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

Thunder On The Mountain 2013 Daily Schedule

Thunder On The Mountain Festival in The Ozarks Announces 2013 Daily Schedule. The Thunder On The Mountain Festival will kicking off June 6-8, 2013 on Mulberry Mountain in Northwest, AR, and in case we hadn’t mentioned it enough yet, we’re really excited! This brand new country music festival boasts a fantastic line-up, and now, we have the daily schedule breakdown for all those fans who are just excited as us!! Head on over to the official festival website for your ticket info! Read why this festival is helping transform the country scene in Northwest Arkansas! Thunder On The Mountain Daily Lineup Schedule: THURSDAY JUNE 6 Big & Rich Thompson Square Randy Houser Kevin Fowler Greg Bates Bucky Covington Roger Creager Reckless Kelly Aaron Watson The Cadillac Black Sturgill Simpson John D. Hale Band Matt Stell FRIDAY JUNE 7 Luke Bryan Montgomery Gentry Easton Corbin Pat Green Kevin Fowler Casey Donahew Band Todd Snider Reckless Kelly Cody Canada & The Departed Aaron Watson LoCash Cowboys Moonshine Bandits Sunny Ledfurd Bleu Edmondson John D. Hale Band SATURDAY JUNE 8 Toby Keith Justin Moore Gretchen Wilson Colt Ford Randy Rogers Band Josh Abbott Band Moonshine Bandits Lost Trailers Stoney LaRue The LACS JT Hodges Clayton Anderson Adam Craig Band Brandon Jenkins Matt Stell The Sarah Hughes Band Lance Carpenter

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.

Brian Davis Talks Touring with Brantley Gilbert, Songwriting and More

Brian Davis Talks to HaleighT about Hitting The Road with Brantley Gilbert, Current Record Under the Influence, Writing with Lee Brice and More! You may not have heard of Brian Davis yet, but this is one talented fella you need to look into! The CMNB Team caught up with Davis at his current stop with Lee Brice in Ft. Smith, AR, and he filled us in on his current album Under the Influence, his fans, writing with Brice, hitting the road with Brantley Gilbert on his Hell On Wheels Tour and a few other interesting tidbits! It was great meeting Brian, and he was not only a very nice, cool guy, but he also put on a great acoustic set! It’s easy to see why his album is being so well received by fans! Watch the complete interview below, and be sure to check out Davis on iTunes! Watch: HaleighT Interview Brian Davis in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

Jaida Dreyer Half Broke Horses New Single

Jaida Dreyer Releases New Single Half Broke Horses to Country Radio. Jaida Dreyer has released a new single to country radio title “Half Broke Horses.” The combination of a bittersweet story and Jaida’s beautiful voice with just the right amount of twang is sure to make this song stick with country listeners. Dreyer admits that the lyrics come from a very personal place, and that honesty just makes the new track that much stronger. “I’m not afraid to say this part of my life is difficult for me to write about, but I felt I had to be honest with both myself and the listener. If I left that hole out, it would take away from the legitimacy of the record. We all experience loss throughout our lives in different ways and this song allows the audience into a piece of my past that shaped my life forever.” -Jaida Dreyer The new single is featured on Dreyer’s upcoming album, I Am Jaida Dreyer. Listen to the new song now, and be sure to follow Jaida on Twitter!