CMT revealed it will honor Chris Stapleton, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini and Luke Combs as the premier country artists celebrated at 2021 “CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR” special LIVE from Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Wednesday, October 13 at 9p/8c.

These five “Artists of the Year” collectively dominated the last 12 months in country music, leading across all CMT platforms, scoring chart-topping albums and singles, while simultaneously finding creative ways to connect with fans and meet the personal and professional challenges posed by the pandemic. 

Margaret Comeaux, Executive Producer and Vice President, Production of CMT notes: “’We are honored to recognize these five incredible artists who have entertained and inspired millions through their music this past year. We look forward to returning to the Schermerhorn with a live show as we celebrate the accomplishments of Chris, Kane, Kelsea, Gabby and Luke.” 

The 90-minute special will return to its original format after adapting last year to honor some of the most vital and inspirational Americans on the frontlines of the pandemic. This year, some of music’s biggest stars will celebrate Stapleton, Brown, Ballerini, Barrett and Combs with never-before-seen performances and collaborations, and congratulatory moments. Musical pairings, special guests, additional honorees, performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit CMT.com, follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok, use hashtag #CMTAOTY and ‘like’ CMT Artists of the Year on Facebook.

The post CMT Announces “2021 CMT Artists of the Year” Special Airing Live from Nashville first appeared on Country Music Rocks.

Few can keep up with Carly Pearce and Ashey McBryde in the songwriting and wide-open vocal department; especially as the woman whose “Next Girl” was the only Country song cited by TIME as a “Song of the Summer” is mining her own tumult and deep, soul-shaking disappointment, while the “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” continues to prove naysayers wrong with her latest project, Never Will, as it became the only Country album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACM, CMA and Recording Academy in the same award season. Now, with the two powerful songstresses combining forces, the ravaged Country tradition of the hard truth cheating song is reignited with brand-new single “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.”

Written by Pearce, McBryde and co-producer Shane McAnally, the clarity bomb is sung from the perspective of two women – the single girl thanking the guy who helped change her flat tire and the wife at home – discovering the man they’re involved with has someone else. The shattering truth in a text – for McBryde – and the reality of where he’s been when he gets home – for Pearce – finds the two women reeling as they consider their own blind spots in a painfully sobering moment.

“Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them,” Pearce explains. “You never see it coming, but there’s always an explanation. You know, who’d ever want to think that way about someone they love. Why would you? And so, that’s where this song started: the things you don’t see, because you’d never look.

“Ashley is such a great drop-into-the-moment writer, she was able to bring that reality bomb truth to what we were doing,” continues Pearce. “She’s fearless, and she understands human nature in a way that let us both really write to the hurt of realizing we’ve been lied to by someone we’re intimate with.”

“Carly isn’t afraid to face the less potable subjects,” McBryde offers. “As a writer she’s willing to get in there and get very honest. Writing this song together with Shane strengthened our friendship and taught us more about one another and ourselves. Seriously, nobody wants to be the other woman. And when you find you are … damn. It’s such a gut punch.”

The third track from 29: WRITTEN IN STONE, which expands Pearce’s original seven-song 29 recording to 15 songs, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” arrives at Country radio now via Big Machine Records and Warner Music Nashville. The high-drama, real woman duet is available to listen to now: https://CarlyPearce.lnk.to/NWTBTGPR.

The post Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde Join Forces In New Duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” first appeared on Country Music Rocks.

Photo Credit: Alex Berger

“One of Country music’s most promising young stars,” (Whiskey Riff), Lainey Wilson has earned the No.1 spot on the Mediabase and Billboard Country radio charts with her hit “Things A Man Oughta Know.” She is the first new solo female artist to accomplish this feat since Gabby Barrett with “I Hope” in April 2020.

“Things A Man Oughta Know” has garnered more than 146 million on-demand streams and has been in the Top 10 in Country single sales for several weeks. The single (having reached the No.1 position on Sirius XM’s The Highway Hot 30 Weekend Countdown) is also having international success—it has been certified Gold in Canada, reaching the Top 5 on Canadian Country radio and is just as popular in the UK. The single, written by Lainey, Jason Nix and Jonathan Singleton, appeared on her critically acclaimed album, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’, which debuted earlier this year and was identified as an “early favorite for album of the year” by multiple outlets.

“It has been an incredible privilege to see firsthand how this song has impacted people. Thank you, Country radio for believing in it, sharing it with the world and taking this thing to No. 1—this is a moment I’ve dreamed of my entire life— and to do it with a song that is all about good character is icing on the cake,” said Lainey Wilson. “To my incredibly supportive team—thank you for always being by my side. I can’t wait to cry, celebrate and climb more mountains with you.”

Lainey is currently on the road on Jason Aldean’s Back In The Saddle Tour, working on new music and continuing to write. Proving worthy of being named as “one to watch” and “must listen” by many, Lainey recently won Music Row’s “Discovery Artist of the Year,” was selected as an iHeartCountry “On the Verge” artist and was nominated for CMT Music Award’s “Breakthrough Video of the Year” in addition to landing an Apple Music “Up Next” spotlight feature and being named the Opry NextStage artist for August. As part of the institution’s program, the Bell Bottom Country singer shared stories about her musical journey in two emotional videos (WATCH: Part 1 and Part 2).

For more information about the “bona fide redneck warrior princess” (Saving Country Music), visit www.laineywilson.com or follow on Instagram @laineywilsonmusic,  Twitter @laineywilson or  Facebook.com/laineywilsonmusic.

The post Lainey Wilson Celebrates #1 Single With “Things A Man Oughta Know” first appeared on Country Music Rocks.

Photo Credit Jon Currier

Jason Aldean is back in the touring saddle as he is now out on his headlining Back in the Saddle Tour featuring Hardy and Lainey Wilson. Concurrently, we are back in the concert saddle now too thanks to Aldean! The Back in the Saddle Tour passed through the PNW this weekend and served as the first major country tour at the amphitheater in the Portland area since 2019. There’s nothing like live music and having Aldean kick off bringing live music back to us was a special treat.

Photo Credit Jon Currier
Photo Credit Jon Currier

The Back in the Saddle Tour includes a stacked lineup, starting with artist on the rise, Lainey Wilson. The tour opener is celebrating the #1 single on country radio right now with “Things A Man Oughta Know,” and y’all oughta know that she is one to watch! Her stage presence is incredible and hearing her showcase music from debut album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’  was a fantastic moment. Not only was she soaking it all up looking out from the stage, but the audience was soaking up everything she was putting forth. Great things are ahead for Lainey and she is certainly off to a fantastic start for a solid career ahead.

Photo Credit Jon Currier
Photo Credit Jon Currier

Hardy took the stage shortly after Lainey Wilson’s performance. It is most definitely a party when Hardy is performing and his set covered all the fan favorites, plus more. It was hard to tell who was louder when Hardy was singing “One Beer,” but it was evident that the hitmaker was enjoying every second of it along with fans. Hardy captivated the audience right from the start and made for a perfect prelude to the man of the hour.

Photo Credit Jon Currier
Photo Credit Jon Currier

Opening up his set with “Crazy Town”, complete with pyro, Jason Aldean set the tone that it was going to be an epic night ahead. Serving hit, after hit, after hit, it was a giant sing-along all night with the three-time ACM “Entertainer of the Year,” complete with a realistic holographic performance of Carrie Underwood while Jason performed his latest single “If I Didn’t Love You.”  Aldean, who has notched 25 #1’s (so far) throughout his career, delivered a full range of his vast music collection, performing songs such as “Hick Town,” “Amarillo Sky,” “Fly Over States,” “Big Green Tractor,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” “My Kinda Party,” and so. many. more.  

Jason Aldean’s Back In The Saddle Tour is a must see. The Georgia native rocks the stage from the moment he steps on to it, to the last chord of “She’s Country” when he closes out the night. To see if he’s heading to a city near you, visit www.JasonAldean.com.

The post Jason Aldean Is “Back In The Saddle” Delivering A Must-See Tour in 2021 first appeared on Country Music Rocks.

Photo Credit Zack Napier

Yuba City native TYLER RICH will return to Northern California for his TWO THOUSAND MILES TOUR tomorrow night (9/28), kicking off his West Coast headline run at Club Rodeo in San Jose, CA and featuring special guest Shy Carter. Tyler shared his excitement to be back on the road and gave fans a sneak peek at what’s to come via Instagram today – watch here. Tickets on sale now at TylerRich.com. 

Tyler hits the road in support of his debut album of the same name, TWO THOUSAND MILES, and current single “Better Than You’re Used To,” both released via The Valory Music Co. After teasing the demo on TikTok to an overwhelming response with over  3 million views, he expedited plans  to release the track and has since racked up over 36M+ global streams to date. 

Over the last year as touring paused, Tyler connected virtually with both musical collaborators and fans.Recording the aptly-titled  “Feels  Like  Home” from a makeshift home studio, each musician added parts from their respective spaces. Tyler also hosted a weekly themed Instagram Live series to preview new music, introduce songwriter friends, play trivia and show off his carefree side with a boozy brunch alongside wife/actress Sabina Gadecki and their friends. 

No stranger to persevering in spite of distance, the pair chased dreams and embraced a bi-coastal relationship that is present in Tyler’s music, including his GOLD-certified single “The Difference.” Contributing to his 315M+ global streams, his songs reflect feelings all people have in common – the needs for acceptance, devotion and places to call their own.

His empathetic spirit extends to animals too with Rich Rescues, an initiative Tyler will continue while on tour to raise awareness for pet adoption and support shelters along the route.  

TWO THOUSAND MILES TOUR DATES:
9/28/21 San Jose CA Club Rodeo
9/29/21 San Diego CA House of Blues San Diego
9/30/21 Los Angeles CA Troubadour
10/1/21 Tucson AZ The Rock
10/2/21 San Bernardino CA The Brandin’ Iron
10/3/21 Paso Robles CA BarrelHouse Brewing Co
10/6/21 Portland OR Ponderosa Lounge & Grill
10/7/21 Tacoma WA Steel Creek
10/8/21 Spokane WA Knitting Factory Spokane
10/9/21 Boise ID Knitting Factory Boise
10/10/21 Salt Lake City UT The CommonWealth Room
10/13/21 Berkeley CA Cornerstone Berkeley
10/14/21 Petaluma CA Mystic Theatre
10/15/21 Chico CA El Rey Theatre
10/16/21 Roseville CA Goldfield Trading Post
10/17/21 Roseville CA Goldfield Trading Post

The post Tyler Rich Embarks On Two Thousand Miles Tour first appeared on Country Music Rocks.

Multi-PLATINUM Entertainer Brett Young brightens the holiday season, unwrapping his first-ever Christmas album —  Brett Young & Friends Sing The Christmas Classics (BMLG Records) — on October 22. Enlisting an all-star lineup of collaborators including Colbie Caillat, Sam Fischer, Dann Huff, Darius Rucker, Maddie & Tae, Chris Tomlin and Phil Wickham, the eight-song collection is available for pre-order here with “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” ft. Sam Fischer out now.

Later this year, Young will bring the album’s soulful stylings and must-see duets to television with “CMT Crossroads Christmas: Brett Young & Friends.”  More details will be announced in the coming weeks. 
 
Aptly titled, these yule-tide pairings find Young trading stirring harmonies and celebrating the warmth of the holiday season with fresh takes on traditional songs. Donning “the smoothest vocals in the business” (Nashville Lifestyles), Young and producer Noah Needleman tapped into a suave, jazzy production throughout the project after getting in the spirit with Young’s “Silver Bells” last year.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to make a Christmas album one day, it was just a matter of figuring out how I could do something a little bit different. We tapped into an old school, lo-fi sound with ‘Silver Bells,’ and knew we had the blueprint for a full album. It means the world that so many incredible artists who I respect were open to singing with me on the project… we don’t take the title ‘Brett Young and Friends’ lightly!” 

Brett Young & Friends Sing The Christmas Classics Track List:
 “Silver Bells”
 “White Christmas” ft. Colbie Caillat
“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” ft. Phil Wickham
“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” ft. Dann Huff
“Silent Night” ft. Chris Tomlin
 “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” ft. Maddie & Tae
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” ft. Darius Rucker
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” ft. Sam Fischer

The post Brett Young To Release First Ever Christmas Album first appeared on Country Music Rocks.

Violet Orlandi

Brazil-based rock vocalist/instrumentalist VIOLET ORLANDI, has gained viral recognition with her precocious abilities and edgy renditions of heavy metal/grunge/dark/rock artists like NIRVANA, DISTURBED, NINE INCH NAILS, and more, garnering over 860k YouTube followers and 100 million views since beginning in 2016. Notably, her cover video of THE CRANBERRIES ‘Zombie‘ has received over 12 million views since it was uploaded back in 2018. She has been putting out new videos every Sunday, and most recently her take on “Ain’t No Sunshine,” featuring MELODICKA BROS, already has over 100k views since its release on March 7th. Now, Orlandi has written and recorded her original debut, ‘High Priest Daughter‘ (out 5/28/21), an intimate look at the most difficult times in the songwriter’s life.

She states, “High Priest Daughter was written over the darkest period of my life. I didn’t even know I was doing it but writing these songs definitely helped me exorcise some of the demons that were taking over my life at the time. I started writing the album a year before my mom passed away and finished it a year after her death. Even though the album doesn’t sound as depressing as it seems, it explores death and coming to terms with it, depression, trauma, and a healthy dose of nihilism.”

The 26-year-old guitarist and singer, originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been singing since she could speak. Orlandi began taking singing and guitar lessons in her teens and fell in love with rock music. After a multitude of different bands and projects where she developed her identity as a singer-songwriter, and graduating high school, she went on to study abroad in London and lived there for 5 years, ultimately getting a degree in songwriting.

Stay tuned for more from Orlandi as she prepares to make a stamp on the rock world with ‘High Priest Daughter‘ and rises to the ranks of the artists who inspire her.

Meanwhile, check out her single ‘Kill Her‘, which is nothing short of special. With acoustic guitars setting the rhythm, the drums providing the stomp, and especially her towering and strong yet melodious voice, Violet manages to keep up the standard she has set for herself and also amongst the peers in the industry. It is a fresh new tune, a fresh new forthcoming album and an enigmatic artist that we all that we all need to keep an eye out for. We love the new tune, do you?

Check out her socials and other links below:
https://violetorlandi.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo3AxjxePfj6DHn03aiIhww
https://www.instagram.com/violet_orlandi/
https://www.facebook.com/violetorlandi/?ref=page_internal
https://twitter.com/VioletOrlandi

Online casinos are becoming increasingly popular over the last years. Learn how to find a trusted online casino to play confidently and win real money.

Due to recent advancements in technology, players no longer have to visit a traditional brick-and-mortar casino to play Poker, Roulette, Slots or Blackjack. Nowadays, by joining an online casino, they can enjoy a wide selection of high-quality games from the comfort of their home.

If you have been looking for a safe online casino, here you will find some information about what to consider before signing up in any site, and also where it is most advised to play, to give yourself a better chance.

Trusted Payment Methods

One of the most important things regarding online security is to find safe gambling sites with a reliable payment system. In this context. The payment gateway landscape has actually been changing a lot in the industry: nowadays, there is a whole bunch of payment options to suit everyone’s personal want and needs.

Players can now deposit and request withdrawals using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, BitcoinCash, Ethereum, Litecoin and even the easily accessible dogecoin (https://kryptoszene.de/dogecoin-casinos/). E-wallets (PayPal), bank transfers, and electronic checks – among others are also available for use when cashing in or paying out. But by far the most popular payment method at online casinos from all over the world are still credit cards, such as VISA or MasterCard.

As internationally recognized brands, they provide a safe, easy, and quick way to pay online, and for these reasons, almost every secure online casino accepts credit cards as their primary banking option for their players.

Additionally, players can make deposits by simply using a safe mobile casino payment solution that allows them to play for real money games via a mobile device in no time. Mobile payments have become a quick and convenient option for mobile online gamblers, and for those using a computer as well.

Data Security

One of the primary concerns among players who are consistently on the lookout for new and exciting online casinos has become the security of their financial and personal details when making an online payment.

Consumers are more afraid than ever about being a victim of a fraudulent transaction. However, there is no reason to worry about. Most web-based casinos are regularly tested by testing agencies and specialists to ensure payment security when it comes to protection of player’s personal and banking details.

That said, online casinos are constantly trying to find a balance between improving security payment processes and making the online customer journey as quick and easy as possible. So, if you decide to try a new safe online casino, just do a little practical research to find out how all the offered payment methods work, their advantages and the associated costs you should be aware of.

Fraud Prevention: Be Safe, Not Sorry

It is a fact: with increased interest in online casino comes an increase in cybercrime, so finding a trustworthy site may seem like a complicated task, as all of them claim to be safe.

With this in mind, you should consider some few essential steps before signing up in any web-casino, that may seem a bit unnecessary on occasion but if it is not a known brand or operator it would be well advised to take into account.

The first step is to check the casino’s license and registration. If the operator is properly regulated, you can rest assure that your money is safe and be monitored. To do so, you need to scroll down to the bottom of the casino home page and look for the relevant logos. All reputable online casinos present their license on their website.

It Is also crucial to check whether the licensing authorities have in fact issued that casino a license. So, you may want to click on the corresponding link and take a look at the list of all approved casinos.

Online Casino’s Reputation

If you are not satisfied after checking the license of your chosen casino, you can look out for reviews and ratings. When a casino is trustworthy and reliable, it must have a large community of players.

Therefore, on some trusted platforms, you can find plenty of online casino reviews from experienced players and professional gamblers to help you find the most trusted one for your gaming needs.

As mentioned before, there are plenty of trusted online casinos where you can play your favorite games and win serious money prizes confidently. The probability is that you will not encounter any problems at all when playing online. Finally, among the safest online casinos to play online this 2021 in the USA are Las Atlantis Casino, BetUs and Wild Casino. All of them are recommended due to their legit certifications and high online reputation. Are you ready to play safe?

2020. The worst year in a 100+ years? Especially for us metal heads and music lovers. All the world got hit with COVID-19/ pandemic. The pandemic has been rough on us all and we appreciate all our frontline workers in the medical field, food service, emergency services and beyond. But finally, in 2021, it appears some light at the end of the tunnel. Our beloved music scene is starting slowly to come back! I am so thrilled to say I have seen 4 shows in 2021 and summertime hasn’t even official started! More and more progress is being made and we have to do our part, so live music can come back stronger than ever!! Speaking of live music, let’s discuss the tremendous show that Steel Panther and Black Stone Cherry put on at The Corbin Arena in Corbin, KY!

Before I start the official review, I want to note this makes my 4th time seeing Black Stone Cherry. Twice in Kentucky and once in Ohio and Tennessee. Why do I keep coming back you may ask? Simple. THEY KICK ASS!!!

  Black Stone Cherry is from Edmonton, Kentucky. They officially got their start on June 4th, 2001, and 5 years later, their debut album came out on July 18th, 2006. Members include: Chris Robertson – Guitar, Lead Vocals, Ben Wells – Guitar, Jon Lawhon – Bass, John Fred Young – Drums.  Black Stone Cherry has made quite a name for themselves, having toured with names such as Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Whitesnake and more! The band released a new studio album last year called ‘The Human Condition.’ If you have not gave it a listen, please do your ears a favor and crank it! No disappointments in sight to be found with a bewildering album such as this! Now, that you know a little about Black Stone Cherry, let’s talk about the show!

     Black Stone Cherry gave it their all on April 22nd at The Corbin Arena. Starting out their set with the big hit “Me and Mary Jane”, I knew right then and there, they were not going to let up. It was going to be a solid rock show from start to finish. Having seen them in the past, usually, Black Stone Cherry will play a lot of songs from their newest record release, but this was not the case this time. It blew my music loving mind to hear all their biggest hits in one set! I’m talking “In My Blood”, “Lonely Train”, “White Trash Millionaire”, “Blame It on The Boom Boom” on top of other hits! The 4 gentlemen from Black Stone Cherry had created the greatest setlist I’ve heard.

   Something caught me off guard when Black Stone Cherry came out on stage. There was a new face on bass guitar. I remember asking myself, “Where is Jon Lawhon?” I asked a good friend who was at this show (Photographer Thomas Biggs) what happened to Jon and come to find out, he had family business he needed to settle and once that was done, he would be back in his rightful place as Black Stone Cherry’s bassist. That explained that part, but who was this new face? None other than Steve Jewell JR., the guitarist from the Glasgow, KY band, Otis. Steve had some big shoes to fill, stepping in for Jon Lawhon, but he did excellent and there honestly couldn’t have been a better choice! To come out, after being quarantined for a year, and sound like Black Stone Cherry did Thursday night, really shows that their talent was naturally given. Not many bands could pull it off like these guys did. Obviously, they have rehearsed, but the tightness was so astonishing! It was so tight; you couldn’t fit a paperclip in!

 The amount of talent in this band is unreal. John Fred Young is one of my favorite drummers to watch live. During their set, he was doing tricks with the sticks. Throwing them up in the air, flipping them through his fingers while playing, I mean, how can someone do that while keeping the beat on time? Amazing. Not to mention, the energetic Ben Wells jumping all over the stage. He kicks his leg up the highest I’ve seen. I’m pretty sure he almost kicked a stage light out it was so high! Your eyes wear out easily from trying to keep up with everyone of Ben’s movements, but it’s worth it. Trust me on that!! I’ll end the review for Black Stone Cherry with a 10/10 performance. I hope to see them 100+ times!

Now, it’s time for Steel Panther to come out on stage.

     Steel Panther is from Los Angeles, CA. Getting their start in the early 2000’s. Steel Panther consists of Michael Starr – Vocals, Satchel – Guitar, Lexxi Foxx – Bass, Stix Zadinia – Drums. They released their debut album ‘Feel the Steel’ on October 9th, 2009.

    Steel Panther made their way onto the stage at the Corbin Arena with an intro of “Everybody Wants Some” by Van Halen. This played over the loudspeakers as a tribute to Eddie Van Halen, who recently passed away. Steel Panther are Van Halen fanatics and it shows with their style, especially with Michael Starr’s screams. At moments, you would truly believe you are watching David Lee Roth with the way Michael Starr moves on stage. Not to mention, Steel Panther covered “Beautiful Girls” and “D.O.A.” off Van Halen’s sophomore album, ‘Van Halen II,’ which by the way, will rearrange your chromosomes if you have it loud enough! Those covers are that prodigious!

    This was my first-time seeing Steel Panther and I had no idea what to expect. After hearing them open with “Eyes of A Panther.” I was in complete shock! The crowd literally erupted! People were up dancing, the crowd got out of their seats and ran to the front, no one cared about social distancing at that point! Corbin, Kentucky was so excited to have such an outstanding show like this one, after being on lockdown for so long! Steel Panther didn’t hold back one bit! Playing songs such as “Asian Hooker,” “Death To All But Metal,” “Poontang Boomerang” and “Turn Out The Lights/” What really caught me off guard is when they started to play “17 Girls in A Row.” they invited girls, all from the crowd, to come on the stage and dance while they performed. When they started the song, the number of bare breasts I seen that night, will never be forgotten! (Thank you Steel Panther) It was the most extraordinary thing I’ve seen! I found out that is what Steel Panther shows are all about though. They’re fun to watch, they’re hilarious, and most importantly, they’re meant to inspire headbanging.

Another thing I want to mention before I conclude the review is Satchel’s melt your face off guitar solo! He is a shred master, ladies and gentlemen! A 4–5-minute guitar solo that almost set the Corbin Arena ablaze! Satchel even threw in some riffs that a lot of you may recognize. “Smoke on The Water” – Deep Purple, “Iron Man” – Black Sabbath,” “Breaking The Law – Judas Priest,” and he even threw in the Van Halen solo “Eruption.”  

Steel Panther truly impressed me Thursday night and I’ll definitely be going to see them again! 10/10 performance!

Live music is so important right now. We can’t let live music die! It’s been hurt bad by COVID -19, so we have to step up and do our part to keep music alive! Live music is making a comeback, slowly but surely, so please go out and see a live show! Support these amazing acts that get out to entertain you!

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Northern Utah, a world full of natures wonderful splendor. Pristine lakes, looming snow blanketed mountains, and jutting rock formations, but also home to False Witness. False Witness is an absolute Heavy Metal barrage. Groovy, and melodic, with chuggy head bang inducing riffage, diverse vocals and emotionally charged lyrics displayed neat and tight by 4 members, 3 of which apparently throw their vocals in the ring. With a home base in Logan, Utah the members of this cunning machine are Mckae Nielsen – guitar/vocals, Tyler Thurston – guitar/ vocals, Connor Werling – drums/ vocals, Ryan Hall – bass. The way False Witness employs a slew of different styles vocally and musically is truly a work of musical master craftsmanship that had me hooked from beginning to end, quite a few times… In fact, I found myself personally lost in the album so many times that it’s taken me a number of weeks to get this review written, let’s hope the guys can forgive my lack of due diligence and trade it for the heartwarming knowledge that I became so enraptured by this absolute monstrosity of an album that I just couldn’t stop beating my fists on my desk or banging my head long enough to write a coherent thought. Now that I’ve made associations and glossed up your eye balls, let’s jump into my thoughts on False Witness “In The Company Of Snakes”. Be sure to check out the music video for ‘Out Of Ruin‘ or the album in its entirety with the links provided afterwards!

“In The Company Of Snakes” starts with one of the strongest album openers I’ve had the pleasure of hearing in recent years, a groovy yet aggressive ode to some poor soul who apparently needs to be reminded that pissing off a talented artist isn’t the greatest idea, because now everyone knows what a callous jackass you are through some harsh words and stabs at some pretty specific character flaws, but at the same time it’s catchy so now strangers are singing about you and I think that’s one of life’s greatest joys. ‘Out Of Ruin‘ starts with an obligatory “oh!” and swinging into instantaneous head swinger of a riff False Witness wastes no time at all letting the listener know they’re in for one hell of a ride as the assaulting first verse transcends into the chorus with the surprisingly, and expertly executed angelic vocals of McKae Nielsen. The second verse is full of that same emotion and agressive demeanor as the last but falls into a neat little segment of “chugs and doodles” as I like to call them (you know exactly what I mean) into an epic solo that captures the entire emotion and narrative of the track. The instrumental segments of this track are extremely well written, and as stated before, the track is brimming with raw emotion and accentuated with skilled musicianship, and triple vocals throughout its entirety. Let’s be honest with ourselves, vocalists playing guitar is always great. Guitarists also adding their vocals to the mix makes things even better, but when you take all of that and add a drummer to the mix things get really good in the best way possible. ‘Out Of Ruin‘ also sports it’s very own music video that you can find a little bit later on when you make it to the end of this review.

‘Eating Dirt‘ hits me in such a way I find it hard to put it into words. I would go as far to say this is probably my personal favorite track on the album. I cant get over how it just has a feel so reminiscent of the music I listened to in my high school days back in the early 2000’s. I definitely would not say its like any band or song in particular, but more that its just like so many of the great bands from back then rolled into one, almost like if they had a time machine and went back to that era of music they would fit absolutely seamlessly. Not overly complex, or fast, but not dull or meandering, but a nice mid tempo jam with a little fast picking, some power chords, deep chest shaking vocals, and well placed transitions that just keep your head bouncing involuntarily until you travel into deeper waters, but as you should know traveling to the deeper regions doesn’t come without its troubles. ‘Black Masts‘ is powerful and deep on multiple levels. Starting with some double bass and cymbal crashes into an aggressive first verse the complimenting vocals of drummer Conner Werling through the verses and McKae Nielsen’s gutturals in the chorus mixed with melodic guitars, cannoning drums and metaphoric lyrical content give this track immense depth in both sound and content.

Charging in with an immense stature and slow daunting drive is the albums title track ‘In The Company Of Snakes‘. The power of groove keeps plugging away through this album and I just cant get enough. Once again I find myself with my eyes closed and my head down soaking in every ounce of music that I can while the verse and chorus keep me marching along with droning and drawn riffs like a looming army of the damned on the road to conquering the world of the living. I find this track to be a perfect example of how deadly simplicity can be. Simple doesn’t mean bad, they’ve successfully figured out how to grab your interest and keep it there by employing undeniably powerful tones and raw anger, its like a beast of its own, beckoning you to come closer so it can eat you alive through intimidation alone. Demise is already implied and all you’re going to do by running is prolong the suffering. ‘Vulturous‘ and ‘Truth Dies With A Severed Tongue‘ both keep that same cruel cunning going as with the rest of the album. Unrelenting barrages of heavy riffs, blazing drum segments and trembling bass set effective backdrops for the consistently earth shaking vocals and literarily delicious lyrical prowess I have come to expect from False Witness thus far. The surprising dashes of clean vocals and technical guitar ability blended with moments of ambient dissonance in ‘Beneath The Skin‘ left me a little dumbstruck and in wonder of what other little surprises the rest of the album would have in store.

‘State Of Decay‘ brings the groove back, or did the groove ever even go away? The answer is simple, it didn’t ever leave, I just figured you would grow weary of me sounding like a teenager from the 1960’s. Easy to digest, never a dull moment, and even a few brief tempo changes make this another absolute banger of track that leads into the most drastic change in feel I’ve experienced on this journey. “Cosmic Maw” starts with a cleanish guitar tone and angry vocals before evolving into an almost cinematic affair. An accenting choir, and spoken word dictation compliment an orchestral composition in the background to create an atmospheric and imaginative wonderland as we descend into the closing track ‘Glass Eyes (Forever in Formaldehyde)‘. Again employing dramatic orchestral composition and a begrudging, zombie like drone this track uses powerful guitars and drums with an epic background complimenting emotional vocals once again placing the listener in an entirely new world. At some point throughout the album I found myself almost unable to explain the experience in any other terms than how the music made me feel, the album just keeps evolving, becoming simple, but more complex. The more I listened the more connected I became, the music became more than just music but an extension of my consciousness itself, unable to separate my own inner monologue from what was being projected into my ears. This album will go on the list as one of the best albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to, and I hope you take the time to give it a listen. False Witness “In The Company Of Snakes” is out now, head over to their Facebook page below and buy the album, head on over to YouTube and check out the official video for ‘Out Of Ruin‘ with the link provided, or find it wherever you stream music!

https://youtu.be/MZ8do–dxMg

https://linktr.ee/falsewitnessofficial?fbclid=IwAR2A1bU5aT5wQLV6ZL_vgmgqqJQTkpIRDpovVUM5yZ4AyJ1z-OwhZNS_1R8

When I heard that California’s own, Dirty Honey, were returning to Johnson City, Tennessee, I knew from that point I wanted to make this show. But when I heard who was opening for Dirty Honey, I really got ecstatic! None other than the Orange County, California rock band, Joyous Wolf! This night was going to be nothing but pure rock n roll for the soul!

 I have a story I always like to tell about Dirty Honey, so before I get too far into this, I’d like to tell you what happened.

  Dirty Honey was playing Johnson City, Tennessee, in 2020. The same venue, which is called “Capones” on Main Street. If you have never been to Capones, please do yourself a favor and check out this super venue! Great place to see a show! Anyway, the date was January 29, 2020. I was in attendance and loving every minute. Little did I know, Dirty Honey would be my last show until late 2020, thanks to COVID-19. Not really what I would call “rock” shows per say, but I got to see some live music. 2021 is really when it started to get better. It makes me so happy that after a year of being quarantined, (which I wasn’t, I had a job and thankful I have kept it through this mess,) that I can finally go out and start seeing some shows again! Dirty Honey was my last show at Capones in 2020 and Dirty Honey was my return to Capones in 2021! Funny how it works out sometimes!

 Now let’s talk about this stunning show in depth!

 For those who do not know Joyous Wolf, you are missing out big time! As I stated earlier, they’re from Orange County, California. They have released one EP titled “Place In Time”, which blows my mind every time I listen to it. The mix on this EP is remarkable. It stays in my rotation of albums I spin. If you were to ask me, I would tell you this is one of the greatest rock bands that has hit the stage in 10+ years. This unique lineup consists of “Nick Reese – Vocals”,  “Blake Allard – Guitar”,  “Greg Braccio – Bass”,  “Robert Sodaro – Drums”. Joyous Wolf is an unbelievably tight band. I would hate to be the following act because I know some huge shoes would have to be filled! (Dirty Honey stuck right with them though).

  It was time for Joyous Wolf to come out on stage. The crowd was pumped! As soon as Nick Reese made his presence known, Capone’s exploded! The 4 young gentlemen in Joyous Wolf knew they were getting ready to give this crowd what they had been waiting for since the pandemic. Starting with their song “Fearless”, Joyous Wolf was not going to stop! Their hard driven rock sound with intense guitar work right in your face, along with groovy bass lines, this made Capones want more! Every head was bobbing in this venue, including mine! Also doing one of their well-known songs “Quiet Heart”, got me ultra-excited! This is one of my favorite Joyous Wolf songs. I remember hearing Joyous Wolf play this once before at Manchester Music Hall in Lexington, KY, and I loved it then. But the power that Joyous Wolf had in them in Tennessee, blew me away. I was amazed from start to finish. But that wasn’t all. They also threw in “Mother Rebel”, “Talk To Me”, “Get Myself Right” among other rockers! Joyous Wolf always puts on a super show! I got to speak with them after the show. Super nice guys! Get out and support this amazing rock act! They’re going to be at Louder Than Life this year. They will be playing Friday. If you do not get a chance to see them before then, here is your opportunity. It’s worth the price of a ticket to see Joyous Wolf. Trust me on that!

 Now it was Dirty Honey’s turn to rock Capones.

If you’re not familiar with Dirty Honey, please be sure to look them up! You will not be sorry, I promise! Dirty Honey resides in Los Angeles, California. They got their start in 2017. They released their first E.P. “Dirty Honey” in 2019. The first track from this E.P. “When I’m Gone” hit big! It hit the US Mainstream Rock charts at #1! How amazing is this?! Not even a full-length release at that time and already a #1 song! That alone should let you know how kick ass Dirty Honey truly is! Dirty Honey, however, released their full-length studio album titled “Dirty Honey” in April of 2021. Dirty Honey consists of “Marc Labelle – Vocals” “John Notto – Guitar”, “Justin Smolian – Bass”, “Corey Coverstone – Drums”. Dirty Honey is another band I would for sure say is one of the greatest bands that has came along in the last 10+ years. They get better and better every time I see them! Dirty Honey better put their shades on because there is a bright future ahead for these 4 gentlemen!

Dirty Honey makes their way to the stage and oh man! Capones just became an uproar!! It was LOUD! Starting out with their song “Gypsy”, this building was shaking! Everyone was so happy to finally enjoy good rock n roll again! Marc Labelle was eating it up! He loved the turnout! Marc stated through the show that the crowd at Capones had been his favorite on this tour. He loved the enthusiasm coming from the crowd. Not to mention every song that was played from Dirty Honey including “Fire Away”, “Heartbreaker”, “Down The Road”, “California Dreamin’” , and the encores of “When I’m Gone” and Rolling 7’s”, was sung by the crowd! Word for word! It was such a thrilling experience to see live! What surprised me even more was when Dirty Honey pulled out an AC/DC cover. They performed “Girls Got Rhythm”! What a reaction! Holy crap! I feel that was such a fitting song to play that night because so many women were dancing and had a lot of rhythm. In my mind, that was a good call by Dirty Honey to include in the set! Dirty Honey was groovy! The incredible bass, with the clean sounding guitar, along with crisp vocals and sick drum fills/grooves. If you love rock n roll, you’ll love this band. No doubt about that at all!

 Overall, I enjoyed my experience seeing Dirty Honey and Joyous Wolf! 10/10 show. Amazing performances, amazing staff at Capones, everything was perfect. I wish I could go back and re-live that night again! If you want to experience rock n roll, and a killer live show, these 2 bands are your best bet. Please get out and support these guys! They can’t do it without us!  Live music is making it’s return. It’s starting to slowly come back to the arenas, the clubs, the stadiums and everywhere else live music is held. Please, get out and see some shows. COVID-19 has almost killed live music and musicians, so please, buy a ticket, buy some merch and lets keep these guys on the road letting them make our next favorite album!