This year the 7th Annual Country Fever in Pryor, Oklahoma was a special event. For four days the best in red dirt & Texas music descended on Pryor and I was along for the entire ride.

Kicking off day one was the Jackson Taylor Band. The first thing that pops into my mind when thinking of Jackson Taylor is ‘outlaw’. Jackson Taylor was one of 11 siblings and grew up listening to true outlaws Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and so many others. Like most of these artists he tried his hand in the Nashville music scene before being swallowed up and heading back to Texas where he could write his own style of love and hate music about ex-wives, past relationships and struggles which garnered a lot of attention with his Dark Days album and his most recent release Aces and Eights.

After a quick set change it was time for Stillwater’s own No Justice who rocked out in the extreme heat around 6:30. During my interview, No Justice celebrated their number one single “Don’t Walk Away” and Steve Rice of No Justice said they are already getting geared up and looking at a couple of different producers for their next album, having pushed all the singles they could off their Live at Billy Bob’s album. They are even kicking around the idea of letting the fans name their new album.

The next artist on the main stage, Wade Bowen, made a statement this year winning not one or two, but six awards this year, inclusing best album, artist of year, record of the year, and best male vocalist, not to mention his number one hit from the Texas Regional Radio Report “You Had Me at My Best” and his other number one single on the Texas Music Charts “If We Ever Make It Home”. Wade Bowen performed all his big hits from his new If We Ever Make It Home and even as far back as the album that shined for him in 2006, Lost Hotel.

During Wade’s press conference he made me feel like a weakling in my shorts and flip-flops trying to beat the heat while he sat up on the press room stage in jeans and black t-shirt saying he’s from south Texas and the heat just doesn’t bother him anymore. When I interviewed Wade he was very humble in speaking of his recent success and pointed out he is in a “gray” area of his career with him coming to the last leg of his contract with Sustain Records and reminisced about the time Stoney LaRue showed up and jammed out with him at the Wormy Dog Saloon, broken hand and all and said a majority of his crazy stories include his close friend.

Now before I get to the last act of day one there was also two side stages that shined some of Oklahoma’s brightest rising stars in the scene today: Mama Sweet from Norman (no that is not a misprint they hail from Norman not Stillwater), who broke on the scene in 2002 and Tahlequah’s own Turnpike Troubadours. Both of these artists have worked with Mike McClure (we will be getting to him later on in the week).

Wrapping up the night was 53-year-old singer/songwriter/troubadour Robert Earl Keen who all but stole the show. The Texas A&M graduate began his long road by literally paying for his first album, No Kinda Dancer, himself . Keen’s storytelling style about the borderlands of Texas and Mexico is like no other, and his anthem “Front Porch Song” wrapped the first night and my first experience at Country Fever in Pryor. After four days of sitting directly in the sun’s beating path I have no plans of riding off into the sunset but rather avoiding it all together.

- Rooster

Johnny Cooper at the Wormy Dog Saloon

23 days 10 hours and 32 minutes until the release of Johnny Cooper’s new album, Follow, or at the time I logged onto his new website that’s what it said. I’m sure even more time has expired since. On Friday June 5th I strolled into the Wormy Dog to check out the Johnny Cooper show hoping to hear some of his newer stuff off of his highly anticipated new album that comes out July 10th.

The Texas entertainer of the year back to back in 2006 and 2007 showed just what all the buzz is about on Friday night. When I interviewed Cooper at the Red Dirt Music Festival in Guthrie he said. “When you go to a Johnny Cooper show you are going to expect to hear it all. A little rock, a little jazz, even a little hip-hop.” After his show Friday I would say he brought his A game to the Wormy Dog. He kickedoff his show with his biggest hit to date “Texas To You”. He even broke it down and did some crowd pleasing covers with his partner in crime Cody Shaw. They brought everything to this show from acoustic sets to beat boxing. Although Johnny Cooper only played one song from his new album (the title track “Follow)” it left the crowd wanting more and they will get their chance this Sunday at Country Fever in Pryor, Oklahoma.

Well I’m going to ride off into the sunset again and I can’t say if I will be back because I’m heading out to a four day music festival for all the red dirt/texas music I can handle so I might not make it back….that’s a bad thing, right?…

Follow The Rooster on Twitter all weekend long and win!

This Thursday I will attending Country Fever in Pryor Oklahoma for the largest assembling of red dirt/Texas music artists to date. This four day festival will feature some of today’s hottest acts and rising stars. Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, Randy Rogers Band, Eli Young, Stoney, No Justice just to name a few. If you can’t make the trip follow my adventures on twitter at twitter.com/reddirtlive and check out Langston’s blog for some of free goodies Red Dirt:Live will be giving away.

- Rooster

Keeping in the spirit of the 5th annual Wormy Dog Spring Jam, I finally got my hands on Road of Life by east Texan outlaw Whiskey Myers. I finally got to see them live after many failed attempts. The album starts off with “Thief of Hearts”. Track 2 “Kyle Hope” should remind us all of our old selves watching friends leave our hometown and go off to college while you worked your ass off, stuck around and had good times when they all came home for the summer. “Gone Away” is possibly my favorite track on this album with lyrics like this… “just like the good times, you’ll be gone once again, out of my life and out of this one horse town, just like a bird…” it’s like these guys where inside my head. “Lonely East TX Nights” is their recent radio single and it is packed with just as much power as any of the other songs. The song that officially made me a fan and caught my attention was the title track “Road of Life”.

Road of Life is one of those albums where everyone young or old, male or female could just sit and jam too. If there was an official album of the summer of 2009 so far, this is it. Packed full of serenades that remind you of small town life, the ones you’ve left behind that you’ll never forget, and all the good times. Sadly the only time you will get a chance to check these guys in Oklahoma isn’t until College Fest in Stillwater in August, but you can this album at their website or at Lonestar Music,  which I strongly urge you to do.

- Rooster

5th Annual Wormy Dog Saloon Spring Jam

For the last five years I haven’t waited on some sharp dressed weatherman to tell me when the official start of the summer is. By my clock, summer officially started for me, as always, at the annual Wormy Dog Spring Jam. This year’s lineup was jam packed with a few familiar faces. The gates opened at 3pm behind the Walnut Street Bridge and Red Dirt fans began to pack the place out.

The first act was Josh Abbott Band and through 90 degree weather they got the official 1st party of the summer started playing their first big hit “Buried Me” from the EP that got the Josh Abbott craze started. He plugged a lot of country music greats throughout his set and ended his show with another hit song “Taste” to an already rambunctious crowd. Next it was time for one of Texas’ best kept secret’s: Bleu Edmondson. Bleu recently signed with CAA records in Nashville and has won countless awards for his Live at Billy Bob’s Album. Bleu started off rocking and fired up everyone in the crowd by covering a song made famous by Brandon Jenkins, “Finger On The Trigger”. That song really got the crowd screaming and he closed his set with his most popular song to date “$50 and a Flask of Crown”. By the time Bleu’s set was done it was pretty packed.

Arguably one of the hottest country music acts today is the Eli Young Band with ACM, and CMT award nods for their album Jet Black and Jealous. They threw the crowd into a frenzy with ‘Throw and Go” and Mark Eli even showed my favorite radio station KKNG a lot of love for playing their music first here in Oklahoma. The same goes for a lot of these guys who have been in this scene for a while. Playing their Billboard Country Music hit “Always The Love Songs” and crowd favorites “Small Town Kid” and “When it Rains”, the Eli Young Band drove women wild and set the tone for night.

The closing act, which I was looking forward to seeing the most, was The Randy Rogers Band. They opened with one of my favorites, “Somebody Take Me Home”, which had me stomping my feet. Who am I kidding? When Randy Rogers Brings his style of music anywhere drivable for me, I am there. I have seen countless music festivals and big concert after big concert and it seems like Randy Rogers Band delivers every time, leaving you wanting more and more. ”Kiss Me in the Dark”. “Down and Out”. There wasn’t a hit Randy Rogers didn’t play. Look I have seen some amazing shows but this has got be my favorite to date and would not have been the same without The Randy Rogers Band. If you get a chance to make it to Madill, Oklahoma this weekend,  Randy Rogers is playing at The Sand Bass Festival and one more chance in Oklahoma for awhile at Country Fever in Pryor.

Well folks, one more big festival in a few weeks. Until then, I will keep the Wormy Dog reviews going. The amazing Johnny Cooper is there this Friday. I hope to see you all there. I’m sure he will bust out all his new stuff. Until then I’m just riding off into the sun, cause I’m pretty sure my face couldn’t be any more sunburned than it is. Meanwhile, check out some more Spring Jam pics below…

- Rooster

Langston’s Western Wear has joined the world of facebook. Click the icon above to check it out and become a fan. You’ll get coupons, special savings, sale notices, information about special events, notice of new product updates and more sent directly to your news feed.

To kick off our facebook party we’ve included a special gift (coupon anyone?). Hope to see you there!

The annual Spring Jam is tomorrow and this year it features two of the biggest names in Red Dirt music, the Randy Rogers Band and the Eli Young Band. We’ll be hanging with Panhandle Slim at their “Shirt Swap” booth. It’s a great event where you can trade in the shirt off your back for a brand new Panhandle Slim shirt. All the shirts Panhandle Slim gets will be donated to charity. In addition, we’ll be handing out coupons for 20% off Panhandle Slim shirts purchased at our online store in the month of July.

Great music, free shirts for charity, and 20% off Panhandle Slim purchases at langstons.com. You can’t beat it!

See you there.

Music, Mayhem, and Mud

I woke up early on Sunday, May 24 and hit the road to Eufaula Cove Ampitheatre for Cross Canadian Ragweed’s 3rd annual Music & Mayhem. This year’s lineup was solid from start to finish. Mickey and The Motorcars, Reckless Kelly, Wade Bowen, Jason Boland, Cross Canadian Ragweed and of course the headliner for this year’s event Gary Allan.

When I arrived at Eufaula Cove there wasn’t a cloud in sight. It was nice and breezy, but all that soon changed about 45 minutes after the gate opened. I was already on my fourth beer and my tent was a boat ride away. I was jamming out to surprise guest Welcome to Silence when I noticed the clouds looming overhead. Within the next few songs the rain hit us like stinging needles. As everyone ran for some cover, I saw people, for the first time in my life, actually scrambling to get to a port-a-pott. After the rain calmed down, Mickey and The Motorcars took the stage. If you are not familiar with them, Mickey is one of a long line of famous Braun brothers like Reckless Kelly. They played all their hits from their album Naïve, “Grow Old”, “Seeds”.

With rain still pouring down, Reckless Kelly took the stage and, like always, showed why they were the 2008 Best Live Band in Austin. Micky Braun even joined his brothers Willy and Cody to sing a few songs. After the Braun clan was done wreaking havoc on a rain drenched and mud caked crowd, it was Jason Boland and The Stragglers turn. It seems to me since Boland went through a serious throat surgery at the end of last summer, his shows since then have been spectacular. Not that they weren’t before, it just seems like he has a reborn passion for what he is doing up there on stage. Performing all his hits he could fit into his set along with some new ones from his latest album, Comal County Blues, but I still wanted more.

By the time it was Wade Bowen’s turn to rock-n-roll, I was caked with the dried up mud I’d been standing in for hours. Gary Allan was delivered and was cool, calm and mysterious.

Cross Canadian finished the night with a rowdy crowd. This reminded me of a concert a few years back with Ragweed, only there wasn’t as much mud throwing this time around. Though the rain drove some of the older Gary Allan fans out of the joint, the “troopers” like myself toughed it out. I even managed to take a few snapshots and not get my phone totally ruined in all the madness:

Well this weekend is yet another music festival but this time it’s just down the street from the Wormy Dog for Spring Jam with Randy Rogers Band and Eli Young Band.

Hope to see you all there.

-Rooster

With the 5th annual Spring Jam just one week away, featuring two of hottest rising country music groups at it today, Eli Young Band and Randy Rogers Band, I wanted to give those of you who have not had a chance to check out Randy Rogers Band a couple of reasons why you need to as soon as possible. Now, it is no secret. Anyone close to me or anyone who knows me at all will tell you I am a Randy Rogers Band fanatic. I own all of their albums, plenty of merch, and countless signed artifacts.

With that out of the way, I will get down to the best reasons (albums) why you should pay attention to these guys. The first is their latest album. The self titled record is the sixth album release since the band starting playing music and it is one of their best. The opening song, “Wicked Ways”, is a song about making choices and dealing with the consequences they bring. It catches you from the start with one’s of the industry’s best fiddlers, Brady Black, and keeps on rolling. This is real country music. With tracks “Lonely Too Long”, “Never Be That High”, and “Buy Myself A Chance”, this album debuted on the Billboard Country Music charts at number three, and was the most downloaded country album on iTunes in 2008. The big hit that started a chain reaction of Randy Rogers pandemonium was “In My Arm’s Instead”, which reached the top 20 on the music charts. The album received an abundance of attention with nominations at ACM and CMA awards, as well as winning Best Country Album of 2008 in Playboy Magazine.

That new album is the first reason. Now here is the second: the Randy Rogers Band Live at Billy Bobs disc. The album is hands down their best album. You get to actually get a feel of how amazing they are in concert, and if you have not seen Randy Rogers Band perform live at one of the many festivals around Oklahoma and Texas or missed them on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno or The Late Show with David Letterman, then you are missing out. This album has all the familiar Randy Rogers we have come to love that has garnered them national attention in 2007 with Rolling Stone magazine ranking them alongside such artists as U2 and the Stones in its list of Top 10 Must-See Artists in the summer of 2007. USA Today praised the band for having “loads of grit, swagger and heart.” It starts off right with my two favorite songs “Somebody Take Me Home” and “Down and Out”. This album has all the favorites: “Ten Miles Deep”, “Tonight’s Not the Night”,” Lost And Found” and so much more.

First and foremost, Randy Rogers is a songwriter (something that country music is missing these days). If these two albums have not persuaded you enough to go out and purchase Spring Jam tickets for next weekend, then maybe it’s time you just listen to someone who knows. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Randy Rogers himself “Country music needs a change…and if this ain’t country music, I’ll kiss your ass”

On May 9th, I found myself at the Wormy Dog again for the rescheduled Reckless Kelly show. As far as I knew it was just Reckless Kelly playing, but around 10 there was a band on stage and it was their good buddies Highspeed Hayride, a foursome from around the Texas/Mexico border. Highspeed Hayride have had their share of hits on the Texas Music Charts and I’m hoping they will come back around very soon because they put on a good show.

As usual, the headlining band didn’t come on exactly when expected but delivered none the less. They opened with the crowd favorite “Ragged As The Road”, which was a hit for them off their latest album “Bulletproof”.  There hasn’t been an album these guys have put out that hasn’t had at least four or five big hits for them. Nominated as one of the best live act in Texas by the 2009 Lone Star Music Awards, Reckless Kelly showed they know what they’re doing. Don’t forget they’ve got a background that can be dated back to performing on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson when they were 11 and 12 years old…  not once, but twice.

Known as the wild ones in the music scene no matter where they are, they do everything in full force and everyone got exactly that Saturday night. There was still a line waiting to get in at 12:30a.m. Reckless Kelly kept the crowed going with all their hits: “Sixgun”, “Motel Cowboy Show”, and “Break My Heart Tonight” just to name a few. I don’t think there is a “country music” instrument that Cody Braun can’t play. Braun was nominated for best musician at the 2009 LSM Awards where he pulled out a mandolin, harmonica, banjo, and even stole the mic from his brother Willy to sing “Wild West Windblown Band”. Ending the night with the hand down crowd favorite, “Crazy Eddies Last Hurrah”, they had the entire elbow-to-elbow crowded room screaming the lyrics and going insane making it one of the most enthusiastic crowds I have seen.

If you missed out on this wild west windblown band then you will get two more chances in the next two months with Cross Canadian Ragweed’s 3rd Annual Music & Mayhem at Eufaula, and Country Fever in Pryor. I’m not going to ride off into the sunset this time but take a deep breathe and leave with my favorite Reckless Kelly lyrics…

“Well it sure didn’t take too long
I woke up one mornin’, she was gone
And the note that she wrote didn’t say “Dear John”
It said, “Goodbye, ******, I’m gone!”

She was a home-grown mountain girl
Raised in a different world.
I was a wanna-be rocker,
She was more into Merle.

And I couldn’t see it just wouldn’t work
And now I’m double fisting longnecks
And grapefruit and Stoli
But I’m never gettin’ over Jolie”

- Crazy Eddie’s Last Hurrah-R.K

- Rooster

This week we’re featuring the new line of 8241 Ranch shirts just added to the online store. Above are some sample pictures (click pictures to check out item pages) of the women’s selection. T-Shirts, Tank Tops, and Burn Out Tees all feature great stylish designs. These are great for going out and hanging out.

8241 Ranch also offers children’s clothing (see pics below). Cute and fun, these children’s t-shirts, rompers, and dresses will add some rustic western attitude to your child’s wardrobe. We can’t guarantee that they’ll help avoid the “time to get dressed” melt down, but they will certainly make it more fun once you’ve finally gotten them ready to go.

For this week’s blog special, we’re taking 10% off all 8241 Ranch shirts. Just use coupon code blog051409 at checkout to have the discount applied to the 8241 Ranch shirts in your order. Coupon Expires 05/21/09.