Ho, Ho, Ho: Joey+Rory Add Holiday Spirit to “Cheater Cheater” Remix
- Just in time for the holidays, Joey+Rory created a “Sleighbell Mix” of their song “Cheater Cheater” and posted it on MySpace. Unfortunately, they removed the hip hop inspired “King Mix” before I had a chance to listen to it, but based on forum response, I didn’t miss much.
- The Austin Chronicle’s Doug Freeman says honky-tonk can’t shuffle anymore effectively than it does behind Lucas Hudgins (MySpace), and he calls the Austin songwriter heartbreak’s best friend.
- Each monthly issue of Field & Stream names several heroes and villains of hunting, fishing and outdoor conservation and for the first time, they’ve placed all the heroes and villains in a playoff type bracket. Miranda Lambert, who is all about “Gunpowder & Lead” and writes lyrics like “I just got the first buck of the season,” made it past the first two rounds. But it was her talent, looks and outdoor attitude — along with donations to Hunters for the Hungry — that pushed her into the final round and scored her top honors for the hero side. Unfortunately, she lost to the villainous Arnold Schwarzenegger who slashed funds for salmon and steelhead restoration in the state of California and closed almost all salmon fishing. Perhaps Lambert should write a song about Mr. Schwarzenegger and tip the scales back in her favor.
- Houston Press‘ William Michael Smith on Honky Tonkin’ Daddy, the recently released album from Johnny Falstaff (MySpace):
It’s a rough-and-ready beer-joint collection that resonates with Piney Woods hillbilly twang and East Houston dive attitude. Because he picks like his job depends on it, Falstaff doesn’t rely on hired guitar assassins; instead he distinguishes himself lyrically with stone-cold sawdust-floor lines and a country crooner voice that leave no doubt he’s been there.
- Impacted by the weakened economy, George Jones University had to cancel its March session of classes.
- Rumor has it Kenny Chesney is dating Amy Colley, the winner of Miss Tennessee 2005. You’ll have to search google for pictures.
- Over the past 28 years, Gerald Myatt has been commissioned to create hundreds of customized, limited-edition knives for different organizations and people, including Roy Acuff — his first for a country music artist — and several for the band Alabama. His latest project is for The Carter Family and he hopes to talk Dolly Parton into commissioning him for his next notable knife. (via Twang Nation)
- Today’s random Playboy news brought to you via NashvilleGab:
- Word has it that Playboy head honcho Hugh Heffner is ready to dole out $3 million to have the wholesome country music superstar Carrie Underwood bare it all in the April ‘09 issue.
- Fox News named Dolly Parton’s October 1978 Playboy cover as their fourth favorite celebrity cover: “Here she comes again, and here we go. Dolly graced Playboy in full bunny attire: tail, ears, and double-Ds. That same year she won a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. We’re thinking the provocative cover boosted her career more than the award did.” (picture on NashvilleGab)
- Three Austin-area music corporations — Texas Music Group, Antone’s Records, and Texas Clef Entertainment — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Nov. 18 after facing charges of fraud and breaches of contract and fiduciary duty by the estate of yodeler Don Walser. The estate is seeking past due royalties and rights to master recordings, which will be harder to attain now that bankruptcy has been declared and the companies’ assets likely frozen.
- NewsChannel5’s Amy Rao spent a day with country legend Loretta Lynn and posted video from their time together.
- The cover of Marty Stuart’s new book, Country Music: The Masters, features a picture of Johnny Cash titled “Last Portrait, September 8, 2003″ and was taken four days before he died. It’s just one of the many photographs he’s taken over the years starting at age 12 when he snapped a shot of Connie Smith, who later became his wife. Check out some more in NPR’s gallery.
- Hey, Has Anybody Noticed That Taylor Swift Can’t Sing?
- Inland Empire Weekly’s George Donovan on David Serby (MySpace):
David Serby, we’re thinking you’re the real deal. See, we’re bored of the quasis, part-timers, semis, adjuncts and maybes. We’re tired of hearing honky tonk-inflected, tear-in-my-beer jams from urban hipsters who were blastin’ Sugar Ray and The Barenaked Ladies ten years ago … Serby, you’re the real deal, and we’re mandating another round of “I Only Smoke When I’m Drinkin’,” a sappy, saggin’ tune boasting a title that (on the surface) sounds redundantly ironic, yet when spun, is so gripping and gratifying, we’re whipping out a pack of Marlboro Reds and searching for that bottle of (imported) Shiner Bock. Lungs and liver be damned—Serby has our ears and hearts well within his grasp.
- Listen to Christmas Cheer, the holiday album from Billy Bob Thorton’s band The Boxmasters, on Paste.
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December 1, 2008 at 11:39 am Permalink
By the way, I forgot to mention, after our long holiday break, we’re back and should resume our regular posting schedule soon.
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and didn’t miss us too much.
December 1, 2008 at 11:46 am Permalink
We missed you all tremendously Brody!!
But we satisfied ourselves the best we could with turkey and dressing and pies and cakes and ….
:-)
December 1, 2008 at 12:40 pm Permalink
NOT THAT THEY ARE IN THE SAME LEAGUE, AT ALL: regarding Taylor Swift’s singing ability; Bob Dylan’s voice is horrendous.
December 1, 2008 at 1:22 pm Permalink
SW – No one thinks Bob Dylan has a great voice- but when Dylan was around Swift’s age he was writing better songs than she will at forty – if she last that long. I think her voice is sweet, and charming. But they are selling her image, not her voice. Being able to sing isn’t high on the list these days for a recording artist. She is teenage pop. Does anyone really care if she can sing as long as her shelf life can last? Do you think the people promoting her care if she sounds like Dolly or Ella- they want the cash, the cold, hard cash her image brings to the table. Anything else just gets in the way.
December 1, 2008 at 1:29 pm Permalink
I … love Loretta Lynn.
December 1, 2008 at 2:01 pm Permalink
I actually agree with something on NPR’s site. First time for everything.
December 1, 2008 at 2:13 pm Permalink
actually, many have argued that dylan has a great voice. it’s as expressive a voice that’s recording today. the timbre and nasal quality may grate on some, but to say he has a horrendous voice? don’t be silly. go back and listen to ‘nashville skyline’ or ‘ain’t talkin’ from ‘modern times’ and re-evaluate. pick a track off ‘time out of mind’ and try not to be astounded by the vocal performances. they’re exquisite. his phrasing is virtually impeccable. of course he’s a great songwriter, that’s a given. but he IS a great singer. he’s no sinatra or pavarotti, but so what? singing is not defined by the concept of a ‘pretty’ voice. dylan redefined what a singer IS.
December 1, 2008 at 3:04 pm Permalink
Well the Xmas remix was good, so nicely done Joey+Rory
I forgive you guys for that terrible hip-hop “King mix” :) hehe
December 1, 2008 at 3:12 pm Permalink
Yeah, Kenny, that leak from your publicist totally makes me believe that you are “dating” that Miss Tennessee chick.
December 1, 2008 at 4:53 pm Permalink
Does anyone else find Taylor Swift’s eyes creepy/weird? Sometimes I wonder if Asians think she’s mocking them, other times I wonder if her face is just pulled back from the force of the wind from all the 9 year olds screaming at her concerts.
But seriously.. something just isn’t quite right. :(
December 1, 2008 at 6:14 pm Permalink
I think Amy Colley’s legs are longer than Kenny is tall. Maybe she’s into older, short guys with no neck that happen to be worth a lot of money. Don’t forget the pre-nup Kenny.
A Dolly Parton knife? What exactly would the handle be shaped after? Hmmm. I think a Bocephus, or Johnny Paycheck, or David Allen Coe edition knife would be far more appropriate. Or how about a Johnny Cash “A Boy Named Sue” knife!
Carrie Underwear in Playboy? Never happen as Carrie is not dumb and knows her country singing career could, and likely would, take a big permanent hit. I wonder how many of the better known younger female country artists these days would seriously consider such an offer? I would guess not many if any at all.
I’m sure David Serby appreciates the press he’s getting here on The 9513. David is one of the stalwarts of the tiny and close knit country artist scene here in Los Angeles. Mike Stinson and Dave Gleason are at the top of the LA local hierarchy with David not far behind. I’m just glad LA has a resident country music scene at all! Its not Austin or Nashville by any stretch of the imagination, but its a lot better than nothin’…..
December 1, 2008 at 7:03 pm Permalink
Playboy should hold out until Taylor goes through her “I’m-a-big-girl-see-my-boobies” phase.
I always pictured Kenny as more a Miss South Carolina date.
December 1, 2008 at 10:37 pm Permalink
Mmmm…Shiner Bock.
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