Sony Scene
RODNEY CROWELL: Following a six-year hiatus at the end of the '90s, Rodney Crowell has returned in the 21st century with his formidable skills still arcing skyward. The critically acclaimed The Houston Kid (2001) and Fate's Right Hand (2003) were arguably his deepest, most fully-developed records in a long, glittering career. Now, Crowell is set to up the ante yet again with The Outsider, due on Epic/DMZ on June 7th.
Fueled by a muscular crew of Nashville rockers (led by Will Kimbrough on guitar) and including a host of guest vocalists (Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Beth Nielson Chapman, Buddy & Julie Miller and J.D. Souther), The Outsider finds Crowell deftly criss-crossing genre borders in his rowdiest and most socio/politically outspoken effort ever. From the blazing '60s garage rock of "Say You Love Me" to the exquisite duet with Emmylou on Dylan's "Shelter From The Storm," from the in-you-face punk punch of "The Obscenity Prayer" to the gospel choir on "Ignorance Is The Enemy," Rodney Crowell is firing on all cylinders and taking no prisoners. More on Jessi Alexander, Shelly Fairchild, Susan Haynes, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, and Gretchen Wilson
Eric Heatherly Signs with Koch Nashville
Nick Hunter, Koch Records Nashville General Manager, has signed Eric Heatherly to the label. Heatherly’s first CD on Koch, The Lower East Side Of Life, will be released on April 26, 2005. Heatherly has also signed with APA, Inc. booking agency and is being managed by music row veteran, Trisha Walker-Cunningham.
“I’m really, really excited about what the future holds with this new record deal with Koch Nashville and a great new team around me,” said Heatherly. “It’s like a whole new beginning and I’m ready to hit the road again and travel as far as it will take me.” More...
New Dierks Bentley Video Features Familiar Cameos
The first scene in the new Dierks Bentley video, "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do" features a familiar face. The actress who took him on a wild ride in the video for "What Was I Thinkin'?" and popped into his hotel room to tempt him again in "How Am I Doin'?" makes a cameo appearance in the opening dream sequence of the new video. Other familiar faces include the Terminally Lonesome Band and his dog Jake.
On the radio, "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do" is at #30 in Billboard and # 29 in R&R, and Bentley is pulling in some pretty big numbers for the St. Jude's Radio-a-thon, which raises money for the children's hospital. When he called in to WDXB in Birmingham, the station took in $2000 dollars in the five minutes he was on the air, and a total of nearly $7000 came in that hour, with many callers saying they were dialing in to donate because they heard him on the air.
'Nashville Now’ Is Back
Nashville Now featuring Ralph Emery and Shotgun Red is making a comeback. The new show will be recorded live at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater in Nashville and will air online and via DVD at theNashvilleshow.com
Texas Mayor Declares ‘Sugarland Day’
February 25, 2005 was declared Sugarland Day in Sugar Land, TX by the honorable Mayor David Wallace. Sugarland did an acoustic set for about 300 people on the steps of the City Hall. Following their performance, Wallace read the declaration and presented them with a huge poster commemorating the day.
Sugarland is climbing the charts with their smash debut single "Baby Girl." The group appears at CRS this week.
Urban Finds Fans with Legendary Pickers
Check out the iTtunes music store site for a special Keith Urban treat. Four songs from his Sessions @ AOL acoustic performance, including the hit "You'll Think of Me," are available for downloading.
Urban got some new fans after his performance in the Southern Rock tribute on the Grammys. Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts and Elvin Bishop praised his guitar skills backstage, and banjo great Earl Scruggs made a special request to meet Urban after seeing him play, and the pair had a nice long chat about music.
If you haven't caught the Crossroads featuring Urban and John Fogerty on CMT yet, you can catch repeat performances on February 28 at 10 p.m. ET and March 5 at 2 p.m. ET.
(Note to anyone thinking of getting the Keith Urban tracks from iTunes, the four songs available are "Days Go By," "You're My Better Half," "Making Memories of Us," and "You'll Think Of Me." They're all Live versions and GREAT too. I went and bought them when I heard about them.)