September 2014 - Nashville Rocks

Lee Ann Womack Shares The Way I’m Livin’

September 30, 2014 Leave a comment

Lee Ann Womack Releases The Way I’m Livin’

Released Sept. 23 by Sugar Hill Records, Lee Ann Womack’s The Way I’m LIvin’ begins with a wounded whisper, followed by a gospel rouser that somehow begs for mercy while asserting the fervor of devotion, a heartbreaking account of one more night in a forsaken saloon, an exhilarating, string-soared plea for some way to reconcile these extremes … and so on through 13 songs that unfold like chapters in recounting a life nearly lost to turbulence and trouble.

DOWNLOAD THE WAY I’M LIVIN’ on Amazon

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this celebration of narrative writing and nuanced vocal interpretation is that it all came together without much design. In fact, there was only one light guiding Womack and her producer/ husband Frank Liddell as they took their first steps in preproduction. Read more →

ADDITIONAL PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 48TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS

September 30, 2014 Leave a comment

AIRING WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5 ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK

Tickets Sold Out for Sixth Consecutive Year

NASHVILLE – The star-studded lineup for Country Music’s Biggest Night™ continues to grow with today’s announcement of additional performers for “The 48th Annual CMA Awards.”

Not only are they hosting for the seventh consecutive year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will each perform during the three-hour live broadcast Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Read more →

The Country DJ Phenomenon

September 23, 2014 Leave a comment

Country DJs?

Yup, about 15 years ago, a few electronic musical pioneers started sneaking Country snippets into their DJ sets at dance clubs. Meanwhile, at some Country bars, DJs were adding club beats to the records they were spinning.

Photo by: Jamie Vess

Today, a new crop of DJs have built national reputations specifically in Country Music. They keep the party going between sets and add to the live show on major tours. One prominent practitioner, Dee Jay Silver, has even signed with RCA Records Nashville.

Download Dee Jay Silver’s – Country Club on Amazon

DJs have achieved undeniable visibility in Country Music. To understand how, start with the terminology.

A remix manipulates and rearranges elements from an original recording, adds beats, loops and other components and then assembles them to create a new musical entity. A mashup is a remix that takes two or more songs and blends them together. Typically, the songs getting mashed up have lyric and/or melodic themes that can play off each Read more →

Country Star John Rich Launches A Lifestyle Brand

September 23, 2014 Leave a comment

Country Lifestyle Clothing From John Rich

It was the spring of 2008. John Rich was sitting on the wharf in Gulf Shores, Alabama, sipping a beer and watching the crowds go by. When he glanced down at his drink, he noticed it was wrapped in a koozie that read, “Gulf Shores, in the heart of the Redneck Riviera.” Rich thought, “Wow, that’s such a great phrase! I wonder who owns it.” So he called his attorney, never imagining that the answer to his question would be … nobody!

In that moment, Redneck Riviera, LLC, was born.

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Photo Credit: Joe Hardwick for Redneck Riviera

Less than a month after its online kickoff and spring break concert/launch party on March 18 in Panama City, Florida, Redneck Riviera’s website had racked up more than 10,000 email signups. Their line includes more than 40 tanks and tees for men and women, plus caps, accessories, koozies, license plates, decals and stickers. Plans are underway for a mass retail entry into brick-and-mortar stores in 2015. On the drawing board are Redneck Riviera slot machines, white and gold rums, beverages and foods, boots, denim, sunglasses, watches and, according to Rich, maybe even a Redneck Riviera Bar & Grill someday. Read more →

Dierks Bentley Sets His Life to Song on Riser

September 23, 2014 Leave a comment

Dierks Bentley Releases Riser

Any successful career requires time away from home. No one knows that better than Dierks Bentley. And few artists are as willing to share what this means in song, as Bentley does on his most personal album to date, Riser.

The overall theme of Riser is discovery and allowing fans a more intimate glimpse into Bentley. To that end, his manager, Mary Hilliard Harrington, suggested he make a documentary of his life and the things he was going through.

Download Dierks Bentley’s Riser on Amazon

“We could hear that in the music, from the first songs he turned in from the first writing sessions,” she said. “I knew early on that this was going to be more of an album project in a singles-driven world and that we would need to tell the story of the entire project in order for the fans to truly understand and appreciate it. I hope the documentary helps do that.” Read more →

DownDay – New Artist Spotlight – CMA Close Up Interview

September 22, 2014 Leave a comment

DownDay could fit in equally at CMA Music Festival or on a bill with Metallica.

But the Arkansas quartet’s hearts are pure, if power-chorded, Country.

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Christian Dean and Rockey Jones, along with bassist Damon Shores and drummer Mike Martin, signed with Render Records in April 2013. Nearly two months later, the label released the band’s earlier, regional album, Chapter 1, along with “Back in the Day” (written by Jones, Dean, Steve Freeman and David Oneal). From the structure of the song to the catchy chorus, that debut single leaned strongly toward Country and began earning adds within a month on Country radio. Read more →