The 38th Annual Country Radio Seminar, which takes place each year in Nashville, TN held plenty of surprises and unexpected musical thrills this year, from a special club performance by John Mellencamp to a song by Jewel and John Rich at the event’s finale/disco party in the Renaissance Grand Ballroom at week’s end. There were simply too many events for one person to attend during the week-long seminar, which often feels like a family reunion of sorts for the country music industry since so many artists participate each year.
This year, in an attempt to better cover the event, Lorie and Raeanne decided to split up and cover different events every day. If Lorie went one way, Raeanne went the other, although the two intrepid reporters did sometimes meet in the middle-on escalators, in ladies rooms, the famed sky bar and such.
Lorie’s week’s experiences kicked off on Tuesday with the DJ Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel. The evening celebrated the distinguished careers of several country disc jockeys and included a special Career Achievement Award for Kenny Rogers, acknowledging his five decades in the music industry as a recording artist. As a special nod to Rogers, writer of “The Gambler”, Don Schlitz, Billy Currington, and Vince Gill all took the stage and performed some of Rogers’ biggest hits. Gill did an especially memorable acoustic take on “Sweet Music Man,” made all the more touching as he performed with his glasses on his nose, squinting at the lyrics taped to the side of his guitar. It was one of many warm and entertaining moments during the significant evening.
In the meanwhile, Raeanne headed off to Universal’s kick-off party at the Mercy Lounge, featuring newcomers Halfway to Hazard, who have a big buzz going on, and who drove the usually jaded industry crowd to cheer and clap throughout their set. Gary Allen headlined with a bunch of songs, both familiar hits and new tunes from his “Greatest Hits” collection, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart recently.
Meanwhile, the energy kicked up a notch as Lorie went on to the Equity Records party at The Stage on Broadway. The jam-packed club was set up as “Hotel California” for the night, and boasted Equity artists Clint Black, Carolina Rain, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Laura Bryna, Mark Wills, and platinum act Little Big Town. Though the set changes were unbearably long, the music was worth the wait for the most part, and the Eagles covers each artist tackled helped keep the energy level up among the eager crowd. By the time Little Big Town took the stage well after 1 am., word had spread of John Mellencamp’s surprise appearance with the band, and the collaboration was definitely worth the wait. Sounding as solid as ever, Mellencamp had the entire bar singing and dancing along to “Little Pink Houses,” and the set was one of those special moments that often occurs during this week.
On Wednesday, Raeanne got a 10 am start at the Montage Music Group’s showcase for Little Texas. With original member Porter Howell now taking over the band’s vocal duties, the high energy group performed a great set, in spite of the early morning-for musicians anyway- hour. By the way, former Little Texas vocalist Tim Rushlow is now part of a new duo, Rushlow Harris, and is signed to Toby Keith’s Show Dog Records. It was nice to see everyone ever involved in Little Texas doing so well.
Immediately afterward, Raeanne went up to the Performance Hall for the Curb/Asylum Lunch and performance. Featured was newcomer Lee Brice, and so the advert said, a Very Special Guest! Rumor had it that that guest was going to be Tim McGraw, so a very rapt and excited room full of radio people and journalists paid careful attention to the goings on. But alas, the Very Special Guest turned out to be Steve Holy (“Brand New Girlfriend”), which is fine, unless you were expecting Tim McGraw. None-the-less both artists did a great job, with Lee Brice (“She Ain’t Right”) admitting that his back-up singer was actually his girlfriend. Cute.
Next, Raeanne meandered down the hall to ASCAP’s KCRS LIVE! which featured acoustic performances by Gretchen Wilson, John Rich, John Anderson (who will be making a come-back with an album being produced by John Rich) Rivers Rutherford and Craig Wiseman. Between the bantering between the friendly competitors, and the music that they have written, this was an outstanding not-to-be-missed event.
Wednesday evening, Lorie made her way into the Music City Jam in the lower level of the hotel, where Toby Keith was holding court musically with some cool guests of his own selection, including Crystal Gayle and Bobby Bare, among others. Hearing Keith duet with Gayle on some of her early hits was a treat, and showed off a different side of the gruff and tough, often in-your-face singer. Artist jams are special for that exact reason – they allow the performer to set aside their usual hits and play around with some of the tunes that inspired them, and magic almost always happens when guards are let down and there is room for spontaneity that regular tour dates often don’t allow. By the time Montgomery Gentry took the stage with Keith for the rocking finale, the crowd was on its feet and ready to head forth to the many activities of the night.
Montage Records also debuted one of its new signings, Canadian act The Roadhammers, Wednesday evening, and the band appeared revved and ready to take on a whole new audience in the States with their amped-up, live show. A tight band musically, they definitely know how to work a stage and should find a niche among country’s new acts for 2007 with little problem. Attendees might have noticed actor Jason Priestley mingling among the Roadhammers’ crowd of fans – the “Beverly Hills 90210” star is filming a documentary on the band and could be seen shooting around seminar during the Hammers’ shows on Wednesday and Thursday nights, proving you never know who will appear at this ever-expanding event.
Another new label on the scene, Midas Records, held a party to showcase several of their new acts, including Lindsay Grant and Emerson Drive, who this time around seem to have found the right label home. There was quite a stir at the entrance to the party, with a “live tree lady” from the Opryland Hotel bending her leaves and branches around anyone who passed through, and the two “cavemen dwarves” who stood guard at the doors and posed for pictures with amused registrants. Emerson Drive reinforced why the band was recently nominated for the ACM “Group of the Year” with their high-energy performance that included hits like “Fall Into Me,” and their moving, new hit single, “Moments.” Their seamless harmonies and remarkable musicianship should have all but put any boy-band discussion to rest by now as they continue to prove why they’re one of the hardest-working and most deserving bands in the genre today.
Although neither Lorie or Raeanne could make it, we must tell you that Thursday morning’s CRS Keynote Address was delivered by Jon Bon Jovi (Could Bon Jovi be going country?) along with radio’s favorite Gerry House. From what we hear, their remarks were well worth hearing, and with House on the stage, very funny, too.)
At lunchtime, Sony/BMG Nashville brought Terri Clark (recently moved from Mercury Records after a long stint there) to the table, along with former “Nashville Star” winner Chris Young, whose self-titled first album has garnered him a ACM nomination as Top New Male Vocalist. Since Dish met the long, tall Young at the start of last year’s “Nashville Star Tour” and was impressed by his talent, charm, and good looks, we were glad to see the engagement between himself and Sony, which came as a result of his win, seems to have turned into a marriage.
Lorie headed off to Thursday’s WCRS Live “Songwriters In The Round” show, hosted by BMI, which was by far my favorite show of the entire seminar, and a perfect illustration of just what makes Nashville so special. The show featured Pat Green, Jeffrey Steele, new artist Sarah Buxton, and legend Mac Davis trading quips and licks as they performed some of their hits in the round and included some really priceless moments and stories. The reverence these four obviously held for each other was palpable as they listened intently and sang harmony for each other, and the humorous interplay among them reminded the audience of why each has been able to connect so supremely in song with the country audience again and again. Hearing Davis live was the real treat, and he happily performed hits like “Lubbock Texas In My Rearview Mirror” and “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” as the crowd sang along. Steele gave the audience a taste of why he is arguably the most successful writer in Nashville today, performing hit after hit including “My Town,” and an ultra-cool version of the monster Rascal Flatts hit “What Hurts The Most.” Green was delightfully uninhibited and amusing as ever with his self-deprecating humor and heartfelt songs, and spunky newcomer Buxton more than held her own with this seasoned crowd, especially during her version of “Stupid Boy,” which has become Keith Urban’s latest hit. The show was one of the best in-the-round sessions I have witnessed, void of the sometimes stuffy, self-important air many writer in-the-rounds often have, and full of wit and pure passion for the craft.
Later that evening an array of artists took the stage at the Wildhorse Saloon for a special CRS showcase, including “American Idol” artist Bucky Covington, Jamie Lee Thurston, Burrito Deluxe, Emerson Drive, Rhonda Towns, and several others. Though only there for a short while, I was able to catch great performances by Burrito Deluxe and Covington, who has amazing stage presence. Like TNT exploding, Covington commands every inch of the stage and takes no prisoners as he cavorts about like a true rock star, demanding your attention and clutching it until the very last note. Sadly for the participating artists, though, with tons of other major artists performing in town on the same night, the showcase wasn’t so well attended. Broken Bow’s Beach Bash was in full swing when I dropped in, with Craig Morgan wrapping up a rousing set and Megan Mullins about to take the stage. I lasted for a bit of her set but finally headed home knowing there was another full day of festivities to go.
Meanwhile, Raeanne stopped by at the Big Machine Records and Mediabase showcase which featured artists Jimmy Wayne, Danielle Peck, Dusty Drake and Sunny Sweeney, three of whom were formerly Dreamworks Records artists where Big Machine label owner Scott Borchetta was formerly head of radio promotion. Now, with his very talented hands untied, we’ll see how far he can take these artists he obviously truly believes in.
But wait! Capital Records was having a big Keith Urban bash, Big & Rich were having a “kegger” party, and John Mellencamp was playing at the Mercy Lounge, all at the same time!!! Raeanne decided to go to the Big & Rich show –a blast! (John Rich smashed his guitar a’ la Pete Townshend at the end) But oh, just imagine what we missed elsewhere…..
On Friday, the weary Lorie and Raeanne continued on their quest to find the very best music and songs that will hopefully be played on the radio this coming year. Lorie interviewed the Drew Davis Band who had some hilarious stories about their first CRS, while Raeanne found her way to the Capitol Nashville Lunch, which featured newcomer Luke Bryan and superstar Trace Adkins, whose successful career has spanned over a decade. Whether you were a fan of this artist before this show or not, you would have definitely walked out convinced, as the seasoned Adkins wrapped the crowd around his little finger with one impressive, emotive, baritone hit after the next. From “Every Light in the House” to “Honkytonk Badonkadonk” to 2006’s “Dangerous Man”, Adkins proved to be the star he’s cracked up to be in no uncertain terms.
Later that evening, Raeanne and Lorie both attended the hottest ticket of the entire CRS, the fabulous “New Faces” show, during which the most promising young artists of last year get to show off their talents to the radio folk who can make or break their careers. In the hot seat were Rodney Atkins, Eric Church, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, and Trent Tomlinson. And judging by the reaction of the crowd, you can bet your boots that we’ll all be hearing a lot from all of them very soon.
Well, the night was still young at CRS, but typical of the entire event, there were too many choices for even two hard-working journalists. Lorie decided to go to the “Premiere Radio Networks After Midnite Disco Party with Blair Garner”, always a super-fun finale to this music-filled conference. Each year, attendees put on their dancing shoes and “boogie” to some of the best acts in country-only they don’t play country! Instead, dressed up in silly costumes and big, colorful wigs, country’s biggest artists play- disco music. And we are not kidding!
Well, we’re sorry it’s over for this year, but we hope we’ve given you some clues as to who’s going to be in heavy rotation on the radio this year. In the future, we’ll have to bring four hard working journalists to cover all the events we missed, including informative seminars that go on all day long, and so much more. It’ll probably take us all year to rest up, but we’ll be ready next year as CRS 39 rolls around.…
