Chesney goes from Ryman to Lower Broadway bar with Steve Miller
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 – After treating a standing room only crowd at the Ryman Auditorium to almost two hours of music, Kenny Chesney and Steve Miller decided to celebrate their "Crossroads" taping by deciding to do an impromptu jam at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway.
The pair walked down the ally between the Ryman and the bar, went in the back door and made their way to the front stage and straight into Miller's classic Fly Like An Eagle.
"If you're at the Ryman... and you want to do it the way the old Opry stars did, everybody knows it was out the back door of the Ryman, cross the ally and sneak in the back door of Tootsies. Kristofferson drank there, and Willie. Hank Williams, Patsy Cline. If I was gonna show my friend what this experience was all about - especially after a night as great as our 'Crossroads' taping had been... then we had to do Tootsies."
Taking the stage at a little bit before 11, the pair played into Wednesday morning on the tiny stage in the front window. Beyond Miller classics like Take The Money & Run, Abracadabra, The Joker and Rock'n Me, the pair also played Hank Williams Sr.'s Mind Your Own Business, Chesney's Livin' In Fast Forward and Stevie Ray Vaughan's Love Struck Baby.
"The thing about Steve Miller is he's a music guy, not a genre guy. He loves everything and sees the sweet spot on Hank Sr. as easy as he does Jimmy Reed... and that's what makes being onstage with him so much fun - and what makes his songs hit people in so many places at one time. And you know it's funny, because those songs are such a part of who we are, when I looked out at the crowd - at the Ryman or at Tootsies - you could tell that everyone listening was suddenly 17 years old again and right in that moment of being young, being free and being so alive and in love with music.
"But what's funny, for me, is as much as I have a time and place for every one of those songs... and those are powerful memories, just look at 'I Go Back,' after tonight, those songs for me are going to be standing onstage with one of my idols, getting to live one of those crazy dreams you have when you're a kid. Those impossible dreams are every bit as much a part of the music as anything."
Though no airdate has been set, look for "Crossroads" to debut on CMT: Country Music Television in July.
More news for Kenny Chesney
CD reviews for Kenny Chesney
Greatest Hits Two
The Kenny Chesney hit machine continues, which explains a second volume of hits. And these really are because this is his first proper greatest hits in nine years. He's enjoyed a remarkable career with only 4 singles since 1997 not hitting the top 10 (interestingly one of them was one of his signature songs She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy.) Even the one new song here, Out Last Night, hit number one.
The songs cover both the sensitive, more introspective side of Chesney where he tends to »»» |
Lucky Old Sun
Kenny Chesney did not make a country disc here, but once you overlook that, the laid back seemingly good country superstar digs quite deep. Chesney says the 11 songs is "deeper than "Be As You Are," and he is correct. Considered the country version of Jimmy Buffett doesn't always hold water. Chesney gives the appearance of life being laid back while having some fun on a Carribean island, but such is not always the case apparently.
The vibe is acoustic-based most of the time, »»» |
Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates
The hit machine continues for superstar Kenny Chesney. Prior to its release, Chesney already enjoy a big hit with the catchy lead off "Never Wanted Nothing More."
The most interesting track is the island-flavored "Shiftwork," a duet with George Strait by Troy Jones where they sing of punching the clock at work, waiting for time off.
The closing "Demons" hews closest to country on the set produced by Buddy Cannon and Chesney. Penned by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall, »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Cherryholmes comes together –
For a bluegrass band like Cherryholmes, the setting - the courtyard of one of the grandest museums in the entire U.S. was atypical. So without a "typical" audience there to lend support, one could argue that the sextet was up against it. No matter, though, because the family band showed why it is one of the best out there.... »»»
Concert Review: Ray LaMontagne demands attention –
Ray LaMontagne should have had a lot to celebrate, but you certainly could not tell from his demeanor on this tour with British singer David Gray.
Interestingly enough, the first of two shows before full houses also marked the same day that both artists released new discs. LaMontagne is going in a different direction with "God Willin' & The... »»»
|
|
Country News Digest
 CST
 CST
Elsewhere in the news
Currently at the CST blogs
A significant number of artists would be happy to notch two great consecutive albums. With the release of her latest, "See You on the Moon," Tift Merritt has managed to release four stone winners in a row. She accepts with a demure, but clearly grateful "Wow, thank you so much."... »»»
Elizabeth Cook is like a modern day Loretta Lynn. She sings and writes as frankly about sex (with songs like Yes to Booty), as Lynn did with "The Pill. Now, on her fifth album, "Welder," which was produced by a true music business hit man, Don Was, Cook has fun with stereotypes ( El Camino), yet gets deadly serious and personal about the subject of addiction on Heroin Addict Sister.... »»»
For their fifth album, "Wildwood," North Carolina quartet Chatham County Line decided to expand their bluegrass sound by utilizing instrumentation rarely a component in a bluegrass band: drums. As CCL frontman Dave Wilson explains, Tift Merritt's drummer/husband Zeke Hutchins had contributed to the songs in their seminal state, so it was only right that he should help finish them as well. "We felt like this was a record that could reach out to a lot more people than just the bluegrass audience," says Wilson.... »»»
Junky Star
Ryan Bingham's name recognition took a quantum leap this year after his Academy Award win for Best Original Song with The Weary Kind. But fear not, the Texas troubadour hasn't gone Hollywood on his marvelous new album. There isn't a stylistic overhaul or big-name guests. The only slight change for his third full length is that T Bone Burnett replaced Marc Ford in the producer's chair. »»» |
Mosaic
The first thing listeners will notice about Ricky Skaggs' new album is that it is neither bluegrass, where Skaggs has been a torchbearer for many years, nor the neo-traditional country that made him a household name. If it must be categorized it fits most snuggly in the genre of Contemporary Christian Music. While final decision ultimately rest on Skaggs, the sound and feel of the album can be traced back to its producer, Gordon Kennedy. »»» |
Cowboy's Back in Town
Trace Adkins' move to Toby Keith's Show Dog label has certainly brought out the macho in him. Much like Keith, Adkins sings a lot of songs here about being a real man's man. With Hell, I Can Do That, he speaks for every confident guy that's ever believed that the feats celebrities accomplish aren't really all that hard. »»» |
All About Tonight
Blake Shelton was successful in February with "Six Pack," which his label said wasn't an EP, but at six tracks, you judge. Whatever. His new disc emphasizes uptempo, rocking songs with touches of twang. Shelton sings with vigor from the get go with the title song. At the same time, releasing music more frequently doesn't mean that there are a lot of great songs. »»» |
Eilen Jewell Presents Butcher Holler a Tribute to Loretta Lynn
Tribute albums walk a fine line for most listeners. Are they designed to draw fans of the artist singing or the artist being paid tribute? In the case of Eilen Jewell's new album, the answer should be both. It should be said upfront that the problem with many tribute albums is that the tributing artist hews too closely to the source material. Fortunately, this is not the case here. »»» |
It's a Good Day
Asleep At The Wheel is joined by former Texas Playboys lead singer Leon Rausch on this western swing collection. Rausch, 83, who fronted Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in the late '50's and early '60's, handles all the lead vocals here with ample help from AATW and friends. »»» |
|
