Blog Archives

10 Rising Artists That You Can’t Miss at CMAFest

May 21, 2019/in Blog /by Nicole Bochinis

Nashville’s CMA Fest is right around the corner and thousands will be filling the streets of Music City one of the biggest country music festivals this summer. The best part about CMA Fest is that it offers a little bit of everything in various locations throughout downtown Nashville. No matter what kind of country music fan you are, there is something for you to enjoy. Aside from the old school country and mainstream country music that you hear on the radio, there are plenty of rising artists that are a must see. Every artist starts somewhere and to be able to witness the journey of an artist rising to the top is truly magical.

1. King Calaway – This Nashville based rising group was first introduced to our followers in January when we hosted their sold-out exclusive show here in NYC. Since then, their popularity has been rising immensely. Their debut single “World for Two” was the first song released from their debut self-titled EP and became the most added song at country radio. King Calaway will be at CMA June 6th, at the HGTV Lodge and the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater. They will also be performing on the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza on Saturday, June 8th.

Listen: World for Two

Stay Connected: @KingCalaway

2. Seaforth- One of our Swag Spotlights of 2019, this Australian country duo featuring Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan, are already stealing the hearts of country music fans everywhere. The duo has been friends for over two decades and making music together for what they say ‘seems like forever’. They co-wrote all four songs on their debut EP, including their debut single “Love That” which was added to country radio stations earlier this week. You can catch Seaforth at CMA Fest on Friday, June 7th, at the Chevy Breakout Stage.

Listen: Love That

Stay Connected: @WeAreSeaforth

3. Adam Hambrick– This country newcomer is making a name for himself in the country music industry. The talented singer and songwriter is finding success after the release of his radio single “Rockin’ All Night” and his newly released song “All You, All Night, All Summer.” Hambrick’s smooth vocals and good vibes are a must listen during CMA Fest. You can catch him at the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater on June 7th and on June 9th at the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza.

Listen: All You, All Night, All Summer

Stay Connected: @AdamHambrick

4. Filmore– This Missouri native has been on the Nashville scene for a few years now and is currently on the rise in the music industry. Filmore was named one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, and if you have not listened to him yet, you are missing out on his undeniable swagger. His cool R&B vibes mixed with country storytelling is what sets him apart from the rest. Some of his hits include “Slower,” “Love That About You,” and “Heart’s Having a Hard Time.” If you are interested in checking him out during CMA Fest, you can catch him on June 8th, at the Chevy Breakout Stage.

Listen: Love That About You

Stay Connected: @FilmoreMusic

5. Brandon Ratcliff– This Louisiana native was our first Swag Spotlight of 2019 and one of our 2019 Artists to Watch. His R&B styled country music is taking the music industry by storm. Ratcliff’s debut single “Rules of Breaking Up” has garnered over 3 million streams on Spotify and is a song that most people can relate to but can also interpret differently. Ratcliff also just came off the Miss Me More tour where he opened up for Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young. Make sure to check him out on June 8th, at the Chevy Breakout Stage during CMA Fest.

Listen: Rules of Breaking Up

Stay Connected: @BrandonRatcliff

6. Matt Stell– This country newcomer is one of our Swag Spotlights of 2018 and we also hosted him for a Swag Session last summer. He is still receiving praise for his breakout single “Prayed For You” and just released another track “Everywhere But On”. His next EP is set to be released later this week. Stell’s voice is truly amazing and you don’t want to miss seeing him at CMA Fest. You can check him out on June 6th at the Chevy Breakout Stage.

Listen: Prayed for You

Stay Connected: @MattStellMusic

7. Gabby Barrett – If you haven’t heard of Gabby Barrett, she placed third on American Idol season 16. She released her first single “I Hope” at the beginning of the year and she is truly making a name for herself in the industry with a strong voice and powerful lyrics. Country music radio needs more female power and she fits perfectly in that category. You can check her out during CMA Fest on June 6th at the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza.

Listen: I Hope

Stay Connected: @GabbyBarrett_

8. Lainey Wilson– BBR Music Group’s, Lainey Wilson is a force in the country music genre. She recently opened up for Morgan Wallen on his “If I Know Me Tour” and was a part of CMT’s Next Women of Country class of 2019. Her songs and performances are straightforward and full of raw emotion. Check her out on June 8th at the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza during CMA Fest.

Listen: Waste of Good Whiskey

Stay Connected: @LaineyWilsonMusic

9. Ingrid Andress– We first introduced Ingrid Andress back in February at an exclusive showcase and we have been loving her ever since. Andress is a lyrical genius, her relatable songwriting strong, and powerful voice are unique. She is a part of the new wave of female country music artists and her career is just getting started. To keep watching her blossom in the music industry, check her out at the Firestone Country Roads State at Ascend Amphitheater on June 8th.

Listen: Lady Like

Stay Connected: @IngridAndress

10. Muscadine Bloodline– Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster are natives of Mobile, Alabama and have been performing together since 2016. From the first time the duo ever took the stage, people has been catching on to how talented they are. Having two Billboard charting, critically acclaimed EP’s under their belts, these guys are on the way to even more success. With hits like “Movin’ On,” You on Me,” and “Montgomery” you are in for a treat when you see them live. Check them out on June 7th, at the Chevy Breakout Stage.

Listen: Movin’ On

Stay Connected: @MuscadineBline

Cover photo credit: Matthew Berinato

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Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Blanco Brown Introduces ‘The Git Up’ and Trailer Trap Music

May 21, 2019/in Blog /by Christina Bosch

J. Kaviar

We are certain that you haven’t yet heard of Blanco Brown but by the end of summer, everyone will be doing ‘The Git Up’ at their backyard BBQs and tailgates. Brown split his childhood listening to hip hop in Atlanta and country music during the summers with his grandmother in Butler, GA. This singer-songwriter and producer works to combine both lifestyles and genres, collectively creating “Trailer Trap” part trailer park/part Trap music.

His debut single ‘The Git Up’ is not only the catchiest song we’ve heard in a while but also has a dance to go along with it that is already making its viral way across social media. Check out this news anchor from Charlotte, North Carolina doing the dance which has already garnered over 740k views.

This choreographed dance is super simple to learn but Brown posted a tutorial just last week, which will give you the chance to be the best at the dance moves before all of your friends. People are already learning ‘The Git Up’ and the videos across all social media platforms are garnering millions of views. The track is on Spotify’s Wild Country Playlist and fans can look forward to Brown’s debut EP which will be released on May 31st on Broken Bow Records. In the past, he has produced music in the hip-hop and pop world for Chris Brown, Fergie, and Pitbull.

It will be interesting to see how this new subgenre of country music is received, especially after the controversy and phenomenon that happened with “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X. Watch the video above and tag us in your version of ‘The Git Up’.

To keep up with Blanco Brown follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Jason Aldean Lyrics To Use As Instagram Captions

May 21, 2019/in Blog, Instagram Captions /by Erica Zisman

We decided to take a look back at Jason Aldean’s incredible catalog of songs and with eleven ACM wins, including multiple wins in the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ category, as well as, the recent win for “Dick Clark Artist of the Decade,” Aldean’s songs make the perfect backdrop to our Instagram photos. If you’re lucky enough to catch him on tour, we have the perfect lyrics for your Instagram posts!

Check out some of our favorites below:

1. “Let’s get this thing started. It’s my kinda party”- My Kinda Party

2. “I sit back and think about them good ol’ days, the way we were raised and our southern ways”- Dirt Road Anthem

3. “You’re my sunshine in the darkest days, my better half, my saving grace”- You Make It Easy

4. “When the lights come on, everybody’s screaming. Lights in the sky, yeah, everybody’s singing”- Lights Come On

5. “Yeah she’s the perfect shot of faith when every bit mine is gone”- When She Says Baby

6. “It sure left it’s mark on us, we sure left our mark on it. We let the world know we were here, with everything we did”- Tattoos on This Town

7. “We talked, and drank, and danced, and said goodbye; We laughed until we cried”- Laughed Until We Cried

8. “We got your country boys and your redneck girls, it’s the party heard round the world”- Hicktown

9. “I’m just doing my thing, you love it when I sing”- Burnin’ It Down

10. “That’s the way she was born and raised, she ain’t afraid to stay, country”- She’s Country

11. “Thought we were gone but you’re wrong, now it’s on, we back” – We Back

12. “Tattoos to remember, tequila to forget” – Tattoos and Tequila

13. “Drinking whiskey in a champagne town” – Champagne Town

14. “The old me before you belongs to the past” – Got What I Got

15. “Fallin’ for a rolled up flannel under the tailgate stars” – Camouflage Hat

If you are catching the shows, be sure to tag us in your posts for a chance to be featured on our Instagram!

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Kären McCormick

May 20, 2019/in Blog, Swag Spotlight /by Christina Bosch

Our Swag Spotlight this week is Kären McCormick, singer and songwriter born in Congo and grew up in Spokane, Washington. Her father who was in the Peace Corps was helping people learn how to filter their water where he met her mother and they fell in love. Growing up her parents listened to all types of music including Afro-pop but she specifically recalls hearing Taylor Swift sing “Tim McGraw” on the radio when she was 11 or 12 years old. Her mother listened to Faith Hill and she loved Brooks & Dunn but Swift’s songwriting really caught McCormick’s attention. “At the time I was really big on writing stories and then really big on music so I started begging my dad for a guitar,” she explains. When she was 13 years old, she finally was gifted her first guitar and she says she hasn’t put it down since. “I learned that Taylor [Swift] went to Nashville, so I begged my dad to take me there,” she recalls. “He made me a deal, before we would travel to Nashville I had to perform at least three times in public.”

It wasn’t easy to find places for a young girl to perform but finally, when she was 16 years old she saw a flier for ‘Spokane, Got Talent?’ competition. She auditioned, was picked out of fifteen other contestants by the judges, by singing The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young”. She was the top three, and after singing “Stay Beautiful”, by Taylor Swift the audience picked her to win. The following year, they did visit Nashville, she played an open mic night at The Bluebird Cafe and after that trip, she spent the next few years just waiting and wanting to get back to Music City. After getting her degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University, McCormick found herself back in Nashville interning and learning all about the music industry.

On a whim, while back home in Washington, she tweeted a video of her singing Walker Hayes’ song “Halloween” for a chance to win a meet and greet that night while he was on tour with Kelsea Ballerini. Hayes not only loved the video but messaged her and asked her to join him on stage that night. “When I got to the venue I was so nervous, I wanted to perform well, make the most of the invitation. He is just the nicest, had the best energy and is so great at making everyone feel comfortable,” she says of the singer-songwriter. “I am so grateful for the experience. For me, it is not just the opportunity to sing with someone like Walker [Hayes] but for someone to extend their stage to me, who isn’t signed, who they found on Twitter, it’s a stage he’s been working towards for so long, he just embodies kindness.”

Since being in Nashville, McCormick has released three songs that she has written, most recently “Dancing With Him Tonight”. She explains that she wrote the song before moving to Nashville, calling it a pre-Nashville song. “All writers have their pre-Nashville songs, and post-Nashville songs and its interesting to compare the two, to see how I changed as a writer after moving here.” The track will be the first on her debut EP which is slated for release later this summer.

McCormick explains how she wrote the song after going to a rodeo with her friends and seeing someone that she would have loved to dance with, even though she says she is a terrible dancer. “It’s more about taking a chance, getting out of your comfort zone, certain people make you want to do something like that, a person can bring that out of you,” she says of the song.

The EP will feature five songs all co-written or written by McCormick. She explains how she is still getting used to co-writing, learning how to compromise and give and take in a writers room since she is so used to writing songs alone back in Washington. She tells us how she loves that country artists are branching out and collaborating with other artists in other genres and growing up in Cameroon, Africa and listening to Afro-pop she would love to merge both genres in the future.

To keep up with Kären McCormick be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Cody Johnson Brings Texas Country to Sold Out NYC Crowd

May 20, 2019/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Shanna Vitaliano

Friday night, country music fans packed Irving Plaza in New York City for a rowdy night of traditional Texas country by none other than our Swag Session album Cody Johnson.

The opening act singer-songwriter Jobe Fortner, who is dubbed one of the hardest working guitarists from Monroe, Georgia kicked off the night. His powerful Stapleton-esque voice rocked Irving Plaza as he sang songs influenced by his southern rock background. Fortner told the crowd, “It’s damn good to be playing some country music in New York City tonight, and it feels real damn good coming from the south y’all, thank you for that.” He energized the crowd and set the stage for Johnson, and performed his brand new song “Wherever She Is.” Fortner definitely made a ton of new fans in New York City.

The much-anticipated part of the night came when former professional bull rider turned rising country superstar Cody Johnson took the stage to the sold-out Irving Plaza crowd. Johnson said, “New York, are you ready to get wild?” And that they were. Dedicated COJO nation fans sang along to favorites like, “With You I Am”, “Wild as You”, “Ride With Me”, “Dance Her Home”, “Diamond in My Pocket”, and “Noise.” You could feel the intensity and emotion behind each song, especially right after singing “Noise,” Johnson told the crowd, “I think this the most intimate part of the entire set.” “The whole time God had a plan to put me on this stage right here tonight. I don’t care if this offends you or not, I’m going to go ahead and give all the credit for me being here tonight to Jesus Christ.” Johnson then sang “Dear Rodeo” a song that depicted his life immensely. His passionate lyrics and emotional tracks create such an incredible connection and bond with his fans. But if he was not singing heartfelt songs, you bet Johnson turned Irving Plaza into a good timing honky-tonk with other hit songs like “Y’all People,” and “Honky Tonk Mood.”

It was not an easy road for Johnson to get where he is today, and he explained, “As for me personally, there’s a lot of people along the way that said your music will never work outside the state of Texas, there was a lot of people that said if you sign a record deal you’re gonna have to sell your soul – well here we are proving them, wrong ladies and gentleman,” He continued, “If you’re doubting yourself about something in your life tonight, I want you to dig down deep, and I want you to think about this – I am living proof that we live in the kind of country that you can step outside your box and chase your dreams and be successful. This song is for every hater in your life and everybody that wants to hate on this country its called ‘Doubt Me Now.'”

Johnson also took time during his set to invite all of the first responders, firefighters, police offers, military and the retired act of duty to raise their hands and be acknowledged. He graciously thanked each and every one of them for sacrificing and allowing everyone in the audience the freedom to be there listening to him chase his dreams. Johnson played his collaboration of “Red Dirt Road” from Brook’s and Dunn’s Reboot album, along with cover songs by his idol Chris LeDoux, Garth Brooks, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, George Strait and more. The crowd was loving every moment and screaming for more.

As Johnson pointed to his huge Texas tattoo, he told everyone, “Thanks for making us feel at home.” New York City fans sure did welcome Johnson with open arms, especially when he ended the incredible night with his current chart-topping single “On My Way to You” and the crowd sang back every single word to the powerful ballad. Johnson left it all on stage Friday night and fans did not want the night to end. It is no surprise that he is selling out show after show on his tour and will be joining Luke Combs at future amphitheater shows. For all upcoming tour dates head to https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/tour.

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Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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Jason Aldean Brings The Ride All Night Tour to PNC

May 20, 2019/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Dylan Bestler

Jason Aldean brought the party and his Ride All Night Tour to Holmdel, New Jersey at the PNC Bank Arts Center on Saturday night. With him were special guests Kane Brown and Carly Pearce.

Pearce opened up the show, energizing the crowd with hits such as “Catch Fire”, “Every Little Thing” and her newest single “Closer To You”. She ended her twenty minute set with her hit song “Hide The Wine”. Before the song, Pearce shouted out “Do I have any wine drinkers in New Jersey?!” which caused an uproar of the fans.

Kane Brown was next, opening his set with the first track on his newest album Experiment, “Baby Come Back To Me” and his first number one song “What Ifs”. After performing “Weekend”, Brown asked the audience “Who out there loves their mama?” which generated a lot of feedback. He explained his next song, “Good As You”, was written in dedication to his mother and grandmother. If you are familiar with the singer-songwriter and his story, you know how important these women are to him. Brown performed “Short Skirt Weather” karaoke style as the words were displayed on the big screen. He then covered Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls”.

After his covers, the stage went dark and various military veterans were displayed on the screen. Brown explained how his next song, “Homesick” was dedicated to the US military. He performed a slowed down version and revealed it will be his next single to country radio. The stage went dark again and old videos of Brown singing on Facebook and YouTube appeared on screen. “This is a little embarrassing to show but this is how I got my start in country music. It was you guys who made my dreams possible. Here’s my first radio single ‘Used To Love You Sober’”.

Brown ended his set with his two most recent number one songs in “Heaven” and “Lose It”. He brought his dance moves out for “Lose It” as the country star showed off his moonwalking skills to give the fans one last thing to cheer about before Jason Aldean took the stage.

Groundbreaking DJ/remixer/producer/radio host Dee Jay Silver was keeping the fans entertained in between sets. Silver recently released a single with country duo Waterloo Revival called “Getaway Driver” which he played for us after Pearce’s set. Silver is set to release his first full-length album titled Corners this summer. The album plans to blend music from all different genres. “The reason for naming the record ‘Corners’ is because this album literally takes you into all corners of my mind,” Silver explains in a recent press release.

The headliner for the night, Jason Aldean opened his set with “Take a Little Ride”, “Tattoos On This Town” and “Fly Over States”. Aldean then took a few minutes to chat with the crowd. “I’m not one of those guys up here that does a lot of singing and dancing; that ain’t really my thing. So if that’s what you came to see, you’re at the wrong show. Our show’s a little bit more rock and roll if you guys are into that.”

He explained to the fans that he will be playing songs from his most recent album Rearview Town, songs from his first album and ones from the middle six. “So what I’m basically saying, we’re going to be here for a while tonight so you guys settle in.”

Unlike Brown, Aldean is not much of a talker; he wants to fit as many songs in his set as possible. Aldean performed 24 songs for the New Jersey crowd, taking very few breaks in between. His next set of songs highlighted his earlier music, including “Big Green Tractor”, “Crazy Town” and “Amarillo Sky”. He then jumped all the way to his most recent single “Rearview Town”.

Aldean then rolled off seven more hits from a variety of albums, barely stopping to take a breath. “Burning It Down”, “Any Ol’ Barstool”, “Getting Warmed Up”, “Johnny Cash” and “Night Train” were among those songs.

Before performing “Drowns The Whiskey”, Aldean praised Miranda Lambert who is featured on the track and described how important she was to making this song go number one. “Unfortunately, Miranda isn’t with us tonight so I’m going to need y’all help with this one”, he encouraged. Aldean has a ton of party anthems, which he played for the fans on Saturday night. “Lights Come On”, “Girl Like You”, “They Don’t Know” and “My Kinda Party” were next in the set.

He got the crowd was roaring before “My Kinda Party” by taking a shot of tequila on stage. “I feel like at every party there’s that one thing that happens that takes it from like a really good party to a really kick-ass party….and even though I think this party’s pretty good right now, I’m about to drink this shot of tequila and I think it’s time we kick this bitch into overdrive.”

“Hicktown” and “Dirt Road Anthem” followed. Aldean then expressed his opinion on encores at concerts, calling them bull**** and how they just waste time. “We’re going to give you guys everything we got and when the show’s over it’s just over. How does that sound?”

He closed the show with “She’s Country”, “You Make It Easy” and “The Only Way I Know”. Aldean chugged a beer and then walked off the stage in style, putting an end to the fun, exciting and boisterous night at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

The Ride All Night Tour will return to the Metropolitan Area September 6^th at Jones Beach Theater in Long Island.

To keep up with Jason Aldean, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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Jana Kramer Brings Her Podcast Live to NYC

May 20, 2019/in Blog /by Julia Grubbs

If you’ve never been to Sony Hall in midtown Manhattan, you’re greeted with a cool, intimate venue positioned perfectly for listening in on a conversation of Whine Down, Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin’s real-talk podcast about life, relationships, and parenting.

The couple started off the show by talking to Jana’s friend, Sara, and they go off on a tangent about what it would be like to go on a date with The Bachelor’s Ben Higgins, and that these are the conversations that are important to catch up on when Jana and Sara haven’t seen each other in a while.

The crowd was so excited for this show and loved the guests of the night, NBC’s Craig Melvin and wife, Lindsay Czarniak. Melvin’s anticipation for the show became the first topic of conversation, as he made clear that he was unaware that there would be people watching this night happen. This segued into a back and forth of who isn’t listening or who isn’t telling in a relationship, culminating in the decision that it’s usually a little bit of both. By the end of the night, he wanted it to keep talking, repeating how therapeutic this discussion actually was.

Questions didn’t stay so surface level, when marriage deal-breakers, participation trophies for kids, staying neutral in politics, and areas to improve relationships took over the dialogue. No stone left unturned, they asked deep questions that provoked thoughtful, real answers about the struggles of life and family that everyone goes through.

They took questions from the crowd, and for one about long distance relationships, Kramer gave the advice of doing a daily or weekly check-in, where you address your feelings, affirmations, your needs, and then owning your mistakes. She genuinely cared about her audience and fans, and wanted to do what she could to help.

The show ended with Kramer performing a few songs including some of her hits as well as new songs. “Why Ya Wanna” got her started and she had so many huge fans in the audience who sang along to this and every other song. She sang a new song, “A Little Goes a Long Way”, “Whiskey”, and her new single, “Beautiful Lies.” The fans lived for “I Got the Boy” and rushed to the stage for selfies during “Boomerang”. Sincerely thanking the crowd for supporting her from One Tree Hill to country music and podcasting, and everything in between, we weren’t sure who was more happy at the end of the night, her or her fans.

To check out all of the other episodes of Whine Down with Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin click here.

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Old Dominion, Jordan Davis & Mitchell Tenpenny Sold Out Show in NYC

May 20, 2019/in Blog /by Christina Bosch

Nestled underneath the grandeur of the iconic Madison Square Garden is an intimate venue, The Hulu Theater at MSG. Friday night three of country music’s biggest rising acts took the stage to perform for a sold-out crowd, as the Make It Sweet Tour made its way to New York City.

Old Dominion/Mitchell Tenpenny/Jordan Davis

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

One of our Swag Session alums, and 2019 Artists to Watch, Mitchell Tenpenny took the stage first, and it was remarkable to watch the room, which was almost completely packed at that early part of the night, engage with Tenpenny and his music. He sang “Truck I Drove In High School”, “Goner” and the title track to his debut album which was released late last year, “Telling All My Secrets”. Another great moment was watching him perform his current single “Alcohol You Later” and already seeing the crowd loving it.

“I’ve gotta thank you guys for changing our lives this year with our next song, gave us our first platinum song, which is crazy, I never thought that would happen, you bought it, you streamed the shit out of it, thank you so much for that.” Tenpenny humbly expressed to the crowd. “And then you requested it so much at radio, you gave us our first number one song, I was so grateful for that. And now we get to come to cool cities, like New York City and play our music.” He performed “Drunk Me” and throughout the entirety of the song, the whole crowd was singing back to him, at one point, he even stood back to just let them sing, it was an overwhelming moment for the singer-songwriter.

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

Closing the night with “Bitches”, a song that isn’t about “calling guys bitches or calling girls bitches, it’s about calling bitches, bitches,” he laughed. We watched his performance of this one, a song we caught during our Swag Session in 2017 and were so proud that we can champion him and continue to watch where his already successful career goes.

Jordan Davis / Old Dominion / Mitchell Tenpenny

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

Next up was another artist that we chose back in 2018 as One to Watch, Jordan Davis. The singer-songwriter from Shreveport Lousiana already has two number one hits to his name and took full advantage of the sold-out crowd, running up and down the catwalk and interacting with the fans in the pit. His debut album, Home State is packed with radio-ready singles and he performed a few of them on Friday including “Selfish” which he mashed with Hailee Steinfeld’s “Starving”, “Leaving New Orleans”, and “Tough to Tie Down”. He also covered Tim McGraw’s classic, “Something Like That”, putting his own spin on it.

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

His set wouldn’t be complete without performing both of his number one hits, “Take It From Me” and “Singles You Up”. At this point, the pit in front of the stage was completely packed and all of the seats were filled and at times the audience screaming back the lyrics was so loud you could barely hear Davis. He left the stage and the crowd ready to enjoy the final act and headliners of the night, Old Dominion.

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

We’ve seen the guys in Old Dominion in some of the smallest rooms in New York City over the past few years including Joe’s Pub, Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, and Arlene’s Grocery. The important thing to remember is that no matter the size of the room or the number of people who are there to see them, they always give 110% percent of not only a high-energy performance but they can set your soul on fire with their meaningful lyrics and delivery.

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

Playing to a sold-out room in a much bigger venue, Old Dominion did just that for the lucky fans in attendance. Their set included their biggest radio hits including “Snapback”, “Break Up With Him”, “Hotel Key” and “Written in the Sand”. They also included a few album cuts that haven’t made their way to the radio which we know fans of the band were happy about like “Said Nobody” and “Half Empty” from their debut album Meat and Candy.

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

Highlights from their set included “New York At Night” where stunning visuals of our beautiful city lit up the background of the five band members as they sang lines like “With that just right Friday night curl in your hair / Got my heart beating louder than Madison Square / That electric energy / Something tells me you’re gonna keep me going til the morning light / Girl your like New York at night”. It seemed as if the songwriters (Brad Tursi, Trevor Rosen, and Jordan Schmidt) had written those lines specifically for that moment in time on Friday night.

Another rather surprising moment was when Matthew Ramsey stood at the front of the catwalk and announced they were going to sing their new song, “One Man Band” and from the first word to the last, the crowd was screaming the lyrics back to the band. It was such a special point of the night, watching loved ones turn to each other and sing the ballad, the emotion was palpable and could be felt throughout the room. Taking time to slow things down, Tursi, Rosen, and Ramsey took a seat at the top of the catwalk to chat with the audience about the culminating moments that led to them sitting in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater. They played the songs they have written for other artists that have become hits including “Wake Up Loving You”, “Better Dig Two”, “Make You Miss Me” and Michael Ray’s latest number one “One That Got Away”. “Before you ever realized it, you were listening to our music, and before country radio ever realized it they were playing our music, and as broke ass songwriters in Nashville, you need every little bit of motivation you can get,” Ramsey told the crowd. “Every song made us want to write another one, crowds got a little bigger, shows got a little better, we kept writing, we kept playing until finally we can come to New York City and play in a beautiful room like this one.”

Mike Spotz (@illkoncept) for NYCountry Swag

Old Dominion closed the night with the first single revealed from their forthcoming project, the upbeat “Make It Sweet” and a throwback “Wrong Turns”. The magical night was the perfect way to kick off the summer concert season, bringing some of the best rising talents in Davis and Tenpenny as well as established stars Old Dominion to New York. Head to our calendar to find out all of the shows heading to our area this summer!

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Jessie James Decker & The Sisterhood Band Sell Out Beacon Theatre

May 17, 2019/in Blog /by Erica Zisman

On a beautiful night in New York City, fans packed out the Beacon Theatre for Jessie James Decker’s sold out show.

Tasked with warming up the crowd, the talented ladies of The Sisterhood Band, Alyssa Bonagura and Ruby Stewart, took to the stage first. The sassy duo showed off their spicy personalities, killer harmonies, and unique vocal and fashion styles, throughout their enticing 30-minute set. The ladies were clearly pumped to be playing for such a large crowd, sharing “Jessie James Decker fans are the best,” as the crowd erupted into cheers.

They started off their set, singing songs off their debut EP, Summer Setlist, including “Walk Away” and “13.” Following those songs, the singer-songwriters switched gears, introducing their newest songs that were released earlier this year and thanking fans for coming to see them.

“Guys, we just released new music! Our band is called ‘The Sisterhood Band.’ Thank you for being here a little bit early to see us play. We just released new music, two songs called “Get Up and Go” and a song called “Bullet,” adding, “This next song is called “Get Up and Go, and it’s about getting your car and driving around- It’s like summer song, I was dating a guy, who wouldn’t take me anywhere fun, and I was like ‘screw that,’ so we wrote a song about it.”

The track was just that, a sweet summer anthem, that all the females in the audience seemed to relate to. They went on to show off their harmonies yet again, in their next song, “Tenderize My Heart.” However, the highlight of their set came at the end, as the band sang, “Bullet,” a song they prefaced with “We wake up and we get to do what we love every day. And travel the world like this. And meeting you is the whole reason that we do it.” The ladies closed out their spectacular set with “Half Way,” successfully getting the crowd pumped for the night’s headliner.

After a brief intermission, the star of the night, Jessie James Decker took to the stage, in her sassy printed bodysuit and white booties, immediately singing the first song she ever put out, “Wanted,” followed by “Boys In The Summer.” The energy in the room was electric, as she belted the lyrics to the tracks as everyone in the room sang along with her.

Decker was beaming with excitement and pride, as she addressed the audience for the first time. “This is the biggest room. The most amount of people- I’ve ever sold out a show to. I told them- I told them when they showed me the dates. Just so you know, New York is going to sell out. They looked at me and they go ‘why are you so sure about that?’ Because I know my fans out there, they’re going to sell this out for me, and you guys did. And I’m so grateful,” she exclaimed, just before singing “Girl on the Coast.”

The singer-songwriter’s set was filled with highlights from start to finish. The first highlight came, when she sang her slow-tempo song “Almost Over You,” that she recorded with powerhouse country singer, Randy Houser last year. Decker shared, “It’s one of my absolute favorites. If you know this song, please sing with me.” She slowed it down again with her newest song, “Roots And Wings,” calling it “…the perfect song to release,” and thanking fans for their support, as well as with an incredible rendition of “Shallow” from the film ‘A Star is Born,’ which really showed off her vocal range.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jessie James Decker show without some sassy moments, filled with sex appeal and confidence. Decker sang her unreleased song “I Need A Man,” in which she shared that a woman can be confident and successful, and still need a man to hold her down. Fans showed their approval for their song, singing and dancing along. She also introduced her ‘Jessie’s Boy Toys’ segment in which she has 10 men from the audience come on stage to dance and as she said, “entertain her girls,” as she sings her sexy song, “Clint Eastwood,” and a cover of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.” The winner of the competition, as chosen by the audience, won a free shot.

Decker kept the energy up, bringing back The Sisterhood Band to sing an epic rendition of the iconic Shania Twain song, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” The ladies gave a whole new life to the song that couldn’t be any more impressive. Decker also sang her jams, “All Filled Up” and “I Look So Good (Without You).”

For her encore, Decker, sang her Lil Nas X cover of the controversial song “Old Town Road,” which New York fans seemed to love. The songstress gave her own flair to the song, even adding her name into a lyric, “I’m going to steal your heart, just like I’m Jessie James.” She ended the night with the fan-favorite song, “Lights Down Low.”

After a two year touring hiatus, Decker proved to New York fans that she’s still got it. Her beautiful voice, incredible talent, and commanding personality proved that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the industry and that there is truly no stopping her. We look forward to more music from the songstress, as we head into the second half of the year.

To keep up with Decker, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Lady Antebellum Release Next Single “What If I Never Get Over You”

May 17, 2019/in Blog /by Nicole Piering

Over a decade after the release of their debut album, Lady Antebellum have returned to their roots with “What If I Never Get Over You,” out today (May 17). The single features Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott trading lead vocals over Dave Haywood’s instrumentation, telling the tragic tale of heartbreak, as they both wonder how to move on from a failed relationship.

The trio took to Twitter to announce the release of the song, writing, “‘What If I Never Get Over You” is out now! There’s so many universal truths in this one and really takes us back to our beginning as a band. We hope you like it as much as we do.”

The mid-tempo ballad hearkens back to the heyday of “Need You Now,” and it exemplifies what Lady A do better than almost anyone else in the business. Kelley and Scott have an uncanny ability to play off each other vocally, which is on full display here. While there are other male-female duos and bands in country music, there are few with the vocal chemistry of Lady A’s two lead singers. The two play off each other with a distinct harmonic push and pull, making the song an almost combative duet in the best way possible.

The song shines in its relatable lyrics, as the pair wonder if they’ll ever be able to move on from their relationship. “What if I’m trying / But then I close my eyes / And then I’m right back lost in that last goodbye/ What if time doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do / What if I never get over you?”

Although some of Lady A’s most recent releases have gone off in different directions, “What If I Never Get Over You” takes the band back to its roots. While we applaud them for taking risks and trying new things on songs like “You Look Good” and “Heart Break,” sometimes it pays off to go back to what made them one of country’s biggest bands, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

Lady Antebellum will be on Facebook Live tonight at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT, where they’ll perform “What If I Never Get Over You” from the Our Kind Of Vegas stage and answer a few fan questions too. They’ll also premiere the video for their new single at 1 pm ET /10 am PT on YouTube.

To keep up with Lady Antebellum, follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

“What If I Never Get Over 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.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
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