The Grammy Awards will air live on CBS on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET. James Corden will host the event. Album of the year: “25” — Adele “Lemonade” — Beyoncé “Purpose” — Justin Bieber “Views” — Drake “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” — Sturgill Simpson Record of the year: “Hello” — Adele “Formation” … Continue reading
Category Archives: Music
New Blues: Mike Zito — ‘Make Blues Not War’
Mike Zito — ‘Make Blues Not War’ Label: Ruf Records Produced by Tom Hambridge, Make Blues Not War showcases Mike Zito at his most passionate. It’s a string of loose, in-the-moment, energetic performances of some of the most pleasurable blues you’ve heard in a long time. Pay special attention to the title track. It begins with … Continue reading
The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris (CD/Blu-ray)
The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris: An All-Star Concert Celebration Label: Rounder Records The first time I saw and heard Emmylou Harris in concert, a few decades ago, I was seated next to a fellow who attended with a pad of paper and some charcoal crayons. As Emmylou warbled and wooed through her rockin’, plaintive, … Continue reading
New Country/Rock/Blues: The Kentucky Headhunters — ‘On Safari’
The Kentucky Headhunters — On Safari Label: Plowboy Records/Practice House Records They released their debut album, Pickin’ On Nashville, in 1989. Country music didn’t exactly know what to do with their new southern rock sound, but fans new they loved it and wanted more. Fast forward twenty-five years (and a Grammy award) and it should come … Continue reading
New Bluegrass: Circa Blue — ‘Once Upon A Time’
Circa Blue — Once Upon A Time Label: Orange Blossom Records Circa Blue’s latest album, Once Upon A Time, is full of calm, soothing tones delivered on a cloud of musical coherence. It restores one’s faith in the ability of bluegrass to restore one’s faith. The lineup this time includes guitarist Steve Harris, banjoist Matt Hickman, mandolinist … Continue reading
New Bluegrass: Rhonda Vincent — ‘All The Rage – Volume One’
Rhonda Vincent — All The Rage – Volume One The latest release from Rhonda Vincent, also known as “The New Queen of Bluegrass,” is a live concert album with her award-winning bluegrass band the Rage. It features 14 songs (loads of fan favorites and a couple of classic hymns), filmed LIVE at Bethel University in McKenzie, … Continue reading
New Blues: Trudy Lynn — ‘I’ll Sing The Blues For You’
Trudy Lynn — ‘I’ll Sing The Blues For You’ Trudy Lynn carries on in the tradition of the great female Texas blues vocalists with her energetic and gutsy performances. I’LL SING THE BLUES FOR YOU is Trudy Lynn’s third release with Connor Ray Music. The album consists of ten tracks, including original works and interpretations of songs by … Continue reading
Garth Brooks Wins Entertainer Of The Year As The 50th CMAs Honor Country Music
Well, it probably won’t happen again for another fifty years. I’m talking, of course, about a CMA Awards show that (except for one unnecessary Beyoncé moment) actually honored authentic country music during the entire evening. The Country Music Association’s 50th awards were bigger than ever. Anyone who saw the star-studded, “Forever Country” video, which was packed to the … Continue reading
New Folk: ‘Just Love’ — A Tribute To Audrery Auld
Just Love — A Tribute To Audrery Auld Mezera Label: Reckless Records Just Love is precisely that—a labor of love from artists all over the world, performing quality material of an impressive variety. Nashville singer-songwriter/producer Nancy Apple put together this touching tribute album to her late friend Audrey Auld, a fellow Nashville singer-songwriter, who passed away after … Continue reading
CRITICS ARE BUZZING ABOUT CHASE BRYANT’S SIZZLING NEW VIDEO FOR “ROOM TO BREATHE”
The verdict is in and critics agree that Chase Bryant’s boundary-pushing new video for hit single “Room To Breathe” is an eye-catching, sizzling success. Premiering across CMT platforms last Friday (10/14), the celebrated “guitar slinger brings James Bond swagger” (CMT.com) to his new video which features a high stakes poker game, a dangerous beauty and … Continue reading
parcbench .live 