Paul Cauthen & The Texas Gentlemen at Gruene Hall

Paul Cauthen is currently touring his forthcoming 7-song EP "Have Mercy" due out on June 22nd. You can already pick up a copy of this GREAT new music produced by Beau Bedford of The Texas Gentlemen. Speaking of, The Texas Gentlemen were there opening and in support of Paul's Gruene Hall show! Dan Dyer got up and sang quite a few songs with The Texas Gentlemen, and Austin Gilliam joined Paul.

If you're not able to pick up Paul's new EP at a show before it releases, you can pre-order it on iTunes and you'll get 2 tracks when you do. Or, you can check out 2 song on Lightning Rod Records' YouTube channel.

Paul will also be playing The Grand Ole Opry on June 22nd!

For this show, I brought along Jake Dapper, a great photographer from Waco to document things better than my usual iPhone garbage. Check them out below!

[view the entire album on Facebook!]

Mason Lively at Freiheit Country Store this Friday!

Mason Lively recently dropped his first full-length album "Stronger Ties", and is having a CD release party this Friday (4/27) at Freiheit Country Store! Pedigo's Magic Pilsner is opening the show and the doors open at 7pm! Come see this amazing, young talent and pick up his new album! Mason is definitely one to watch, especially on the younger end of the Texas music scene. Stewart Mann and Trey Newman of the newly formed War Bird Management have been helping Mason with both his music and career, and they officially signed Mason on April 23rd!

Mason Lively grew up in the small town of Inez, Texas population 2,000. Lacking big city stimulation, Mason spent his developmental years taking his lessons from songs that were born long before he was. Completely immersed in the patchwork of genres he found the blueprint for songwriting at a very young age and wrote his first one at age 15. At the age of 16 he was already in the studio cutting his first 5-song EP called "Living Large in a Little Town" co-produced by Lloyd Maines and Pat Manske. Being his first music project, Mason did little more than sell it in local parking lots and hand it out to family members, but the promise it foretold of a budding career grabbed the attention of several “players” in the scene who sat back with eagle-eyed anticipation to wait patiently for the young maverick to ripen. They didn’t have to wait long. Trey Newman at the Lee Crosby Agency was one of the eagle-eye watchers who witnessed over time the cultivation of the kid’s stage presence, and in 2017 signed Mason as a booking client. Soon thereafter Trey introduced Mason to Stewart Mann, frontman and primary songwriter for the acclaimed country blues band The Statesboro Revue who stepped in to co-manage the upstart’s career. All agreed the time was at hand to release some new music and with Mason’s kettle of reserved songs now at the boiling point, he went back to the studio to record his first full length album “Stronger Ties.”

First impressions always speak the loudest and the very first thing that stands out about this album is its diversity. Where most artists strive for a cohesive sound and overall theme, Mason decided to let his genre flags fly and the result is a buffet-style feast for the ears, and there is something here for everyone. He wrote all 10 songs, and with the help of producer Pat Manske, each one came to live comfortably in its own world of sound. The first single “Lonely Comes Back Around” by far waves the Texas alt-country flag the highest, and will no doubt secure a permanent seat at radio’s table. “Heavy Toll” runs a close second, but takes it up several notches with a menacing guitar riff and rock-styled chord progression that is hammer on nail, touching on the taboos of road life that only a working musician can truly understand. And “Early Grave” and “Ballad Of The Broken Heart” are kissing cousins bringing in the “tonk” to douse the flames that devil woman set to your heart. But stamped on the lighter side of that tainted coin is the impression of optimism, and “Worry About Nothing” is the album’s cleverly crafted talisman: country cool and soothing like the stroke of a familiar hand on a worried brow. And for those that like their music a little blues-infused, they will break into their happy dance with “Role Play,” the brightest star in this constellation. And there is so much more. “Stronger Ties” is Mason’s way of paying tribute to the music scene that he loves and is proud to be a part of. “This is me not only as a music artist, but also as a listener.”

quotes:

“Mason is hands down one of the most driven, motivated, and knowledge-hungry young artists I’ve ever met, and he reminds me a lot of myself at his age, except I had a lot less talent. His appreciation for all genres of music and his ability to weave in and out of styles both as a writer and a singer is what initially intrigued me, and honestly he’s just too damn nice. How can a 20 year old be that talented and humble? I don’t have an answer to that but it’s what led me into the world of artist management for the first time in my career. I can’t wait for the world to hear Mason’s genre bending, Texas country meets blue eyed soul Americana music.” -Stewart Mann

"Mason Lively is the real deal. Blues/Rock/Americana/Texas all mixed together into something beautiful." -Shayne Hollinger/The Ranch Radio Ft. Worth.

links:
masonlively.com
facebook.com/masonlivelymusic
twitter.com/masonlively

Josh Ward to release new album on May 4th!

Nashville, TN-(April 10, 2018)-The legion of Josh Ward fans who have eagerly awaited his brand new album will be more than satisfied come May 4th with the release of “More Than I Deserve.” The album’s first single “All About Lovin’” is already sitting at the #30 spot on the Texas Regional Radio Chart after only 3 weeks. In celebration, Josh Ward’s Tonk Fest & CD Release Party will follow on Saturday, May 5th at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas. Doors at 5:00 PM. Music starts at 6:00 PM with performances from Josh Ward, Jarrod Birmingham and Jake Worthington. Advance single tickets are $20. $25 at the gate, 12 and under free. The event also offers VIP packages at $150. There are only 100 available-21 and up only. Packages include 1 admission to VIP tent, 4 complimentary drink tickets for full liquor, wine and beer service, meal ticket for 1, reserved VIP seating close to stage, private VIP restrooms, VIP meet & greet prior to show, VIP laminate and 1 autographed CD. Tickets can be purchased at Outhouse Tickets.

“All grit and no quit.” These are the deeply rooted words that Josh Ward lives by to an absolute fault. An anchored mindset that has led this Texas country music rising star from a drifter’s adolescence to the jeopardous game of the rodeo circuit to the punishing toil of the Texas oil fields, and on into the fickle arms of the music business. Some might argue whether it is having nine consecutive #1 hit singles in Texas under his belt that has garnered him staying power, or that he is killing it in the social media world with over 2 million views on YouTube and over 3 million streams globally on Spotify. Maybe it’s his 3 venerated album releases, or maybe because he can not only bat a full house on a 200 plus dates a year touring average, but also rope in crowds on a first time performance in an unfamiliar town. While impressive, all those distinctions can come and go in the world of music. The reason for his staying power turns out to be quite a simple one. And that is because Josh Ward is country music blood to bone, and both Josh Ward and country music are simply not going to go away.

The culmination of his radio success and his victories out on the road can easily be attributed to the actual man behind the music. In life, sometimes a person gets dealt a lean hand and has to choose his family from strangers along the way, people who make a conscious choice to take you under their wing and help guide you through life. Ward considers himself a very lucky man despite some rough teenage years. The love and support of his extended family and his chosen family was the concrete foundation he built his life on, and his fans are a big part of that. It’s why they are drawn to him through the speakers, because he is what he sings. It’s why they are drawn to him from the stage, because he’s an old friend who’s come back to visit. And so his brand new album, so aptly named, is Ward’s dedication to his growing family.

“More Than I Deserve” marks Ward’s fourth full length album release and it will greet the fans on May 4, 2018. With the philosophy of “don’t fix what isn’t broken” Ward went right back into the Rosewood studios where he recorded all his previous releases and joined producer Greg Hunt once again behind the board to create the next dimension of Josh Ward country music. The new album is 11 tracks strong featuring the signature instrumentation from guys like John Carroll (Cory Morrow) on guitar, Nate Coon (Aaron Watson) on drums, Milo Deering (The Eagles) on acoustic guitar, steel, dobro, fiddle, viola and mandolin, and Terry McBride (McBride and The Ride) on backing vocals and also writer of three of the tracks. The album is classic Josh Ward style on every front with just a little more gusto and a little more miles on it. Full bodied and emotionally fragrant, every song jumps out kicking up the kind of country music nostalgia Ward is revered for. The first single “All About Lovin’” (written by Brice Long, Terry McBride and Chris Stapleton) tells you everything you need to know about this album, a sexy tonkafied driver of a song that guarantees you’ll be lacing up your dancing shoes by the time you hit the chorus. “Home Away From Home” is country piled on top of more country, and is, as the song says, “a two steppin’ juke box heaven.” While Ward has never been afraid to sing other people’s songs due to his belief that a good song simply needs to be heard, his own savvy for the art just so happens to be represented on three of the most powerful tracks. “A Cowboy Can” is the true grit of this album and is what Ward says best describes himself. “One More Shot Of Whiskey” is a sobering tale told with 90 proof conviction, and then there is “More Than I Deserved” ringing out with its vulnerable steel and head hanging resolve. “More Than I Deserve” is country music addiction in its purest form. Josh Ward did not reinvent the wheel here, but damn, it’s polished surface sure rides smooth.

Josh and his band will be seeing a lot more of the country this year hitting a lot of new places on his never ending tour. It’s still hard for him to believe he has come this far and he doesn’t take one mile of it for granted. “I never thought I would be rolling down the road with one of the hottest bands inTexas playing shows across the United States. I’m happy to be here.”

The Josh Ward band is Josh Ward (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Steve Cargill (bass), Travis Bishop (keys, organ, harmony vocals), Justin Cognito (drums), Rob Smith (lead guitar) and Cody Angel (steel guitar).

New Album from Byrds and Burritos Chris Hillman!

Chris Hillman is one of the most influential figures in shaping good music over the past 5 decades. Hillman often faded into the background during his early days as bassist with The Byrds, but by the time their 3rd album "Younger Than Yesterday" was released in 1967, Hillman shared lead vocals on "So You Want To Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" with Roger (aka 'Jim') McGuinn, as well as putting down vocals on 4 other songs which he incidentally wrote as well.

This new solo project from Hillman is fantastic and very listenable. Hillman's masterful songwriting is very evident and shines through on each and every track. Chris Hillman has influenced an astonishing number of modern day poets, many of which may not even realize it.

Read more about this great snapshot of American songwriting, and check out tour dates and more below!

[press]
Nashville, TN -Chris Hillman, a founding member of the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, and the Desert Rose Band, is widely acknowledged as a seminal figure in the creation of country rock and an architect of American popular music. On September 22, 2017, Hillman will release Bidin' My Time, his first studio album in over a decade. Tom Petty produced the album at his studio in Southern California. Hillman's longtime collaborator and co-founder of the Desert Rose Band Herb Pedersen served as Executive Producer.

Featured performers and guests on the recording include Byrds co-founders David Crosby and Roger McGuinn; Desert Rose Band alumni Pedersen, John Jorgenson, and Jay Dee Maness; Petty and fellow Heartbreakers Mike Campbell, Steve Ferrone, and Benmont Tench; Mark Fain, Josh Jové, and Gabe Witcher.

The album kicks off with a new recording of Pete Seeger's and Welsh poet Idris Davies' "The Bells of Rhymney," which the Byrds recorded for their debut, Mr. Tambourine Man. It's always been Hillman's favorite song the band ever recorded. Crosby and Pedersen contribute otherworldly harmonies to the tune, which swells from stripped-down folk into a layered rock-and-roll cry. "I decided to cut it again because I wanted to sing with David and Herb, two great tenors," Hillman says. "David just loves Herb's singing, and at 75 years old, David is still a powerful singer -- one of the best I've ever worked with or been around."

Another Byrds nod, "Here She Comes Again" was co-written by Hillman and McGuinn, and until now, had only been recorded on a live album in Australia. Hillman plays bass on the track -- the instrument he originally played with the Byrds but hadn't picked up in more than 30 years. "She Don't Care About Time" was written by Byrds co-founder Gene Clark, who died in 1991. Hillman had always felt the song, which was the original b-side to "Turn! Turn! Turn!," never quite got the attention it deserves.

Hillman also indulged in an exercise every songwriter craves: he reworked "Old John Robertson," first featured on The Notorious Byrd Brothers in 1968, to write "New Old John Robertson." An ambling story song about a kind old man who lived in Hillman's tiny hometown, the tune revels in Hillman's bluegrass roots. The album also includes interpretations of the Everly Brothers' "Walk Right Back," Petty's "Wildflowers," and "When I Get a Little Money," written by family friend Nathan Barrow.

Pre-order on iTunes

Hillman's originals confirm what a fierce songwriter he remains. Front-porch jam session "Such is the World We Live In" wonders what Hillman's great-grandfather would say about current events. The song epitomizes Hillman's distinct ability to bemoan ills without abandoning hope. Album standout "Restless," another self-penned original, saunters as Hillman delivers a muscly vocal performance. Honest but loving, "Given All That I Can See," a favorite of Hillman's he calls the record's "sort-of gospel song," is a timely call for mercy and grace in an era beleaguered by hate and fear.

The project captures a rarity: a seasoned artist who has never sounded better, making music with old friends for the sheer love of it. "I did everything I felt was right in the moment," Hillman says of the recording process, before adding with characteristic humility, "I did my very best. That's all any of us can do."

Here's Chris Hillman's upcoming tour schedule including TWO dates in Texas!

9/21	Sellersville, PA	Sellersville Theatre
9/22	New York, NY	City Winery
9/23	Fall River, MA	Narrows Center for the Arts
9/24	Boston, MA	City Winery
9/26	Alexandria, VA	The Birchmere
9/29	Duluth, GA	The Red Clay Theatre
10/1	Nashville, TN	City Winery
10/4	Newport, KY	Southgate House Revival
10/5	Kent, OH	Kent Stage
10/6	Chicago, IL	Old Town School of Folk Music
10/7	Edwardsville, IL	The Wildey Theatre
10/12	Bakersfield, CA	Buck Owens' Crystal Palace
10/13	Berkeley, CA	Freight & Salvage
10/16	West Hollywood, CA	The Troubadour
10/26-28	Park City, UT	The Egyptian Theatre
11/8	Baton Rouge, LA	Red Dragon Listening Room
11/9	The Woodlands, TX	Dosey Doe Barn
11/10	Austin, TX	Texas Union Theater
1/27 (2018)	Thousand Oaks, Ca.	Scherr Theatre

Gary Kyle's "Rewind White" Coming Sept 15

Nashville, TN (August 9, 2017)-Songwriter, performer and producer Gary Kyle wears many hats, just never on stage.  He’s a generational Texan raising a big family and a big career with  a couple of acclaimed albums under his belt and five kids underfoot.  A consummate songwriter  and a robust entertainer, Gary’s live show echoes his deep Texas roots and the storied music scene that thrives there, and his writing style is the seasoned recipe found largely in the music city of Nashville.  It’s this kind of 50/50 concoction that removes all regional borders leaving Gary free to move about the “country.” It’s also the basis for his decision to release his brand new studio album in parts.  On September 15th, 2017, Gary will release Part I: “Rewind White,” a 6-song EP that projects the spirit of his big Texas soul.

Growing up just outside of Houston under the tutelage of musical parents, a very young Gary was scratching out lyrics from the time he could put pen to paper.  His urgency to write was a constant companion captaining him through a life infused with rich homemade love, personal family tragedy and a deep respect for the time allotted us in this life. He did well in school, went to college and got a sales job accompanied by a big devoted paycheck, yet nothing gave him the peace he found in creating music, a beckoning that rose above the cacophony of a “responsible life.” So, he changed direction towards his true north and over the last few years released two studio projects that saw four Top 30 singles on the Texas music charts including “Texas Strong,” the theme song for the nationally syndicated TV show “Lone Star Roads” with host and revered radio programmer, Justin Frazell.

“Rewind White” represents the Texas side of Gary Kyle. The first single “Tornado” characterizes the overall climate of this bona fide country music release and is already sweeping through radio and headed up the Texas Regional Radio chart.  When it comes to putting on the old cowboy boots and heading to the dance floor, Gary does it just right like on the rambunctious “So Good So Far” and the slightly more laidback “Late Night Runaround.”  And when it comes to the more tender spots of the human condition, Gary does it even better.  With a voice the listener can actually feel, he escorts you right to the barstool for a drink full of emptiness on “Champagne.” His precision with balladry is a well-honed skill that leaves no doubt that he has faced down demons of his past.  That is never more evident than on “Whiskey Dents,” a sober reflection about the ripple effect of an alcohol induced state, and by far the most powerful song of the lot. Overall, “Rewind White” is a trip down the familiar roads where Gary grew up in Southeast Texas.  In the spring of 2018 he invites you to take a trip with him around the Nashville landscape with the release of Part II “Rewind Blue.”

links:
GaryKyleMusic.com
Gary Kyle on Facebook

New music video from SHINYRIBS!

After playing his last show with The Gourds in 2011 to focus on his Shinyribs project, Kevin Russell was doing his thing in smaller bars with a very small band and blowing minds with his unique, original tunes and his VERY unique take on popular songs of numerous genres. In what seemed like a very short period of time he was selling out these shows and he moved on to larger venues with typically himself plus an 8-piece band. He SOLD OUT his CD release show for his new album "I Got Your Medicine" at Gruene Hall this past weekend and he is VERY much in high demand in and beyond our Texas music scene!

Here's a new music video for his single "Trouble, Trouble" from "I Got Your Medicine"!



Here's a little something I threw together to promote the sold out show at Gruene Hall with Jomo and The Possum Posse opening...

New music from Charlie and the Regrets

When country music was becoming a thing, it was songs about every day struggles with things that most normal people could identify with, and a few songs about other real things like screwin' up and gettin' throwed in the hole. It was music about real life. There are definitely some great songwriters still out there that are keeping with the spirit of writing about real life, among them is Charlie Harrison of Charlie and the Regrets.

Charlie has a new album "Rivers in the Streets" coming out on Friday, February 24th. These are songs about the struggles of life, the ups and the downs (mostly the downs), sort of a "what to expect when you're expecting a hard time" guide.

You can see Charlie and the Regrets live the day before their official release date on Thursday, February 23rd at Superfly's Lone Star Music Emporium in San Marcos for a CD release show at 6pm! Go meet the band, hear them perform this new music live, and pick up a copy while enjoying some free beer!

PRE-ORDER on iTunes (or BUY if it's after February 24!)

Promo video for "Proud Man":

New album coming soon from Saints Eleven

Nashville, TN (November 17, 2016)-After two potent album releases, seven charted radio singles, a slew of virally intensive music videos and co-bills with some of their most celebrated music influences, frontman Jeff Grossman of Saints Eleven says his proudest career highlight so far was having Walt Wilkins in the producer’s chair on their new album “Coming Back Around.”  The album drops on January 13th followed by the next installment in their viral video saga for the title-track and first single.

“Coming Back Around” is the therapeutic result of dealing with loss in all its glorious phases.  In his previous releases, Grossman has shown a man bested by love with a heart that has been duct taped time and time again leaving bitter traces across two albums where he is flipping the proverbial finger at his emotional assailants.  This new release depicts a man a little wiser for the wear, a soul on the mend who is resolved in sharing a living space with the pain of the past.  A person is usually always drawn back to their roots and looking for redemption after a journey through the desolate abyss, and Grossman admits that is exactly why he wanted Walt Wilkins in the producer’s chair declaring, “He’s the Texas country Jesus.”  Wilkins is noted as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation and has been deemed the John Steinbeck of music. Grossman attributes much of the album’s soul to the handiwork of Wilkins who also sings back up on several of the tracks along with his wife Tina Wilkins.  “Coming Back Around” is the softer underbelly of Saints Eleven.  It’s a trek through an Americana landscape; waltzing across blue valleys of sorrow, strutting over familiar plains of adversity and two-stepping over mountain peaks of resolve.

“I was drawn first to Jeff's voice- real and raw and wild, with a wide sky of emotion. Then, I started getting these songs-well-crafted stories about real folks in this real world, with all of its complexities and hard edges. His writing voice is unique, clear and strong, and the band played for keeps. I dig these guys. It was a real ass-kicking pleasure to make this album with Saints Eleven.” -Walt Wilkins

On the live front, when you stand in front of the stage at a Saints Eleven show, your senses are overrun by contrasting elements that hook your attention and keep you there.  Your ears are seduced by the sounds of vintage honky tonk music mixed with electrified bluegrass, but the rest of your senses are taken hostage by three guys who play with an energy fueled by years of punk and hard rock influence.  Each show is delivered as if it were their very last one, and their fans give that energy right back to them in equal amounts creating an exchange that makes you feel like you are caught in the crossfires of a waged battle.   In the current age of pop country music where band members are of the glossy “pretty boys” variety that can be easily mistaken for GQ models, Jeff Grossman, Jeff Mosley and Alex Shepherd sport a more chiseled, blue-collar physique.  The only thing that is polished about them is the combined savvy they employ with their instruments.   Keep tabs on the band’s website and social pages for VIP giveaways and music sneak peek listens.

George Strait LiveSteam TONIGHT!

Don't miss George Strait's LIVESTREAM tonight that is in celebrating the release of his new box set "Strait Out of the Box: Part 2", available exclusively from WalMart on Thursday, November 18! George will be performing with his original Ace in the Hole band, and Wrangler Network is gonna livestream the whole thing!



Check out some of our previous George Strait posts!

Song Premier from Whitney Rose

(press)

This year, Whitney Rose’s road to AmericanaFest starts in Travis County, Texas, where Rose has settled and recorded a new song, “My Boots,” that speaks to self-acceptance.    “My Boots” shows the lighter side of Rose's songwriting. “While it’s ostensibly just about wearing whatever the hell you wanna wear,” Rose says, "it’s also about embracing the quirks and flaws that make you, you.” Rose walks the walk in her custom cactus and rose Liberty cowboy boots, a sparkly nod to her identity. Both are fitting symbols - Rose is no wilting flower, and “My Boots” contains a barbed message about intolerance and autonomy in the defiant feminist spirit of “You Don’t Own Me.” Rose created a buzz at her AmericanaFest debut last year, and this new song shows the emerging talent has not been resting on any laurels since. The song is the first new music since Heartbreaker of the Year, an album that put Whitney on the Americana map. “My Boots” features country music royalty Redd Volkaert (Merle Haggard) and Earl Poole Ball (Johnny Cash) trading solos over the Waylon-esque groove. American Songwriter calls it a “defiant new tune.” Listen here.

Photo credit to Greg Giannukos.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:   AUSTIN, TX: The Continental Club, Sept 15 HOUSTON, TX: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, Sept 17 NASHVILLE, TN: AmericanaFest, George Jones Museum, Outlaws & Gunslingers Luncheon, Sept 22, 12-2pm. NASHVILLE, TN: AmericanaFest, The Station Inn, Sept 24, 8pm AUSTIN, TX: The Continental Club, Sept 29 HOUSTON, TX: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, Nov 18 PRESS QUOTES: - “A sultry country classicist with a tremble in her voice, Whitney Rose is partial to the magisterial gestures of the 1950s and 1960s.” – NY Times - “Playfully croons through tales of love and mischief with girlish breath and devilish twang.” – Rolling Stone - “Rose nailed this concoction of joining the purer sides of pop and country. The most exciting part is seeing where she goes next.” – American Songwriter - “Whitney Rose’s voice sounds like it's comin' on out of a time machine in RCA’s Studio B in Nashville circa 1960. Her songwriting blends vintage R&B and retro country.” — Magnet - “Sultry, dynamic, spicy in the way it slides between styles yet continues forward cohesively, Heartbreaker of the Year is quite the exhibition of Whitney’s talents.” – Saving Country Music - "Stark and sultry, here Rose hits heartache right between the eyes. With a croon that wraps dances perfectly between plaintive guitar riffs, Rose skillfully delivers classic country magic.” — Guitar World - "The Toronto-based singer-songwriter’s sophomore release is a whole heap of fun, filled with songs that recall an earlier age when country and pop were blended to perfection. Rose injects a healthy dose of her own charm and personality into the mix.” —Twangville - "Her writing is first rate, and she is really fucking good at her instrument.” — PopMatters

Artist Spotlight: Sean McConnell

I interviewed Sean McConnell about his new self-titled album, his new relationship with Rounder Records and his upcoming show at Gruene Hall!

Sean McConnell may have been a household name to many of us in Texas for the past 6 or so years, but believe it or not there is a whole world out there that hasn't been properly introduced to the man! That terrible mistake will very likely be corrected soon, as Sean is about to release his 8th full length album which happens to be his first with a record label, and as his introduction to the rest of the world it is self-titled "Sean McConnell".

Sean recorded this new project on his own steam and out of his own pocket, but then signed with Nashville-based Rounder records back in February. Rounder also currently works with such artists as Steve Martin & Edie Brickell, Rush, Greg Allman, Sierra Hull and many more, and over their 46 years in business they have been involed with some stellar artists such as Allison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, The Steeldrivers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Honeyhoney, Jimmy Sturr, Edie Brickell & Robert Plant just to name a FEW!

Sean's new album is due out on Friday, July 8th, and is tagged with the genre singer/songwriter. Sean is one of the best performing songwriters of present day, but he fits comfortably into genres such as Americana, Roots, Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, Blues or even Christian & Gospel at times. Some of those would be pretty loose affiliations, but fans of any of these are likely future Sean McConnell fans.

I've heard the two singles that have been released from this new album so far; "Queen of Saint Mary's Choir" and "Holy Days". Both show Sean's strong storyteller roots and he calls this his most personal album so far. "Queen of Saint Mary's Choir" is straight up an upbeat telling of Sean's life story. His parents were both musical, and played coffee shops and other small venues in the folk music scene in Massachussetts. His father played guitar and wrote songs while his mom sang both her husband's originals and folk covers of artists such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and more.

Sean has been performing for nearly the last 20 of his 31 years, and has performed at Gruene Hall and other venues in our area regularly since he began working with local artists such as Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers around 2009, and he will be at Gruene Hall on Friday, July 15th on his "Ghost Town Tour" with his new self-titled album in tow. Make sure to make it to this show and pick up a copy so you could say you were at his first show after the release of this game changing album that is likely to propel him into a new level of mainstream success!

Here's a lyric video for Sean's single "Holy Days":


links:
Pre-order "Sean McConnell" on iTunes
SeanMcConnell.com
Sean McConnell on Facebook
Sean on Twitter
Sean's YouTube channel

Quaker City Night Hawks

Quaker City Night Hawks just released their GREAT new album El Astronauta, and they had a CD release show here in New Braunfels at River Road Ice House! There is a good chance you missed it because of all the rain and the fact that River Road had a spot under water so it was closed, but if you knew the alternate route and were there like me, you saw a FANTASTIC SHOW from a GREAT BAND! Austin Gilliam opened this show full band, and sounded GREAT!

I saw QCNH for the first time in the summer of 2013 at Galleywinter's 13th Annual Greenfest, and I immediately knew this was a band I was going to like and follow as long as they exist, and I can't tell you through words or even through video (below) how great this show was! You really need to go see them for yourself when you have a chance, and in the mean time PLEASE pick up a copy of El Astronauta, you WILL love it!

El Astronauta on iTunes

Ray Johnston Band EP #GoesGoodWith drops May 27!

Nashville, TN-(May 10, 2016)-The Ray Johnston Band has built a solid foundation over the years based on melodies and lyrics that always seem to lean on the positive side of life. His previous album “No Bad Days” not only put Ray Johnston on a much larger map as a genuine songwriter and artist, but also stands as a shining example of how much music fans gravitate to his special brand of “happy.” Now, after a year and a half of keeping up with the demands of a successful album, Ray is set to impart more of those buoyant vibes with the release of his new EP “#GoesGoodWith” on May 27th. In celebration, an intimate “VIP release party” will happen in Ray’s hometown of Dallas. Details will be released soon via his social pages. As part of the interactive EP release, RJB will also launch their #HouseCalls contest. At the beginning of each month, the band will list the shows for that respective month on @rayjohnstonband social pages. First responders to the #HouseCall post will have a chance to win a private house concert.

“I like the songs I co-write and sing to be like a good romantic comedy. The right balance of humor, joy, love, honesty, wit, and always more sun than rain. This is how I would describe “#GoesGoodWith.”

Ray’s abiding engagement with fans and heavy social media presence inspired his new six-song EP with repeat producer Eric Herbst, recorded at the Panhandle House in Denton, Texas. The EP offers that signature feel-good ambiance that is a trusting side-kick down life’s many roads. Songs like the Tex-Mex infused “Little Lupe,” the straight up countryfied “My Liver Don’t Live Here Anymore” and “Make Mine A Double,” the sequel to his hit single off his previous album “More Crown Than Coke,” has got you covered for the satirical sides of life. “Beautiful You” is pure “love song” and the finest tune in this collection, written with Paul Overstreet, Roger Creager and Matt Boggs. The company Ray has kept among his songwriting peers has definitely stepped up his game, so sitting in a room writing a song with a #1 hit songwriter like Paul Overstreet is what Ray likens to, “The equivalent of me ever getting to play basketball with Michael Jordan.” “Watching The Lord Turn On The Lights” is an outdoorsy type, at home in the majesty of nature, a quiet respect taught to him by his father throughout his life. A stand out on the EP “Horses And Hearts,” a retro country music throwback sang as a duet with 17-year old prodigy from Ft. Worth, Abbey Cone.

Ray’s social media prowess has built him a solid rapport with his fans, and what they think about his music is paramount. The #GoesGoodWith” campaign will be an ongoing open platform for fans to weigh in on, their comments a welcomed source of inspiration for Ray’s next project, and a way to incorporate new sponsors and brand alignments with Bud Light, Alabama Sweet Tea, Zodiac Vodka, & Levi's. It will also stand as a vehicle for giving back as RJB teams up with Luke’s Fastbreaks, designers of apparel to enhance the cancer patient experience by providing chemotherapy shirts in soft, comfortable colors that children (and adults) can wear during their treatment. The shirts were designed by Luke, a 9 year old cancer survivor who felt “more sick” when wearing the traditional gown. Ray, a five-time leukemia survivor, will also make hospitals visits acting as an ambassador for these comfortable new alternatives. Ray’s feet-to-the-pavement work ethic securing partnerships with Luke’s Fastbreaks and Be The Match, a sponsorship deal with Bud Light, national music placements and a growing tour schedule certainly exposes a sharp mind, but at his core, Ray is all heart.

“Ray Johnston has experienced the cancer fight firsthand, so he understands exactly how much something as simple as a shirt would make a patient feel a little bit happier while they are in the hospital. Luke’s FastBreaks hopes to have a positive impact on our community and children across the world by making the pediatric cancer fight just a little bit better. Ray Johnston's positive outlook on life is contagious. We hope our shirts can have a similar impact on patients, and we are so thankful to partner with an artist like Ray Johnston who believes in our mission. We hope that throughout the #GoesGoodWith tour we can join Ray Johnston on hospital visits and pass out Luke’s Fast Breaks shirts with his logo on the front in communities he performs in, so that we can team together to share Ray Johnston’s mission and upbeat music with the world (and cheer up cancer patients in the process)!” -Britton Lynn/Luke’s FastBreaks

links:
rayjohnstonband.com
@rayjohnstonband (Twitter)
/rayjohnstonband (Facebook)
rayjohnstonband (Instagram)

Where It All Began by Jesse Stratton Band

Jesse Stratton Band's new album Where It All Began is now available on iTunes and at a show near you! This is a very solid sophomore release for Jesse, and it comes in at almost exactly one and a half years since his first release Broken Strings. Where It All Began shows a marked maturity over his freshman, solo album Broken Strings, both in his songwriting as well as the instrumentation and production value. Jesse has transitioned from a solo/duo to regularly performing with full band, and the members of his band were also the same musicians that recorded this new album in the studio. The full band includes the standard 4-piece with drums/vocals (Kenneth Martinez), bass guitar (John Ohlinger), lead guitar (Tony Garossino) and Jesse on rhythm acoustic and lead vocals, but Jesse also rounds out the band's sound with the occasional saxophone and harmonica, plus Tony Garossino also plays mandolin and lap steel.

This record starts out with a fast moving, rock-like tune, transitions into a well constructed landscape not unlike the Texas Hill Country! These tracks reflect Jesse's current stage of life. This is Life is about savoring the moments that happen in the day to day with wife and kids, because these moments go by very fast! Speaking of kids, if you listen real close to the end of track 4 (Never Touch The Ground), you might just hear some guest vocals by Jesse's daughters and Kenny's daughter!

It's also worth mentioning, Jesse released the single Wimberley last summer after the devastating floods of Memorial Day weekend, and donated all proceeds through My Neighbor's Keeper (a local 501(c)3) that works directly with affected residents and is run completely by volunteers.

Not only does this album show Jesse's musical maturation, it also shows great promise and I can't wait to hear what's coming next! Jesse Stratton Band is in the middle of some CD release shows, find one near you soon, and pick up a copy of Where It All Began!

CD Release Schedule

April 29	Kebabalicius
April 30	Cornyval Festival in Helotes
May 6	The Coop in Fredericksburg
May 7	Twin Sisters Dancehall in Blanco
May 13	Uncle Gary's in Pflugervillie
May 14	The Phoenix Saloon!

Preorder Fallon Franklin's New Album!

Fallon Franklin has a modest Kickstarter goal of $3000, which she has already exceeded as of April 21 with 37 days to go! The cost of recording, producing, mastering, promoting, releasing and touring a new album far surpasses what $3000 will buy you, so PLEASE pre-order this album and help Fallon get that much closer to the true cost of this album, and you will NOT be sorry you did! I've heard several track demos (like the one below), and they are Fallon's most real and personal work yet!

Fallon Franklin had her first paying gig at 15-years-old. She had performed at school and church events, but after playing that first full show, she knew that being a professional musician is what she was meant to do. Her first full album release was in 2001 and 6 record releases later, she is on a journey to complete her biggest feat yet: an album full of the most personal songs she has ever written.

"Writing and performing is my therapy. I know a lot of musicians say that, but it hasn't just made me 'happy', it's kept me around. From singing background vocals on countless other artists records, being on TV, or singing for 10 people at a dive bar...this is my life and not one moment of singing has been more important than the other." Fallon says about the importance of music in her life.

Her past records have been speckled with personal writing, but a lot of her records have been a means to an end. She has written songs from multiple perspectives, and songs that were meant to fill a place on a record. Her upcoming, yet to be titled release is a direct chronicle of the last year of her life. In over 25 years of performing and releasing albums, this is new for her. "The last year, I have endured things that no person should have to endure. Unmentionable things took place that I said years before would be things I wouldn't be able to get through if they ever happened to me. From the first song on the record, to the last song on the record, there is a progression of the events that took place that is evident in the tracks. Each song is a personal account that archives shock, pain, survival, loss, stumbling through day to day, connections and people that have aided in my healing, and then finally where I am wanting to go and how I am trying to get there."

Fallon says that she believes that music has become so emotionally mainstreamed that people don't have negative or a positive reaction to most music on the radio. Every song is intricately written by a team of writers for a soul purpose of being background music for our daily lives. "Sometimes that isn't a bad thing. We don't need full on emotion from our music every time we listen. Sometimes we need a catchy beat to nod our heads to. I miss the days of hearing a song and being spoken to. That's what I hope listeners get from his record. Everyone connects with pain, loss, and recovery. Why sugar coat that? Why homogenize and tone down a song in order to sell a record? We need to give music listeners more credit. They want to feel strong emotions. They want to connect to a song. Am I nervous to have my diary set to music and my dirty laundry out for everyone to hear? Sure. However, if it makes someone out there not feel so alone and feel like they are the person in the song, I have done my job. Hearing listeners response to the record already has been a part of healing for me. Every "wow, this song really got to me", is a bandaid handed to me." Fallon goes on to add, "it has been healing for me to go back and hear what I wrote during each stage of trying to recover who I am and seeing how far I have come and how much further I have to go. I had lost myself and I'm back. Each song leads up to that discovery."

Fallon is now a single mother that performs up to four shows a week. She hopes to grab the attention of a publishing company through this record that Fallon herself says is her best writing to date. Fallon goes on to add, "Each song on this record is better than anything I have ever written before, and I think that that is due to the fact that each song bleeds the truth. Each song came from such a deep place in me, that the honesty inside of me just wrote the song for me. I was just a hand with a pen".

Fallon will be finishing up this album in the next few weeks and needs your help through her Kickstarter campaign. Help her reach her extended goals today by pre-ordering a cd, requesting a song, or even booking a house concert.

Fallon's Kickstarter Page

Here's a demo cut of Valentine!

Sturgill Simpson - Brace For Impact (Live A Little)

Here's a new music video of a NEW song from Sturgill Simpson! This is off his upcoming album A Sailor's Guide To Earth that will be available on TAX DAY (April 15th)!

Sam Riggs' Breathless comes out of the gate strong

Sam Riggs new album Breathless released yesterday and it hit the iTunes top Country albums at number 3 where it continues to sit today, and it was number 22 of All Categories and it remains strong at 28 this morning. I haven't been able to give this album full attention yet, but so far it sounds like Sam Riggs has a winner on his hands!

Don't just listen to me, here's what Lone Star Music Magazine had to say about it:

"In the crowded field of independent Texan talents seeking to write, perform, and sell their own distinct takes on modern country music, occasionally a voice jumps above the fray. Sam Riggs has been on that kind of trajectory lately, finding the sweet spot between the crowd-pleasing sound of modern country music and the sort of detail-oriented, personality-driven songwriting that makes his best songs among the more memorable ones to dominate Texas radio in recent years."
-Lone Star Music Magazine

Pick up a copy at a record store near you, or get it at lonestarmusic.com or on iTunes.

Jamie Lin Wilson and The Hill Country Choir - Hill Country

So on the day of Kent Finlay's annual 29th birthday, a long awaited track is being made public! This is Jamie Lin Wilson, Randy Rogers and the Hill Country Choir doing my favorite Kent Finlay song "They Call It The Hill Country". They recorded this last year at the Cheatham Street Woodshed studio and it turned out FANTASTIC!

ENJOY!

Brother Nothing returns to Phoenix Saloon w/debut album

Josh Field & Brother Nothing are no strangers to New Braunfels. They've played New Braunfels over the past few years including The Phoenix Saloon, Tavern in the Gruene, the 2013 Food Trucks for Freedom and more! On Friday February 12 they return to The Phoenix Saloon for a FREE show with their debut album "All In My Mind" which officially comes available on February 5!

“There’s something timeless about the dark rolling melodies of Brother Nothing’s woodsy rock and rasping Americana,” wrote Phoenix Saloon’s Ross Fortune of the gruff, yet tender sound of singer-songwriter Josh Field and Brother Nothing.

“I’m blessed,” says Field, calling his young band’s success a collaborative effort that includes himself (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Daniel David (lead guitar), Brandon Elizondo (percussion), and Doug Koeppe (bass).

Influenced by everything from country and rock to soul, blues, and reggae, the band’s wide-ranging style comes through in its first full-length album, All In My Mind (February 5, 2016). A display of honest writing talent by Field, these songs will put listeners at ease (“Morning Shade”) and leave them taken aback (“Cold, Cold Ground”). Other highlights include the title track, “Nowhere Town,” and “Hippie,” an homage to love and the hypocrisy of denying it.

A thriving part of Austin’s music scene, Josh Field and Brother Nothing will be sharing their new music with fans at various venues in 2016. For news and tour dates, visit joshfieldmusic.com.

New Album "Breathless" From Sam Riggs

Sam Riggs first came onto our radar when he released his EP "Lighthouse" in 2012. It was an extremely solid piece of work, and it planted him firmly into our secretive and unpublished list of artists to watch closely. In 2013 their full length album "Outrun the Sun" was released and confirmed our suspicion that Sam Riggs would become a mainstay in Texas music for years to come.

Here's a little info about his new album "Breathless", available on February 19th, 2016. We can't wait to hear it!

Produced by Sam Riggs himself along with Eric Herbst, “Breathless” is a sincere, unfiltered look into the person Sam has become. The album’s first single “The Lucky Ones” represents the first leg of his journey, a story told through 20/20 hindsight about the fortunes of struggle with a cameo performance from the University of North Texas Drum Line. “Gravity” is a true anchor on the album depicting that specific period in life between when you have to get out, and when you actually can. Well throughout the album you get a real sense of Sam’s more vulnerable side, and the way he writes about a man’s response to a women’s spell is the stuff of bestselling novels. Considering lyrics like “Just one kiss from your novocaine lips and you take all my pain away” (“Breathless”), “One more kiss is all I need to get through. I guess you’re just a habit I can’t break” (“Second Hand Smoke”), and “The fire in your touch, it’s like a needle in my veins” (“One More Chance To Stay”), you see a man who has warred with the dangerous addictions of love, but also one that has not been afraid to wave the white flag of surrender. All this is not to say that the album is without muscle. “Wake The Dead” feels like pure adrenaline, a heart racing ride in honky tonk rap style. And finally, “High On A Country Song” is the Sam Riggs live show experience coming through the speakers, where the energy is so thick you can cut it with a knife. In total, “Breathless” is the sound you hear clearly above the racket of mediocrity, and it signals that a new age of “artist” has arrived.

Upcoming tour dates:
January 23rd - Commerce, TX-Drunken Mule Saloon
January 29th- Wichita, KS-The Port of Wichita
January 30th-Ft. Worth, TX-Ft. Worth Stock show and Rodeo
February 4th-Sugarland, TX-San Antonio Rose
February 5th-Spring, TX-Big Texas
February 6th-Port Arthur, TX-Mardi Gras Southeast Texas
February 18th-Cedar Park, TX-Wild West
February 19th-Helotes, TX-Floore’s Country Store
February 20th-Dallas,TX-Mardi Gras Texas Style
February 25th-Wichita Falls, TX-Denim & Diamonds
February 26th-Ft. Worth, TX-Whiskey Girl Saloon
February 27th-Stephenville, TX-City Limits

links:
SamRiggsMusic.com
Sam Riggs Music on Facebook
Sam Riggs Music on Twitter