New Music Out Today:
“Nothing But the Silence“, the debut album from country duo Striking Matches. If you’re a fan of ABC’s “Nashville”, you’ve heard several of their songs, including “Right One Comes Along” and their first single, “Hanging on a Lie“.
“Canaan Smith“, the self-titled debut EP from country singer Canaan Smith.
“Katye Hamlin“, self-titled debut EP from country singer Katye Hamlin from Bryan, Texas. Her CD Release party will be at the Grand Stafford this Saturday!
Luke Bryan Took Batting Practice with the Chicago White Sox
LUKE BRYAN took batting practice yesterday with the Chicago White Sox during spring training in Arizona. A Chicago sportswriter posted a video on Twitter.
Turns out Luke has a decent swing. He took five cuts: He pounded three into the dirt, whiffed on one . . . and squared-up to hit one solid line drive. They probably eased up on him, but even so, it’s Major League pitching so I’m giving him props.
Luke and White Sox first baseman ADAM LAROCHE are “Buck Commander“ partners, so that’s probably the connection.
Keith Urban’s Songwriting Process Includes Conceptual Soundscapes, Feels, and Melodies
KEITH URBAN was asked to explain his songwriting process, so he did. Let’s just say it’s way more complicated than you might think. He said, quote, “I always start with conceptual soundscapes, rhythms, feels, melodies . . . things I want within that.
“Themes that I want to sing about. But more than not, the music wants to tell a story. It was the same with‘Somewhere In My Car‘. We didn’t have a title, it just had this momentum.”
Cole Swindell is More Comfortable on Stage Than Anywhere Else
COLE SWINDELL is never more comfortable than when he’s on stage . . . and that includes when there’s no one in the audience. He says, quote, “There’s no other place that I can stand and feel more comfortable. That’s the one spot.
“It’s cool to be up there at soundcheck and I take a picture to kinda show people, ‘this is what it looks like right now. This is what I’m sitting here looking at, imagining every one of these seats being filled and hopefully a lot of them singing along with me.'”
DOLLY PARTON spent some time with a special needs boy on Sunday. They sang a few songs together, and he totally kept up with her. He also displayed a solid knowledge of country music trivia. (Taste of Country)
Back when he was a struggling artist, ZAC BROWN used to stay with families who took him in . . . but he was never discouraged from his goal.
KENNY CHESNEY has already sold over one million tickets for his Big Revival Tour, which kicks off Thursday in Nashville.
Speaking of Kenny: TYLER FARR gives him huge props for his talent of recognizing potential hit songs.
MAGGIE ROSE got engaged during her show on Saturday. Her boyfriend, a guy named Austin Marshall, surprised her on stage. They sang a song together and then he did the “one knee proposal thing”. She posted a video on her Instagram.