I’m sure there are so many other dates I accidentally left out I will try to be more accurate or at least slow down on the beer next time.

-The Rooster

The Latest: Comal County Blue

I’m fresh off of a little vacation and back in time for pre-celebration for Jason Boland and the Stragglers upcoming show at the Wormy Dog Saloon on Thanksgiving night Nov.26, which also happens to be my birthday as well. I’m just going to drop a few lines for this Oklahoma native to show my respects.

Comal County Blue was a much anticipated release in August of 2008 and a sobering moment for most Jason Boland fans after a blood filled polyp obstructed his vocal chords. After a successful surgery and spending a lot of time in silence and then having to retrain his vocal chords to sing, a sigh of relief was delivered. Though sidelined for the release of the album, Comal County Blue still turned heads.  The album’s first radio soared to the number one spot and stunned the itunes world.

Comal County Blue has many solid tracks. As soon as you pop in the CD, Son’s and Daughter’s of Dixie delivers banjos and drums and that ole guitar from Boland we all know and love. Boland even gives you glimpse of his past demons in Bottle By My Bed and No Reason In Being Late. His second radio release, The Part’s Not Over, featuring a special quest vocal performance from Robert Earl Keen, is just another reason of why you should own this album. Comal County Blue was one the most celebrated albums in late 2008 and is still making waves. This album is Jason Boland and The Stragglers polished to it’s finest, lyrically and instrumentally as well. I get goose bumps just thinking of what is next for these guys. Outlaw Band reminds me most of why I even began to listen to Jason Boland and The Stragglers written by the late Bob Childers and other greats like Randy Crouch and Layle Stagner.

The Greatest: Somewhere In The Middle

After I got an ear full of Jason Boland and Stragglers’ first albums I didn’t know if they could follow a debut album like 2001’s Pearl Snaps. I was young, fresh out of high school, and wild as the wind running back and forth between SWOSU and Stillwater. But then I herd these lyrics: “You don’t like my music, you don’t like my songs, Say you want to party, say you want to rock-n-roll, that carbon copy music don’t mean a damn to me”.

Sorry, I got a little side tracked, but man, those lyrics from the first track “hank” are amazing and make perfect sense in 2004 and still hold true today. But that song is just the beginning that makes these bourbon legends so unique in country music today. This album is probably in my CD player the most. Even with my vast collection of music, Somewhere In The Middle is most responsible for many hazy nights and trying to get my head straight.

In the song If You Want to Hear A Love Song, Boland sings about needing some love to show some love and in Stand Up To The Man they give you quick insight on not giving up on life and fighting till the end. 12oz. curls is a fun song written by Randy Crouch that any old bar hopping soul should love. Boland and The Stragglers even cover the classic Thunderbird, written by Billy Joe Shaver.

For a special treat, there is a secret song after Hell or Bust by Randy Crouch himself. Even Stoney LaRue jumps in there on the acoustic guitar. This album is a cure for whatever ails you and is one of my all time favorites. Don’t bother skipping any of the tracks because you won’t need too. Fiddle and steel guitar are no novelties with Jason Boland and The Stragglers.

So I hope I have done enough to encourage everyone to come out and see Jason Boland and the Stragglers on Thursday night after gobbling turkey all day and if you see me stumbling around I might let you buy me a beer or two, ’cause it will be my birthday as well.

-The Rooster

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After one long night that ended in reckless abandonment, Stoney LaRue style, Saturday would be no different. Barely making it back to my media booth, the festivities kicked off with Aaron Watson on the main stage. Though it was early, I was still excited to get to check him out. There wasn’t nothing Aaron Watson and his band didn’t have on hand, Banjos, steel guitar, and fiddle… you name it. He kicked off the entertainment with “Love Making Song” and ended it the same way and since Aaron Watson was his own boss under his own label he decided to even give out free CD’s at the merch table that ended up with a bigger line then usual right in front of ole KKNG booth.

Up next was another Texas icon that is living proof that there is life after being a one hit wonder. Much like Jason Boland, there is not just a calm before the storm, but after as well and its name is Ray Wylie Hubbard. In 1973 Hubbard had his first big hit that sits around in most honky-tonk juke boxes: “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother”. With the help of the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn, he quit drinking and went back to writing with vivid lyrics and groovy melodies. The legendary rambler made a come back with hits like the recent “Snake Farm”. During his press conference he was excited about still being able to tour and how his 13-year-old son was moving right along. He opened with “Live and Die Rock ‘n Roll”, a ballad that has appearances by Seth James and Cody Canada. And of course he played the favorite, “Way of The Fallen”, which deals with salvation and redemption.

With one legend out of the way, it was time for another: The Red Dirt Rangers. A symbolic staple in the red dirt/ Texas music scene, they got their start in Stillwater Oklahoma at The Farm, where they all met while being students at Oklahoma State University. The Red Dirt Rangers delivered, keeping the good vibe going to the largest crowd assembling all over the venue.

Your wild west windblown band that took the stage as the sun bore down on the rowdy concert crowd was Reckless Kelly playing all their hits from there latest album, and then some, hinting that there might be another album coming out “real” soon. They closed their show with their quintessential sing along “Crazy Eddie’s Last Hurrah”, setting the mode for the rest of evening.

Another Stillwater staple took the stage after Reckless Kelly…a very healthy and sober Jason Boland along with the Stragglers. Boland gave thanks to the one’s that came before him, his mentor Bob Childers, and sang almost every song you could think of. He even played a Billy Joe Shaver cover of “Thunderbird”. It seems that there was nothing else that Boland and the Stragglers where destine to do as there first album Pearl Snaps sparked a huge fallowing. Even their recent album, “Comal County Blue”, garnered them national attention. As most of should know, this is a bittersweet time for Boland as almost a year ago he had a surgery to repair a blown out vocal cord that almost ended his career.

The last band of the night was none other than Cross Canadian Ragweed, who just finished recording their new album Mission California with many of the faces we have come know and love in this music scene we have down here. The self-proclaimed “drunkest, loudest, assholes in Nashville” were by far one of my favorite acts to catch all weekend. It seems like every show they surprise you with something. We even got a little variety, with guest vocal appearances by Jason Boland and Jon Cooper (Red Dirt Rangers) singing along with Ragweed on “Boys from Oklahoma”.

And how could we forget the most entertaining side stages of the week as well, with Oklahoma troubadour Travis Linville and Atoka native who has been drawing a lot of attention from Nashville, Shawna Russell, and a riveting performance I almost missed by Seth James.

I can’t forget about these guys either and that is the Bart Crow Band whom I joked around with about starting a “Bart Crow Band Should Be On the Main Stage, He-Man, Woman Haters Club”. The new album Bart Crow was working on is still in the mix as you read this. Giving credit to radio and the fans for spinning everything they could and how much people are catching on to this red dirt (or whatever someone decides label it this week) was just a few of things Bart Crow had to say in our much delayed interview. After arguably the best intro any band had all night, the Bart Crow Band won the rowdy crowd over playing all the hits from their latest album, Desperate Hearts. I almost didn’t make it back to my hotel. I contemplated hitting the road with the band and just introducing them everywhere they go.

Well, that’s it. I’m going to try this thing they call swimming a little bit this weekend and of course bring you a new update from the road very soon.

-Rooster

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If the first day of Country Fever looked exciting, just wait and see what day two has in store for you. Every one I talked to out at Country Fever, even the artists were a little confused with Brandon Jenkins opening so early. Brandon is rolling along with his 8th studio album, Faster Than a Stone, with ten solid tracks. Did I mention that this man is a Tulsa native? He doesn’t fit the bill for a traditional country music singer, but his lyrics and in your face style of play will be something you never forget. He was actually the only artist who wanted to take a KKNG sticker and shirt. Opening the show with Faster Than A Stone, Brandon Jenkins played all the hits. I almost couldn’t get my interview with Mike McClure done cause we were having too much fun enjoying a beer and listening.

Texas music icon Billy Joe Shaver was the next grace the main stage. With over 20 albums under his belt, Shaver was the most veteran singer at Country Fever. Shaver made some of the older crowd a bit more comfortable. In between interviewing artists and going to press conferences, I was able to catch Shaver sing a few and this songwriter still has it. He played Ride Me Down Easy and Old Junk of Coal and polished off his show with Thunderbird and I Been to Georgia On a Fast Train. Afterward, I scurried back up to my booth for my next press conference.

After a quick set change around 3:45, it was Mike McClure’s turn to take the stage. Now, for most of you who don’t know, Mike McClure is the original front man for The Great Divide, which was the first red dirt artist to get signed to a major label. During our interview he talked of recently getting back from working on Cross Canadian Ragweed’s new album, being completely comfortable where he is musically without The Great Divide, and getting to weed out the crappy gigs and doing gigs he wants to do. When I asked him which he liked better: performing or recording? He wouldn’t budge either way. Although McClure just recorded a new album about eight month’s ago, he is already working on another one.

Arguably one of the busiest men at Country Fever was Jack Ingram. Supporting his newly released single and an upcoming album and with tour dates added daily, Jack Ingram seemed excited for his first official “summer anthem”, Barefoot and Crazy. Ingram was pushing his new album, Big Dreams and High Hopes (due out at the end of August) and his next single Free. I have noticed how negative Texas music fans have been on Jack and Pat Green, calling them sellouts. Jack Ingram responded, saying all the fans deserve to have ownership, but his job as a musician is to get his music out there to as many people as possible. I only got a chance to catch Jack’s last two songs, Where Ever You Are and Love You. It was good seeing the ACMA Best New Vocalist taking time to visit Country Fever.

A little later than expected, around 8:30pm, an already rowdy crowd gathered for my absolute favorite of the weekend: The Randy Rogers Band. Now I don’t know what else could be said about these guys that I have not already said. Except for something I was thrilled to hear: that the first order of business after Country Fever was MAKING A NEW ALBUM (with a projected release of Spring 2010). Now here comes the blurred part of the evening. Randy Rogers Band delivered all the hits just as though they where headlining including Wicked Ways, Somebody Take Me Home, and Down and Out, just to name a few.

Immediately fallowing Randy it was Stoney LaRue’s turn to grace the main stage. As the final act of the night, it would be the hardest act to follow all week, setting the tone for all the acts the rest of the weekend. Stoney got his start in Stillwater in the famed Yellow House, as did so many other acts with Oklahoma ties. Mid way through his set, Stoney let it be known he was used to a different kind of crowd: the crowd that was up in your face and not seated far away cause they couldn’t afford the tickets. So much to the chagrin of security Stoney invited everyone up to the front and made them sit down so not to annoy the big seat spenders. Even tearing down his set a little bit and doing a little bluegrass music, which was the first time I had heard, I was excited.

I have finally recovered from my sunburn and even nearly sank a boat singing Wade Bowen out loud and not paying attention, but that is another story another time. I’m off into the sunset until next week.

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