Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women Announce Tour Dates
- Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women (consisting of Christy McWilson, Cindy Cashdollar, Nina Gerber, Laurie Lewis, Amy Farris, Sarah Brown and Lisa Pankratz) will kick off their tour on June 18 in Santa Cruz, CA in support of their new self-titled album.
- Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Donald “Ean” Evans passed away at the age of 48 after a battle with cancer.
- Chet Flippo wrote a list of suggestions to songwriters, artists, music labels, radio and country music fans that he says could perhaps invigorate the music scene.
- Four powerful new shareholders took seats on Gaylord Entertainment’s board of directors, but Robert Rowling, a billionaire Texas oilman and hotel owner whose company owns 14.9 percent of Gaylord’s stock, says the shareholders don’t intend to tamper with the Grand Ole Opry.
- Jamey Johnson defends his choice to write “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”:
“You know, the way I look at it, country music has always had a certain freedom to it where artists can explore different things,” he says. “Even Hank Williams, not every song he wrote was the cold sting of reality. He also wrote ‘Hey Good Lookin’.’ I don’t recall anybody questioning his motives or questioning whether or not he still had his credibility as a songwriter because he rhymed ‘Hey good lookin’ ‘ with ‘What you got cookin’.’
- Writer Jeremy Henderson set out on a mission to define Red Dirt music.
- Chuck Wicks and Chris Young have been added to the lineup for the Golf & Guitars charity concert in Sacramento, CA next week.
- Watch a video from Music Fog of Jesse Winchester performing “Hank and Lefty” acoustically.
- Twangville is giving away an autographed copy of the new self-titled album from Sara Watkins, which Juli Thanki gave four stars. Just leave a comment to enter.
- Country California’s C.M. Wilcox endorses Do Wrong Right, the new album from The Devil Makes Three.
More than anything else, this record has finally captured the vitality of the trio, an electrifying quality most obviously on display in some of its lighter fare. “Gracefully Facedown” (alcoholism never sounded so good) and “Do Wrong Right” are both quirky, good-humored party songs, but neither can beat “For Good Again” for utter charm. The tale of a ragtag bunch of buddies who decide to start up their own band, it features some of the most hilarious lyrics you’ll find this side of Todd Snider and John Prine.
- A Truer Sound posted video of John Doe & The Sadies performing “Stop the World And Let Me Off.”
- Merle Haggard. Gruene Hall. June 3. $70. Yea, so that announcement probably doesn’t do most of you any good if you live outside of Texas, but are there really people who can still afford $70 tickets?
- On this day in 1976 Reba McEntire made her chart debut with “I Don’t Want To Be A One Night Stand.”
- Download a free mp3 of “Drinkin’ To You” from Red Stick Ramblers, whose album My Suitcase Is Always Packed is scheduled for a May 19 release.
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Amy Farris // Chris Young // Christy McWilson // Chuck Wicks // Cindy Cashdollar // Dave Alvin // Grand Ole Opry // Hank Williams // Jamey Johnson // Jesse Winchester // John Doe // John Prine // Laurie Lewis // Lisa Pankratz // Lynyrd Skynyrd // Merle Haggard // Nina Gerber // Reba McEntire // Red Stick Ramblers // Sara Watkins // Sarah Brown // The Devil Makes Three // The Guilty Women // The Sadies // Todd Snider
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26 Comments
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May 8, 2009 at 11:28 am
Jamey Johnson makes an excellent point. My only caveat would be that it is ok for there to be a “Hey Good Lookin’” or a ” Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” now and then. But the fact that people are making songs on the cheap and passing then off as country on a regular basis is a depressing sign. Fun songs- funny songs- have always been a great part of country music, but poorly written,poorly sung, and poorly produced songs are not rare enough to ignore the trend.
May 8, 2009 at 11:56 am
Speaking of Sara Watkins, she will be performing here in LA next Thursday at the Largo Coronet Theather and tickets are $ 25. Its a great listening venue but I’m taking a pass due to financial considerations (if you get my drift)…
Is CMW going to attend the “Golf & Guitars” concert and do a review? I want to hear his take on Megan Mullins and Jypsi live. Sarah Darling is the gal who played the female mannequin in the Cadillac’s back seat in the Big & Rich “Save a Horse” video. Sounds like an intersting concert and I just wish it was closer to Los Angeles.
Last night after the Opry on WSM Eddie Stubbs played a cut by John Doe and The Sadies as an “Americana” track and I was pleasantly surprised! John stayed within his vocal range and sounded alright. Might have to rethink that one…
May 8, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I invited Brody to the Golf & Guitars golf tournament, but alas, we weren’t able to talk her into picking up some sticks and teeing it up with us in Sacramento. We have a local high school media club (Christian Brothers HS) scheduled to come video tape the concert that I’m hoping that we can post for everyone to see on the site.
I’ve been listening to CM’s recommendation of Devil Makes Three all morning. It’s great- very different from anything I’ve heard lately. Can’t wait to get the album…
May 8, 2009 at 12:41 pm
33 years of Reba on the country charts. That’s cool.
May 8, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Golf & Guitars has piqued my curiosity, but as of right now it looks like I’ll be working late that night. As much as I enjoy the musical stylings of Chuck Wicks, I also need to have money to buy groceries every once in a while.
Glad you’re checking out DM3, Ken.
May 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I don’t mind artists occasionally going with a little fluff – but Honky Tonk Badonkadonk is really a dreadful song any way you look at it.
May 8, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I agree with Craig. Problem is radio executives and record labels are deciding what we will like and not the other way around. The tide is turning now though as labels and radio are learning we won’t pay for the crap you are forcing on us as I heard radio is now slowly going back to letting the consumer decide what they should play and the labels are starting to realize that with the internet we can purchase what we want directly from the artists that we like.
May 8, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Love the new Sara Watkins CD. Already have it but wouldn’t mind an autographed version.
May 8, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Hank Williams and Jamey Johnson
Hey Good Lookin’ and (a song title so stupid I won’t even type it)
The Moon and Uranus
which one of these is not like the others?
:-)
May 8, 2009 at 5:12 pm
what I really meant to say is that Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women were the best thing I saw all weekend at the Old Settlers Festival a couple of weeks back. go see ‘em, you won’t be disappointed.
May 8, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I guess to each his own on the “fluff” country songs. I think they are cute, once maybe twice but not something to write home about. I work at a high school in Kentucky and when I have to take over for the attendance lady so she can go to lunch, my cohort senior aide in there and I switch her “Christian” music to “Country”. We discuss music back and forth those 30 minutes I’m in there (if it’s a slow day), but he surprised me two days ago, when he said those stupid songs are just not for me. Like “Ticks”, “Online”, and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” Makes sense to me.
May 8, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Johnson’s dead-on with respect to the general point (and I sure get tired of seeing marginally talented – at best – acts touted as awesome because their marginally competently written songs are all about drinking and smoking and killing and doing wrong and being done wrong by), but I don’t see “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” as being in the same league as “Hey Good Lookin’” or “Settin’ The Woods On Fire” or a whole lot of other “fluff” songs that have been a (much more than occasional) part of country music from the git-go; it strikes me as one of those disposable songs that Chet “Right Agin” Flippo talks about in the referenced Nashville Skyline piece.
May 8, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I would like to help Jeremy Henderson define the concept and terms of “Red Dirt” music. It kinda like the musical equivalent of a large cowpie baking in the West Texas sun in a red dirt pasture full of roots rockin’ cattle… (whereas Shawna Russell and Miranda Lambert are more of “Pink Dirt” gals).
Opry Alert: Kate & Kacey Coppola are on tonight’s Opry along with Daryle Singletary, Aaron Tippin and a bunch of Opry regulars. Saturday night’s Opry highlights include Reba’s triumphant return, James Otto, Darryl Worley, and Hal Ketchum. I’m so glad the new Texas based investors in Gaylord love country music and plan on keeping the Opry going! I just knew Texas was good for something! (lol)
May 8, 2009 at 7:07 pm
“(whereas Shawna Russell and Miranda Lambert are more of “Pink Dirt” gals).”
I bet if you called Miranda a “pink girl” to her face she would whip your sorry California butt! LOL!
May 8, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Well, I wouldn’t compare “Honkytonk Badonkadonk” to “Hey Good Lookin’” in general goodness but I suppose it’s not much worse than “Caw-Liga.” But mostly I’m going to pout because DA&theGW aren’t coming to Nashville. I saw Christy McWilson touring with Dave Alvin in her band a few years back, and I’ve heard that album, and I want to go to that show. Pout, pout, pout.
May 8, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I think most people have forgiven Jamey for Honkytonk Bandonkadonk. Trace, however, has not had a “The High Cost of Living.”
May 8, 2009 at 8:57 pm
“I bet if you called Miranda a “pink girl” to her face she would whip your sorry California butt! LOL!”
Unless she was drunk and slipped on a rock on the way over to you.
May 9, 2009 at 12:49 am
You have to give Trace Atkins credit though for surprising us with a strong current record, where I think three songs on it (“Sometimes A Man Takes A Drink”, “I Can’t Outrun You”, “Til’ The Last Shot’s Fired”) are simply exceptional records.
Too bad none of them will get any radio attention, by the looks of it! (rolls eyes)
May 9, 2009 at 1:03 am
Yeah, so far Trace has not released any of the good tracks from his new album
May 9, 2009 at 9:48 am
“forgiven” – nice.
May 10, 2009 at 11:37 am
Alert: I’ve found the worst country music song.. err.. song sent to country music.. out there.
I challenge you to try to make it through this song: Shea Fisher: “Don’t Chase Me”. If you can finish it, please let me know so I can send you my next paycheck.
May 10, 2009 at 12:17 pm
By Jove I think Zach is right.
May 10, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Noah, I agree. The Trace Adkins album is probably one of the few good pieces of work done by a mainstream artist in the last year. It’s a shame that his record label feels the need to release “Marry for Money” (which, for a novelty release, isn’t THAT bad) instead of the stronger material on the album. Unfortunately, when you look at most of the entries in the top ten of the billboard country singles chart, substance isn’t exactly what radio programmers are looking for right now.
Zach…Yikes!!! I feel like I should get a year of your paychecks after getting through that. I can’t see that thing getting any airplay because the artist is unknown(and I pray I’m right). Unfortunately, I think if it were cut by one of radio’s automatic adds(Carrie, Sugarland, RF, Swift, etc) it probably would at least be a top 20 single.
May 10, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Holy cow, Zach, that has to be the worst song intro ever recorded. LOL. You might have to send your paycheck to me now for therapy!
May 10, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Sorry for all the damage done!
This isn’t even a joke, either. This girl is a new artist with Stroudavarious. They promoted this single in the Country Aircheck publication one day last week. I’m interested to see if this song gets more than 10 spins this week.
May 11, 2009 at 11:12 am
Rick – I know you like to bash on Texas/Red Dirt music to get a rise out of us Texans and while I am no Red Dirt apologist, (I actually hate the term for its vague and all-too general nature), You cant bash something you admittedly know very little about and then, in the next section your comment promote something as frilly, pointless and vapid as the Coppolas..