Country Music Delivers Beyond the South

Why I Love Country Music: Reaching Beyond Borders. I have a confession to make: I wasn’t raised on country music. No, it’s not that I just lived in New York and one day took a vacation to Nashville and it was all there in front of me. I mean I’ve never actually been to America. I have lived in England all my life, and being still in my early twenties I have never been able to afford to travel outside Europe. I discovered country music through watching American Idol, the artist who introduced me being Carrie Underwood. Although I tend to dislike country pop now, I still love her and hold her music dear because of the nostalgia I feel for the music I grew up with, through my teenage years. I was 13 at this point; a pop music fan as any young girl is, but being a bit of a social outcast and not really being interested in the rock that my few friends listened to (it was just too aggressive for me), country seemed to hold a happy medium of sorts. To me, the country/pop that I was exploring held more lyrical meaning for someone who was writing songs at the time, and had a lot of pent-up emotions, than pop music did. In addition, it was friendlier than rock music; the hyper-male aggression that that involved just didn’t suit me, being a young, timid, middle class teenage girl. But the more country music I heard, the more it seemed to speak to me; I found Dolly Parton when I was 14 and her girliness yet honed craft of emotional songwriting, combined with her feminine pride and exploitation of conventional female beauty, made sure that she became my idol. She also introduced me to so much other music, particularly that pre-2000 that I had no idea about. I knew nothing of the poverty she had suffered or her rags to riches story in relation to my own life, I knew nothing of life in the South or the kind of middle-of-nowhere small towns that inhabit them. In England, even small towns and villages are no more than an hour or so’s drive away from a city. The geographically extended community of country music was alien to me, yet it was this precise extended community feeling that attracted me. I didn’t connect with many of the people at my school. Isolation is a key component of country music’s appeal; it brings together like minded people who are otherwise miles apart. I felt like I suddenly belonged somewhere, and on the internet nobody is going to judge you. Or at least, it doesn’t feel like they are. With the internet now, increasingly country music fans (particularly the younger ones) are from wider walks of life. Country has lured them because it has promised a friend, something to support them in their toughest times and offer a song to cry to. Online forums and social media are perpetrators of this, Continue reading Country Music Delivers Beyond the South

The Cadillac Three Sign to Big Machine

The Cadillac Three Ink Deal with Big Machine Label Group. Nashville based groupThe Cadillac Three (formerly The Cadillac Black) hit a career high note yesterday with the announcement of their new record deal with Big Machine Label Group. Jaren Johnston (guitar and lead vocals), Kelby Ray (bass steel guitar, dobro, acoustic and vocals) and Neil Mason (drums, percussion and vocals), are music city born and raised, and have a rock vibed country sound that fans are loving. Big Machine is home to some of the biggest in country like Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride. Congrats to the trio! Check in with Jaren Johnston from the trio when he stopped by a recent CMchat Google Hangout LIVE from Best of the West!

Remembering Johnny Cash On His Birthday

Happy Birthday To THE Man In Black. Today, Feb. 26, would have marked Johnny Cash’s 81st birthday. The “Man In Black” passed away in September of 2003 from complications with diabetes. In honor of his birthday, you can check out an exclusive collection of memorabilia from Cash’s career. Wolfgang’s Vault has a display of all kinds of Johnny Cash things including portraits, posters and apparel. Take a look and see if there is anything that catches your eye. Cash fans can also be looking for a Johnny Cash stamp! The U.S. Postal Service announced earlier this year that there will be a Cash stamp out this year, as part of the “Music Icons” series. The date for the release has not been finalized. Below is one of my all-time favorite Johnny Cash songs, “A Boy Named Sue.” What is yours?

Jerrod Niemann Only God Could Love You More-Music Video

The Official Music Video For Jerrod Niemann’s Current Single, “Only God Could Love You More.” Below is the official music video for Jerrod Niemann’s current single, “Only God Could Love You More.” The song comes from his sophomore album, Free The Music. This is a truly beautiful song. It is emotional and has a strong stance at the same time. I could easily listen to it on repeat and I did this morning. Niemann has a great way of producing honest lyrics and I admire that. Lee Brice and Jon Stone co-wrote “Only God Could Love You More” with Niemann and I think everyone can agree that these boys deserve a pat on the back. The video below gives a hand at showing the amount of passion this song speaks of. I’m warning you, it is a bit of a tear jerker. So watch with a tissue handy and tell us what you think!

Easton Corbin All Over The Road-Music Video

The Official Music Video For Easton Corbin’s Current Single, “All Over The Road.” Below is the official music video for Easton Corbin’s latest single, “All Over The Road.” The song comes from Corbin’s sophomore album, also titled All Over The Road. I really am a fan of this song and have been since the first time I heard it. It’s catchy and cute, although the lyrics could easily be interpreted to have more of an adult connotation (I don’t take it that way). The video was directed by Roman White and includes a robbery, a car chase and an explosion. Watch it below and tell us what you think! After you watch the video, scroll down and watch the making of the video. Y’all enjoy and make sure you keep it between the mustard and mayonnaise when you’re behind the wheel! Watch: Easton Corbin “All Over the Road” Official Music Video. Get Behind the Scenes: The Making of “All Over the Road.”

Florida Georgia Line New Video Get Your Shine On

Florida Georgia Line Release New Party Themed Video for Get Your Shine On. Florida Georgia Line crashed onto the country music scene with their runaway #1 hit “Cruise,” and riding their current wave of success have released the follow up single, “Get Your Shine On” from the duo’s debut album Here’s To The Good Times. With a 2013 ACM Awards nomination for Duo of the Year, and current touring dates scheduled with Luke Bryan‘s Dirt Road Diaries 2013 Tour, its easy to see that country music fans and industry folks have taken a strong liking to these two guys. With their upbeat, high energy vibe, its kind of hard not to love them. That being said though, videos like the one they have released for “Get Your Shine On,” just make me feel old. It’s “what-happens-in-Cancun-stays-in-Cancun” party vibe, from the cliche “hot chicks” FGL and their band hook up with to the extremely random cameo from two Mexican wrestlers to the non-stop water related activities and the fruity drink and beer chugging, just isn’t really something I personally can relate to. That’s not to say I can’t have a “good time”…my “good time” just looks a whole lot different. I’d say its clear FGL and their creative team are currently speaking to a pretty specific demographic within the country music fan base. So, if you’re looking forward to getting a little wild and loose on your upcoming Spring Break adventure, then you should probably put “Get Your Shine On” on your week’s playlist because this is the song for you! The duo isn’t all party party party all the time though. Other tracks featured on their debut album like “Stay” and “Dayum, Baby” give a little bit of a hint of another side of FGL that no doubt we’ll see develop over the years. Check out the album for more, and watch the video for yourself below! Watch Florida Georgia Line New Video for “Get Your Shine On.”

Best of the West Musicians on Call Benefit Google Hangout

CMchat Hosts Live Google Hangout Before Best of the West Musicians on Call Benefit In Nashville! The 2nd Annual “Best of the West” benefit concert is taking Nashville, TN by storm on Monday, February 25th, and CMchat has teamed up with event organizers to bring country fans a LIVE Google + hangout before the show kicks off! CMchat’s Jessica Northey will be sitting down with special guest performers Stoney LaRue, Trent Willmon, Kristen Kelly, Ryan Beaver, Bleu Edmondson, The Cadillac Three (previously The Cadillac Black), Rob Baird, Brian Keane, Kimberly Kelly and more. CMNB’s MissMolly will be joining in as part of the Twangout panel, and we’ll be streaming the interview session live, right here! So, be sure to come back and tune in at 5:30pm CST! Tune In: LIVE “Best of the West” pre-show Google+ Hangout w/CMchat! About Musicians On Call. Musicians On Call (MOC) was founded in 1999 with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. To date, its volunteers have played for over 350,000 people nationwide. Musicians On Call continues its mission through room-to- room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities as well as the CD Pharmacy Program. Find more on the official musicians on call webpage. About CMchat. CMchat is the largest country music centric social media community, and its growing! Follow #CMchat on Twitter to stay up to speed on all things country, and tune in to Google+ every Monday night for special exclusive interviews with country stars, industry folks, and more!

Justin Moore Interview

Justin Moore Talks Heroes, Tours and New Music. I got the chance to have a quick chat with Justin Moore on the phone yesterday. We caught up on this nasty weather we are dealing with here in Arkansas before we got to business, Fayetteville and surrounding areas were getting some of that thundersleet. Luckily Moore didn’t have to deal with any of the mess cause he was sitting pretty in Panama City. He’s in the Sunshine State for the Daytona 500 this Sunday. Moore is going to give a special concert at 10 a.m. at the Crown Royal footprint before the race to launch the inaugural “Your Heroes Name Here” program. The Crown Royal program is a chance to have naming rights to the Brickyard 400 that is held in July. Anyone who is 21+ can go to CrownRoyalHeroes.com and nominate their personal hero. Moore will be officially nominating two local Florida heroes who are making a difference in their communities. When I asked Moore what heroes of his he might nominate if he could he said there were a lot of people. But one that stood out was his grandpa who passed away. “He retired out of the military and was the cornerstone of our family. He showed me how to raise a family and taught me how to be a husband and dad.” I asked Moore who he was routing for Sunday and he said he always wants his buddy Carl Edwards to do well, but his gut was telling him Tony Stewart. “He’s got a good car and feel like it’s his time, but its anybody’s game.“ Moore is a huge NASCAR fan and has a real respect for what the guys and girls do out on the track. He is excited to be a part of the Crown Royal campaign and to watch the race. “I’ve been to a lot of races, but never Daytona. I’m knocking tracks off my bucket list.” We also got to talk about Moore’s exciting tour news. After finishing up Eric Church’s Blood, Sweat and Beer Tour, Moore is hitting the road again, but this time as the headliner! “We’re really excited! I’ve learned a lot from being out on the road with other people and have got to play in front of tons of folks. It’s kind of scary and exciting at the same time, if it goes bad it’s all my fault. But it’s going to be a lot of fun.” The Outlaws Like Me Tour will begin March 14, with Dustin Lynch and Jon Pardi as opening acts. Moore will also be a part of the first-ever Thunder On The Mountain country music festival. The festival is taking place in his home-state and is sure to be three days full of great music. “Anytime I can play at home and sleep in my bed is good! I’m sure I’ll have a lot of family and friends there. The festivals are always a lot of fun.” Moore will be Continue reading Justin Moore Interview

Jason Aldean 1994-New Single

Jason Aldean Announces That “1994” Will Be His Next Single. Jason Aldean has announced that his next single will be “1994.” The song comes from his recent album, Night Train. I know that a lot of people are probably going to have a problem with this song, but I’m not one of them! I don’t care if people think it “isn’t country.” It is, in my opinion, 4 minutes and 2 seconds worth of fabulous! It’s not something I normally fall in love with, but I did! The first time I heard it was the day Night Train came out, back in October. At first I was laughing and thinking WTH? But before it was over I was dancing in my Jeep and belting “Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie.” This song is made up of Joe Diffie songs and lyrics, and that my friends is COOL! Seriously, who doesn’t love Joe??? If you don’t have “John Deere Green” or “Bigger Than the Beatles” in your music library, well there is a huge possibility that we can’t be friends. So there it is. I’ve said it. I LOVE Jason Aldean’s new single, “1994.” If you haven’t heard it then do so now! If you have and don’t like it, we can just agree to disagree!

Shooter Jennings Announces Tour

Shooter Jennings Announces National Tour And Gets Ready To Release His New Album. Shooter Jennings has announced that his new album, The Other Life, will be released March 12. In support of that album Jennings will be touring through June across the US. The album will have 11 tracks including the current single, “Wild and Lonesome,” which features Patty Griffin. Jennings created an accompanying film, also titled The Other Life, that will be screened at various venues. Below is the artwork for the cover of The Other Life and the full track listing. The Other Life Track Listing: 1. Flying Saucer Song 2. A Hard Lesson To Learn 3. The White Trash Song (feat. Scott H. Biram) 4. Wild and Lonesome (feat. Patty Griffin) 5. Outlaw You 6. The Other Life 7. The Low Road 8. Mama, It’s Just My Medicine 9. The Outsider 10. 15 Million Light-Years Away (feat. Jim Dandy) 11. The Gunslinger