Thunder Rolls

When looking at country artist Garth Brooks is one artist you cannot pass up. He has been one of those artists that have helped fans through some good times and bad, he has created music that made you cry and created music that made you feel like you are on top of the world Garth Brooks is one of the country artist that will go down as one of the artists that blew his crowds away.

Garth Brooks is a pivotal figure in the history of country music, no matter how much some country purists would like to deny it. Garth Brooks brought country music to a new audience in the 90’s, namely a mass audience. Garth Brooks is the son of Troyal and Colleen Carroll Brooks. Colleen was a country singer herself; she recorded a handful of records for Capitol in the mid 50’s that never experienced any success in the charts. Garth Brooks received a partial athletic scholarship at Oklahoma State University as a javelin tosser, but he wounded up dropping the sport during his collegiate career. However, while he was at college Garth Brooks began singing in local Oklahoma clubs, often with the lead guitarist Ty England.

In December of 1984 Garth Brooks graduated with an advertising degree; after he tried to decide to try to forge out a career as a country singer. Then in 1985 he traveled to Nashville with hopes of being discovered by a record label. Within 23 hours of arriving in Nashville Garth Brooks returned to Oklahoma, frustrated with the industry, his prospects, and his naïve dreams. Garth Brooks continued to perform in Oklahoma clubs, but in 1986 he married his college girlfriend Sandy Mahl.

Garth Brooks recorded his first album with producer Allen Reynolds at the end of 1988, the self-titled debut appeared early in 1989. This album was an instant success, with its first single “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”, which climbed into the country Top Ten. Garth Brooks had three other hit singles; the number one “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” the number two “Not Counting you,” and the number one “The Dance;” but it was his second album, No Fences, that established him as a superstar. No Fences was released in the fall of 1990, preceded by the massive hit single “Friends in Low Places.” This album spent 23 weeks at the top of the country charts and sold 700,000 copies within the first ten days of its release; but by the year 1993 No Fences would sell over ten million copies. In 1990 and 1991 Garth Brooks had a string of number one country hits from this album including “Unanswered Prayers,” “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House,” and “The Thunder Rolls.”

Garth Brooks is an amazing artist who has so many hits it is unbelievable. Here is a chart of the awards Garth Brooks has won, because there was so many I decided to put them into a chart to make it easier to read.

Love Don't Live Here

Lady Antebellum is comprised of singers Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley and multi-instrumentalist Dave Haywood. Kelley and Haywood were both classmates at the University of Georgia, studying finance, where they started writing songs together. Hillary Scott is the daughter of country singer Linda Davis and musician Lang Scott, she once had a major label interest as a solo artist; however the deal fell through. When all three members started writing and performing together, Nashville took notice. They began opening shows for big country artist; as well as earning high-profile gigs in clubs around town. “Love Don’t Live Here” was a successful first single that Capital Nashville released their debut album in 2008.

In 2008 Lady Antebellum won two awards they were the CMA Horizon Award and the Academy of Country Music: Top New Vocal Duet/Group. Then in 2009 Lady Antebellum won the CMA Single of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year. Any new artist feels like their music means something when the first two years they are releasing albums and songs they are getting awards. Lady Antebellum is one of the artists that don’t let winning these awards go to their heads; they are still thankful to the artists that helped them get their feet off the ground. Lady antebellum only has one album released and that was released on April 15 of 2009, which was entitled Landy Antebellum.

After winning two trophies on Wednesday (November 11^th), Lady Antebellum were still riding the adrenaline rush in the CMA pressroom. They emphasized to reporters that Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, and Jason Aldean were to be thanked for helping them reach new fans on their tours. However, the trio’s popularity extends well beyond other award-winning singers, since Lady Antebellum captured the best vocal group and best single just one year after claiming best new artist.

“We’ve has, honestly, the most amazing year,” said Charles Kelley. “First and foremost, we’ve made so many friends in this industry. And everyone seems so supportive. Whether that’s a faASade or not, it feels great and we love them. We really feel the love. Everybody’s rooting us, it feels like. As long as we continue to work hard and hopefully put out good records, our goal is to be doing this for a long, long, long time.” This was stated in the pressroom after the CMAs, as fans can tell Lady Antebellum is very excited to be receiving awards.

For those followers who want to go to Lady Antebellum’s websites you are in luck. Unlike other artists Lady Antebellum has many official websites: http://ladyantebellum.com/ , http://www.myspace.com/LadyAntebellum , http://www.imeem.com/ladyantebellum , http://www.ilike.com/artist/ladyantebellum , and http://www.facebook.com/pages/ladyantebellum . Along with those websites there is also Capital Records Nashville’s website, which is http://www.capitolnashville.com/ArtistHome.aspx?ArtistID=922839 .

Just like any other artist Lady Antebellum had artist that are related to them. Since Lady Antebellum is still a new group there is not that many related artists Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, and Sugarland are similar artists. Also there is Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

What Kind of Gone

Chris Cagle was born on November 10, 1968 in the town of DeRidder, La. However, when he was four he and his family moved to the outskirts of Houston. At the age of six Cagle started guitar lessons, but quit after a year because it was too difficult for his tiny hands to handle the large classical guitar. During high school he took piano lessons and began playing the guitar again only after receiving an Ovation acoustic guitar for Christmas his senior year. “Free Bird” was the first song he learned how to play.

Cagle enrolled in to the University of Texas-Arlington; however he soon found himself skipping his finance class to audit music classes. During the night Cagle would perform in Texas clubs. At the age of nineteen Cagle realized that he was wasting his time at school and he then left Texas to purse music full time and moved to Nashville in 1994. Where he spent the next five years performing odd jobs, from waiting tables and tending bars to being a golf caddy; all the while polishing his songwriting skills. After meeting legendary Harlan Howard, who taught Cagle how to write true country songs, Cagle’s writing vastly improved. Howard was the first to publish on of Cagle’s songs.

A few years later Cagle had the pleasure to meet Donna Duarte at a restaurant he was working at, she was really interested in music, so he invited her to come to the studio to hear him record some demos. Duarte loved the music she heard Cagle play and decided to take the demos to her boss; Cagle did not know that Duarte was the assistant to Scott Hendricks. Soon after that Cagle landed a recording deal.

Cagle has been releasing albums since the year 200. His first album was “Play it Loud.” He didn’t release another album until 2003 which was entitled “Chris Cagle.” Two years later, in 2005, “Anywhere But Here.” Cagle had a thing for taking two years to create and release an album because he didn’t release another album until 2007 which was “This is Chris Cagle.” Then there is Cagle’s latest album “My Life’s been a Country Song.”

Cagle has a few songs that are very well known, these songs include “Play it loud,” “Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me,” “It Takes Two,” “Chicks Dig It,” “What kind of Gone,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Wal-Mart Parking Lot,” “Miss Me Baby,” “Hey Ya’ll,” and “No Love Songs.” For this writer “No Love Songs” is one of her favorite songs composed by Chris Cagle because of the meaning behind it. The meaning is worry about everything in life not just the love part, because there is more to life than just being in love, there is having fun and living life by the moments.

Cagle has unfortunately only received one award, this was in 2002. At the CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards, Cagle won the Breakthrough video of the Year. Cagle has two websites for fans. There is his official Chris Cagle site which is: http://chriscagle.musiccitynetworks.com/. Then there is Cagle’s MySpace page which is: http://www.myspace.com/chriscagle

Cagle has a few related artists for those listeners that like him and want to hear other artists like him. These artists are Brad Paisley, Chris LeDoux, Garth Brooks, Gary Allan, Joe Nichols, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Randy Houser, and Vince Gill.

Chris Cagle "Miss Me Baby" music video


Chris Cagle MySpace Video

Man I Feel Like a Woman

Shania Twain was born Eileen Edwards in Canada on August 28, 1965. She is the second oldest of five siblings. Shania Twain was raised in Timmins, Ontario, and about 500 miles due north of Toronto, where her stepfather and mother were both raised. Her stepfather is an Ojibway Indian named Jerry Twain and her mother is named Sharon. Their family struggles to keep food in the cupboards, but there was always an abundance of music in Shania Twain’s house hold.

Shania Twain often retreated to the solitude of her bedroom with a guitar, singing and writing until her fingers hurt. She recalls “I grew up listening to Waylon, Willie, Dolly, Tammy, all of them, but we also listened to the Mamas and the Papas, The Carpenters, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. The many different styles of music I was exposed to as a child not only influenced my vocal style, but even more so, my writing style.”

Shania Twain’s mother noticed Twain’s talent and soon shuttled Shania Twain to radio and TV studios, community centers, senior citizen’s homes, “everywhere they could get me booked.” An 8 – year – old Shania Twain was often pulled out of bed to sing with the house band at a local club but only after alcohol sales ended at midnight. Later, Shania Twain spent summers working with her stepfather as the foreman of a dozen – man reforestation crew in the Canadian bush, where she learned to wield an axe and handle a chain saw as well as any other man could do. In the winter seasons Shania Twain would sing in clubs and do televisions and radio performances as often as her school would allow her to.

In 1987, at the age of 21, Shania Twain had the misfortune to lose her parents in an automobile accident. This is when Shania Twain took the responsibility of raising her three younger siblings. It took three years for her brothers to be old enough to take care of themselves; Shania Twain was on her own. Shedding her real name, Eileen, Shania Twain adapted the Ojiway name of Shania, meaning “I’m on my way.”

Shania Twain’s first album was entitled “Shania Twain” and was released in 1993, two years later she released “The Women in Me.” “Come on Over” was released in 1997 which was remade and released in 1999. Also in 199 she released “On the Way,” “Maximum Shania,” “Star Profile,” her “Interview CD,” and “Beginnings 1989-1990.” In the 2000 Shania Twain started the year off strong releasing 3 albums entitles “Hit Collection,” “Wild and Wicked,” and “Woman in Me.” “Up!” was released in 2002 and was made into four different versions. Within the past four years she has released only a few albums “Send It with Love,” “Beginnings,” “Final Beginnings,” and “The First Time… For the Last Time.”

Related artist that you may like if you like Shania Twain then you should try listening to : Terri Clark, Dixie chicks, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Reba MaEntire, Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, Wynonna, LeAnn Rimes, Collin Raye, Lee Ann Womack, and Trisha Yearwood.

Babies, Concerts, and Partying must be Country News

In country news on October 13^th “We’re All for the Hall” benefit concert was held in Nashville Tennessee. This concert raised more than $500,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Nashville’s Sommet Center was where the concert was held and was headlined by Keith urban and featured an all star lineup including Bard Paisley, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Faith Hill, Lady antebellum, Jason Aldean, Little Big town, and Vince Gill. Vice Gill, who conceived the original idea for the annual benefit show stated “I can’t really believe it happened, this is big, big payday, and times are tough. It makes so much sense to me for the artist, musicians, and fans of country music to help out the place that documents and preserves our music and keeps all its great stories for our benefit and for discovery by future generations.” Along with this concert additional fund will be raised through corporate donations and online auction where Taylor Swift donated a guitar after one of her performances. Vince Gill was right when he said that times are tough and it is nice to see that people are willing to help out the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, because places like that need the money so that our history is not lost.

On October 21^st Kenny Chesney goes out to celebrate the success of his latest number one hit “Out Last Night” at an industry party at the ASCAP building in Nashville. Kenny Chesney was honored for the hit along with his co-writer Bret James. While sporting a Boston Red Sox’s baseball cap, Kenny told his overflowing crowd that “It’s real easy to be a songwriter when you write with Brett. He has meant a lot to me in my career, and my career would not be the same without him.” For those of you who did not know, Brett James also wrote Kenny‘s hit “When the Sun Goes Down.” It is nice to see that the fame has not gotten to Kenny Chesney head. Most artists when getting an awards they seem to thank the producers and other helps, but never really say that my career would not be the same without them. Kenny Chesney has no problem giving credit to the people who deserve it and that is refreshing to see in a hit artist.

In wonderful news; John Rich and his wife Joan Bush are expecting their first child. This news was first reported by the website theboot.com. John and Joan were married last year in Nashville after dating for several years. John would not tell any reports any other comments on his wife’s pregnancy or of his new fatherhood, but everyone is very excited for him. It is nice to see that there are some celebrities out there that are still taking relationship seriously; to see that even after dating for several years while being famous they are still in love with each other and want to get married. Now let us all pray that this marriage lasts for a while for not only the kid’s sake, but also so that their love does not get lost with the lives that they live.

Barefoot and Crazy

Jack Ingram was born on November 15 in the year of 1970. While studying psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Ingram first played seriously. He toured around the bars and road houses of Texas with his Beat Up ford band and landed a regular. This regular was a Tuesday night gig at the honky-tonk club Adair’s. Ingram’s second album was recorded live at the club. Universal Records’ Rising Tide imprint gave Ingram a recording contract and he started working with Steve Earle on his debut for the label. This album was entitle “Livin’ or Dyin’” and was released in 1997, it also featured co-writing credits from Jim Lauderdale and Todd Snider. After this Ingram relocated to Sony’s Lucky Dog imprint for his 1999 album “Hey You” Ingram has a few videos he has created. There is “Barbie Doll,” “Love You,” “That’s a Man,” “seeing Stars,” “Barefoot and Crazy,” and “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely.” Ingram has also been in other artist’s videos such as “Gunpowder & Lead” by Miranda Lambert. Back in the year 1995 Ingram came out with three different albums they were “Jack Ingram,” “Live at Adair’s,” and “Lonesome Question.” In 1997 he released two albums entitled “Flutter” and “Livin’ or Dyin.’” Two years later he released “Hey You.” It took Ingram three years after that to come up with his album “Electric.” In 2003 “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas” was released and in 2004 he released two albums “Young Man” and “Live at Gruene Hall: Happy Happy.” 2005 brought us the album “Acoustic Motel;” and 2007 brought us the two wonderful albums “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely” and “This Is It.” Ingram did not release anything from then on until this year. This year we have had the privilege to listen to the albums “Barefoot and Crazy” and “Big Dreams & High Hopes.”
Jack Ingram only has one tour date left and that is on November 12th of this year. The concert is be held at the Ryman auditorium in Nashville Tennessee. For reading on Ingram’s fan site this fans think he is amazing in concert. So if anyone is in Nashville or wants to see him, they should go and take in the energy he gives off when he performs live. Jack Ingram has won two different awards. In 2007 he won an award at the CMT Music Awards, this award was the Wide Open Country Video of the Year. Then in 2008 at the Academy of Country Music Jack Ingram won the Top New Male Vocalist. Jack Ingram has two websites. He has his official website which is: http://www.jackingram.net/ and he also has a MySpace, which that website is: http://www.myspace.com/jackingram. Also Ingram’s label has a website that is: http://www.bigmachinerecords.com/. For those of you that like Jack Ingram and want to hear other artist that are like him, do not worry there are some out there. Gary Allan, John Berry, Lisa Brokop, and Kix Brooks are some artists that creat music just like Ingram. A few others are Ronnie Dunn, Skip Ewing, Ty Hernson, Sammy Kershaw, Tracy Lawrence, Danielle Peck, Perfect Stranger, Collin Raye, and South Sixty-Five. And the most popular artist who is like Ingram would be Tim McGraw.

In country music news

In country music news Tobey Keith’s single “American Ride” retreats from number one to number two this week on the Billboard country chats, but his album “American Ride” (yes the same title) debuts at number one on the adjacent list. Nielsen SoundScan measured Keith’s first week CD sales to be a tad over 90,000 copies. Keith has to be feeling pretty good about this. The number two album on the charts was Luke Bryan’s “Doin’ My Thing,” which sold 60,000 copies. Both these guys should be every proud to sell that many copied of their CDs within one week.

In Carrie Underwood news, she is planning a two hour variety special on Fox network that will air on December seventh. The program has not been titled yet, but there already are confirmed guests coming to Underwood performance including Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, fellow American Idol winner David Cook and a few others who have not been announced yet. Along with her hits and holiday classics, Underwood is suppose to perform music from her new album “Play On,” which is release on November third.

For those of listeners who are in love with Taylor Swift, you might want to tune into Saturday Night Live on November seventh but she will be hosting it that night and also performing during the show. Swift told The Associated Press that she has been thinking about comedy ideas based on her life. She said “There are definitely some hilarious things that have happened to me over the past couple of months that I think will be pretty substantial skits.” Swift also said that she had been invited over the summer to host the show but had to keep it a secret until now and that she hoped to make a digital short music video with Andy Samberg for the episode. Many fans are already posting on Swift’s fan site that they cannot wait until November seventh to see her host the show.

Saving the best news for last Garth Brooks will be coming out of retirement with a solo acoustic show that will begin on December eleventh at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. Brooks will be performing only one show on Fridays and Sundays, but two shows on Saturdays. Wynn is providing a private jet for Brooks to commute from his Oklahoma home where he lives with his three daughters and wife, singer Trisha Yearwood. The deal is a five year deal and it calls for Brooks to perform only during specific weeks each year, which will be announced on a quarterly basis. Tickets will be sold for $125 and will go on sale on October 24^th for the first five weekends. The Dates are December 11 - 13, January 1-3 and 22 - 24 and February 12 - 14 and 26 - 28. Brooks has only played a handful of concerts since retiring in the year 2001. His engagement at Wynn Las Vegas evolved from a series of conversations he has with Wynn.

CMA Awards

Every country lover knows what is coming up within the next month… it is the CMA Awards. This will be taking place on November 11^th. This is one awards show that cannot be missed. This year’s hosts are Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. This year is the 43^rd year of the CMA awards

For Entertainer of the year there are five possible choices. They are: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban. Females running for the Female vocalist of the year are in for a touch run because they are all excellent singers. The nominees are: Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood. The males have the same problem with the nominees being Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait and Keith urban.

This year there had been many new artist that have rocked the charts out with hit singles so no matter who wins the award, they deserve it. The nominees are Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, and the Zac Brown Band.

Vocal duo of the year will be a tight race, since all five of these duos deserve to walk away with the award. The nominees are Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Joey & Rory, Montgomery Gentry, and Sugarland.

To be nominated for single of the year the song must be chart toping for more than just a week. This can be hard to do with all the new music that artists come out with, but these songs are able to do just that: “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band, “I Run to You” by Lady antebellum, “In Color” by Jamey Johnson, “People Are Crazy” by Billy Currington, and “Then” by Brad Paisley.

Just as single of the year is a praising to be nominated music video of the year is just the same. These artists should feel proud of themselves for one coming up with that video and two writing a song that people love to watch the video to. The nominees are “Boots On” by Randy Houser, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, “People Are Crazy” by Billy Currington, “Start a Band” by Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, and “Troubadour” by George Strait.

Let us take a minute and look back at pervious CMA winners. For male vocalist of the year in 2008 it was Trace Adkins, 2007 Kenny Chesney, 2006 Kenny Chesney, 2005 Kenny Chesney, 2004 Kenny Chesney and in 2003 Toby Keith. As you can see Kenny Chesney has been very popular in the past few years. The female vocalist almost had the same theme of a single artist, but their rains were not as long as Kenny Chesney’s. In 2008 it was Carrie Underwood, 2007 Carrie Underwood, 2006 Carrie Underwood, 2005 Gretchen Wilson, 2004 Martina McBride, and in 2003 Martina McBride.

When looking at the entertainer of the year they were the same as female and male vocalist, it was the same artist for a few years in a row. From 2006 – 2008 Kenny Chesney was the entertainer of the year. 2005 Keith Urban was the winner and in 2004 Kenny Chesney was the winner once again. 2003 and 2002 went to Alan Jackson while 2001 went to Tim McGraw. The year 200 was the year of Dixie Chicks and 1999 was the year of Shania Twain. Garth Brooks was real popular in 1997 and 1998 winner the entertainer of the year in both of those years.

It seems to be that if you are a good artist and the people are fans of yours, if you keep up the good music you can win entertainer of the year for a few years in a row.

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker was originally the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, but now he is a country singer that is hitting the top country charts fast and is not stopping. Darius Rucker has a few chart toping hits such as “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About it,” “Alright.” And “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.” Not many singers can go from mainstream pop/ rock to country and still be a hit artist, Darius Rucker is an exception. Many of Hootie and the Blowfish’s followers have begun to follow Darius Rucker in his solo career. Darius Rucker has also gained many new followers that love his new music.

Darius Rucker was born and raised in Charleston, SC where he was exposed to the sounds of Al Green, Gladys Knight, and Otis Redding when he was young. Darius Rucker has not only tried mainstream pop/rock music and country music but also R&B music. Back in 2002 Darius Rucker introduced his mellow, R&B-influenced style of music, which featured Jill Scott and Snoop Dogg.

Darius Rucker has a tour going on right now with tickets still on sale in some cities. On October 18^th he will be in Kelseyville, CA; October 20^{th Los} Angeles, CA; November 1^st Nampa, ID; November 13^th Tulsa, OK; November 14^th Robinsonville, MS. The list goes on and on it you want to see all of his tour dates go to http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/rucker_darius/tours.jhtml.

On August 20^th of this year Darius Rucker had a platinum party for his album Learn to Live. The party was taken place in Nashville Tennessee. Mike Dungan from Capital Records’ recognized the platinum status of Darius Rucker’s album and then presented Darius Rucker with it. This was a big accomplishment for Darius Rucker because this showed that he can be a successful solo country singer.
New York Times claimed that Darius Rucker’s debut album is “one of the year’s most vibrant country albums.” Variety declared that “country music has a new major star, and the genre may never be the same.” When hearing that kind of stuff being said about your music that can be some pretty heavy stuff. Darius Rucker has been invited to perform on The Late Show, The Tonight Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and more. Darius Rucker has been all over the world wide web and the television that unless you live under a rock you know who he is and that he has transferred to country music.

The album Learn to Live covers major life themes such as falling in love, birth, and death. Darius Rucker says “This CD is a journey, I realize I’m 42. I’m not going to write many songs about drinking, chasing girls or booty calls. I was going to write songs about having kids and stuff – songs about life.” This shows that Darius Rucker is not going just sing about anything to sell albums, he is going to write about what he knows and hope that other connect with him about the songs he writes.

Upcoming Concerts in Michigan

For those of you who want to find a country concert to go to in the upcoming future you are in luck. On November 6^th Montgomery Gentry will be at the Palace of Auburn Hills. If you haven’t been to one of their concerts I highly recommend it. They are amazing in concert. Other than Montgomery gentry Kenny Rogers will be in Michigan. On December 11^th Wynonna will be at the Motor City Casino Hotel. Then on December 18^th Kenny Rogers will be at the Fox Theatre. No matter what time of the year it is, there are always country music artists coming to Michigan.

All I Wan to Do

When it comes to an excellent performance, Sugarland puts on ones that are up there on the charts. For anyone who has been following Sugarland they would know that there were originally three group members, but in early 2006 Kristen Hall left the group because she decided she wanted to stay home and write songs herself. Since Kristen Hall left it has been just Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush rocking out the country charts.

Back when Sugarland was a trio they had the chart topping song “Baby Girl”. Since then they have had many chart topping hits such as “All I Want to do,” “It Happens,” “Want To,” and “Everyday America.” These are all upbeat, fun to sing songs, but Sugarland also has some slow, sad songs such as “Stay,” and “Joey;” which “Joey” is slowly but surely climbing the charts.

Jennifer Nettles has an excellent voice that mesmerizes her audience. She can sing those high notes right along with those lower notes. Nettles doesn’t seem to get winded when performing her concert even though she is singing and dancing throughout the whole concert. If someone was to watch Nettles sing they would notice all her little quirks. For example when Nettles sings her legs are always shoulder length apart as if to steady herself. Also when she sings she tries to smile the full time, but sometimes she makes weird faces when she hits those higher notes.

For those of you who want to go see Sugarland, I am sorry to say this, but their current tour is not coming to Michigan. On October first they will be in Bloomsburg, PA; then on the second they will be in W. Springfield Ma. The seventh they will be in Albany, NY and on the eighth they will be in New York NY. For those of you would drive that far to go see them I would recommend it, because they put on an amazing performance that is worth the drive. On the ninth they will be in Buffalo NY. They do have some shows left for those willing fans that would drive to see them, but not many.

Sugarland has nine albums out right now. Their oldest album is the Twice the Speed of Life which was released in 2004. After that album they had their Stand Back up album that was created for proceeds to go towards the hurricane Relief. Then they had their Sessions@AOL that came out in 2005. Next was Down in Mississippi (up to no good) and Enjoy the Ride which both came out in 2006. In 2008, one of their best CDs, came out entitles Love on the Inside. Since 2008 there has only been two CDs that Sugarland has produced one came out on August fourth named Live on the Inside then later this year their new album is to be released on October thirteenth entitled Gold and Green.

For anyone who is not a part of Sugarland’s fan club yet and would like to be go to http://www.sugarlandfan.com/ and you can join.

Country Man

When it comes to newer country artist Luke Bryan comes to mind. Luke Bryan has some hits such as “Country Man”, “All My friends Say”, “You Make Me Want To”, and “We Rode in Trucks”. Many people do not know this but the song “Good Directions” was actually co written by Luke Bryan with Billy Currington.

Luke Bryan‘s real name is actually Thomas Luther Bryan, his birthday is July 17, 1976. The hometown of Luke Bryan is Leesburg Georgia. Sorry to say it ladies but Luke Bryan is married to Caroline with a baby boy names Thomas Boyer Bryan born in 2008. Luke Bryan got his first guitar at the age of fourteen and he learned how to play it then joined various local bands and began playing in clubs.

Luke Bryan is an excellent artist that creates songs that can relate to everyone. We words his songs that it makes everyone want to sing along. When Luke Bryan is in concert he gives off a great energy and dances for the crowd. He had girls in the crowd yelling cat calls as he danced to his music. Luke Bryan is one singer that can dance and sing at the same time. If he wasn’t married he would have a lot more girls falling over him more than he already does.

Luke Bryan maybe famous, but he doesn’t let it go to his head. He is still the nice guy that everyone loves just like he was before he got his record deal. Luke Bryan is not one of those people who get famous and go out every night and party to get in the tabloids. He would rather be at home with his wife and baby boy. When baby Thomas grows up he will have a good life because of the money his daddy makes being a famous, loved country singer; but it is unlikely for him to be pig headed because of who his dad is, since his dad is nothing like that.

Starting on October 30^th in Jacksonville Florida Luke Bryan will be starting his own first tour as a headliner. This is a big step up for Luke Bryan; Luke Bryan has opened for Kenny Chesney, Brooks and Dunn, Dierks Bentley, and Trace Adkins. No matter if Luke Bryan opens for an artist or is the headliner he is an amazing singer and artist that keeps his crowds mesmerized by how much energy he gives off. Luke Bryan has been singing for so many years that he knows how to put on a great show that makes his audience keep wanting more.

There are many fans out there who cannot wait until Luke Bryan starts his own tour or even comes out with a new hit single. Everyone wants to know what Luke Bryan is going to do next, but the only way to tell is to wait and see, hopefully it will be a next hit single that everyone can sing to just like the song “You Make Me Want To.”

Kenny Chesney Sun City Carnival Concert

This is a little late, but I just made the blog and wanted something strong to start the blog off with. Four weeks ago there was Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival Concert. For anyone who has ever been to a Kenny Chesney Concert you know that he puts on an excellent show. But his concert this year has been the best so far. Chesney has been coming to Detroit Michigan for seven years now and each year he is impressing Detroit more and more. Kenny had not only one opening band but four opening bands. This year he had Lady Antebellum, followed by Miranda Lambert, and Montgomery Gentry. All these bands pumped up the crowd for Sugarland who opened right before Kenny. This years concert was packed with great music and powerful energy from the artist who made time seemed like it stopped. Lady Antebellum only has four hit songs at the moment, if they played only their songs they would have had to put on a very short show. Fortunately, Lady Antebellum likes to keep their crowds on their feet so they played some oldies that everyone knows. They played songs like “Kiss’s I Wanna Rock n Roll” and ACDC’s “You shook Me All Night Long”. Even though this was a country concert these rock songs are hits in all genres. Lady Antebellum was a great band to start the concert off because they got the crowd pumped and excited for the artists to come. After Lady Antebellum was Miranda Lambert. For anyone who knows Miranda Lambert’s music, they know that Miranda Lambert is more of a rock country artist than a regular country artist, just like Keith Urban. Miranda Lambert shook her hair around when she sang her songs like “Gun Powder and Lead” and “Kerosene”, just like she was singing at a rock concert. Then Miranda Lambert took the concert back from the rock country songs she sings to the country songs and sang “Famous in a Small Town”. Miranda Lambert kept her play list well balanced between her rock country songs and her country songs. Montgomery Gentry took the audience from sitting in their seats and singing along to standing at their seats and singing along with the songs they knew. Montgomery Gentry gave off such a great energy that the audience couldn’t help but dance along to the music. Montgomery Gentry played some of their new music such as “One In every Crowd” and “This Is My Town” and also a few of their old music such as “Gone” and “Wanted Dead Or Alive”, that they kept all of the audience singing because everyone knew a few of their songs. The older crowd was happy to hear Montgomery Gentry’s old stuff that they loved and their younger crowd was excited that they played their newest hits and not just their old stuff. Montgomery Gentry amazed the crowd because they played excellently and kept the crowd asking for more. Sugarland could have been the main performance they were spectacular. Sugarland played nothing but great music, and knew when to take it slow and play a few of their sadder, slower songs and when to kick it into high gear. Sugarland took the audience to the next level to where they couldn’t even stand still until they were too tired to dance anymore. Sugarland took their song “All I Want to do” and altered the chorus in the middle to have different songs within it to reach the few audience members that are more rockers than country listeners. If Kenny Chesney wasn’t in the concert Sugarland would have stolen the show they were so good.Kenny Chesney is one artist that no matter how many times he has performs at Detroit he keeps getting the same audience coming back and wanting more along with newcomers. This year Kenny Chesney entered the concert by floating in mid air over the crowd singing his music. Kenny Chesney gives off such great energy into his music that the audience doesn’t even notice that time is flying by. Uncle Kracker made a performance once again this year to sing When The Sun Goes Down with Kenny Chesney. The two of them singing together is a great thing to watch because it is like watching two best friends singing together like they are just goofing around. Kenny Chesney was so good that the audience kept clapping and cheering him that he came back out when he was done to sing two encore songs. Over all the concert was well worth the money no matter where you where seated. With those great artists all in one place the eight hour concert felt like it was only two. Any set of artist that can pull that off together is considered a concert that should go down in history was legendary.

Welcome to my blog

This blog is for people who love country music or just want to know more about it. My intention is to add something new each week either about a new artist, song, or activity that is happening within Michigan. Now when I say country music I am mostly talking about new country, but there may be a various number of older country music in here. In most cases the older music is better than the new generation of music. To move forward with something you have to know the past and make sure not to repeat something so the older artist or music may show up like Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, or Shania Twain. Each week there will be at least one post about good country music for you to learn about or remember. Do not be afraid to make comments whether you hate that topic or love it, opinions are welcome because we learn from each other and grow from others opinions. I hope you enjoy what you read.

Sincerely,

Erin