Backroad Anthem Live at Georges Majestic Lounge

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Backroad Anthem Explodes Onto The Country Scene with Performance at Georges Majestic Lounge, Headed Somewhere Fast! I have a feeling that sometime soon, I’ll be telling everyone how I met the boys from Backroad Anthem before they made it big. I first stumbled across this group of local talent when they opened for Dustin Lynch at Georges Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, AR at the beginning of January. I didn’t even know they were on the night’s bill until I got to the show, and I was immediately blown away by the energy in their performance, their original sound, and how they had the fans on their feet and grooving in a matter of seconds. I thought maybe Dustin’s fans were just particularly exuberant, but I caught Backroad again just a little over a week ago when they headlined at George‘s and sold out the venue. For the second time, I was taken aback by these guys, especially considering that, as I later learned, they’ve only been together a short time (less than six months!). No matter the short time frame, these talented young men have hit just the right note, and they’re headed in the right direction. The Energy The first thing you’ll notice about Backroad Anthem is the raw, no holds barred energy that they put into their performances. according to lead vocalist frontman  Craig Strickland this is exactly what they’re aiming for. “We want to offer people somewhat of a country power band, where everyone is incredibly talented at their instrument. When people walk out the door from a live show we want them saying ‘That band had something that other bands don’t have. Their crazy energy on stage is addictive.’” – Craig Strickland For his part, Strickland never stays in one spot for long as he’s constantly jumping, running around on stage, dancing on an amp or interacting with the crowd. At the same time the extraordinarily talented fiddle player, Eric Dysart, isn’t taking any breaks either and keeps things upbeat and sizzling with his superb skills. Meanwhile, Isaac Senty kills it on the drums, Toby Freeman‘s smooth vocals balance out Craig’s more rocker vibe while adding to the overall sound with his rhythm electric, and Josh Bryant keeps a cool demeanor without holding back as he fires away as lead guitarist.  Every single one of them is constantly giving it their all, and the result is a loud, well-performed, high energy show that has the audience on their feet, dancing, singing along, and cheering for more the entire time. Bottom line, one thing is for sure, the crowd won’t leave without having a great time. The Sound Besides the high energy of their shows, Backroad Anthem has an interesting and original sound, and is sure to draw folks back for more. Granted, at this early stage, they are still filling their set with a lot of covers of popular country hits, but even still, they demonstrate a pretty wide range in the process. They cover classics Continue reading Backroad Anthem Live at Georges Majestic Lounge→

10 Random Questions with Phoenix Stone

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Guest Writer Brittany Vance Asks Phoenix Stone 10 Random Questions! Is it just me or is Phoenix Stone such a kick ass name? His name really does match his music, unique. Stone is a true southern boy from Tampa, FL who discovered the spotlight as a teen. He was signed to Warner/Chappell record label, and worked with folks like The Backstreet Boys. However, I believe his pop days are probably long gone. His current single “100 Proof Moonshine,” which he wrote and produced on his own, has been getting a lot of attention, and he was also named one of the “25 Most Beautiful People Of Nashville 2012.” All I have to say is, any friend of moonshine is a friend of mine! Plus, he was brave enough to take on my 10 random questions… so, consider me a fan. 1. How does it feel to be one of the “25 Most Beautiful People Of Nashville 2012?” I was honored and flattered but I’ve never really considered myself beautiful haha 2. What artists do you currently listen to? Eric Church – any classic rock like guns N roses and Fleetwood Mac recently 3. If you could duet with any female artist who would you team up with? Kelly Clarkson or Sheryl Crow 4. How many tattoos do you have? 5 5. Beer or Wine? whiskey or moonshine for me 6. Do you have a favorite sport? White water rafting, UFC or baseball 7. Favorite Restaurant? Roosters BBQ in Nashville 8. Do you have any bad habits? Probably 🙂 9. What can we expect from you in 2013? Full length album and continuing to tour. 10. Is there anything you want the world to know about Phoenix Stone? That it takes a long time and it’s a long road to being an “overnight sensation” work hard and let your passion for music lead you…all the rest will fall into place. You can follow Phoenix on Twitter @phoenixstone1! Watch: Phoenix Stone “100 Proof Moonshine” Official Video. Brittany is a guest contributor! You can find more from her via .

Rose Falcon Talks Upcoming EP 19th Avenue Vol 2

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Interview: Singer Songwriter Rose Falcon Talks Upcoming Release 19th Avenue Vol 2 EP! Up and coming country singer songwriter Rose Falcon has a new EP, 19th Avenue Vol. 2, releasing next week and she took a couple minutes to chat with me and discuss the upcoming project, her influences, and more! The single aspect that stands out the most in Falcon’s music is the honesty in her well-written lyrics. There is a very feminine and simultaneously strong quality in the quiet songs featured on the upcoming EP. She claims influences like Tammy Wynette, Patty Lovelace and Reba McEntire, and it’s easy to connect the dots between these iconic artists and this rising star. Rose’s songs are lyrically raw and personal, and musically have hints of roots and Americana. She had this to say of the tracks and her personal “sound” featured on the upcoming EP, “It’s fairly organic, not a lot of fancy production and lyrically driven. The instruments are meant to paint around, highlight the song the best they can without taking away or distracting from the lyrical content.“ This is not surprising to hear from someone who grew up around songwriters (her father is legendary singer – songwriter Billy Falcon), spends four days a week co-writing songs and who loves living Nashville, TN which she suggests is home to best singers and songwriters in the whole world! Falcon is authentic, and in a way the simplicity of her songs is what gives them staying power. There are lots and lots of talented folks in country music these days, but not everyone can cut it as a writer. So, I was curious about her particular process and style. “I co-write a lot. It’s a process of giving and receiving what I call ‘gifts’. Someone you write with might have a gift to give you, an idea and you have to be open to that. Or one day I might have a great idea to offer. You end up with something you wouldn’t of had if you hadn’t been working with that person on that day. It’s a really magical process, and I think that God is a part of it in every step.“ In the tracks featured on Falcon’s 19th Avenue, you can hear how invested she is in the words and the stories they tell. I have no doubt that as her star continues to rise, country fans who get to listen to her music will find it relatable and this will draw them in and keep them listening. I also have a feeling that Falcon would be a wonderful singer to catch live…hope I get the chance soon! Be sure to check out the new EP when it releases Tuesday, January 29th, and stay tuned for more from Rose in the next year! Find her on Twitter and iTunes!

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.