Sara Evans Engaged To Alabama Talk Show Host
- Sara Evans’ publicist has confirmed that she is engaged to Alabama talk show host, and former University of Alabama quarterback, Jay Barker.
- Toby Keith plans to release a 35-song greatest hits package on May 6th that spans his career, starting with “Should Have Been a Cowboy” and concluding with his latest single, “She’s a Hottie.”
- On Monday, the Department of Justice approved the Sirius-XM merger. While the Federal Communications Commission still must approve the deal, DOJ approval was seen as the greater obstacle for the merger. Read Matt C.’s argument for why the FCC should approve the merger.
- Craig Bickhardt says with the empowerment of the internet more artists and writers are choosing to pursue their art regardless of the amount of success it brings them. “What we have once again is a decentralized industry consisting of the local scenes of dozens of major markets, and there’s great music to be found in all of them.”
These days the breeding ground for the major labels consists of “regional auditions” for American Idol, which, let’s face it, isn’t the same thing as taping into the rich local communities where bands, pickers and songwriters have honed their skills in bars, at festivals or revival meetings, on street corners, and in jam sessions for many years.
- Brian T. Atkinson says if Joe Strummer and Bill Monroe sang Sun-era Johnny Cash tunes they might have sounded something like The Steeldrivers.
- I need you like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs the rain: a couple of Tim McGraw fans met via the singer’s message boards, fell in love, and were married back in 2006.
- Joey Guerra did a nice job of wrapping up the latest performances from RodeoHouston. Brooks & Dunn had their highs and lows, native Texan Pat Green triumphed, and Dierks Bentley masterfully weaved from country charm to solid rock riffs.
- Jim Lauderdale isn’t letting his current tour for Honey Songs slow down production on his next bluegrass album, which he tapped Randy Kohrs to produce.
- Lead vocalist of Eleven Hundred Springs Matt Hillyer will be joining Mandatory FM at 4pm today for a worldwide premier of the band’s new album, Country Jam, and to discuss each track.
- Although no release date has been set, the Randy Rogers Band has turned in their new album to Mercury Records. When Craig Shelburne asked how it compares to past work, Rogers said:
“If you’ve heard of our band before, and you expect things to be different - nothing’s different. The songs are better and hopefully the musicianship is better.”
- You Austin area folks better have a fast clicking finger come 10am Thursday. I’ll be working mine out to ensure I get the good tickets for Guy Clark, Joe Ely, John Hiatt, and Lyle Lovett at the Paramount Theater.
- Andrew Dansby gets the comparisons between Justin Townes Earle and his father, Steve Earle, out of the way early on before diving into the younger Earle’s new album, past drug addiction, and sobriety. The Good Life was released today.
- Joanna Cotten posted a surprisingly candid blog entry about a month ago contemplating her future and what she had to do to get a little honesty from her label about their plans for her.
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Brooks & Dunn // Dierks Bentley // Eleven Hundred Springs // Guy Clark // Jim Lauderdale // Joanna Cotten // Joe Ely // John Hiatt // Justin Townes Earle // Lyle Lovett // Pat Green // Randy Kohrs // Sara Evans // Steve Earle // The Steeldrivers // Tim McGraw // Toby Keith
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14 Comments
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March 25, 2008 at 10:07 am Permalink
Its good to read that it looks likely that the XM and Sirius merger will go through as maybe the combined entity will be financially viable for the long term. I’m still waiting for a low price “country channels only” programming package, but I’m not holding my breath…..
The Joanna Cotten MySpace blog was really interesting. Most new artists signed to the major Nashville labels wind up at the same place at some point if their radio singles don’t take off. Here in Los Angeles the listeners to our Top 40 country station KKGO FM got to hear Joanna’s debut single quite a bit about a year ago as the program director saw Joanna perform at the 2007 CRS and loved her funkabilly sound. Joanna did a free promotional concert at a car dealership in Huntington Beach and if it hadn’t been during work hours I’d have made the effort to see her. The only “off the grid” artists to be adopted by KKGO in the last year were Joanna and Star De Azlan. I wish Joanna well.
March 25, 2008 at 11:43 am Permalink
I’ll be gunning for the Clark/Ely/Hiatt/Lovett tickets too. I’ve seen each individually, but this songswap format should be fantastic.
March 25, 2008 at 5:03 pm Permalink
Cant wait for RRB’s new album!
March 25, 2008 at 5:30 pm Permalink
“I need you like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs the rain” That is a great line. Not least because my Uncle, Tony Lane, helped write it.
March 25, 2008 at 5:31 pm Permalink
Having heard the unreleased Joanne Cotten record, it’s a shame they didn’t give her a chance to have a big hit. “The Prize” also was a good single that radio should’ve latched on to. But then again, radio barely gave Sarah Buxton a chance.
March 25, 2008 at 7:06 pm Permalink
Now I don’t know Joanna Cotten from Adam. I’ve seen the name a couple times, and every time I do I think of elderly woman. Maybe it’s the “Joanna,” maybe it’s the “Cotten.” But there’s a Nashville Music Guide vibe I get from the name. I know you appreciate this analysis. Now, I’ll go check her out…
March 25, 2008 at 7:09 pm Permalink
Sorry to be a stickler but it’s Jay Barker not Baker.
[Thanks, I fixed it. - Brody]
March 25, 2008 at 8:15 pm Permalink
I don’t know what Lyric Street plans to do with Sarah Buxton. She has some great music and she’s a wonderful writer, and to let her abilities and career vegitate would be a shame. I know she posted a Myspace blog not too long after the ACM nominations were announced saying that she wished her label would release more of her music with some actual backing. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a blog from Sarah like Joanna’s and Katrina Elam’s come onto the myspace radar soon.
March 27, 2008 at 10:29 am Permalink
Patrick - I was on the website ten minutes early this morning. The purchase button showed up at 10, but when I clicked through it said tickets weren’t on sale. I called the number, sat on hold for 20 minutes without ever talking to anyone and then the purchase button disappeared with a new message telling me to come back at noon. Sucks.
March 27, 2008 at 11:16 am Permalink
Exact same thing happened with me this morning, and I was more than a little peeved. But I still headed back at noon at got tickets for the second (Tuesday) night.
March 28, 2008 at 9:15 am Permalink
I got some for Monday night, but they’re not as good as I was hoping they would be.
May 6, 2008 at 10:22 am Permalink
Brody, what did you think of the show last night? We go tonight.
May 6, 2008 at 10:35 am Permalink
It transcended my expectations. Guy Clark limped in with crutches, but was in a good mood. Joe Ely was stellar, and Lyle Lovett provided plenty of comic relief. I hadn’t heard anything from John Hiatt before I went, but I’m a convert now. If I didn’t have plans tonight I’d try and scrap some tickets from somewhere just to see it again. I’ll try and write a proper review if I get the time, but you’re definitely in for a treat.
May 6, 2008 at 10:50 am Permalink
Awesome, I can’t wait. With the Paramount such a small venue with great acoustics, it seems to be an ideal setting.
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