Roots, Toots n' Hoots Blog

The Grammys, country style

Jeffrey Remz  |  February 10, 2013

The Grammys start off the action with Taylor Swift leading the way with her take on We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. It sure seems over the top with jugglers, marionettes of the human variety and lots more going on including flash pots of course. Swift is decked out in white include white boots, white shorts and jacket.

Swift sounded good on this ultra catchy kiss off song.

We'll be covering the rest of the Grammys tonight, but keeping it on the country side of life.

8:20 p.m.: A bit slow on the uptake, but just saw on line that Little Big Town won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for Pontoon. The quartet took it over Eli Young Band's Even If It Breaks Your Heart, Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars for Safe & Sound, The Tim Jumpers for On the Outskirts of Town and Don Williams Featuring Alison Krauss on I Just Come Here For the Music.

Blown Away took Best Country Song for writers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. Carrie Underwood, of course, sang it. Other nominees were Cost of Livin' by Phillip Coleman and Ronnie Dunn (Dunn sang it); Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Will Hoge and Eris Paslay (Eli Young Band); So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore, by Jay Knowles and Adam Wright (Alan Jackson) and Springsteen by Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell (Church).

Bonnie Raitt took home Best Americana Album for "Slipstream." The vet took it over Mumford & Sons for "Babel," The Avett Brothers for "The Carpenter," virtual unknown John Fullbright for "From the Ground Up" and The Lumineers for their self-titled disc.

The Steep Canyon Rangers won Best Bluegrass Album for "Nobody Knows You." Dailey & Vincent were nominated as well for "The Gospel Side of Dailey & Vincent," The Grascals for "Life Finds a Way," Noam Pikelny for "Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail" and Special Consensus for "Scratch Gravel Road."

Best Folk Album went to "The Goat Rodeo Sessions" for Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile. Carolina Chocolate Drops for "Leaving Eden," Ry Cooder for "Election Special," Luther Dickinson for "Hambone's Meditations" and Various Artists for "This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark" also were nominated.

8:33 p.m.: Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley are on together for her hit Over You.. Quite the fingernails for Lambert with a short dress. Who helped her put her outfit together. not exactly flattering. The tour are touring together. Bentley looks more himself with jeans and acoustic guitar, white t-shirt and brown leather jacket. Vocals are not real sharp, but who knows maybe it's my system.

The two switch to Bentley's excellent, penetrating song Home. He sounds as excellent as ever with Lambert more on backing vocals than it being a duet. Then, she takes lead vocals before they share the chorus. he still sounds better than Lambert.

8:43 p.m.: Carrie Underwood takes the Grammy for Best Solo Country Performance for Blown Away. Got to say I'm a bit surprised given the stiff competition of Eric Church's Springsteen, Blake Shelton's Over and Bentley's Home.

Not say that Underwood wasn't deserving. Just surprised a bit given the other songs.

In winning, an emotional Underwood said, "Wow," Underwood said. "Country music has always been so good to me, and I thank the Good Lord that I've been always part of such an amazing, talent family."

8:54 p.m.: Mumford & Sons do their thing on I Will Wait. They are not exactly country, more rootsy with a folkie sound, but whatever you want to call them, they are a great band. Always love the energy and intensity. Marcus and band come up with a slew of great melodies time and again. No big props needed by these guys either fortunately. They rely on the music. Lots of banjo.

Mumford & Sons take home Best Long Form Music Video for "Big Easy Express" with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show.

9:10 p.m.: Forgot that found out earlier Swift was not to be denied, of course, as she took Best Song Written for Visual Media for Safe & Sound from "The Hunger Games" along with fellow writers T Bone Burnett and The Civil Wars' John Paul White and Joy Williams. Swift and The Civil Wars recorded the song. Burnett beat himself as he also was nominated along with Arcade Fire's Win Butler and Regine Chassange for Abraham's Daughter, also from "The Hunger Games." Mumford & Sons were nominated for Learn Me Right from "Brave."

9:58 p.m.: Zac Brown Band takes the Best Country Album Grammy for "Uncaged." Brown, decked in a hat (what? no cap?), white shirt, tie and suit, gives a hum drum thanks to the various parties inimical to their session. Even the fans :) I thought Miranda Lambert would take it for "Four the Record," which was a strong disc. The rest of the nominees had about zero chance.

10:27 p.m.: Best New Artist is fun. Not a surprise although Hunter Hayes and The Lumineers were nominated as well. This is pretty much fun.'s night for sure. Getting a lot of air time. However, did you really have to tell us how you had to get off the stage to pee? I'm never sure what possesses these folks to act this way.

10:34 p.m. Hunter Hayes plays a snippet of Wanted. He sounds good with his soulful voice, but really out there to intro Carrie Underwood. As usual, her voice is ultra strong. Lot of vibrancy and goes soft also in her take on Blown Away. She gives American Idol a good name.

I can't figure out what's on her dress though changing in color through images on it, including a monarch butterfly just now. Very strange looking. As usual, that kind of thing detracts from the song.

10:40 p.m.: Record of the Year goes to Gotye and Kimbra. Taylor Swift doesn't take it home for We Are Never... but her night's been fine. Not like Gotye and Kimbra were a bad choice.

10:58 p.m. or so: The tribute to Levon Helm is excellent with The Weight. Lovely job from Mumford & Sons, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Mavis Staples, Elton John, Zac Brown and T Bone Burnett. Real nice singing and spirit. Hopefully, Levon is proud.

11:17 p.m.: Album of the Year; Mumford & Sons for "Babel." "We figured we weren't going to win anything because the Black Keys have been cleaning up all night," said Mumford. He also got bleeped out for cursing something about Adele winning alst year with some joke. Fine album. Fine band.