Roots, Toots n' Hoots Blog

When people ask, "How did you get into country music?" I tell them my version of the truth. "I grew up in eastern Long Island (NY)." Now, for the uninitiated, that used to be farm country. So, of course, it'd be natural for a farm kind of boy to love country, right? Isn't it obvious?

Yeah, right.

I think of my love of country music as an interest that got out of control. It started for me in the late 1980's with folks like Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith and mushroomed from there to learning about artists from the past to the up-and-coming. Eventually, that led to learning about bluegrass and later Americana/rootsy music.

With "free time" on my hand as a reporter at the Salem, Massschusetts Evening News, in 1993, I started Country Standard Time magazine, which was distributed in record stores and live music clubs throughout the U.S. We're now only on the web covering everything from major label to true independent artists. My posts will cover the facets of what countrystandardtime.com is about, which means all kinds of country, bluegrass and roots/Americana music.

Feel free to email me directly with your thoughts at countrystandardtime@gmail.com. Thanks a lot for reading.

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The Academy of Country Music Awards: 2026 edition.

Jeffrey Remz  |  May 17, 2026

8 p.m. – Lainey Wilson gets the Academy of Country Music Awards started with "Can't Sit Still." She looks great in her black leather outfit, but the white-clad female dancers make it clear we are in Vegas baby. Way too many flashing lights. Sensory overload supreme. Yeah, I get they can't sit still. She's typically about the music, not the shtick. Oh well. 8:05 ...

The CMAs: 2026 edition

Jeffrey Remz  |  November 19, 2025

8 p.m. - Luke Combs gets The Country Music Association Awards show rolling with "Back in the Saddle" with a farm feel in the background. This is not the Aerosmith tune, but there are firepots galore and a rocking feel to the song. Combs sounds excellent (as usual). 8:04 p.m. - Decked out in white from white hat to a white suit, Lainey Wilson is the host, the pride of Bastrop, La. ...

The CMAs 2025 edition

Jeffrey Remz  |  November 20, 2024

8 p.m. - And so it begins - the 58th Country Music Association awards show with Post Malone and Chris Stapleton doing "California Sober." Now, why not have Billy Strings and Willie Nelson, who first performed it? Joking (sort of). Post knows his way around a country song, though. Good start anyway. Post sure gets into it. No surprise as he was excellent on tour in September. 8:04 p.m ...

2024 ACMs - the blow by blow

Jeffrey Remz  |  May 16, 2024

Tonight is the 59th edition of the Academy of Country music Awards straight outta Frisco, Texas with Reba McEntire hosting for thet 17th time. 8:01 p.m. - Lainey Wilson, decked out in fed, gets started with Little Texas' "God Blessed Texas." She didn't sing the whole thing, but pretty much anything she sings works. She's not even wearing bellbottoms tonight. 8:03 p.m ...

The 57th Annual Country Music Awards

Jeffrey Remz  |  November 8, 2023

The 57th Annual Country Music Awards get underway... 8 p.m. - Jelly Roll gets the awards underway with "Need a Favor." Man, that guy has come a very long way quickly. He doesn't exactly look country, but hes more so than a lot of folks. Wynonna comes out to sing with Jelly Roll. She sounds great. It sure makes sense that she's out there with him. A Post Malone siting in ...