Jackson, Church lead Capitol party
Thursday, August 11, 2011 – "Capitol Street Party 4," a free music event open to the public is scheduled to take place near Music Row, on Wednesday, Sept. 21 with low sets by Alan Jackson, Eric Church and newcomer Eric Paslay. EMI Records Nashville's newest singer/songwriter Jon Pardi will extend the street with a special post-party performance at a nearby club.
Capitol Records Nashville President & CEO, Mike Dungan said, "Where else can you experience a true American icon, the artist with the number one album in America and the best new artist to come out this year? All for the low, low price of ... Nothing. It's free. You'd be crazy not to be there."
Texas native Paslay (Pass-Lay) started playing guitar at 15 years old and had aspirations of being a songwriter. He moved to Nashville to attend a music program at Middle Tennessee State University. Seven years after his move to Nashville, Paslay signed with EMI Record Nashville. During those seven years he worked on his songwriting and gigged around town. Paslay has penned or co-penned every song on his debut album, due out next year. He also has a songwriting cut, Friday Night, on the upcoming Lady Antebellum album, as well as, the Jake Owen single Barefoot Blue Jean Night, which he co-wrote with Dylan Altman and Terry Sawchuk.
Pardi comes from a small town in Northern California. He performed karaoke for at his grandmother's home at three. By 8, he was playing the guitar and at 12, he was writing his own songs. Pardi had his first band at age 14, performing a mixture of classic rock and country. Pardi moved to Nashville at 22 years old, where his unique musical style gained the attention of Song Factory which led to a publishing contract.
Last year, more than 10,000 fans packed Demonbreun Street.
More news for Alan Jackson
CD reviews for Alan Jackson
Precious Memories Vol. II
There's nothing more pathetic than watching a country performer sweat bullets on television while performing a gospel song, seemingly to try and prove - with all this overt effort - they truly believe what they're singing about. You won't get that impression from Alan Jackson, at least not from his second collection of hymns, "Precious Memories: Vol. II." Even during There Is Power in the Blood, a song that could easily have gotten revved up beyond control, the guitar and »»»
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34 Number Ones
Alan Jackson
34 Number Ones
Arista
Alan Jackson has rightfully enjoyed a tremendous amount of artistic and commercial success during his 14-CD career spanning 20 years. None of his albums debuted lower than number four. He captures a segment of country music that, unfortunately, has few imitators. The Georgian is well-steeped, of course, in traditional country music following in the footsteps of folks like George Jones. He also tends to focus on the small town way of life, a humble working »»»
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Freight Train
The title indicates traditionalist Alan Jackson is moving forward. While it's not clear how fast Jackson is moving forward, he certainly keeps moving in the right direction. This is pretty much meat and potatoes Jackson. Now, while that may sound to be less than complimentary, in the case of Jackson, there's a lot to be said for that. First off, he has a distinctive, sweet voice. George Jones, of course, continues to be an influence (True Love is a Golden Ring and a fine duet with Lee »»»
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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: McGraw has plenty of fight left –
Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) –
If you didn't realize Steve Earle had a new disc out, "The Low Highway," it would have been no problem realizing that quite and quickly.
That was because Earle started the two-hour show with three straight tracks from "The Low Highway," and he would not be done for the night. The title track of was a midtempo effort... »»»
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Country News Digest
CST
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Elsewhere in the news
Currently at the CST blogs

Some folks listening to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison's new duet album, "Cheaters Game," may well exclaim, 'Well, it's about time!' after finally hearing these two talented country singer/songwriters recording music as a pair for the first time. Willis has built quite a following for her independently-minded feminine perspective, while Robison has written hits for the Dixie Chicks ( Travelin' Soldier) and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ( Angry All the Time), as well as penning the ultimate Willie Nelson tribute, What Would Willie Do? and recording it as a solo act.
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Last fall, singer/songwriter Steve Forbert dropped the 14th studio album of his 35-year career, the impeccable "Over With You." Critics recognized the album as a return to the form Forbert displayed on his earliest works - 1978's stripped back and personal "Alive on Arrival" and 1979's more lushly produced and commercially accessible "Jackrabbit Slim" - but the fact is that Forbert has never strayed far from their basic folk/rock tenets.... »»»

Over the course of the past 20 years or so, Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller have both experienced a certain rise in their respective rootsy country profiles. Miller has become one of Nashville's hottest speed dial numbers, as an artist, a guitarist-for-hire (a role he has performed for Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant, among others) and an intuitive producer (he's currently working with Executive Music Producer T Bone Burnett to provide the soundtrack for ABC's "Nashville" television series).... »»»

Wilderness
"Wilderness" is another twisted menagerie of The Handsome Family songs. Once again, husband Brett Sparks sings their songs, sometimes in a bellowing gravedigger voice, after adding music to wife Rennie's lyrics. This time out, each and every tune is named after an animal, insect or other such nature creature. However, Rennie studies animals the way Flannery O'Connor wrote about humans, which is with the weirdness and character flaws in primary focus. »»»
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Love Is Everything
George Strait may have reached his seventh decade, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. In fact, Strait seems to be getting even more consistent as he gets older. Strait doesn't stray all that far from the formula that has resulted in superstar status. First and foremost, that means his sonorous voice is mixed far above the music, a very good thing. »»»
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Dark Dirty Mile
Jason Boland and the Stragglers have released a new country album that sounds old. This isn't to imply that the sound is aged in a negative way; they have a classic country maturity that isn't heard too much these days with the exception of Jamey Johnson. For those not familiar with the music of Boland, the first track is a great way to decide whether this is your kind of country music. The title track is a mid tempo country song reminiscent of the late Waylon Jennings. »»»
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Golden
Lady Antebellum probably needed a change in direction after "Own the Night" dropped in 2011. The material was overly geared towards taking dead aim at the radio jugular. That isn't the case this time out on the trio's fifth release because most of the songs veer away from being obviously radio fodder (except for the current single Downtown with its soulful beginning and strong vocals from Hillary Scott), but that also doesn't man that this was the right change. »»»
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