I headed down to Nashville for a little while today to catch some GREAT music.
I went to the Nashville Palace for a duo that I will feature later. I need to
catch up on my features.

This was a benefit for tornado victims in Illinois, and was thrown to
raise money for the cause.

I got to the Outlaw Music Association benefit a little late. I got here just in
time for Kara Clark’s set and she played some songs I don’t get to hear as often
and I am enjoying her set.
RIGHT NOW she’s playing MY FAVORITE SONG “Relapse” I LOVE IT SO MUCH..

Some of her set I kind of missed while talking to people here she played
“Jesus In Jail”. She’s doing just an acoustic set because her band are
taking care of personal issues.
She’s playing “I’m Not Country” right now, It’s so wonderful to see her
again. She’s a good friend and It’s always good to catch up with her.

“Lonely” is another good song in her usual set and just last week she
was featured on W.B.Walker’s Old Soul Radio Show.
Her guitar player Mark Lambert just showed up to play with her! He has contributed a lot
to Country Music including helping work on Ronnie Milsap’s last album.

Right now she’s playing “Murder Or Suicide”..I’m enjoying myself.
And she played “Living Proof” I like that song too..”Whiskey And Cigarettes”
also was played.
“Southern Hospitality” is always a good song to hear, Id come down from Kentucky
to watch Kara ANYTIME I could.
SHE IS one of my personal favorite female singer that my website features!

Chris Gantry is playing now and he’s telling stories and how the Outlaw
movement is a movement of benevolence.
‘That’s what Outlaw is”. I remember him playing this at several other shows.
At 71 He is still one of Country Music’s Legendary Songwriters, having
left a legacy upon Nashville.

“Wasted On The Street On A Tuesday Afternoon”. And he is telling stories
between his songs. And he’s doing one called “Hey Ryan” about a young man
that used to read his Facebook posts and took his own life.

He played “Dreams Of Everyday Housewife” which was cut by Glen Campbell.
It was on the Wichita Lineman album from 1967.

Brian Randall And Southern justice are playing and I want to
catch his set now.
He started out with “Neon Smokey Haze”. Now, he is a little more
southern rock to me than country but he’s really fun to watch play.

Right now they’re covering “Pride And Joy” from Stevie Ray Vaughn.
And he played “Think I’ll just stay Here And Drink” by Merle Haggard.

“An Outlaw Just Inside The Law” is what they’re playing now.
All together I’m having a good time with good music and THAT MY FREINDS
is what it’s ALL about!

The very controversial song he does called “Good Drugs” is a song
I enjoy. BEFORE you judge it..listen. It’s a good message and more
people should listen.

Kara is playing a few more and I will call this one a night and do
some work from home.
“The Band The Bartender And Me” is a good song we like.

Folks I’ll be honest tonight I saw an awesome sight described in
three words “Black Oak Arkansas”.
They are a southern rock band formed in 1965 and were originally called
“Knowbody Else” until 1970 when James “Jim Dandy” Mangrum changed the name.

The only original member left besides Jim Dandy was Ricky Lee Reynolds who
is called ‘Ricochet”. The other four were not full originals unless I was
mistaken. I know ‘Goober Grin” died in late 1976 and I am pretty sure the
other three originals are alive but active elsewhere.

They came out barrels blazing to two new songs off the all new album.
Called “Outside The Reach” and “Plugged In And Wired”.
And they honestly still sounded pretty stable and good.

Then came the classic songs I wanted to hear, “Hot Rod” and ‘High And Dry”
Now I remember hearing them on Midnight Special and King Biscuit Flower Hour.
Still was a little before my time but unlike some..I watch and study history.

They played “Heartbreaker” and some newer ones “Ghost Of Tennessee” and
“Sweet Delta Water”. I really had a good time and enjoyed myself.

On Wed July 9th the fine folks over at Marathon Music Works bring you a benefit concert
I’M SURE will sell out.
WHY? Because Shooter Jennings will be performing alongside his legendary mother
Jessi Colter along with Jamey Johnson and MORE!

The doors open at 6PM and are ONLY 35 BUCKS!
They ARE available NOW you can get them by clicking on the above Marathon name.

From their website:
A Night of Influence celebrating Waylon Jennings and Hank Cochran benefiting the
Nikki Mitchell Foundation to prevent, detect, and the eventual cure of Pancreatic Cancer.
Live and Silent Auction items. 18+.

So this is one of a few concerts for Nikki Mitchell Foundation. and I want to say
this kind of thing REALLY makes me proud to write these articles.
This helps the community and a really good cause as well.

The Nikki Mitchell Foundation (NMF) is dedicated to seeking and supporting the
most breakthrough data available for the early detection and cure of pancreatic cancer.
Not tied to any one hospital, the NMF will support the most promising research with a
focus on gene-based therapies along with a special emphasis on prevention and patients preferences in determining their care.

The Nikki Mitchell Foundation has strong musical roots, raising funds and
awareness through events such as the Full Moon Full Life concert series.
Full Moon Full Life was created by our namesake in 2010, attracting thousands
to the concert outside Nashville, Tennessee. The original artist line-up consisted
of Waylon Jenning’s band, Jessi Colter, and Jamey Johnson. Since then, new artists
have been added every year. The series now takes place in Austin, Texas and Nashville,
Tennessee.

There is A TON of these concerts in several states, so go find YOUR TICKETS NOW!

My fine friends over at Exit/In have announced that they are presenting Scott H. Biram AKA “The Dirty Ol’ One Man Band”.
July 1st at 8:00 although no opening acts have been yet reported to me.

Biram has been on tour non stop both in America AND overseas in support of his
new album “Nothin But Blood” out on Bloodshot Records.

He was also the main feature for 2014 Moonrunners indoor music festival
for Outlaw Radio.
I also haven’t been given specifics of pre-sale tickets yet and when I do
find one I’ll post the link up.

The Exit/In is one of my favorite places in Nashville to go see a show
plenty of places to eat first and kill some time before the show.
And if it ends early enough there’s always the Commodore Lounge for
songwriters!

I bet you are thinking CMA Fest 2014 will be full of bubble gum and sparkle pocket
britches? Well my dear readers it SIMPLY ISNT SO!
WHY you say? Well ladies and gentlemen I present to YOU
The WSM AM 650 Durango Music Spot Stage!

I’m SURE you’ll agree after reading the list of Country Legends
and NEW COUNTRY ARTISTS that THIS IS a truly blessed thing
that WSM is doing.
In all the crap being prostituted on our airwaves in Nashville
AM 650 is usually good for a safe bet for Country Music.
Here’s the lineup:

DURANGO MUSIC SPOT STAGE LINEUP

(Located in the Fan Fair X Hall inside the new Music City Center)

Thursday, June 5
11:00 A.M. Ty Herndon
11:30 A.M. Buddy Jewell
12:00 P.M. Daryle Singletary
12:30 P.M. Doug Stone
1:00 P.M. Wade Hayes
1:30 P.M. T Graham Brown
2:00 P.M. Mac Powell
2:30 P.M. The Roys
3:00 P.M. Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley & Friends
3:30 P.M. Payton Taylor

Friday, June 6
11:00 A.M. Billy Yates
11:30 A.M. Amber Hayes
12:00 P.M. TBA
12:30 P.M. Kelly Lang
1:00 P.M. David Ball
1:30 P.M. TG Sheppard
2:00 P.M. Moore & Moore
2:30 P.M. Jeannie Seely
3:00 P.M. Shawn Camp
3:30 P.M. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Saturday, June 7
11:00 A.M. Lulu Roman
11:30 A.M. Jimmy Fortune
12:00 P.M. Mark Wills
12:30 P.M. Lynn Anderson
1:00 P.M. Teea Goans
1:30 P.M. Roo Arcus
2:00 P.M. Ray Stevens
2:30 P.M. Blue Mother Tupelo
3:00 P.M. Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys
3:30 P.M. Taylor Baker

Sunday, June 8
11:00 P.M. Lesley McDaniel
11:30 P.M. Ashton Shepherd
12:00 P.M. Mandy Barnett
12:30 P.M. Sweethearts of the Rodeo
1:00 P.M. James House
1:30 P.M. Lisa Matassa
2:00 P.M. Bobby Marquez
2:30 P.M. Kenny Foster

Tune in at 650 AM, WSMOnline.com, and our FREE mobile app to hear all performances LIVE!
YES FOLKS you don’t even have to be blinded by sparkle pocket britches on your way
to the stage. You can listen from your own home!

Brought to you by our great sponsors at Springer Mountain Farms, Camping World of Nashville, and Durango! Stop by and see us at booth #750 to register to win some great prizes.

NOW THEN everybody I’m DAMN SURE the local venues will be hosting REAL country
artists and bands during the CMA Fest period.
And for a fraction of the price of the national acts you can have
more fun at a local venue.

I will be reporting on Tennessee Concerts about
shows at local venues during this period.

Last night I got out and lugged myself down The End on Elliston Place in Nashville
for Jayke Orvis And The Broken Band,Call Me Bronco,James Hunnicutt (solo) and
S.S.Webb for ONE HELL of a GREAT NIGHT of music.

I mean come on people for 10 BUCKS you just cannot beat what I’m about to report on.
The venue is smaller than most but it’s still a GREAT sounding place to hear
live music.

Sunday night May the 12th The End welcomed all these bands with open arms.
And the first band was S.S.Webb and to be honest I missed their set
getting familiar with people I have not seen in a long time and getting things
set up for reporting.
So I will be doing an “artist feature” on them in the near future and we WILL be
paying them some attention on THIS website.

Call Me Bronco was a band I kept “missing” every time they were on a bill
I attended. They played the Muddy Roots Spring Weekender last year and I
was there but missed them.
I finally met their upright bass player Keith Roberts while he was playing
with Urban Pioneers and we became friends.
He’s a really super nice guy and I suggest you talk with him.
They have a CD I bought called “Death Rides A Pale Bronco” and they played
a few songs from the album.
“5 Petals” was one of them I remember they played, and I also
remember “I Stopped Drinking For The Dog” and I was really impressed
with their performance. And their song “Four Shots” was my favorite song.

James Hunnicutt has always been one of my favorite people EVER!
I first met him during the “Myspace Days” when sadly we all came
together to pay our last respects to Country Legend Porter Wagoner.

He began his set with “99 Lives” and “My Pain” which is my favorite song
he does off the album “In Full It Shall Be Paid”.
He also played “I’m A One Woman Man” which was written by Tillman Franks
and Johnny Horton and was released in 1956.
Also in 1988 George Jones re-did it and named an album after it
all produced by Billy Sherrill.
“Good For You,Good Riddance And Goodbye” was a song I recognized but
missed seeing.
He did a Doo-Wop songs called “Bad Girl” and a Faron Young song
called “Tattle Tale Tears”..and I was smiling.
This song was from his third album from Capitol Records around 1955 or so.
And it was a VERY obscure and good choice!
He closed with “Dont Let The Teardrops fill your eyes”.

The time came to allow the chaotic thunder of string band infused
bluegrass and other music called Jayke Orvis And The Broken Band.
They are on Farmaggeddon Records and they have
two albums out and played songs from both.
The Fiddle player Liz Sloan is one of Underground Music’s most talented
people and her stage presence is furious, it makes you feel like stomping
on a table.
She tears her fiddle apart and has for years and the whole band started out
the show with “Murder Of Crows” and “Crooked Smile”. Now Crooked Smile is one
of my personal songs because Liz has a solo on there and she goes NUTS!
Jared McGovern on the upright bass is also very energetic and is a great part
of this band.

“Shady Grove” and “Born To Ride” and “Gone Forever More” were all next.
I tell you what I enjoyed myself last night and I’m tired and sore
but it was so worth it.
I’m sure there were songs I missed remembering too. They played “Alone With You”
which was made popular by Faron Young and another GOOD Liz infused song
“Kaw Liga”.

“Thunderbolts And Lightning” is another of my favorites and will always be.
“Feeling Like This” and “Dreadfull Sinner” were all in the set.

Another great song that really gets us involved and rowdy is clapping
along to “Blackship”. And reciting those words…all my times is come gotta go….
“Lead Me Astray” was the final song BUT they DID do a bluegrass version
of “Master Of Puppets” made famous by Metallica!

To this day I still don’t understand HOW anyone can choose to spend
hundreds of dollars on Disney music instead of watching real talent.

ALL MY TIMES A COME I GOTTA GO…..

Folks I was doing some yard work today and a dear friend from the Virginia area posted
on my wall that Country Legend Marlow Tackett had passed away.
I called some Pike County friends to confirm this and he has indeed been called home
to Heaven.
I want to tell you about how this man blessed the world with music and goodwill
to others and what I know of his life.
I know he was a devout Christian man and I spoke with him on the phone once
and he was kind and loving to me and his heart beat country music.

Marlow was the 12th of 16 children born in 1945 and also had two adopted
siblings. And was raised in Pike County Kentucky his father was a coal miner
who worked two jobs. Marlow recalled his father coming home from the mine
to have supper and lie on the front porch until it was served.
He would then ride to another mine to work the night shift.

As a boy he idolized Elvis Presley and he played a broom like a guitar
and sang songs constantly.
When he was nine he won a talent show at school dressing up like Elvis
and sang “Blue Suede Shoes”. He won 2.50 and a whole box of Milky Way bars.

His father bought him his first acoustic guitar at the age of ten.
And soon they became inseparable. His father encouraged his playing
and when company came over would put him on a small stage he built in the
house for him.

His playing was so intense he was banned from riding the school bus
because of he would not stop playing on the bus.
He was often caught with songbook tucked into his schoolbooks.

He stayed in school and sang for anyone who asked at any time.
Often just out of the blue.
When he was sixteen he went to Fort Wayne Indiana to work when
his father was too worn to continue working both jobs.
He got gigs at various places performing and singing.
He was approached by a musician who payed him double to
come with him to Nashville and he began living his dream.

In 1975 he opened Marlow’s Country Palace and thrived there for
thirty years. Many people came to play the theater and he
recalled fitting 1200 fans inside for George Jones.

In 1977 Ralph Emery broadcast Marlow live and the bottom fell out
for him from then on. Ralph featured him on many shows
including “Pop Goes The Country” and “The Porter Wagoner Show”.

He signed with RCA and also appeared on the Opry stage.
After three years with RCA Marlow decided not to renew his
contract and just play in his own club.

Marlow Tackett was one of the highest respected and well known
humanitarians in Country Music.
He played any school or church or organization that ever called upon him.
One time he was approached by a little girl who asked for help to
obtain Christmas gifts. This began his well famous Christmas program for
needy children in Pike county.
He was nicknamed “The Mountain Santa” by Country Legend Ernest Tubb.

He played more benefit shows than any other Country Legend in history
and raised more funds for storm victims than anyone.
He was once presented with a plaque naming him an honorary superintendent.
Part of U.S. Route 23 is named in his honor.

He had been recently doing country and gospel shows about 100 a year.
And was doing a lot of publishing and songwriting.
His last release was “A New Set Of Wings”.
It was produced by Dan Huff of Big Appal Studios.

He died in his home in Elizabethtown Tennessee and will be buried
in Pike County Kentucky.

No arrangements have been announced nor has his cause of death.
He was 69 years old.

THIS IS ONE REASON I PROUDLY SUPPORT The Nashville Palace.
They bring us act like Sarah Gayle Meech and David Peterson and THESE FOLKS!
2 Country 4 Nashville.

I met them both at Bobby Mackey’s for the Last Honky Tonk Music Series this past spring
and I REALLY enjoyed their performance.
They ARE one of the REAL DEALS here in Nashville and they go all over!
And they are super nice people playing REAL country music that is featured at the Palace.

On June 2nd they have announced the Sons And Daughters Of The Legends show
FOR 10 BUCKS….WOW!
The only drawback is that the Georgette Jones benefit at the Hard Rock Cafe is the
same night across town, More on that in another article.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS EVENT and if THIS does not knock your socks off you are nuts.

Come celebrate the lives of these country music legends: Hank Williams, Sr., Faron Young,
Bob Luman, Jerry Reed, Hawkshaw Hawkins & Jean Shepard, and George Hamilton IV!! The sons
and daughters of these country music giants (Jett Williams, Robyn Young, Melissa Luman,
Seidina Reed, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Jr. & George Hamilton V) invite you to join them as they
reminisce about their own memories and journeys with and of their famous parents! And they’ll
sing some of your favorite tunes!

Joining the 2nd Generation Stars will also be our 2 LIVING LEGENDARY PARENTS of the group,
Mrs. Jean Shepard (with her son Hawk), and Mr. George Hamilton IV (with his son, Geo V)!

The 2Country4Nashville Band will be playing for this great 2nd Generation Show, and it will
be held in the back Parlor room of The Nashville Palace on Monday, June 2nd.

Tickets are $10 at the door. Doors open at 6:00pm and the show starts at 7:00pm.

This is the official lineup as reported to me.
Jett Williams (Hank Williams)
Robyn Young (Faron Young)
Seidina Reed (Jerry Reed)
Melissa Luman (Bob Luman)
Hawkshaw Hawkins Jr. (Hawkshaw Hawkins & Jean Shepard)
and George Hamilton V (George Hamilton IV)

VERY SPECIAL appearances by the 2 LIVING LEGEND PARENTS, Country Music Hall of Fame and
Grand Ole Opry member, Mrs. Jean Shepard, AND Grand Ole Opry member, Mr. George Hamilton IV!!
They’ll be joining their own children on stage!!!

Tickets are AMAZINGLY AFFORDABLE at $10 only for this HUGE show!!

You can pre-purchase tickets HERE
I’m not going to lie…this WILL sell out!