Monthly Archives: July 2009

Day 3 of Country Fever

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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

Country Fever Day 2

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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.