NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Big Machine & Outnumber Hunger Reach for Rewards..You CAN Help

2013-05-19T19:26:49-06:00

I may be behind in my things to do; but the work to support and erase hunger never stops. Since the inception in 2012 of the Outnumber Hunger program 6,825,375 meals have been secured, not too far from the goal of up to ten million that has been set. Can they meet and exceed such a large undertaking? I believe they can.

In April of this year the first ever Outnumber Hunger LIve concert event took place in Las Vegas on Friday night, during the 2013 Academy of Country Music weekend. The event brought awareness for the Outnumber Hunger Program in their quest to secure meals for its network of local food banks. This marks the second year that Big Machine Record Label is working alongside Feeding America, and General Mills to reach their goals. There is also no shortage of support from the label's roster of artists which include The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, Cassadee Pope and Greg Bates who put on a wonderful night of music to kick off the 2013 campaign. There will also be other support from artists such as Rascal Flatts, Reba, the Eli Young Band, Thomas Rhett, Raelynn, The Mavericks and Ella Mae Bowen throughout the campaign.

But after all the glitz and glamour the work still continues. As part of the 42nd Annual CMA Fest taking place in Nashville June 6-9 country artist Thomas Rhett has invited fans to volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank for the 2nd consecutive year. Volunteers will be participating in helping sort and pack food alongside Thomas to help hungry Middle Tennesseans . This event filled up very quickly and it will give those involved a chance to learn more about hunger issues throughout Middle and West Tennessee followed by sorting food for Second Harvest's Emergency Food Box Program.

There is a misconception that hunger only relates to the very poor. This has led people to think it could not possibly be someone they know like a neighbor or a family in their church or childrens school. Yet it is true; it could be anyone you least expect. Please take the time to read these startling facts and dig deep into the ways you can help this program. It is so easy and totally affordable. You purchase certain products with the Outnumber Hunger banner on the front; find the code in the back of the packaging; go to the website; enter your code; follow the instructions and you are done. You will feel so good knowing you helped. http://www.outnumberhunger.com/hunger-in-america

There are many programs to help fight hunger which are very easy to work into your life. You don't have to be a big star to help; the bottom line is: JUST HELP DO WHAT YOU CAN...The rewards outweigh the awards.

(Pictures by Deb Sixta)

Taylor Swift's new neighbors really don't like her and the stalkers that come with her

2013-05-17T12:30:24-06:00

Sheesh. Looks like the rich folks that live near Taylor Swift's shiny new house on the beach in Rhode Island aren't digging their new famous neighbor.

After a crazed Taylor Swift fan decided to take a couple mile swim to Taylor's new pad at 2 in the morning earlier this week, one of Taylor's neighbors decided to write to CDAN to gripe.

"I want to remain completely anonymous, but as someone who lives where Taylor Swift just bought a summer home, it's already a circus. Apparently there has been a stalker scare so a section of the beach is roped off. We live here all year, pay taxes all year, to enjoy three months at the beach...and now that might be in jeopardy. I don't want to speak for everyone, but you're kinda not welcome."

Completely anonymous? Sounds like someone doesn't want to jeopardize an invite to any of Taylor's sure-to-be-amazing summer barbecues that I'm sure she'll be throwing.

Kree Harrison, "All Cried Out" - Single Review

2013-05-17T12:01:58-06:00

Kree Harrison is one heck of a vocalist.

As her potential debut single (it has not been confirmed, but she did tell MTV News that she wants it to be), "All Cried Out" is a knock-out punch of emotions. Coming from a place of unabashed honesty, Kree pours her pain and soul into the song's stirring lyrics. The tune was co-written by Katrina Elam, Gordie Sampsonand Steve McEwan -- the songwriters behind such hits for Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Reba McEntire and newcomer Lauren Alaina.

At first listen, I got chills. That doesn't happen often, but when it does, I know I'm listening to something really special.

Some might be turned off by the sappy lyrics, but it is Kree's conviction that elevates a song that could be rather bland if performed by another artist. It channels Carrie Underwood ("Just a Dream," "Temporary Home") and Trisha Yearwood ("This is Me You're Talking To") at their finest, while bringing a freshness and fervent drive to the storytelling.

Even the instrumentation and arrangement harkens back to more rootsy and traditional influences rather than the current trend of Country-pop or -rock in the mainstream.

"They say when the last tear comes, you can tell by the way it falls. It’s like seeing everything for the first time again. It’s not like the pain is gone, just hurts a little bit less. You know you’re going to cross that line, who knows what you’re going to find. It’s only a matter of time in the end," she tenderly caresses on the first verse.

A little backstory (in case you are not aware): Kree and her sister Laci lost both parents rather early on. Kree, at age 12, lost her father in plane crash. At 19, her mother died in a car accident. Talk about a tragic twist of fate. During her recent Top 3 hometown visit to Woodville, Texas, producers filmed an emotional segment with Kree and Laci returning to their childhood home.

From that vastly deep well to draw upon, Kree is able to craft a poignant performance, not holding back as the song ebbs and flows in time. While it clearly isn't made for summer (as radio seems obsessed with head-bobbing and fist-pumping beats), it would be a travesty if this song did not land on every DJ's playlist across the country.

Thematically, the song pulls in the listener on a simple hook and a rather broad idea. I think we've all reached that point where we are "all cried out," when it comes to an experience, whether that be death, or some other tragedy. It's relatable and fits perfectly with many of Country music's most iconic songs.

If you listen to this song and aren't moved in some way, you don't have a heart.

Overall Grade: A+

Bonus: While Kree did not write this single, she previously penned a song called "You Would've Wanted It That Way," which she co-wrote with hit-makers Natalie Hemby ("Pontoon") and Trent Dabbs ("Undermine" from ABC's Nashville), to honor her parents.

"Left all the flowers in the living room; shook every hand I didn't know; stacked all the cards I'll read to you when I get alone," she sweetly sings in the first verse. "I made the bed hung your favorite dress, mailed all the letters that you saved, broke the news over every call that you couldn't make."

Listen:

If I was grading the second song, I would give it an A+, as well. It needs to find its place on her debut album.

Did you like this review? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter. Also, feel free to email me to continue the conversation.

Jennifer Nettles releasing solo album

2013-05-17T10:34:39-06:00

Jennifer Nettles and Rick Rubin via Rolling Stone

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles is going solo!

At least temporarily.

According to Rolling Stone, Jennifer will be releasing a solo album this fall with the help of Rick Rubin, former co-president of Columbia Records and founder of Def Jam Records.

"I am absolutely thrilled and wholly proud to be working with Rick", Jennifer says. "If you ask any musician who is on their producer 'bucket list', Rick would be on each and every one."

As for what sort of music will be on the as-of-yet untitled album, it sounds like it will be ecclectic ... just what you'd expect from Nettles.

Rubin says. "There's country, but also blues, jazz, island rhythms, great classic rock moments, and a lot of soul. The organizing principle is Jennifer's voice and tastes. There's a lot of styles, but it all sounds like her."

Adds Nettles, "It's a celebration of my roots, and where I am today. I'm a different version of myself than what people might have known before – not only in my songwriting and performance, but even in the sounds on this album. It reflects a more soulful, grittier life. A lot has been lived in the time between the last record I made and now, and you can hear that."

Jennifer's solo album isn't really a surprise at all since both Jennifer and Sugarland partner, Kristian Bush, have said they're interested in doing things on their own as well as together.

I don't know about you but I'm kind of excited to hear what funky music Jennifer will be gifting to the world.

This chiropractor video is uncomfortably fascinating (not country but umm...)

2013-05-17T10:21:25-06:00

My husband goes to the chiropractor every couple of months. I've never went with him but now I'm sort of wishing I had. It looks so entertaining.

I'm sorry but this video made me laugh in a slightly uncomfortable way.

{via Jezebel/Ryan Lee Chiropractic}

Lady Antebellum’s ‘Goodbye Town’ Is Underwhelming & Forgettable – Review

2013-05-17T07:45:52-06:00

When I first listened to ‘Golden’, Lady Antebellum’s new album from which ‘Goodbye Town’ is the second single, I was significantly underwhelmed. True, I prefer music with a bit more twang and grit than is typically expected of Lady Antebellum, but I had enjoyed ‘Downtown’ and was hoping for more sass from their fourth record. However, ‘Goodbye Town’ accurately reflects an album which has few stand-out tracks, this one in particular not being one of them. I was surprised that this was to be the single, therefore, and disappointed that they chose to release a bland, predictable soft rock ballad over some of the more interesting songs on ‘Golden’.

It would probably be correct to assume that most of their fans will lap up ‘Goodbye Town’, as it does much of what they have done before: an atmosphere and guitar-led song about angsty love/heartbreak, with fairy standard lyrics that every teenage girl can post in a picture on their Tumblr with some romanticized imagery. In fact, much of the song musically reminds me of a single from their first album, ‘I Run To You’. If Lady A were looking to release a heartbreak ballad, they could have chosen ‘It Ain’t Pretty’, or if they were looking for something fuller production but similar tempo, ‘Get To Me’ is a fairly solid track.

Lyrically the song is rooted in nostalgia and loss; but it doesn’t delve enough into either on a deep enough level to really impress me. It takes a stab at storytelling too, but ‘Long Teenage Goodbye’, taken from ‘Golden’, does that so much better. It seems to me that ‘Goodbye Town’ is trying to be a lot of things and isn’t quite sure where to diversify, resulting in little more than a few key signifiers of plot and some token lines. It’s clear by the structure of the song, Lady A wanted ‘Goodbye Town’ to be a highlight of their live set, with the elongated outro and feeling of space combined with a choir and focus on guitar parts. However, I don’t think you should release a single simply on the basis on that, and I am disappointed by the blandess of this track. It just bores me, and fades into the background on ‘Golden’.

I’m sure it will be successful due to Lady Antebellum’s fan base and the emotional teenage girl market, looking for a pretty melody and some sad lyrics. As for me, I’m honestly just looking forward to their next release, because this is disappointingly forgettable.

You can watch the video for ‘Goodbye Town’ here:

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

Randy Travis sues to stop release of naked arrest video

2013-05-16T21:14:23-06:00

In February of 2012, a video of Randy Travis being arrested (see above) made its way into the hands of the public and the world laughed. Then they moved on because the public has a short attention span.

Squirrel!

Yes, that was an "Up" reference.

Now Randy has filed suit to keep a second, probably much more embarrassing thing from happening again.

You probably remember that Randy was arrested last August in Texas for DWI and just happened to be completely naked when police found him. In January, Travis pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated. He ended up receiving two years probation, a $2,000 fine and a 180-day suspended jail sentence. The judge also ordered the country singer to spend at least 30 days in treatment, complete 100 hours of community service, and to have a device installed in any vehicle he drives while on probation.

Unfortunately for Randy there now appear to be news agencies who are anxious to get their hands on the video of his naked arrest. Randy probably thought he was safe when the judge in the case decided the video should be destroyed and the arrest transcript not be released to the public. Unfortunately, the attorney general doesn't agree with the judge and has made the decision that some of the information should be released under a public information act request.

TMZ apparently has friends in high places in Texas.

On Tuesday, Randy filed suit with the Travis County (what're the chances?) district clerk against the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General seeking $100,000 and an order that will keep all information regarding his August arrest from being released to the public.

You know, I had no desire to see the video but now that he's trying to keep it secret I'm dying to see it. I know that's wrong but it's the truth. I mean it's got to be pretty dang juicy to have Randy siccing his lawyers on public officials to keep it from coming out. Seems to me the video would go away a lot faster if it's just allowed to come out and then disappear into infamy like every other celebrity drunken arrest video.