I’ve seen New York-based band The Postelles perform quite a few times and have always been impressed by their live show. The energetic group met in high school and has been playing together ever since. After numerous festival showcases and a stint as opener for Kings of Leon, the band is readying their self-titled debut album, due out this June. Watch an interview and four song performance and interview for Baeble Music below.
Category: Features
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A Day in the Life with Josh Kelley
A few weeks ago, I spent the day with Josh Kelley while he was in New York promoting his debut country release, Georgia Clay. Throughout the day, the Georgia native filled me in on his songwriting process, his early years writing and performing with his younger brother, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, and some defining moments in his career and personal life. You can watch the video below and for my complete writeup and interview, visit The Boot.
It was a night of jaw-dropping collaborations, surprises and new music at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Alright Mandalay Bay, ready to see a little music history?” Sugarland’s Kristian Bush asked the audience before bandmate Jennifer Nettles and R&B/pop sensation Rihanna took to the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino stage.
And music history it was. Rihanna appeared alone in a knock-out white dress, singing the first verse of her new single, ‘California King Bed’ as Jennifer’s vocals could be heard in the background. Soon, Jennifer appeared side stage and the two alternated singing lead and harmonizing throughout the remainder of the track. The vulnerable ballad showcased each artist’s incredibly powerful vocals and was just one of the many unexpected collaborations of the night.
Brad Paisley kicked off the night of collaborations at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino with his current single, ‘Old Alabama.’ Wearing blue jeans, a black Alabama concert t-shirt and his classic white cowboy hat, Brad wowed the crowd with his guitar skills for his tribute to the iconic country band before they came out and joined him mid-song. Alabama walked onstage with their guitars in hand to screams and helped Brad close the song with a fast-paced guitar jam.
For my complete review and photos of last night’s ACM Awards, visit The Boot.
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ACM Awards Live Tonight!
The 46th Academy of Country Music Awards air tonight at 8PM ET/PT on CBS. I’ll be live tweeting the night’s winners and writing up a review for tomorrow, so stay tuned this week for more.
Be sure to watch the awards for much anticipated performances by Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles with Rihanna and Zac Brown Band with James Taylor as well as Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Ronnie Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and many, many more.
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Must-See Music Venues in Park Slope
Six months ago, I moved from the suburbs of New Jersey to the Park Slope area of Brooklyn. Recently, I wrote an article for Park Slope Patch on various places to witness local and national talent. You can read the complete post here.
With over a dozen venues within walking distance, I have no excuse to stay in on any given night. Expect many more show reviews from me in the future! Below are a few of my favorite venues in Park Slope. Be sure to let me know if I missed any!
Southpaw
Voted one of New York’s top five concert venues by Time Out New York, Southpaw is known for its diverse billing. On a weekly basis, acts range anywhere from hip-hop, bluegrass and indie rock to comedy and reading series. In addition to the upstairs space with the main stage, floor and lounge-like seating, DownSouth, located downstairs from the main room, also holds events, concerts and DJs.
And don’t forget about The Rub, Southpaw’s monthly dance party.
Tea Lounge (photo above)
Not the run-of-the-mill tea spot, Tea Lounge doubles as a music venue and movie theater. With frequent jazz performers, open mic nights and a singer-songwriter series, the space has much to offer.
In addition to hosting music events and caffeine addicts, the space boasts a diverse food menu and bar, making it the perfect all day and night hang out.
Union Hall
Built in an abandoned warehouse, Union Hall’s unique layout provides something for everyone. With two bocce ball courts, shelves stacked with books, a mouth-watering menu of food and space downstairs for concerts, comedy shows and readings, the location easily impresses.
Whether it’s an up-and-coming indie band or an 80s dance party, Union Hall’s eclectic mix satisfies. In addition to its concert space, an outdoor courtyard is opened during the summer for drinks, where many bands load-in and relax before their show.
For my complete list, visit Park Slope Patch.
Whether you’re celebrating the day with that special someone or friends and family, here’s a few songs to get you in that Valentine’s Day spirit. Be sure to leave your favorite tracks in the comments!
Ray LaMontagne “You Are the Best Thing”
Etta James “At Last”
Paramore “The Only Exception”
The Beach Boys “God Only Knows”
Savage Garden “Truly Madly Deeply”
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53rd Annual Grammy Awards Tonight on CBS
The Grammy Awards air tonight on CBS at 8PM ET/PT and will feature live performances by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Bob Dylan, Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, B.o.B, Bruno Mars, Drake, Rihanna and many more.
For complete coverage, be sure to follow me on Twitter as I’ll be live tweeting the show. Over the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to interview numerous Grammy winners, so be sure to click on my Q&As with past winners below and stay tuned for new interviews in the upcoming weeks!
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10 Best Come-On Lyrics in Country Music
Don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day? Just turn on country radio, and you might get some advice for finding that special someone. Yes, country music is known for tales of love and heartbreak, but something’s gotta happen to spark all that romance. For some, it begins with a pickup line. Read below as I count down the best pickup lines in country music for The Boot, mixing the clever with the cleverly cheesy.
“Boy, if you wanna know the things I’ve been thinking/ You’d be meeting me outside”
‘Last Night Again,’ Steel Magnolia
That’s Meghan’s line, but an honorable mention goes to Josh’s equally provocative opening lyric: “Your lips are moving but I can’t hear you/Wish you would talk your way right over here.”
“I’d like to check you for ticks”
‘Ticks,’ Brad Paisley
Known for his quirky and descriptive lyrics, Brad paints the vivid picture of meeting a girl at a bar before escaping to the sticks in hopes of getting to know her a little — make that a lot — better. Whether or not our amateur entomologist finds any bugs on her is another story.
And my current favorite (and cheesiest of all, I know).
“Are you from Tennessee?/’Cause baby, you’re the only 10 I see”
‘Pickup Truck,’ Shane Yellowbird
Pickup lines are abundant in this song; whether they actually work or not is still a mystery. “My name is Shane/How do you like me so far?” he asks, followed by the predictable “I need a map/’Cause I’m lost in your eyes.” Cheesy as a supermarket’s Velveeeta shelf, sure, but give the guy some credit for persistence.
For my complete list, visit The Boot and be sure to let me know some of your favorite (or least favorite) pickup lines in the comments!
Early Tuesday morning, the first list of performers was revealed for country music’s annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. The festival will be held June 9-12 and include sets by Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Darius Rucker, and Keith Urban. These are the first 12 artists to perform during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.
If your favorite artist isn’t in the current lineup, don’t you worry as additional names and performance schedules will be announced in coming weeks. For the most up-to-date information, be sure to visit CMAfest.com. I’m hoping to make the trip to Nashville again this year so stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks. Be sure to check out my 2009 CMA Fest video interviews with Jake Owen, Holly Williams and David Nail below.
Jake Owen
Holly Williams
David Nail
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Studio Notes: YSIW's Top 5 Picks of 2011
Photo Credit: Wendy Hu
With so many artists releasing albums this year, how does one decide which to purchase? You Sing I Write’s got you covered. Below is a list of album releases by some of the artists I’ve interviewed over the years with song previews and behind-the-scenes studio footage. Take a listen and be sure to let me know which album you’re most looking forward to this year.
Lights Resolve
This New York-based trio has been touring non-stop over the past four years, perfecting their live show and acquiring countless fans along the way. Their debut album, Feel You’re Different, will be released this Spring. Produced, engineered and mixed by Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday) and mastered by Emily Lazar / Joe LaPorta (Foo Fighters, Vampire Weekend), Feel You’re Different is sure to show off a new, bold and vital direction for the New York alternative three-piece.
Watch their album teaser below and be sure to catch them in New York Tuesday at Bowery Electric. For more on the band, visit them on MySpace and to learn more, read my interview with Lights Resolve here.
Mat Kearney
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mat Kearney is currently in the studio working on his next album, Young Love. He’s been filling in his fans via video blogs and mini journals like the one below:
“Right now, I’m sitting on the studio couch here in Nashville as rain is drizzling outside. We have been listening to 4 measures of the same song, over and over, trying to find the best transition possible. We seem to be pretty far along with my new record, “Young Love”. I’m going out of my mind bouncing between feelings of extreme gratitude, as well as being completely overwhelmed. Regardless, I cant wait to share this project with you. We put together a video from the studio so you can see what we have been up to. I wanted you to be apart of the process and the madness. I hope this finds you well.”
Read and listen to my interview with Mat Kearney here and watch his latest studio update below.
NEEDTOBREATHE
Last year, I interviewed and covered one of NEEDTOBREATHE’s New York performances, which became my favorite concert of 2010. The South Carolina natives are in the studio working on their forthcoming album. Watch their first studio blog below and for more on the band, read my interview with NEEDTOBREATHE here.
Parachute
I still remember my first interview with Will Anderson of Parachute, then known as Sparky’s Flaw. It was in 2007 and he was walking to class while telling me about a song he recently wrote about a girl he was crushing on in college. A year later their songs could be heard on the radio and they were performing in Times Square for New Year’s Eve. Not a bad lead-up to their debut album. Parachute just announced that in April, they will release their sophomore effort, The Way It Was.
“We are all so incredibly excited for YOU, our amazing fans to be the first to hear the name of our upcoming album! Drum Roll Please… “The Way It Was”. We’re finishing up production now, and the album will be available in April 12, 2011. We can’t wait to share it with all of you!
We’ve been busy rehearsing for our tour with Plain White T’s “Wonders of the Younger Tour”, and we want to make sure that all of you are able to hear your favorite songs from ‘Losing Sleep’ in addition to several tracks from the new album. To submit your top picks for our setlist, all you have to do is post 4-5 songs you would like to hear most on our Facebook wall, and we will be checking your comments! See you on the road.”
Read my interview with Parachute here and watch their video for “She Is Love” below.
Switchfoot
The San Diego band just announced an album update on their Web site.
“We wanted to give everyone an update on our new record Vice Verses. Some of you have heard samples of the songs during our fall tour and at our holiday shows. We are starting to record with producers Neil Avron, Mike Elizondo and engineer Adam Hawkins. Look out for a new Switchfoot album in the summer of 2011! Also, check our websites for studio updates, tour updates etc.”
Watch the music video for their single “The Sound (John Perkins’ Blues)” below and be sure to visit Switchfoot.com for studio updates. For my interview with Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman, click here.