Haggard & Kristofferson Schedule First Ever Performances Together
- Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson will be performing together for the first time ever come April. That doesn’t seem possible, but Twang Nation lists the three dates, all on the west coast, for the special acoustic performances.
- Zalman King, a director for the ’90s erotic and drama series Red Shoe Diaries, is in talks to film the upcoming 10-day Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel tour. (via Still Is Still Moving)
- Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson answered four brief questions for The Austin Chronicle:
Was there much of a learning process involved?
There were tunes he [Willie Nelson] didn’t know at all, and I think that was part of why he liked it. Some of it he’d go, “Man, I’d forgotten all about that song.” He really fell in love with the stuff, and I was pretty amazed. He’s usually the type guy that goes in, knocks it out, and moves on to the next thing, but he really took the effort to learn the material. - In his latest Nashville Skyline column, Chet Flippo points out a song titled “Homeland Refugee” from the new Flatlanders album Hills and Valleys (Mar. 31) about the new economic Dust Bowl. It’s a song that Flippo says carries a sense of reality that’s missing from the mostly uplifting sentiments of mainstream country music.
- Help Miranda Lambert pick her next single. The choices are “Guilty In Here,” “Desperation” and “Dry Town.” (via NashvilleGab)
- John Rich’s debut solo album, Son Of A Preacher Man, has been slated for a March 24 release. (via press release)
- My Kind of Country’s Occasional Hope reviewed the Gene Watson two-for-one CD combining Reflections and Should I Come Home, and provided a couple of good starting points to familiarize yourself with Watson’s catalog.
- The recently released sophomore album from Lucas Hudgins, titled The World Left Is Mine, found its way into iTunes. In his review of the album, Brady wrote: “The World Left Is Mine is an album drenched in heartache and despair and accentuated by the wail of a steel guitar. It doesn’t have any pretensions of being deep, but revels in it’s simplicity and old school charm.”
- Sunny Sweeney defended the Kenny Chesney song “Better As A Memory” in her MySpace blog.
- Austin City Limits will be airing Ryan Bingham’s debut appearance tomorrow with song performances from his critically acclaimed album Mescalito, as well as songs from his upcoming May 2009 release, Road House Sun. (via email)
- The Austin Chronicle’s Chase Hoffberger rips the Johnny Cash Remixed album and suggests that it be filed under “What the Hell Just Happened?”
- The Farce the Music blog, formerly known as Photocrap, posted several honest album covers from Ben Kweller, Aaron Tippin, Faith Hill and Kid Rock along with a parody of Toby Keith’s song “God Love Her,” succinctly titled “Got Mullet.”
- Fill out Country California’s probing country questionnaire, featuring categories like “song that makes you turn off the radio” and “the opposite of Dale Watson.”
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February 6, 2009 at 11:15 am Permalink
It would make me so happy if Miranda released “Dry Town” to radio, but also so depressed when country radio wouldn’t play it. Of course, country radio won’t play “Guilty in Here” or “Desperation” either, so Miranda might as well go with the best song of the three.
February 6, 2009 at 11:32 am Permalink
Matt C. hit the nail on the head with that one!
February 6, 2009 at 11:34 am Permalink
I think radio would play either ‘Desperation’ or ‘Dry Town’. ‘Guilty In Here’ has the least chance at success – but it is my favorite track from the entire album. So I would pick ‘Desperation’.
I agree with Sunny Sweeney about the Chesney song – and I just love the way she lead in to her ‘review’. She is fabulous.
February 6, 2009 at 11:35 am Permalink
Oh, and I really loved that Country California questionaire. Hope you do more of those, CM.
February 6, 2009 at 11:54 am Permalink
Please do not ever include the words “Red Shoe Diaries” and “Willie Nelson” in the same sentence again.
February 6, 2009 at 12:24 pm Permalink
Joe Ely sang “Homeland Refugee” on A Prairie Home Companion a couple weeks back and it just rubbed me the wrong way, like some of Woody Guthrie’s songs. It was the pro-illegal immigrant verse that pushed me over the edge. A new anthem for pro-amnesty Democrats is born. I’ll stick with Buddy Jewell’s “This Ain’t Mexico”….
Sunny Sweeney sure is defensive about liking a Kenny Chesney song. By all indications spending all that time in Nashville has “changed her” and caused her to “sell out” to the mainstream by “broadening her musical horizons”. “What has happened to our little honky tonker?” The Nashville Music Machine, that’s what! (Yes, this is a total put on. I just couldn’t resist. lol)
Speaking of fans making choices for artists, how about this comment:
“Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts says, “We were very impressed with all the entries and it was a difficult decision to narrow down the possibilities to just these four. We can’t imagine how hard it will be for the fans to choose just one!”
Darn, my submission of a psychadelic Photoshopped shot of a fresh ssteaming pile of dog poo didn’t make the final cut. What’s up with that?
February 6, 2009 at 12:34 pm Permalink
On the Miranda Poll, I voted for Desperation. It was my favourite from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but since she released More Like Her, she shouldn’t release another slow song..She can’t go wrong with any of the choices though. I liked them all.
February 6, 2009 at 1:58 pm Permalink
I say Dry Town as well. Don’t know if I’m excited enough to vote, but it’d make a fun single- even though it does insinuate drinking and driving…
February 6, 2009 at 2:18 pm Permalink
I’ll chime in my support for “Dry Town.” I say anyone who’s ever complained about country radio needs to go vote in that poll – it takes like one second, and the right string of releases by someone like Miranda could make a difference. Ya never know.
February 6, 2009 at 2:24 pm Permalink
Another vote for “Desperation”.
Here’s a news item you guys missed…lol!.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-02-06-jessica-simpson-michigan_N.htm
February 6, 2009 at 2:36 pm Permalink
BTW – the Drive-By Truckers will be on the same Austin City Limits show with Ryan Bingham.
February 6, 2009 at 2:37 pm Permalink
“Dry Town” all the way!
February 6, 2009 at 2:48 pm Permalink
I’ve always liked Dry Town since the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded it years ago. More power to Miranda Lambert for trying to get a Gillian Welch/David Rawlings song on country radio, but I don’t see it happening.
Plus the MADD folks are going to be all over this one.
February 6, 2009 at 5:21 pm Permalink
The Zac Brown lyrics contest topic thread is now at 263 posts. Is that some kind of record here at The 9513? Its obvious the Zac Brown faithful have been alerted to this contest and have come out in force to participate. Yikes!
February 6, 2009 at 6:13 pm Permalink
I picked “Desperation” because I love it, but “Dry Town” is probably the best choice.
February 6, 2009 at 6:25 pm Permalink
RICK! Don’t MAKE ME COME FIND YOU!! you know what I meant….I was saying I liked a song….obviously, you didn’t read the warnings about “stop reading here”… i see that you didn’t wanna post on MY blog, but instead chose to post here….which is fine…. cause i found your ever so fantastic response anyway… p.s. have you ever heard of people making a living??? and being aware of what’s going on around them?? the reason i even bought the song in the first place was b/c my friend wrote it… but i got a 100 dollar itune card and decided to actually listen to new music that i was unaware of (instead of insult it without knowing waht i was talking about like you seem to be doing)… a lot of what i bought was SHIT, but i do like that song… if you’d like more of my opinions, please let me know… can’t wait to see you at one of my shows (which by the way you would like)… unless i’m opening for kenny chesney, right??? smile, RICK!
February 6, 2009 at 6:48 pm Permalink
Sunny, I gave a disclaimer at the end of my little post that it was a “put on” and I put quotation marks around the words and phrases I lifted directly from your MySpace blog. I was just funnin’ with you, I swear! If you perform in Los Angeles, I’ll be there, but don’t expect me to identify myself as I’m afraid you’d punch me out! I know better than to mess with Texas or Texans (in person anyway)! (lol)
February 6, 2009 at 7:01 pm Permalink
Rick,
I took it the wrong way the first time I read it too and figured she would respond…LOL!
February 6, 2009 at 8:47 pm Permalink
Ha! Rick got smacked down by Sunny Sweeney! Seriously though, Chesney blows…
February 6, 2009 at 9:44 pm Permalink
Zalman King…now there’s a blast from the past. I remember about 20 years ago he directed a movie called Wild Orchid with Mickey Rourke and Jackie Bissett. Set in Rio. I thought it was the most erotic thing I’d ever seen. Wonder if stands the test of time.
Should be interesting to see what he does with Willie.
February 6, 2009 at 9:57 pm Permalink
that wasn’t a smack down…. i dare him to say something that would require that! hahaha!!!! you know i’m just “funnin” with ya, ricky boy.
February 6, 2009 at 10:07 pm Permalink
I am actually glad that someone who’s known as an ‘indie honky tonker’ can and does admit liking something ‘they’re not supposed to like.’ That is honesty at work. I wish more people would be like Sunny and admit it. ;)
February 6, 2009 at 10:28 pm Permalink
I agree with Sam about the Willie Nelson/Red Shoes Diary thing. Those two things need to stay in seperate areas of my brain.
February 6, 2009 at 10:38 pm Permalink
That does it! I’m sticking with non-controversial posts….for at least the next few minutes. (lol)
Here are two earth shattering news releases regarding currently popular pop country artists that jusy hae to be shared:
1.) ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” Pairs Julianne Hough & Chuck Wicks!!!!! (That’ll Get ‘Em Talkin’.)
Already pinned by the Gossip Press as an “item”, the tongues will really be wagging as Chuck Wicks becomes Julianne Hough’s partner in this year’s Dancing With The Stars. Star Date: March 9th at 8PM Eastern/Pacific on ABC-TV.”
(Rick’s snark: Didn’t Julianne recently say she was skipping the next season of “Dancing” so she could concentrate on her country music career and be taken seriously? Looks like reality made a big breakthrough here….)
2.) Taylor Swift’s L.A. Fearless Concert Is A 2-Minute Sell-Out!!!!
If you were wondering if Taylor Swift was ready for her own headlining tour…wonder no more! Her May 22nd concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles sold out this morning (2/6) selling all available tickets in a record TWO minutes.”
(Rick’s snark: Never understimate the power of tens of thousands of screeching tweeny-poppers! Taylor has shot a bullseye into the Jonas Brothers / Hannah Montana fan base and may have displaced Miley! I pity the poor fans over 13 who attend thinking they will actually be able to hear Taylor’s performance. I wonder how many shows Taylor could have sold out at The Staples Center? Hmmm….)
PS – Dailey and Vincent will be the special musical guests on this Saturday’s “A Prairie Home Companion”. Last week it was Ray Benson, and the week before that Joe Ely. It appears the Texas music artist cabal has been broken! (lol)
February 6, 2009 at 11:35 pm Permalink
look, ricky’ all growed up!!! good boy, ricky!!
February 7, 2009 at 12:56 am Permalink
Rick,
Julianne probably figured it was a great place to announce her marriage to Chuck…It will likely help BOTH their careers.
February 7, 2009 at 1:43 am Permalink
Yay “Dry Town” is winning – my dream of that song being a single is gonna come true =D
Go Miranda! <3
February 7, 2009 at 4:50 pm Permalink
The question for the vote was “what would make you buy this cd” and my answer was Dry Town. I’d love to hear it on the radio. I doubt it will happen though…
February 7, 2009 at 5:16 pm Permalink
Good ol’ Chuck Wicks. Seems he’ll never stop giving me inspiration for new material. :)
February 7, 2009 at 5:24 pm Permalink
I wonder who’s gonna lead of those two.
Julianne is way butcher than Chuck..
February 7, 2009 at 5:25 pm Permalink
Shoot, I forgot to alter my screen name here.
February 8, 2009 at 5:36 pm Permalink
Amber Digby has a great new blog post that should be titled “Amber’s Excellent Nashville Adventure”. Amber hosted the Ernet Tubb Record Shop Midnite Jamboree on Saturday, January 31st and did a fine job. During her set Amber sang many of the songs off of “Passion, Pride, and What Might Have Been” including two of my favorites “She Didn’t Color Daddy” and “Deep As Your Pocket”. I sure hope those are part of her WSM “Back To The Barn” set on Friday night February 20th (with “Soakin’ Wet” tossed in for good measure). Amber made the comment during the show “This is my second time hosting the Midnite Jamboree and I hope it’s not my last!” (lol) The show will be archived on the Ernest Tubb Record Shop website eventually and is well worth listening too.
Amber’s Blog Link: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=99492417&blogID=468124233
PS – The February 14th host of the Midnite Jamboree will be Kathy Mattea (no doubt featuring songs off of “Coal”) and on the 21st it will the remaining Stoneman family sisters celebrating a CD release.
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