Red, White And Country

Liquor Loves To Call The Shots

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Susie Krivak

Hi Everyone.

Before I start off with our usual shenanigans, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims in the bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. It is unfortunate that something that should be bringing people together has been the centre of such a horrific act. Our hearts go out to you at this difficult time.

I always swore to not dwell on too much serious stuff on here. This is our escape from that. A way to unwind. So let’s continue.

The title of the blog relates to the artist I am featuring today but it is a great opportunity to tell you how this blog actually got started. I am not sure how many of you know the actual story. Well, I started fun tweeting Blake Shelton. Then sarcastic tweeting Blake Shelton. I could never get him to even LIKE one of my tweets, so I opted to switch to the smart-ass approach. After a few beverages, liquor started calling the shots. It became drunk, sarcastic tweeting. This didn’t happen once. It happened a number of times. And when I did it…I gained followers. When I looked them up, some of them were up and coming artists. I decided to start talking to some of them and interviewing them to put on this blog. And…here we are today. I know. Bizarre. And no. Blake Shelton still has never liked or re-tweeted me. It’s alright. I am ok with it now.

Let’s get on with the fun stuff.

PLAYLIST

ALBUM REVIEW

Jason Kirkness has been quietly lurking in the background, preparing his latest project A Beautiful Disaster (set to release May 30). We hadn’t heard from him in a while, then he comes out with this kick-ass summer tune “Whiskey Kiss”. (If you use my Spotify playlists, it is on the first one I did). “Whiskey Kiss” is just one of the tracks from this new album. So if you like it, you are in for a treat. For me, this is probably some of the best work of Jason’s that I have heard, and I have heard a lot of it.

ABD-Cover

This year has already been a pretty big year for Jason. Not only has he released a single, a video and set to release a whole new album, he has also signed with management company Edge Entertainment in Portland, Oregon. AND look for him on the main stage at Dauphin Countryfest with Ryan Keown, Meghan Patrick, Tim Hicks and Keith Urban.

Like I said, A Beautiful Disaster is some of the best work I’ve heard from Jason. The album has this theme of love found and lost, which I guess is why it’s a beautiful disaster – because love can be. From sweet melodies like ones found in “Take Your Picture” or “Man Like Me” (a very pretty song about being there for someone and being the person you need them to be), to the sexier “It’s What I Like About U” (which fans have come to love seeing live), he reminds us of who he is. Then he kicks it up a notch. Ok. A LOT of notches. If you want a good southern rock song for the summer “Good Life” will fit that bill! I also suggest “Tall Glass Of You”. It has this really catchy modern country sound. BOTH are making the Craven Playlist. There is a good blend of sweet and sassy on this album. “Barefoot” keeps us on a date night in and “One More Night” is a beautiful slow song about missing someone. There really is a good balance. Enough happy stuff to balance out the broken heart.

I am going to break it down to you. The whole album is great. It has a great summer feel and I can’t wait to hear it in my truck when I’m driving around. If you are hesitating at all (I don’t know why you would, but in case you are), I urge you to listen to the song “One More Fix”. This song is breath-taking. It is this haunting song about newly lost love and it is masterful. There is an orchestral section at the end that is exquisite. This is le pièce de résistance on this album. Trust me. Pick this up. You will be so glad you did.

COUNTRY MUSIC

I would like to start off by saying that, honestly, I don’t know if I have laughed that much during an interview. Eric Ethridge is not only a really talented guy, he is charming and has a great sense of humour.

EE1

Eric was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, went to high school there and continues to live there. Well, he travels back and forth a lot between Sarnia, Nashville and Los Angeles for recording and writing. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario where he earned a degree in kinesiology/sports science. He even played football for the Western Mustangs. While he was going to university, he was playing in the bars in London. When graduation came, he couldn’t decide between going to chiropractic school full-time or pursuing music full time. So, he tried doing both. “It turns out it is very hard to do both,” he commented with joking surprise. In his third year of school he met his now manager who really pushed him to work toward his dream of music. She heard his demo and really felt like he had something. He went in and recorded a couple of songs and again, with this surprised sound in his voice, he said, “They turned out pretty good!”

His first gig was at a festival called Rock The Park In London, Ontario. He was booked for the side stage. “Our first gig was between a poncho stand and a popcorn stand. It was this little stage. I had a seven piece band. It was the weirdest thing. People were walking by and were like, ‘who are these guys?’ They wanted us playing in between all of the main stage acts. That was right as Tim Hicks was really starting to bust out. his 5:01 record was out. “Here Comes The Thunder” was killing it on radio. Tim Hicks was there. Dean Brody was there. Darius Rucker was there. Eli Young Band was there and we were on this little stage beside the ponchos and people would walk by and be like, ‘these guys are alright.’ We played four sets throughout the day. Every time we went back to the stage, more and more people gravitated to us.” We joked about the ponchos being really spectacular. “By the fourth set, people were waiting for us to get back on stage!” That was just the beginning. That September, he opened for Brett Kissel. He loved the experience, “Brett Kissel brought me out on stage to sing Bryan Adams’ “Summer Of ’69” with him. I tell people that was my TSN turning point in my career.” Once an athlete, always an athlete.

Eric has had the opportunity to play with some pretty heavy-hitters in the industry. I asked him who some of his favourites have been, Without hesitation he said, “Chad Brownlee. I’ve played with Chad a whole bunch of times and he’s just such a nice guy. Really down to earth.” Eric continued, “Tim Hicks was fun. I’ve literally met everybody but Tim Hicks in the Canadian industry. He’s like this elusive ghost I’m trying to track down.” We joked about his near misses in meeting him. Tim – if you are reading this, can you just call Eric and put him out of his misery. Thanks.

The last couple of years have been quite a ride for Eric. In 2015, he was named runner-up in the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artists Showcase. In 2016, He was name winner of the CCMA Discovery Showcase. This year, Eric has released his first single, “Liquor’s Callin’ The Shots”. While on his first radio tour, Eric said, “Since the poncho stand, we’ve come a long way. This is about three years in the making. My dream has always been to travel the world playing music and I’ve never heard my own song on he radio. I’ve heard covers that I’ve done on the radio. But this is the first time hearing something that I’ve co-written on the radio and it was a pretty unbelievable experience.”

EE2

The song is great and it is a total summer song. The title is pretty self-explanatory, but it is a Jim Lahey quote (The Trailer Park Boys) – that is something you may NOT know. “It’s gotten a really awesome response from people at radio and on social media. People are loving it apparently. So this is great news because it’s scary releasing your first song to radio.” He came back and said, “It was terrifying.” He elaborated on this a little bit for me,”I’ve been working on this for three years now, officially. I’ve been playing music for over a decade, but really pushing hard for the last three years. There’s been a lot of times as an artist you really doubt yourself, you know.” Well, people certainly are loving it. “Liquor’s Callin’ The Shots” is currently sitting at number 38 on the Canadian Billboard Country Chart (up four spots from last week). Eric is planning to release another single in a couple of months and an album after that. I, for one, can not WAIT!

This summer, Eric can be seen at Tweed Stampede with Gord Bamford. He will also be playing in Nashville during CMA Fest. As Winner of the 2016 Discovery Program, he is offered an opportunity to perform in Music City. What’s even more exciting, is that this will be his first time going.

For more dates and information about this talented and super funny guy, check out his social media:

WEBSITE: http://www.ericethridge.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ericethridgemusic

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ericethridgemusic

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/EricEthridge

This was one of those interviews that make me wish I did a radio show. If you could hear him tell a story, you’d be dying. I wish him all the best. Let me leave you with the official lyric video for “Liquor’s Callin’ The Shots” by Eric Ethridge!

Posted in Album Review, Country Music, Country News, Music Review, Uncategorized | Tagged Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, Brett Kissel, CanCon Artists, Chad Brownlee, Darius Rucker, Dauphin Countryfest, Dean Brody, Eli Young Band, Eric Ethridge, Gord Bamford, Jason Kirkness, Keith Urban, Manchester, Meghan Patrick, Ryan Keown, Tim Hicks | Leave a comment

What A Beautiful Freakshow!

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Susie Krivak

Today I am posting something really rad. I said “rad”. I’m 42. I love old slang. I still say Dude. I am absolutely unapologetic for this.

By the way, I am not sure if you guys have been watching The Voice or not but there is this girl on Team Blake named Lauren Duski. I am making my prediction here. I think she will win the show. She is incredible. Such an impeccable performer. If you haven’t seen her, here is a clip from Monday night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNBADxNBFdA

CONCERT REVIEW

If you have EVER doubted the status of country music in Canada, from it’s quality right down to it’s popularity, I suggest you go and see Dean Brody’s Beautiful Freakshow Tour. Friday May 12th, Brody took the stage with not one, but two, phenomenal opening acts; James Barker Band and Madeline Merlo.

It’s 7 pm and enter James Barker Band. The stage is simple, but I’m in love with the two blow-up palm trees. Why? Because I would do this myself! It’s corny, but hilariously so. They come out full of piss and vinegar, as you’d expect and break into their single “Just Sayin'” The crowd enjoyed it. James addresses the crowd, “I hope you brought your dancing shoes!” as they move into an impeccable cover of “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” by the Kentucky Headhunters. They played “It’s Workin'” a great upbeat song from their latest album and the crowd really responded well to it. Being the opening act, there were still people coming in. But the people who were there were really warming up.

JBB 1 (1)

One of the highlights for me was when they came to the front of the stage to “Livin’ The Dream” acoustically. The opening harmony was divine and I LOVED how it felt authentically bluegrass. Bravo. And if you are enjoying their latest single “Chills”, which is currently number four on the charts, it sounds even better live. It is easy to get completely wrapped up in this song even in an arena setting.

JBB 2 (1)

The boys wrapped up their set with their hit “Lawn Chair Lazy”. Everyone was having a fantastic time! JBB did an outstanding job and I can honestly say I look forward to seeing them again.

I made sure to get in line to get a photo:

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Next up, my girl Madeline Merlo. FINALLY, I got see her live. I am so glad I did. This was her first night out on the Beautiful Freakshow Tour, but it was obviously not her first night on stage. She looks so comfortable and fluid on stage. She came out and started out with her hit “Honey Jack”. It was smokey and bluesy and you can tell the crowd was really enjoying it. When she finished she addressed the crowd, “You look so beautiful tonight!” The guys in front of me yelled back “SO DO YOU, MADELINE!” I actually did laugh out loud. But they were right, she did look great.

mm1 (1)

She then moved in to “Whatcha Wanna Do About It” which was a huge hit for Madeline. The crowd really sang along with this one. Myself included. This got us primed for her latest single “Motel Flamingo”. Being released to digital outlets on May 19th and to radio on May 24th, this fantastic summer song paints a fantastic picture of a cheap and cheesy hotel and a really good time. The song is fantastic! When it is released, I highly suggest picking it up.

mm2 (1)

She sounded incredible singing her break-up anthem “Over And Over” and a new song of hers called “Fresh Out”. What really captivated the audience was a fantastic acoustic set. What you may not know about Madeline is that her mother is a huge country music fan and her father was a funk musician. So it is safe to say, that Madeline is pretty eclectic in her taste. She sat down and was quite interactive with the audience and did beautiful covers of “I’m So Lonesome I could Cry” by Hank Williams and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” By Michael Jackson both of which were great.

mm3 (1)

Madeline’s set ended with the very popular “War Paint”. An absolute treat to hear live!

I was so glad that I finally got to meet her:

mm4 (1)

Now. Dean Brody. I don’t know how it is at all possible that I have never seen this man live. But I promise you, that will never happen again. The room got dark and the room filled with sounds of crickets chirping, a chainsaw (which Brody is known for) and him having a discussion with a buddy. The lights come up and Brody hits the stage. From the moment he does, the crowd is on their feet and singing along with “Bush Party”. He is Absolutely a showman!

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He commanded people’s attention through the whole show. As he moved through “Dirt Road Scholar”, “Upside Down” and “People Know You By Your First Name”, it is easy to see why he is an award-winning performer. I mean, who doesn’t love the smell of gas from some dueling chainsaws?? Yes. Dueling chainsaws.

Brody decided to break off in to the crowd and set up a “campfire” at the back of the arena. It was this quiet, intimate moment. He sang one of my favourite songs of his, “Little Yellow Blanket”. Seeing him do this acoustic, right in front of me, was magnificent.

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Ending the night with “Canadian Girls” and 2 encores (one of them being “Bring Down The House), The whole evening was wall-to-wall fun.

If this tour is coming through your town and you have a chance to get tickets, I highly recommend that you do.

Posted in Concert Reviews, Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Blake Shelton, CanCon Artists, Dean Brody, Eric Ethridge, Hank Williams, Jack Daniels, James Barker Band, Jose Cuervo, Kentucky Headhunters, Lauren Duski, Madeline Merlo, Michael Jackson, The Voice | Leave a comment

CMAOntario Awards Are On Their Way

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Susie Krivak

Hey, hey there! I know! I am publishing another post really quick. But there is some really exciting stuff coming up that I want you to hear about. This way, if you have the opportunity to take part, you still have time to do it.

It is CMAOntario Awards time again and this year, they have been moved to London, On. I was invited to participate again, but regretfully, I had to decline. I will be in Nova Scotia with my family at that time. So it’s a very happy trade-off. That being said, I still think that they are great people and absolutely want to support them in any way that I can. So today, I will bring you the nominees for the awards and some of the really fun stuff going on because, this year, there are a couple of new events happening!

Since Thursday is the new Friday, everything gets rolling on June 8th at the Purple Hill County Hall. Presented by Country 107.3, The Legacy Show features a lineup of Canadian talent that has helped pave the way for artists in Ontario and Canada in general. It includes: Charlie Major, Genevieve Fisher, Kiley Joe Masson, Marie Bottrell, The Good Brothers, Wendell Fergusson and special guest Aaron Pritchett. Doors open at 6 pm and the show begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling 519-461-0530 or emailing purplehillcountryhall@gmail.com.

If you are a sports fan, perhaps you’d like to take in the Artists vs. Media Charity Softball Game. Being held on Friday, June 9th at Labbatt Memorial Park, doors open at 6 pm and game time is 7 pm. Entrance fee is “pay what you can” (donation). A portion of the proceeds will be going to support the Unison Benevolent Fund and a portion will go to a local charity. The anthem will be sung by The Small Town Girls. At 9 pm there will a concert center field featuring Genevieve Fisher, Leah Daniels and The Abrams. Who can you expect to see sweating it out on the field? The artist roster currently includes: Aaron Pritchett, Dani Strong, Gavin Slaight, Genevieve Fisher, James Barker Band, Jason Blaine, Jason McCoy, Leah Daniels, River Town Saints and The Abrams. What a fantastic (and fun) way to get out and support a great cause. If you know anything about Chris Labelle and Jason McCoy, it is safe to say shenanigans will probably ensue.

Leah Daniels

That weekend will also see the R2I (Road To Independence) Spring Tune Up Conference on Saturday June 10th and Sunday June 11th. This year, the conference will be held in the Delta London Armouries. This is a phenomenal two-day conference full of advice, learning and mentoring. Participants will be able to partake in panels and receive one-on-one coaching on digital marketing, navigating Nashville, songwriting, promotion, funding, and more. The stories and pointers that the artists and professionals provide is really invaluable. Even as a blogger, I found that I walked away with things that I have employed that I know have helped. For more information and tickets, please visit www.cmaontario.ca.

Get ready to kick up your boots on Saturday night with the New Faces Showcase and Concert! This gives some up-and-comers an opportunity to show their stuff. The showcase lineup is still to be announced, but there will be a concert performance by River Town Saints and Eric Ethridge. Eric is the CCMA 2016 Discovery Program winner and recently released his first single “Liquor’s callin’ the shots” and it is doing great! I am working on an interview I had with him. This guy is a riot and has tons of energy. So if you have a chance to take in this free concert at Market Square (Dundas St. and Market Lane) that night, I suggest you do!

Eric Ethridge

The whole weekend winds up with the 5th annual CMAOntario Awards presented by Slaight Music with support from the Ontario Media Development Corporation. Being held at Centennial Hall, this gala evening will be hosted by the very talented (and very funny) Jason McCoy and the house band for the evening will be The Western Swing Authority. Performances will include: Genevieve Fisher, Jessica Mitchell, River Town Saints, Aaron Pritchett, Jason Blaine, Cold Creek County, James Barker Band, Tim Hicks, Deric Ruttan, The Abrams, and nomination front-runner, Meghan Patrick. Doors open at 6 pm and the show begins at 7 pm. Tickets are available at www.centennialhall.london.ca.

Blue Rodeo will be receiving the Impact Award for making a long and lasting impression on the country music and Canadian music scene alike. I am sure we can all agree that their music has woven its way into the tapestry of everyday Canadian life. This award is much deserved.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the nominees:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR:

“Beer Weather” – Cold Creek County

“Cherry Bomb” – River Town Saints

“Lawn Chair Lazy” – James Barker Band

“Still Lovin’ You” – Meghan Patrick ft. Joe Nichols

“Workin’ On Whiskey” – Jessica Mitchell

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

Born To Love – The Lovelocks

Country Side – Jason Blaine

Grace And Grit – Meghan Patrick

Shake These Walls – Tim Hicks

Till The Wheels Come Off – Cold Creek County

Deric Ruttan

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:

Deric Ruttan, Craig Wiseman – “Came Here To Forget” by Blake Shelton

James Barker, Gavin Slate, Travis Wood – “Lawn Chair Lazy” by James Barker Band

Jessica Mitchell, Dave Thomson, Patricia Conroy – “Workin’ On Whiskey” by Jessica Mitchell

Meghan Patrick, Patricia Conroy, Philip Barton – “Grace And Grit” by Meghan Patrick

Tim Hicks, Todd Clark, Gavin Slate, Travis Wood – “Stompin’ Ground” by Tim Hicks

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

Genevieve Fisher

Jessica Mitchell

Leah Daniels

Meghan Patrick

Tianna Woods

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

Jason Blaine

Marshall Dane

Tim Hicks

Deric Ruttan

Tebey

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR:

The Abrams

Autumn Hill

Cold Creek County

James Barker Band

River Town Saints

RISING STAR AWARD:

The Abrams

Buck Twenty

Meghan Patrick

River Town Saints

Dani Strong

ROOTS ARTIST/GROUP OF THE YEAR:

The Abrams

Jessica Mitchell

Lindi Ortega

Kelly Prescott

The Western Swing Authority

FANS’ CHOICE:

Autumn Hill

Jason Blaine

Cold Creek County

Tim Hicks

James Barker Band

River Town Saints

Meghan Patrick

Tebey

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR:

Steve Coady – Warner Music Canada

Mike Denney – MDM Recordings

Catherine Faint – Catherine Faint Entertainment

Amanda Kingsland – Rogers Radio

Dave Woods – “In The Country”

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

“Bow Chicka Wow Wow” – Meghan Patrick

“Cherry Bomb” – River Town Saints

“Dance With My Daughter” – Jason Blaine

“Lawn Chair Lazy” – James Barker Band

“What Love Is All About” – Johnny Reid

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR:

The Agenda, Leah Daniels (Leah Daniels)

Jason Barry (Dean Brody, Genevieve Fisher, The Western Swing Authority, Tianna Woods)

Dan Brodbeck (Dani Strong)

Gavin Brown (The Abrams)

Dave Thomson (Jessica Mitchell)

RADIO STATION (LARGE MARKET):

KX 94.7 (Hamilton)

BX 93 (London)

KX 96 (Oshawa)

Country 101.1 (Ottawa)

Country 104 (Woodstock)

New Country 94 (Ottawa)

RADIO STATION (MEDIUM MARKET):

Country 92.9 (Chatham)

Cool 100.1 (Belleville)

KICX 91.7 (Sudbury)

Country 104.3 (Sault Ste. Marie)

Country 93.5 (Kingston)

RADIO STATION (SMALL MARKET):

Country 103 (Little Current)

Star 96 FM (Pembroke)

KICX 106 (Orillia)

Country 107.3 (Tillsonburg)

Country 93 (Owen Sound)

If you live nearby or have the means to get out to London, this is a fantastic experience and you should be a part of it. I really enjoyed mine last year. I made some great connections and some great friends. I may not be going this year but I am already looking forward to next year. And trust me, I am there in spirit(s).

Since the weather is warming up and festival season is upon us, I think I will leave you with one of the Music Video Of The Year nominees. Performing at MTS Center here in Winnipeg on Friday May 12th in the Dean Brody “Beautiful Freakshow” tour along with Madeline Merlo, here is James Barker Band with “Lawn Chair Lazy”:

Posted in Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Aaron Pritchett, Autumn Hill, Blake Shelton, Blue Rodeo, Buck Twenty, CanCon Artists, Charlie Major, Chris Labelle, COld Creek County, Craigwiseman, Dan Brodbeck, Dani Strong, Dave Thomson, Dean Brody, Deric Ruttan, Eric Ethridge, Gavin Brown, Gavin Slaight, Gavin Slate, Genevieve Fisher, James Barker, James Barker Band, Jason Barry, Jason Blaine, Jason McCoy, Jessica Mitchell, Joe Nichols, Johnny Reid, Kelly Prescott, Kiley Joe Masson, Leah Daniels, Lindi Ortega, Madeline Merlo, Marie Bottrell, Meghan Patrick, Patricia Conroy, Philip Barton, River Town Saints, Tebey, The Abrams, The Agenda, The Good Brothers, The Lovelocks, The Western Swing Authority, Tianna Woods, Tim Hicks, Todd Clark, Travis Wood, Wendell Fergusson | Leave a comment

A Bit Of A Country Crush

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Susie Krivak

Hi Everyone!

Weather is better, excited about Craven, blah, blah, blah. There are a couple of topics that are a little more important that I wanted to start off with today.

I originally started today’s post completely different. It was a little more like the above format. But a few weeks ago on Twitter, I kind of “got into it” with someone from the “Shefani” fandom over me saying that there is no make-up in fishing when it came to Gwen Stefani. Ok. Ok. I was make-up shaming. I just don’t see the point. Listen. I have followers and I follow people on both sides of the Miranda|Blake battle. I say great things about both artists. I am sorry Miranda haters, but you cannot deny that she has grown as an artist. She has never looked or sounded better than she does right now. Even I am a convert. Blake, well, I have an undying love for him and I really enjoy his music, even though this last album was a little…whiny. He is a different man. I am not sure he is different in a way I like yet. I miss the tweets about being in the garden. I miss the tweets about being out hunting in the bush. I miss Saturday mornings when he would tweet away like crazy and it felt like he was having coffee with his fans. That to me is who he is. Or, who he was. I still really enjoy him as an artist so I will continue to tweet how fantastic I think he is.

When Miranda won ACM’s Female Vocalist of the year, part of her acceptance speech really struck a chord with me:

“I’m just glad to see females kicking ass these days. I’m so proud to be a part of that.”

Artist or not, Miranda fan or not, as a woman, this should inspire you. This should make you sit up and take notice. Because her music has something to say. There is a reason The Weight of These Wings won an award. And it has nothing to do with ACM politics. It is a bloody good album. It’s honest – whether or not you want to hear it. So, maybe you guys can cut me a little slack here.

Second, the Juno Awards. I am Facebook friends with and follow on Twitter this hilarious gal, Jenn Dalen. She is the Program Director at Real Country 95.5 and a bunch of other stations. On Juno night, she tweeted:
I agree vehemently, of course! It is like people haven’t listened to country in the last 50 years. It isn’t all about “I lost my truck, I lost my dog, I lost my trailer, etc…” Country has progressed in so many ways. Well, I don’t need to tell you guys! You are reading my blog. I guess I find it frustrating and quite honestly, patronizing. I really try to open myself to other music, and I do listen to and enjoy other types (I LOVE jazz and I really like hard rock). But, come on! Country music in Canada is big enough to warrant having its own TELEVISED award show. How can you possibly still be cracking jokes and making fun of a genre that obviously has grown leaps and bounds? Alright, I’ll get off my soap box now.

In fun-filled news, River Town Saints stopped in Winnipeg while on tour with Kip Moore.

Welcome to Winnipeg, Steve RV!

I FINALLY got the opportunity to see them! These guys are fun and energetic as well as talented. Hearing hits such as “Cherry Bomb” and “Bonfire” live really was a treat. Chris Labelle really owns the stage and the group as a whole really get the crowd moving.

River Town Saints at The Burt

I was so glad that the guys did a meet and greet after their set! I hadn’t seen them since CMAO last year so it was nice to quickly catch up (note to self: need less cheesy grin):

And to collect on what is turning out to be my annual group hug:

ACTION SHOT!

If you ever have the opportunity to see these guys in action – DO IT!! It will be absolutely worth it!

NEW MUSIC

Say what you want about reality television, but The Voice has really done well in the world of country music. Danielle Bradbery, Cassadee Pope, and of course, Blake Shelton darling, RaeLynn. She has definitely been making her mark on Nashville, Her latest album WildHorse was released on March 24. Shelton was sure to show his support on Twitter:

The title track on the album is a great song about being young and having an unapologetically wild spirit. The song expresses the feeling of being untameable and wanting someone to accept her, flaws and all. Even at 42, I find this song to be relatable. The melody is sweet and I found it enjoyable to listen to. However, if you are not a fan of high female voices, you will not enjoy RaeLynn. She can reach into those upper octaves. I encourage you to check it out though. The message is fantastic and the music sounds great.

If you watched the ACM’s then you saw these two perform this song live. If you didn’t, It looked a lot like this:

This song is 100% kick you in the ass, make you jump out of your seat, one heck of a good time! Both singers are known for this genre of party country and putting them together is just genius, THIS is making the Craven playlist without a doubt! It is also making yours.

PLAYLIST

Here’s the playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/user/redwhiteandcountry/playlist/1XX5YD1WLAbTXFhSbcTHqA

COUNTRY MUSIC

It is hard to not have a girl crush on Madeline Merlo. She is so sweet and adorable and awesome to talk to. She and I got to chat again a little while back.

She had just been in Nashville (or, in honour of play-offs, “Smash-ville”). I asked her how her time there was. She said it was wonderful, “I love Nashville.” So what does Madeline like to do while working down south? “My favourite thing is definitely, just finding music to see. The more times I go down there, you kind of get to know some people and somebody’s playing here and you go to see them. Like The Listening Room is definitely somewhere to go and watch a songwriters round. Or you know, The Bluebird-type of situation.” She doesn’t really go out on the town too much when she is in Music City. “I try to be focused when I’m there so I try not to go out too much because I get too excited, you know.” As far as eats go, Madeline is loco for tacos. “Mas Tacos (www.facebook.com/mastacos) in East Nashville is my go to place.” She also gives a shout out to Bar Taco (www.bartaco.com) on 12th Ave. S. The conversation couldn’t be left without discussing BBQ, “Yeah, you gotta go get a BBQ fill always. I always have one night where I eat everything and go to sleep with a smile on my face.”

We started talking a bit about her single “Over and Over”. At the time we spoke, it was sitting at number 17 on the Canadian Country Music Chart, which was 4 spots above Miranda Lambert. I mentioned this to her. “Wow! That’s insane,” she replied. The song was written by Jeff Pardo and one of my favourites, Jason Blaine. I asked her how the pairing came about. “It actually just was in an email surrounded by 20 songs, kind of like a pitch email from his publishing company and I didn’t even know it was Jason Blaine writing it or singing or anything. That song just kind of stood out to me in the pure fact that, well, I loved the song and the melodies and everything but I felt like the subject matter was something that I had been through and had been in completely and just had that relationship. And for me, I don’t cut a lot of outside music but when I do, it always has to be right on the nose of something that I’ve experienced or every word has to be something that I would say.” She and I had discussed songwriting before. I know that Madeline writes from her experiences and from her heart. She continued, “I really felt this song was true to a situation that I had been in and every piece of an album is an expression of me, so I want everything to be truthful and when people hear that song they’re going to be like ‘Oh, Madeline went through that’ and that’s true, even though I didn’t put the pen to paper for that one,” I think a number of us can relate to that situation. I agree with Madeline. The melodies on this song are gorgeous and it is one of my favourites right now.

This young lady has been very busy. On top of recording an album and writing music, she filmed a movie called “Country Crush” last summer. She admits that her involvement happened in a very random way, “The director and the creative team were looking on the internet for basically a singer to play the star and they just emailed my manager.” There was no doubt that Madeline fit the look and had the sound they were looking for, but could she act? When approached, her reply was, “I dunno. Maybe?” Her manager told her to give it a shot. So she did. She made a self-made tape and sent it in. She was cast for the part a few days later.

Shooting a film is a pretty different scene from performing on stage. I asked her about her time during filming. “It was the craziest experience. Just so out of my element. It’s similar to music in the fact that everything comes from a place of passion and emotion. But man, like, just memorizing lines and trying to be realistic and working with such a cast and a crew and every day is 16 hours. It’s a lot of work and it was really long hours.” Despite the loss of sleep, Madeline says, “It was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done and I learned so much.” She added, “I love to be challenged in that way.”

She co-stars in the film with Jana Kramer and Munro Chambers to name a few. She said, “You feel such a connection to your co-stars and your character. I loved my character and I wanted to portray her in the best way possible. So it was really a crazy experience.” I asked her to tell me a little bit the character she is playing. Nancy is an aspiring singer (obviously a role she is familiar with). She is just trying to make music and find her way her way in the process. During her journey she encounters a producer who is up to no good. “Luckily I haven’t been through that situation with a bad producer or anything but man, I could understand that desperation.” Those aren’t the only parallels between Madeline and Nancy. She describes her character as “sweet but will tell you what’s up if you cross her”. Madeline laughed, “I’m a nice, approachable person but I will not be walked all over.” She paused for a moment, “I’m Italian, you know, so…” We both laughed. I’m part Irish so I indeed understand.

Country Crush is a musical in the style of “Glee” or “High School Musical” but with country music. We spoke about the target audience maybe being a bit young but I did point out that there was an older generation of “Glee” fan that may like this as well. She said, “There’s some deep story lines and some emotion in the film as well.” So there is a little something for everyone. The premiere was open to the public on March 31st and Madeline and her band performed a couple of songs from the film. The soundtrack released on March 10th. She wasn’t really sure what to expect since the whole experience was so new. We laughed and said that this is going to make filming music videos seem like a piece of cake. She commented, “It IS stressful though. Imagining sitting there watching it surrounded by everybody, judging it and thinking about it at the same time. That gives me a bit of anxiety. At least when you’re on stage, you’re away from it and you leave and then they can talk about it but I’m going to be sitting there, you know?” Madeline is a perfectionist. And she is far more critical of herself than others are of her. In some ways I relate to that, as I have re-worked this article a couple of times.

Madeline has a busy summer schedule coming up. She is currently on the Beautiful Freakshow tour with Dean Brody and James Barker Band. I was lucky enough to be invited to this event to cover it so I will be bringing that review shortly! She is also going on a huge festival tour which INCLUDES Dauphin Country Fest, Cavendish and Big Valley Jamboree. If you are interested in finding out more about Madeline or want to check out where you can see this talented young lady on tour this summer, here’s her info:

Website: http://madelinemerlo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madelinemerlo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/madelinemerlo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinemerlo

I couldn’t be more pleased for this girl. She is a true testament to the idea that hard work and dedication do pay off. But for now, I would like to leave you with the Country Crush trailer! Have a great day!

Posted in Concert Reviews, Country Music, Music Review, Uncategorized | Tagged Blake Shelton, Cassadee Pope, Chris Labelle, Country Crush, Craven 2017, Danielle Bradbery, Gwen Stefani, Jana Kramer, Jason Blaine, Jeff Pardo, Jenn Dalen, Kip Moore, Madeline Merlo, Miranda Lambert, Munro Chambers, RaeLynn, River Town Saints, Shefani, Steve RV | Leave a comment

Ready for a Getaway

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Susie Krivak

Hi Everybody!

Who else is ready for this winter to finally be over. OH. MY. GOD! I am so there people. So there.

I have had so many iterations of this blog in my head. So many ideas of what I want to do and where I want to go with it. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to keep track of it all! Today is a trial of one of those ideas. There is just so much great new music out there every week and obviously I don’t get to speak to everyone. Sometimes I come across songs that I LOVE and really want to talk about and I also envisioned using Spotify a little bit more. SO this week, you will get a playlist too! Just a few newer songs that I am really into. So here goes…

NEW MUSIC

The end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 has brought with it a trend of the country troubadour’s “Ode to His Wife/Girlfriend” (e.g. Thomas Rhett, Chris Jansen, etc.). Not to be outshone, The Road Hammers released their latest single “Crazy About You” to digital and radio on March 3rd, 2017. Written by band members Jason McCoy, Chris Byrne and Clayton Bellamy and produced by McCoy and Gavin Brown, the song captures the relationship of a couple who have known each other since childhood. McCoy’s own relationship was the model for the song, as he and his wife were only teenagers when they started dating. Jason stated in a press release, “Like most couples, we’ve had our ups and downs and it’s been quite a ride , but for some reason, in my eyes, she’s forever 18 and in her eyes, I know, I’ll always be the crazy guy she married.” The song is not a typical sappy love song by any means. It has a great, strong beat and it really makes you want to tap your toe. Honestly, it REALLY makes me look forward to the release of the new album in May!

From one Canadian Jason to another, Manitoba native Jason Kirkness. Jason and I spoke a while back when I started the blog. I am so excited to say that he has released a new single. “Whiskey Kiss” was released on February 27 and with it he released a video. It was a huge endeavour, but it is proving to be a successful one. The song has been kicking around for a while and he finally decided to record it. It is a kick-ass song about a wild night out. I saw Jason perform in an MCMA showcase back in November and it was great to see him on stage again. He has a new album coming out in May and with it will be a CD release party. For more information visit: https://jasonkirkness.com In the meantime – take a look at this great video!

PLAYLIST

These songs and more can be found on my Spotify playlist for this week:

https://play.spotify.com/user/redwhiteandcountry/playlist/5DN78lSx3Pk47LdJpAOBE8

SPOTLIGHT

There are certain things that you can expect from country kids from the prairies. One is that, if they are boys, they more than likely do or have played hockey. Two, they can, have or do drive tractors/atv’s/quads and have gotten them stuck. Three, that your conversation will usually start with how the weather is. The Hunter Brothers delivered all three. Well, Ty did. There are five brothers (Luke, Ty, J.J., Brock and Dusty) but I got to chat with Ty about the band and the family. I am CERTAIN having all five brothers on the phone would have been a handful!

Ty just became a father for the first time in January. “It’s been a very short time and it’s been fantastic!” He said of his new title. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.” With the latest addition of Dusty’s little one earlier this month, that makes nine Hunter grandchildren! But keep in mind, this is a family that is used to crazy schedules. All five boys took music lessons and played hockey. Ty laughed, “I don’t really know how they did it!” All of this was going on while operating the family farm in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. Not only did Mom have to deal with copious amounts of hockey equipment, “Stinky hockey equipment, to be specific” Ty added, but she also had to re-teach them all of the harmonies every time one of the boys reached that very awkward voice change stage. “I think that Mom really needs to accept any awards or any accolades that we receive.” I think Mom deserves an award just for dealing with the hockey equipment.

This family is not new to the stage at all. In fact, they have been performing for a long time. They started singing gospel and switched to Christian contemporary. So many people had approached them and asked if they were country that, according to Ty, they finally just said, “Well, maybe we should be.” The switch came very natural for them, as was the switch to playing music professionally. They had already traveled around Canada and the US performing. But at it’s core, it really was a farming and hockey playing family, with the oldest playing with the Edmonton Oilers organization for a number of years. Ty recalled, “All of us sustained some sort of injury and it kind of brought us back to the family farm and kind of gave us a chance to pursue music at more of a professional level.”

This year will be the first year that the Hunter Brothers will be attending the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards held in Saskatoon this weekend. They are up for four awards. Ty said, “That was an exciting email to wake up to the other day.” And of course they are really looking forward to taking part in the event. One of the awards they are nominated for is Single of the Year for “El Dorado”, a song on their latest album Getaway – released digitally on March 3 and on CD March 17.

This song is a total road trip song. I cannot wait to hit the highway, roll down the windows and turn it up a few notches. When I heard it, I instantly thought of my own dreams of one day driving across a desert in a Cadillac El Dorado. I asked Ty if someone in their family owned one. He replied, “Actually, you know what’s crazy is my Uncle, who actually passed away a few years ago, was a Cadillac man and did own an El Dorado. So the song is actually very, very sentimental, particularly to my Mom because that was her brother. And so when she actually heard the song for the first time, we usually bring our songs back to our parents and hit the play button when we get them back, and she just started crying.” I love to hear that there is such a beautiful story attached to such a great song.

The whole album has this great summer feel to it. If you notice that it also has a bit of a High Valley sound to it, that is for good reason. A number of the songs on it were co-written Brad Rempel and the duo also joined them on “Country Stuff”. There is a fantastic cross-section of sounds. As Ty put it, “We have five different guys and so there’s five different styles and influences.” “Love Lives On” appears like it would be some kind of romantic ballad but it is this up-tempo updated bluegrass tune that will certainly get your toe tapping. Expect a couple of other little surprises like this.

One song that really stood out for me was “Where I Want To Live When I Die”. It is this really beautiful gospel inspired song which obviously pays homage to their beginnings. Ty said, “That song means a tremendous amount to us. You don’t lose your roots and where you came from just because you make a genre shift.”

The brothers do tend to sing a lot of relatable music. “Born and Raised” is a great anthem song that would make any country lover proud. Ty had a fantastic anecdote, “The night my wife went into labour, we recorded “Those Were The Nights” and “Born and Raised” the night before. It was literally within hours. Like, she was upstairs having contractions as I was trying to get these songs finished. It was a very close cut to those actually making it on the album!” Born and raised, indeed!

They have already had some success with “Long Way to Love You” which is on this album and of course, their latest release, “Getaway” is the title track. This record is wall-to-wall fun!

If you are like me and have been waiting for summer, then “Getaway” is your song. It’s fun, it sounds a bit tropical, it makes you want to dance, I love it. And if you think the song is great, the video is fantastic! Filmed at Portofino Island Resort in Pensacola, Florida, it has sun, sand and brotherly banter. It is the epitome of a family vacation. It COULD be that the whole family went – with a whopping 17 of them on the bus ride home. Ty said, “It truly was a lot of fun and hopefully that was represented in the video.” I can safely say, it 100% does.

This isn’t the only video of theirs that I am a huge fan of. Last year the guys put out an impromptu video called “The Combine’s Stuck” which, of course, is a little play on Corb Lund’s “The Truck Got Stuck”. We laughed about the video and Ty said, “Here’s hoping for a better 2017 as far as weather is concerned.” Well – I can’t leave you hanging so here’s the video:

The Hunter Brothers have always come back to the family farm, whether they were playing hockey or music. So I asked Ty what he preferred about farming to the music industry. He replied, “I think one of the things that farming provides is consistency because music can be a little erratic.” and we both agreed that at some point you have to hang up the skates. But between travelling, recording, writing, and things like not knowing if a song is going to do well or not, with music there are a lot of unforeseen variables. “I guess you could say the same about crops,” he added. At the end of the day, this is who they are. Ty adds, “There is something about having your hands in the dirt at home that kind of grounds you, for one thing.” But the most important factor? “You are always at home.”

This was fun. Really fun. Like, I was talking to a kid a grew up with fun. It is almost like there is something hard-wired into prairie people to just accept each other like the person next door, even if you are from a different province. These guys are very active on social media. They love to keep up with their fans so make sure you hit them up:

Website: http://hunterbrothers.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HunterBrothersMusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HunterBros

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterbros/

Do yourself a favour and get the album. You will thank me. No really. You will thank me. Now, after all this talk about summer and what a great new album they have, please, allow me. Here is “Getaway” by Hunter Brothers. Enjoy!

Posted in Album Review, Country Music, Country News, Music Review, Uncategorized | Tagged Brad Rempel, Brock Hunter, Chris Byrne, Chris Jansen, Clayton Bellamy, Dusty Hunter, High Valley, Hunter Brothers, J.J. Hunter, Jason Kirkness, Jason McCoy, Luke Hunter, Spotify, The Road Hammers, Thomas Rhett, Ty Hunter | 3 Comments

No Worries

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Susie Krivak

Hello, Hello, Hello!

Yes! It has been a while. But here I am! I am hoping to be back a little more often now. I have a couple of really great things coming your way.

I hope you are all having a tolerable winter. LOL! I say tolerable because I think that there are maybe a handful of us who really like winter. Be honest now. Some of winter isn’t bad, but the windchill, the -40c, the icy roads…ugh.

Anyhoo, summer is on it’s way and I for one can’t wait! So on to something more fun.

COUNTRY MUSIC:

When a girl at the age of sixteen pens a song called “Homewrecker”, it only seems fitting that somewhere along the line she would title an E.P. Brave. I was really hoping to have this up for the release of Shae Dupuy’s album, but life, unfortunately, had other plans for me.

shae-dupuy-brave-ep

When we spoke, she was in the process of coming down after a CCMA rush. “It was a little chaotic,” Shea said of her experience. Her days were busy, usually starting at seven a.m. and ending at one or two the next morning. Between after-party networking and performances during the week, it was non-stop for Shae. “Whenever you get the chance to perform in those kinds of areas with everyone in the business there, it’s always a great opportunity, so I love doing that.” She added, “It’s great to be surrounded by your peers and everyone’s there because they love country music so it’s an awesome environment to be in.”

Shae was born in Kamloops, B.C. and at the age of six moved to Ontario. Her father (an R.C.M.P officer), was asked to be a part of the post 9/11 air marshal program. He was posted at Pearson International Airport in Toronto and the family moved. She had her first piano lesson at six and shortly followed with guitar lessons and vocal classes. It was clear that she had inherited her grandfather’s natural musical abilities because by her early teens she could play almost any instrument by ear and was writing her own music. Once she was older, she started spending summers in Los Angeles to become accustomed to the music industry and write with other people. I thought that this was pretty trusting so I asked what it was like having a father who is a police officer. She laughed and said that there had been some pretty funny moments, “He had this little application and it’s the ‘Date My Daughter’ application. It’s funny questions like: ‘Do you own a van?’, ‘What’s your blood type?’, ‘What does NO mean to you?’” We laughed and she continued, “You’d think they’d be really strict but my dad wasn’t. He just taught me right from wrong and let me make my own mistakes which I really like.”

We started talking about the summer that had just past. I asked her what some of the highlights were for her. “Definitely recording,” she started, “I got to fly out to Vancouver for it. I got to do some writing down in Nashville.” I asked her what she thought of the home of country music. “I absolutely loved it because everyone shares that passion of music and it’s such a creative place.” Since I am such a huge fan of the city myself, I always ask for recommendations. “I normally wait until Wednesday to go. It’s called Proper Bagel (www.properbagel.com). They have these awesome homemade huge bagels and then they have amazing cream cheeses.” I took a look and I will DEFINITELY check this place out the next time I am there. Apparently on Wednesdays they have a bagel deal. She added, “I am very in to the food in Nashville,” mentioning that she also has found a love for authentic southern BBQ. I think by that point, we were both left a little hungry.

Shae was down there working on her latest project Brave, which was released last October. The first single released from that was “Good For Me” (released to radio last August and iTunes last September). The lyrics come across as very personal (You’re so wrong for me/ But it feels so right/ And I can’t help but wonder/ If you were good for me/ But I want you so bad). I asked if this was fact or fiction, based on our previous conversation about putting yourself into your songwriting. Without hesitation, she replied, “It’s definitely fact.” We both agreed that part of the fun of a girl’s night out is trying to figure out a guy’s game. Oh, don’t sit there and try to tell us you don’t come in there with a game plan, guys. We do too. Lol! Let’s all be honest here. And we have all even been in the situation where maybe we wanted to be with someone we know wasn’t good for us. “When I sat down to write it with a co-writer, we also kind of wanted to take a step back and think is the appeal in the person or is it in the risk that comes with doing something you shouldn’t be?” There was also the whole “bad boy” appeal. Shae agreed, “If this person good for me, would I want them as much as I did?” Oh ladies, isn’t this a question we have been asking ourselves since the dawn of time? While this song is great, Shae assured me that there were some songs on Brave that were equally (if not better) than “Good For Me”.

I read Shae a quote that I had seen on her website:

“A person on a song critiquing panel I attended called my writing Brave and that stuck with me.”

What did she think of a comment like that? “I first kind of wondered to myself ‘How can someone’s writing be brave?’ But then I took a step back and I really thought about what he said because it did stick with me. It kind of sat at the back of my mind for a few days afterwards.” So, then. what did it mean to be “brave”? According to Shae, “You have to be honest and vulnerable in your songwriting.” I thought about some of my own favourite songs and many of them are written from a very intimate and personal place. In fact, I have written that kind of work myself on my other blog. She added, “You cannot lie. You cannot half-ass it because people know when you’re authentic and putting yourself out there.” She is 100% right. Think about an artist you’ve seen live who was just “phoning it in”. It seems insincere and unbelieveable. It really disconnects you from that artist. Shae decided to take action, “I’m going to take what he said and I’m going to prove to people that, yes, I am brave and that’s what I’m doing with this E.P.”

Shae absolutely delivered with Brave. It is a testament to some fantastic songwriting. Shae really takes us on a ride with playful songs like “Tin Man”; the story of a young girl being cautioned not to fall in love with the heartless boy, to the upbeat revenge song like “Drink About It” where she warns she is going to be a hard one to get over. Then we come to “Homewrecker”. Written at just sixteen, Shae says this may have been the one occasion where she let people know a little too much. She says that there are several songs like that on the E.P., this song being one of them. “It’s one of my favourite songs that I’ve ever written because it wasn’t necessarily meant to be a radio single or a song I ever recorded. It was meant to be as an outlet for my anger.” She sang the song at a coffee house, where everyone knew the story, “That’s a bit of a Taylor Swift move,” she laughed, “but I did it anyway.” She has no regrets about the decision. “It made me a better songwriter and it made me a better performer for it.” I totally agree! Shae has a wonderful singer/songwriter style that rivals Taylor Swift. Her voice is soft and soothing. I 100% recommend that you pick up Brave. It is fantastic.

Whenever you put anything out into the world, be it a song, a book, or a blog post, you always have reservations. I asked Shae what some of her fears were when releasing an E.P. “Like everybody, you just want it to be successful. I put a lot of time in there and I’ve also put a lot of myself into these songs. Because I’ve written and co-written all of them so they’re very personal to me, they’re my life experiences.” She admits that there is a bit of anxiety that comes with it, “I want people to love them and relate to them as much as I do.” At the end of the day, this is what Shae was born to do. “If anything, I’m more excited. I love putting out new music and I love getting feedback from it.”

Brave is Shae’s second E.P. so I asked what she learned from her first (Breakdown) that she carried forward to this one. “Whenever you’re putting out a full project like an E.P. or an album, you’re telling a story, so order matters, what songs you’re putting on there matters. Like you can’t go from writing a bunch of summer songs and happy songs to all of a sudden having one super depressing song.” Shae talked about taking the the listener on a roller coaster ride. Despite her young age, she is completely realistic about releasing a new project, “Not every song on an E.P. is going to be successful. There are songs that get buried among others and that’s ok.”

If Shae seems like she is a well-rounded and well-balanced individual, it is because…she is. She is a firm believer in taking care of her physical and mental health. “I love being active and I love reading so I walk regularly 3 times a week with a personal trainer and I go to yoga. In the summer, I love to hike.” And in those rare moments of quiet? “If I have a day off, I will probably spend it somewhere cozy reading.”

Those days will be fewer and further between this summer, as Shae plans to do more touring. Keep up with show dates on her website (www.shaedupuy.com). I can honestly say, it was a joy talking to her. She is very calm and grounded and has such a great head on her shoulders. All of this and insanely talented! Make sure to check her out on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/officialshaedupuy) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shaedupuy) and course follow her on FB (https://www.facebook.com/shaedupuy) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShaeDupuy) but for now….you can take a look at this – “Good For Me” by Shae Dupuy

Posted in Album Review, Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Brave, CCMA, Proper Bagel, Shae Dupuy, Taylor Swift | 2 Comments

Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Susie Krivak

Hi Everybody. It has been a while since I posted something so I just wanted to pop on with an update.

Things have been…interesting. I am still not feeling 100% and some of my medications are having some crazy side effects. That all being said, I have decided to take a bit of a break until the end of the year. I need to recuperate a bit and regroup. I am slowly (but surely) working on a piece so I will try to get that up for you as soon as I can. I DO have some really great things lined up for the new year and I am so excited about making a good run at it. A Craven Karaoke Booth may or may not be part of the plan, lol. “But Susie. Isn’t Craven in July?” Yes it is and I already have my tickets and campsite booked. Did you think I was going to miss Blake Shelton or Keith Urban? My friend, that was never going to happen! So you can see that although I may not be feeling top shelf, I am always thinking. Needless to say, you and I are going to have a lot of fun in 2017!!

Thank you all so much for hanging in there with me through all of this. Your patience and kindness is so much more appreciated than you know. This blog started out as kind of a way for me to explore country music more in-depth and the opportunities it has brought my way in the last 12 months is more than I could have ever hoped for. I look forward to sharing more of these opportunities with you in the future. I wish you all the best this holiday season and have a very happy and safe New Year!

As my little Christmas gift to you, here is a video with my gal pal Chelsea Crites featuring Cory Cruise singing “Baby It’s Cold Outside”:

MUAH!!!

Posted in Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Blake Shelton, Chelsea Crites, Cory Cruise, Craven Country Music Jamboree, Keith Urban | Leave a comment

A Date With The Doc

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Susie Krivak

Happy Hump Day Everyone! I was trying to get this up yesterday but burned out at the end. I am still getting used to amping up on the writing again. I will get there. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I don’t know how many of you get Vision TV or not but if you do and you are getting to that time of year that you may start to feel a bit blue, set up a recording for “Are You Being Served?” For those of you who know what it is – YES!! It is being shown at 2:30 pm on Vision. If you aren’t familiar with it – it is British, it is from the 70’s, it takes place in a department store. It is positively witty, charming and is guaranteed to turn that frown upside-down. Unless you’re my friend Apryl but that’s a whole other story.

If that doesn’t work for you (or even if it does), you could always pick up Echo Road – The Best Of Doc Walker.

Released on September 30, Echo Road is a look back at some 20 years of work from this Manitoba band. Lead singer Chris Thorsteinson and I had plenty to talk about considering we are from the same soil. It was actually pretty exciting for me to have the opportunity to talk to him. I had “grown up” with Doc Walker, seeing them many, many times when they were starting out here in Winnipeg. I read Chris a quote from a press release I had received about them “…Doc Walker is one of the most recognized Canadian country acts of the past two decades…“. He was quiet for a moment, as if he was soaking in the words I had just read to him. I asked him if, when he was standing on the stage at Silverado’s 20 years ago, he thought he’d be hearing a quote like that and that they’d be putting out a “best of” album. The moment the name Silverado’s came out of my mouth, it commanded a chuckle. For the non-Manitobans in the crowd, let me provide some context. Silverado’s was a very popular country bar and pick up joint in Winnipeg – along with The World Famous Palomino Club (“The Pal”) – and Doc Walker could be seen playing there on weekends. Still laughing he said, “No. What I remember about Silverado’s is pretty much ‘Kick Off Your Boots’ By Hawg Wild and I was always jealous that we didn’t have a big hit like that.” Chris talked about the tough times of travelling from coast-to-coast in a suburban and attributes those times not only to the building the rapport Doc Walker has with their fans but to their ability to write and record good music. Chris commented, “I don’t think artists do that enough these days. It seems like it’s an instant success these days with YouTube and downloads and whatnot.” If you really look at it, Chris and band mate Dave Wasyliw are actually going on 30 years of playing together, having started their first band when they were 12.

I am not going to lie, listening to Echo Road made me feel nostalgic (by the way, that’s a creative’s way of saying they felt old). I can’t believe it’s been 20 years! It really did make me reminisce about those days. If it did that for me, what kinds of thoughts and feelings did they have while compiling the album? Chris answered, “I really didn’t think of it much until the album came out and it was the release date and I’m sitting there, holding the CD and I’m looking at 20 years of work. I didn’t get the CD or really anything, I didn’t see it until the release day. I threw it in the truck, I drove in to Winnipeg. I live about an hour and a half out of Winnipeg. So I listened to it. I mean, boy, it sure takes me down memory lane.” For him part of that journey is hearing the difference in recording and writing styles.

One song that is a an addition to the album is a cover of “They Rage On” by American singer-songwriter Dan Seals of “Bop” fame. As beautiful as it is, it is hardly the feel good song of the year with lyrics like On the same dark night two more people meet | In a rented room on a crosstown street | and she’s lost her youth and he’s lost his dreams | but for a while they feel like they used to feel. I asked Chris why they began to sing this song in concert, so much that it became a fan favourite. Well, to start, Chris is a huge Dan Seals fan. But there was more to the story. “When we used to play festivals, we’d get the 3 o’clock in the afternoon slot and there wasn’t very many people there. So we always tried to do something unique and different. So what we used to do is get on 4 stools, when it was a 4 piece band, and the drummer would bring his snare drum up and we’d just sing that acoustically with a big 4 part harmony.” If you’ve never heard Doc Walker perform this song, you owe it to yourself to purchase this album to hear it. It is haunting. It makes you ache in the pit of your stomach. Basically what I am saying is if listening to Doc Walker sing this beautiful song doesn’t emotionally stir you – I have the number of a great therapist you can call. It is no wonder their fans far and wide have asked them to record this song. And now they finally have.

There are certain songs that, when you hear them, you can imagine yourself driving down a country highway. Farmland on each side. The golden-yellow of canola reaching up to meet a brilliant blue summer sky. Windows down, you can feel the warm breeze in your hair and the air is filled with the scent of flax. “Heaven On Dirt” is that song. It is a brand new track on the album. Fellow prairie folk will understand what I mean when I say it has a “prairie sound”. It’s country. It’s homeland. It’s heartland. To me, it sounds like coming home. Chris appreciated that, “It does. That was sort of the idea behind that song.”He does admit, “Radio across Canada were a little shocked when we came out with a fiddle song. We didn’t hide the fiddle at all. It’s there!” Even with this type of album they wanted some fresh material. “You know, when you’re putting together a ‘best of’ record, we weren’t necessarily thinking, ‘Hey, is this going to be a big radio hit?’ We were thinking, ‘We need something on this record that sort of reflects who we are’ and growing up in rural Manitoba, a huge farming community, it really fit.” Chris adds, “It’s also a song about balance.”

That was a perfect lead in for my next question. Between band members, there are 10 children. Chris laughed, “We’ve got a little hockey team here!” With families, you’d think that it would be difficult to find some work/life balance. “It’s not like the old days where we’d get in a suburban and we’d be gone for 300 days out of the year.” They are currently on tour until the end of November. They play for a couple of weeks at a time and then come home for a week. Chris says that when he’s home, he’s HOME. He and Dave might meet up to do some writing but otherwise it is no different from shift-working couples working opposite shifts for a couple of weeks.

And now that the band members are all grown-up with families of their own, priorities have obviously changed. Chris says he really enjoys the all ages shows. First, it saves them having to find a sitter (Ah – the true lives of musicians). Then there is the Doc Walker generational anomaly. Chris said that he had a girl about 13 or 14 years old come up to him and say she loved “She Hasn’t Always Been This Way.” He stood thinking to himself that she wasn’t even born when the song came out. “It’s funny how Doc Walker kinda stretches over generations.” He added, “It’s exciting to be able to be in this industry for 2 decades and still be able to have fans and go out and play.”

After a career spanning 20 years, they have definitely walked away with their share of hardware, including 15 CCMA Awards and a Juno Award. I am always curious with multiple award winners if the 15th (in their case) is as exciting as the first. Chris answered, “They’re all amazing. Honestly I wondered if it would change because I remember my first CCMA awards, how excited I was to be there. It doesn’t change.” For him, most of the excitement is really in the fact that people enjoy what they do. When they make music, they don’t worry about making hits or CCMA Awards. “Our goal is to make music for our fans and that’s really the first and foremost thing we always think about.” Well, fans have more to look forward to from Doc Walker as they are currently in the studio working on a project to be released in March 2017. Chris said, “It kinda carries on a bit of the ‘Heaven On Dirt’ feel. Really kind of a heartland feel.”

Some of this heartland inspiration could be due to a train trip that the band took. “We did the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train last year through the U.S.; we went from Chicago all the way up through to Calgary and went through the actual heartland on a train.” Chris recalls, “To take a train across the prairies and really see the heartland and experience it really moved us.” Despite the sometimes brutal cold (he remembers it being -38c in Brooks, AB), he considers this as a highlight of their career. They will be doing it again this year, travelling from Montreal to Chicago. “What it does for small communities, the CP Holiday Train, every dollar that goes to the train or every bit of food, stays in that community and to see at that time of year, around Christmas, the families in smaller communities that really do need the support. It’s just such an honour to be a part of that.”

The fact that the Holiday Train is in the winter is really of no consequence to Chris. I asked him what he missed about Manitoba when he was on the road a lot (family and friends aside, of course). He laughed, “You’re going to think I’m absolutely crazy but I miss winter.” My response? “NOOOOOO!” He kept laughing, “When I lived in Nashville, I missed winter. I love ice fishing and snowmobiling. I just love cold. Maybe it’s because I’m Icelandic. It doesn’t seem right that you don’t get that drastic change in season.”

Doc Walker recently played Club Regent Casino here in Winnipeg and then sang the anthem with Brett Kissel at the Heritage Classic. Chris exclaimed, “We’re big Jets fans!” They are currently on tour so you should catch them live if you have the opportunity to. I did want to let Chris know, that as a fellow Manitoban, it was great for me to see them have so much success. Very humbly he replied, “Really when it comes down to it, we couldn’t have done anything if we didn’t have the support from everybody in Manitoba throughout those years.”

Here is to another 20 years, guys! Manitoba couldn’t be prouder! Be sure to pick up Echo Road – The Best Of Doc Walker. And REALLY keep your eyes and ears open for a March 2017 album release. You could probably check one of these: Website (www.docwalker.ca) Facebook (@DocWalkerBand) Twitter (@doc_walker) or maybe even Instagram (@docwalkermusic). Meanwhile, why don’t you roll the windows down and hit a back road? Here is “Heaven On Dirt” by Doc Walker

Posted in Album Review, Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Are You Being Served?, Brett Kissel, Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, CCMA, Chris Thorsteinson, Dan Seals, Dave Wasyliw, Doc Walker, Echo Road, Hawg Wild, Juno Awards, NHL Heritage Classic, The Pal, The World Famous Palomino Club, VisionTV | Leave a comment

What A Beautiful Freakshow

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Susie Krivak

Hello RWC gang! I hope all of you have started this week on the right foot. If not, I have a couple of things for you this week that I hope will lighten the load a little bit.

When I started this blog, I really kind of intended it to be a way for me to be creative and maybe give an outlet to some up-and-comer musicians. I have been fortunate enough to have been able to do that and so much more. Including things like interview people like this next guy.

Let me preface my blog today with a little anecdote. Paul Brandt and Dean Brody were playing here in Winnipeg. I was walking downtown during my lunch break and who did I see? Dean Brody! What did I say? Absolutely nothing! How ridiculous do I feel on a scale of 1 to 10? A solid 25! And let me tell you why. After talking to him on the phone, there is no way in hell I should have ever been nervous/scared/anxious/had whatever craziness going on inside my head I had to speak to him. He is so calm and kind and in a nutshell…super chill.

Yes. That is right, ladies and gentlemen, I had the opportunity to speak to Dean Brody and review his new album. Let me tell you, when life offers you the opportunity to speak to someone like that again, you take it. He took some time to chat with me about his latest project, Beautiful Freakshow, which releases on October 21 (this Friday).

DeanBrody_PhotoCredit- Phil Crozier.jpg

When you buy a new album, there are a couple of things you are certain of. One is that you like the band, otherwise you wouldn’t have purchased the album in the first place. Another is that you’ve heard one or two songs from it, depending on how many they decided to release as singles before the album dropped. The rest is completely unknown. A gamble, really. You are placing your money on your band to produce music that you are going to like. Now imagine you are the artist releasing that album. Especially when maybe there are a couple of songs on it that stray from convention or their traditional sound. It’s a risk for them. Well then, I guess that when it comes Dean Brody’s latest project, Beautiful Freakshow, you could call Dean a gamblin’ man.

On a first listen, it was easy to see why Brody has won songwriting awards. As a writer, I envy his ability to paint a picture and carry you away with his lyrics. It is masterful. When you go back and really listen to each song, you can hear different genres rolled in to them. After 13 CCMA awards and 2 Juno awards, Dean has obviously developed a formula that works for him. So why stray from that? “For me it’s still the same formula,” he started. “When it comes to writing I can’t sit still and I just try different things. I love different styles.” He admits, “I definitely have a lot of trouble sitting in one spot and writing the same thing over and over.”

Dean says that musically he has a traditional side and an adventurous side. This is something that is obvious on this album. But traditional country fans fear not! He has left plenty of that for you on here. Lyrics like The trouble is | You think you have you time | You think tomorrow’s always coming down the line (“Time“) and I wanna make you see that you still drive me wild | lift you off your feet, put that dimple in your smile (“Memory Lane“) remind us of these traditional roots. “Soggy Bottom Summer” is a fun blend of country and bluegrass with a sprinkling of Canadiana just to remind you of who he REALLY is (Blue Jays on the radio, pass the Old Dutch chips around). As if that isn’t enough, enter “Sargeant” Alan Doyle (yes, the Great Big Sea one). I LOVE that he brings Doyle back! This song is a wonderful testament not only to the beautiful but short Canadian summer, but to Dean’s sense of humour as well. Listen for the amazing bluegrass harmony at the end. Incredible!

So, we have songs like that, songs like the Buffet-esque “Another Saturday Night”and then we have the title track, “Beautiful Freakshow”. Full disclosure: at first listen, I didn’t want it there. I felt like it invaded that country space for me. But I listened to it again and I heard elements in it that I really liked. The more I listen to it, the more I really like this song. When Dean and I were talking about it, he said, “It’s a freak, really.” and he laughed. “It’s definitely not meant to be mainstream.” We discussed his name-checking film director Quentin Tarantino and how the song is very “grindhouse” much like Tarantino’s film style. The song itself is sultry and sexy and includes a phenomenal rap by the very talented Shevy Price from Halifax. It definitely steps outside the box and moves a little in to that hip-hop territory, but you will hear some beautiful spaghetti western whistlin’.

Country girls everywhere will have a new song to raise their fists in solidarity to. I asked Dean if he thought that “8th day” could be a new anthem song from him. “Yeah, maybe.” He replied. “It’s definitely a song that girls are probably going to say ‘That’s me’.” I admitted to being a country girl myself and felt that it resonated. This song is absolutely back in Dean’s pocket. On the 8th day God made country girls. Heck yeah he did! I think he captures our essence and I am sure country girls far and wide will agree. Knowing Dean has a daughter of his own, I asked him if his daughter becomes one of these country girls, will he be the dad waiting out on the porch? Without hesitation he answered, “Oh yeah. I’ve got a shot gun.” Boys, be warned. Mr. Brody’s got his eye on you.

I came across one song that I listened to a couple of times in a row. It was so just so sweet and so soothing – in a Jason Mraz or Colbie Caillat kind of way. Sarah Blackwood joins Dean on “Little Blue Volkswagon”, a tender and melodic love song. Because I am such a fan of it, I asked Dean to tell me a little more about it. “I always thought Volkswagons were kind of cool. They are kind of iconic for the whole beach lifestyle; the gypsy kind of person.” Dean added, “The song is just saying, ‘Hey, you’re really groovy.’ It’s almost kind of like a hippy country song.” Gentlemen. I apologize but I do need to have a girl moment here. Ladies, hearing Dean Brody sing Your still my crush | You’re my one true love is completely swoon-worthy.

If you want a glowing example of why Brody is doing what he is meant to do, then make sure you listen to “Blueberry Sky”. When I hear a church bell ring | We’re running off you’re Grandma’s porch | Barefoot in our muddy jeans | Getting caught beneath that bridge in a thunderstorm. The imagery paired with the dreamy quality of the music made me think of young summer love. Being caught on a country road in a rainstorm. It just felt good. I asked Dean if this song was based on fact or fiction. “A little of both,” he began. “A lot of times when I write a song, I’ll be pulling from my own experience but also put in a little bit of imagination in to it as well.” This song is a little bit special to Dean because country legend Vince Gill played on it. “For me, Vince Gill, musically, is one of my heroes. To have him play guitar was amazing.”

Brody left no stone unturned when it came to genres. the very reggae “Beautiful Girls” is fun and relaxing to listen to. Dean reminds us he is country saying Hop in my truck. The idea is to get lost in a lazy day and this song makes you want to do that…until the end. In a very Marley move, Dean takes us to church, reminding us that peace and love should be at top of mind. This last verse is fantastic. I asked Dean if he thought they would keep it in for radio because I thought it was an important message to hear. He said, “I don’t think it will simply because of time.” He said this was “a little side road we took” when speaking of the song. And I think it was well worth the diversion. Especially when you consider the type of person Dean is. In 2010, The Dean Brody Foundation was started. Dean had read a book written by a British journalist that had spent 7 years in Brazil. “He wrote about how girls are severely exploited especially in rural areas of Brazil.” Dean contacted him and wanted to know what he could do. So he started the foundation. They now have 2 houses in 2 towns and last year they sponsored 55 girls in Covenant Children’s Homes in India. They are currently looking right here in Canada, as well. Husband, father, singer, songwriter, philanthropist. Whew. That’s a hell of a job title.

Dean moved from a sawmill job in B.C. to Nashville. When it didn’t work out, he moved back and went back to that same job. I asked him if he ever in a million years thought he would be in the position he is in right now. “No. Never,” he started slowly. “I feel very fortunate in life and that I get to do what I love for a living and that I have fans who will go on that journey with me because I am different and unorthodox and sometimes I think that could hurt me. But my fans seem to go along and they’ve had a lot of fun going on these musical experiences and experiments with me so I love it. It’s a great life and I am very thankful to my fans for giving me that.”

Wondering what men like Dean Brody take pictures of on their cell phones? “I took a picture this morning of a car (I may post this on Facebook) that has been parked underneath where pigeons have been sitting! It’s covered in shit!” As we were killing ourselves laughing, he added, “There’s an egg on top of the car! That’s the kind of thing I take a picture of.”

You MUST run out and get Beautiful Freakshow by Dean Brody out on Friday October 21 (THIS FRIDAY)! It is an incredible example of his creative vision. Visit his website (www.deanbrody.com), Facebook (@DeanBrody), Twitter (@deanbrody) and Instagram – although keep in mind I am not sure what kind of photos you’ll see (@deanbrody). Here is the hit that has already been released from this album “Bush Party” by Dean Brody: the man who colours outside the lines.

Posted in Album Review, Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Alan Doyle, Beautiful Freakshow, CCMA, Colbie Caillat, Dean Brody, Great Big Sea, Jason Mraz, Juno Awards, Quentin Tarantino, Sarah Blackwood, Shevy Price, The Dean Brody Foundation, Vince Gill, Volkswagon | Leave a comment

A Soul As Old As A Meteorite

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Susie Krivak

Hey everyone! I hope you are all feeling fantastic.

Summer has gone and fall is here. That hurts my feelings. I am not a real big fan of winter time. Yeah. I know. I live in Manitoba. Listen, just because I live here doesn’t mean I have to like the weather.

As I am still trying to get back up on my feet a bit, I am probably going to make some adjustments to the blog. Most of the time I will be covering just artists for now and as I start to feel a bit better I will start getting back to the news and maybe some lifestyle and fashion articles. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Being in my 40’s, I am trying to remember what it was like being 13. It’s difficult to remember. I am certain, however, that it probably included a Platinum Blonde cassette tape, Au Coton slouch socks and far too much blue eye shadow. There was no internet or social media. There were no smart phones. If you wanted to talk to a friend you either called them from the house phone or went and saw them. I don’t remember really thinking about what I wanted to do when I grew up. And I certainly didn’t start working towards it.

The world has changed, but I don’t know if 13 year-olds have fundamentally changed. They still want to have fun and hang out with their friends. They still want to not have to worry about responsibility. Enter Beamer Wigley – the most uncommon 13 year-old you will ever meet.

When I spoke to Beamer, it was during his summer break. When I asked him how his summer break had been, he replied, “It’s one of the best summers for my music!” I asked him what else he had been up to. “Preparing for my album release.” Beamer had been working all summer. “Downtime is a liberty for me,” he commented but he doesn’t seem to mind it at all.

That is probably because he loves country music. “The lyrics tell stories and I love writing things that do tell a story.” So not only is he a singer, he is also a young songwriter. This past July, his single ‘Meteorite’ was released to Canadian radio. I mentioned to him that I thought he had a sound similar to American country singing star Hunter Hayes to me. Beamer laughed, “I get that a lot. It’s not a bad person to be compared to.” I asked him what it was like hearing his song on the radio for the first time. “Oh man!” He started. “I was in a radio station, CFWE in Edmonton and it started playing on the overhead speakers of the radio station as I was walking out. I’m like, ‘I want to hear this in the car.’ So I give my guitar to my dad and I book it for the car, running as fast as I can and my mom just sees me bolting to the car and I make it for the last chorus and it was the best feeling in the world. I was out of breath but it was really cool hearing my song on the radio.”

This Penticton, BC sophomore says he has a lot to thank his parents for. According to him, they are extremely supportive and it doesn’t look like they will be stopping any time soon. “I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done.” He says they are having a lot of fun with the whole thing and adds, “I hope they’re having a lot of fun because they tell me they are. If they’re lying I’m going to be pretty upset!” I asked him if he’d considered any other careers. He said he’d considered acting. In fact, Beamer has done quite a bit of musical theatre. His heart, however, remains with music and songwriting.

It’s interesting to come across someone so young who is so certain of who he is – especially as an artist. He says that Keith Urban is his inspiration. “When I was 5 years-old I heard Keith Urban and Brad Paisley’s ‘Start a Band’ and I looked at my mom and I said, ‘I need a guitar.'” Incidentally, if Beamer could play with any one singer on stage it would also be Keith Urban. I asked him what the appeal of the Australian superstar was for him. Beamer replied enthusiastically, “I love the way he presents his songs. I love his stage presence. You can’t go wrong with his guitar playing. That’s incredible!”

Beamer is no slouch when it comes to playing the guitar either as he is a member of the Brotherhood of the Guitar. This is a community of young and gifted guitar players ages 13-19. They help each other out and collaborate. “It’s really just like a big group of friends who share the same interests.”

Well, it seems as though Beamer is always working so I was curious to know what he enjoys outside of music. Apart from going to the beach, Beamer is a self-proclaimed car fanatic. He really enjoys checking out cars online, especially ones from the 50’s. He likes anything from the 50’s in general. “I am a vintage kinda guy,” he says. I referred to him as an old soul. He laughed and said, “I’ve heard that before.”

Being that he did feel older than his age, I asked him how he responds to hearing “well, maybe he is too young for that”. “I laugh,” he answered. He admits that coming out as a 13 year-old artist has its challenges. “Radio has been really tough.” When it comes to live performances, he is sometimes passed over for better slots. “Sometimes I’ll get a slot and it’s kinda bad and I’ll be like ‘And this is my first single that just went to Canadian radio called Meteorite!’ and I’ll see the guy who booked me kind of like ‘Oh’.”

He may be young but one thing I can say is that he is extremely detailed. I decided to have some fun with him and ask him what were 3 things he would take to a deserted island. They of course could not be electronic. Before we even began, he asked, “Am I on a large island or like a 10 foot square island?” I laughed and clarified that it was the size of a couple of square city blocks. “Ok,” he started, “I think I am going to bring, almost number one on my list would be a water purification system, a flare gun. And…um. Is there any wildlife on this island or just trees.” I assured him it was just trees. “Then I am going to bring a hatchet so I can cut down trees and build a shelter.”

This summer wound up with an album release party for Beamer in London, ON during Country Music Week. You could tell he was thrilled. “I don’t think I could have gotten a better place to have it…especially with Brett Kissel’s band backing me up.” Agreed!

It was time to wrap things up. So I asked him what the last picture he took with his phone was. At that time it was “My dog wearing a dress.” He pointed out that the dress doubles as a harness. “I love Teddy. She’s the best.”

PLEASE go to Beamer’s website (http://www.beamerwigley.com/) and check him out on Twitter (https://twitter.com/BeamerWigley) and on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/beamerwigleymusic/) He is so great! In the meantime, here are the smooth stylings of Beamer Wigley singing Meteorite:

Posted in Country Music, Country News, Uncategorized | Tagged Au Coton, Beamer Wigley, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Platinum Blonde | 2 Comments

Red, White And Country

Liquor Loves To Call The Shots

What A Beautiful Freakshow!

CMAOntario Awards Are On Their Way

A Bit Of A Country Crush

Ready for a Getaway

No Worries

Happy Holidays!

A Date With The Doc

What A Beautiful Freakshow

A Soul As Old As A Meteorite

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