Country Music

New Music Monday!

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Songs you should be listening to (and downloading!) right now:

Kip Moore, “I’m to Blame”

We’ve been waiting for his new album for over a year now… his new single hit radio on February 2nd. Request it! It’s raw and honest and sexy… bet you won’t be able to get the hook out of your head! Kip is one of my all time favorite artists and this song is so true to him and his personality.

Love & Theft, “Whiskey on my Breath”

Love & Theft is back with some amazing heart-felt and soul-filled harmonies. This song is GOLD. I have so much love for these two, and this is one of my favorite songs they’ve written so far! This song better get the praise and recognition that it deserves!

Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”

I could not be more obsessed with Sam Hunt. His acoustic mix tape (Behind the Pines) and debut album (Montavello) are consistently on repeat in my car. This is his newest radio single and is currently at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Old Dominion, “Break up With Him”

It’s been a number 1 hit on Sirus XM’s station, The Highway, but hasn’t dropped to radio yet. It’s a fan favorite at their live shows and when I saw them live, it’s the song that convinced me to buy their EP! Give it a listen!

Chase Bryant, “Take it on Back”

Country newcomer Chase Bryant is quickly making a name for himself. He is now on my “Artists I Want to See in Concert” list! Lyrically, this song is like 90% of all the other bro-country songs out there, but it’s catchy and is destined to be a radio hit.

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Up All Night With Jon Pardi

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My favorite local country station, WPOR, hosted an invite only event with Jon Pardi on their private stage. Only way in was to win! I entered via text nearly every day, of course! During this past week, the Universe has provided me with so many awesome opportunities and blessings, and I am so grateful this was one of them!

My first time seeing Jon Pardi was in December of 2013, and I will just nicely state that I wasn’t too impressed. Apparently during this show he was suffering from a knee injury and awaiting surgery in a few days, so I blamed his performance on this. Poor guy was probably in some pain! So I knew that I needed to give him the opportunity to redeem himself in my book next time he came around! Whether it is merely more stage experience over the past year or the fact that he was no longer in need of surgery, Jon definitely impressed me and won me over this time around!

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Chase Rice Debuts New Music Video

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Chase Rice’s new music video premiered on CMT yesterday, and it’s a great one! Most of us know Rice as a rowdy party kind of guy, but this video definitely shows off his softer side! Gonna Wanna Tonight was released to radio in November, but is currently not on the Top 40 Charts… I think that this video will change that. While I don’t foresee another number 1 like Ready Set Roll, I do appreciate Rice’s contribution to the country music world. There isn’t a single song on his CD that I don’t love and sing along to! (I’ve also seen him in concert at least twice, if not 3 times!)

Whoever directed this video deserves an A+!

Gonna Wanna Tonight

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TBT #3 – Kip Moore 4/5/13

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THROWBACK THURSDAY!

Throwing it back to one of the many times that I met Kip Moore! (This would be the 4th time, I believe!)

WHEN: April 5th, 2013
WHERE: Freemont Street, Las Vegas (ACM Week)
HOW: Waited behind the stage after the show

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If you look all the way to the left… there is a guy in a pink shirt and a girl in white with her hair up… Those are my friends and I was standing right next to them… but Kip is blocking me from view!

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Blogging 101 Assignment: For My Dream Reader

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Several years ago, not completely thrilled with the prospect of having to work full time for the rest of my life, I remember announcing to some of my closest friends; “I wish I could just get paid to go to concerts!!!” You see, country music is my passion and live music takes me to a magical place. This is where I come alive, I become the best version of myself, and I am who I know I’m meant to be. Of course, this idea was silly and unrealistic, so I thought. Until one of my friends encouraged me to find a way to do just that…

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Wanna be VIP at an Upcoming Hunter Hayes Show?

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Enter to win VIP tickets

Of course you do. Luckily, those living in Atlanta, Georgia (show is 12/6/14) and Cleveland, Ohio (show is 12/11/14) have that opportunity! I was recently contacted by a representative from a new event discovery and fan engagement app called Rowl (http://rowl.com). Rowl is offering users exclusive VIP access to see Hunter Hayes live and meet him on his 2014 “Tattoo Your Name” Tour stop in Atlanta, Georgia and Cleveland, Ohio. To enter, music fans can download the Rowl app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rowl/id897727592?ls=1&mt=8&pid=1000&cid=hhcontest) from the iOS App Store, register their email address and follow Hunter Hayes. Participants can gain an extra entry by tweeting #RowlWithHunter and #Entry. The contest is closing Monday December 1st so get your entries in fast!

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Joel Crouse Reveals Truth Behind Hit Song, “Oh Juliette”

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Last night was opening night of the Night That You’ll Never Forget Tour, which kicked off in Portland Maine. Joel was extremely excited to be starting the tour in New England, as he was born and bred in Holland, Massachusetts. Tonight he is back in his home state at the Royale in Boston for night number 2. Joel spoke of how when he moved to Nashville 5 years ago, and he went to play his first gig with long-term friend Kyle Rife, the guy laughed when Joel said he was from Massachusetts. Joel confirmed what we all know to be true, the Northeast has some of the best darn country music lovin’ folk around!

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“Dream Trip of a Lifetime”

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My local radio station, 99.9 The Wolf, announced a contest opportunity to win a trip to Vegas for the 2011 ACM Awards. Teaming up with J.D. Haas Entertainment, they were able to offer an all expense paid trip including round trip airfare, 3 night stay at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, tickets to the live 2011 ACM Awards show, and tickets to attend the taping of the CBS Special, Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country to be filmed and then aired at a later date.

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First of all, Vegas is one of my all time favorite places on earth. By this time my interest and knowledge of country music had grown and blossomed and I knew that there could be nothing better in this world than combining my TWO LOVES into one. A entire weekend of country music concerts, shows, a red carpet experience, fancy dresses, cowgirl boots, and everyone who is anyone in the country music world all staying at the same hotel. I HAD TO WIN. It wasn’t really an option.

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TBT – First “Official” Luke M&G

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THROWBACK THURSDAY! 

Throwing it back this week to my first time at an actual Luke Bryan “Meet & Greet” (not my first time meeting him though!)

WHEN: June 2nd, 2013
WHERE: Comcast Center, Mansfield Massachusetts
HOW: Was one of the lucky 18 to win from the Fan Club

Guest Pass and Meet & Greet!
Luke Meet & Greet Pass

Luke’s Meet & Greet was scheduled for 7:15pm. Luke did not show up until about 7:45 and FGL went on at 7:55 so I had to run back so fast to find my friends in the pit as their set was starting. Of course I was in line by 7, so needless to say by 7:45 my anticipation and anxiety of “meeting” Luke sober had grown itself way out of proportion. It was super quick, and a big blur. All I remember is that the person on the other side of Luke was supposed to take our purses to hold so that they wouldn’t be in the picture. He didn’t… I had to awkwardly overstep Luke and place it on the ground a few feet away and remember feeling slightly embarassed and annoyed. I can’t even remember if I told him my name or shook his hand!? I was flustered, handed him the CD insert to his “Tailgates & Tanlines” CD for him to sign, and posed for a quick picture. He squeezed my shoulder a couple times after the picture as a way of saying goodbye/thank you I suppose. I think I said thank you to him? All I know is that he smelled amazing and I was way too nervous to sound like a 5 year old and ask, “Can I have a hug?” Maybe next time… I do have one M&G opportunity left for this year!

First M&G with Luke, June 2nd 2014
First  “official” M&G with Luke,  June 2nd 2013

PS. It was NOT Monaco (Black Mike) taking the photos! Slight disappointment there! Most likely he was filming for Cole/Swindell Vision since Cole’s performance was during Luke’s M&G. To see a review of the concert, click here.

Is Luke coming to your town any time soon? Check below for local concert tickets. And be sure to sign up for his fan club, The Nut House for a chance to win 1 of 18 meet and greet passes that are up for grabs for each show! Details provided when you join! You typically need to get online to request them 2 weeks prior to the show date.

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Where it all Began…

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Prior to this point of discovering country (late 2005/early 2006ish) when ever I was asked, “What kind of music do you like?” My response was ALWAYS, “Everything! EXCEPT country and classical!” Oh the irony! Liking country music back then wasn’t considered “cool”… nor had I really ever given it a true chance. The first country song that I was introduced to was during the summer of 2000, Lonestar’s ‘Amazed’. I did absolutely love the particular song and the memories it invoked, however this one song did not turn me onto the country genre. A couple of years later in 2002, while visiting a friend in CT who loved country (who I happened to have a crush on of course!), he played me Randy Travis’s ‘Forever and Ever, Amen’. I of course downloaded it in Napster, or Morpheus, (or whatever the program of those days were) when I got back home. I did “secretly” also like Shania Twain, but that was about it, and all that I had been introduced to thus far.

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