Paul Cauthen

Joshua Wallace’s Top 50 Albums of 2018

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Dec 232018

By Joshua Wallace

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the time of year where all music journalists put out their best of lists. Gary Hayes will have his own list coming up soon. This is my personal Top 50 Country Albums of 2018. I could probably double this list to 100 with all of the awesome releases that have come out in the past year. It has been that good of a year. However, that being said, I feel like these 50 albums represent the best of what I heard over this year. I reviewed many of these during the year and you can find every one of those reviews on this website. I will link a few of them here in this article. Every record on this list is worth your time, from number 1 to number 50. Gary Hayes will have his own separate list published later this month, check it out too. Let’s kick things off with the album of the year and Top 10, and then immediately following that will be 11 – 50.

**ALBUM OF THE YEAR** 01. American Aquarium – Things Change **ALBUM OF THE YEAR**

This album stuck with me the most throughout the year and thus, it is my number one record of 2018. From the heartland rock politically inspired tune “The World Is On Fire” all the way to the country balladry of “‘Till The Final Curtain Calls”, this is the best album American Aquarium has ever put together. I doubt you can find another band that can weave in and out of heartland rock and roll and country with the skill and ease this band does. I look forward to whatever comes next from BJ Barham and company. Check out my full review of Things Change from earlier in the year.

02. Ashley McBryde – Girl Going Nowhere

This album had me last year with the single “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega”. That song was out well before the album and has stuck with me ever since. The album itself ads more great tracks to Ashley’s repertoire and there isn’t a bad cut on this one. I predict big things for Ashley McBryde in 2019 and I’m looking forward to seeing her open for George Strait in Atlanta next year. Check out my review of this record here.

03. Randall King – Randall King

Randall King is a throwback to an era of country we don’t have many throwbacks to. He takes the best elements of 90’s country music and brings them to modern times. His songs “Mirror, Mirror”, “Tuggin’ On My Heartstrings” and “Cool Under Pressure” have stuck with me and this album is often played front to back when it comes on. Check out my review of the record here.

04. Josh Card – With A Heavy Heart

The sound on this record is perfect. Everything is spot on and these are the best tracks Josh Card has ever put out. Check out a couple of my favorites in “Suffer” and “Won’t Chase Your Love Anymore”. Read my full review of the album here.

05. Whitey Morgan & The 78s – Hard Times & White Lines

This is straight up the best live honky tonk band going right now. This album is another great chapter of their music adding some killer new originals, some new Dale Watson and even ZZ Top to their live set. Give this one a spin however you listen to music and read my review here.

06. Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Years

This album is punk rock outlaw country at its best. Sarah Shook put out her best record yet with Years. It has been high on this list all year and lands at number six. Do yourself a favor and read my review of the record here, and then go out and buy a copy and see her live when you get a chance to.

07. Belle Plaine – Malice, Mercy, Grief & Wrath

Belle Plaine has released some solid country gold right here. I’m still digging on “Taxes, Death and You” and “Is It Cheating” featuring Colter Wall. Do yourself a favor and give this one a spin. My full review of this record is here.

08. Colter Wall – Songs Of The Plains

Colter Wall does not disappoint on his sophomore full length release. This album has some great tunes with “Plain To See Plainsmen”, “Thinkin’ On A Woman” and the Billy Don Burns cover “Wild Dogs”. This album could have been number one if this year wasn’t so stacked with awesome releases. Check out my review of this one here.

09. Jamie Lin Wilson – Jumping Over Rocks

In her follow-up to 2016’s Holidays and Wedding Rings, Jamie Lin Wilson has put out her best stuff yet with tracks like “The Being Gone”, “Everybody’s Moving Slow” and a cover of Guy Clark’s “Instant Coffee Blues” featuring Jack Ingram sticking with me in heavy rotation. Do yourself a favor and give this record a spin, you won’t regret it. Check out my full review here.

10. Dallas Moore – Mr. Honky Tonk

I knew when I first heard Dallas Moore’s track “Mr. Honky Tonk” that this would be a killer record. This album represents a high mark in Dallas Moore’s career and there isn’t a bad track on it. I’m still digging on “Shoot Out The Lights”, “Killing Me Nice and Slow” and “You Know The Rest”. Do yourself a favor, check out my review and pick up a copy of this one.

The Best Of The Rest:

11. Shooter Jennings – Shooter

12. Caitlyn Smith – Starfire

13. Cody Jinks – Lifers

14. Pistol Annies – Interstate Gospel

15. Joshua Hedley – Mr. Jukebox

16. Bri Bagwell – In My Defense

17. Brent Cobb – Providence Canyon

18. Dillon Carmichael – Hell On An Angel

19. Kayla Ray – Yesterday And Me

20. Josh Ward – More Than I Deserve

21. Josh Grider – Good People

22. Brandi Carlile – By The Way, I Forgive You

23. Paul Cauthen – Have Mercy

24. Blackberry Smoke – Find A Light

25. Jason Boland & The Stragglers – Hard Times Are Relative

26. T.J. Hernandez – Who I Am

27. Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain

28. Old Crow Medicine Show – Volunteer

29. The Brother Brothers – Some People I Know

30. Ward Davis – Asunder

31. Craig Gerdes – Smokin’, Drinkin’ & Gamblin’

32. Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour

33. Courtney Patton – What It’s Like To Fly Alone

34. John Prine – The Tree Of Forgiveness

35. Ashley Monroe – Sparrow

36. Pat Reedy & The Longtime Goners – That’s All There Is (And There Ain’t No More)

37. Kyle Park – Don’t Forget Where You Come From

38. Lori McKenna – The Tree

39. James Scott Bullard – Full Tilt Boogie

40. Adam Hood – Somewhere In Between

41. Kristina Murray – Southern Ambrosia

42. Chelsea Nolan – Chelsea.

43. Abe Partridge – Cotton Fields and Blood For Days

44. Mike & The Moonpies – Steak Night At The Prairie Rose

45. Sara Morgan – Average Jane

46. Jason Sinkhorn – Junction City, Kentucky

47. Urban Pioneers – Hillbilly Swing Music

48. Joe’s Truck Stop – American Dreams

49. JP Harris – Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing

50. Darci Carlson – Darci Carlson

Joshua Wallace Covers The Great Peacock, Colter Wall And Paul Cauthen.

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Jul 202017

Folks as most of you know i cannot be omnipresent, and recently I looked around for some dedicated friends to help me do this. See now I’ll be able to cover more ground through the eyes and ears of others. Mr. Joshua has been my personal friend for many years, and I have a huge deal of respect for him as a person.

With that being said please take a moment to enjoy his coverage of an Atlanta show with these fine artists. I’m sure if this article is as well received as I anticipate we will publish more articles for other bands, that Mr. Joshua writes.

All photos and article content by Joshua Wallace.

Last Saturday night I had the pleasure of heading up to Atlanta to see a show which featured Great Peacock, Colter Wall and Paul Cauthen at Terminal West. I’ve been a fan of Colter Wall’s for a couple of years and this was my first chance to see him live. I was happy to be able to see him do a longer set with The Speedy Creek Band. I was not as familiar with the music of Paul Cauthen or Great Peacock. I enjoy Paul Cauthen’s debut record My Gospel and was looking forward to hearing some of those songs live. However, I had not heard much of Great Peacock before this show.

Great Peacock performed a short opening set. They mostly performed songs from their 2015 album Making Ghosts. The group played through original songs like “Take Me Back To The Mountain” and “Desert Lark”. The group has a sound that is very reminiscent of Whiskeytown. Their brand of guitar driven alt country and Americana takes you back to those days. They even did a Whiskeytown cover in their short set. If you’re a fan of this kind of music, you can’t go wrong catching Great Peacock live if they’re playing near you.

Next up was Colter Wall. He opened the show up solo picking through “Thirteen Silver Dollars” by himself before his band takes the stage about halfway through the song. It’s a great intro to the show that puts the focus on Colter Wall as the star. The band features Anna Blanton on fiddle and mandolin, John Clay on drums, dobro and backing vocals and Jason Simpson on bass. He has a small band, but they help fill out his sound perfectly.

Colter Wall plays through songs from both his self titled LP and the EP Imaginary Appalachia. He rounds out a full set with a couple of newer songs and covers. He plays songs most fans are familiar with from youtube like “Railroad Bill” and “Saskatchewan 1881”, but he also plays new songs that people have never heard before. As for covers, he mixes in a variety of songs such as Jimmie Rodgers “Mule Skinner Blues”, Ray Wylie Hubbard’s “Up Against The Wall, Redneck Mother” and the Ramblin’ Jack Elliot version of “Tramp In The Street”.

Colter Wall is a very talented performer whom I feel is going as far as he wants to. He’s an amazing songwriter and his live shows will convince you of his talent as a performer. He has a presence that draws everyone’s attention to him and his voice is reminiscent of the late Johnny Cash. The thing I found most amazing that drew me in was his skills as a guitar player. He finger picks everything with the skill of someone much older. I feel like right now, he’s kind of where Sturgill Simpson was after releasing High Top Mountain. He’s not quite drawing a sell out every time, but word of mouth is getting around with every show he plays. I talked to a few people that night and I know a lot of folks either came for the first time because someone told them about him or saw him before and brought a friend. It’s only a matter of time before he is playing larger venues.

Paul Cauthen finished up the night. He brings a very different sound than Colter Wall with his band. If you mix Texas Country with bits of funk and gospel, you have a good description of what you can expect from Paul Cauthen. His guitar player is interesting as he can bring a bit of funk and spaced out sounds in addition to the typical country twang. Paul Cauthen mostly worked through songs from his debut record “My Gospel” but he also includes other songs that aren’t on the record. As for covers, he does a rousing rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”. The highlight of the set for me was Paul’s acoustic version of “Let It Burn”. He has an amazing vibrato and it really shows when he lets the band take a break and plays acoustic. He finished off the night with “I’ll Be The One” and “My Gospel”.

Overall it was a very good night of music. It might have been a disservice to Paul for him to go on last as many people cleared out after Colter Wall’s set, but it didn’t seem to phase Paul Cauthen and his band at all. I highly recommend checking out any of these three bands if they come to your area.

2017 Music Festivals: Tumbleweed Festival.

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Jun 032017

This is a very very special edition of my festival article series folks, another mammoth outdoor festival in the Kansas City area so I’ll be researching hotels for this one people. My GOD the absolutely amazing lineup that has become one of the hottest upcoming events of 2017. Once I print you the lineup links you’ll not even need a second opinion before venturing over to the ticket link.

This is going to be a different take on most festivals folks because it’s going to involve more than just the bands and musicians they plan to include many of the fan factions of the artists as well. The festival director plans to include the popular support group of Cody Jinks called The Flockers, tomorrow I’ll be talking with one of their representatives concerning what their role will be in this event. I’ll be adding that conversation on this article as well as updating it many times before my crew and I head down there.

I’m telling you that right there in the middle of America we got Red Dirt meets touring Outlaw acts meets Americana acts all rolled into one big outdoor stage. I’m going to be studying this event thoroughly in the next few weeks, and I’ll be promoting this festival HEAVILY in the next few weeks.

Now folks some of these festivals I do a lot of work for, but this one I’ll be HEAVILY promoting and doing research for this one because this is their second year of operation, and we want to see this festival grow. Additionally I am currently attempting to bring in more Red Dirt Country into my format, so this worked out well on both ends.

Best Hotel for Tumbleweed:

Located less than 15 Minutes from Tumbleweed festival grounds:

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City

ALL IN ONE HOTEL DESTINATION
Located 12 minutes from Tumbleweed festival grounds.
Recognized with the 2015 Certificate of Excellence award by TripAdvisor.
US News Top 6 Hotel in Missouri.

Ameristar Casino and Hotel of Kansas City is your ultimate hotel and closest to Tumbleweed. This award winning hotel has it all; Casino, Restaurants, Views and Room Service and Bars.

Learn More About the Hotel HERE

But Wait, There’s More!

An additional twenty-two hotels are located within 20 minutes from the festival site. They range from budget to four-star accommodations. I was recently out in this area last weekend and I got to see the venue firsthand, there are plenty of hotels and stores nearby.

In time I shall also research area restaurants as well, this article will be constantly added to in the next few weeks.

CLICK HERE for a listing and map of these hotels!

The Tumbleweed Payment Plan enables you to get tickets now and pay nothing for six months. No interest, no payments for six months. You can buy tickets of all types HERE. YES FOLKS for this festival you can purchase tickets on a layaway plan! THIS IS the FIRST festival I have EVER witnessed this happen.

– Camping is a separate ticket (add-on)
– RV Campers must have (1) RV pass for the vehicle and Forest Camping Pass for each individual
– All campers must also have an access pass to enter the festival or camping grounds.
– Thursday night add-on campers must also have a Forest Camping pass

– On Thursday, July 27th, Thursday Night campers have access at 5:00pm. Gates open for early entry and VIP at 4:45pm. Gates close Thursday night at midnight. No access after midnight, so please plan accordingly!
– On Friday, July 28th, campers have access at 1:00pm. Gates open for early-entry and VIP attendees at 12:00pm. Standard entry is at 2pm
– On Saturday, July 29th, gates open at 11:30am
– All attendees must exit by 12:00/noon Sunday

FROM THE WEBSITE, AND FROM MINE:

Welcome to Tumbleweed Country Music Festival. We’re here to answer your questions! Check out the references below and don’t hesitate to reach out via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and however else you can find us!

Receive special offers and be the first to know about special sales, announcements and the lineup! Click here to submit your email!

This is a family-friendly festival along the gorgeous Missouri River bank covered by mature trees with a playground. Kids 10 years and younger are free!

PROHIBITED ITEMS

NO coolers inside Main Stage area (permitted only in camping)
NO Loitering, drinking or grilling in the parking lot (enforced by police)
NO sleeping in cars in the parking lot (enforced by police)
NO outside food or drink (permitted in camping)
NO weapons of any kind (includes pocket knives, pepper spray, fireworks, guns, tasers)
NO drones

Contained fires are permitted until 2:30am and must be in a 36″ metal fire container with a screen on top (standard at all retailers). If you bring a fire pit, you must also have a 10lb fire extinguisher with it. We’re camping in a forest!

Grills are permitted.

MUSTS TO BRING

– Printed off tickets. We will not accept electronic versions off of your cell phone, receipts, etc. Your ticket must be a hard copy printed off on paper. If your ticket does not scan you will not be granted access.

– Credit Card/ATM Card/Cash- some vendors accept cash only, parking is cash only (see parking info below), liquor/beer sales will accept credit cards in some locations. Please CARPOOL! Parking is $30 per vehicle (except for RV’s) to encourage car-pooling and funds go to the city for the facility usage and cleanup.

– Your ID, a SMILE and some killer boots!!!

GENERAL FAQ

WHEN CAN WE ARRIVE? WHEN DO WE HAVE TO LEAVE?

On Thursday, July 27th, Thursday Night campers have access at 5:00pm. Gates open for early entry at 4:00pm.

On Friday, July 28th, campers have access at 1:00pm. Gates open for early-entry attendees at 12:00pm. Standard entry is at 2pm. On Saturday, July 29th, gates open at 11:30am. All attendees must exit by 12:00/noon Sunday.

I NEVER GOT MY TICKETS AFTER I PURCHASED THEM – I NEED MY TICKETS RESENT TO ME?

Please visit www.Ticketfly.com or call 877.435.9849

Pets: Allowed with Service Animal or Companion Pet documentation

Grills: Allowed

Open Camp Fires: Not Allowed (must be contained in metal fire pit container with mesh cover)

MY CREDIT CARD IS BEING DECLINED.

Please make sure your address is imputed EXACTLY as your address on file with your credit card company. Please contact your CC company or check your statement to verify address on file. Any error no matter how small will decline your attempt. This is put in place to reduce fraud associated with purchases.

IS THIS AN ALL AGES FESTIVAL?

Yes, all ages are welcome. Kids 10 and under are free!

HOW CAN I CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT TICKETS?

For all ticket concerns or questions please call Ticketfly at 877.435.9849. Please note that ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No Refunds for any reason. We will not respond to refund requests. Thank you.

HOW DO I CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR ALL OTHER QUESTIONS?

Please email tumbleweed@bordaproductions.com. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response. Please note that ALL SALES are FINAL. No refunds for any reason. We will not respond to refund requests. Thank you.

ARE THERE ANY CELL PHONE CHARGING STATIONS?

Only in VIP.

CAN I LEAVE THE FESTIVAL AND RETURN?

Yes, you will be able to come and go as you wish. Please note that you will be subject to search each time you enter the festival grounds. This is purely for the safety of our guests. PLEASE, there is ZERO loitering in the parking areas and will be strictly enforced for safety reasons.

IF I AM STAYING OFF SITE, CAN I LEAVE AND COME BACK?

Yes.

WILL YOU BE POSTING SET TIMES IN ADVANCE? WHERE CAN I FIND EXACT SET TIMES?

Set times will be posted closer to the festival dates. Please take the time to explore Tumbleweed, as there are some things happening that will not be posted, and will be exciting to find on your own.

I’M A PHOTOGRAPHER. WHO DO I ARRANGE A PHOTO PASS THROUGH?

Please complete a media form located on the Contact Us page.

WHAT TYPES OF VENDORS WILL BE ON HAND?

There will be a variety of food/beverage/alcohol/arts-crafts/apparel/ and more.

Motorcycle Parking?

Motorcycles will park on the concrete parking lot near the entrance gate. Limited space available: first come, first reserve!

TICKET FAQ’s

ACCESS TO THE MAIN STAGE?

Yes, all ticket levels will have unrestricted access to the front of the stage. No special pit tickets or similar exists.

I NEVER GOT MY TICKETS?

Please visit www.Ticketfly.com or call 877.435.9849

I CAN’T GO ANYMORE + I WANT A REFUND.

Just like any event ALL SALES ARE FINAL. When purchasing your ticket you agreed to our ticketing terms. We do not offer refunds for any reason. We will unable to respond to refund requests. Thank you.

CAN I BRING MY KIDS? DO THEY HAVE TO PAY?

Yes. Everyone is allowed in the event with a ticket. Kids 10 and younger are free!

DO I NEED TO PRINT OFF MY TICKETS?

Yes, you MUST print off your tickets on to paper. No other form will be accepted. We will be scanning printed off tickets only. If your ticket does not scan you will not be granted access.

WILL TICKETS BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE FESTIVAL GATES?

Yes, at higher ‘gate’ prices.

CAN I GET A SINGLE DAY PASS?

Single Day passes to Tumbleweed are not sold.

GETTING HERE FAQ

PLEASE USE THIS GOOGLE MAP LINK!! IOS MAPS CAN LEAD YOU WRONG!

CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE MAP

CAMPING FAQ

HOW BIG IS MY CAMPING AREA?

It’s open first-come-first reserve camping with a recommended space of 10ft x 15ft per person, but you can camp with friends, family, etc. No true restriction on a reasonable camping area :).

CAN WE LEAVE AND RE-ENTER THE CAMPGROUND AREA?

Yes, as many times as you want.

WHAT ARE THE GENERAL RULES FOR BUYING A CAMPING SPOT?

A camping pass is required to enter the camping grounds. One Camping Pass = One Entrance to Camping.

You cannot camp without a festival pass.

CAN WE BRING IN ALCOHOL?

Only campers can bring in beer and/or liquor to the campgrounds. No outside food/drink in the main stage area.

WHAT WILL YOU BE PROVIDING AT THE CAMPGROUNDS?

There will be 24hr security. There will be water and ice for sale, as well as ATMs and a variety of vendors within the venue.

WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE ON SITE? WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (MEDICAL, POLICE, TOWING, LOCKSMITH, ETC.)?

There will be medical assistance available throughout the campgrounds and festival site. You can stop any officer you see, or any staff member you see, for assistance.

WHERE SHOULD I GO IF I LOSE MY KEYS, MY WALLET OR MY FRIENDS?

Go to the Tumbleweed information/ticket booth near the main entrance of the festival.

WILL SMALL CAMPFIRES BE ALLOWED IN THE CAMPING AREAS? WILL YOU ALLOW FIRE BINS?

There will be no campfires of any kind allowed. Burn it down on the dance floor! Grills are permitted.

WILL THERE BE ANY ELECTRICITY IN THE CAMPING AREA?

No.

ARE SERVICE ANIMALS ALLOWED IN THE CAMPSITE?

Yes.

IS THERE CELL PHONE SERVICE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL SITE?

Dependent on crowd size. WiFi connections may be available for a small fee.

ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CAMP NEXT TO OUR CARS?

No. Upon arrival, you will be directed into the main parking area. Camping is located within the park therefore no cars are allowed. Please walk your belongings to the camping area which is very close to the parking lot.

VENUE FAQ

CAN WE BRING WATER INTO THE MAIN CONCERT VENUE FROM THE OUTSIDE?

No. You can purchase water and/or refill at FREE water stations.

WILL WE BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE FESTIVAL AND COME BACK?

Yes. No loitering in the parking lots.

WILL CHAIRS BE ALLOWED IN THE CONCERT VENUE?

Yes.

WILL THERE BE ATM MACHINES INSIDE THE VENUE?

Yes.