Eileen’s Blog: The Highway is the country songwriter/singers’ first self-released album on her husband’s (Chris Coleman) label. Produced by Charlie Peacock (Grammy award winner and producer of the Civil Wars) the granddaughter of Hank Williams Sr. and daughter of Hank Williams Jr. wrote or co-wrote the entire album. I’ll confess, This is my first exposure… Continue Reading
Review: Kid Rock “Rebel Soul”
Eileen’s Blog Kid Rock released his ninth album in January. By self-producing this album, it seem that it allowed Mr. Rock to be himself. Back in control rather than giving up the reins to someone else as it appeared with “Born Free”. His songs, of course, span several different genres but on this album… Continue Reading
Neal McCoy, Bullriders set for Sears Centre
The Professional Championship Bullriders returns to Chicago for the World Tour Finale VII at the Sears Centre Arena February 1 & 2, 2013, and country star Neal McCoy is set for a stage show to the fans following the first night of competition. The world’s best bull riders will battle the toughest, rankest bulls ever… Continue Reading
The Nashville Network returns to Chicago airwaves
The Nashville Network (TNN) announced today that it will syndicate locally, over-the-air, on WPVN-Chicago 24.3. WPVN began broadcasting TNN’s programming over-the-air on channel 24.3 last Friday when its new transmitter came online atop the Trump International Hotel and Tower. TNN anticipates carriage of WPVN’s TNN channel via Chicago cable outlets in the near future. Kent… Continue Reading
Kickin’ it with Country Christmas Albums
Blake Shelton’s Cheers, Its’ Christmas was released in October of this year. He has some help singing these wonderful songs such as Michael Buble, Reba, his wife Miranda Lambert, his mom Dorothy Shackelford, and Xenia from the hit show The Voice. There is the usual Blue Christmas featuring Pistol Annies, Jingle Bell Rock featuring… Continue Reading
Review: Toby Keith “Hope on the Rocks”
Toby does it again and again and again and Hope on the Rocks is no exception. This is Keith’s 16th studio album, he wrote or co-wrote all ten songs, and they are all country. [and all Toby] There’s something so familiar about his barritone, his southern drawl, his songs about drinking, women and love lost,… Continue Reading
Channel 7 covers the Country Scene
Joe’s Bar, US99 and CountryMusicChicago.com received a special shout out from ABC7 Chicago reporter John Garcia during a special segment featuring the local country music scene. The report aired on the 10PM newscast following the CMA Awards, which also aired on the same network. “Sources” tell me John is quite the country fan himself. So if you… Continue Reading
Review: Taylor Swift: “Red”
In Taylor Swift’s own words, this CD is about the red relationships in life. She is talking about “…..the ones that went from 0-100mph and then hit a wall and exploded”. While every listener can relate to this, devoting a whole CD of 16 songs to the same subject is not only a daunting undertaking,… Continue Reading
Catching up with Katie Armiger
CONCERT ALERT: Country music sweetheart Katie Armiger has a growing list of friends getting married and having babies, and she admits to sometimes envisioning whether that would have been her if she hadn’t packed up and headed to Nashville as a teen. And just about the moment she starts wondering about life’s little and big… Continue Reading
Review: Dwight Yoakam return with “3 Pears”
Three pears is Dwight Yoakam’s first new release in seven years. This collaborative effort is a true work of art. But as much as this music is collaborative with other artists and genres it still retains that signature bluesy, honky tonk sound that is pure Yoakam including his signature higher pitched “whoop” at the ends… Continue Reading