Kentucky Opry.
Red Barn Convention Center
Boot City Opry
Truman Lake Opry

This edition of Local Oprys take us back to Fairview Ohio to the Pennyroyal Opera House.
I’ll be honest Ohio has REALLY interesting music venues and festivals, and I LOVE Cincinnati. I LOVE
going up there and this one makes me even more excited to go soon. I might have to hire an Ohio helper
to cover more events up there.

They are located off Hwy 70 exit 198 in Fairview Ohio and The kitchen opens at 5 pm and the shows start at 7 pm.
Admission is $12, children 12 and under are half price.
There are NO advance ticket sales, first come first served. They are located between Cambridge Ohio and Wheeling Wv.

You can take a short tour of the facility on their website and I understand they have meals before
every show. This venue appears to seat several hundred people and is easily found off the interstate.
It’s hosted by Frank And Cathy Gadd and here’s how to contact them.
For more information,
call Frank and Cathy Gadd at (740) 492-0375
The kitchen opens at 5PM and the show begins at 7PM.

So Santa brought me a new tablet and I wanted to play with it, what better way to tinker
with it than to head down to Roberts Western World on Broadway in Nashville.
WHO YOU ASK? Why…none other than Sarah Gayle Meech.

In my opinion she is one of the BEST acts on Lower Broadway to go see, she has a heart of gold
and a voice of the heavens. She honestly LOVES her fans and remembers everybody’s name..I wished I
could do that all the time. I’m guilty of forgetting names but once she meets you she knows you.

The worst expense of downtown Nashville shows is parking..that’s costly. But I’ll tell you what
Sarah is worth whatever you spend to get there. Just take my word for it and get there.
She had her “Meech Boys” with her for this show I caught today and up front I’ll say the covers
were WELL picked out. Some VERY rarely heard covers were played tonight and I’ll tell you
once again the NEW album “Tennessee Love Song” is finished and I’m waiting orders to release
a pre-order article. I’m told it has 14 songs and YES IT WAS produced by Andy Gibson and his magic
studio..Andy no longer plays for Hank 3 (for unknown reasons).

Her steel guitarist Tommy Hammum just absolutely KILLED IT today along with her guitarist
Craig Smith. I’m going to be featuring Mr. Tommy later on in an upcoming series on steel
guitarists (Oh did I spoil that)..dangit…

She opened her set with a Harlan Howard in 1959 called “Heartaches By The Number”. Now most
of you would say it was Ray Price..and it was but Guy Mitchell recorded the most commercially
successful version. She also played ‘Tiger By The Tail” which is a good Buck Owens song
which was also penned by Harlan Howard.

“All I Want is a Honky Tonk” was a real good choice for an original opener of her set
from her debut album. For only having one album under her belt she really is creating
ONE HELL of a hoo ha down there. Robert’s is FAMOUS for birthing huge draws on their stage
like BR5-49 and Brazilbilly. Both bands recorded live albums there and became quite successful
using it as their headquarters.

She then played “One Six Pack To Go’ and Old White Boots”. She knows I’m a huge FAN OF HER
SONG “fOOLISH”. I JUST love HER VOICE WITH THAT STEEL made possible by Tommy Hammum who just
got off tour with Wynnona Judd and has played with so many Legends of Country Music.
He sang on some songs too, like “Going Down That Road Feeling Bad”..and he also did a REALLY NICE
version of “Steel Guitar Rag”.

Her new songs she played were called “Love Of Mine” and the other new one was called “Bar Again”.
And so far from what I have heard this album will be another must have in your collection.
And we only have to wait until March to pre-order it.

Craig Smith on the lead guitar…wow..what can I say? He absolutely blew the roof off
the damn bar. His tone was very unique and he belted out some rowdy ass riffs.
As they played “Honky Tonk Blues” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough” the tip jar had to be
dumped out twice! You know folks she works for TIPS so instead of your 5 dollar foamy coffee
why not help her pay bills?

“sound Of A Heartbreak” is a really good original song from her first album..I’m telling
you if you have not checked her out DO IT NOW!
She followed up with “Honky Tonk Angels” by Kitty Wells and “One Good Thing”, which is
the title track of her first album.
Hank Cochran’s “I Fall To Pieces” was another great cover song she does. along with another
original “Drink Myself To Sleep”.

JUST HER AND THE STEEL MAN TOMMY played “Golden Ring” and “Your Cheat’n Heart”.
I’d LOVE for her to do a show with just her and a steel guitar, man that would be
a nice combo.
“Sad And Lonely” and “I’ll Be Gone” were next followed by a Red Simpson song
“Close All The Honky Tonks”. My favorite version of that song was done by Charlie Walker
in 1965.

“No Angel” she played and the guitarist played a REALLY GOOD version of “Big River”
and his solos blasted through the whole bar. His stage presence beat ANYTHING ANY arena
show EVER COULD produce.
MY FAVORITE song she does “Foolish” and I will be honest..I don’t think she’ll ever beat
that song. Not saying she does not have the ability to write a better song…but in my opinion
she will never beat it..It’s that good.

One of the last songs they did was the guitarist singing “Halfway Down” which Patty Loveless
made popular and Billy Joe Shaver wrote it.
She closed her set with “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”. All in All I had a wonderful time
down there despite the achy damp weather. What a blessed way to spend an afternoon and see
some great friends.

One of the FINEST record labels out today that features Independent Country Music and Bluegrass Music is Heart Of Texas Records. They have SO MANY really good artists and Legends of Country Music too.They feature Country Legend Bobby Lewis who was recently inducted into The Atlanta Country Music Hall Of Fame. They also feature Tony Booth, Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush and Norma Jean as well as NEW Country Artists like Georgette Jones and Amber Digby.

You know I often hear people say they hate how “new country” sounds and they don’t listen to it and they wish that the “Old Country” sound would come back. Well IT NEVER LEFT and it exists quite well in underground music. And labels like Heart Of Texas Records produces some of the finest REAL Country Music out there.

Now they bring you the 2015 Heart Of Texas Records calender which you can order HERE.
THIS FROM THE WEBSITE:
Our 2015 Calendars contain hundreds of birthdays of your favorite Country Music Stars plus 8 X 10 photos of Norma Jean, Dottsy, Kaye Tolson, Johnny Bush, Diane McCall, Kim Murray, Tony Booth, Frankie Miller, Tommy Hooker, Darrell and Mona McCall, Bobby G. Rice, Bobby Lewis, Justin Trevion, Curtis Potter, Amber Digby, Georgette Jones, Rance Norton, Guyanne McCall, Landon Dodd and George Hamilton IV.

We also feature quotes from Gene Watson, Jake Hooker, Ronnie Prophet, Kelly Spinks, Mrs. Hank Thompson, Jan Howard, Mary Lou Turner, Dallas Wayne, Billy Parker and David McCormick.

The calendar also features over thirty five photos from our 25 years of promoting Traditional Country Music including Ferlin Husky, George Jones, Moe Bandy, Kitty Wells, Big Bill Lister, Jimmy Dickens, Cal Smith, Jack Greene, Tony Douglas, the Whites, Justin Tubb, Ray Price, Freddie Hart, Jean Shepard and more!

They also offer the 25th Anniversary Collection which brings you a sampler off A TON of their artists in a three CD set. It’s a GREAT way to research all the fine artists they offer and here is a set list of all the albums. For the small price of twenty bucks you get A TON of good Country Music.

Disc One
1. Neon Nightmare-Johnny Bush
2. Play Me The Truth-Tony Booth
3. Songs Of The Cherokee Cowboy-Curtis Potter & Willie Nelson
4. Who’ll Be The First-Justin Trevino
5. My Reason For Living-Ferlin Husky
6. Heaven Help The Working Girl-Norma Jean
7. I Gotta Have My Baby Back-Floyd Tillman & Ray Price
8. It’s A Long Way From Heaven-Amber Digby
9. Perfect Stranger-Landon Dodd
10. Most Of All-Darrell McCall
11. Texas Dance Hall Girl-Rance Norton
12. Bandera-Mona McCall
13. From Heaven To Heartache-Bobby Lewis
14. Let Me Go-Kimberly Murray
15. Meet Me In Texas-Dottsy
16. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again-Joe Paul Nichols & Moe Bandy
17. Back When Gas Was Thirty Cents A Gallon-Frankie Miller
18. Us-Diane McCall
19. Ole Worn Out Cowboys-Johnny Bush & Johnny Rodriguez
20. Deep Water-Tommy Hooker

Disc Two
1. April First-Darrell McCall
2. Storms Never Last
3. Jambalaya-Frank Torres & Big Bill Lister
4. Please Come Back With My Heart-Norma Jean
5. When Loving Me Was Wrong-Johnny Bush
6. Second Time Around-Georgette Jones
7. An Old Memory Got In My Eye-Ferlin Husky
8. Before This Day Ends-George Hamilton IV
9. I Don’t Wanna Cry-Curtis Potter
10. If You Were Me-Frankie Miller
11. Deep As Your Pocket-Amber Digby
12. Don’t Leave The Leaving Up To Me-Justin Trevino
13. Invitation To The Blues-Joe Paul Nichols
14. Faded Love-Tommy Hooker
15. This Cold War With You-Floyd Tillman & Merle Haggard
16. I’m Gonna Break Every Heart In Town-Damian O’Grady
17. You Lay So Easy On My Mind-Bobby G. Rice
18. There’s Something About A Lady-Landon Dodd
19. Sometimes I Talk In My Sleep-Tony Booth
20. I’ll Be There-Kaye Tolson

Disc Three
1. I Thought I Heard You Call My Name-The Survivors
2. It Makes No Difference Now-Floyd Tillman & Mel Tillis
3. Sweet Lips-Mona McCall
4. I Went Crazy For A While-Johnny Bush
5. Loser’s Game-Amber Digby
6. Let’s Fall In Love Again-Joe Paul Nichols & Barbara Fairchild
7. Truck Driving Man-George Hamilton IV
8. We’re Both Lying To Me-Kimberley Murray
9. Big Mamou-Don Wallace & Fiddlin Frenchie Burke
10. Run Woman Run-Georgette Jones & Amber Digby
11. Hello Mary Lou-Bobby Lewis
12. A Couple More Years-Norma Jean & Daniel O’Donnell
13. Take A Look At This Broken Heart of Mine-Ferlin Husky
14. Danny Boy-Curtis Potter
15. Little Ole Dime-Tony Booth
16. A Little South of Memphis-Frankie Miller
17. The Marionette-Darrell McCall
18. My First Night Without You-Justin Trevino
19. My Imagination-Diane McCall
20. The End-Rance Norton.

Their 26th Anniversary tickets go on sale on February 3rd and it takes place in March.
If you go on their website there is just a TON of events in the Texas area from
SO MANY Country Music artists. YOU NEED to become involved with this fine label
and what they do.

We all have different answers concerning what label started the whole independent movement.
Some call it the “Roots Music” movement or “scene”..I don’t know folks.
I DO KNOW that Chicago’s own Bloodshot Records was the label that introduced me
to a boatload of the artists I feature on here, and have loved for years!
It introduced me further to Wayne “the Train” Hancock with it’s release of “A Town Blues” and
“Swing Time”. Both were classic albums in my collection.

The Dirty O’l One Man Band…none other than Scott H Biram also was introduced to me by
being a frequent Bloodshot Records lover.
And last year he released “Nothi’n But Blood” which was indeed a classic album of 2014.
I highly suggest you listen to that album as soon as possible.

Recently they released the LIVE Whitey Morgan album which i watched FLY OFF the merch shelf last weekend at the Exit In.
He performed a stellar show and you can read more about that HERE.

I also got into independent music from Moonshine Willy and The Bottle Rockets whom are both
on this label.
When I first moved to Nashville the Bottle Rockets tore up several venues I attended.
And later on I got into Eddie Spaghetti and Justin Townes Earle.
Earlier on I got into Split Lip Rayfield as well, and their live shows were some of
2004’s top shows along with Jason and the Scorchers and BR5-49 (who were NOT on this label).
Now in 2014 they bring us “While No One Was Looking” toasting 20 years of Bloodshot Records.

THIS IS why I started my website..this is why I do what I do. Because there aren’t a whole
list of many websites that DO tell you about independent music. I could name about ten!
The underdogs and the little guys are what Bloodshot Records is all about.
If YOU want to be part of the solution of what’s wrong with Music Row then support this
label and ALL OF THEM that release the independent music.
DON’T sit behind the social media and gripe….I WANT to see YOU at a venue!

This album is a two CD set that comes complete with a booklet and they are selling
shirts and other things on their website.
Here is a complete list of tracks:

1. Blitzen Trapper – “To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to be High)”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

2. Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants – “Look the Other Way”
Originally performed by Justin Townes Earle on BS193 Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now (2012)
(Shiflett is the lead guitarist of Foo Fighters and Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, formerly of No Use For a Name.)

3. Samantha Crain – “Cold Forgiver”
Originally performed by Ha Ha Tonka on BS207 Lessons (2013)

4. Chuck Prophet – “Dirt”
Originally performed by Andre Williams on BS185 Hoods & Shades (2012)
(Chuck Prophet is the former singer/guitarist of Green on Red and has written songs with/for Alejandro Escovedo, Solomon Burke, and Heart.)

5. Hiss Golden Messenger – “Where I Fell”
Originally performed by Robbie Fulks on BS211 Gone Away Backward (2013)

6. Dave Davison (of Maps & Atlases) – “Things I Didn’t Say”
Previously performed by Bobby Bare, Jr.’s Young Criminals’ Starvation League on BS110 From the End of Your Leash (2004)
(Dave Davison is the lead singer and guitarist of Maps & Atlases.)

7. Ted Leo – “Dragging My Own Tombstone”
Originally performed by Waco Brothers on BS054 Electric Waco Chair (2000)

8. Into It. Over It. – “Deep Red Bells”
Originally performed by Neko Case on BS099 Blacklisted (2002)

9. Split Single – “My Backyard”
Originally performed by Nora O’Connor on BS116 Til the Dawn (2004)

10. Limbeck – “Sound of Running”
Originally performed by Old 97’s on BS066 Early Tracks (1995, 2000)

11. Tim Kasher – “Aspidistra”
Originally performed by The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir on BS148 The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (2007)
(Tim Kasher is the frontman of the bands Cursive and The Good Life and has also recorded several solo albums.)

12. Shakey Graves – “Happy Birthday Julie”
Originally performed by Wayne Hancock on BS080 A-Town Blues (2001)

13. Ivan & Alyosha – “My Winding Wheel”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

14. Chuck Ragan – “Survivor Blues”
Originally performed by Cory Branan on BS195 MUTT (2012)
(In addition to his stellar solo career, Chuck Ragan is the lead vocalist/guitarist of Hot Water Music.)

15. The Minus 5 – “Cherokee Grove”
Originally performed by Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands on BS146 Cody’s Dream (2008)
(The Minus 5 is somewhat of a “supergroup” featuring Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck of R.E.M.)

16. Carolyn Mark – “Last to Know”
Previously performed by Alejandro Escovedo on BS027 More Miles Than Money (1998)

17. Daniel Romano – “Strange Birds”
Originally performed by Jon Langford & The Sadies on BS092 Mayors of the Moon (2003)

18. Charlie Parr – “Manifold”
Originally performed by Devil in a Woodpile on BS065 Division Street (2000)

19. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – “St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor”
Originally performed by Ha Ha Tonka on BS145 Buckle In The Bible Belt (2007)

20. Possessed By Paul James – “I Came Around”
Originally performed by Murder By Death on BS200 Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon (2012)
Disc 2:

1. Andrew Bird and Nora O’Connor – “I’ll Trade You Money for Wine”
Originally performed by Robbie Fulks on BS211 Gone Away Backward (2013)

2. Ben Kweller – “2:00 AM”
Originally performed by The Meat Purveyors on BS091 All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail (2002)

3. Frank Turner – “The Corner”
Originally performed by Cory Branan on BS195 MUTT (2012)

4. Superchunk – “Come Pick Me Up”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

5. KOJI – “East Jefferson”
Originally performed by Ben Weaver on BS173 Mirepoix & Smoke (2010)

6. The Great Crusades – “Fake Out Jesus” (Live)
Originally performed by The Blacks on BS 063 Just Like Home (2000)

7. Mike Watt & The Missingmen – “Up to My Neck In This”
Originally performed by Jon Langford & The Sadies on BS092 Mayors of the Moon (2003)
(Mike Watt is a legendary punk bassist and vocalist who has been a member of The Minutemen, Iggy & The Stooges, and Hovercraft (w/ Dave Grohl & Eddie Vedder).)

8. Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers – “Oh My Sweet Carolina”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

9. Jerry David DeCicca – “Broken Bottle”
Previously performed by Alejandro Escovedo on BS027 More Miles Than Money (1998)
(Jerry David DeCicca is the former lead vocalist/guitarist of beloved Columbus folk-rockers The Black Swans.)

10. The Handsome Family – “1000 Dollar Car”
Originally performed by The Bottle Rockets on BS212 The Brooklyn Side (1994, 2013)

11. Warm Soda – “All Grown Up”
Previously performed by Gore Gore Girls on BS142 Get the Gore (2007)
(Warm Soda is a band led by Matthew Melton, former frontman of Oakland garage-rockers Bare Wires.)

12. James Leg (of Black Diamond Heavies) – “Is That You in the Blue?”
Originally performed by Dex Romweber Duo on BS186 Is That You in the Blue? (2011)

13. Two Gallants – “Truck Driver”
Originally performed by Scott H. Biram on BS122 The Dirty Old One Man Band (2005)

14. Diarrhea Planet – “Dry Land”
Originally performed by Waco Brothers on BS015 Cowboy in Flames (1997)

15. Kevin “Shinyribs” Russell – “All the Time”
Originally performed by Lydia Loveless on BS214 Boy Crazy (2013)
(Kevin Russell is the former frontman of The Gourds.)

16. The North Carolina Music Love Army (featuring Caitlin Cary, Chip Robinson, and Kenny Roby) – “Stick to the Plan”
Originally performed by Graham Parker on BS140 Don’t Tell Columbus (2007)
(Caitlin Cary is the former fiddle player and vocalist of Whiskeytown; Chip Robinson is the frontman of Backsliders; and Kenny Roby is the frontman of 6 String Drag.)

17. William Elliott Whitmore – “I Wish I Was the Moon”
Originally performed by Neko Case on BS099 Blacklisted (2002)

18. Samuel Fogarino (of Interpol) – “Liked It a Lot”
Originally performed by Charlie Pickett on BS 154 Bar Band Americanus (1984, 2008)
(Samuel Fogarino is the drummer for New York City’s heralded rock band Interpol.)

Just a few footnotes here off this tracklist.
“Truck Driver” is one of my favorite songs Scott H Biram does, and I think
it was re-done really well on this album.

PBPJ (Possessed By Paul James) is one of my favorite people on the independent
touring circuit. He is currently on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records and his release
“There Will Be Nights When I’m Lonely” was also a MUST HAVE in your collection.

So go ahead and order this album HERE.

Moonrunners Music Festival
Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender
Nelsonville Music Festival
Muddy Roots Music Festival
Outer Banks Island Bluegrass Festival
Muddy Roots Spring Weekender

150 artists doing shows in 25 venues all along Hwy 30A in Northwest Florida..the 30Asongwriters Festival really looks like a fun time.
And honestly this festival is so large that this article is truly a challenge to bring you the BEST coverage possible.
This festival takes place January 16-18th 2015 and is sure to be a HUGE 6th year for this festival.

So let’s talk about the lineup for the festival, we have a little bit of everything on here
but I’m not seeing any pop country much so I thought it was interesting.
If you would like to research some of the artists simply click on the name.

Graham Nash
Indigo Girls
Leon Russell
Jason Isbell
Shawn Mullins
Sara Watkins
Glen Phillips
Jeffrey Steele
Chely Wright
Bobby Bare Jr.
Steve Poltz
Angaleena Presley
Over The Rhine
Jesse Harris
Mary Gauthier
Hayes Carll
Bob Schneider
Ellis Paul
Allison Moorer
Deana Carter
Peter Karp and Sue Foley
Toby Lightman
Liz Longley
Heather Maloney
Charlie Mars
Randall Bramblet
Old Salt Union
Gabriel Kelley
Brigitte Demeyer
Will Kimbrough
Craig Fuller
David Olney
Pierce Pettis
Grant Peeples
Pete Sallis
Gretchen Peters
The Smokin Novas
David Berkeley
Jeff Black
Crystal Bowersox
Grayson Capps
Adron
Robby Hecht
Ruston Kelly
Phil Madeira
Jonathan Singleton
Tommy Talton
Reed Waddle
Daphne WillisWebb Wilder
Nichole Witt
Alan Rhody
Joe Leathers
Billy Montana

I have not been provided with a time of performance schedule yet.
There are 25 venues involved with this festival and I would like to tell you about them to the best
of my ability.
I think you all will truly enjoy the venues involved.

Rosemary Beach Town Hall
South Barrett Square
32461 Rosemary Beach , FL

Caliza Restaurant
23 Nonesuch Way
32413 Alys Beach , FL

Reptory Theater
216 Quincy Circle
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

Bud And Alley’s
2236 East County Hwy. 30A
32459 Seaside , FL

Fish Out Of Water
34 Golden Rod Circle
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

The Boat House
238 WaterColor Boulevard
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

85 DeFuniak Street
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

Pandora’s
63 DeFuniak Street
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

Gulf Place Ampitheater
45 Laura Hamilton Boulevard in Gulf Place
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

Central Square Records
89 Central Square 2nd floor
32459 Seaside , FL

104 North Barrett Square

Summer Kitchen
60 North Barrett Square
32459 Rosemary Beach , FL

Vue on 30A
4801 W County Highway 30A
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

Pizza Bar
2236 East County Hwy. 30A
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

The Gathering Spot and Sushi Bar at WaterColor Inn
34 Golden Rod Circle WaterColor Inn
3245 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

723 Whiskey Bravo
3031 East County Hwy. 30A
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

The Lakehouse
238 WaterColor Boulevard
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

Old Florida Fish House
5235 E County Highway 30A
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

The Bowry On 30A
2052 West County Hwy. 30A Redfish Village
32459 Santa Rosa Beach , FL

You can buy some weekend passes for this event HERE.
But you better HURRY because this event takes place is just a few weeks. I’m not totally sure if you can purchase
individual venue tickets as of yet.

Travel and Lodging: This is a new feature on the festival series. You can click on the name links
below and it will take directly to the nearby location.
South Walton’s 16 unique beach neighborhoods, which are home to many 30A Songwriters Festival venues, are located on the northwest gulf coast of Florida between Destin and Panama City, and 25 miles south of I-10 along Emerald Coast Parkway. Major corridors in close proximity to South Walton include: I-65, I-55, I-10 and US Hwy 331. South Walton is bordered on the east by Inlet Beach and on the west by Seascape. Getting here is easy.

I have just got off a long weekend of music as I covered shows Friday night AND last night.
I’m really tired and relaxing at home today behind the keyboard.
I spent the afternoon down at the Hall Of Fame and other places and realized I FORGOT my
media card in my laptop…so these pictures are property of my good friend Alabama Mike.
He helped make this article possible, and I want to publicly thank him.

The Exit In is one of Nashville’s oldest venues.
And in my opinion one of the best places in town to see a show…and WHAT A SHOW it was!
Whitey Morgan And The 78’s are a busy bunch of guys.
They easily play 200+ shows a year and this show was their last one before a 15 day vacation
to spend the holidays with family.

His new live album “Born And Raised LIVE In Flint Michigan” was FLYING off the merch shelf
in vinyl form (I bought one) and I was told that the limited edition white vinyl SOLD OUT
in under 24 hours.
The acoustic “Grandpa’s Guitar” will be available Tuesday so I couldn’t buy it yet.
Whitey told me last night backstage his NEW album coming out in January will “Blow The Other
Albums Away”! And praised the producer highly.
Whitey is a very intelligent man, a highly charismatic entertainer and he has a mind for
business. He knows how to do what he does better than anyone and this show was more evidence
of that.

As soon as he took the stage and Mr. Brett began making that steel guitar ring with twang
he began his stellar set with “Long Time Since I Had A Good Time”.
And THAT got the whole place dancing and drinking..the place went wild!
They continued with “Bad News” and “Buick City Blues”.

He then covered Johnny Paycheck’s 1979 “Stay Away From The Cocaine Train”. That song
reached number 34 on the charts and it’s off his album “Everybody Needs A Family”.
“Memories Cost A Lot” was next and he played “Prove It All To You”.

One of my favorite songs he sings is “Honky Tonk Queen”. Sadly my all time favorite
is “If It Ain’t Broke” and he did not play that one…but hey he STILL tore the place to pieces.
He played “Crazy” before bringing up J.P.Harris who did a show on Tuesday and together they
played the Merle Haggard classic “Swinging Doors”.

A new song called “Drunken Nights In The City” was truly a treat to get to pre sample.
I got to sample a TON of new songs coming in January from several artists this weekend.
“Love And Honor” was next and then another Paycheck tune “11 Months and 29 Days” off
the same titled 1979 album.
He got a request and covered Jimmie Rodgers “T For Texas”. which I enjoyed and followed it
by “I’m On Fire” originally done by Springsteen.

“I Ain’t Drunk” is always a good song and usually a staple song on all his sets I have ever
been to live.
He covered ‘Fire On The Mountain” and played the Dale Watson penned tune “Where Do You Want It”?
And performed one encore which was the Waylon song “Hank Done It This Way”.
He left the place screaming for more and I’m sure if he could have he would have played well
into the wee hours of the morning.

I got the news early this morning that Dawn Sears has lost her battle with lung cancer.
I daresay even now she did not receive the recognition she deserves for her contributions to
Country Music to the community and to the Time Jumpers.

She began in the genre in 1990 with her debut album “What A Woman Wants To Hear” on Warner Bros. Records.
After her album had little commercial success with three minor singles she decided to leave the genre
altogether. However a man that was rapidly rising to fame at that time asked her to join his road band
as a vocalist. That man being Vince Gill who’s high pitched voice and smooth notes was garnishing
rave reviews in the early 90’s.
His smashing album “I Still Believe In You” in 1993 was an evidence of her awesome ability to
shine.
At the time he called her to work Vince Gill had released what I consider to be one of the saddest
songs in Country Music history “when I Call Your Name”.

In 1994 her Decca album “Nothin’ But Good” spawned one single that entered the charts called
“Runaway Train”.
In 2002 she released an independent album with a self title.

Since then Miss Dawn had been performing with a super group in the Nashville area called the
Time Jumpers founded by Ranger Doug Green and many more.
She also provided Vince Gill with backup vocals her entire career.

Recently she organized a benefit concert to help raise money for cancer research
and THIS was the article I wrote for that.

IT IS HERE…Live In The U.S.A. is the live album from Hillbilly Casino.
Right now it is temporarily ONLY available online by clicking HERE.

This album was recorded at the Exit In in Nashville Tennessee, and it includes 19 songs
with 3 NEW original songs. If you pre-order NOW before the 17th you WILL have it
by Christmas.

I have featured these guys MANY TIMES on this website I don’t rightly think I need to
go into detail on who they are, they are a VERY active band.
Hillbilly Casino has been a Muddy Roots staple band all 5 years and in 2014 they were
most certainly one of the top 3 acts.
They will be part of the Nashville Boogie at Opryland which also is a Muddy Roots event.

SONGS INCLUDED:
1.) Crutchero/Debt with the Devil (Abstn/Taylor)
2.) One Cup Beyond (Abstn/Firebaugh)
3.) No Toll Taken
4.) Heartburn and Heartache
5.) Jibber Jabber
6.) 80085
7.) PBR (Abston/Taylor)
8.) Dog on a Chain
9.) Big Dan (Crutcher)
10.) Hybrid Moments (Glenn Danzig)
11.) The Hole featuring Yelawolf ( (abston/Firebaugh/Ylawolf)
12.) Psycho (Nick Curran)
13.) (It Feels Good To Be A) Psycho
14.) Trainwreck (Crutcher)
15.) Mimes of the Old West (Mark Robertson)
16.) Something’s Getting Redy To Give
17.) Violets in May
18.) Hot for Teacher (Van Halen)
19.) Tennessee Stomp

So catch this band on the road somewhere and stop over at their merch table
and pick up shirts and albums.
Let’s keep this band rolling on folks.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again..Country Music has three building blocks to it’s foundation.
Songwriters, producers and steel guitarists. Now true the steel guitar wasn’t truly introduced fully into
Country Music until the 1940’s from Ernest Tubb and Hank and others.
So really the first two are the more prominent two..some of Country Music’s Godfathers were
producers like Art Satherley.
Mr. Art was solely responsible for Vernon Dalhart recording some of the very first recorded Country
Music in history. In the dawn of our era he produced some of those recordings.

We had Ken Nelson in the Bakersfield Sound era and he revolutionized Country Music by
producing some of Buck Owens finest work and the Outlaw Era has people like Jimmy Bowen
who produced Hank Williams Jr. and Richie Allbright who produced Waylon albums.

In modern times now we have Shooter producing great music and people like Andy Gibson
who formerly played steel for Hank Williams 3 now produces GREAT underground music
for people the likes of Sarah Gayle Meech and others.

On Thursday December 4rth the world of music lost Bob Montgomery who began as a
planned singing duo with Buddy Holly before he formed the Crickets.
In the late 1960s, he moved to Nashville, where he started House of Gold Music. It became a major
publishing house, scoring hits for country stars including Alabama, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers,
Dottie West and the Judds.

He wrote “Misty Blue,” which became a country hit for Eddy Arnold in the mid-1960s. About a decade
later, the song was a commercial smash for the R&B and soul singer Dorothy Moore.
He sold House of Gold Music in 1983 to Warner Bros. He also worked over the years as
a producer and record-label executive.

Montgomery co-wrote some of Holly’s songs, such as “Heartbeat”, “Wishing”, and “Love’s Made a Fool of You” as well as the pop standard “Misty Blue”. He also wrote “Back in Baby’s Arms” for Patsy Cline which was his most
successful song commercially.

His son Kevin recorded a version of this song, which appeared on his album True. Montgomery produced Bobby Goldsboro’s 1968 #1 hit “Honey.”

Bobby Montgomery truly was one of the pioneers of the legendary producers of our time.

The 5 Spot is a really cool place to see live music in East Nashville.
I just recently celebrated my birthday there with some other bands and had a GREAT TIME.
And they also have some great songwriter series shows going on there that I wrote about.

J.P.Harris and his band The Tough Choices will be
featured there on December 9th The 5 Spot will welcome his pure bred traditional country music
to Inglewood.

His website clearly states that J.P.Harris just strictly plays country music.
It’s not classified as Roots or Americana or any other genre but Country.
And his life has basically been just what he sings, Country.
Leaving home at only 14 with a backpack and living on trains and hitching rides.

In 2011 after two years of touring and doing shows with no recorded music
he went to Louisiana and recorded his first album in three days..and in May of 2012
he released “I’ll Keep Calling” to little commercial attention but BIG underground
success.
It won The Nashville Scene “Best Country Album” of 2012.

His latest album “Home Is Where The Hurt Is” is exactly that…deep Country lament.
These guys tour pretty much constantly and play almost as many shows
as Dallas Moore and Bob Wayne.
He plays tons of music festivals as well, and I see him prominently featured in Texas.

I just wished there was more time for me to catch as many shows as I’d like to
but sadly I work another job as well, and I work second shift.
Just take my word for it..if you love steel and fiddle like I do you WILL LOVE
this man and his band.