INSIGHT FROM THE OTHER SIDE: GETTING TO KNOW ANDREW POPE

Every once in awhile, we like to hear from "the other side", the independent artists. We want them to share with you firsthand what their biggest obstacles are in the music industry and how they handle and overcome them, their insight as to what works and what they feel doesn't work, the best people to connect with and find out more about them. We connected with our friend, independent artist Andrew Pope, for the view from his side of the fence.

Andrew has written with some of country music's biggest names including Larry Bastian (“Rodeo” and “Unanswered Prayers”), Byron Hill (“Born Country” and “Nothin’ On But The Radio”), Larry Gatlin (“All The Gold In California”), and David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers (“Redneck Girl” and “Let Your Love Flow”). Country music legend Bobby Bare referred to Andrew as “the future of country music.”  Andrew's music is simple, it's genuine and it's honest. His debut album, “Here We Go” was released in November 2012 on the independent MillTown Music record label and includes 10 tracks written by Andrew as well as songs performed with artists such as Confederate Railroad and Jeff Cook from record breaking group Alabama. His new single “Stormchaser” is set to be released in January 2016 and is already receiving rave reviews.

Photo credit: Rory Doyle Photography

Q: As an indie artist, people may not be familiar with your name. Give us a little insight into who you are as an artist, your background and what made you decide to get into music?

Andrew: Absolutely. My name is Andrew Pope and I am a songwriter/country singer from North Alabama. I've been playing music since I was about 7 or 8 I guess, but I've only been in the music business for 7 years now. There's a big difference in the two, but I love 'em both. I'm just a simple genuine country artist and my songs are real. I don't know if I got into music or music got into me, but either way it happened long before I realized it. Thank God. :)

Q: You may be an indie artist, but you've connected with some of country's greatest names. How did these connections come about and who are some of your favorite connections?

Andrew: I've been really lucky in that way. It's definitely a great feeling knowing that I've made such good friends with people that I grew up listening to on the radio as a kid. I still have to step back and soak that in some nights when I lay down. As far as how it came about, I think real recognizes real. Anyone that really knows me knows that I am always just me. I don't try to put on an act and be somebody I ain't. Bobby Bare is at the top of my favorite connections. I could never tell you how much our friendship means to me. He's given me lots of advice, introduced me to some of my heroes, and told me lots of stories that I will never forget. He's also a fan of mine and that's just weird to me, but I'm so humbled. David Bellamy is another guy that has become a great friend. I connect with people like Larry Gatlin and Bobby Bare more than I do Thomas Rhett. I like to believe that people see the authenticity in me and maybe that's why they keep me around. Ha ha. Its just the way I'm wired.

Q:  What is the hardest thing about being independent artist?

Andrew: Well, the hardest thing is the budget. Unless you're rich, chances are you are going to have a hard time, especially to begin with. This is a business. You're in constant competition with the big dogs (major labels) in that way. It's easier now than it was 3 years ago and in 2 more years, it will get easier.

Q: What are some of the good things about being independent?

Andrew: There's lots of great things.. Owning your own masters, creative control, but the number one best thing is that you are in total control of EVERY aspect of your career. If you work hard for it and the music is good, it will all find its way to where it needs to be.

Q: What's been your biggest accomplishment as an independent artist?

Andrew: I'd say my biggest accomplishment has been the relationships I've made. Its a very gratifying and humbling experience every day for me. Many of these relationships have become something way beyond business onto a personal level and I treasure those friendships dearly.

Q: What personal advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue this career path?

Andrew: Work HARD, meet people, network, always strive to master your craft. Demand honest criticism from people that you trust. That's a big one for me and always has been. If something sucks, I want you to tell me. Don't tell me it's great.

Q; What are typical mistakes people make when trying to pursue this career?

Andrew: One of the big ones is getting so far in your career only to be "discovered" by someone in the business that promises to make your dreams come true. It's very important to have any contract reviewed by an attorney before signing your name. There are a few good people, but lots of bad ones. This business is cutthroat. Always protect YOU.

Q: If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose music and would you do anything differently?

Andrew: Well hell yes I would. Ha ha. I wouldn't change a thing.

Q: How important do you believe "image" is when it comes to music?

Andrew: Identity, not image. Be your own person. A true artist has an identity of their own. That's what makes them an artist. The 'powers that be' want you to be young and look like a GQ model. Image matters to the majors, but it really don't mean a damn thing to me. Its about the music.

Q: How would you advise artists when it comes to avoiding scams and rip offs?

Andrew: ALWAYS do your homework. And as I said earlier, don't sign anything without an attorney involved.

Q:  Have you affiliated with a performance rights organization such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC? What are the benefits of connecting with one of these organizations?

Andrew: I've been a member of BMI for about 6 years now I believe. Signing with a PRO is absolutely a MUST if you are choosing this career. The PRO's basically pay you a royalty when your song gets played. So yeah, do it.

Q; What message do you want your music to convey to a listener?

Andrew: Just that its real music. I'm real and my music is going to be. Always. I've always said I don't care anything about fame or being number one.. As long as I can make a living playing good music for good people that love country music and writing songs that I believe in, I've made it.

Q: You have new music in the works. What can we expect and when?

Andrew: Yeah, thank God. Ha ha. I have a new single called 'Stormchaser' and what you can expect is this.. steel guitar. :) It will be released on January 22, 2016.

Q: How do you prefer to sell your music? Do you use iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, etc?

Andrew: I'm an Apple guy so iTunes is definitely the number one place for me. I'm on Amazon and all those others too though.

Q: How important is social media? How can fans connect with you on social media?

Andrew: In the day that we live in now, you gotta be on social media. And not only that, but you have to know how to use it. I, myself, have watched training videos for HOURS online to learn about how to handle all the social media. Do whatever you have to do. Fans can tweet me at @TheAndrewPope. Twitter and Facebook are really the main ones I use. I use Instagram and all the others too - Facebook - www.facebook.com/AndrewPopeOfficial , Instagram - theandrewpope, Periscope - theandrewpope and Vine - theandrewpope.


- Jennifer Smith
Follow me on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

SINGLE REVIEW: "WHEN I'M GONE" - CRAIG MORGAN

SINGLE: "When I'm Gone"
ARTIST: Craig Morgan
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Craig Morgan is definitely a one of a kind guy. There is truly no one else out there quite like him. He’s been in the military, became an EMT and was also a sheriff’s deputy, just to name a few things. He is also an incredible outdoorsman and family man. He quoted on his website “music is like a center for all of those things.  It' It's the outlet for me to express everything I am. When I'm riding my dirt bike, you may not know about my music, and when I'm in a military environment, it's not the center point. But my music career allows me to talk about and be a part of all of those other energies in my life. When I'm on stage, I get to express all of it.” Because of this, there isn’t a song of his out there that someone can’t relate to. His most recent single “When I’m Gone” is the perfect song for Morgan. In the song he sings about how he wants to be remembered as the guy who lived live to the fullest. In the chorus he sings about laughing more than crying, staring down all of his fears and living ever moment so that his memory lives on after hes gone. It is truly an amazing song that you won't want to miss!

SINGLE REVIEW: "MIND READER" - DUSTIN LYNCH

SINGLE: "Mind Reader"
ARTIST: Dustin Lynch
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

In late 2011, Dustin Lynch signed a record deal with Broken Bow Records. Since then, he has released quite a few singles such as “Cowboys and Angels,” “She Cranks my Tractor,” which became his first top 20 hit, and “Wild in Your Smile.” He released his fourth single “Where It’s At” in early 2014 which went on to become his first number one and really put Lynch on the map. Since then he has released “Hell of a Night,” which became his second consecutive number one and now he's released his newest single “Mind Reader.” The new single shows a bit of Lynch’s R&B side while still maintaining his country sound. It was written by Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, two out of the three Peach Pickers. In the first few lines Lynch sings "How'd you know to wear your hair like that/ How'd you know to turn up that song/ How'd you know them little tore up jeans was gonna tear me up and turn me on" and it sets the tone for the rest of the song.

There is no doubt Dustin is going to keep this hot streak going and have this become his third consecutive #1. Listen for “Mind Reader” which was just sent to radio on September 28 and don’t forget to check him out on his head line tour. It's going to be a great show!

SINGLE REVIEW: "SMOKE BREAK" - CARRIE UNDERWOOD

SINGLE: "Smoke Break"

ARTIST: Carrie Underwood

REVIEWER: Maria Talamo

Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Carrie Underwood has been making all kinds of headlines since she became the fourth winner of American Idol in 2005, and for good reason. She has won numerous awards and has had many number one singles off of her four previous albums. She has now released her newest single “Smoke Break” off of her upcoming fifth studio album “Storyteller.”

Underwood sings about the everyday hard working people who bust their butts all day long who simply just need to escape their duties for a few minutes to forget the world and re-group. It revolves around two different people, one, a small-town, hard-working wife and mother of four who works three jobs just to make ends meet and the other, a big-city, hard-working man who is trying to make his family proud by becoming the first in his family to go to college.

Underwood who co-wrote “Smoke Break” with Chris DeStefano and Hillary Lindsay (both of which also helped write “Something in the Water” and “Little Toy Guns”) released the song on August 20th and it has already broken through the top 10 on the Mediabase Country Radio Charts while showing no signs of slowing down.

SINGLE REVIEW: "UNTIL THEY DON'T LOVE YOU" - REBA

SINGLE: "Until They Don't Love You"
ARTIST: Reba
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Is there anything Reba can’t do!? I mean seriously, she can act, she can sell out Vegas residencies, she has her own beauty line and the ever obvious…she can sing! She recently announced that her second single off of “Love Somebody” is going to be the fast paced “Until They Don’t Love You.” There is so much energy in this song.  Reba co-produced the song with Tony Brown and was written by Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna and Josh Osborne. The key line of the song is “Sometimes you don’t love somebody until they don’t love you” which goes along the lines of the whole you never know what you have until its gone idiom. In the song shes realizing how much she loved someone once they decided to leave and in a last ditch effort to try to keep him from leaving, gets down on her knees and begs him to stay.  It’s another reminder that we should never take things for granted and that sometimes the grass isn’t greener on the other side. I highly suggest listening to this song if you haven’t done so already!

SINGLE REVIEW: "KIDS WITH CARS" - DALLAS SMITH

SINGLE: "Kids With Cars"
ARTIST: Dallas Smith
REVIEW: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Dallas Smith is no stranger to the music industry. He was best known for being the lead singer of the band Default which became a popular name in the United States after releasing their hit single “Wasting My Time.” In May of 2012 Smith released his debut country album “Jumped Right In” as a solo artist. Since then, Dallas has been nominated for quite a few Canadian country music awards, and rightfully so. This guy is great! It was only a matter of time that an American record label would show interest in him. Last week he signed a U.S. record deal with Blaster Records through their recent partnership with Big Loud Mountain. “Kids With Cars” is the first look at what’s possibly to come from his new record deal. It was written by Jesse Frasure, Ryan Hurd and Brad Tursi. He sings “Kids with cars/ back when who you are/ was all about having a ride on a Friday night/ and how many friends you can pack inside…” It brings you back to the carefree days when you finally get the freedom of having a car, with all your friends, doing whatever you want.

“Kids with Cars” is set to hit radio September 14.

SINGLE REVIEW: "STONE COLD SOBER" - BRANTLEY GILBERT

SINGLE: "Stone Cold Sober"
ARTIST: Brantley Gilbert
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Georgia native Brantley Gilbert somehow manages to get better with every single he comes out with and his newest one “Stone Cold Sober” is no exception to that. Artists are always talking about how they like to write songs about things that they have gone through or experienced in their lives and that is something Brantley has definitely perfected. For those who don’t know, Gilbert was in a near fatal car accident when he was nineteen after drinking and driving. The accident led him to pursue his dreams in music, but, the more popular he became the more he would drink.  He decided to get help in December of 2011 and has been “Stone Cold Sober” ever since. The inspiration behind this song came from a drunk dial he made to his now-wife Amber. During the chorus he sings “I let the whiskey talk/ and baby it said too much/ I got the feeling now/ It didn’t say enough…” Throughout the song you can hear the raw emotion and his realization that what he said actually ended up being true.

If you haven’t heard this song yet then I’m not sure what you’re waiting for! “Stone Cold Sober” hits radio August 31 and it's one you won’t want to miss.

SINGLE REVIEW: "I MET A GIRL" - WILLIAM MICHAEL MORGAN

SINGLE: "I Met a Girl"
ARTIST: William Michael Morgan
REVIEWER: Alyse Smith
Follow Alyse on Twitter at @ASmith1300

Download "I Met a Girl" on iTunes

Newcomer William Michael Morgan has released his debut single “I Met A Girl”, a sweet song about a girl he’s enraptured with and has to share it with the world.  A slow-tempo serenade, very little is present aside from Morgan and a guitar. As he croons about his love and her “baby blues and crazy shoes,” he remembers when he was near speechless upon meeting her, only able to utter monosyllabic greetings. As the song plays, he declares how enthralled he is by the beginning of a relationship, wherein she let him into her world and he doesn’t know much about her yet but can’t wait to learn more. The stripped-down arrangement of the song only serves to amplify the story and Morgan’s voice.

Though the story of “I Met A Girl” has been told before, lately the slow and soft arrangement has not been favored.  In the current landscape of country music, between the tempo and Morgan’s vocals, it is sure to stand out. I almost didn’t recognize the song until I further looked into it. If anybody was wondering if there seemed to be the fingerprints of a Hunt on fire, a famed McAnally or perhaps a touch of Old Dominion a la Trevor Rosen, then you’d be right. Sam Hunt has sung this song before (though granted it sounded incredibly different, which is what Hunt strives for.) as well as co-written it with Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen. What the stroke of luck was that William Michael Morgan, a 22 year old from Vicksburg, Mississippi connected with the song and some of Nashville's biggest and most successful songwriting powerhouses, we may never know, but we're sure glad someone saw fit to connect them through this song.

On his Facebook artist page, Morgan describes himself as a “typical 22-year-old,” which is when he first started lying to us because from the second he opened his mouth one could easily tell there is nothing typical about him.  I mean, we’ve heard the story before, kid dreams of being a country singer, turns 18 and packs his bags, heads to Music City.  From there though, the luck, talent and perseverance it took him to get here is more of a Taylor Swift fairy tale than anything else.  A tale full of talent at a young age, a voice existing outside of time and a boy ready to take the world by storm with his family behind him.  Record deal with Warner at 19, a lover of old country and new, this is surely only the tip of the iceberg with Morgan.  I can’t wait to see what stories he regales us with next.

Get social with William Michael Morgan -

Facebook - WilliamMichaelMorgan
Twitter - @WMMorgan
Instagram - @Wmmorganmusic

CONCERT REVIEW: CLINT BLACK FEATURING JUSTIN BRYAN BAND AND ALEXIS GOMEZ AT JD LEGENDS - 8/15/15

 Photo credit: Jason Evans Photography

Country music gentleman Clint Black hasn't been "Killin' Time" as of late, he's been busy mentoring the Chideo Songwriting Contest winners, recording new music and picking up a new touring schedule. Tonight's stop was JD Legends in Franklin, OH and the place was packed shoulder to shoulder as they arrived early for refreshing beverages, food, and the opening entertainment. Kicking off the night's show was a local country band from West Alexandria, OH called The Justin Bryan Band. The Justin Bryan Band is made up of  Justin Bryan on lead vocals, Ryan Wolfe on vocals and guitar, Chad Schrock on vocals and guitar, Travis Nichols on Bass and Dustin Crank on drums. The band would get the crowd energized during their opening set playing many of today's top country hits with a Justin Bryan Band original or two. You may check out the Justin Bryan Band on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/justinbryanband/timeline.

After the opening band got the crowd warmed up and rowdy, it was time for Dayton, OH native Alexis Gomez to take the stage. Alexis is known from American Idol's season 14 as a top 16 finalist only to be eliminated during Motown week where she performed "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)". Alexis put on a fun performance filled with covers and originals of her own that kept the crowd entertained and cheering. Alexis was backed by a talented group of musicians including:  Sol Gomez on Back-up Vocals, Michael Gomez on Bass Guitar, Morgan Gomez on Back-up Vocals, Jake Ittel on Electric Guitar, Dave D'Aurora on Drums, and Tom Lees on Electric Guitar. Alexis put her own spin on country favorites such as Little Big Town's 'Pontoon', Darius Rucker's 'Wagon Wheel', Martina McBride's 'Independence Day' and many others as well as an original titled 'Country Lovin'. Alexis is performing at various events throughout the Dayton, OH area so please check out her official website for more details at www.alexisgomezmusic.com.

Now that the opening bands had the crowd ready to go, it was Clint Black's duty to seal the deal on the night. The house lights dimmed and a quiet excitement took over the room as Clint's band took to the stage. The crowd packed in tightly as the fans inched closer to the stage for a better view of this country legend. Mr. Black come onstage with a charming smile on his face, harmonica around his neck and a red white and blue American flag guitar displaying his patriotic side. The sound was fantastic as he played through the biggest of his hits of his discography which spans a career of 25+ years. The fans were loud as they stood with their toes buried in the sand, turtle necking over anybody in front of them just to get a better glimpse. Looking out from the VIP deck/club level, it was a sea of people from the left to the right and from the front of the stage to the rear of the venue. This place was packed! Country radio, take a more than obvious hint, people still like traditional country music and tonight more than proved that point.

One of my personal favorite moments during the show was when Clint introduced a song from his D'lectrified album called 'Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way' which is a spin off of Waylon's 'Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way'. Clint told the crowd of meeting with Waylon about the song and sitting in the same room was Kris Kristofferson, talk about being in good company! There was never a dull moment. Just one of those many exciting moments was when Clint laid his guitar down during "Been There' and got the crowd involved in a harmonica sing along. Yes! A harmonica sing along! At the end of the song, Clint broke things down with an energetic harmonica solo encouraging the crowd to sing back the harmonica part during the breaks. Clint says to the crowd "You have to sing Harmonica!"  Following the sing along, Clint began a bluesy harmonica intro to 'Put Yourself In My Shoes" and then finished up with some amazing guitar picking during 'Nothin' But The Taillights." The crowd was relentless with their cheering and applause that Clint had no choice other than to return to the stage for an encore which featured 'We Tell Ourselves' and then left crowd in a frenzy with 'All Tuckered Out'.

Clint doesn't need a lot of theatrics in his show to prove he certainly has a stage presence like no other. The precision of the notes and licks played on his guitar combined with his skill on the harmonica and one of the most recognizable voices in country music is more than enough to keep an audience captivated for many hours. Dayton and Cincinnati are sure glad that Clint Black took the time to come and play for them.  For more information on tour dates, music and merchandise please visit www.clintblack.com.

You can also get social with Clint on Facebook, Twitter at @Clint_Black and on Instagram!

SINGLE REVIEW: "I AM INVINCIBLE" - CASSADEE POPE

SINGLE: "I Am Invincible"
ARTIST: Cassadee Pope
REVIEWER: Alyse Smith
Follow Alyse on Twitter at @ASmith1300

Purchase "I Am Invincible" on iTunes

Cassadee Pope of “The Voice” fame has released her newest single “I Am Invincible.” It’s a tour de force about a girl that refuses to be defeated. A call to arms reminding women that we are fighters and survivors. It starts out saying exactly that “For my girls, the fighters, the warriors,” There have been times that have tried to break her, but she’s come out on top, less scared, more scarred and ready to go. There’s nothing that can shatter her, though at the time it may have seemed like she was down and out. A very inspirational song that anybody can draw from. Whether it be a pre-workout song to get you pumped or just a song that you crank up when you hear it on the radio, it is definitely one to get you up and going. In addition to the lyrics, is there really anybody that’s not going to turn it up when they hear Cassadee’s voice? She flourished on “The Voice” for a reason and that reason is readily apparent here. With previous songs such as “I Wish I Could Break Your Heart” and “Wasting All These Tears”,  Cassadee has displayed struggles and heartbreak but this is the first time she’s shown that she’s come out on the other side stronger and ready to kick ass. Every time something in her life tried to get her down, she dealt with it and she wrote about it and now all she’s saying is there is nothing you can do to hurt me anymore because “I Am Invincible.” A great message to anyone who’s ever struggled, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you can show up stronger than you were. Let nothing break you and be not afraid to show your scars, it at least worked out well for Cassadee in this situation because I can’t see her doing anything but absolutely dominating the stage, the airwaves and whatever else she sets her sights on!

Get social with Cassadee Pope on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

You can find out the latest on what's going on with Cassadee at www.cassadeepope.com

SINGLE REVIEW: "THAT OLD FLAME" - DON HENLEY FEATURING MARTINA MCBRIDE

SINGLE: "That Old Flame"

ARTIST: Don Henley featuring Martina McBride

REVIEWER: Alyse Smith

Follow Alyse on Twitter at @ASmith1300

Purchase "That Old Flame" on iTunes

Don Henley released a new single featuring a collaboration with none other than Martina McBride. 

Don Henley is of course, most famous for being one of the founding members of the Eagles and then a remarkable solo career following that. Don Henley is also this year’s recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award, to be presented at the Americana Music and Honors Awards Ceremony at the Ryman on September 16th. Henley’s new single “That Old Flame” is off of his new album “Cass County,” which is first solo album in a decade and a half. Henley has also announced the album release tour to be kicking off at the start of October with Shawn Colvin as the opener. The sound is classic Don Henley, equally at home on a solo album or an Eagles album, it stands out brilliantly. Martina Mcbride’s vocals create more of a current sound and the combination of theirs in a single song create an unequivocally unique sound. A rather upbeat track for a downtrodden song, it creates such curiosity within the story and sound both. Is there a “Strawberry Wine”/”Innocence” thing happening here or “is it me you really miss?” There’s a cautiousness happening here because as they put in the chorus:

“Cause there is danger in the embers
And you have only yourself to blame
If you get burned when you try to rekindle
That old flame”

But there’s also traces of hope, peace and growth blended in. Ultimately, I would say that it ends with equal parts caution, curiosity and hope. I wonder what the story behind this was and how it turns out for the people involved. I wonder if Henley will have furthering of this storyline on his new album or shed some light on it on his new tour. I’m intrigued to see how what else he presents and can’t wait to see him in this new phase of his career and at a show soon! The much queried after dates would be the album release date of September 25th, tour tickets on sale August 7th,  August 8th and August 14th with the actual shows taking place October 3rd through November 12th.

SINGLE REVIEW: "SOUTHERN BELLE" - SCOTTY MCCREERY

SINGLE: "Southern Belle"

ARTIST: Scotty McCreery

REVIEWER: Maria Talamo

Follow Maria on Twittter at @Maria_Talamo

Season ten American Idol winner Scotty McCreery is back again and breaking all expectations with his new single “Southern Belle.” It shows an unusual side of Scotty that we haven’t really seen with the song being on the verge of country rock. McCreery has cut five songs so far for his third studio album with “Southern Belle” being the one he has started playing at live shows. The first single from the upcoming album has a lot of energy to it. The pre-chorus “You can go around the block, ‘round the town, ‘round the world, but there’s nothing like a down home girl,” basically stating there’s not a girl in the world that could compare to a southern belle. It was penned by Jason Saenz and Sean McCormick and I guarantee it’ll be a huge hit. Unfortunately the radio release has been pushed back until September but I promise you it’ll be worth the wait.

SINGLE REVIEW: "BLUE BANDANA" - JERROD NIEMANN

SINGLE: "Blue Bandana"
ARTIST: Jerrod Niemann
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Purchase "Blue Bandana" on iTunes here

Jerrod Neimann is back with his impressive new single “Blue Bandana.” It is the first single off of his forthcoming studio album set to be released in 2016.

The Harper, KS native recently said “The first two albums I tried to cover all the music I enjoy. This time, we mashed it all together and that’s what you do when you’re really attempting to create your own sound…” After hearing this song it’s definitely safe to say Neimann has successfully created his own sound. “Blue Bandana” is a song about a free spirited girl with a love of music that has her traveling all over the place to attend music festivals such as Bonaroo, Coachella, Woodstock and Lollapalooza, just to name a few. It leaves the listener wanting more of what’s to come from his new album.

Listen for “Blue Bandana” hitting radio July 27th.

SINGLE REVIEW: "GIRLFRIEND" - BROOKE HOGAN

SINGLE: "Girlfriend"
ARTIST: Brooke Hogan
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamo

Brooke Hogan is back and has decided to go country!

Hogan is the daughter of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and is most commonly known for her reality TV show “Brooke Knows Best” as well as her pop music. Her most recent single “Girlfriend,” although country, still has that pop influence within the up-tempo beat. It’s a song about a girl who has a crush on a guy and is begging him to make her his girlfriend rather than being just friends. The up-tempo beat is accompanied by great vocals from Hogan. I give Brooke so much credit for staying true to herself and following her heart by going country.

"Girlfriend” which was produced by Blake Bollinger and Drew Davis is scheduled to hit radio August 13, 2015 and I highly recommend keeping an ear out for it.

You can purchase "Girlfriend" on iTunes here

SINGLE REVIEW: "(THIS AIN'T NO) DRUNK DIAL" - A THOUSAND HORSES

SINGLE: "(This Ain't No) Drunk Dial"

ARTIST: A Thousand Horses

REVIEWER: Alyse Smith

Follow Alyse on Twitter at @ASmith1300

 www.athousandhorses.com

A Thousand Horses splashed onto the scene with “Smoke” and made it clear they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

 “This Ain’t No Drunk Dial” is their sophomore single and once again, they do not disappoint. “This Ain’t No Drunk Dial” is a story about a guy who doesn’t want to let go of his girl just yet. He calls her up and says “I’ll take whatever blame you want me to, we don’t even have to talk about any of the stuff that happened, just leave the door open and I’ll be there.” He’s drank a few but wants to assure her “This Ain’t No Drunk Dial,” a very interesting spin on the usual cliché.

A Thousand Horses spoils you with vocals like nothing else on the radio right now. The words “Distinctive” and “addictive” have become their tagline. From the vivid tapestry woven to the whoa-oa-oa’s you won’t be able to do anything but turn this song up and leave it on repeat. This ain’t no drunk dial either, Thousand Horses because I’m swooning just listening to you. Co-written by lead vocalist Michael Hobby, Justin Crowder, Neil D. Mason and Cale Dodds, the story’s as good as the vocals and the instrumentals, all working together to craft a piece of music like you’ve never heard before. 

A Thousand Horses will be increasingly successful jetting up the charts more than they already have if this is the material they’re going to consistently put out. It is without a doubt, one of the most unique and craveable sounds coming out of Nashville right now and I for one, absolutely cannot wait for more.

A Thousand Horses will be on tour all over the U.S. from now until October with their own headlining shows as well as on Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour, so be sure to catch a show!

WRAPPING UP: BIG BARREL 2015

Delaware did their country fans right with the Big Barrel Country Festival. They sure didn't play games, bringing in some of country's biggest artists, both new and legendary names. Fans brought their families to enjoy a weekend, although wet and rainy, of great music and good times and the staff at Big Barrel certainly didn't disappoint. Sadly, due to the bad weather, we weren't able to be there all days but the 2 days that we were on site, we sure got the most of and had a great time. The only thing that was noticably a little on the negative side was the overlapping in schedules with Lyrnrd Skynrd and Jana Kramer, Kasey Musgraves and Merle Haggard and Eric Paslay and Loretta Lynn. There was also an awkward 30 minute gap between Chris Young and Blake Shelton. You could tell a noticeable difference in crowds at each of the above sets and an obvious "bleed" of fans leaving one stage to go to the other in hopes of catching at least a portion of each set. I did notice some other complaints on their Facebook page from fans about meet and greet photos taking too long to post and merchandise running out somewhat early. All in all, despite the usual setbacks, one of the most noticable awesome things about the festival was that the music wasn't all one style, it was a great mix of classic country, Texas country and today's country. There was definitely something for everyone! Thank you to the folks at Big Barrel for a great weekend and for giving us great music. The approximately 30,000 rowdy and ready fans who showed up thank you and can't wait til next year!

On Friday, June 24, highlights included:

Blake Shelton who definitely brought the attitude (and probably the whiskey).
Lynyrd Skynrd rocked with southern flavor and southern pride.
Chris Young brought the dark and mysterious, and to the women in the crowd, the sexy.
Jana Kramer brought the beauty.
Cassadee Pope brought the voice and the flair as only Cassadee knows how.
Joel Crouse brought the pop flavor and showed off a new look (aka nearly Lenny Kravitz).
Wade Bowen did it Texas style and did it perfectly.
Sturgill Simpson definitely showed why "try" belongs in country.


On Saturday, June 25: 

Word on the street is that ...

Miranda Lambert lit up the night like kerosene, gunpowder and lead.
Loretta Lynn made sure you were looking at and listening to country tradition.
Sam Lewis brought his own deep rooted soul.
Logan Mize brought the good time (it follows him around wherever he goes.)
Chris Stapleton made you remember why music is such a powerful thing.
Jon Pardi brought the party as he always does.
Eric Paslay may sing that she don't love you but that doesn't matter because the crowd loved him.
Gary Allan proved that every storm runs out of rain (and literally, it did!).

And wrapping the festival up on Sunday. June 26: 

Carrie Underwood broke out a megamix party side with a mashup including her take on Wiz Kalifa.
Merle Haggard showed us that classic country still matters, is still important and that it's still wanted.
The Oak Ridge Boys, the newest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame brought their legendary four part harmonies and tore the roof off with "Elvira".
Jake Owen showed us what "Real Life" is all about.
Kacey Musgraves may have been showcased last week in an article about "resting bitch face" but she proved that resting bitch face just means she knows she can't musically kick your ass.
Charlie Worsham ... Charlie left everything he had on that stage.
The Del McCoury Band brought a little bit of the Opry to the Barrel.
Michael Ray didn't wait until the morning, he kissed everyone right smack in the face with his sound.

 

REVIEW/PHOTOS - #CMAFEST2015 CITY OF HOPE CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME

EVENT: City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game
VENUE: First Tennessee Park - Nashville, TN
DATE: June 13, 2015
REVIEWER/PHOTOGRAPHER: Jason Evans
Follow Jason on Twitter at @J_EvansPhotos

The 25th anniversary of the City of Hope Celebrity Softball game took place at the brand new First Tennessee Park in Nashville on Saturday, June 13, 2015. The annual charity event takes place every year during country music's CMA Music Festival which draws hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide to the Nashville area. This event directly benefits City of Hope cancer research, as well as diabetic research and other life threatening illnesses which directly impact countless numbers of individuals across the world.

The softball game lineup is usually chock full of country music stars, actors/actresses, athletes and other celebrities that step up to the plate and go to bat for this great benefit. In the past years, the event has hosted celebrities like Brad Paisley, Craig Morgan, Charley Pride, Sara Evans, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean and many many others. This year, the celebrity lineup was split into two teams, Team iHeartRadio and Team Opry.

Team iHeartRadio: 

Angie Johnson • Bobby Bones • Bret Michaels • Doug McCormick • Eddie • Lauren Alaina • Lindsay Ell • Lunchbox • Perrish Cox • Seth Jones • Stephen Barker Liles

Team Opry:

Aaron Watson • Bucky Covington • Charles Esten • Chuck Wicks • Deana Carter • Eric Gunderson • JT Hodges • Phil Vassar • SaraBeth • Stu Grimson • Vince Gill

Note: Little Big Town was originally scheduled to attend, however due to an unforeseen family emergency they were unable to participate this year.

Representing humanity and overall goodwill in this years festivities, Stephen Bess, a Nashville resident and cancer survivor that needed a bone marrow transplant in order to live and beat cancer, and his stem cell donor, Jonas Baade who had a perfect match that would help save Mr Bess' life. A video would play on the jumbo screens depicting this story and the importance of the decision that Jonas Baade made in order to save the life of an individual in which he did not know.  Jonas Baade, who crossed nine time zones to meet Stephen, received an emotional standing ovation from those who were present to witness the connection of a lifetime.
     

The crowd was certainly there to have a good time and enjoy watching these celebrities play some softball as well as have fun and share laughs with everybody on the field. Some of the highlights of the game included Vince Gill taking the field for his 20th game, Deana Carter using her on-field antics to cheat and always considering herself "safe". This would eventually turn into "The Tomato Rule" in which all girls on the field were to be considered "safe", never be out and the announcers would say "Chop the lettuce, Lauren" as Lauren Alaina would take a swing. Lauren would play her heart out and even included a moment in which she would slide into home plate and cause herself to scrape her leg pretty badly but would continue to play. At one point, a foul ball would fly into the crowd and Charles Esten of the hit tv series "Nashville" immediately became concerned for the safety of those in the stands and assessed the situation. Once he realized that nobody had been injured, he gave his own personal safety announcement to the crowd to turn around and enjoy the game while watching for objects flying into the stands. The City of Hope used military armed forces members to umpire the game, giving it a patriotic feel and salute to those servicemen and women. Both teams were very well matched but it came down to the final inning where Bret Michaels would hit a walk off single that brought in live saving hero Jonas Baade, giving iHeartRadio a win of 6-5 in this year's challenge. City of Hope hit a home run this year by raising over $20,000.00 for cancer research.