe You A Dance (Deluxe Version) 9. Mexicoma 10. Number 37405 11. It’s Your World 12. Tinted Windows (Deluxe Version) 13. Highway Don’t Care (feat. Taylor Swift & Keith Urban) 14. Truck Yeah (Live) (Deluxe Version) 15. Let Me Love It Out of You (Deluxe Version) Watch: Tim McGraw’s Most Recent Video for One of Those Nights.

Carrie Underwood Two Black Cadillacs Video Review

Carrie Underwood’s Two Black Cadillacs Video Takes Fans Down A Strange and Winding Road. I’m pretty disappointed in Carrie Underwood‘s new video for single, “Two Black Cadillacs.” Yep, I said it. The song was released as the third single from her most recent album Blown Away back in November, with the video reportedly being filmed then too, but even just two weeks ago Carrie was claiming on Twitter that they were still editing, trying to make it perfect. So as a result, there were pretty high expectations for this video! …And then I watched it. Too Long. At 5 minutes 47 seconds, this is a long music video, but it had been announced that it’d be shot as a short film. S,o I was prepared for the standard couple-of-minute-long intro without music, plus maybe a section around the bridge where the music cut out for another short scene. This is a formula that has been tried and tested and it works. However, what proceeded was not as it should have been. It begins dramatically and suspensefully with expected scenes of winter and a lonely Cadillac come into view. There’s some creepy piano music that I don’t think was necessary but it works okay within the context. However, instead of allowing the suspense to linger and to draw it out properly to instigate a mood, the song kicks in just 20 seconds into the video, and you’re left wondering what they’re going to do with the time. Too Confusing. Much of the first half of the song is filled with multiple-angled shots (including many close-ups) of Carrie driving the Cadillac, the wintery desolate environment, and the funeral. As it progresses, we get a few brief shots of the Cadillac in a different setting, at night, driving down an alley in a city with the headlights beaming on a couple meeting for an embrace, presumably the cheating husband and mistress. Carrie plays the mistress, with another similar-looking actress playing the wife. There’s some lovely scenery, good graphics, great outfits (Carrie is a vampy mistress), nice close-up shots and some well-timed interplay between the two opposing scenes. However, for me, it’s far too slow, there’s too much of the same thing, and I feel like there should be a lot more content. Slowly but surely, we get some plot narrative, with the briefest of shots depicting the wife chasing her husband in one of the Cadillacs during the night scene. It is implied that due to the blasé attitude of the mistress when the Cadillac turns up that Carrie is a decoy for the wife to corner the cheater. Too Strange Suddenly, however, after the end of the third chorus, the music dies down and the sinister piano music from the beginning returns. Although we don’t see the cheating husband being run over, it is implied and there’s even a token ‘crash’ sound against a black screen. I’m already feeling that they’ve ruined the momentum of the song at this point. The piano Continue reading Carrie Underwood Two Black Cadillacs Video Review

Gary Allan Sells Out Ryman In Minutes

Gary Allan’s Ryman Show Sells Out Minutes After Tickets Go On Sale. Gary Allan is on fire here lately with his hit single “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” and his brand new, #1 Billboard Album, Set You Free. But the good news just keeps rolling in! Tickets to Allan’s Ryman show on April 17 SOLD OUT in 10 minutes! Because of the high demand a second show was added for April 19. Tickets went on sale minutes ago, so hurry up! I’m sure this show will sell out as well!

Tate Stevens To Be On The Grammy Awards

X Factor Winner Tate Stevens Will Be Featured At The 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Tate Stevens will give fans a first look at his debut music video for “Holler If You’re With Me.” This will take place at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards February 10 on CBS. The video will debut during the Grammy broadcast compliments of Pepsi as part of his grand prize winnings. The single, “Holler It You’re With Me,” will be available for download beginning February 5.

Justin Moore Announces First Headlining Tour

Justin Moore Kicks Off His Outlaws Like Me Tour March 14. Justin Moore announced today that he will be hitting the road for his very first headlining tour, Outlaws Like Me. The first date will be March 14 in Pikeville, KY with Dustin Lynch and Jon Pardi. “Man, I’m excited to be headlining our first tour. Over the last few years I have been out with some of the best artists in our genre and I have learned so much from each of them. I’m ready to take everything they have taught me to build our show. It’s going to be a blast I can’t wait!” -Moore Fans can get ready to hear their favorites including Moore’s three #1 hits “Small Town USA,” “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” and “Til My Last Day.” Moore will also be giving a preview of new music from his upcoming album, due out later this year.

EDM Meets Country Music: DJ DU

DJ DU Shakes Things Up Infusing EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and Country For One Wild Ride! I never thought I’d be writing about someone who mixes country music with electronic dance music, but that’s exactly what I’m doing thanks to DJ DU. I recently got wind of DU and his country/EDM infusions via #CMchat, and I’m not gonna lie, at first I didn’t know quite what to do with it. Now, I know some of you are probably thinking, that’s crazy! Leave my country alone! I understand where you’re coming from, but just hold on and give DJ DU and his unique style a chance! DJ DU originally hails from the East coast, but now resides in the dusty and warm desserts of Arizona. A self-professed country music fan and bonafied musician (plays bass, drums, guitar and more…), this DJ has a love and respect for the genre, and his musical concoctions are simply a natural progression of his musical tastes! He let me know that first and foremost, he has to love the song to work with it! “First of all, I gotta love the song. I gotta feel the song and know the crowd is gonna love it. I gotta love the artist. I try to look for songs that are up and coming on the charts, and there are other songs that are staples, like the Johnny Cash one, you hear Johnny Cash and you gotta love it.” -DJ DU No doubt traditionalists will balk at the idea of mixing country tunes this way. Even DJ DU said himself that there are some songs that he wouldn’t even touch. Still, he is getting a great response from artists, and was even featured live on the 2012 American Country Awards on FOX spinning a special mix just for Kip Moore. Right now, he’s playing festivals like Country Thunder and big venues like Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and folks at the clubs are loving these reinvented country songs! Major upshot for country artists, their music is being heard and appreciated by folks that would never have listened to them before. DJ DU hopes that he’ll get the chance to work with artists in the studio on original work, and maybe even sing a recording deal sometime soon. I’m definitely intrigued, and can’t wait to see where this goes! Check him out for yourself below! DJ DU gives country an EDM twist! Find more here! DJ DU will be posting a new “Duesday” remix every Tuesday, so keep checking back in!

Giveaway: Eli Young Band Fayetteville Tickets

Giveaway: Enter to Win for Your Chance to See Eli Young Band Live in Fayetteville, AR! Texas based fast on the rise country group, Eli Young Band is headed to our neck of the woods to play a live show in Fayetteville, AR next week on Thursday, February 7th! For some lucky fan in the area, we’re giving away two (2) tickets to the night’s performance! Just follow the super simple instructions below, and you could win! Good luck! Enter to Win Tickets to See Eli Young Band in Fayetteville, AR! Step 1: (If you aren’t already!) Follow us @CMNBlog and George’s Majestic Lounge @georgesmajestic on Twitter! Step 2: Send out the following tweet: “I entered to win tix to see @EliYoungBand in #Fayetteville #AR from @CMNBlog & @GeorgesMajestic! U can too: http://ow.ly/hgvYs #CountryMusic” Step 3: When we receive you’re tweet, you will automatically be entered to win! Important Rules/Guidelines: Winners will be randomly selected and notified individually via Twitter. Prizes were provided by MCA Nashville. Tweets must be received by 10:00am Wednesday, February 6th. Winners will not be eligible for another prize drawing until 90days after this one.