NYCountry Swag – Stories Behind the Greats: Charlie Daniels

Country music is a genre that has a wide variety of singers and songwriters, and everything in between. With so much new talent in the industry, it is hard to forget the people that have made the genre what it is today and paved the way for the industry. In all of our interviews with artists, one thing has remained consistent across the board, the influence that old-school artists have had on her respective music journeys.

The late Charlie Daniels is one of those artists who deserves recognition in both life and in death for his work as an influential singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. Daniels is recognized for his contributions to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music. His number-one song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” is one of the most iconic songs out there and is often covered by more modern-day country music artists, though no one can do it quite like the original.


Throughout his career, Daniels was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Since the 70s, he has written songs for iconic artists like Elvis Presley and played guitar, bass, fiddle, and banjo on recordings by artists like Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. Of course, he is probably most recognized as the leader of his band, simply named the Charlie Daniels Band, where he fused together all of his influences to create a unique sound that newcomers often try to embody and imitate.

Most importantly, Daniels was an icon. He found a way to be unapologetically true to himself, while still resonating with fans for over forty years. We know his legacy will span another lifetime, as he will remain a fixture in the country music scene forever.

Our hearts go out to the Daniels family, and we are hopeful that he will continue to bring a broader audience to the genre through his unparalleled music and talent.

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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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I Love New York with Walker Hayes

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, “Trash My Heart” singer-songwriter, Walker Hayes took over to give his Top 5 Picks in the personalized videos here on Instagram Highlights plus a rundown below.

 

#5 – Broadway

Hayes kicks off his Top 5 Picks with Broadway. “I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen do his thing on Broadway and I’ve seen a lot of the musicals and Broadway shows. My favorite would probably have to be Ragtime,” he says.

 

#4 – 9/11 Memorial

The 9/11 Memorial lands Hayes’ fourth pick calling it, “well done, beautiful, touching, moving, and life-altering.” “It’s just really an exceptional memorial and I think anybody going to New York needs to see that.”

 

#3 – People Watching

Who doesn’t love to people watch? Hayes chose people-watching in his #3 spot, “There’s always somebody up, no matter what hour you wake up. There’s always somebody out doing something,— I love that hustle and that busyness.”

 

#2 – Baseball

We have to agree, there’s not much better than New York baseball. Admitting to being a Braves fan himself, Hayes adds catching a New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox game at Yankees Stadium is one of his favorite New York memories. “It was just phenomenal, — to be around by that many baseball lovers, that diehard…”

 

#1 – Shake Shack

Hayes’ #1 Pick for his Top 5 Things he loves about NYC in our ‘I Love New York’ Series is: Shake Shack. “Every night that I’m in New York, that’s where I end up. That’s where I get my nightcap.”

 

For more from our ‘I Love New York’ Series, follow us on Instagram: @NYCOUNTRYSWAG

To keep up with Walker Hayes, you can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

“Trash My Heart” 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.

 

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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Acoustic Country Music Wednesdays All Summer At The Beach House

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 8th, Willie Lock and Sunrise Highway bring an acoustic country night session to The Beach House. Stop by for live music, dinner, and drinks.

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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Ingrid Andress Releases Party Anthem “Waste of Lime”

Waste of Lime

It’s only been a few months since Ingrid Andress released her debut album Lady Like, and now she’s back with a new, feel-good summer song. This one strives away from her usual musical stories of estranged or distant love. Though, “Waste of Lime” is the most involved and grand production that Andress has been a part of with seven other songwriters being a part of the process, practically guaranteeing another hit after “More Hearts than Mine” climbed to the top of the charts in April.

Perfectly released before the Fourth of July weekend, the track explores a bar scene in which one person has been led on to believe they may be spending the night with someone. However, once the opportunity comes, the individual walks away to revoke any preconceived notions of what the night may hold. And, after a few rounds of drinks, the renegade is simplified to a waste of lime.

“You’re just a waste of lime / Waste of a real good time / I guess I’ll be going home all alone / No Patron Silver lining / Just an empty margarita / Left me and this tequila high and dry / No drunk pickup lines / No “Your place or mine?” / You’re just a waste of lime”

“Waste of Lime” is the start of Andress’ sophomore career and sets up the anticipation for what else this singer-songwriter from Colorado has in store for her fans. This track speaks for itself and showcases the beginning of a versatile artist with bottomless limes.

To keep up with Ingrid Andress, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

“Waste of Lime” 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.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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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!

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NYCS Swag Spotlight: Jacob Bryant

Jacob Bryant

 

Jacob Bryant is quite a unique force in the music industry. Our Swag Spotlight artist is a straight-shooting, singer-songwriter, who has accumulated quite the impressive crew of diehard fans over his decade in the industry.

Growing up and still residing in, Jasper, Georgia, Bryant’s southern roots are laced all throughout his music. Family and truth-telling are two pillars of importance for the singer. “My grandparents had a Bluegrass band,” he tells us about his upbringing, “That’s kinda where I got the itch for music. Just sitting on the front porch on the weekend.”

Those experiences led him to learn how to play guitar and to dabble with the drums, but Bryant admits that singing did not come naturally for him at first, even joking that he failed chorus for being too shy. It wasn’t until later in his upbringing, when he discovered a record that he started to put his effort towards his vocals. “I found a record my grandfather had. It was called Live at the Mac,” he tells us, “I literally tried to make myself play and sing like Russell Moore.” That experience encouraged Bryant to start exploring music by country artists like Keith Whitley, George Jones, and Waylon Jennings.

Despite his love for traditional country artists, Bryant is a musician, who appreciates many different genres of music. “I’m a music lover,” he shares, “I’m a singer. I like playing music that I love. I call it Southern Music. It’s the music that we play in the south.” Bryant and his band are known for playing all different types of music at their live shows, including old-school R&B, blues, and rock. He also credits artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Travis Tritt for his unique sound.

Bryant has created an image and a sound that his fans have fallen in love with. One of those reasons is because of the integrity and honesty within his craft. Calling himself an “open-book,” the singer leans into his past experiences to create music that is impactful and powerful. “I went through some bouts of addiction and some other things, and I’ve always tried to write about that moving forward, trying to help other people going through the same things,” he shared, adding, “I’ve always been just an open book, tried to be the everyday common man to my fans, and it seems to be working.”

Most recently, Bryant released a song that pays to tribute to his new wife, entitled “Can’t Say No To You.” The gritty mid-tempo track is his take on a love song. He admits that he would never do anything that his wife wouldn’t want him to do, but somehow that sentiment comes across as manly, edgy, and very rock ’n’ roll. “I wanted to write an upbeat, a kind of happy-go-lucky, rebellious love song,” shares Bryant, “I wanted to write something that is a little edgier, but at the same time ‘you’re my girl, you’re my rock.’” It is clear that he accomplished that feat.

Heading forward into the next half of 2020, Bryant’s fans can expect more new music and hopefully more shows in the future. Bryant let us in on a little secret that we know fans will be excited for. The singer-songwriter is planning to release his next single sometime soon, called “Baptized by the River.” The song will be very southern-rock, and reminiscent of the fan-favorite “Pour Whiskey on My Grave.” It is safe to say that we have something to look forward to!

To keep up with Jacob Bryant follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Can’t Say No To 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 a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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Country Lyrics for Your 4th of July Instagram Captions

Even in a year such as 2020, 4th of July festivities stay consistent with barbecues, boats, beer, and a lot of good music. Let us begin to find a sense of normalcy in the fireworks, the sparklers, the patriotic popsicles, and the empty calories washed down with a cold, bubbly drink. So, take out the corn hole and enjoy the weekend and when you snap a picture, we’ve got a list of captions for you to choose from.

One cannot come up with the perfect series of words while you’ve got a hotdog in one hand and your phone in the other, and, even then, you can’t focus on anything except the friend who won’t stop yelling you over to play volleyball. This list is provided to avoid any delays through your 4th of July weekend with the most on-brand country lyrics.

“Party all night, yeah, I’m sippin’ on the simple life” – Sippin On The Simple Life – Craig Morgan

“Under that red white and blue still flying” – Stick That In Your Country Song – Eric Church

“Life is a party on a rooftop” – Come As You Are – Tenille Townes

“I got a feelin’, it’s gonna be a good day” – Good Day – Brett Eldredge

“For every reason why you wanna raise one high, there’s a drink for that” – Drink For That – Baker Grissom

“There’s a cold beer calling my name” – Cold Beer Calling My Name – Jameson Rodgers ft. Luke Combs

“Fill up our cups with a little bit of freedom” – We Do – Kenny Chesney

“There’s about to be a lot of beer in you and I” – No I In Beer – Brad Paisley

“We set July on fire” – Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset – Luke Bryan

“I’m gonna raise one up in the air tonight, for all the folks like me” – Born Here, Live Here, Die Here – Luke Bryan

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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Raelynn Confesses Details of a Breakup in “Me About Me”

Raelynn Me About Me

Photo Credit: Ford Fairchild

Two-time ACM New Female Vocalist nominee Raelynn is making 2020 her year. Releasing sassy “Bra Off” and “Keep Up”, the country singer + songwriter has just released her latest single “Me About Me.”

“Me About Me” is the latest look off of the singer-songwriter’s EP Baytown coming out via Round Here Records on August 14th; the label created by Florida Georgia Line. Written by Bob DiPiero and Jeff Garrison and the singer herself, the mid-tempo track talks about a one-sided relationship. The chorus discusses all the little things that the singer’s ex could’ve known about her – but never asked. She sings, “Your first ride was a 1990 Wrangler // Your first kiss was a game of spin-the-bottle // When it comes to you I can answer any question // That’s what happens when you just sit back and listen.”

“We were talking about past relationships, and I told her about a situation with an ex where I knew everything about him, but he never asked me about me,” says RaeLynn said in a press release, “It made me realize that I wasn’t alone, a lot of people have probably had the experience of a relationship being one-sided like that.”

RaeLynn’s forthcoming EP Baytown takes the name of her hometown in Texas. It’s full of sass, grit, and her fiery personality that everyone loves. She co-penned every song on the EP while Corey Crowder produced its entirety. She shared the inspiration behind the aesthetics of the artwork of her upcoming work on her Twitter page, “Behind every queen, there’s a group of creative queens who MAKE IT HAPPEN. I came upon the pic of @AliciaSilv on the cover of @RollingStone when we were working on the mood board for the #BAYTOWN photoshoot. I was instantly obsessed & wanted to create the same vibe with baby blue!”

Keep up with RaeLynn on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Me About Me” 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 a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

RaeLynn’s BAYTOWN Track List:

“Keep Up” (Racheal Lynn Davis, Corey Crowder, Tyler Hubbard, Steven Lee Olsen)

“Still Smokin’” (Racheal Lynn Davis, Corey Crowder, J.R. Rotem)

“Fake Girl Town” (Racheal Lynn Davis, Cameron Montgomery, Daniel Ross, James McNair)

“Judgin’ To Jesus” (Racheal Lynn Davis, Brett James, Ferras Alqaisi, TJ Routon)

“Me About Me” (Racheal Lynn Davis, Bob DiPiero, Jeff Garrison)

“Bra Off” (Racheal Lynn Davis, Josh Kerr, Emily Weisband)

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Josh Kerr Releases A Wistful Song About An Old Love Titled “Arizona”

Arizona Josh Kerr
Last fall, Josh Kerr released a heartbreaking ballad called “Oklahoma”. It’s about losing a loved one to their hometown, and what it feels like to pick up your own pieces. 10 months later, Kerr is back with the second song of 12 to be released later this year, and this time it’s the wistful “Arizona”.

“Arizona” is a nostalgic and reminiscent breakup song co-written by Kerr, Cale Dodds, and Jake Scott about a summer a love that has fizzled out, and suddenly the little things catch you off guard and you remember that person. Specifically, it focuses on a trip that the couple took together before things went south. It’s incredibly descriptive; Kerr still has the polaroids with the dates on the back, the bucket list they wrote, and he sees her in the stars during the summer.

There’s significance in feeling like the world is so vast and unknown when you’re young. Standing on the edge of a place like the Grand Canyon makes you feel like you can do anything and you can taste that freedom. “We were bare feet and red wine/Do you remember how I’d hold ya?” Kerr asks during the chorus. He describes their slow dances to Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova”, their dream of matching tattoos, and her “diamond-back-ballcap” that was worn on the first date. There are hints of regret in Kerr’s intense vocal delivery, but mostly, you can hear the longing for the simplicity of that summer. It leaves the listener wondering if he wants her or that feeling back.

Kerr also produced the track, and an interesting choice he made was not including drums in the song. There’s some tambourine that adds another layer throughout, but what makes this song so powerful is that it’s all about the words, the guitar, and his voice. It’s a true country song: three chords and the truth.

No matter the song or the album, Kerr never holds back being vulnerable. His most upbeat songs will make you think as much as the slower, mid-tempo ones like “Arizona”. Every moment has a purpose, and it’s what makes him such a one-of-a-kind writer, artist, and producer.

To keep up with Josh Kerr, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Arizona 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.

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

—————————-

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!

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Mitchell Tenpenny Gets Honest On New Track “Broken Up”

Mitchell Tenpenny Broken Up

We have been championing Mitchell Tenpenny, since before his record deal, before his number one hit, and before his headlining tour, and we are so proud to continue to do so. Tenpenny has made quite the career for himself, while still maintaining his integrity and his own sound. Today, the singer-songwriter released his newest track entitled “Broken Up.”

One of the most intriguing things about Tenpenny is the distinct tone of his voice, which resonates throughout all his music. “Broken Up” has that special quality, where you know, instantly, that it is Tenpenny singing. Lyrically, the song is about a guy who feels that he has made the wrong decision by breaking up with his girlfriend. In a unique twist on a traditional break-up song, Tenpenny finds a way to evoke honesty, pain, and reality by telling the story of the person, who does the breaking up rather than the other way around.

But baby I’m still broken up about it / Yeah, I’ve had it up to here, had enough about it / Maybe I will up about it / Yeah, but only if I drink until I’m drunk about it / I wish that I could say that I’ll be fine / But baby I’m still broken up about it”

The new song follows suit with the likes of tracks from his debut record Telling All My Secrets, but this one elevates Tenpenny’s unique talent and vocals. We suspect that this new single is going to be another big hit with the fans!

To keep up with Mitchell Tenpenny, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“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.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

—————————-

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!

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Chris Young Releases Next Single “If That Ain’t God”

If That Ain't God Chris Young

These last few months have been tough, but Chris Young reminds us of the positive to come out of every situation with his new single “If That Ain’t God”.

Written by Young, Matt Roy, Mitchell Oglesby, and Greylan James, the song has beautiful acoustics, putting you instantly in a tranquil setting. “If That Ain’t God” has a beautiful message of hope, as it starts out with a child hitting a home run after beating cancer. The Tennessee native then sings about his own struggles and how grateful he is for where God led him in his career. It’s the perfect reminder that we all go through tough times, but it’s what makes us who we are today. We are all on a path, and God will steer us to where we are supposed to be.

“If that ain’t God if that ain’t Him / If that ain’t the man upstairs somewhere looking down on us again / Don’t it make you wanna pray, don’t it make you wanna live / Oh, if that ain’t God, if that ain’t God, I don’t know what is”

This is Young’s first release in over a year after releasing “Drowning” in 2019, and he has hit out of the park again. The singer-songwriter teased the song on his Instagram on May 27th and after an overwhelming response from fans, he decided it would be his next single. We can’t thank him enough for deciding to release this song. It’s a song that we all need to hear, especially now.

To keep up with Chris Young follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“If That Ain’t God”  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.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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.

—————————-

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook: