If Williams had attended, he probably would have enjoyed the musical performances, which included medleys of his hits by Jamey Johnson and The Grascals and a smashing version of his “(I Don’t Have) Anymore Love Songs” by Lambert.
Other highlights included guitar heroics from Brent Mason and Steve Wariner in the Reed segment; Blake Shelton’s version of “The Gambler” during the Rogers tribute; Underwood’s soaring, Travis-penned “I Told You So”; Jim Lauderdale’s medley of three Howard songs; and Vince Gill’s take on Haggard’s ballad “Holding Things Together.”
@Miranda_Lambert: Tonight was the biggest night of my life… I kissed Merle on the cheek. Wow.
Opening Closer to the Bone, the sea-salt-weathered baritone confesses with the anything-but-ironic line, “Ain’t it kinda funny, ain’t it just the way though/Ain’t you getting better as you’re running out of time…,” and sets his most tender revelations in proper context.
After attending this year’s Americana Music Festival, No Depression’s Grant Alden thinks he understands why Mandy Barnett never made it bigger than she did. He comments on other artists as well (Sam Baker, Ashley Cleveland, J.D. Souther, Elizabeth Cook), and two panels he attended; one about leveraging the internet and the other about the death of criticism. The discussion continues in the comments (with a side story about Vince Gill losing his cool), so don’t miss those.
Ultimately, Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again is John Fogerty’s version of a party album, which — for all its smiley cheerfulness centers on its creator’s intensity. Perhaps that’s because as a once-and-future control-freak, Forgerty derives pleasure from bearing down hard on light music. In Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, he demonstrates that pleasure can bear the weight of discipline and history.
Cloying, cartoonish corporate country is treated as the enemy in the halls of Americana. Now and then, you would swear the Americana movement is scheming to wrest back the soul of country and restore its former partnership with folk, blues, old-time rock ‘n’ roll and swing. Americana, said the mandolin player Sam Bush, “isn’t based around trends. It’s not based on haircuts. It’s based on songs from the heart.”
Jim Lauderdale takes his own stab at defining Americana music in this video interview with The 9513’s Pierce Greenberg:
Things that make you go ‘hmmm’: WISHTV.com is reporting that the Little Nashville Opry that burned down on Saturday was not the first fire to occur at a Little Nashville Property. Three others have been reported in the past, and the company co-owner, Jim Bowyer, has lost his home to fire — twice.
We have winners! Congrats to Sabrina5000, Steve M., and Mike Traugott for scoring a copy of the new Ricky Skaggs solo record, Songs My Dad Loved. We’ll be in touch shortly to get your contact info.
Bluegrass veteran Chris Jones has released a new album (although I can’t find the release date). From the press release:
The title track, “Cloud of Dust,” another song penned by Jones, is a banjo-driven tune with an optimistic take on love gone wrong, sure to please both the traditional and contemporary bluegrass enthusiast. While this song is left in the more-than-capable hands of the Night Drivers, other guests, including Jeremy Garrett of the Infamous Stringdusters, Shawn Lane of Blue Highway, Mike Witcher of the Missy Raines Band, can be heard on some of the other tracks.
The (stealth) release date for the Chris Jones & The Night Drivers album is 10/6. For those of you in Nashvegas, we’ll be doing a no-cover-charge CD release show at Layla’s Bluegrass Inn on Broadway at 6 p.m. on 10/4.
i must be doing something wrong – the next blake shelton release?
Stephen H. September 23, 2009 at 12:25 pmPermalink
I’m a pretty big Big & Rich fan, but the releasing of a “Greatest Hits” CD, after one top-10 single and four or five missing the top 20 seems misguided at best. The article says the album includes “fan favorites”, and while I really enjoy “Kick My Ass”, it’s not a “hit”, so should not be included (as well as about eight other songs that shouldn’t be on there — including substituting “Radio” for “Loud”, which barely did worse than “Between Raising Hell …” and “Never Mind Me”, as it were).
Perhaps Warner Bros. Nashville has been consulting with Curb about how to botch a hits release.
Other thoughts:
– CMT got rid of the Carter Twins? That will shake up playlists at every Top 40 country radio station.
– Got that, Blake? No matter what happens in the future, your girlfriend’s best night ever was kissing another man on the cheek.
This has nothing to do with any of today’s news, but last night I heard Jake Owen on CMT radio say, ‘not a lot of thought went into it’ referring to “8 Second Ride.” Well, now that he knows the the problem, can he stop it?!
Grant Alden’s comments on Americana week are really interesting. My favorite section was about the declining influence of professional music critics:
“As I’ve thought about that, yes, it’s fair to say that I can work up a fair bit of pissed-off-ness about losing my “authority” as a music critic. Decades spent not simply listening to and reading history (and liner notes), but learning to write…it’s hard to toss that to the amateurs and accept that their verdicts are somehow better. I understand that they’re better for the artists, I understand that all this chat can be leveraged into a marketing campaign. I’m not sure that it’s better for the music, nor for the consumers of the music. (But, then, the negative review is mostly a thing of the past anyhow.)”
Grant obviously doesn’t read The 9513 and its about time he did! Hey Jon, if you know this guy send him an email and have him join the verbal mayhem here! (lol)
That article in the WSJ about defining Americana music was a good read. The genre is far better defined by what its not rather than what it specifically is. Its a messy hodgepodge of many different forms of incompatible music styles that get ignored by the mainstream country establishment. Until it fragments successfully into specific groups of music that are compatible with each other I think it will remain a mostly marginal
radio format.
“Until it fragments successfully into specific groups of music that are compatible with each other I think it will remain a mostly marginal
radio format.”
We can only hope…
badrockandroll September 23, 2009 at 7:30 pmPermalink
I grew up in the late 60s/early 70s, a period that I consider to be the heyday of pop radio. Country one minute, soul the next, then folk, then rock. I love country music, but I really love fragments and marginalized hodgepodge. I have XM/Sirius, and other than the Petty, Earle and Dylan radio hours, I find it much too compartmentalized. Perhaps that’s why I like Americana (whatever that is) – it’s an umbrella that’s big enough to catch all sorts of good music.
Jeez, Lambert, back offa my boys, ok? First she’s gettin’ all smoochy with Merle, then she’s makin’ eyes at my Jamey (check out pg. 3 of Nashville Gab for hilarious pictorial evidence involving Underwood, Pickler, and Womack as well)…she just better keep away from Dale Watson, that’s all I’m sayin’. ;)
On the other hand, she has good taste in guys – Blake’s quite a cutie, too. Live the dream, Miranda, live the dream. :D
Is Dave Haywood going solo? This and many other of country music's most pressing questions answered in the September edition of The 9513's world famous Mailbag!
Caroline Herring likes to sing songs about life in the South. No, not exactly like Justin Moore and Jason Aldean...
The 9513's resident historian Paul W. Dennis sits down for a chat with country music legend Gene Watson.
As much as we love girl singers, we love songs about girl singers even more. Here's just a few of the many tribute songs out there.
Step away from the river and up to a jukebox, because heartbreak is only temporary, but a good song about drowning yourself—like a diamond—lasts forever.
What do you think about music labels "testing the waters" with a single before providing access to an artist's entire album? 
What country artist, young or old, would you recommend as a must-listen artist to a newcomer on his/her journey through country music, and what would your essential song picks be?
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September 23, 2009 at 11:24 am Permalink
Why would Big nad Rich release an album with four songs on it?
September 23, 2009 at 11:25 am Permalink
Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were arrested outside of Jewel’s house?
September 23, 2009 at 11:34 am Permalink
The (stealth) release date for the Chris Jones & The Night Drivers album is 10/6. For those of you in Nashvegas, we’ll be doing a no-cover-charge CD release show at Layla’s Bluegrass Inn on Broadway at 6 p.m. on 10/4.
Del’s album is a dandy!
September 23, 2009 at 11:41 am Permalink
I’m sure John thinks of himself as “Big Nad” Rich.
September 23, 2009 at 12:21 pm Permalink
“Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were arrested outside of Jewel’s house?”
-good one! wish I had thought of that one myself!
September 23, 2009 at 12:21 pm Permalink
i must be doing something wrong – the next blake shelton release?
September 23, 2009 at 12:25 pm Permalink
I’m a pretty big Big & Rich fan, but the releasing of a “Greatest Hits” CD, after one top-10 single and four or five missing the top 20 seems misguided at best. The article says the album includes “fan favorites”, and while I really enjoy “Kick My Ass”, it’s not a “hit”, so should not be included (as well as about eight other songs that shouldn’t be on there — including substituting “Radio” for “Loud”, which barely did worse than “Between Raising Hell …” and “Never Mind Me”, as it were).
Perhaps Warner Bros. Nashville has been consulting with Curb about how to botch a hits release.
Other thoughts:
– CMT got rid of the Carter Twins? That will shake up playlists at every Top 40 country radio station.
– Got that, Blake? No matter what happens in the future, your girlfriend’s best night ever was kissing another man on the cheek.
Oh, and lol @ Chris N.
September 23, 2009 at 3:05 pm Permalink
I’m inclined to agree that Tom Russell’s Blood and Candlesmoke IS the album of the year.
September 23, 2009 at 4:08 pm Permalink
This has nothing to do with any of today’s news, but last night I heard Jake Owen on CMT radio say, ‘not a lot of thought went into it’ referring to “8 Second Ride.” Well, now that he knows the the problem, can he stop it?!
September 23, 2009 at 6:43 pm Permalink
Grant Alden’s comments on Americana week are really interesting. My favorite section was about the declining influence of professional music critics:
“As I’ve thought about that, yes, it’s fair to say that I can work up a fair bit of pissed-off-ness about losing my “authority” as a music critic. Decades spent not simply listening to and reading history (and liner notes), but learning to write…it’s hard to toss that to the amateurs and accept that their verdicts are somehow better. I understand that they’re better for the artists, I understand that all this chat can be leveraged into a marketing campaign. I’m not sure that it’s better for the music, nor for the consumers of the music. (But, then, the negative review is mostly a thing of the past anyhow.)”
Grant obviously doesn’t read The 9513 and its about time he did! Hey Jon, if you know this guy send him an email and have him join the verbal mayhem here! (lol)
That article in the WSJ about defining Americana music was a good read. The genre is far better defined by what its not rather than what it specifically is. Its a messy hodgepodge of many different forms of incompatible music styles that get ignored by the mainstream country establishment. Until it fragments successfully into specific groups of music that are compatible with each other I think it will remain a mostly marginal
radio format.
September 23, 2009 at 7:06 pm Permalink
“Until it fragments successfully into specific groups of music that are compatible with each other I think it will remain a mostly marginal
radio format.”
We can only hope…
September 23, 2009 at 7:30 pm Permalink
I grew up in the late 60s/early 70s, a period that I consider to be the heyday of pop radio. Country one minute, soul the next, then folk, then rock. I love country music, but I really love fragments and marginalized hodgepodge. I have XM/Sirius, and other than the Petty, Earle and Dylan radio hours, I find it much too compartmentalized. Perhaps that’s why I like Americana (whatever that is) – it’s an umbrella that’s big enough to catch all sorts of good music.
September 23, 2009 at 7:46 pm Permalink
Chris N. — hahahahhaha
Good one!
September 25, 2009 at 11:14 pm Permalink
Jeez, Lambert, back offa my boys, ok? First she’s gettin’ all smoochy with Merle, then she’s makin’ eyes at my Jamey (check out pg. 3 of Nashville Gab for hilarious pictorial evidence involving Underwood, Pickler, and Womack as well)…she just better keep away from Dale Watson, that’s all I’m sayin’. ;)
On the other hand, she has good taste in guys – Blake’s quite a cutie, too. Live the dream, Miranda, live the dream. :D
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