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Photo of the Week: Two-Stepping with Big & Rich

Big and Rich(Credit: Paul Familetti)

For years, I’ve been trying to immerse myself into the country culture as much as I can. Since the majority of music I cover is country I should be well versed in all things country, right? When I attended a Josh Abbott Band concert earlier this fall I was amazed at all the dancing going on. At first I thought it was line dancing, but I quickly realized that the couples weren’t dancing in a line — they were two-stepping. It was something I didn’t even know existed and I quickly wanted to learn!

Lucky for me, when Big & Rich came through New York to talk about their new album Gravity they were game to teach me. We did the interview first and the closer we got to the last question I could feel my nerves build, knowing that next up was my dance lesson. You see, I am the least coordinated person you’ll ever meet and it was a bit intimidating to be taught by guys who grew up doing the two-step. My biggest fear: stepping on one of their cowboy boots!

John Rich started off with the basics, which included explaining the difference between two-stepping and line dancing. “Anybody can dance by themselves,” Rich said of line dancing. “You’ve got to have something going on to get somebody else to dance with you. It requires a little coordination.”

Which is exactly what I learned. Most importantly, the guy has to lead. And as Rich says, if the guy doesn’t know what he’s doing it’s going to be a train wreck. Lucky for me, I had a good teacher.

big-and-rich-26(Credit: Paul Familetti)

“Full step, half step, back. Full step, half step back. That’s all it is,” he recites. “Once you get it down it’s like you’re walking.”

With that said, he grabbed me close (much closer than I had anticipated) and walked me through it while I very timidly tried my best not to step on his fancy cowboy boots.

“John Rich can two-step backwards!” Big Kenny shouts as Rich twirls me.

“I can two-step anywhere!”

“He’s a good two-stepper,” Kenny asserts. “And you’re doing good. You’ve never two-stepped before? By golly, you look like a natural.”

For my complete interview with Big & Rich visit Radio.com.

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Photos

Photo of the Week: OneRepublic

 

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with OneRepublic about their new single, forthcoming album and what they think of Kanye West’s new song about Kim Kardashian interestingly titled “Perfect B****.” For more, watch the video below and read my article on CBS.

 

Video –

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Photos

Photo of the Week: Kenny Chesney

 

If you told me I’d be seeing Kenny Chesney twice this summer I wouldn’t believe you. Back in June I caught a private performance of Kenny’ s on the rooftop of 230 Fifth in New York. He was doing a taping for a 4th of July special so he pretty much played two songs the entire night, but I didn’t mind. It would probably be the closest I ever saw him live.

 

Last year I covered his show with Zac Brown Band for Rolling Stone and it was a true summer concert experience (and my first Kenny Chesney concert!) Kenny Chesney summer tours are synonymous with tailgating and with that fun.

 

Before the show I was invited to Zac Brown Band’s eat and greet and it was unlike anything I ever witnessed. The band cooks for 100 or so fans and eats with them before the show. Lucky for me, Zac Brown just so happened to sit across the table from me and we chatted about the summer camp plans he had for Camp Southern Ground for special needs children and he even showed me the floor plans.

 

I’m not quite sure any show will top that experience, but I’m willing to find out this weekend at the Brothers of the Sun Tour. I’ll be covering the show for Billboard so stay tuned for my review and be sure to follow my country Twitter account, countryNYC for all things country.

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Photo of the Week: Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson

 

I’m getting a bit nostalgic for Nashville and CMA Fest. Thousands of country music fans will descend onto Nashville this week for the annual festival. For four days and four nights bands will perform all over the city and fans will get to meet their favorite country artists. It’s unlike any festival I’ve ever been to and by far my favorite. Here’s a photo of Kelly Clarkson’s surprise appearance with Jason Aldean at LP Field last year to perform their hit single “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bO2iLPs5fE

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Features Photos

The Most Notorious Rocker Death Rumors

Bon Jovi fans received heartbreaking news the other day when it seemed that beloved frontman Jon Bon Jovi had died unexpectedly after paramedics found him in a coma.

But the rumor was was proven false when he uploaded this photo to his Facebook page. Dated December 19th, 2011, the caption informed fans, “Rest assured that Jon is alive and well! This photo was just taken.”

In Bon Jovi’s honor, look at the 9 biggest death rumors ever to hit the music world on Rolling Stone.

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Photo of the Week: Zac Brown Band & Randy Travis

I’m beyond excited to be covering Kenny Chesney’s “Goin’ Coastal” tour with Zac Brown Band this Saturday at the Meadowlands! During CMA Fest this past June, ZBB brought several of their musician friends onstage including Randy Travis and Amos Lee. I’m sure Saturday will be full of surprises so follow along on Twitter and stay tuned for my review!

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Photos

CMA Festival LP Field Photos

CMA Music Festival was a blast and has further convinced me that one day I just might have to move to Nashville. While I spent some of my time there covering Billboard’s Country Music Summit I also had time to enjoy the nightly shows at LP Field from the photo pit. Below are some of my favorite photos including Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Zac Brown Band and Randy Travis. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Festivals Photos

Photo of the Week: Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson

I was lucky enough to be in the photo pit just as Kelly Clarkson joined Jason Aldean onstage at LP Field for their duet on “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” Stay tuned for more CMA Music Festival coverage and photos later this week!

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Photos

Photo of the Week: Foo Fighters

Photo Credit: Matt Simpson

Walking into Ed Sullivan Theater Tuesday night I was quickly reminded of the Beatles. With their music blaring from the speakers and the Foo Fighters’ drum kit set up high on a platform stage, it was hard not to forget the Fab Four’s iconic first U.S. performance at Ed Sullivan Theater back in 1964.

So, when Foo Fighters came onstage in the Beatles famed get-ups —  black suits, white shirts, skinny ties and black dress shoes — I knew it was going to be a good night. You can read my review of the show on MTV and be sure to watch the Beatles perform “I Want to Hold Your Hand” below. Did Foo Fighters pull it off? Let me know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeBm46WJOxQ&feature=related

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Photos

Photo of the Week: Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg

Photo Credit: Matt Simpson

Fans went crazy Tuesday night at New York’s legendary Ed Sullivan Theater when country icon Willie Nelson made a surprise appearance with Snoop Dogg during the rapper’s ‘Live on Letterman’ performance. Willie talked of their time together in Amsterdam before the duo sang ‘Superman,’ a track Willie wrote for Snoop’s last album.

This is the second time the fast friends have collaborated. Willie is also featured on the rapper’s track, ‘My Medicine,’ which is dedicated to Willie’s late buddy Johnny Cash. Stay tuned  for my complete review and the video from their ‘Live on Letterman’ performance.