Category Archives: Featured

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Getting To Know Ben Wells

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Let Me Take A Minute To Introduce You To An Artist Who Is Always Ready To “Get Down.” I got the chance to talk with Ben Wells for a few minutes the other day. For those of you who don’t know, Wells is a small town guy with big time dreams! Releasing his self-titled album this past fall and it reaching #26 on the National Country Chart sure is making those dreams a little more realistic each day. His current single from that album is “Get Down.” It’s about…well, getting down! This tune is sure to put you in the partying mood and quick! The song has done very well for him and we hope that his next single does just as good, if not better, at radio! I can’t say for certain, but I have a feeling the next single has something to do with dads…hint, hint! Like I said, Wells is making his dreams come true day-by-day, show-by-show. His favorite part of performing is the audience! Obviously the bigger the crowd the better, but Wells loves a smaller group too. He says a crowd of 200-300 is great because it’s a big party, but he can still connect to a group of that size. “A crowd too small can be awkward,” Wells said. Just for kicks, I asked Wells some pretty random questions. But hey, the piece IS called Getting To Know Ben Wells… Who did you listen to growing up? “My aunt use to take me to school when I was little and she listened to things like Tim McGraw and Shania Twain. So I listened to Tim McGraw and Shania Twain. When I got a little older I listened to a lot of Eminem, but then I went back to country.” What is your favorite drink? “At a bar that would be whiskey and sprite. When I’m trying to be healthy I go with a screwdriver, because I feel like the juice is better for me. But I love purple Gatorade!” What about breakfast? “Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds.” (That was the quickest answer of the entire interview. He REALLY loves the Honey Bunches!) What is your go to t-shirt? “About every 3 shows I wear this Rolling Rock Pale Ale shirt. But I wash it, it’s clean!” The year 2012 was a crazy roller coaster for Wells. Like the rest of us, he is ready for the things 2013 has to offer and he is looking at it with tons of positive energy and enthusiasm! Jump on over to BenWellsOnline.com for any other information you might need, including his show schedule! His current album which includes “Get Down,” “Valdosta Rain,” “Daddy In Me,” and “Might Be Worth It” is available on iTunes now!

Best Of The West Benefit Concert Set For February

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The Second Annual “Best Of The West” Benefit Has Been Set For February 25 In Nashville. The 2nd Annual “Best of the West” benefit concert is returning! It will be held Monday, February 25, 2013 at Nashville’s Exit/In. Stoney LaRue, Trent Willmon, Kristen Kelly, Ryan Beaver, Bleu Edmonson, The Cadillac Black, Rob Baird, Brian Keane, Kimberly Kelly and other surprise guests will be there to help raise money for Musicians On Call. Doors open at 6:30PM with music starting at 7PM, for what is sure to be an amazing night with some of the best artists from west of Tennessee for one of the best music industry causes. Fans 18 and up can purchase general admission tickets for $15 along with a limited number of $40 VIP packages in advance starting Friday January 25th at 10am. To get your tickets or make a donation visit BestOfTheWest.preferredfan.com. Those in attendance will also be able to participate in the live auction of autographed memorabilia from some of your favorite artists. All proceeds from the event will benefit Musicians On Call. For the most up to date information on the event, check out their Facebook page.

Kix Brooks Moonshine Road-Video

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The Official Music Video For Kix Brooks’ “Moonshine Road.” Below is the official music video for Kix Brooks‘ current single, “Moonshine Road.” In my opinion the song is a gem! It has a grit to it that I fell in love with the first time I heard it! The song comes from Brooks’ debut, solo album, New To This Town. Check out the video and tell us what you think!

BlogRodeo Recap – January 2013

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Well, it came and went; the inaugural BlogRodeo country music collaboration event. The posts were great, the turnout was astounding and the twitter chat was a chart-topping success! No, really… we topped the Twitter Trending list for over an hour with the #BlogRodeo hashtag, which is no small accomplishment for ANYONE. I personally would like to thank each and every blogger, fan and artist SO MUCH for your participation! It’s easy to forget that while we work and play in our own little corners of the internet, we are still part of one very large and supportive family. I cannot WAIT to see what we accomplish in February’s BlogRodeo event. Now on to the nitty gritty! At the beginning of the year we reached out to fellow bloggers and asked one simple question: What are we most excited for in 2013? The answers we got back in the form of posts on each participants’ blog were as varied as the blogs themselves, so after sharing our posts, we took to Twitter to get a little more in depth on our predictions. (Note: With so many people chiming in, it’s difficult to cover everything, so for the full list of BlogRodeo tweets and stats check out #BlogRodeo on Twitter.) With over 200 unique participants posting over 1,200 tweets, and reaching almost 1.5 MILLION followers, here’s what Country Music Bloggers see happening in 2013: New artists to watch out for this year: Pistol Annies – While they’re not exactly new, they’re certainly establishing themselves as a full act on their own rather than a side project of the participating artists. Connor Christian – Nobody in today’s chat could deny the presence of the Connor Christian fanbase! Bloggers and country fans alike just kept slippin his name off their tongue (or tweets) like so much honey in a cloverfield. Backroad Anthem – This Ozark country favorite jumped in and participated in the BlogRodeo, did a few interviews with some of our fellow bloggers and ourselves, AND pulled off a handful of killer shows all in the last few days. Dedication and participation like that is what it’s going to take to get to the bigtime and we think these guys’ve got it! A few honorable mentions go out to Rose Falcon , Kacey Musgraves, Katie Armiger, Whitney Duncan, Thomas Rhett and Tyler Farr. It seems quite a few of these have been on the cusp of mainstream success for a while, but they’re all poised to make some big noise this year. Hottest Headliners: Kelli Pickler – Now it’s been a bit since we’ve heard anything REAL big out of little Miss Pickler, but we’re all waiting with baited breath. She’s got the talent, and the strong and loyal fanbase so we can only guess that she’s being really careful about her next move. Randy Houser – CMNBlog calls Randy Houser’s new album “the bomb”, while UrbanCountryNews says the new project’s one to get, with the song “Like A Cowboy” being their favorite Continue reading BlogRodeo Recap – January 2013→

Carrie Underwood Two Black Cadillacs Video

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Watch: Carrie Underwood Releases Official Two Black Cadillacs Video! Carrie Underwood finally premiered her official music video for Two Black Cadillacs via Vevo and Entertainment Tonight today! The video is all greys, shadows, stark lighting, and slow motion which perfectly suits the drama in the song. I’ve heard a lot of folks saying that they wish Underwood would do more uplifting tunes and less the man cheated and now he’s getting his kind of songs. I, though, think that Carrie with her strong voice is at her best with this sort of single. And then there’s those sky high stilletos! Check it out for yourself below, and let us know what you think! Watch: Carrie Underwood “Two Black Cadillacs” Video.

Country Music Blog Rodeo Twitter Chat January 24

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Mark Your Calendar: The Country Music Blog Rodeo Twitter Chat Happens Tomorrow January 24th! The first ever Country Music Blog Rodeo kicked off yesterday with some of the top independent country music blogs chiming in with their thoughts on the biggest and best trends for country music in 2013! Topics ranged from the impact of social media to artists on the rise to new festivals and tours to the influence of roots and Americana on mainstream country to the power of local communities on the wider industry and so much more! The participating had some really great insight, and it was really exciting to read through all the posts! Well, the blog rodeo continues tomorrow, and now, its YOUR chance to share YOUR thoughts on what the most exciting thing for country music will be in 2013! CMNB will be hosting a special twitter chat Thursday, January 24th from 12pm – 1pm CST, and you’re invited to join in! We’ll doing a follow-up Q&A on all the topics raised by each blog, offering an open discussion for readers (that’s you!) to throw in their two cents, and also giving away some pretty awesome prizes! There will even be a few country music artists stopping by to join the fun! Find the complete details below, and we hope to see you there! Blog Rodeo Twitter Chat: Date – Thursday, January 24th Time – 12pm – 1pm central (US) Join – #BlogRodeo #CountryMusic Host – @CMNBlog Blogs – @FocusOnThe615, @CMTT, @CMchatLive, @OfficialUKCM, @FTCountryRecord, @CountryMusicPri, @UrbanCountryNws, @KeepinItBlog, @TwangNation, @cmilove Prizes Include: Two (2) tickets to see Little Big Town April 19th at The Amp in Fayetteville, AR, a signed copy of Love and Theft‘s current album, a copy of Connor Christian & Southern Gothic‘s upcoming New Hometown, a signed 8×10 photo from up and comer Rose Falcon, passes to an upcoming Backroad Anthem show in Fayetteville, AR, a Backroad Anthem t-shirt and more to be announced! Don’t have Twitter? Sign up here. Country Music Blog Rodeo Participants: CountryMusicTattleTale.com: 2013 Will Bring A New Sound to Country Music! CMchatLive.com: 2013 – Insights From Country Music Industry Experts! FocusOnThe615.com: Artist to Watch in 2013! TwangNation.com: Americana’s Influence On Country Music! UrbanCountryNews.com: Roots On The Rise – The Most Exciting Music Trend of 2013! UkCOUNTRYmusic.net: Country2Country Festival-A Potential Turning Point for US Country Music In The Uk! KeepinItCountryBlog.com: 2013 The Year of Country Crossover! CountryMusicPride.com: Country Music In 2013! ForTheCountryRecord.com: Country Music & Twitter! CountryMusicNewsBlog.com (HaleighT): Word of Mouth in 2013! CountryMusicNewsBlog.com (WhiskeyChick): 2013 – The Year of Social Media In Country Music! CountryMusicNewsBlog.com (MissMolly): 2013 North of Nashville – The Ozarks Go Country! CountryMusicIsLove.com: Country Artists Passing The Torch In 2013!

Kacey Musgraves Set To Release Debut Album

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Kacey Musgraves Is Gettting Ready To Release Her Debut Album, Same Trailer Different Park. Kacey Musgraves will release her debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, on March 19th. The album is co-produced by Musgraves, Shane McAnally and Luke Laird and features her current single and top 15 hit “Merry Go ‘Round.” Musgraves wrote or co-wrote all tracks on the album. “The making of this record was such a fun and meaningful time for me,” said Musgraves. “As a writer, singer and producer I learned so much throughout the whole process. I am proud and excited to present a project alongside Shane McAnally and Luke Laird that came from a very real and inspired place in my brain and heart.” Rolling Stone gave “Merry Go ‘Round” FOUR STARS and named it one of their “50 Best Songs of 2012” while NPR named her as their “Best New Artist of 2012” and included her in the “Best Music in 2013 preview.” Musgraves recently received her first country music award nomination for New Female Vocalist for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Fans can vote at www.VoteACM.com and www.GACtv.com/ACM January 21st – February 4th. Little Big Town has invited Musgraves to open their Tornado Tour starting January 31st in Murray, KY and this summer she will join Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Nation stadium tour. I am so excited to hear the whole album! I fell in love with “Merry Go Round” the first time I heard it and can’t wait to listen to some more honest lyrics.

Brian Davis Joins Brantley Gilbert On Tour

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Brian Davis Hits The Road With Brantley Gilbert & Kip Moore For The 2013 Hell On Wheels Tour. Brian Davis will be hitting the road with Brantley Gilbert again on his 2013 Hell On Wheels Tour. This is the second time Davis will be rocking on this tour, as he was part of the first leg in 2012. Davis will be opening for Kip Moore when the tour kicks off January 31 in Independence, MO. “I am really excited to be rolling back out with Brantley Gilbert and having the opportunity to KICK OFF the PARTY every night on the ‘Hell On Wheels Tour’ as well as sharing the stage with Kip Moore,” said Brian Davis. “We had such a great time meeting so many cool fans out on the first leg of the tour. I can only imagine how crazy this next one’s gonna be!” Davis has recorded and released six albums on his own. His current, Under The Influence is on iTunes. We will be getting the chance to see a live show from Davis tomorrow when he opens for Lee Brice in Fort Smith, Ark. Be looking for a show review in the near future!

Randy Houser How Country Feels Album Review

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Randy Houser’s New Album How Country Feels Well Worth the Wait! With the first few guitar strums and drum beats of “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight“, the first track on Randy Houser‘s new album How Country Feels, country fans are sure to be hooked. This first song has more of a pop edge than I expected from Houser, but its feel good, live in the moment lyrics immediately made me feel warm and happy (despite the cold January chill right outside my window!). From that first song, the record just gets better and better as it balances between a variety of sounds, themes and rhythms. Upbeat and Living In The Moment. Tracks like “Growin’ Younger,” “Top Of The World” “Absolutely Nothing,” “Goodnight Kiss,” and “Let’s Not Let It” keep things on the livelier side going back and forth between pop-ish (“Goodnight“) and more rock-ish (“Growin“). Lyrically, these songs encourage focusing on the important things in life and living in the moment in that way only a country song seems to be able to do. Anyone of these songs would be perfect for a Friday night bonfire or a lazy afternoon, and country fans are sure to have them playing on repeat. Slow and Bittersweet. On the other hand, Houser, slows things down and strikes a bittersweet note with the lovesick tune “The Singer“,  almost ballad-esque tracks like “Power of A Song,” and “Like A Cowboy,” and the gospel tinged “Along For The Ride.”  The music and lyrics of these tracks add an extra dimension to the album when placed along the faster songs, and proves that Randy Houser is capable of offering fans more than just one brand of country. Southern Rock Vibe. This album also embodies a broad spectrum of a southern rock vibe that is distinctly heard in three of the songs, title track “How Country Feels, “Shine” and “Sunshine On The Line.” If you were to put these three songs on that southern rock spectrum “How Country Feels” is at the least intense end with more pop-country mixed in with the electric guitar. “Sunshine On The Line” rests at the opposite end of that spectrum bordering on an almost hard rock sound opening with an intense guitar riff and raw vocals from Houser. “Shine” features a blue collar storyline, noticeable keyboards and more electric guitar than you hear from the average mainstream country tune. It’s not quite as intense as “Sunshine” and lacks any of the radio pop friendly elements in the title track, so it rests in the middle of the spectrum. Altogether, this southern rock vibe just adds yet another layer to Randy’s already complex sound heard throughout the album. A Heck of a Duet. One of the best moments on this album, though, is the powerful duet between Houser and CMNB favorite Kristy Lee Cook on “Wherever Love Goes“! Houser’s and Cook’s voices blend perfectly and compliment each other wonderfully. One thing I really appreciate is the mellow production on this song, the music is toned Continue reading Randy Houser How Country Feels Album Review→

Ben Wells Teams Up With Ernie Ball

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Ben Wells And Lead Guitarist Partner With Guitar String And Accessories Company. Ben Wells and his lead guitarist, Stephen DeLoach have partnered up with one of the biggest guitar string manufacturing companies around, Ernie Ball. Just releasing his debut, self-titled album, Wells is very excited to be hitting the road with Ernie Ball premium strings and accessories. The company also has their own line of guitars, Music Man. DeLoach is now a proud Music Man artist. “It is an honor and blessing to be able to take Ernie Ball/Music Man on the road. It’s crazy to have our names next to some of these artists. I only hope, one day, we’ll be on the same playing level. Until then, we’re just thankful to have our name associated.” -Wells Ernie Ball endorses many major artists including Brad Paisley, Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney. The company was founded by Roland S. Ball (Ernie) and started manufacturing strings over 50 years ago.