Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain Giveaway: CHHR2

Up-and-coming bluegrass group Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain has drawn comparisons to Alison Krauss and Union Station and was chosen as an IBMA showcase artist on the strength of their debut album, CHHR. The group returns with sophomore project CHHR2, and the critics already like what they’re hearing:
“Hassler has the potential to be as big as Rhonda Vincent, the reigning queen of bluegrass.”
–Keith Lawrence, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
“Energetic and crisp, CHHR 2 is a hard-driving bluegrass album that showcases one of the most talented and imaginative sets of musicians in the genre today. From the album’s opening number, the beautifully sentimental “I Can Go Back Anytime,” Josh Miller’s relentless banjo carves out a sound that strikes a brilliant balance between traditional and progressive, while Jamie Harper’s fiddle underscores a series of tracks that sound familiar but which can only be described as undeniably fresh.”
–Jim Malec, The 9513
“No sophomore let down here.”
–John Walker, Country Standard Time
“Carrie Hassler brings a new energy and freshness to bluegrass that I haven’t heard in years.”
–Kyle Cantrell, XM Radio
We have a Carrie Hassler prize package for four lucky readers. Each winner will receive:
- An autographed copy of CHHR2
- A CHHR t-shirt
- A CHHR cap
- A box of Moon Pies (courtesy of CHHR’s official sponsor)
CHHR2 includes a bluegrass cover of Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, so to enter the drawing reply to this post with the name of the pop tune that you’d most like to hear as a bluegrass song by the end of the day on Monday. Four posters will be randomly chosen to receive the CHHR prize package.
Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain, “Turn the Page:”
For more information on CHHR, visit: Official Website | MySpace
Listen: Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain – “I Can Go Back Anytime”
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to subscribe to our feed or receive updates via email.
Popular Stuff
Sponsor
Tagged In This Article
Current Discussion
- Paula: well, y'all are just gonna LOVE this little tidbit from cmt.com Rascal Flatts...
- JACK L DAVIS: DAVID ROGERS I could listen to forever and i wish he were still with us and mak...
- Paula: Rick - MySpace and/or my internet arent playing nice tonight so I cant get Shann...
- adhara: kenney chesney was excellent with the wailers. reggae & coutry... grea...
- Jaime: @ John Maglite: You have to have a certain panache to pull off bathroom humor, a...
- Rick: Leeann and Paula, we can start a "Music Cheapskates Club!". (lol) Have you ga...
- Troy: Thank you...
- Matt B.: Re: Billboard Charts: Hot Country Songs charts all the major country markets ...
- Dylan Gramm: Woo-hoo! New Lauderdale!...
- Troy: Like Taylor Swift song Change it is number 10 on the hot 100 but is 50 something...
Forgotten Artists: Goldie Hill Had Carl Smith and Goldie Hill been born 30 or 40 years later, they might have been like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw–the dominant married couple in country music.
Forgotten Artist: Wynn Stewart Both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have cited Wynn Stewart as a major influence on their careers, yet somehow, he was never able to translate his enormous talent into extended and consistent success for himself.
Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
Josh Gracin - “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” Despite initial marketing that touted the album as deep and personal, “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” is anything but deep or personal.
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker is the first black artist to chart a single in the country top 20 since Charley Pride last did it in 1988.
News that former Sugarland member and co-founder Kristen Hall is suing her ex-mates, to the tune of $1.5 million, goes a long way towards providing a bit of context regarding the Atlanta singer/songwriter’s sudden departure from the group.
In Memory of Don Helms (1927 - 2008) Helms dated back to a time when an excellent four or five piece band and a good singer were all that were needed to make great country music. No drums, no light shows, no production tricks in the recording studio–just good music.
In this exclusive interview with The 9513, the Show Dog Records trio talks about growing up around Waylon and Jessi Colter, and about how those experiences have helped shaped their music as they set off on their own country music journey.
One of an emerging wave of artists empowered by decreasing production costs and a rapidly changing distribution landscape, Kelleigh Bannen has taken a do-it-yourself approach to her debut album, Radio Skies.







27 Comments
RSS for comments on this post | Trackback URI for this post
August 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm Permalink
I’m (obviously) ineligible to win, but the pop song I would most like to hear a bluegrass version of is Jessica Simpson’s “Come On Over.”
August 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm Permalink
HAHAHAHA….
I’d love to hear how “Bob That Head” would sound as bluegrass….
See what you started Jim?
(and although the prize pack is cool, please exclude me from winning, I just wanted to reply!)
August 8, 2008 at 2:32 pm Permalink
Hmmm pop song as bluegrass eh? Lotsa pop songs would benefit from such a treatment but I’d nominate “Yellow” by Coldplay, done in double-time with lots of dobro, fiddle and mandolin :0
August 8, 2008 at 2:36 pm Permalink
I once did an entire mix cd of pop songs I thought should be remade bluegrass. I still think “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman would be best.
August 8, 2008 at 2:43 pm Permalink
“Semi-Charmed Life,” Third Eye Blind.
August 8, 2008 at 2:44 pm Permalink
“Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson would be great…
Maybe “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne…
How about “Seven Nation Army” by the Whote Stripes. A little slow, crawling banjo would sound pretty great on that track..
August 8, 2008 at 2:45 pm Permalink
..sorry, meant the “White” Stripes…”Whote” Stripes would be a sucky band name….
August 8, 2008 at 2:48 pm Permalink
Peter,
A band called “Blue Merle” did all acoustic songs that sounded eerily similar to Coldplay.
August 8, 2008 at 2:48 pm Permalink
I could also hear Ralph Stanley voice doing a pretty decent version of “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As Your Told).”
August 8, 2008 at 2:54 pm Permalink
Matt: I’d heard of that but not heard it…
Kelly: Since You Been Gone and Seven Nation Army would sound great as BG tunes.
Does anyone else remember Run C&W? now that was fun stuff…
August 8, 2008 at 3:27 pm Permalink
Calling All Angels - Train
Or, for fun, Cowboy Troy’s “Crick In My Neck”. Quite possibly the most entertaining song of any genre.
August 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm Permalink
Given Miss Hassler’s looks, I’d pay good money to hear her do the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha”
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me
Dont cha, dont cha
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me
Dont cha, dont cha
August 8, 2008 at 3:53 pm Permalink
How about something older, like Help Me Rhonda or Good Vibrations?
August 8, 2008 at 4:14 pm Permalink
I don’t know man, “Good Vibrations” is one of the greatest songs of all time, and I’m not sure if all the melodic stuff would survive the translation to ‘grass.
August 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm Permalink
I’d go with the old Carly Simon song “You’re So Vain” with the Steeldrivers serenading John Rich….
August 8, 2008 at 8:10 pm Permalink
“Fields of Gold” by Sting.
August 8, 2008 at 9:02 pm Permalink
Justin Timberlake - My Love
August 9, 2008 at 7:27 pm Permalink
I’d say any Billy Joel as bluegrass would good, but in particular “Only the Good Die Young”
August 9, 2008 at 9:01 pm Permalink
Someone in the bluegrass world needs to take a cue from Robbie Fulks and do a cover of Cher’s “Believe.”
August 10, 2008 at 8:01 am Permalink
Two numbers from EXILE ON MAIN ST, Shine A Light and Rip This Joint, would probably come out as cool bluegrass tunes.
August 10, 2008 at 8:42 am Permalink
I’ve not heard Carrie Hassler - unfortunately both stations in my area that ran weekly bluegrass shows have had the bluegrass shows go by the wayside so unless I purchase it myself, I really don’t hear the new bluegrass acts.
I would like to hear some classic rock tracks tried as bluegrass (”Stairway To Heaven” ??) but I can’t think of any recent pop/rock that I think would make good bluegrass
August 10, 2008 at 10:55 am Permalink
Dolly did “Stairway to Heaven” on one of her bluegrass albums.
August 10, 2008 at 10:58 am Permalink
It’s really more acoustic than bluegrass, though, so I’d still like to hear a bluegrass version of the song.
August 10, 2008 at 6:04 pm Permalink
How about Elton John’s “Daniel”?
Or for fun, Miley Cyrus’ “See You Again”?
August 10, 2008 at 8:37 pm Permalink
Pearl Jam - Daughter
The Pretenders - I’ll Stand by You
Katrina & The Waves - Walking on Sunshine
August 11, 2008 at 1:09 am Permalink
John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change
(after hearing Aaron Watson’s version of “The Heart of Life” I would like to see what other acts, country or bluegrass, would do with his songs)
The Killers - When You Were Young
August 12, 2008 at 1:07 am Permalink
And the winners are: SW, Peter, Zach, and Rick. E-mail me within the next couple of days at mattc at the9513.com or I’ll get in touch with you to get your information.
Leave a Comment