Concert Reviews

McBryde highlights CRS New Faces

February 19, 2021 - The CRS New Faces of Country is always billed as a highlight of the annual radio confab - a chance to see new artists, who have made at least somewhat of a mark. Ashley McBryde has enjoyed the most success of the five artists on the bill, she showed why. McBride kicked off her set acoustic-based (that ...

Rhett, Akins, Welling shine at CRS guitar pull

February 17, 2021 - A good old-fashioned guitar pull spearheaded by Thomas Rhett showcased the beauty of the song as well as the back-end story. Rhett, playing for the first time in about a year, went straight to the country imagery with his current hit "What's Your Country Song?" He may not have played ...

Warner offers somethings old (Dan+Shay), somethings new (Munsick, Parker)

February 17, 2021 - Brett Eldredge had the right song for these times, "Good Day," in kicking off the Warner Nashville artist showcase at CRS 2021 in Nashville. Of course, the conference for country radio is usually in person, but not this year. "I got a feeling it's going to be a good day," ...

McGraw maintains his lustre

February 16, 2021 - The annual rite of country radio – CRS (Country Radio Seminar) - kicked off today in Nashville (virtually, of course), and one of the highlights is always the artist showcases. This wasn't a full-fledged concert, of course. Each artist – three new ones plus Tim McGraw - was given ...

Ell figures it out

February 12, 2021 - Lindsay Ell is a prototypical contemporary star on paper. She has songs that vacillate between angst and downright danceable. She has the bankable look, the voice and the moves. But one thing separates her from her peers. She is a true musician. A really good one. It is hard to overstate how impressive ...

Wallen proves "Dangerous" at the Ryman

January 12, 2021 - It's been quite a few days for Morgan Wallen. He shot to the top of sales charts with his ultra generous "Dangerous the Double Album." And now he was playing a livestream show from The Ryman – headlining it for the first time. Wallen kicked it off playing solo keyboards on the ...

With music from the heart, Avett Brothers end year on high note

December 31, 2020 - It had been nearly a year since the Avett Brothers last played a gig. So what better way to end a most dismal year but with the return of the band. Of course, their 17th annual New Year's Eve gig - Ring In 2021 with the Avett Brothers - was a lot different than any of their others thanks to Covid-19. ...

After a rocking start, going acoustic serves Gilbert well

December 30, 2020 - Brantley Gilbert seemed to leave little doubt from where he was coming from – at least early on. He may be on the country charts, but Gilbert rocked out big time during his livestream show, starting with "Kick It in the Sticks." It was loud and rocking hard with lots of guitars and name ...

ZBB provides musical antidote

December 27, 2020 - The Zac Brown Band could have been called upon to provide the musical antidote to a difficult year and a most different holiday season. And that they did in a special concert relying mainly on their hits. ZBB kicked off the night with their 2015 hit, "Homegrown," an ode to small town life ...

Robison, Willis provide perfect antidote even if not weird

December 20, 2020 - Bruce Robison billed the soon to be live streamed Bruce & Kelly's Holiday Shut-In Shindig (A Virtual Special) as the "weirdest show ever" as he sat live with wife and fellow performer Kelly Willis both dressed in green and red at their home in Texas. The 21st edition of the show, ...

Asleep at the Wheel keeps it merry 'yall

December 19, 2020 - Asleep at the Wheel founder Ray Benson made it clear he was in the holiday spirit with his outrageous jacket and tie of white reindeer and green Christmas tree motifs on the red jacket, not to mention his white Santa beard. Let's say he was dressed for the occasion – the first ever Merry ...

The Mavericks continue living up to their name - even at Christmas

December 19, 2020 - The Mavericks have long done it their way. Starting as a country band out of Miami, their sound has morphed over the decades, but it should come as no surprise that the long-running band brings the same level of energy and engagement to holiday songs, sticking to their style as they did in the recorded ...

Tuttle has more than found herself

December 17, 2020 - When Molly Tuttle moved to Nashville about five years ago after finishing her studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, she was trying to find herself as a musician. It wasn't so easy, she related while introducing "Good Enough" early on during her last of three livestream ...

Williams brings the blues to Christmas

December 17, 2020 - "Happy friggin' Christmas," said Lucinda Wiliams at the outset of her (sort of) livestream concert. "Rockin' around the Christmas tree has never held as much meaning as it does this year." Williams hit the nail on the head with that comment, but if you were expecting an ...

Rice provides the necessary heat

December 13, 2020 - Chase Rice decided to hold one of his livestreams during an especially cold night on his farm. When he took a break to let a couple special guests sing a few songs, the cigar he smoked may have been as much for warmth as it was for pleasure. When he was center stage, however, he let his band's ...

Yin/yang of Carlile only underscores her greatness

December 13, 2020 - Brandi Carlile was "Still Home for the Holidays" as her livestream concert attested. Decked out in a Santa hat at her home, Carlile promised "a whole shitload of Christmas music" with one of her band mates, Phil Hanseroth, popping the bubbly and sharing the proceeds. ...