Blaze Foley and Bill Neely Among Musicians To Be Enshrined In Austin Music Memorial
- Singer-songwriter Blaze Foley, whose song “If I Could Only Fly” was popularized by Merle Haggard, and country bluesman Bill Neely are two of the artists among the second group of deceased Austin musicians set to be inducted into the Austin Music Memorial.
- In an interview for The Steamboat Pilot & Today, Sam Bush talks about the cross-pollination of influences he had growing up–Porter Wagoner, Flatt & Scruggs and Ernest Tubb from the Grand Ole Opry and The Beatles and The Rolling Stones from The Ed Sullivan Show. (via Galleywinter)
- The Flatlanders, consisting of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gimore and Butch Hancock, have a new album being released on March 31 titled Hills and Valleys. Country Standard Time has the track listing and tour schedule.
- Kim Ruehl, a freelance writer who you might recognize from news updates on NoDepression.com, wrote a great article for Seattle Sound magazine in which she interviewed and profiled several Northwestern women–Laura Gibson, Shelley Short, Sera Cahoone, Brandi Carlile, Star Anna, and Zoe Muth–who all consider themselves country in some fashion, even though their perceptions of country might not equate with Nashville’s definition.
- American mandolinist Butch Baldassari passed away on Saturday from brain cancer. (via reader email)
For most bluegrass fans, Butch first appeared on the scene in 1985 as a member of Weary Hearts, a band which also included fellow future luminaries Ron Block, Chris Jones and Mike Bub. He had a tenure with Lonesome Standard Time before launching the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble to recreate the music of the classic mandolin orchestras in 1991.
- Change your bookmarks folks, Photocrap is now Farce the Music.
- Elizabeth Cook introduced Robert Earl Keen to the MusicFest crowd in Steamboat, Colo. as being more than an institution, saying that he’s a lifestyle. Margaret Hair agrees and provided a review of the show. (via Galleywinter)
- If you’re looking for a place to start in Bruce Robison’s catalog, Craig Shelburne recommends Country Sunshine.
- Loretta Lynn is working on two new albums. One consists of all new material that she hopes to have ready by late spring, and the other will be re-recorded versions of her No. 1 hits from the past four decades. The latter is being produced by John Carter Cash and could hit stores this summer.
- Brett Crenshaw is giving away his first album as a digital download. (via Country Mike)
- A writer for The Hank & Audrey Williams Center blog says there is already enough drama, tragedy, inspiration and insanity in the Hank Williams story without having to invent something and points to a few resources for anyone looking to get the facts straight.
- Michael Martin Murphey is scheduled to host the 7th annual Texas Music Awards on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Palestine Civic Center in Palestine.
- Teen sensation Taylor Swift has been selling a ton of songbooks and sheet music. Does this mean musicians ten years from now will be listing her as a major influence?
- In other Taylor news, it’s been announced that she will appear in an upcoming episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
- Charlie Louvin released tour dates for the first few months of ‘09.
- From the Country California satire department: “Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush were both injured today during rehearsals for the duo’s upcoming 2009 tour. Nettles and Bush were running giddily across a Nashville-area athletic field in clear plastic globes, imitating the crowd-surfing portion of their show, when a sudden gust of wind sent their oversized hamster balls sailing toward each other at high speeds.”
- The final reminder to cast your vote in the 2008 Weblog Awards is brought to you buy iCF Music. Polls close at 5 PM EST today, so I won’t be bugging you anymore to vote. Thanks a ton to everyone who has already voted and/or linked to The 9513. (Vote here)
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In each and every instance, the best country albums of the past ten years were built on the backs of songs -- stories about you and me from birth to death and stories that paint landscapes rooted in every region of America and beyond. These are the top country albums of the decade.Tagged In This Article
Bill Neely // Blaze Foley // Brett Crenshaw // Bruce Robison // Butch Baldassari // Butch Hancock // Charlie Louvin // Elizabeth Cook // Ernest Tubb // Hank Williams // Jennifer Nettles // Joe Ely // John Carter Cash // Kristian Bush // Loretta Lynn // Merle Haggard // Michael Martin Murphey // Porter Wagoner // Robert Earl Keen // Sam Bush // Sugarland // Taylor Swift
Current Discussion
- sam (sam): Laura Bell Bundy's idea of on stage antics seems a lot more interesting than Gary Allan's.
- Noeller: Couple o' notes: -Will probably pick up that label-forced Cagle GH comp just 'cause I dig him... -Gary Allen is COOL. ...
- Michelle: Let's hope that Trish is very young, because then it would make sense. She didn't get her way and who ...
- Brady Vercher: Let's stick to a single name around here, please.
- richard: You are so right Stormy! Just because a lot of true country fans are happy about a good singers' success. ...
- Stormy: Trish: I don't think anyone hates Carrie Underwood except maybe Jessica Simpson. But its a long way from ...
- Erik: I am smitten in every possible way with Laura Bell Bundy.
- Texascowboy: Trish, you are very angry bitter person. You can say that if it makes you feel better, but all you ...
- Leeann Ward: I'm guessing Obama is too centrist for PETA members. To be realistic, I don't think Vince is drawing huge crowds anymore ...
- Razor X: Perhaps he's referring to the Universal South-Show Dog Nashville merger?
8 Comments
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January 13, 2009 at 11:13 am Permalink
Maybe I missed any discussion, but did anybody else think Taylor Swift made for a pretty decent ‘pissed-off-Annie’ on SNL this past weekend?
January 13, 2009 at 11:47 am Permalink
Nettles and Bush were running giddily across a Nashville-area athletic field in clear plastic globes, imitating the crowd-surfing portion of their show, when a sudden gust of wind sent their oversized hamster balls sailing toward each other at high speeds.”
That shouldn’t be funny, but it is.
January 13, 2009 at 1:34 pm Permalink
Speaking of Taylor Swift did anyone catch her singing on SNL last Saturday? And if so what did you think?
January 13, 2009 at 1:56 pm Permalink
The tribute to Robert Earl Keen recorded at a previous Steamboat MusicFest is pretty solid, and has a previously unreleased REK track.
January 13, 2009 at 3:35 pm Permalink
Sam Bush is a truly interesting musician and a fun performer to hear live. Well at least until he goes off into one of his meandering jam sessions that is.
I don’t really grasp Charlie Louvin’s gig out here in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles in early February. Maybe he’s coming out just for Hollerin’ Ben! (lol)
I’ve long surpassed my tolerance quota for seeing or hearing anything regarding Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood. I much prefer to read about artists who make music that matters (well, to me anyway).
January 13, 2009 at 3:37 pm Permalink
Stormy, you realize it’s supposed to be funny, right?
January 13, 2009 at 5:29 pm Permalink
I voted everyday … but it looks like The 9513 is going to finish in a very respectable 7th place. Way to go, you guys! And thanks for setting the standard for country music blogs.
January 14, 2009 at 6:19 am Permalink
If there was justice in this world, it would be Robert Earl Keene appearing on SNL rather then the talentless Taylor Swift.
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