Eric Church is known for his deep, rock ‘n roll style lyrics that either make you want to scream the song at the top of your lungs or curl into a ball and contemplate life. “Bad Mother Trucker” fits into the former category and tells the story of a woman truck driver who outworks, outdrives, and outraces her male counterparts.
“She drove an ’81 Peterbilt 18-wheeler // Jet black with pink mud flaps // It was a mean piece of metal with lightning in the pedal // Thunder comin’ out the back // And them boys would chuckle when they saw her buckle // Herself in the captain’s seat // But nobody was laughin’ when she’d go to passin’ // Smilin’ at them real sweet”
There seems to be a deeper meaning to the story of the song though: women are just as capable as men as getting the job done. Joanna Cotten’s soulful background vocals are the perfect counterpart to the raspy and rock-edge of Church’s in a similar way to “Mistress Named Music.” The singer-songwriter wrote the song with Casey Beathard, Luke Dick, and Jeremy Spillman. The song is a classic Church song with a catchy chorus and way of making you really think about the lyrics and backstory behind them.
“Bad Mother Trucker” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Our Swag Spotlight this week, Josh Melton is eager to make a name for himself in the country music scene. He may have gotten a late start to music, but he makes up for it with raw talent, charisma, and of course the ability and desire to soak it all in. We chatted with the rising artist about where he has been, where he is now, and where he is headed.
Growing up in Ohio, Melton was a preacher’s kid, which came with a unique set of values. “We weren’t allowed to listen to secular music,” he shared, “It sounds a little crazy talking about it now, but I barely ever listened to music growing up all.” Other than singing in his church choir, Melton focus was on anything but music. He often found himself participating in extreme sports like snowboarding and skateboarding, adding, “I grew up without music honestly and that’s kinda crazy.”
The singer-songwriter found music later in life when a buddy of his asked him to help with a Karaoke bar every Thursday on an island in Ohio called Put-in-Bay. “When people weren’t singing, he was like “Josh you got to sing something”,” he recalls, adding later that the only thing he really knew was Frank Sinatra. Melton continued to find his voice working with his friend and hearing other people sing more modern songs. He slowly started recognizing his affinity for country music.
“The more current stuff- I just started falling in love with that kind of music. A lot of my friends growing up had country on, so I just think it was an evolution of me just like being around it.” Melton relates to the message that county music often portrays, feeling a connection to subjects in songs, such as church and good people. This revelation convinced the singer to move to Nashville, unsure of exactly what he wanted to pursue.
“When I moved to Nashville, I didn’t know what I really wanted to do,” he shared, “All I wanted to do was sing.” He landed gigs on Broadway, singing cover songs at popular bars, “For a while there, I spun my wheels on Broadway because I thought that was making it.” He shared that he only knew ten cover songs at the time, so he ended up learning over a hundred cover songs in one summer by renting a storage unit from a friend and practicing stage presence and guitar, playing songs in the mirror.
Flash forward to today, Melton has found value in listening to more modern singers. “I love Thomas Rhett’s character and how he involves his family in his career,” he shared with us, also adding, “I love Jordan Davis and Old Dominion [too]. I love the vibe of those guys.” Nowadays, Melton has shifted gears, focusing on songwriting and creating original music. “I found out that it was really all about a song and that’s how everybody else got to where they got, having a great song. I think I started to focus on writing about 4 years ago.”
The singer has had the chance to work with some of his icons, playing writer’s rounds, and even writing with Old Dominion recently. His current single “Staycation” has received praise from the country music world, even landing on major playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify. The single just so happened to coincide with the times, which made it even more perfect. “We wrote that song about six months ago,” he told us, adding, “It’s kinda a no brainer for us to give it to the people.” The song is the perfect introduction to Melton’s unique vocals and his creative and fresh songwriting.
Although Melton understandably cannot be sure of what the future has to hold, he promises that there will be more music coming down the pipeline soon. The singer shared that he wants to release a song every couple of months and hopes to head out on to the road when touring begins again. Until then, fans should stream “Staycation” as much as possible!
“Staycation” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
Mickey Guyton is one of Nashville’s up and coming female singer + songwriters making a change. Throughout the duration of 2020, Guyton has been drawing attention to different causes, and her third single of the year “Heaven Down Here” asks for prayer and a little bit more love that we are all in need of.
Written by Guyton, Gordie Sampson, Josh Kear, and Hillary Lindsey, “Heaven Down Here” asks for help for our current state of the world. It’s structured as a conversation with somebody of higher power full of prayer and glimpses of hope and love. She sings: “If you got a little love // Left in your back pocket // Rain it down like pennies // In this wishing well of tears // I know that you’re busy // But if you could hear me talking // We could use a little more heaven down here // We could use a little more heaven down here.”
Guyton shared on her Instagram page, “I wrote ”Heaven Down Here” during our lockdown and after seeing so much hate in this world. To be hated for something you cannot control is still so unfathomable to me. I wrote this asking God that if he has any love left up there to rain it down on us because we need it. I hope you can hear my heart and I hope you can find healing in this song.”
“Heaven Down Here” follows the singer + songwriter’s “What Are You Gonna Tell Her;” a call to action song recognizing the injustices of being a woman. It also follows Guyton’s single “Black Like Me” released in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. The songstress has been very vocal on her social media platforms encouraging change and calling on fans to do the same.
“Heaven Down Here” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our “New Country Music” playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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On Saturday, August 1, 2020, in a small beachside wedding country superstar, Luke Combs married fiancée Nicole Hocking. Surprising fans with a beautiful photo on Instagram, Combs wrote, “Yesterday was the best day of my life. I got to marry my best friend. I love you @nicohocking, here’s to forever.”
Officiating the wedding was Combs longtime manager, Chris Kappy, who also shared a post adding, “Nicole and Luke are the couple that love stories for generations will be written about! Congrats you two!! Happy to have been able to be the one that was able to marry you… thank you for the honor!”
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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After a quiet four months to reset the palate and focus on delivering their best work yet, the 2x Grammy-award winning duo have made their highly-anticipated return with a new single titled “I Should Probably Go To Bed”. The announcement took shape with an incredibly appealing teaser video that adds to the excitement of new music and predicts all good things for the familiar yet seemingly rebranded pair.
Despite the noteworthy and prominent direction of the teaser that may have been somewhat influenced by the current state of the world, Dan + Shay chose a more relaxed track to start off a new chapter of music. “I Should Probably Go To Bed” is molded as a stripped-down piano ballad, and expands as the song grows into itself. Though, with the vocal ability that Shay Mooney possesses, the opening verse is enough to be considered an entire, standalone performance. And with Dan Smyers’ production skills, which he did entirely from his home studio, the instrumental component and effects add a mesmerizing, hazy-eyed yet enlightening feel to the lyrics.
“So I should probably go to bed (Ah) / I should probably turn off my phone / I should quit while I’m ahead (Ah) / I should probably leave you alone / ‘Cause I know in the mornin’ (In the mornin’) / I’ll be callin’ (I’ll be callin’) / Sayin’ “sorry” for the things I said / So I, yeah, I should probably go to bed”
The accompanying video continues the intriguing and end-of-the-world, alternate universe feel that the teaser possessed. Though, the video becomes off-balance regarding both the camera itself and the environment surrounding all performers involved. Check it out below:
“I Should Probably Go To Bed” is the duo’s first release since October when their multi-week #1 hit collaboration with Justin Beiber “10,000 Hours” hit airwaves. The song received the most streams in country music history during the first week and is the first song by a country duo or group to debut in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 5.
After seven years of their formation and three successful albums, Dan + Shay have only scratched the surface. This next era of the 5x Platinum “Tequila” and 4x Platinum “Speechless” artists feels big. It feels like their most creative and focused artistry yet.
“I Should Probably Go To Bed” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police, and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/i-should-probably-go-to-bed.jpg6301200Erin Crosbyhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErin Crosby2020-08-01 11:33:172020-09-19 17:38:34Dan + Shay Release New Single “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
For over twenty years, Rascal Flatts, comprised of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney, have been the soundtrack to our lives. From “Bless the Broken Road” to “I Like the Sound of That,” Rascal Flatts have always been there for us, providing us with jams for our car rides and songs to cry to for the hard times. Now, they are giving fans one last project before they disband, quietly marking their farewell year. The brand new EP, How They Remember You is definitely for the fans.
A seven-song release, the new record is the country trio’s parting gift to fans that have been with them since day one. The EP begins with the title track and current radio single, which seems like the most fitting song to leave fans with. “How They Remember You” is a song about legacy and Rascal Flatts has definitely solidified their legacy in country music. Similarly, the closing track “Through the Years” is literally an ode to the time we have all spent together. Although dressed as a love song, the boy-band inspired track is definitely a thank you to the fans. “It’s better every day, you’ve kissed my tears away / As long as it’s okay, I’ll stay with you / Through the years”
Harkening back to the heyday of “My Wish,” “Looking Back” feels like an old-school Rascal Flatts jam. “Looking back is all that I look forward to,” is both a heartbreaking line, but also so poetic to have loved something so much that you’ll always wish to return to it. This song can, once again, be attributed to love, but also to the legacy the band has built over the years.
On the other hand, Rascal Flatts leans into their new-found pop-country style with songs like “Warmer” and “Feel It In the Morning.” Both songs showcase the bands’ evolution and their ability to transcend generations as well as genres. Of course, they wouldn’t be Rascal Flatts without including an anthemic, funky song on their record. “Sip Away” is the drinking song that we know would be great for a live setlist.
“Yeah man that’s sounds just right / So grab a little sunshine, a corona, and a lime and mix it all up together / Get a tan while you can / And forget about your plans / Cause the summer won’t last forever”
Arguably one of the best off the record, co-written by Kelly Archer, Aj Babcock, Pete Good, and up and coming singer-songwriter Brandon Ratcliff, “Quick, Fast, In a Hurry” is a standout on the record. The song features songstress Rachel Wammack, and it is safe to say that her performance is impeccable. The song depicts the back and forth nature of on-again-off-again lovers, who are on the outs but still love each other. Wammack and LeVox, although unexpected, makes the perfect vocal pair!
“Quick, fast, in a hurry / Won’t keep you waiting for me / I can be there in 30 / Don’t worry if the lines get blurry”
Let’s hope the band rekindles their desire to play on stage one last time, and decide to reschedule their recently canceled Farewell Tour! Until then, thank you Rascal Flatts for all the stories all the memories, and all the music!
How They Remember You is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police, and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Cover-Rascal-Flatts.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2020-07-31 00:53:352020-09-19 17:41:15NYCS First Impression: Rascal Flatts ‘How They Remember You’ EP
During an early morning virtual press conference, Garth Brooks spoke with media and to fans across the country watching on Facebook to let them in on a big announcement. Although he has been the recipient of the CMA Entertainer of the Year award seven times, Brooks took the time to explain that he will permanently be removing himself from the ballot.
His most recent win at the 2019 CMA Awards which took place in Nashville caused a ton of controversy, while the night was supposed to be honoring women and the votes did not go to the sole female nominated, Carrie Underwood who was also the host of the famed award show that evening.
‘There’s one tweet in there that really stuck in my head,” Brooks said “It said, ‘Hey, man. This guy, why doesn’t he just step down (and leave) the entertainer for the next generation?’ 100% agree.” He continued, “With all the love in the world, we are officially pulling ourselves out of ‘Entertainer of the Year.'”
This doesn’t mean that the superstar won’t still be nominated in other categories during the CMA and ACM Awards. “I’m extremely competitive,” he admits, saying that those wins “mean the world to me … It’s just, with Entertainer, we’ve been lucky enough to carry that home a number of times, and feel like it’s somebody else’s turn.”
His next album titled Fun was slated for release this year however the artist shares that even though the album is ready to go, he wants to release it once the world is in a better place. “I don’t want to be the guy that tries to do something in the midst where everybody is hurting,” Brooks says. “The album’s ready to go. It’s just, how do you get out and promote and be happy and jolly while everybody’s out there fighting for their lives not only physically, but fighting for their lives financially?”
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cma-garth-brooks.jpg6301200Christina Boschhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngChristina Bosch2020-07-29 12:57:072020-09-19 17:41:15Garth Brooks Withdraws From CMA Entertainer of the Year Contention
Our ‘I Love New York’ Series features artists in the country music community taking over our Instagram Story each week to give us the Top 5 Things they love most about New York City.
This week, singer-songwriter, Mitchell Tenpenny, who just released his latest single, “Broken Up” took over to give his Top 5 Picks in the personalized videos here on Instagram Highlights plus a rundown below.
Tenpenny kicks off his Top 5 Picks with a big shoutout to Flight Club, the famed quintessential vintage sneaker store. Specifically mentioning and showing his favorite pair, The Jordan Grape 5’s, adding “Flight Club in NYC is one of my favorite places in the world for the sneaker game, you can’t really beat this shoe.”
Next up, Tenpenny includes Bloomingdale’s as his #4 pick while showing one of his favorite purchases right from his closet, “We don’t have a Bloomingdale’s in Nashville, but in New York they do and this is one of my favorite jackets,” he adds while pulling out a green and camo jacket.
One of the city’s oldest event and performance venues, Webster Hall, takes Tenpenny’s # 3 spot. “Webster Hall was our very first sell-out EVER headlining New York City, and we got these Himalayan salt shot glasses, we put a lot of tequila in them. I’ll never forget that night, what a great night. Cheers!” Tenpenny adds while reflecting on the special show. Check out a full recap of the show along with an exclusive interview here.
Including his favorite restaurant in the # 2 spot, Tenpenny adds “Bobby Can’s Steakhouse” to his Top 5 Picks. “Best service, best steak… it’s just one of those places, when you land you have to go straight there,” he says.
#1 – Jersey Collecting — NY Giants Authentic Ron Dayne Jersey
Tenpenny’s #1 Pick for his Top 5 Things he loves about NYC in our ‘I Love New York’ Series is: his NY Giants Ron Dayne Jersey. Pulling the special item from his closet to hold up for the camera, Tenpenny says “I’m a huge jersey guy, I collect them all the time and on my very first trip to New York City, I got myself an authentic Ron Dayne jersey. That’s a throwback, baby! If you’re a true New York fan, you know what that is. Cheers, y’all!”
For more from our ‘I Love New York’ Series, follow us on Instagram: @NYCOUNTRYSWAG
“Broken Up” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/M10-I-LOVE-NY.jpg6301200Stephanie Wagnerhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngStephanie Wagner2020-07-28 23:22:342020-08-17 22:37:04I Love New York with Mitchell Tenpenny
Sony Music Nashville is adding to their roster of impressive country singers with new signee, Joey Hendricks. The singer-songwriter is a Washington state native, who is ready to take on the Music City. The singer and his record label celebrated his debut single “Yours Or Mine,” which premiered on Friday (7/24).
A talented lyricist, Hendricks utilized his first release to show off his vocal chops, as well as, his knack for story-telling. The new release is a mix between soul and country, reminiscent of artists like John Mayer and Teddy Robb. Hendricks teeters the line between genres, fitting right in with the new wave of sub-genres in country music.
“Whose phone gonna buzz tomorrow with a text, says “I had a great time” / I say it’s yours / But I”m hoping it’s mine / Whose friends ain’t gonna let it go, say “you didn’t come home last night” / If it ain’t yours / It’s gonna be mine”
The lyrics unfold a story about the beginning of a blossoming, new relationship, where the singer-songwriter questions who is going to do what first in the beginning stages of getting to know someone. If “Yours Or Mine” is any inclination of what Hendricks has in store for fans, we are definitely in for a real treat and a catalog of songs that will feel both relatable, yet fresh and exciting.
“Yours Or Mine” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/joey-cover-yours-or-mine-joey-hendricks.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2020-07-28 22:58:442021-03-12 01:31:52New Signee Joey Hendricks Releases Debut Single “Yours Or Mine”
Every Wednesday all summer long, enjoy live acoustic country music from the area’s best singer-songwriters at The Beach House, beginning at 6PM.
The Beach House, located in Long Beach, New York is currently open for indoor & outdoor dining (limited capacity), curbside pick up and delivery. Stop by on Wednesday evenings and enjoy a brand new crab and cocktail-inspired menu plus your favorite country tunes.
This Wednesday, July 29th, country duo Spinn bring an acoustic country night session to The Beach House.
Stephanie and Cheryl Lynn Spinner are city girls with country hearts, and while their New Jersey home may not be known for country music, they’re putting their cowboy boot imprint on the Garden State, and the rest of the country.
This past year Spinn won country music station NASH FM’s NASH Next regional competition – which featured over 750 bands – earning them a trip to Nashville to perform in the finals, and tour with the other Top 10 finalists from around the country.
Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks, who was one of the competition’s judges, was so impressed with the duo that he asked to be part of the Spinn Fan Club (other judges included Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, and Season 4 winner of The Voice, Danielle Bradbery).
A lot of people have been asking to be a part of Spinn’s fan club lately, as their spot on the NASH Next tour gave them the opportunity to show all of America what NJ and NYC already knew – a Spinn live show is always a good time.
Hitting the stage with their unique mix of traditional country – including Cheryl Lynn playing the Autoharp – playful banter, and a heaping dose of humor, Spinn wins people over with both their music, and their personalities. It’s a combination that has brought country music fans together in many of New York and New Jersey’s top venues, including Rockwood Music Hall, The Stone Pony, and Maxwell’s.
In addition to their own shows, Spinn has also shared bills with Drew Baldridge, Trent Harmon, Kalie Shorr, and LANCO.
Don’t miss the girls Wednesday, July 29th at The Beach House. Stop by for live music, dinner, and drinks.
The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/live-acoustic-cover.jpg6301200Stephanie Wagnerhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngStephanie Wagner2020-07-28 22:41:392020-07-28 22:41:39Acoustic Country Music Wednesdays All Summer At The Beach House
