Interview with Harrow Fair

 Posted by at 7:38 pm on October 26, 2020
Oct 262020
 

photo by Jen Squires

  • Artist Name: Harrow Fair (Miranda Mulholland and Andrew Penner)
  • Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Miranda: Besides our new single, “Sins We Made (Acoustic),” Andrew and I are currently working on music for a theatre piece about The Great War that will premiere on Remembrance Day.  I am very involved in artist advocacy and have been speaking all over the world at various forums like the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization (although currently on Zoom) about fair remuneration for creators and the importance of copyright.

Andrew:  I’m producing a few albums for other people and am performing in a livestreamed concert around Halloween called “Ghost Quartet” that I’m also music directing.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know? 

Andrew:  I sang in choirs and played in bands as a kid.  Music has always been there, and when I started making a living from it, I felt (and still do) so lucky.

Miranda:  I’m not sure it was ever a choice for me. I started singing before I could talk and playing violin at age 4, but I’ve switched genres for sure. When I was 16, I wanted to be on Broadway, then at 20 I wanted to sing at La Scala, but I think I’ve found a home in roots/Americana… for now anyway. It just has to feel authentic.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Andrew:  Weatherman or shoeshiner

Miranda: Andrew is already a weatherman. I would be Governor General. There is still time!

What is your favorite downtime activity?

Andrew:  Walking, cooking, tennis

Miranda: Cooking, reading, wine drinking, yoga

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Andrew:  Tina Turner

Miranda: Domhnall Gleeson (swoon)

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Andrew:  Detroit Tigers

Miranda:  SPORTS!

What is the last movie that you watched?

Andrew:  “A Hidden Life.”

Miranda: I’m not sure I’ve seen a full movie in a while, but I just finished the FANTASTIC French spy series, “Le Bureau.”

What is the last album you listened to?

Andrew:  Sufjan Stevens “Ascension.”

Miranda: Ray LaMontagne “Monotone,” and Vikingur Olafson “Debussy-Rameau.”

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Andrew:  I’m pretty sure no matter the album, that would be torture.  (Stevie Wonder “Songs In The Key Of Life”)

Miranda:  Emmylou Harris “Wrecking Ball”

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Andrew:  Mississippi Sheiks’ “Sitting On Top Of The World” or Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”

Miranda:  John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” or Iris Dement’s “Our Town”

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Andrew: Philadelphia and Belfast are up in the favourites for sure!

Miranda: Edinburgh and Istanbul

What is your favorite meal?

Andrew: cheese, some bread with butter, and an apple.

Miranda: steak tartare and frites with mayonnaise on the side and a good bottle of Cote du Rhone .

Who is your dream duet partner?

Andrew: Tina Turner (…and Miranda, of course) .

Miranda: Um… Andrew? Or also Ray LaMontagne

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Andrew:  Mavis Staples, Shovels and Rope, Jack White, The Jayhawks, Tami Neilson.

Miranda:  SAME! Calexico would be fun, too.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

Andrew:  Same as it ever was.  To keep excited about learning and creatively growing.  Also, I want Harrow Fair to play Austin City Limits.

Miranda:  I would like to always be able to feel challenged and stimulated creatively.  I’d like for Harrow Fair to play the Tonder Festival in Denmark.

2020 CMT Awards Play-by-Play

 Posted by at 8:06 pm on October 21, 2020
Oct 212020
 

 

  • The 2020 CMT Awards kicked off with a full-band performance by Luke Combs performing a future smash hit called “One Too Many” with special guests Brooks & Dunn, who came out mid-song!  Kix handed Luke a beer that he quickly shotgunned.  Solid start.
  • Kane Brown, one of the co-hosts of the show, welcomed the audience to the program.  He then introduced co-host Sarah Hyland of Modern Family fame.  She then kicked it over to the other co-host, Ashley McBryde.  They then took turns laying out some of the who and what will be happening tonight.
  • Sam Hunt performed next, playing his 7th career #1 hit, “Hard to Forget” – he sure wasn’t convincing with his “guitar playing”

Dan + Shay

Duo Video of the Year

• Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
• Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed” – WINNER
• Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
• LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
• Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”

  • Mickey Guyton was introduced to, introduce the next performance, which was a snippet of Ingrid Andress performing her great new single “Lady Like”
  • Ashley McBryde announced the 3 finalists for Video of the Year, which you can still vote on now.
  • Brandi Carlile, wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt, introduced Maren Morris who performed “To Hell and Back”
Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood

Female Video of the Year

• Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone” – WINNER
• Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
• Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
• Maren Morris – “The Bones”
• Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”

  • Sarah Hyland introduced Cody Alan and Katie Cook who reminded fans to vote for tonight’s Video of the Year.
  • Sarah Hyland talked about the lack of airplay for women, then presented the inaugural CMT Equal Play Award, which goes to an artist that brings attention to the problem

Jennifer Nettles

Equal Play Award

• Jennifer Nettles

  • Sarah Hyland introduced Tanya Tucker to introduce Ashley McBryde’s performance of her new single “Martha Divine”
  • Hardy introduced Travis Denning who played a snippet of his hit song “After a Few”
  • Kane Brown introduced Thomas Wesley (aka Diplo) who introduced Morgan Wallen who performed “Chasin’ You”

Chris Young

CMT Performance of the Year

• From CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
• From CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
• From CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning” – WINNER
• From CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
• From CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
• From CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”

Luke Bryan

Male Video of the Year

• Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
• Luke Bryan – “One Margarita” – WINNER
• Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
• Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
• Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
• Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

  • Idina Menzel introduced Gabby Barrett who performed her smash hit “I Hope”
  • Demi Lovato introduced Dan + Shay who performed “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
  • Riley Green introduced Caylee Hammack who performed a snippet of her song “Just Friends”
  • Sarah Hyland introduced Kane Brown who performed “Worship You”
  • Taylor Swift announced the winner of the next award:

Breakthrough Video of the Year

• Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
• Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
• Gabby Barrett – “I Hope” – WINNER
• Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
• Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
• Travis Denning – “After a Few”

Old Dominion

Group Video of the Year

• Lady A – “Champagne Night”
• Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”
• Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
• Old Dominion – “One Man Band” – WINNER
• The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
• The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”

  • Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) introduced Jimmie Allen and Noah Cyrus who performed their duet “This Is Us”
  • Ingrid Andress introduced Mickey Guyton who performed a snippet of her song “Heaven Down Here”
  • Jessica Chastain introduced Shania Twain who performed “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” from a wax museum in Switzerland.
  • Katy Perry introduced Luke Bryan who performed “What She Wants Tonight”
  • Caylee Hammack introduced Riley Green who performed a snippet of his song “If It Wasn’t For Trucks”
  • Kane Brown introduced Kelly Clarkson who introduced Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey to perform “The Other Girl”

Blake Shelton

Collaborative Video of the Year

• Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You” – WINNER
• Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
• Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
• Kane Brown feat. Nelly – “Cool Again”
• Marshmello & Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
• Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”

  • Travis Denning introduced Hardy who performed a snippet of his song “One Beer”

Music Video of the Year

• Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
• Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
• Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone” (FINALIST)
• Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
• Keith Urban – “Polaroid” (FINALIST)
• Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
• Little Big Town – “Sugar Coat”
• Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
• Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
• Old Dominion – “Some People Do”
• Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
• Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now” (FINALIST)
• The Chicks -“Gaslighter”
• Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

  • Luke Bryan introduced the final performance of the night as Litlte Big Town performed “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” in Ruskin Cave in Dickson, TN

Album Review: “Neon Town” by David Adam Byrnes

 Posted by at 10:11 pm on October 20, 2020
Oct 202020
 

 

How great is the new David Adam Byrnes album Neon Town, released earlier this month on October 2nd?  The final track on the album is an iconic country cover that we love, yet still had the “lowest” score of any song on the album when we went song-by-song to rate them.  Yes, it’s that good from beginning to end.  Each track scored better than a classic!  We haven’t heard an album that we’ve loved this much since Aaron Watson’s Red Bandana was released last year.  There must be something in the whiskey down there in Texas!

If you’ve listened to any Texas/Red Dirt Country in the past year, you probably are already familiar with several of these songs, as he has released a few of them that have gone on to be hits such as the title track “Neon Town,” “Beer Bucket List,” “I Can Give You One,” and his brand new single “Old School.”  Despite already having released several singles from this album, he has at least two more monster hits that he could release with our highest scoring songs “In My Arms” and “I Ain’t Seen It Yet.”

The album credits David Adam Byrnes as a writer on most of the songs, which features a traditional country sound reminiscent of the late 90’s mainstream country music.  Speaking of Aaron Watson, rumor is he is the one that gave Byrnes the push to move to Texas to further his music career which had stalled in Nashville.

Overall, we graded the album at a whopping 8.6 out of 10 on our strict scoring scale.  Check out our song-by-song scores below, where the consistency was unprecedented in one of our reviews.  Even the good albums usually have a stinker song or two.  This one?  Pure Country Music Gold.  We have a front-runner for Album of the Year in 2020.

  1. Neon Town – 8.7
  2. I Can Give You One – 8.3
  3. She Only Wanted Flowers – 8.4
  4. Old School – 8.5
  5. Signs – 8.3
  6. Tequila, Salt & Time – 8.4
  7. Beer Bucket List – 8.5
  8. In My Arms – 9.5
  9. I Ain’t Seen It Yet – 9.0
  10. Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (and Loud, Loud Music) – 8.1

 

HCM Scoring Scale:

  • 9.0-10 = Great country song/album
  • 8.0-8.9 = Very good country song/album
  • 7.0-7.9 = Good country song/album
  • 6.0-6.9 = Decent country song/album
  • 5.0-5.9 = Average country song/album
  • 4.0-4.9 = Below average country song/album
  • 0-3.9 = Not a good country song/album

Texas Regional Radio Award Winners Announced

 Posted by at 8:52 pm on October 20, 2020
Oct 202020
 
Randy Rogers

Randy Rogers

Here are the winners from last night’s Texas Regional Radio 10th Anniversary Music Awards Show!

Entertainer of the Year
Randy Rogers Band

Male Vocalist of the Year
Aaron Watson

Female Vocalist of the Year
Bri Bagwell

Duo/Group/Band of the Year
Randy Rogers Band

New Male Vocalist of the Year
Jon Stork

New Female Vocalist of the Year
Casey Baker

New Duo/Group/Band of the Year
Chad Cooke Band

Single of the Year
Cheat On Me – Bri Bagwell

Album of the Year
Red Bandana – Aaron Watson

Brandon Jenkins Memorial Songwriters Award
Twenty Years From Now – Kylie Rae Harris

Music Video of the Year
I’ll Never Get Over You – Randy Rogers Band

Record Producer of the Year
Trent Willmon

Recording Studio of the Year
BGM Studios – San Antonio

Venue/Night Club of the Year
Texas Live – Arlington

Festival of the Year
Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival – Stephenville

Radio Station of the Year – Super Market
KOKE 98.5/99.3 FM – Austin

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market
KFTX 97.5 Real Country – Corpus Christi

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market
KAXA 103.7 – Kerrville

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KTKO 105.7 – Beeville

Radio Station of the Year – Out of Region
KBIM 94.9 – Roswell, NM

Radio Station of the Year – Internet
TroubadourCountryRadio.com

Radio Station of the Year – Syndicated
Texas Red Dirt Roads – TXRDR – Justin Frazell

Radio Station of the Year – Specialty Show
Front Porch Show – KPLX Hondo

On Air Personality of the Year – Super Market
Rita and Raines – KOKE – Austin

On Air Personality of the Year – Large Market
Austin Daniels – KFTX – Corpus Christi

On Air Personality of the Year- Medium Market
Carey Dean/Keith James – KRVF Corsicana

On Air Personality of the Year – Small Market
Big Dan – KTKO – Beeville

On Air Personality – Out of Region of the Year
Carly Evans – KQSC – Colorado Springs, CO

On Air Personality of the Year – Internet
Jody Lee Caudle – Texas Homegrown Radio – Stephenville

Rate the Song: “Don’t Need a Thing” by Folks Like Them

 Posted by at 9:08 pm on October 19, 2020
Oct 192020
 

Father-son duo Folks Like Them have a new album coming soon, and today we decided to run their new single “Don’t Need a Thing” (released 10/9/20) through our scoring scale.  We were pleasantly surprised from the very beginning of this song, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It’s a great song especially considering our current climate of not being able to personally connect with others.  Our only complaint was that the quality of the recording could’ve been a little better.  Despite us knocking the score for this, they still come in at a very solid 7.8 on a scale of 1-10.

Take a listen below and let us know what you think of it on our social media channels!

 

Scoring Scale:

  • 9.0-10 = Great country song/album
  • 8.0-8.9 = Very good country song/album
  • 7.0-7.9 = Good country song/album
  • 6.0-6.9 = Decent country song/album
  • 5.0-5.9 = Average country song/album
  • 4.0-4.9 = Below average country song/album
  • 0-3.9 = Not a good country song/album
 Song Reviews  Comments Off on Rate the Song: “Don’t Need a Thing” by Folks Like Them