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Industry Insiders Announce Official Launch of “Nashville Underground Radio”

Nashville Underground Radio

Internet-Based Radio Show Will Highlight Up-And-Coming Artists, Events and Authentic Music City Insight

Industry veteran Shawn Carnes and media personality Matt Williams announce the official launch of a new Internet radio show Nashville Underground Radio. The weekly show, combining talk and independent music, features insider news from Music City, and spotlights independent and up-and-coming artists.

“The goal is not to promote any ‘underground’ scene,” says Williams. “The goal is to bring the outside world into our community, and promote the best talent in the city.”

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Jake Owen Celebrates Number One With Thousands of Fans, 9½ Fingers

Jake Owen

Jake Owen celebrated his most recent number one “Anywhere With You” last night in the grandest way possible: by throwing a free concert in BMI’s back parking lot. Now when you’re as hot as Jake Owen (in every way possible) and you announce a free show in Nashville, you get a crowd… a crowd larger than the capacity of Bridgestone arena.

These numbers are by no means official, but reports are saying there were over 8,000 people in the parking lot, and another 8-10,000 outside on roads and parking garages who couldn’t get in! Beforehand, Music Row looked like a madhouse, as though people were standing in line for… well, for a free Jake Owen concert.

Jake Owen

Photo Credit: Leslie Armstrong, Nashville Country Club

Jake and a couple other people who graced the stage kept delightedly stating their awe at how many fans there were, and that they “had no idea this many people would show up.” Well Jake, it wasn’t exactly a secret. He took over the area’s biggest radio station – BIG98, who sponsored the show – proclaiming it  “Jake98;” plus he continually tweeted and Facebooked about appearances by Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line and Dierks Bentley. Having said that, it’s still mindblowing where all these screaming girls in sundresses came from. It’s almost as though there was… a free Jake Owen concert.

The big news, however, was that Jake played with 9½ fingers. According to multiple sources, he injured his right ring finger about a month ago, and it began bleeding Sunday during rehearsals. He went to the hospital yesterday (yes, the day of the show) to find out his nerves were dead, and the doctors had to remove the top of his finger. (To reiterate… this happened the morning of the show.) Not one to disappoint, he wrapped it up, threw on some nerve killer, and played with as much energy as ever. He even played guitar. Hashtag: #badass.

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The Boys From Lady Antebellum Give Once In A Lifetime Performance

Dick Fantastic and the Fabulous Four Skins is the best band on the planet. Headed up by eccentric front man Dick Fantastic with his right hand man, “The Thunder From Down Under” Queef Urban, the band played to a sold out 3rd and Lindsley last night. And although they allegedly just got off tour with John Tesh, you may be asking yourself, “who are these Fabulous Four Skins?”

It’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood from Lady Antebellum.

Dick Fantastic and The Fabulous Four Skins

Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley as Dick Fantastic and The Fabulous Four Skins

That’s right, while Hillary Scott is on maternity leave until November, the boys of Lady A must have gotten a little bored… actually it looks like they got a lot bored. Donned in ridiculous 80’s-inspired costumes, Charles and Dave tried their hardest to ruin any good standing reputation they may have had in the Nashville community. And it was the most incredible thing one could ever see.

The name of the band itself, of course, led to many phallic-based jokes and innuendo. Opening act Striking Matches (who played a serious and incredible set) began by having trouble figuring out how best to thank Dick for inviting them on:

“We can’t say ‘it’s so great to play with Dick…’ how about ‘it’s great to open up for… nope, that’s worse.’”

This lasted until the encore when the sold out crowd began chanting… you guessed it: “We want Dick.”

Toilet humor (albeit hilarious toilet humor) aside, the Dick Fantastic character was sidesplitting funny all by himself. Complete with a lisp and an effeminate rock star voice, Charles never broke character – although after several drinks, he did accidentally refer to Dave as “Dave” once. After opening with When Doves Cry by Prince, he got the Lady Antebellum thing out of the way:

“People are always talking. They say we look a lot like those guys from Lady Antebellum. I hate that band. Such a stupid ass name.”

The rest of the set list ranged from Rosanna by Toto, to Soul Provider by Michael Bolten, to I’m Gonna Be (5,000 Miles) by… whoever the hell sang that song. As with any amazing cover band, the beginning of each song was met with roaring applause and alcohol-infused dance moves. Dick even invited the audience up to slow dance on stage, if they felt so inclined… many did.

In between songs, Dick would poke fun at the whole charade, saying things like “our career is definitely over,” and “this is probably one of those things that was a good idea tonight, but when we wake up tomorrow it’s going to have been a really bad idea.”

Dick would also frequently invite up someone who went by the name Jerks Gently (sound it out, he’s a country singer) who was apparently in attendance, but Jerks never took him up on the opportunity. Dick also utilized his stuffed zebra fanny pack to its full potential (which he apparently got from one of the LMFAO guys – for real), occasionally throwing lollipops to the crowd.

In my opinion, the show ended a little prematurely. (See what I did there?) It could have been because the band was literally put together in two days, or perhaps because they were taking free shots of Makers Mark all night. Either way, Let’s Stay Together by Al Green ended the night, as did the final disclaimer by Dick Fantastic as he leaned on his mic stand for support:

“Please forget everything you just saw tonight… no but seriously.”

Oops.

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Musicians Corner Announces Fall 2013 Season Line Up

Musicians Corner

Free Weekly Lawn Parties in Centennial Park on Saturdays in September and October

Musicians Corner presents its Fall 2013 Season of free weekly lawn parties in Centennial Park on Saturday afternoons in September and October.

Last week, Musicians Corner announced its Fall 2013 Season Kick Off Celebration presented by Southwest® Airlines on Saturday, September 7 featuring musical performances by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Dynamites Featuring Charles Walker, and Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes. Musicians Corner is proud to welcome a Barbershop Harmony Society Ensemble to the September 7 line up. Musicians Corner’s Fall 2013 Season continues every Saturday through October 26, with a special Sunday event on September 22.

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Randy Houser Breaks Single Week Audience Record With His Two-Week No. 1 With “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight”

Randy Houser

Back-to-Back No. 1 Hits from How Country Feels

Powerhouse male vocalist Randy Houser has cemented his second consecutive No. 1 single at the top of both Billboard and MediaBase charts with latest smash “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” off his 2013 release, How Country Feels. “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” was so popular that it spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Singles Chart amassing a record audience of over 47 million (highest impressions of any song in one week since 2005). The single is his second release from the album and is the follow up to first No. 1 with album title track “How Country Feels.”  Both tracks are RIAA Gold-certified, signifying more than 500,000 sold units of each hit song.

“I’m so humbled by this support, and I want to thank everyone that helped us get here,” said Houser. “I feel blessed.”

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Rising Singer-Songwriter Ann Marie Releases Debut Single “Cowboy Up”

Ann MarieCountry music singer-songwriter Ann Marie is releasing her highly anticipated debut single “Cowboy Up.” Co-penned by Ann Marie and hit songwriter Danny Myrick (Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country” Craig Morgan’s “International Harvester”), “Cowboy Up” showcases Ann Marie’s powerful vocals and lively persona.

Alongside the release of “Cowboy Up,” Ann Marie will be opening for Darius Rucker on Thursday, August 15th in Paso Robles, CA and Friday, August 16th in Lancaster, CA. The music video for “Cowboy Up” is set to be released in September along with Ann Marie’s debut EP.

California native Ann Marie has shared the stage with artists such as Adele, Richard Marx, Brian McKnight and opened for Josh Turner, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Big & Rich and many other celebrated country music artists.  The video for “Cowboy Up,” directed by renowned music video producer Shaun Silva (Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts) is set to hit major networks in the fall of 2013. Currently signed to William Morris Endeavor booking agency and Pat Finch Music Publishing/Southern Crossroads Music, Ann Marie can be seen performing at venues across the country. “Cowboy Up” can be downloaded via iTunes and the sneak peak promotional video can be seen here.

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Austin Webb To Release “Slip On By” to Country Radio August 5th

Austin Webb

Streamsound Records recording artist Austin Webb will release his new single, “Slip On By,” to Country radio August 5th.

The track is a sentimental ballad that stresses the value of time and not living in regret. This harmonious tune plucks on the heartstrings of growing older and emphasizes the importance of not letting time ‘slip on by.’

Written by Allen Dukes, Blake Neesmith, Nathan Tomberlin and Chris Stevens, the song is Webb’s second single from his upcoming 2013 full-length album release, produced by Byron Gallimore.  The Grammy-winning producer has worked with and produced No. 1 hits for acts including Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Sugarland.

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“Cups/When I’m Gone” Reaches 34 Million Views, Celebrates 80th Anniversary

Hit Coincides With the Anniversary of Historic Bristol Sessions And The Carter Family’s First Recordings 

Just in time for the August 1st anniversary of the Carter Family’s historic Bristol Sessions recordings, peermusic is celebrating the resurgence of one of A.P. Carter’s songs on the charts over 80 years after its original release. “When I’m Gone”  was written by A.P. Carter and originally recorded by the Carter Family in 1931. The lyrics of the song were recently reworked by Luisa Gerstein & Heloise Tunstall-Behrens into “Cups (When I’m Gone),” and re-recorded by actress Anna Kendrick, who has made the song a huge hit with her colorful version.

The video has already garnered more than 34 million views on YouTube, and the song has become a smash hit on pop radio since its release. The retro-tinged tune first became popular after Kendrick performed it in her audition scene in the movie “Pitch Perfect,” and has caught fire virally since on both Vevo and YouTube. The young actress’ rendition of the song has given new life to the tune, which was previously recorded by Lulu and The Lampshades.

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Rachele Lynae: “Fishin’ For Something” Live (VIDEO)

Check out this new video from hot newcomer Rachele Lynae performing “Fishin’ For Something” Live!

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Chuck Wicks’ New Music Video, “Salt Life,” Makes World Premiere

Chuck Wicks

Country singer/songwriter Chuck Wicks will debut his brand new music video for “Salt Life” TODAY (7/19) on CMT Pure, CMT Mobile and CMT.com. The exclusive premiere was directed by Marcel Chagnon and shot in Destin, Fla. The video can be viewed here.

“Salt life” is the first single from Wicks’ EP Rough, released in April. Wicks partnered with the ocean lifestyle brand, Salt Life, to give 20,000 fans a complimentary copy of Rough with their purchase of Salt Life branded products.

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