Amy's Country Music Awards - Best Male Artist

 

 

Oh the sadness of the current male artists being played on country radio.  We've even coined a term, Bro Music to describe the truck driving, beer drinking, lady chasing songs that we can't get away from on the radio.  There are still wonderful performers who write heartfelt, meaningful country songs.  This post is for them.  They might not be nominated for awards or played on the radio yet but I have faith that someday soon we will make a return to true country music.  These are my nominations for best male country artists.

 

 



 

 

Sturgill Simpson is amazing.  This is the title track of his most recent album, Turtles All the Way Down.  Why oh why is country radio not eating this man up?  He is amazing.  I really can't wrap my brain around the fact that I've never heard one of his songs on the radio. 

 

 



 

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Jason Isbell isn't easily put in a box.  Is this country? Americana?  I'm not sure but what I do know is that it's wonderful and I can happily report that I have heard his songs played on 95.9 the Ranch.  This song is Traveling Alone.

 

 

 

I sometimes forget that people all over the country don't get to hear the wonderful Texas music we hear here.  I'm not stingy and I'll share our wonderful artists with everyone.  Hayes Carll deserves so much more love and recognition than he gets.  This is a duet, Another Like you. 

 



 

 

Another Texas treasure is the awesome Zane Williams.  It was hard to pick which song to share but A Little Too Late is one of my favorites. 

 

 



 

 

My final nominee is Brian Wright with Striking Matches.  

 





 



Three Favorite Texas Country Songs of 2013

 

 

I always have a hard time explaining how Texas country is different than mainstream or Nashville country.  I say its better, more heartfelt, more genuine but the best way to discover Texas country is to listen.  Here are a few of my favorites from 2013.  I wanted to share more but had trouble getting the videos to load. 

 

 

 

Jason Boland  - Dark and Dirty Mile

 

"It's a broken hearted world we inherit"

 

 

Zane Williams - Overnight Success

 

 

 

Mark McKinney - Stolen Cash

 

 

Songs that I wanted to include but had trouble getting videos to load from Youtube.  Grrrr...

Chris King - Native Son
Randy Rogers Band - Trouble
William Clark Green - She Likes the Beatles
Mario Flores - Let Your Lonesome End with Me

Zane Williams at Billy Bob's Texas

Urgh!  I hate that I didn't get a good picture last night.  Next time I will walk right up to the stage and snap one.  So this is not a pic of Zane Williams at Billy Bob's.  It is actually a still from his video for Overnight Success which I posted below.  Last night was his first headlining performance at Billy Bob's and my first time seeing him.  If you aren't familiar, Zane Williams is a Texas country performer and HE IS AWESOME!  Okay, I just love him.  What makes you love a certain artist and their music, I don't know but I completely dig him.  I did miss the first song or two which is a bummer since I'm sure he probably played Kissin' which is one of my favorites off the new album, just because it's so sweet and cute.  I had invited a bunch of friends but some dissed me and Zane for cheap beer or because it was raining - lame!  They missed a fabulous show. 

 

This is Overnight Success my favorite Zane song.  I know I've posted it before but I'm posting it again.  Half the reason I have a music blog is so I can pimp people I love. 

 

 

Here's my best attempt at a setlist. 

Little Too Late
On a Good Day
Pablo and Maria
Driving My Life Away - Eddie Rabbit cover
Overnight Success
Amarillo by Morning
Louisiana Saturday Night
If You're Gonna Play in Texas
Calling Baton Rouge
Wagon Wheel
99 Bottles

Amanda Sue, Zane and me - fun night!

If I were queen of country music radio...

So many of my friends are big time Texas country fans and they have no use for mainstream or Nashville country.  I still like some country music but do think they have lost their way a bit.  I love Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band, Little Big Town and Kasey Chambers.  It's just that there is some awful music getting radio play and some wonderful music that I have never heard played on the mainstream country stations.  I just thank God that I live in the age of the internet where I can discover this music without radio.  So the CMT's tonight got me to thinking about the music I would play if I were the queen of country radio.  Here are a few songs...

The wonderful Justin Townes Earle singing "Harlem River Blues".  That's some good stuff there.  He is the son of Steve Earle and named after Townes Van Zandt. 

Nikki Lane "Gone, Gone, Gone"

Jason Isbell "Alabama Pines"  He is formerly of the Drive By Truckers.  His new album Southeastern is one of my favorites of this year.  Love him.

 

Awesome Mindy Smith singing amazing "Come to Jesus" 

 

 

 

Local favorite Zane Williams singing "Overnight Success"  I love him and I love this song.  I can't wait to go see him in a couple of weeks at Billy Bob's.