Introducing The Newest Members of The NYCountry Swag Team

/in , /by

NYCountry Swag is proud to announce the addition of ten new contributing writers to the team.

As fans first, it was important for us to expand our team and bring new voices to our brand as we continue to grow.  By growing our family of music lovers, we will have the flexibility to add more content and continue to bring fresh country music news to our followers.

We look forward to sharing the unique voices of our new team members and highlighting all of the aspects of the country music genre far beyond our home base in New York City.

Learn more about our latest additions below:

 

Nicole Bochinis, Contributing Writer

Nicole is from Westchester, NY.  She is currently a full-time student studying Business.  Aside from loving country music, she is a pastry chef with her own cupcake business. Follow along on Instagram & Twitter: Nicolebeexo

 

Kelly Cunningham, Contributing Writer

Kelly is a student in journalism and PR hoping to branch into the music business. She’s born and raised in New York, but found a new home in Nashville. You can follow Kelly on all socials: @kellysheac

 

Taylor Felvey, Contributing Writer

Taylor is a proud US Navy wife and Mom to a beautiful 2 year old boy, Owen.  Originally from Rockaway Beach, NY but currently based in Fort Worth Texas.  Fun fact, she was named after the musician James Taylor. Connect with her on Twitter: @babsietweets & Instagram: @taylormade42083

 

Crystal Fenton, Contributing Writer

Crystal is a freelance writer and yoga instructor. She loves country music and coastal living, preferably combined together in the South Carolina lowcountry, being on the water or adventuring in the outdoors, writing, reading and dogs. Find out more on Instagram: @cf912

 

Molly Holmberg, Contributing Writer

Molly is from Eugene, Oregon. If Garth Brooks & George Strait were in a room filled with tacos that would be her dream come true! She loves country music, songwriters, the artists & just being a fan. She goes to just about every event she can to engulf herself in & learn more about the country music family! IG: @mollyholmbergphoto

 

Nicole Piering, Contributing Writer

Nicole grew up on Long Island, saying that she liked “all types of music, except country.” That all changed when she randomly attended a Rascal Flatts concert at MSH in 2007 & was immediately hooked. In addition to her love of country music, Nicole loves all things Disney-related. You can find her on Instagram: @NicolePiering

 

Nicole Sellati, Contributing Writer

Nicole grew up in the Bronx and recently found a love for country music.  You can almost always catch her at any country music event in the area. When she is not attending concerts, you can find her in the city seeing a broadway show, going on food adventures, traveling or at home binging a T.V. show with her dog Daisy.  Follow her on Instagram & Twitter: @nicolious

 

Danielle Tornatore, Contributing Writer

Danielle was born and raised in the Bronx. She is addicted to concerts, coffee, traveling and binge watching TV shows. Follow her on Twitter & Instagram: @deetornatore

 

 

Shanna Vitaliano, Contributing Writer

Shanna grew up in New Jersey & is a huge fan of country music and going to concerts. When she’s not working she enjoys traveling; you can find her on a camel in Morocco, or shark cage diving in Hawaii. She is an avid NY Mets fan and an animal rescue volunteer! Connect with Shanna via Instagram: @svitaliano & Twitter: @ShannaVitaliano

 

Erica Zisman, Contributing Writer

Erica is a 20 something social worker from Long Island, New York with a passion for the creatives and, of course, all things country music. In her free time, you can find her planning impromptu trips to explore new cities, but Nashville, Tennessee remains her favorite. Feel free to follow along on the adventurous ride via Instagram: @love_ericaaa

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

On the “Water” with Brad Paisley & Kane Brown

/in , /by

Kane Brown Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley gave Jones Beach another unforgettable night out on the water and for some fans, in the water. The venue started to fill in quickly once Kane Brown took the stage singing “Found You” and by the end of his 45-minute set there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Brown thanked the crowd for coming out and said, “This is my third time playing here and I’ll tell you there’s no better place to be on a Friday than Jones Beach baby, Come on!”.

Brown continued to get the crowd fired up by going old school. “Guys I’m gonna try to get y’all singing a little more alright, we gotta get Brad Paisley ready to come out here so I’m going to take you back to my middle school days!”. He started off singing the hit song “Billionaire” by Bruno Mars, getting everyone up off their feet to sing along. Then Brown transitioned to “Ms. Jackson” by OutKast and brought it home with The Fray’s “Over My Head”. To no surprise, the crowd loved the old school renditions and sang back every word. Along with the covers, Brown sang his hits like “Heaven”, “Used to Love You Sober”, “Learning”, and his new single “Lose It”. Last but not least he closed his set singing a solo version of his duet with Lauren Alaina called “What If’s”, leaving the crowd not only wanting more but pumped for who was coming up next.

Brad Paisley

Next up was the headliner himself, Brad Paisley. As the music started, the band began to take their spots leaving Paisley to make a solo entrance at the top of the stage singing “Mud On the Tires”. There was no stopping him, he played straight through his songs “Ticks”, “The World”, “Perfect Storm”, “Water”, “Last Time for Everything”, and “Old Alabama”. Paisley’s guitar solos were unbelievable, creating the perfect transition into each song he played. At one point during the show, someone from his team gave him a bottle of beer in which he showed off his skills and shredded the guitar with it. The country legend was not one to disappoint when it came down to putting the best show on for his fans. He had a ton of energy on stage and tried to get as close to the crowd as possible.

When it came time for Paisley to talk to the crowd he put on his best New York accent and said, “It’s great to be here tonight, here in Long Island it’s a great place, it’s a really nice place you got here.” He then went on to praise the concert goers in the pit saying, “By the way thank you for the people in the front row standing in 5 inches of water right now I appreciate you!”. As the night went on he continued to play his hits like “This is Country Music”, “Love and War”, and “American Saturday Night”. He also brought Kane Brown back to the stage to help him perform his song “I’m Still a Guy”. The two singers together brought a little comedy to the show by going through a fan’s phone in the middle of the song. Even with Brown off stage Paisley continued to interact with the crowd telling jokes.

Brad Paisley Kane Brown

For some lucky fans, Friday was a night to never forget. Paisley had not one but two proposals happen on his watch. One which was on stage with him before the song “She’s Everything”. He also made the night of a lucky little girl by giving her one of his guitars. After he gave her the guitar he said, “Learn how to play it little girl”, telling the crowd, “That is how you make a Taylor Swift right there!”. Along with making the little girl’s night, he brought out some men and women from the military on stage to thank them and offer them some drinks from his on-stage bar. With the night coming to the end he thanked the crowd again saying, “We’ve had the best time, we love playing up here and we hope you had fun!”, closing out the night with his song “Alcohol”.

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Jason Aldean, Luke Combs & Lauren Alaina Play Sold-Out MSG Show

/in , /by

High Noon Neon Tour

Jason Aldean, the ACM Entertainer of the Year for three years running brought his High Noon Neon Tour to a sold out Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. This is the second time the country megastar has headlined the iconic venue, each time bringing energy, and screaming fans together to sing along to his massive catalog of hits.

His tourmates, Lauren Alaina and Luke Combs had the privilege of playing to packed crowds, whereas some tours the fans tailgate and trickle in slowly until the headliner, these fans were in their seats at 7:30 on the dot.  Alaina has celebrated a ton of success over the last year with her sophomore album producing her very first number one single, a duet on country radio with Kane Brown which also hit the top spot and being named ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year. Her 30-minute set was filled with emotion as she clearly understood the importance of being able to sing her music to a crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Lauren Alaina High Noon Neon Tour

The American Idol runner-up has grown into a beautiful, strong young woman who is now writing music that had fans swaying their cell phone lights to in New York City.  Her set included her solo version of her duet with Kane Brown “What If’s”, “Next Boyfriend” and her number one single “Road Less Traveled”. Clearly emotional from the overwhelming response from the crowd, Alaina stated “I wrote a song about being a three-year-old little girl having a big dream, it’s my favorite song I’ve ever written and getting to play it for you guys here tonight is a dream come true,” before she played her inspiring song “Three”.  Closing her set by putting a New York Rangers jersey on over her sparkly dress, Alaina felt love from the crowd the moment she stepped on the stage until she stepped off.

Luke Combs High Noon Neon Tour

Another rising country artist was next up on The High Noon Neon Tour, Luke Combs took the stage and filled his 45-minute set with not only his biggest hits from his debut album but memorable covers as well.  Our team was blown away by his incredible fan base, especially in the heart of New York City. Opening his set with “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “She Got the Best of Me” his raspy voice pleading through the latter, only to bounce back with 90’s country swag on Brooks and Dunn covers of “Honkey Tonk Highway” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”.  “One Number Away”, Combs’ third number one single on the Billboard Chart was met with screams and at one point, it was hard to still hear the singer over the audience’s participation.  Closing with “Hurricane” his obvious charisma and ability to write and perform already fan favorites prove he is primed and ready for absolute superstardom.

Jason Aldean High Noon Neon Tour

As if fans weren’t treated enough to a night of incredible music already, at 9:30PM Aldean’s band stood center stage on a platform as a neon sign rose into the air.  Seconds later the Entertainer of the Year himself sprung up from beneath the stage, kicking off the set appropriately with “Gettin’ Warmed Up”.  For fans who have been to any one of Aldean’s shows, they know he isn’t a talker, he isn’t going to sit on a stool and tell you about the first time he heard a demo of a song, but what you can expect is back to back high-energy songs for just under two hours.  Aldean does a great job of picking songs from all of his albums, going back and forth between his very first albums with songs like “Amarillo Sky” and “The Truth” to bringing the audience into his current world of “Rearview Town” and “You Make It Easy”.

Playing to the enormous sold-out crowd of twenty thousand fans, he spent his time at three different mic stands, playing his guitar and staring out into a sea of people on their feet, singing along.  Stopping only a few times between songs, he congratulated a couple who got engaged during “You Make It Easy” inviting them to the front of the stage and joking that he thinks the ballad should be their wedding song. “Somebody gets engaged you’ve gotta celebrate that don’t ya,” he said as he raised his red Solo Cup in the air.  “Here’s to you guys, may you have a long and blissful marriage and here’s to you Madison Square Garden, thank you for being here tonight.” The sentiment was enough to encourage fans to cheers their beer with the people next to them and on to the next song.

It wouldn’t be a true Aldean show if he didn’t play “Big Green Tractor”, “She’s Country” or “Crazy Town” which he saved for the end of the night, bringing just as much energy and intensity to those huge hits as he did when he first stepped on stage proving the award of Entertainer of the Year is well deserved sitting on his shelf at home.

The High Noon Neon Tour is just getting started. Click here for the full list of tour dates.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS Swag Spotlight Featuring Justin Fabus

/in , /by

Justin Fabus

For this week’s Swag Spotlight we take you to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Justin Fabus grew up and still resides.  In our recent phone conversation the singer-songwriter talks highly of his hometown, explaining how he hates the stereotype that just because he didn’t grow up in the south, that means he can’t sing country music.  “Country music is about the songwriting, it’s about blue-collar people, hard-working people, and Pittsburgh with their steel factories, being a Steel Town, it doesn’t get much more blue-collar than Pittsburgh.  It goes hand and hand perfectly,” he tells us.

With a grandfather who indulged in the rat pack, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and his grandmother always listening to Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, Fabus was introduced to a wide range of music from an early age.  His mother would always play Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen and as he got older, he loved the sound of the Motown Era and of course 90’s country like Diamond Rio and Restless Heart.  All of these influences are evident in the music that he now calls his own.

In the 8th grade, Fabus took the stage for the very first time for a talent show. “I sang a Boyz II Men song and to have the feel of the crowd, it was something I had never experienced and I was addicted to it and then it just grew from there,” he recalls.  Since his middle school talent show days, Fabus now has had the opportunity to play CMAFest in Nashville three times and open for superstars like Gary Allan, Randy Houser, Craig Campbell and Kip Moore.  He is so grateful to those opening slots and to the artists who opened their arms to him and took him under their wing.

He currently still resides in Pittsburgh but travels to Nashville often, bouncing back and forth between both cities.  His reasoning on not moving to Music City full time is “I would rather have a huge following in my hometown and the surrounding areas first and have a strong fan base before I dive into Nashville. I would rather be invited into Nashville than just show up and say here I am.”

His new album titled Remedy was released earlier this summer and is a clear summation of all of the influences he has listened to in his lifetime.  “I’m not a big fan of the word genre, I think if it’s good music and it makes you move and makes you feel good, then that’s all that matters,” he says of the musical term. “I hate the ‘Oh it’s too country, it’s not country enough’ statement, if it’s good music it’s good music. Music is evolving and changing every day and the whole word ‘genre’ is terrible.  Why pigeon hole yourself, just because you like country music doesn’t mean you can’t like hip hop or rap or R&B, so I have been trying to break down those barriers my whole career.”

Fabus co-wrote or solo wrote all 13 tracks on the album, taking the initiative to make his debut album exactly how he wanted it. “You only get one first album in your career and I wanted it to be one of those albums that you listen to it front to back where it takes you on a journey,” he says of Remedy. Working with some great songwriters such as Joe Henry, who was John Denver’s songwriting partner who wrote the song “Skin” for Rascal Flatts as well, as Dave Pahanish who has written songs for Keith Urban and Toby Keith.  Being a huge fan of Billy Joel, he also had Carl Fisher, Joel’s trumpet player add his talents to the record. “I’ve been so blessed to do what I do and on top of it have these amazing songwriters and artists collaborate with me, it’s unbelievable.”

Currently out on The Remedy Tour, with over thirty dates spanning the country, Fabus takes what he loves about Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen’s live shows to heart, understanding that spending your hard earned money on a concert is a privilege these artists get to experience with their fans, so he always gives all he’s got when on stage.

For tour dates and ticket info head to justinfabus.com/tour and be sure to follow along on his social media channels,  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Morgan Evans Releases “Young Again” & Debut EP

/in , /by

Morgan Evans

The fact is “We will never be this young again”, sang Morgan Evans in his new song “Young Again”. The Aussie-born singer hit the nail on the head with this song. The track is all about celebrating life and living in the moment, making “Young Again” the new anthem for being young, wild and free. Even though Evans has been playing this song at various shows it is the official release of this upbeat and incredibly fun song. “Young Again” is one of five songs that came off his self-titled EP that is available today.

In honor of the release of “Young Again” and his new EP, Evans made a surprise visit to where it all started 10 years ago, Tootsies Orchid Lounge on Broadway in downtown Nashville. He posted on Instagram about going back to this beloved place saying, “More and more when I experience big life and career moments, they remind me of all the little ones that happened before and made them possible.”

Evans then went on to explain that the day he flew into Nashville the first stop was Tootsies saying, “I remember that moment as one of the defining ones, thinking, ‘This is the greatest city on earth.’” He thought it would be fitting to go back to the Nashville bar where his journey began. In the spirit of the song and EP, Evans bought the patrons in the bar a round of shots to toast the release. Here’s to never being this young again!

Evans kicked off the summer with his headline 10 in 10 Tour, which sold out New York City’s Mercury Lounge back in June.  New Yorkers, can catch him live on August 23rd at BMHMC Amphitheater at Bald Hill in Long Island with Brett Eldredge and Stephanie Quayle.  This Fall, Evans will join Chris Young as a special guest on his Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour which stops in New York on December 7th at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Country Music Stars Head To ‘The Voice’

/in /by
The Voice

Picture Via @KeithUrban Instagram

This week NBC announced that two of country music’s biggest stars will be joining The Voice as team advisors for season 15. Traditionally, each of the coaches bring in a guest adviser to help the contestants during The Battle Rounds. Keith Urban and Thomas Rhett will be advising teams with Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson. Urban is no stranger to singing competition show, he was a coach on The Voice Australia back in 2012. Urban was also a judge on American Idol for four seasons on Fox. Urban will be joining Shelton’s team for the battle rounds, while Rhett will be joining Clarkson’s team. This will be Rhett’s first time advising and mentoring on a major competition show.  The other two advisers will be Halsey and former The Voice team coach, CeeLo Green.

The Voice

Picture Via @Thomasrhettakins Instagram

 

Urban is currently on his Graffiti U World Tour with special guest Kelsea Ballerini which will hit NYC on October 27th at Barclays Center. Rhett is currently on the road with Kenny Chesney on his Trip Around the Sun tour which will hit MetLife on August 18th. The Voice airs Monday, September 24th on NBC.

 

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Cody Johnson Performs New Song on Fox & Friends

/in /by
Cody Johnson Fox and Friends

Photo via: @codyjohnson on Instagram

If you were up early Friday morning (Aug. 10) odds are you got a chance to see Cody Johnson’s National television debut. Johnson the self-proclaimed ‘god fearing, hard working, beer drinking, fighting, loving cowboy’ was true to his roots dress in a plaid button-down, straw cowboy hat, and cowboy boots.

After ten years of hard work in the rodeo, honky tonks and even a brief stint as a prison guard, Johnson knows making music and performing is what he was put on the Earth to do. And he sure is good at it! He spoke to the newscasters about growing up surrounded by music and how it was just something they did.  He explained it wasn’t a dream he thought he would chase until he saw Garth Brooks perform right there in the same city he was in, New York City, during his epic Central Park performance. “I don’t know if I thought I could do that, but I thought ‘Man I sure want to’,” he told them. Watch a clip from the interview on here on Fox.

Johnson performed his new single “On My Way to You” in front on hundreds of ‘CoJo Nation’ fans. He lovingly sang the words he wrote for his wife into the microphone, most of the times with his eyes closed –  giving off a strong sense of emotion to each word. Johnson was accompanied by his band (2 guitarists, a drummer, and a violinist) which he loving calls ‘the future farmers of America’.

In true cowboy fashion, Johnson ended the performance with a tip of the hat and the words ‘God Bless Y’all’.  Within hours of this performance, Johnson’s new single hit #1 on iTunes.  Take a listen to his new song below.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

New Music Friday – The Playlist

/in , /by

It is Friday y’all!  Our New Country Music Spotify Playlist is up and features brand new singles from Morgan Evans as he releases his debut EP featuring “Young Again”, Cassadee Pope “One More Red Light”, a new love song from Cody Johnson “On My Way To You”, “Feels Like A Party” from LOCASH and many more. Check it out below and be sure to give us a follow.


—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Devin Dawson

[Watch] Devin Dawson Multiply Himself in “Asking For a Friend” Video

/in /by

California native Devin Dawson released the video for his second single “Asking for a Friend” earlier this week.  The song is the follow up to “All On Me” which was gold-certified and the debut from his critically acclaimed album Dark Horse.

The concept of the single has had an ambiguous meaning since it’s debut. The lyrics tell a story of a man, who is asking for forgiveness, but it is unclear whether it is for himself or actually for a friend.  Set in Dawson’s signature black and white, the narrative visually showcases the angst the main character (played by Dawson) feels, as he longs for his broken relationship, but lacks the courage to apologize. In fact, Dawson multiples himself, playing each representation of a friend in the video. The stylistic and almost futuristic vibes of the video entices the viewer to continue to watch the story unfold.

When asked about his music video for “Asking for a Friend,” and his knack for storytelling, the singer-songwriter passionately shared in a recent press release, “I will always be a lyric guy at heart and nothing makes me happier than watching those words come to life.”

Dawson proved that he is a “lyric guy at heart,” as he has utilized his platform to create a YouTube series called “Asking for a Friend – Answered”, where he gives advice to fans on any issues and conflicts he or she or a “friend” might have. Find his newest installment below.

The singer does not currently have any future shows planned for New Yorkers just yet, gets back on the road with label mate, Brett Eldredge on the Long Way Tour; however, take a look back at our review of Dawson’s opening set from the first leg of the tour back in May.

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Brett Eldredge Takes Over Jimmy Kimmel Live!

/in /by
Brett Eldredge

Photo Courtesy of ABC

Last night you had not one, but two chances to catch Brett Eldredge on your television screen. Earlier in the evening, Eldredge was seen performing on the ‘Music Event of the Summer’ CMA Fest, where he performed “The Long Way”. Soon after he took over late night T.V. on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing as part of the concert series presented by Mercedes Benz. Eldredge is not new to Kimmel, he first made his debut on the show in 2015 performing “Lose My Mind” and “Drunk on Your Love” while also appearing in the Mean Tweets Country Music Editions.

Last night he closed out Kimmel performing his new hit single “Love Someone” from his self-titled album. As the music started to play, Eldredge, who was full of energy began his set asking the crowd “Y’all ready to get down tonight? I’m ready for you, here we go!” During the performance, the country star was seen dancing in sync with his lyrics and interacting with the crowd telling them it “Feels good to love you!”

“Love Someone” ended on a high note but that wasn’t the end of the night for the crowd watching Eldredge perform live. Off camera, Eldredge continued his set with other hit singles for the audience like “Drunk On Your Love “and “Wanna Be That Song”. He also performed “The Long Way” which can be seen on Jimmy Kimmel’s YouTube channel.

If you didn’t have the chance to catch The Long Way Tour yet this year, the second leg of the tour starts up in September with Devin Dawson and Abby Anderson. As well as playing other shows throughout the summer. For New Yorkers, Eldredge is performing on August 23rd at BMHMC Amphitheater at Bald Hill in Long Island with Morgan Evans and Stephanie Quayle.

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: