Travis Denning Archives

Travis Denning: ‘Roads That Go Nowhere’ – Debut Album Review

May 24, 2024/in Blog, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Travis Denning shares debut album, Roads That Go Nowhere, out now, May 24th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project below.

With songs like “After a Few” and “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs,” Travis Denning has already made quite the name for himself, establishing himself as a rising country star. He continues that trajectory with the release of his debut full-length album, Roads That Go Nowhere, out now.

On the fifteen track collection, the Georgia native stretches himself lyrically, musically, and vocally. Denning wrote or co-wrote twelve of the album’s tracks, enlisting songwriters like Josh Kerr, Jon Nite, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill, Paul DiGiovanni, and more.

A self-proclaimed “guitar player moonlighting as a metalhead in country music,” Denning favors rock-leaning guitars and driving percussion. However, he’s much more than a wannabe rockstar, leaning into acoustic guitars, 90’s influences, bluesy guitar riffs, and airy love songs.

“Roads That Go Nowhere is a culmination of songs and stories that I really believe reflect where I’ve come from, what I’ve been through, and the places I’ve yet to go and where I want to go,” shares Denning. “That’s with love, music, life, everything. I’m at that point in my life where I’m able to look back and reflect on the things that have gotten me here. A lot of them are positive and there are some negatives for sure. But I think that’s kind of everybody’s goal is to be able to look back and just be happy with the progress they’ve made and the potential they’ve still got.”

The album’s opening track “Why I’m Drinking” sets an immediate tone for what’s to come, Denning’s unique rasp gliding over a bluesy guitar riff for nearly 90 seconds before full instrumentation kicks in. It’s an immediate ear-catcher before bursting into a full heartbreak ballad, as he proclaims “I’d rather drown this hurt than let it sink in.”

Following in that vein is “I Know How It Sounds,” a stomping uptempo that kicks off with an intro that recalls Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem.” It’s the perfect song to lace with pyro for an encore of an energetic show, as Denning is unusually self-aware of his country roots, fully embracing his raising with an unapologetic attitude.

The rock aficionado continues to show that side of his personality and his upbringing on the guitar-and-drum-heavy “Southern Rock,” which pairs him with HARDY. “It’s me. I was born and raised in middle Georgia. The Allman Brothers are a damn subject in school, and I just wanted this song to be an absolute fist-in-the-air anthem to where I come from and how I was raised,” Denning shares. “It’s just as much HARDY’s story, and you can only listen to it all the way up to 10.”

While Denning may consider himself a metalhead, he also shines at heartbreak. The regretful “Add Her to the List” and “Better at Leaving” are clear examples, clever lyrics atoning the fact that a girl left him alone to drown his sorrows at the bar. “She’s a whole lot better at leaving than me,” He sings.

“Someone That Isn’t Me” follows a similar theme, a twangy, waltzing ballad that finds him longing for the one who got away. “It’s heavy. I actually almost didn’t record this song because I’m like, ‘I’m married. How am I going to get up there and sing it?’ But there’s things we wonder about, whether it’s relationships with people we love, our career or just where we are in life. It’s just the reality we face as humans.”

Nostalgia is another theme on the album, weaving its way through the hometown ode, “Going Places” and the early-2000’s Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts-inspired, “Strawberry Wine and a Cheap Six Pack.”

“A hand me down Tacoma, with a dent in the side // Ten miles over that county line speed limit sign // Black and mild smoke out on the wind // Hot July moon, I swear that I can hear you singin’ again // First taste of love // No, I couldn’t get enough // Girl, that’s where I go, when I go back // Strawberry wine and a cheap six pack”

Denning tries his hand at universal love on “Her and Here” and “Love You Past That,” an acoustic, wedding-ready song perfect for a first dance. “I wrote it thinking of my wife, and it’s very special to me. It’s just a vow essentially – that no matter where we go, I will love you past the challenges. I will love you past the good. I will love you past forever,” He reveals. “And I just love this song. It came out beautiful.”

Both “Thing I’m Going Through” and “Roads That Go Nowhere” are reflective and introspective, the first recalling a conversation with his father, while the title track is an autobiographical ballad about Denning’s own bumpy path to Nashville and success. “I think anybody who pursues their dreams, they always run into the ‘We can’t wait to say we told you so’s’ – and I had a couple of those. But I turned 31 this past December and while I’m still going strong, I can look over the shoulder now and say ‘Damn, some cool things have happened.’ I guess it does feel good to say ‘I told you so’ after all.”

“That’s a road that goes nowhere // But one got me to Music City // One got me a kiss from a pretty smile, shotgun ridin’ // Now she’s wearing a left-hand diamond // Some dead-ended and turned out wrong // Hell, there’s some that I’m still on // But lookin’ back at that rearview, man, I swear // I’ve gone pretty damn far on them roads that go nowhere”

Both “Can’t Find One” and “The Sound of a Beer Getting Cracked” offer moments of levity, the latter a perfect summer anthem. On it, he enlists country newcomer Josh Ross to throw back a cold one, while “Can’t Find One” is a 90’s-tinted kiss-off that he describes as a cross between the Eagles and Shenandoah.

The album ends with the poignant and sparse “Ocmulgee River,” Denning’s light vocals coasting over a lone acoustic guitar as he proclaims his love to the land and river that raised him. Of the song, which he penned alone, he says “It’s the river that runs through my hometown. This was the last song we recorded for the project and I knew it would be the last song on the record. I wrote it by myself and it’s just my conversation with where I come from. I have a lot of memories on Westlake Road, which gets name dropped in there, and that’s where I took the album cover. That has just always been a refuge for my soul, and I think everybody gets inspired by the ground they know and they come from. It doesn’t really take explaining, which is good because you really can’t.”

For Travis Denning, Roads That Go Nowhere is truly a debut that will take him somewhere big. “I still feel like I’ve just barely scraped the surface, but with the love and passion that has gone into this record, I do feel like I’ve taken a next step from a creative standpoint,” he says. “This was a big cohesive group of songs, and I’m just at a point in my life where it made sense to finally do it. I hope people hear it and say, that’s a Travis Denning record – and nobody else could have made it.”

Roads That Go Nowhere Track List:

Why I’m Drinking (Josh Kerr, Jon Nite, Cole Taylor)
I Know How It Sounds (Travis Denning, Will Bundy, Chase McGill)
Better At Leaving (Travis Denning, Jared Hampton, Tripp Howell)
Strawberry Wine And A Cheap Six Pack (Travis Denning, Thomas Archer, Paul DiGiovanni, Jerry Flowers)
Going Places (Travis Denning, Paul DiGiovanni, Matt Mulhare, Jeremy Stover)
Someone That Isn’t Me (Travis Denning, Paul DiGiovanni, Blake Pendergrass, Bobby Pinson)
Southern Rock (Featuring Hardy) (Travis Denning, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill)
Love You Past That (Travis Denning, Bobby Pinson, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Stover)
Things I’m Going Through (Jordan Dozzi, Matt Mulhare)
Add Her To The List (Paul DiGiovanni, Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Stover)
Roads That Go Nowhere (Travis Denning, Ben Foster, James McNair)
The Sound Of A Beer Getting Cracked (Featuring Josh Ross) (Travis Denning, Will Bundy, Chase McGill)
Can’t Find One (Travis Denning, Chase McGill, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Stover)
Here And Her (Travis Denning, Ben Johnson, Cole Taylor)
Ocmulgee River (Travis Denning)

Country Swag Picks:

Strawberry Wine And A Cheap Six Pack
Why I’m Drinking
Love You Past That
Roads That Go Nowhere

Travis Denning shares debut album, ‘Roads That Go Nowhere,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Travis Denning releases.

To keep up with Travis Denning, Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Visit his official website for tour dates and more.

Roads That Go Nowhere 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.

Travis Denning: ‘Might As Well Be Me’ – EP Review

August 5, 2022/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Travis Denning releases his new EP, Might As Well Be Me, out now, August 5th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project below and check out our full review.

Travis Denning made his mark on the country scene with his 2019 radio hit, “After A Few.” Since then, the Georgia-native has released three, six-track EPs, all of which have represented four major themes: nostalgia, love, heartbreak, and southern pride. The opening track, “Red Round Here,” is his ode to country life. He lists all the mundane jobs people carry out daily, and says it is his job to “keep it red down here.” The track is very upbeat and country, and the chorus’ rhyme scheme gives it a nice flow and makes it a fun tune for the tailgate playlist.

“Somebody’s gotta keep it red ‘round here, hold it down down here // Pop a county-line sign full of lead ‘round here, yeah // Crank some Hank on the bank throw some bait on a limb line hanging on a tree”

The single, “Buy A Girl A Drink” explains how this simple act can have a huge impact on your life. He says it is the best way to spend $7.50, as it can lead to a forever love. The writers, Jeremy Stover, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, and Denning, go through the whole timeline, including the first kiss, the wedding, honeymoon, children, etc.

“River Named Mississippi” is a simple love song in which Denning confesses his feelings for this person using many State metaphors, ending with the phrase “I’m going to love you as long as there’s a river named Mississippi.”

“Long as there’s pine trees in Georgia, Rockies in Colorado // Stars in California, Chevy makes a Silverado // Long as cowboys in Texas, Tennessee bottles whiskey // I’m gonna love you long as there’s a river named Mississippi “

Denning captures his past so well in his songwriting. From his debut single about a fake I.D.—“David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs”—to now “Don’t Give A Truck,” Denning explains his reasoning for why not to give your teenage boy a truck. He quite obviously talks from personal experience, describing all the reckless things he did in his truck in the past. This is a relatable tale to anyone who grew up driving around in their parent’s car.

“Don’t give a truck, don’t give a truck, don’t give a truck to a small town kid // ‘Cause he’s gonna end up, gonna end up, making don’t tell stories in the back of it // He’ll drive too fast, burn some gas, if the last thing you want is him looking back”

“She’s On It” was the second song released on the EP. This cleverly written tune starts out by describing a girl who is enjoying a Friday night on Main Street. The girl suddenly shifts from the protagonist to the main plot point after the first verse, as the listener soon learns about the ex-boyfriend who is drinking his sorrows away at the bar. She’s on the dance floor, on her new guy’s tab, and—unfortunately—still on her ex’s mind.

“He’s got his phone on the bar face down, he can’t stand to see that background //When it lights up, I bet she’s on it (I bet she’s on it) // And for all he knows there’s some new guy // Makin’ her laugh with all his lines // If he’s got a tab // I bet she’s on it”

The EP’s closer, “If You Need Anything,” is a sad, yet powerful tribute to someone who passed away. The singer is talking to his fallen friend and tells him if he needs anything, give him a sign from up above. Driven by a simple, acoustic guitar to start, the production increases and adds drama to the story when the chorus rolls around, similar to the kind of emotion listeners feel when HARDY’s “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL” comes on.

“I bet it’s nice up there this time of year, but if you need anything down here // Have an old red Chevrolet like yours drive by, put an old Skynyrd song on the radio // Make a couple shooting stars fly across the sky, hook me up to a bass at the honey hole”

“Last year and my most recent EP were all about thankfulness, and being glad to have any live shows at all,” Denning said in a recent press release, expressing the drive behind a new creative chapter. “This time a lot of that is behind us, and it’s like ‘Alright, let’s get to work.’ Overall, I wanted this EP to feel like a setlist. And I wanted it to be a no skipper.”

Might As Well Be Me EP Tracklist:

Red Round Here
River Named Mississippi
Buy A Girl A Drink
Don’t Give A Truck
She’s On It
If You Need Anything Down Here

Travis Denning’s new EP, ‘Might As Well Be Me,” is out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Travis Denning releases.

To keep up with Travis Denning, Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Might As Well Be Me EP 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.

Travis Denning: Dirt Road Down EP – Review

August 6, 2021/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Travis Denning’s EP Dirt Road Down is out today, August 6th, on all streaming platforms. Learn more about the brand new project below.

Denning made a splash into mainstream country with his 2018 single, “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs,” a story about a teenage boy who treated his fake I.D. as an alter ego in order to buy beer for him and his buddies. Since then, he has released several other singles and his debut EP, Beer’s Better Cold, which features the number-one smash hit, “After A Few.” Now, we get to learn more about the 28-year-old, Georgia-native in Dirt Road Down, out today.

“This was about going ‘What’s the next step?'” Denning stated in a recent press release, describing the new project. “It’s kind of cheesy, but to me Dirt Road Down makes me feel like we’ve gone a little further down the path of who I am – which I like to think is a dirt road, for sure.”

Thanks to the pandemic, Denning was able to return to his roots in Georgia, where he spent time writing over 100 songs. “Call It Country” starts off the record and is about the activities and things Denning loves and got to re-discover because of his time off from touring. Co-written with Jessi Alexander and Chris Steven, this song is directed at those who judge the southern lifestyle. With its fast-paced, high energy, and rocking sound, it will make a great show opener for Denning as he hits the road this summer/fall with Brothers Osborne and Tenille Townes.

“We keep that needle in the red on that hell raisin’ meter // Crank that Charlie Daniel’s out them Ford and Chevy speakers // Throw it down in this podunk town, ain’t afraid to get muddy // Yeah, call it what you want to, we just call it country”

The title track covers all the bases of a typical country song: love, nostalgia, and dirt roads. Throughout the song, the singer reminisces on all the great memories and things he learned while on a dirt road. In “Jack and Coke,” Denning uses clever wordplay and storytelling to portray a failed romance between a man and woman. What was a great romance between Jack and Jill turned into Jill moving on, leaving Jack alone with his whiskey and coke.

“Jack meets Jill one late Friday night // In a hole in the wall low lit kinda dive // Jack asks Jill if she wants to dance // A half buzz kiss comes after that // Two hearts find love, fall right in // Give it all they got, but in the end // Jack holds on, and Jill lets go // Now it’s just Jack and Coke”

To most country singers, trucks are more than just a piece of metal on four rubber wheels; they are a symbol of love, loyalty, hard work, freedom, and memories–both good and bad. In “Grew Up With a Truck,” Denning describes what having a truck as a teenager/young adult was like.

“I Went Fishing” is the most somber and personal track on the record. Denning uses fishing to relax and take his mind off the negative things happening in his life. From the time his dog died when he was young, to when his big summer, amphitheater tour with Sam Hunt got canceled, Denning went to the lake to escape the harsh reality.

“This one is definitely my selfish personal favorite,” he admitted. “I wrote it right after the Sam Hunt tour got canceled, and I was so bummed – I mean devastated. That’s when I thought about the title again, and it was like ‘I don’t think I fish to catch fish, really. It’s more about trying to find a little peace of mind and get away from it all.'”

Denning is building an extensive catalog and with live shows returning, he has his chance to make a real name for himself and become a big star in country music.

“My biggest thing is I hope they get a piece of me they were expecting. And I hope they get a piece of me that they weren’t, too,” he joked.

Travis Denning ‘s new EP, ‘Dirt Road Down’ is out now, August 6th

Dirt Road DownEP Tracklist:

Call It Country
Dirt Road Down
Jack and Coke
Grew Up With A Truck
I Went Fishing
ABBY (Alternate Version)

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Travis Denning announcements and releases.

To keep up with Travis Denning, Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Dirt Road Down is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our “New Country Music” playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Noah Hicks Teams Up with Travis Denning and Jon Langston on New Jam

July 2, 2021/in Blog, New Music, News /by Team Country Swag

Noah Hicks joins forces with Travis Denning and Jon Langston on brand new song, “Drinkin’ in a College Town”. Available now, July 2nd, on all streaming platforms, take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new song.

Recent Swag Spotlight artist, Noah Hicks joins forces with fellow rising stars Jon Langston and Travis Denning on a brand new song, “Drinkin’ in a College Town”. The song follows Hicks’ debut track and recent release, “No More Of ‘Em”, another collaborative track with Rhett Akins.

Written by Hicks along with Cole Taylor, Jeremy Stover, and Paul DiGiovanni, “Drinkin’ in a College Town” is an instant jam. The upbeat track perfectly blends the sounds from each of these country artists and it’s one you’ll want to blast at your tailgates all summer long.

“Like we’re sitting on a tailgate // parking lot on game day // waiting on them boys to play // show em how we do it down here // like we just turned 21 // spring break Panama city sun // a Ford key and a shotgun // holdin up a can of beer // If we’re gonna drink tonight // let’s drink em like // we’re drinkin’ in a college town”

Noah Hicks’ new song “Drinkin’ Beer in a College Town” is available now, July 2nd, on all streaming platforms

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Dustin Lynch announcements and releases.

To keep up with Noah Hicks, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

“Drinkin’ Beer in a College Town” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

CRS 2021 New Faces Showcases – The Full Recap

February 19, 2021/in Blog, News /by Christina Bosch

This year, CRS (Country Radio Seminar) looked quite different from years past. We weren’t all gathered at the Omni Hotel in Nashville celebrating the incredible people and artists that make the country genre so popular. Instead, we were in our respective homes or offices, watching on laptops across the country. The virtual CRS however did allow for a spectacular chance to network with radio programmers, personalities, media, and people involved in all facets of the industry.

Each year at the conclusion of this great seminar, five rising talents take the stage for a one-of-a-kind showcase called New Faces. Here at NYCountry Swag, we cherish the new artists that we choose to champion and so many of the artists who were nominated and voted for tonight are not new to our followers however they are just on the verge of their superstar careers.

HARDY kicked off the night of performances with songs from his debut LP, A ROCK including “BOOTS”, “UNAPOLOGETICALLY COUNTRY AS HELL”, and his first number one song as an artist “ONE BEER”. He was also grateful to be able to perform his current radio single, a song for anyone who is missing someone they have lost called “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL”. His signature grit and energy was the perfect way to showcase his talent for anyone who already wasn’t a fan. Learn more about HARDY and check out an acoustic session from his last trip to New York City in our video above.

Next up was Matt Stell who not only performed his back-to-back number-one singles “Prayed for You” and “Everywhere But On” but also included a video package that surely brought the audience to tears featuring his proud mother. Stell’s mix of rock and country and his stage presence absolutely earned him a spot in the five artists featured. Check out our Swag Session with Matt Stell in the video below.

Tenille Arts, one of our 2021 Artists to Watch, showcased her vocal prowess and catchy lyrics with tracks from her most recent album including “Everybody Knows Everybody”, and her current top 15 radio single “Somebody Like That”. She also performed her latest release, “Give It To Me Straight” and her personality and her talent glittered just like her gorgeous hand-decorated guitar.

Travis Denning was up next, his performance of his first number one song “After A Few” and his next radio single “ABBY” was electric, and he even dazzled attendees with a brand new song, “I’m Gonna Love You”. Denning joined us for a Swag Session in New York City. Revisit the interview and performance in the video below.

To close out an already remarkable evening of live music, Ashley McBryde, a current GRAMMY nominee brought her delicate vocals and honest storytelling to the stage. Starting her set with songs from her first album that put her on the map “Girl Goin Nowhere” and “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega” she told the story of her journey so far in the industry. “One Night Standards” and “Martha Divine” from her current album Never Will showcased the magic she can bring to a room.

While we anxiously await the return of concerts and live music, it’s a positive thought to know that when we do all gather again, country artists have written and recorded some amazing music for us during this past year.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news.

HARDY, Ashley McBryde and More Announced as 2021 CRS New Faces

December 14, 2020/in Blog, News /by Christina Bosch

Earlier today, Country Radio Seminar (CRS) officially announced the CRS 2020 New Faces of Country Music Class of 2021.

The CRS New Faces of Country Music is one of the most coveted showcases of the weekend that spotlights five emerging artists that have achieved significant success in the country genre. This year, Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, HARDY, Ashley McBryde, and Matt Stell were honored with the title.

For three years in a row, our team has had the pleasure of attending Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville, where country music and radio industry gather to exchange ideas, check out new talent, and celebrate the country music genre. Although the 2021 seminar will be virtual, members of the country music and country radio community will still come together through technology to celebrate the year in music.

We highlighted Travis Denning back in 2018 when he was just hitting the scene and Matt Stell back in 2018 and was our first Swag Session in 2020. Watch both performances and interviews below.

We’ve also championed HARDY since he started releasing his own music as an artist/songwriter. His album Hixtape Vol. 1 made our 2019 Albums of the Year and we’ve loved watching his career explode.

CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience will be held Tuesday, Feb. 16, through Friday, Feb. 19. The New Faces of Country Music® Show closes out the event on Friday, Feb. 19.

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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.

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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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Nominees for CRS 2021 Virtual New Faces of Country Music Announced

November 16, 2020/in Blog /by Christina Bosch

The 2021 CRS New Faces of Country Music nominees have been revealed today, November 16th.

For three years in a row, our team has had the pleasure of attending Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville, where country music and radio industry gather to exchange ideas, check out new talent, and celebrate the country music genre. Although the 2021 seminar will be virtual, members of the country music and country radio community will still come together through technology to celebrate the year in music.

The CRS New Faces of Country Music is one of the most coveted showcases of the weekend that spotlights five emerging artists that have achieved significant success at Country Radio. This year, nine deserving artists have been nominated for the honor, including Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, HARDY, Ryan Hurd, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Niko Moon, Jameson Rodgers, and Matt Stell.

Here at NYCountry Swag, we pride ourselves on being tastemakers and introducing our followers and country music fans to the freshest and newest talents in country music. We are proud to say that we have been able to interview most of the nominees, as well as, witness their talents in different capacities, and can honestly say that they all are deserving of the accolades. We even named Parker McCollum, Jameson Rodgers, and HARDY in our 2020 Artists to Watch.

CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience will be held Tuesday, Feb. 16, through Friday, Feb. 19. The New Faces of Country Music Show closes out the event on Friday, Feb. 19.

Voting for the Class of 2021 will open Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. CST and will run through the end of the day (11:59 p.m. CST), Friday, Dec. 4 at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com. The five acts with the most votes will make up the lineup for the show. To view the New Faces of Country Music® qualification criteria, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.

We look forward to seeing which five artists make up the New Faces of Country Class of 2020, and we cannot wait for the showcase. In the meantime, check out our recap from our experience at Country Radio Seminar last year and watch our exclusive interviews and performances with each of the artists nominated below.

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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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Travis Denning ‘Beer’s Better Cold’

May 15, 2020/in Blog /by Dylan Bestler

When you combine the influence of hair metal bands with your Georgia roots, it results in the creative sound of country music newcomer, Travis Denning. His debut EP, Beer’s Better Cold, released today (May 15^th) and contains six tracks, five of which the 27-year-old from Warner Robbins co-wrote. “I want people to come away thinking ‘Who in the hell was that?'” he says of his first major-label project. “And ‘Where can I hear more?'”

“Where That Beer’s Been” starts off the record. This song gives us a taste of who Travis Denning is; a simple, southern boy who likes to let loose and have a good time. “I don’t know where that beer’s been, but I know where it’s going,” he sings.

The lead single, “After a Few” is climbing to the top of the country charts; it currently sits at number six on Billboard Airplay. Written by Denning, Kelly Archer, and Justin Weaver, this song tells the story of how a few drinks is all it takes for the singer and his former lover to make a mistake they will both regret in the morning. The electric guitar is prevalent on this track, showcasing his rock-influence. Denning describes this sound as “a hypnotic Tom Petty vibe.” Watch the music video below:

The next song, “ABBY” will likely be the next single as it is getting a lot of airplay on satellite radio. “ABBY” is an up-tempo, breakup song in which the protagonist is happy to finally end his relationship. Abby, however, is not the name of the other girl, it stands for “anybody but you.” We heard this song for the first time back in December when Denning opened for Riley Green at the Gramercy Theatre. “It’s not about one girl, and it’s not about all girls, this song is just about that one person that you don’t give two shits about anymore in your life,” Denning announced at the show. The songwriters (Ashley Gorley, Chase McGill, Matt Jenkins) use a fun and clever acronym to describe this unfortunate, yet common situation.

“Won’t make me go crazy like you know who / and her name is ABBY / that’s anybody but you”

In the next track, “Tank of Gas and a Radio Song”, Denning reminisces of good times just driving and fooling around with ex. He says the relationship was like a tank of gas and a song on the radio, as the best things in life don’t last long enough.

We anticipated another drinking song with the title track “Beer’s Better Cold” but Denning just uses the phrase to begin his list of the common facts of life. Unfortunately, the list that takes a melancholy turn as it closes with the fact that his ex won’t be back in his life anytime soon.

“Touchdowns-six, seven with a kick / a good song hits home and it’s always gonna be like that / Yeah, that’s just the fact, that beer’s better cold and she ain’t coming back”

The EP ends with a love song, “Sittin’ By A Fire.” Denning turns down a bonfire party with the boys because he was already sitting by a fire, meaning the person he is with. The sparks in her eyes and her red-hot kiss is all he needed to convince him that this was a better way to spend his Saturday night.

“We wanted the core of these songs to sound like a dad-gum rock band,” Denning said in a press release. “I wanted it to be guitar, bass, and drums, and there was something cool about starting there. It really anchored the songs on this power trio, in-your-face thing, and that was such a key-switch in my head. It was like ‘Alright, this is it.'”

Growing up, Denning listened to all types of music from Motley Crue, The Allman Brothers Band, and Outkast. He moved to Nashville when he was 21 and began writing music for Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Chase Rice, and others. He tallied his first top-25 hit for Michael Ray with the song “Her World Or Mine.” His break-out as an artist came with his original song “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs”, a fun, teenage anthem about a boy with a fake I.D.

“I feel like a lot of people today come from where I come from – we just like music and it doesn’t matter what you call it,” Denning said. “I’m gonna make music for people like that.”

Denning has already toured alongside artists such as Riley Green, LANCO, Dustin Lynch, and others, performing mostly covers. The release of this EP expands his catalog and allows him to elongate his sets and perform original material. Although we are uncertain when live shows will resume, Denning is scheduled to hit the road with Sam Hunt on his SOUTHSIDE Summer Tour; a great opportunity to showcase these songs to country music fans all over the US.

NYCS Picks:

“ABBY”
“Beer’s Better Cold”

Keep up with Denning by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Beer’s Better Cold is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our “New Country Music” playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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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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Travis Denning Cuts Deep on Clever Revenge Breakup Anthem “ABBY”

February 24, 2020/in Blog /by Alexa Ebner

Travis Denning, an upcoming country star signed with Mercury Nashville and released a vengeful and punch single, “ABBY”. This track follows Denning’s success with his current top 20 single “After a Few”, a song that details lustful and romantic feelings after a few drinks. The release of “ABBY” is extra special: not only did it come out on Valentine’s Day, but the sharp-witted title that doubles as an acronym for “Any Body But You” caught the attention of fans after Denning played the tune a few times on the road.

Denning is known for his songwriting abilities, but this new single was written by Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins, and Chase McGill. The singer recounts exclusively to PEOPLE that “the minute [he] heard this song, [he] knew [he] had to record it, because [his] instant reaction was, ‘man, I wish I wrote that”.

The Georgia native sings with passion and fury, all the while not taking the concept of the song too seriously. Beginning with cunning, straight to the point lyrics, the listener is immediately clued into the song’s sassy way of telling a story.

“I hate to break it to ya girl, but we’re breaking up // I’ve put up with your drama just about long enough // And now you wanna know if there’s somebody else // Well if I’m being honest then the answer is yes // And her name is Abby, that’s anybody but you”

The bold and frisky tune begins with a fast-paced, playful riff that leads into the explosive country rooted chorus. Denning’s powerful vocals belt the song’s punch line, “And her name is Abby,”, leaving the listener with a captivating sense of emotion and strong desire to stand up and shout.

Throughout the song, Denning smoothly transitions back and forth from a fresh, pop sound to his deep country core. The listener is constantly kept on their toes for more nimble digs and compelling melodies.

Denning has an exciting touring schedule, as he’s starting off 2020 with Dustin Lynch’s STAY COUNTRY TOUR and will then look toward his role as a special guest on Sam Hunt’s THE SOUTHSIDE SUMMER TOUR.

To keep up with Travis Denning, you can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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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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Riley Green & Travis Denning Impress Fans at Gramercy Theatre in NYC

December 12, 2019/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Christina Bosch

Last night the Get That Man A Beer Tour with Riley Green and Travis Denning made its way to a packed house at Gramercy Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. The breakout star and one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, has been on the road nonstop this past year, first opening for Brad Paisley’s World Tour then plotting out this headlining run and next he will join Jason Aldean’s We Back Tour.

Kicking things off, Swag Session alumni, Travis Denning took the stage to captivate the already packed venue. The full band set featured his songs “After A Few” and “Tank Of Gas and a Radio Song” as well as a great medley of female country songs like Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine”, Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn”, Reba’s “Fancy” and Miranda Lambert’s “Kerosene”. Denning and his band showed their southern rock influences on “Ramblin’ Man” which featured an intense and harmonious jam session.

He introduced a new song, “ABBY” which he says is “…is not about one girl, okay, and it’s not about all girls, this song is just about that one person that you don’t give two shits about anymore in your life, okay?”. “ABBY” being an acronym for ‘Any Body But You’, the cheeky song had fans intently listening and smiling along. He closed his set with his breakout single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” and from the moment the song started Gramercy Theatre was singing along, even singing the final chorus back to the rising artist.

As soon as the house lights dimmed and the giant Christmas tree lights flickered on (complete with a red solo cup star), fans of the Alabama native and headliner, Riley Green started screaming. Kicking off his set with the title of the tour, “Get That Man A Beer”, Green entertained the Gramercy Theatre for 75 minutes with track after track from his debut album Different ‘Round Here. He sprinkled in some classic covers throughout the night like Jamey Johnson’s “In Color” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” but for the most part, this country boy kept things traditional country.

New York City sang along with Green to his album cuts “Same Old Song”, “Georgia Time”, and “Runnin With An Angel” and he seemed quite impressed that so many fans from the tri-state area were such big fans of his traditional vibe. Taking a moment in between songs to introduce the next or tell a quick story about the songwriting process, Green kept the room engaged for the entirety of the Wednesday evening.

His current single, the heartwarming, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”, although a slower track cultivated an entire venue wide sing-along, echoing the sentiments of the touching lyrics. The night would not have been complete without his debut single, and very first chart-topper, “There Was This Girl”. It was incredible to watch an entire venue sing along to a song that we featured as an acoustic version over a year ago during our Swag Session with the breakout star. Watch that performance below.

For more exclusive clips from last night’s show head to our Instagram. This is the final weekend of the Get That Man A Beer Tour as it heads to Philadelphia tonight. Coming up in 2020 Travis Denning will be opening for the Stay Country Tour with Dustin Lynch and Riley Green will be on tour with Jason Aldean.

—————

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 Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

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