The 9513 - Country Music Blog

I’m no cardiologist, but I’ve always thought old heartaches were the worst kind, festering like some sort of flesh wound turned gangrenous. However, these artists make a good case for the sharp pain of the new heartache. You know, should you ever find yourself in a heated debate over the subject.

5. “Brand New Heartache” – [...]

Continue reading "Friday Five: New Heartaches"

Pop & Hiss’ Ann Powers on Taylor Swift’s opening performance:
Swift started things out with a version of “Forever and Always” that was glitzy and high-concept — and off-tune, a consistent characteristic of Swift’s live outings that gave the lie to her one undeserved triumph, for best female vocalist. The prize should have gone to Carrie [...]

Continue reading "Vince Gill Surprised, Jack Ingram Probably Not So Much; ‘Wine, Women, & Song’ Heads to Atlanta Area"

I haven’t watched the CMA awards in years. Sometimes I’ve had a gig, but most of the time, there wasn’t anything there to interest me. I would flip channels and land on the awards show, but wouldn’t stay long. In the 80s, I didn’t miss a show. All my favorite artists were on. Country [...]

Continue reading "Honky Tonky Happy Hour: Why I Won’t Be Watching The CMA Awards"

Thankfulness in country music can often be sarcastic, as in “Thanks A Lot,” or humorous, like “Thank God and Greyhound.” But with this month’s playlist we’re going to be serious, and check out some songs on which artists count their various blessings.

20. “Thank God For The Road” – The Flatlanders
“When you’re trying to save your [...]

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Songwriter: Toby Keith
Before his life was cut short by cancer at age 44, Wayman Tisdale had made a name for himself in two pretty diverse fields: professional basketball and jazz. He’d also been a long-time friend of Toby Keith, who sang a song on Tisdale’s last album and wrote this song days after Tisdale’s death [...]

Continue reading "Toby Keith – “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)”"

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are scheduled to perform a free concert in downtown Nashville on Nov. 10, one day before the CMA Awards.
Sounds Country commented on the new Bruce Robison single “Born to Roll,” which features Rodney Crowell and will be released on Robison’s next album From the Top. I can’t find a release [...]

Continue reading "Brad Paisley/Carrie Underwood Schedule Free Concert; Tom Russell’s Longevity; Stream Jason Eady"

The New York Times‘ Charles McGrath interviewed Ralph Stanley before a recent concert:
There are a lot of good bluegrass players these days, Mr. Martin among them, but Mr. Stanley said he didn’t listen to them much. He prefers to listen to the Stanley Brothers.
“I may be a little prejudiced, but I like my own music,” [...]

Continue reading "Ralph Stanley’s His Own Favorite Entertainer; ‘All For The Hall’ Benefit; BR549 Not Done"

Michael Martin Murphey signed a multi-album contract with Rural Rhythm Records during last week’s IBMA convention and will release his second set of bluegrass tunes, Buckaroo Blue Grass 2, next February. The first single is a remake of “Wildfire” as a duet with Carrie Hassler.

Continue reading "Michael Martin Murphey Inks Multi-Album Deal; Josh Turner’s Groovin’ Video; Corb Lund Acoustic"

Austin native and fiddler Amy Farris, who was part of the group The Guilty Women that played with Dave Alvin, was found dead at her residence in Los Angeles at the age of 40. Suicide is suspected, although an investigation is still underway.
Alt-512 Music Musings posted audio of Corb Lund’s CD-release show at Threadgill’s on [...]

Continue reading "Guilty Women’s Amy Farris Found Dead; Nashville at Nite Returns; New 1100 Springs Music on the Horizon;"

The Boot has the exclusive video premiere of Joe Nichol’s new song “An Old Friend of Mine” along with a brief Q&A in which Nichols discloses his feelings about the song and video.
Robert Earl Keen discussed laziness, labels, and his new record in an interview with The Boot’s Beville Darden. You can watch Keen talk [...]

Continue reading "Joe Nichols Video Premiere; Free MP3s From Miss Leslie and James McMurtry"