Another day of country music awards nominations. Today was the turn of the Academy of Country Music following the Country Music Association, which held its awards in the fall, and the American Country Awards, which were in December. Instead of the glitz and glamour of early morning TV to [...]

Continue reading "ACMs takes its turn"

I've never understood the need of artists to put down another, especially in concert. Is it an ego thing or are they really feeling inadequate and need to try and pummel the defenseless? I witnessed this a number of years ago in Boston when some band - I can't remember (and I would [...]

Continue reading "Hey Robert Earl Keen: keep the cheap shots out"

Kathy Mattea could be taking the easy way out these days and just rest on her considerable laurels. After all, she hasn't been on the charts - let alone have a hit - since 2000 when the cute BFD hit the lower depths of the charts. Mattea was one of those singers who did not quite fit in as [...]

Continue reading "Kathy Mattea stays true"

Yet one more singer is trying the country route. This time, it's young singer Jessie James. She has one disc under her belt - a self-titled 2009 release. James released a few singles, but was not particularly a hit out of the box. In fact, only one song - Wanted - even made the charts, and [...]

Continue reading "With Jessie James and country, everything goes"

As sure as there is a political campaign, there is music to get the crowd revved up. The problem is that every four years, it seems that there is a disconnect between the candidate and the right to use the music. Bruce Springsteen did not like it when Born in the USA, was co-opted by the [...]

Continue reading "Gingrich, Strait, McBride and country music in campaigns"