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Brantley Gilbert's Rockin' Country Wakes Up D.C.

The 930 Club in Washington, DC, is one of the best live music venues in the country, but it isn't known for booking country acts. That may change thanks to the huge turnout country acts have attracted, most recently Brantley Gilbert.

Outside of his cult following in the South, the Georgia native is known more for writing the hits "My Kind of Party" and "Dirt Road Anthem" for Jason Aldean. Brantley rarely plays headlining shows this far from Dixie so I wasn't sure what kind of crowd he'd draw on a sleepy Thursday night in August (when DC is known for basically shutting down). But the GRITS and redneck Romeos came from several neighboring states for the show.

Brantley managed to almost fill the 1,200-capacity club by word-of-mouth with zero radio support -- the local country stations vans parked in front of the Taylor Swift and Keith Urban shows held at the basketball arena in the past few weeks were nowhere to be found on this night. No local DJ came out to do the intro or toss t-shirts into the crowd.

Not that any of the fans lined up around the block hoping to get in early to secure a spot on the floor cared one bit about country radio, which rarely plays their kind of music anyway.

Fans sang and fist-pumped along to every song, having learned "GRITS" (Girls Raised in the South), "Kick It In The Sticks," "Hell on Wheels" and "Take it Outside" without any help from the radio. Those who hadn't seen Brantley in parts south or opening on the Country Throwdown tour earlier this summer learned his songs from YouTube, where his live performance videos have had millions of views. and My Space (yes, My Space is still there), where total plays of his songs is close to 16.5 million.

Brantley put on an exhilarating performance of loud, in-your-face country music that takes liberally from rock with a dash of rap. You can almost feel his connection to his fans and his fans to him. The energy sizzles from the stage to the crowd and back again and again.

And even when he slows it down for the rare ballads -- the playful "My Kind of Crazy" and sweet "You Don't Know Her Like I Do" -- the energy keeps buzzing like afterglow.

It's hard not to compare Brantley Gilbert's rising success to the other rare country act to play (and sell out) the 930 Club -- Eric Church. Both boast a rabid fan following, extensive touring and a sound that's a little harder than many country radio stations are comfortable with.

Eric Church recently sent the entire music industry a wake-up call when his new CD "Chief" debuted at the number one spot on Billboard's all-genre charts, and selling almost 150,000 copies in its first week. Let's hope Brantley will be on a similar path soon. His first major label release, "Halfway to Heaven Deluxe," is due September 13.

Find out more at www.brantleygilbert.com

Worst Country Hits of 2010

Calling some of these songs country is a stretch, but that's not why they're on the list. They're here because, in my humble opinion, they're bad in any genre and didn't deserve the unending airplay they received in 2010. Guess that's why my radio has lots of buttons!

10. "Stuck Like Glue" Sugarland

As catchy as a cold and just as annoying. It won't kill you but you sure don't want it in your head.

9. "Turn on the Radio" Reba McEntire

I love Reba, but this song stinks. The lyrics try too hard to be hip and clever, the music sounds like a reality TV show intro, and the singing ... well,, it's Reba, so the singing is just fine. But it's not enough to make me want to hear this song.

(And a side note: Why are Reba and Jeniffer Nettles torturing men in their videos? It's kind of sick, ladies.)

8. "Southern Voice" Tim McGraw

He's so much better than this silly little list of Southern-ism. Where's the passion, heart, soul and swagger of the old Tim? Oh, right -- he saves it for the movies now. (Loved you in The Blind Side!)
Update: I love "Felt Good on My Lips" so I guess he's not saving it all for the big screen!

7. "Anything Like Me" Brad Paisley

This song is just a re-write of the earlier hit "Letter to Me." The original was better.

6. Changed my mind and deleted this one!

5. "Bonfire" Craig Morgan

This song in indistinguishable from a dozen other country hits about the joy of stomping in the hillbilly backwood boondocks, except for maybe being the second worst use of a great country voice in 2010. (See No. 3 below for the worst use.)

4. "Hip To My Heart" The Band Perry

Instead of "More cowbell," I think someone said "More fiddle" and tried to make this a country song instead of a mediocre bubble-gum pop tune that even Katy Perry couldn't pull off. Cowbell might have worked better. And the lyrics were the second stupidest to ooze out of country radio in 2010.

Honorable Mention: The stupidest lyrics award for 2010 goes to "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking?" Rhyming lookin', bookends, cookin' and, well, lookin' again? Geez, buy a thesaurus or something! But the actual song is NOT on my worst list because Blake Shelton sings it so beautifully and I like the music (and video) so much. That, and because I adore Blake.

3. "Undo It" Carrie Underwood

The voice of an angel and she screams "uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh" and "na-na-na-na-na-na" or some other unintelligible gibberish? What a waste. Let's hope she's gotten whatever "It" was out of her system. (Her dancing in this video does look a bit like she's having an exorcism, so hopefully that took care of "It.")

2. "Keep On Lovin' You" Steel Magnolia

I really don't get the appeal of this song but I know a lot of people just love it. To me, it sounds like a rejected American Idol performance ("Simon, listen to my range!!!!) -- but without the humor. I'd rather hear "Pants on the Ground" or Snookie sing a Journey medley than listen to Meghan Linsey scream/sing/moan scales again.

1. "If I Die Young Young" The Band Perry

It's not the tween-pandering emo lyrics (I can still channel my inner Bella and go all moony if needed); or the catchy, sappy music that make me change the station every time this song comes on. It's Kimberley Perry's attempts to hit notes so far out of her range that I literally cringe in pain when I hear/feel them. When she sings, "The sharp knife, of a short liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife," it feels like a sharp knife in my ear. If not for that painful pitch, I'd probably download this one.

So there's my list. Maybe it's just me!

The Best Country Songs of 2010

Let's start with five songs you may have never heard because they weren't released as singles (but should have been) or never made it very high up the charts.

5. "Blossom in the Dust" Mallary Hope

This is a song Dolly Parton would have made a hit from during the '70s. A beautifully told story about love and the human spirit, with simple, swelling music and Hope's clear, strong voice, it's just a shame country radio has lost its taste for this kind of song. More people should here and be touched by its power and promise.

4. "Ain't Much Left of Lovin' You" Randy Montana

I love the story of heartbreak that is so visually painted with these lyrics: "That old porch swing, those songs we sang and the cold and bitter truth... the heaven we had, the hell that I'm going through, other than that, there ain't much left of lovin' you." Great guitar and drums drive the song along like a man falling head-first into a bottle.

3. "Tell Me" Jake Owen

This little-noticed single (it peaked at 35) shows Owen is a vocal powerhouse and I have no idea why it wasn't embraced by radio. Too cowboy-sounding? I loved the old Western sound of it. Is Owen's country hottie/bad boy image coming back to haunt him? Did the video's '70s porn vibe turn people off? Possibly. Let's hope the new CD promised in 2011 will get Owen the attention his singing and songwriting deserves, and the bad boy persona is laid to rest. With his talent, he doesn't need it. Don't believe me? See him live and you'll be a believer.

2. "Delilah" and "Draggin' the River" Blake Shelton

A sad and beautiful little cut from the otherwise goofy fun "Hillbilly Bone" CD -- I mean six-pack (let's leave that idea behind in 2010!) -- "Delilah" highlights Shelton's vocal and songwriting prowess. This song really should have been a single.

I'm hoping there still might be a chance we'll get "Draggin' the River" -- Blake's upbeat, twangy, funny duet with finance Miranda Lambert on the radio. I've heard that it won't be released because Blake and Miranda are on different labels. Come on, country radio -- you got Brad Paisley to release "This is Country Music" early. Why not use your muscle to get "Draggin' the River" released. Think of it as a wedding present!

1. "Strangers on a Train" David Nail

Probably my favorite song on the excellent "I'm About to Come Alive" CD, the bluesy music, fascinating storyline and outstanding vocals (with help from Miranda Lambert) leave me feeling like I just watched a great old movie that I want to see again and again. Every note, perfection! Why wasn't this a single in 2010?! Can we hope for it in 2011?

And now the songs you did hear...

5. "The Boys of Fall" Kenny Chesney

This song sounds beautiful, tells a compelling story and touches the heart with its earnestness and passion. I knew it would be a hit the first time I heard it, and I never change the station when it's on. (I'll leave others to speculate as to why one of they year's most heart-felt love songs is about football players.)

4. "She Won't Be Lonely Long" Clay Walker and "Love Like Crazy" Lee Brice (tie)

I put these two together because they remind me of the classic country of my youth. Simple stories, strong (but not show-stopping or overwhelming) vocals, and charming music that just lets the story play out. Refreshing, both of them. I'm not surprised neither made it to number one because they're kind of old fashioned. But I do love them both.

2. "Highway 20 Ride" Zac Brown Band

This song is so sad, sweet and beautiful, it makes me cry every damn time I hear it. Awesome songwriting, understated music, great harmonies. It tells a story that touches the heart. ("As She's Walking Away" is also great.)

1. "The Truth" Jason Aldean

Go away, you haters. Say what you will about Jason Aldean's brand of rockin' country (which I happen to love), you can't deny that this haunting ballad of a broken man is pure country worthy of Waylon or Cash. Or at least Crazy Heart's Bad Blake.

Other songs I loved in 2010: "Suffocating" by Blake Shelton; "From a Table Away" by Sunny Sweeney; "Hell on the Heart" and "Smoke a Little "Smoke" by Eric Church; "Way Out Here" and "Won't Be Lonely Long" by Josh Thompson; "The Call" by Matt Kennon; "Little White Church" by Little Big Town, "Mine" by Taylor Swift; "Lies" by Martina McBride; "Up on the Ridge" and "Draw Me a Map" by Dierks Bentley; "Hello World" by Lady Antebellum; "The Man I Want to Be" and "Rainy Night in Georgia" by Chris Young.

Is Brantley Gilbert Jason Aldean's Favorite Songwriter?

Brantley Gilbert must be one of Jason Aldean's favorite songwriters. When Jason announced the track listings for his new CD Monday, Brantley fans also got a special treat: The CD will include two of Brantley's songs.

Jason's first single and the CD's title track, "My Kind of Party," appears of Brantley's CD "Halfway to Heaven."

Brantley announced that Jason was releasing "My Kinda Party" earlier this month via his blog. "It's an honor that someone like Jason would want to record one of my songs. I'm proud to see my name attached to Jason's version and hope you guys feel the same.

"This is a big step for me as a songwriter and I couldn't have asked for a better artist to perform the song. After all, he is a Georgia boy! I love how passionate you all are about this song and my music, I just want you to know that this is a good thing," he assured his fans.

"Let's show support as Jason runs 'My Kinda Party' up the charts! This is a great thing for all of us, including you. Thanks again for all your support! Can I get a hell yeah?!!!!" Brantley asks his fans.

Hell yeah!

Brantley's "Dirt Road Anthem" (originally recorded by Brantley's good friend Colt Ford) will also be on Jason's new CD. Brantley's "The Best of Me" was an iTunes exclusive track on Jason's platinum "Wide Open" and appears on Brantley's "Modernday Prodigal Son" CD.

While Brantley has yet to find success as a singer (despite having one of the best voices I've ever heard!), having Jason Aldean record three of his songs could help him get the attention he so deserves.

Jason's new CD is due November 2 and will include 15 tracks, including a duet with Kelly Clarkson. “The album is named MY KINDA PARTY because it’s totally representative of what I like and what my fans have come to expect on my records and at the ‘party’ we throw at our shows,” Jason said. “I think the key is knowing who you are as an artist and taking it to an extreme without ripping anybody else off...it’s all about knowing what it is that sets you apart.”

A preview of Jason Aldean's "My Kind of Party" CD cover was just posted on his Facebook page. Watch the video at www.facebook.com/jasonaldean. 

Check out Brantley Gilbert on at www.brantleygilbert.com and www.Twitter.com/brantleygilbert. If you don't know his music, you're really missing a major talent!

More About Brantley Gilbert

• Brantley Gilbert’s “Halfway to Heaven” Impresses With Powerful Songwriting, Vocals
• Brantley Gilbert Gets Set to Go “Halfway to Heaven” With New CD
• Brantley Gilbert Finds His Music Video Star on YouTube
• Brantley Gilbert is Looking For a Few Real Girls

There Was Almost a Jake Owen Song on the New Blake Shelton CD!

There should have been a song written by Jake Owen on Blake Shelton's new CD "Hillbilly Bone," but it seems bad timing got in the way.

Blake recently told Country Countdown USA host Lon Helton about the Jake Owen song that got away. “I do want to talk about Jake because I’m mad at him right now,” Blake said is his usual joking manner. Seems Blake was sent a Jake Owen song to consider, and when he sent word back that he was interested, the song was no longer available.

Jake gave his side of the story on this week’s Countdown, explaining, “I was ready to give it to him … but the guys at the label loved the song and they wanted to record, so I ended up having to call Blake back and say, ‘Man, I’m sorry, I’m going to record it.’”

Blake happily reports that he got back at Jake back for pulling the song. “Three months ago, Jake Owen was calling me going, ‘Hey man, if you still want that song for your album…’ And I said no sir, I don’t need it for my album now. I don’t want it anymore.

“So I think I got even with Jake and that’s not easy to do. That’s what you get, Jake,” Blake said with a chuckle.

Of course Jake also laughed about the song snafu and Blake’s comments. “It was pretty flattering when Blake called me and asked me for that song.,” he told Helton. “To this day he gives me so much crap for that.”

Blake often gives Jake grief on Twitter, even posting a very funny photo and comment about Jake’s new haircut during the CMA Awards show last fall (see http://img121.yfrog.com/i/1g0.jpg/).

Jake is a huge fan and calls Blake “one of my favorite singers out on the radio. He could sing the phone book…”

And apparently Blake is a fan of Jake’s writing skills. Blake is “always asks me for songs. When he’s making a record he always calls me and asks me if I’ve got any songs for him that I’ve written. It means a lot to me because he’s a great songwriter. Just to think that he thinks that much of my songs makes me feel pretty good as a songwriter.”

Hear the full sound clip and more from Lon Helton’s interview with Jake Owen at www.countrycountdownusa.com .

Songwriting Women of Nashville Top the Charts

What do Jason Aldean’s “The Truth” and Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” have in common? Of course they’re both number 1 songs this week (“The Truth” sits on top of the Billboard Hot Country Chart and “White Liar” is on top of the USAToday/MediaBase Chart) but they share something else: Female songwriters.

“White Liar” was penned by Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby; “The Truth” by Brett James and Ashley Monroe.

Miranda Lambert, who is celebrating her first chart topper, regularly writes or co-writes most of songs and is well-respected for her work as both a singer and a songwriting.

Jason Aldean is celebrating his third number 1 from his “Wide Open” CD, which includes “She’s Country,” co-written by Bridgette Tatum. He’s also had success with songs written by another woman, Vicky Lynn McGehee, who co-wrote “Why,” “Hicktown,” and “Johnny Cash.”

With Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home,” which she co-wrote, destined to move up to the top-10, there may be four female songwriters ruling the country charts as soon as next week.

And of course Taylor Swift is another female singer/songwriter burning up the charts, as is Hillary Scott, who co-writes with her Lady Antebellum band mates and had a number 1 smash with "Need You Now." Both women have songs moving up the charts.

This impressive showing may or may not be unprecedented, but at the very least it is noteworthy. Congratulations to the songwriting women of Nashville!