Breaking News, Reviews, & Controversies in the Arts
Eric Church’s Double Down Tour is so successful, he’s extended it. Again. Via the website Saving Country Music, it looks like a song from his album released in late 2018, Desperate Man, will soon be released as a radio single. The song “Monsters” was new to me; I hadn’t heard it yet. After listening, I came to the conclusion now is a perfect time to release it. Continue reading “SCM: Church single ‘Monsters’ reportedly to be released as single; perfect for the times”
Michigan based band Paradise Outlaw just released the new album Shadows, and the songs definitely live up to requests to “turn it up!” The originals are solid, with lyrics and score venturing into unexpected corners. Any songwriter who can couple ‘voodoo’ with ‘Cadillac’ in a successful work deserves a hat tip. Continue reading “New Paradise Outlaw album ‘Shadows’ inspires you to “turn it up!””
Country music wasn’t always mainstream as it is today. In 1923 the genre stood on the breakout brink, and a major influence in that breakout was a song titled “The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane.” The building where that song was recorded is about to be destroyed with the city of Atlanta’s blessing, although there is an effort to save it. Pop icon Jimmy Buffett also has a profit-seeking hand in the destruction. Continue reading “City of Atlanta and Jimmy Buffett’s resort set to destroy historic country music site”
Looking for fun as the weekend opens? North Florida has you covered. From the beaches to Fruit Cove, there are plenty of options for leisure as Friday rolls in to deliver most of us from work for a day or two. Continue reading “Friday’s here; Get ready for a fun weekend in North Florida”
Blind Blake and Jacksonville, a historic stop along the blues music trail
In discussions about the stomping grounds of early blues musicians, Mississippi, Chicago, and Memphis are cited as havens for the birth of the first blues wave.
Delta blues arising by the waters of the Mississippi river. The swinging, big band style of Chicago. The intricate, bouncing notes of the Piedmont blues. Blues in other areas aren’t discussed as much, although the genre touched many different communities in the United States. Continue reading “West Ashley Street Blues—in Jacksonville, Florida?”
An ad for the Bradenton Blues Festival in Florida popped up on my Facebook feed, and I checked out the comments. Someone remarked the promo poster for the festival looked nice, and it happened that the artist who did the poster saw the comment too. The artist gave a link to his website, Mojohand, and I followed that. Talk about blues art. I was, as is sometimes said in the South, like a rabbit in a briar patch. Continue reading “Via Bradenton Blues Fest, meet Mojohand who makes blues pop in more ways than one”
Sometimes I have to reach deep inside my conscience to be fair. Right up front I’ll say I don’t care for Katy Perry’s music. Any of it. Perry just lost a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement for her song “Dark Horse.” I looked over her song and the song she allegedly ripped off. I think the court got the whole deal wrong. Continue reading “Did court get decision right in Katy Perry copyright suit for ‘Dark Horse’?”
Something about country music legends Loretta Lynn and the late Patsy Cline will be released in a new Lifetime film airing in October, 2019. Cline and Loretta were close friends, and Cline actually played a part in getting Lynn attention from the country music industry. According to A+E Networks’ news release, the new film ‘Patsy and Loretta’ was co-produced by two people who knew more about the singers than most. Continue reading “Patsy and Loretta friendship revealed in new film about music legends”
Bands in the North Florida music community will come together for a special performance to help a fellow musician.
The performances in August will include a special reunion of the band The Ride, and some tunes by Lisa Ann Taylor and her husband Robin.
Florida musician Lisa Taylor is fighting colon cancer.
An announcement on the Facebook page for the Taylors’ band Lisa and the Mad Hatters includes details of the fight Lisa has had to wage:
“As most of you know my wife Lisa has been battling stage 4 colon cancer for 6 years ..during this time she’s had two life saving surgery’s, infections, emergency room visits , long hospital stays ,29 chemo treatments and 6 radiation shots into her lung …”
Cliff’s Bar and Grill (3033 Monument Road, Suite 2) will host the fundraiser on August 17 from 5 PM-1 AM. Details were posted on the band’s page: Continue reading “Bands gather to raise funds for singer fighting cancer”
Tired of negative natter spilling from TV screens across the land? Weep no more. Participants in the LOL JAX Film Festival offer you a chance to take a humor break because this festival in its third year shines a light on comedy. Who’s responsible for focusing on laughter amid chaos? Continue reading “Take a humor break; head to third LOL JAX Film Festival”
