NashvilleHype!

This is a video of Rachel Farley doing Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead”.  This video was shot during CMA Week at the Cadillac Ranch in downtown Nashville.  The night before, at midnight, she had went down to play with this band. She’d never played with them before (or a true band from what I know), but she was invited, so she went - played a few songs and learned a little of what it means to improvise on stage - even if you aren’t sure what’s going on or what to do next.  The band invited her back, so the next day, she went again.  The place was packed out, and this was Rachel’s first song with the band. Seriously, her FIRST song.

I say this reluctantly but I want to make a point - Rachel is 13.  Admit it, Rachel Farley is AWESOME! Can you even imagine when she starts recording with Keith Thomas??  Forget about it - she’s taking over the world.

Here’s what I wrote about it June 10th, 2008:

Walk around Nashville a little while, look around, and make our way over to the Cadillac Ranch to see Rachel Farley perform

and she COMPLETELY took everyone in the audience by surprize -

cause people, just listen to me please! - Rachel is a STAR!  She absolutely ROCKS!  You wonder why she wins so many awards?  Why she’s working with Grammy winning mega-producers?  Why major record label Presidents show up to a Benefit Concert?  It’s not cause it’s a good cause!  Wonder why I had her on NashvilleHype! before anyone knew a Rachel Farley existed?  Because she KILLS from the stage!  Especially with a band.  I’ve not seen her perform with a band before and oh my… just unbelievable.  She has really grown in stage presence since I first saw her perform.  And her future is only going to get brighter.

After Rachel performed, I got a chance to dispel some good old fashion wisdom in her direction

and she’s a sponge.  Look at those eyes.  I wish every artists would listen to me as intently as Rachel does - things might be better for them.  ahh, cest la vie.

Here’s a bonus video, just to show you what kind of songs she’s writing RIGHT NOW — this is an Original song written solely by Rachel - “Empty Bottle and an Empty Heart”

CD: Two Men with the Blues

Release: July 8, 2008

 
I’m sitting here listening to my new favorite cd!  This album is AWESOME!  I mean, after the last review I had to give Willie for his ill-conceived “Moment of Forever” cd, which was horrible on so many levels, I wasn’t sure I wanted to even crack this one open - but man, am I glad I ever did!

This album was recorded live Jan. 12th and 13th, 2007 at the Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at the Lincoln Center - and it’s a performance that you just WISH you could’ve been there to see live.  This is the only kindof reason to spend any money going to a live show anymore.  If it’s this good.

Wynton is spot on in his playing and Willie sounds interested in what he’s singing.  The players backing them are superb in every way and it’s just FUN to listen to.  It’s SWINGING, Rocking, Jazzy, Country, and Blues at it’s best. 

Standards like “Bright Lights, Big City”, “Caldonia”, and “Georgia on my Mind” are included.  “Caldonia” is ROCKING and I swear I could place it on repeat and listen to it over and over all night.  This is just fantastic music.  The best collaboration in Years!

Congrats to the staff at Blue Note Records for getting this to market.  I hope it’s a HUGE hit and everyone buys it.  Nothing you buy this year is going to compare.  Seriously.  This might be the Record of the Year.

As an aside, several weeks ago I received Willie Nelson’s new novel - A Tale Out Of Luck, which won’t be released until September 2008. So stay tuned to NashvilleHype! as I will be reviewing this book before it’s release.

You hear this kind of report every year, but this year, because NashvilleHype! has a vested interest (we not only want Ashlee Hewitt to win, we want the whole country to know who she is!), we really hate to hear this - and can only hope that things pick up.

According to Media Life Magazine:

The country crooners on NBC’s “Nashville Star” hit an off note in their second outing last night. Though the series continues to improve on its ratings from last year, when it aired on USA, the show saw a substantial decline in its second week of competition.

“Star” averaged a 1.8 adults 18-49 rating last night from 9 to 10:30 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, off 18 percent from an opening-week 2.2. That’s still well ahead of what the show averaged on USA last year.

But “Star” finished fifth in the 9 p.m. hour, behind even Univision’s “Fuego en la Sangre,” and it barely topped ABC bomb “The Mole” during the 10 p.m. half hour, averaging a 1.9 to the latter’s 1.6.

Relaunching a cable show on broadcast is a very difficult undertaking, as those shows tend to be more niche and appeal to a narrower audience. While “Star” certainly will draw in country music fans, it does not have the broad appeal of a show like “American Idol,” which includes a number of different genres.

Of course it didn’t get much help from lead-in “American Gladiators,” which tied for fourth in the 8 p.m. timeslot with Univision’s “Al Diablo con los Guapos,” dropping the network to fourth for the night. 

Maybe NBC can make some changes — as in, change the terrible lead in show.  I mean, doesn’t Hulk Hogan have enough bad press already?

It was all Cathryn’s fault!  See, I didn’t intend to go to “CMA Fest” - ever.  It’s not that I didn’t sometimes want to go - but I was raised here, and mostly in the industry - I’m not really a ‘fan’ if that makes sense.

We were actually just going to go hang out with friends Lady Antebellum who were going to do a mini-set before heading over to perform on the Opry.

So we go over and say hi and take a picture together - we all go downstairs so they can play, they play a couple of songs and we were going to say goodbye… but then Trent Tomlinson must’ve walked by - or Cathryn saw him going upstairs and she wanted a picture — so…

Trent’s still really cool - and he told me he’s working on his new album now - which is good because I told him, I was getting a little worried since I hadn’t heard anything from him - and hadn’t talked to him in a long time.  A quote: “I’m not losing my record deal!”.  Good to know - he’s a stand out artist right now.  Very definable by his voice and his songs.

Then Cathrn told me that Glenn Sweitzer was there doing some video work in the convention center …

And of course I wanted to go over and say hi - but, I didn’t want to spend the $22.00 just to say hi.  So Cathryn pulled out the trump card.  Jessica Urick  - ugh! Cathryn!!!

And of course, I LOVE Jessica!  I’ve known her for years and years - she’s a real sweetheart, a down to earth person, great performer (very funny on stage) and I’ve had her on site before (the old NashvilleHype! before the loss).  So, I broke down and paid the $22.00 for the ticket.  First time in YEARS I’ve been to fan fair … and the first time I ever paid.

But then something happened.  I started running into people I’ve known for years - and hadn’t seen in longer.  Like Robert Reynolds (pictured on the far right - John from DigitalRodeo in the center), who used to be in the Mavericks, produced my friend Jenna Von Oy, and who I lost contact with nearly 15 years ago or so.

And Miko Marks, who I’ve always loved!  Shes fantastic and a real sweetheart.  Her music as I’ve told you before is more traditional - and does she ever carry the torch.  Just love her.

In the booth right next to Miko was another friend of mine - Austin Cody.  Austin is about the second nicest guy in Nashville - and he really is the nicest artist in Nashville.  Talk about a live show?!  Austin is a rocking performer - definately high energy.

It was like a NashvilleHype! fest instead (next year, NashvilleHype! should have a full booth with the works!).  Bunch of friends.  But no Jessica!  Dang.  So, we end up leaving.

Walk around Nashville a little while, look around, and make our way over to the Cadillac Ranch to see Rachel Farley perform

and she COMPLETELY took everyone in the audience by surprize -

cause people, just listen to me please! - Rachel is a STAR!  She absolutely ROCKS!  You wonder why she wins so many awards?  Why she’s working with Grammy winning mega-producers?  Why major record label Presidents show up to a Benefit Concert?  It’s not cause it’s a good cause!  Wonder why I had her on NashvilleHype! before anyone knew a Rachel Farley existed?  Because she KILLS from the stage!  Especially with a band.  I’ve not seen her perform with a band before and oh my… just unbelievable.  She has really grown in stage presence since I first saw her perform.  And her future is only going to get brighter.

After Rachel performed, I got a chance to dispel some good old fashion wisdom in her direction

and she’s a sponge.  Look at those eyes.  I wish every artists would listen to me as intently as Rachel does - things might be better for them.  ahh, cest la vie.

So after my in depth talk with Rachel a girl I’ve known for well over a year shows up to perform - holy smokes!  It’s Brynn Marie from Pennsylvania!  She’s HOT!

And I finally crack a smile… Yeah, so maybe Fan Fair isn’t a bad thing after all. Thanks Cathryn!

For more pics, visit Cathryn’s Myspace.

“I should also mention that he sat at the merch table after the set, signing photos, cds and dvds, chatting with the fans, and demonstrating how country music is done, old-school.”

The quote above comes from a friend of mine I’ve known for probably 10 years or more - Todd Everett - speaking about a show he attended a few nights ago starring Little Jimmy Dickens.

Todd is about as knowledgeable on country music, and music in general, as anyone who ever lived.  His resume includes stints working for many major publications.  Todd has

“worked in, and written about, the entertainment industry from Hollywood for more than 30 years. In addition to staff positions at The Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, I have worked on staff or freelanced for numerous record labels. I reviewed theater in a regional edition of The Los Angeles Times for approximately ten years.

I have edited two magazines: Ampersand and Record Review, and have written for the internationally syndicated radio programs “Earth News” and “American Top 40.”

I have written liner notes for dozens of albums, and produced reissues by acts including John Stewart, Rick Nelson, and Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks.” 

As you can see, he’s a real professional.

On his blog Todd describes the show he attended and I wrote to him to ask if I could post a little of it here, as it says something I’ve been telling artist on NashvilleHype! for a really long time (actually, since the beginning).

But first, for those who don’t know about Little Jimmy Dickens and are wondering - here’s a little bio information from wikipedia:

James Cecil Dickens (born December 19, 1920) is an American country music singer from Bolt, West Virginia. A regular at the Grand Ole Opry for almost sixty years, Dickens is famous for his humorous novelty songs, his small size, 4′11″, and his rhinestone-studded outfits.

Dickens’ musical career began in the late 1930s, when he began performing on a local radio station while attending West Virginia University. He soon quit school to pursue a full-time music career, and travelled the country performing on various local radio stations under the name “Jimmy the Kid.”

In 1948 Dickens was heard performing on a radio station in Saginaw, Michigan, by Roy Acuff, who introduced him to Art Satherley at Columbia Records and officials from the Grand Ole Opry. Dickens signed with Columbia in September and joined the Grand Ole Opry in August. Around this time he began using the nickname “Little Jimmy Dickens,” a name inspired by his height of 4 feet 11 inches.

Dickens recorded many novelty songs for Columbia around this time, including “Country Boy,” “A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed” and “I’m Little But I’m Loud.” His song “Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait)” inspired Hank Williams to nickname him “Tater.”

In 1950 he formed the Country Boys with musicians Jabbo Arrington, Grady Moore and Bob Moore. In 1957 he left the Grand Ole Opry to tour with the Philip Morris Country Music Show.

In 1962 Dickens released “The Violet and the Rose,” his first top ten single in twelve years. During 1964 he became the first country artist to circle the globe while on tour, and also made numerous TV appearances including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Around this time he released his biggest hit, “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose,” reaching number one in the country charts and number fifteen in the pop charts.

In the late 1960s he left Columbia for Decca Records, before moving again to United Artists in 1971. That same year he married his wife, Mona, and in 1975 he returned to the Grand Ole Opry. In 1983 Dickens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Recently Dickens has made appearances in a number of music videos by fellow country musician and West Virginia native Brad Paisley. He has also been featured on several of Paisley’s albums in bonus comedy tracks along with other Opry mainstays such as George Jones and Bill Anderson. They are collectively referred to as the Kung-Pao Buckaroos.

But why care about a man who’s 87 years old and hasn’t a a ‘hit’ on the radio in a hundred years (or 1970, whichever is closer)?  That quote above should give a small indication.

“Dickens comes from the old tradition where it isn’t enough to be a singer, you have to be an entertainer, as well”

“All dolled up in his glittering Nudie suit (“Mighty Mouse in his pajamas,” is how he put it), eighty seven-year-old Dickens took the stages with the enthusiasm of a man half his age or less; spinning his acoustic guitar, and striking an immediate rapport with the audience. As one point early on, he stopped the action and struck a pose so a woman in the audience could take a picture.”

I’ve preached, and I apologize once again, about the importance of being an entertainer - taking time and good care of your fans, never taking yourself too seriously, remembering that there’s plenty of time in life to have a career, enjoying yourself (and making sure your fans are as well - even if you’re not singing! ie. making that connection) … these older artists, they’ve lived it - they know what it’s all about.

Take a look at Todd’s Blog - read the whole review.  It might help you more than you know.

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!! UPDATE:  I just talked to my friend Glenn Sweitzer of Fresh Films, he told me that just last week he shot a special video for Rissi and CMT - look for this new video to hit the airwaves soon!!

I haven’t had a chance to write about Rissi Palmer in a while. As long time readers know, I love Rissi and I’ve had her on site from the beginning (really, NashvilleHype! was a very early supporter of Rissi!). A few minutes ago I actually saw an ad on MySpace for her and I thought I should go over to her site, like you should, and get caught up.

Rissi, I’m happy to say, is doing fantastic. I’m not in Nashville right now but on her site I see she was mentioned in the Tennessean for being a knockout on the red carpet at the ACMs. That’s pretty cool… but this is cooler:

This is pretty cool!  I’ll tell you why:

I’m a little tired (though I understand it’s all a part of the process of allowing people to know who ’you’ are) of the stories about Rissi’s race and influence in country music.   I HEARD Rissi and I knew she was country to the bone and is awesome (just like my friend Miko Marks who’s fantastic).  In fact, I had first written about Rissi in an article about Charlie Pride - and in a really ironic twist, I even mentioned that fully 25% of NASCAR fans are black – making the point that just as NASCAR is missing a great opportunity to expand it’s audience, so is country music.

Now admittedly I haven’t read the accompanying article in the magazine here, but I’m pretty sure it’s about Rissi and her Dog - not about how a black female is singing country music.  And I find THAT cool!

P.S.  as a bonus pic (and to drive home the NASCAR point) - here’s another pic on Rissi’s site:

Rissi with Jr.  — That Rocks!

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You know last night I was thinking over and over again about something that was said to me about someone else, “in all that time they had never had anything negative said about them” and in my quite frank opinion maybe it should have been. Of course as far as I am concerened it is just that, “an opinion”. I could repeat the same old tacky phrases we have come to know and hear over and over again but I promise to not make our readers go through that agony! My thoughts are thoughts that have been tossed and turned all day long. Being in the medical field people are asked when they come in with pain to rate that pain on a scale of 1 to 10. One being the least of the pain and ten being the greatest most intense pain of thie patients life. Well, to me in all truth of the matter, it would depend on one’s pain tolerance as to where you would rate any type of pain. That pain scale is almost silly to a certain degree. What might be a general headache to me maybe a 2 or 3 might be excrutiating to someone else therefore a pain rating of 8 or 9. This brings me to my point in telling the truth of one’s music and personal opinion’s.

Wikepedia defines an opinion as a person’s ideas and thoughts towards something, an assesment, judgement or evaluation of something. Now, we here at NashvilleHype! are all for loving our artists we write about……nope, we are ecstatic about loving them!  When we choose to write about them, let me stress that “choose”, it is something that we have really thought long and hard about. We do not just write about anyone. Now, I have to say, we can be picky, but I think in this industry you have to be. What Paul or David might like, I may not. What I may absolutely love, Paul may shrug his shoulders and raise a brow. Then there are the times when we have the bell’s and whistle’s going off cause there is a round table agreement! This is a good thing! It all comes down to a difference of opinion. Some might like a little more “twang” or some might like a little more “rock” or even some might like a group sound. Whatever the case may be, Nashville has many different sounds to choose from and many rising artists to fit the perfect “taste”.

All in all, music is a wonderful gift that has been given to many wonderful people here in Nashville and we look forward to promoting so many you that continue to put forth all that hard work and effort - it does pay off. Just never let anyone stop you.  One persons opinions may be a tear rolling down your face, but it very well could mean the ink drying on that contract!

We love you guys and keep up the great work!