He said he couldn’t wait to play on European clay for the first time, and he wasn’t kidding. With a score of 6-2, 6-3, American Jack Sock defeated Argentina’s Facundo Arguello in the final qualifying round and earned his way into the 2013 French Open. For American tennis fans, it’s an exciting week that lies…
Frank Bang & the Secret Stash – Double Dare ***½ (out of 4 stars) Label: Blue Hoss It’s been a few years since his last album, but in that time apparently Frank Bang (who is a natural) just got better and better (if that’s possible). Frank Bang, the roots guitarist who spent years playing with…
Emily Herring – Your Mistake ** ½ (out of 4 stars) Label: Turquiose Earring Records To sing loudly is sometimes not enough. To sing with a twang is sometimes not enough. To sing a song that includes “Lyle Lovett” as a lyric is also not enough. Sometimes, what it takes is a voice that is…
Della Mae – This World Oft Can Be *** ½ (out of 4 stars) Label: Rounder Records Who is Della Mae? And who do I thank for introducing me to their music? Well, Della Mae is: Kimber Ludiker, Celia Woodsmith, Courtney Hartman, Shelby Means, and Jenni Lynn Gardner. And we can thank Rounder Records. The…
Bon jour! The 2013 French Open gets under way Tuesday morning at 10am, with the qualifying tournament. Also known as “the qualies,” the Qualifying competition offers a chance for each participant to compete for a place in the tournament’s main draw. Here’s a glance at “the tournament before the tournament”: 128 determined tennis players are…
How do you solve a problem like trying to interest an audience raised on “American Idol” to like an old fashioned Broadway musical? Well, for one thing, if you are producing “The Sound of Music,” you cast an “American Idol” superstar like Carrie Underwood. After all, Carrie Underwood is one of country music’s “favorite things”;…
Venerable bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent’s newly-released Brothers of the Highway has captured the #2 spot on Billboard’s Bluegrass chart, while their Grammy-nominated The Gospel Side of Dailey & Vincent is also in the top ten, at #7. “We are very humbled, excited, and thankful for the release of Brothers of the Highway,” said Jamie…
ALBUM OF THE YEAR Buddy & Jim, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale Cheater’s Game, Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison From The Ground Up, John Fullbright O’ Be Joyful, Shovels & Rope Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris/Rodney Crowell SONG OF THE YEAR Birmingham – Shovels & Rope Good Things Happen to Bad People – Richard Thompson…
George Strait – Love Is Everything **** (out of 4 stars) Label: MCA Nashville Since the passing of George Jones, the singer who now is the unquestioned “King of Country” is the other George — George Strait. He has just released a new album, “Love Is Everything,” and you’re going to love it. A few…
Keith Urban – “Little Bit of Everything” ***1/2 (out of 4 stars) Label: Hit Red Records The title says it all. After spending most of this year judging ‘American Idol,’ country superstar Keith Urban has just released a new single… and it is one of those songs that might just appeal to anyone. How does…
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