LATEST COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS SHOW

Well, last night was the latest in what seems to be a every other month awards program for country music. This one, the ACM Awards from Las Vegas, included some high and lows for sure. First, lets hit the high points. George Strait once again proves why he sits atop the country music world. Strait took home the highest award as voted by fans, The Entertainer of the Year. For myself, the highlight of the evening was George Straits cover of Merle Haggard' classic "Lonesome Fugitive". Covering a classic, especially on stage in front of the performer himself, can be quite a daunting task. Strait, however, knocked it out of the park. His vocals proved why he is the best. To be fair, Miranda Lambert also did well, with her Merle Haggard cover "The Bottle Let Me Down".
The low point, and honestly there were MANY LOW POINTS....would be the Hunter Hayes performance. Whoever is pushing Hayes in front of all of us needs to stop. He can not stay on pitch to save his life, and his vocals actually hurt, The song itself, "Invisible", might be decent, but why are they pushing Hayes at all times everywhere, when it is painfully honest the guy can not sing.
Oh...and who invited Toby Keith out of obscurity to make a live performance? Has someone not told Keith his minute in the sun has passed with the red solo cup?

JASON EADY SHINES IN NEW RELEASE "DAYLIGHT AND DARK"

Following up his much acclaimed 2012 release “AM Country Heaven”, Jason Eady once again takes aim at the lost art of traditional country music, and fully hits the target dead center. His new release “Daylight & Dark”, hits the more mellow side of country music. This one does have its share of toe tapers, and of course drinking laments, but the soulful qualities of Eady shine here.
Teaming up with Kevin Welch who produces the record, and multi talented Fats Kaplin on steel guitar and fiddle, Eady has a solid foundation to build a great record. Mix in the co-writing and sweet harmonies of his fiance Courtney Patton, and top it off with the bonus track "A Memory Now" featuring co-writers and performers Hayes Carll along with Turnpike Troubadour Evan Felker, you have captured lightning in a bottle.
Eady starts out the record with a thumping toe tapper "OK Whiskey", which recounts a true Texan's sorrow with government mandated 3.2 beer in neighboring Oklahoma. Follow that up with the woeful trip to "The Other Side of Abilene", which tends to linger in your memory banks for days, and you see clearly this record has a flow and purpose. Eady is taking the listener upon a trip through the sorrows and struggles of life.
This struggle reaches its peak of course with the title track "Daylight and Dark", which poetically emphasizes the two sides which may exist within a persons life, and the mental anguish that can create. As Eady sings this one, you can feel the struggle within ones soul searching for a higher purpose and reason.
Eady has a remarkable voice, which can paint a picture within the music, He truly shines within songs where the layers are completely pulled back, allowing his vocals and words to pierce your heart. "Liars and Fools", along with the cover "Whiskey and You", written by Chris Stapleton and Lee Thomas Miller, are two highlights that poignantly strike you most here.
This entire record harkens back to the traditional styles of country music. While listening, I was often reminded of Don Williams or even early Merle Haggard. Eady is a true gem, and hopefully he is able to keep up this tradition and release country music as it should be done.

THE DEADFIELDS - OFTEN WRONG, NEVER IN DOUBT

It is not often that a new artist/band hits me with such force as The Deadfields have done with their new release "Often Wrong, Never In Doubt". From the very first song, "Cuttin' Ties", you could hear the talent and recognize keen writing ability as well. In fact, as the first song ended, I switched my location to become a bit more comfortable, hit replay and started all over again.
I was astounded by the sheer ease in which their talents seem to flow. My first thought was "I hope the second song is not a major disappointment. This sounds promising". As the second song began, which is the title cut, I was hooked. Not only were they talented, they also had a wry sense of humor which I enjoy sometimes in my music. Do not take yourself or your music too seriously, have fun with it, and let it flow. That is exactly what The Deadfields were doing here.
I do not believe in specific genre classifications, many artists are adept at performing any type of music. Fortunately, The Deadfields are able to cross over any genre and make it fun and enjoyable to hear. The tight vocal harmonies throughtout the record, plus toe tapping arrangements and instrumentals keep you fixated. There is literally something for everyone here.
And by the time you think it could get no better...think again. As I listen to any record the first time through, I always try to do so with an open mind...meaning I try not to look at the song list and think this will be a rocker or this will be a ballad. I want the music to control me...not the other way around and me trying to guess what it will do next. So, as I get toward the end of the record, just after listening to a foot stomping raucous song "If It Don't Matter", I hear a lone banjo picking out a song. I am an avid acoustic banjo fan...so this immediately captured my attention. As I began listening to each string and the progression, I thought this sounds rather familiar to me. Then, once the band all came in to start the song, I yelled "no way", and laughed. The Deadfields had just covered Nirvana's "All Apologies" in a way that sends tingling pleasure up your spine. Of course, I had to listen again...and enjoyed it even more.
The Deadfields were new to me with this record. I only hope they continue to create great music. I know I will be keeping an eye out for it.

http://thedeadfields.com/home

LONE SURVIVOR - GO SEE IT

Normally I do not promote movies or provide movie reviews here, but I felt this one deserved special recognition and discussion.
This weekend I went to see the new movie Lone Survivor. I went into it uncertain what to expect, given the trailers I had seen on TV and of course the history behind the true story survivor, Marcus Luttrell.
The movie begins with actual footage of soldiers enduring the brutal seal training. I happened to read one reviewer state he felt this was misplaced, and did not do service to the movie. He could not have been further from the truth. In my opinion, seeing the actual training footage allows the viewer to see what these brave men go through to become the soldiers that serve our country proudly. This strength, and where it is established, are an important part of watching the entire movie.
The movie itself is very well done in my opinion. It does not attempt to glamorize war, or to minimize the sacrifices these men must make in order to serve our country. Of course there is blood, death, and brutality. It is a war, not a vacation. These issues were well portrayed within the movie.
The choices and decisions these soldiers must make were very well laid out. The inability to establish exactly who you are fighting or should trust, the government red tape tying the hands of these soldiers on what they are able to do just to protect themselves from harm. All of these issues are on display here and play an integral part of the movie, as it should.
The ending of the film was also extremely effective and well placed. By showing these real life soldiers who died during this actual event, and mixing in the pictures with their own families and life away from the military, the viewer is able to see these soldiers are real people just like you and I, that have sacrificed so much in order to serve their country, and yet done so proudly and heroically.
I admit I had tears in my eyes watching the end of this film. It was very moving to see what these soldiers are capable of doing, what they do to protect us, and the sacrifices they must make in order to do so.
This is a well done movie that every American should see, if nothing else perhaps to respect even more what true heroes we have around us that go unnoticed each and every day.