Tag: X

BGS Bytes: Your Roots Music Social Media Round-Up

Posted on by Lonnie_Lee_Hood

Welcome to the second edition of BGS Bytes! From up and coming artists on TikTok to conversations the biggest artists are having online, we’re here to round up any important things happening online in roots music — so you can save your thumbs a few scrolls!

In no particular order, let’s take a look back at a few notable highlights from bluegrass and country social circles in the last few weeks.

Spotify Stopped Paying Out to Small Artists On Its Platform

In early April, More Perfect Union reported that Spotify has stopped paying out for artists whose songs don’t top 1,000 streams. While this change won’t impact musicians who top the charts, it reduces profitability for smaller up-and-comers. Of course, this also impacts all genres, not just roots music, a genre that has already historically struggled with a digital era. We might have posted some satirical news about Spotify recently, but this is all too real.

I’m With Her Celebrates the Eclipse

Could there possibly be new music on the way?? I’m With Her posted a reunion photo with all three members: Sara Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sarah Jarosz, as the golden trio took in the eclipse through solar viewing glasses!

Black Opry Hit Mainstream News Talking About Beyoncé’s New Album

Tanner Davenport, co-director of The Black Opry, spoke with MSNBC in March about the record-breaking album, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ that’s been setting tongues wagging since its debut.

A Star-Studded Cast Paid Tribute to Jimmy Buffet

@amandapaulak the craziest video youll see today #jimmybuffett #maragaritaville #harrisonford #paulmccartney #juddapatow #woodyharrelson #theeagles #pitbull #brandiecarlile #sherylcrow #bonjovi #joewalsh ♬ original sound – Amanda

One of the wildest social media videos you’ll see this week features a surprising crew — watch Harrison Ford, Paul McCartney, Will Arnett, Brandi Carlile, Mac McAnally, Jon Bon Jovi, Vince Gill, and Pitbull on stage singing “Margaritvaille” together. That’s not an exhaustive list, of course, so let us know who else you can spot! It’s hard to count all the celebs in this Jimmy Buffet tribute.

Orville Peck Celebrated His New Release With Willie Nelson

If you missed it, Orville Peck recently released a recording and accompanying music video for “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” with Willie Nelson. The video has already racked up more than half a million views on YouTube! Turns out there must be many a cowboy feeling the vibes Peck and Nelson are putting out.

Viewers Have Been Digging Tyler Childers’ Live Performances on TikTok

@itscristal.g Most amazing concert 💓#tylerchilders #tylerchildersconcert #mulepulltour #country #countrymusic #concerts ♬ original sound – ⚡️Cristal⚡️

A handful of Tyler Childers’ videos have gone viral in the last few weeks, including the above that’s racked up more than 179,000 likes and nearly two million views. Hey, we can’t blame y’all for loving his music, especially when it’s performed live!

Gary the Snail Sang “Fast Car”

@ai.concerts This version should’ve been performed at the Grammys.. Gary the Snail sings Fast Car by Tracy Chapman #fyp #aicover #spongebob #tracychapman #gary ♬ Gary the Snail Fast Car – AI Concerts

With nearly three million views, Gary the Snail’s version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” has been taking over TikTok. Just a silly little cover, you’re sure to get a good chuckle, even if you’re not a huge SpongeBob fan.

It’s pretty obvious — a lot happened in March and the beginnings of April! We’ll continue rounding up the hottest social media conversations and goings-on for BGS readers every month — let us know on social media and tag us in a post if you think something deserves to make the next list.

Photo Credit: Jackson Browne, Paul McCartney, Woody Harrelson, and more perform on stage at the Jimmy Buffett tribute on April 11, 2024 shot by Randall Michelson / Live Nation – Hewitt Silva.

BGS Bytes: Your Roots Music Social Media Round-Up

Posted on by Lonnie_Lee_Hood

Welcome to BGS Bytes! Our shiny new column has one goal: to bust – or enable – your social media scrolling habit by rounding up all the most important bluegrass and roots music related posts in one place. Give your thumbs a break — we’ll post all the hot goss and goings-on every month.

In no particular order, let’s take a look back at everything that happened in bluegrass social circles in February!

Dolly Parton Responded Gracefully to Elle King’s Grand Ole Opry Debacle

In a positive conclusion to a social media fiasco that lit up news feeds, Dolly Parton responded to Elle King’s controversial January Grand Ole Opry performance. The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer appeared on the Opry stage January 19 as part of birthday celebration for Parton, who was turning 78. King, however, was quite inebriated and made comments that left some ticket holders and several social media commenters upset at her behavior. In February, though, Parton did an interview with E! News and encouraged everyone to show King support instead of condescension.

“Elle King is a doll,” Parton told the news outlet. “I called her, and I said, ‘You know, there are many F-words. Why don’t we use the right one? Forgiveness, friends, forget it.’ She feels worse about it than anybody. She’s going through some hard times, and I think she just had a little too much to drink and then that just hit her. So, we need to get over that, because she’s a great artist and a great person.”

If only everybody online was as gracious!

Sheryl Crow Plays Her Songs on TikTok Following UMG’s Decision to Pull Their Catalog

@sherylcrow

Anyone else have a Favorite Mistake? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #fyp #favoritemistake #acoustic #acousticcovers

♬ original sound – Sheryl Crow

It’s probably nobody’s favorite mistake — we’re talking about Universal Music Group choosing to remove many of their most popular tunes from TikTok, which is arguably one of the most important marketing tools for musicians currently. Understandably, many artists were upset. Some began to record live performances of their music to share on the app so fans can go on recording videos with their “sounds.”

Sheryl Crow joined the crowd making their songs available in other formats, and the “Soak Up the Sun” singer recorded acoustic versions of songs like “My Favorite Mistake” and “Strong Enough.” Many of the tunes she picked are requests, including “The First Cut is the Deepest.”

After the Tennessee Legislature Refused to Acknowledge Allison Russell, Celebs Voiced Support Online

In February, Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones proposed resolutions to the Tennessee General Assembly designed to honor both Paramore — who won a Grammy for Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Music Performance — and Allison Russell, who took home her first Grammy for Best Americana Performance. Unfortunately, Tennessee House Republicans allowed the resolution honoring Paramore to pass, but blocked the similar measure honoring Russell, who is Black and won for her song, “Eve Was Black.”

Russell took to Twitter (now known as X) to respond:

 

“I take as a compliment,” Russell tweeted. “Their bigotry, sadly, is on relentless display. We have a chance this year to make a real change in TN.”

The clearly prejudiced act was at least answered online by celebrity support. Brandi Carlile posted on Twitter that the TN GOP is “scared of” Russell.

Paramore’s Hayley Williams also responded, taking the TN GOP on in media interviews.

Holly G of Black Opry Celebrated Beyoncé’s ‘Act II’

Highlighting everyone from Frankie Staton to Rhiannon Giddens, Miko Marks to The Kentucky Gentlemen, Black Opry co-founder Holly G recently took us all back to school. Class was in session on Twitter as Holly counted down some prolific Black country artists to celebrate Beyoncé’s upcoming album, Act II: Cowboy Carter.

Everyone and Their Mamas Are Line-Dancin’ on TikTok

Speaking of Beyoncé, her new single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” is only one of many, many popular line dance tunes on TikTok right now. Whether it’s a duo gettin’ down on the pavement outside, or a group boot-stompin’ in a downtown Broadway bar, line dancing is officially cool again!

@lavbbe

This aint Texas 🤠 DC: Us ( me & @jacob.fj ) 🤎

♬ TEXAS HOLD ‘EM – Beyoncé

Willow Avalon Went Viral for New Single

Willow Avalon, an up-and-coming country singer-songwriter, went viral for debuting her new single, “Getting Rich Going Broke,” on TikTok. This tune also comes with a line dance — we told y’all this trend is on fire!

@willowavalon

Do y’all actually want this? #countrymusic #lorettalynn #dollyparton #oldcountry

♬ Getting Rich Going Broke – Willow Avalon

The Super Bowl Got Country-fied!

This year’s Super Bowl halftime show might’ve been dominated by Usher, but our favorite bits of the biggest sports event of the year happened before the game even began. Rapper Post Malone donned a clearly Western-inspired outfit and sang a stunning, acoustic version of “America the Beautiful.”

@postmalone

America The Beautiful 🇺🇸 #SuperBowl #SBLVIII

♬ original sound – Post Malone

And we’d be remiss to leave out Reba McEntire’s excellent version of “The Star Spangled Banner”!

@nfl

Reba McEntire performs the Star Spangled Banner 🇺🇸 #rebamcentire #nfl #superbowl

♬ original sound – NFL

Marcus King Celebrated Molly Tuttle’s Grammy Win With a Sharp Cover on TikTok

Last, but most certainly not least, alt-country singer-songwriter Marcus King gave an excellent cover performance of “Down Home Dispensary” online to celebrate Molly Tuttle‘s Grammy win. Tuttle even responded, commenting that he “crushed” the song — and we agree!

@marcusking

@MollyTuttle congrats on bringing home the Grammy for best bluegrass album! Well deserved!

♬ original sound – Marcus King

So, a lot happened in January, February, and the beginnings of March! We’ll continue rounding up the hottest social media conversations and goings-on for BGS readers every month — let us know on social media and tag us in a post if you think something deserves to make the list!

 

Basic Folk – John Doe

Posted on by Shelby Williamson

John Doe’s career has gone from poetry to punk to country to acting to punk to folk and back again several times. Frontman for the extremely influential LA punk band X, John was there at the dawn of West Coast punk and has written about it (twice) in his books Under the Big Black Sun and More Fun in the New World. He actually sourced out most of the books’ chapters and had his friends and other people who were there give accounts, which makes them both pretty well rounded.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • STITCHER • AMAZON • MP3

John grew up mostly in Baltimore, under the influence of John Waters and Divine. He worked odd jobs and ran a poetry group there. He’d moved to Los Angeles in the mid 70’s and met his future X bandmates Exene, Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake. John’s been in countless films and TV shows since 1987. He kind of stumbled into acting by getting an agent after he was in the indie film Border Radio. You may have seen him in films like Road House or Boogie Nights or series like Carnivale. He’s lived in Austin, Texas since 2017 and loves to tell people it’s terrible, so that no one else moves there.

John Doe’s latest album Fables in a Foreign Land takes place in the 1890’s and surrounds a young man who’s found himself alone in a cruel hard world. The album’s sound was developed through weekly jam sessions in his bassist’s backyard. This time around, John’s played up his interest in folk and roots music, all the while keeping that punk sensibility. He says, “These songs take place alone, wandering, searching and hungry accompanied by horses not machines.” And speaking of horses, John’s got a couple and it seems they’ve kept him grounded especially during the pandemic, so yeah, I ask the guy about his horses. That and we also talk about controlling the ego, listening to intuition, taking care of your physical health and his cameo in The Bodyguard (yes the Whitney Houston movie). Thanks Joe Doe!

Photo Credit: Todd V. Wolfson

BGS 5+5: Eleni Mandell

Posted on by Editor

Artist name: Eleni Mandell
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Latest album: Wake Up Again

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

One of my favorite memories from being on stage is from Munster, Germany. For a few years a man named Volker would show up to my shows in different countries and come to say hello to us, the band and me, after we performed. He had an interesting look and demeanor, so we used to try and guess what he did for a living. I think we decided he must be a race car driver or some other exotic career. It turned out that he was the lighting guy for a special theater in Munster called Pumpenhaus. It was an incredible cultural center that focused on producing plays with adults with special needs. I believe that some were residents at the local mental hospital.

Volker, the fan that showed up in different countries, talked the theater into having me play a show there. I believe I was the first musical artist ever to perform there. I developed a special relationship with Pumpenhaus and the people who worked there. One year, one of the actors who also helped around the theater, an adult with special needs, jumped up on stage right after I finished and kissed me on the cheek. Everybody laughed and cheered. His name was Guido. It could have been weird but it wasn’t because the feeling in the room was so positive.

At least an entire year later, possibly longer, we were back in Munster for a show. They treated us like kings there. It always felt like a wonderful reunion and party. Guido came backstage before the show and shyly handed me a present. It was a framed photo of him kissing me on the cheek. I keep that photo on my mantel at home to remind me of the connections you can make with people through music.

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

I knew I wanted to be a musician the first time I saw the band X perform when I was 13 years old. I had already played violin and piano since I was 5 years old and I distinctly remember wondering how I could write songs and sing with the violin. I always loved singing. My mother finally allowed me to quit classical music at 13 years old. I discovered X through one of the “bad” girls at school. Their sound and lyrics hit me on a gut level that I can’t articulate. I remember looking at them on stage and thinking, “That’s what I want to do.” The wonderful thing about this is that so many years later, John Doe (singer, bass) and D.J. Bonebrake (drums) are both acquaintances of mine. I’d like to say they’re friends but I don’t want to brag.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

I’m not sure about the toughest time I had writing a song. Sometimes I have an idea, or am inspired by a word, and then write something that is just terrible and throw it away. Sometimes I don’t throw it away but wish I had. I do remember, though, that I had an old boyfriend that was into vintage motorcycles and trucks. He was always talking about nickel plating the tank of his bike and what kind of truck he’d get, a fleetside or stake bed. Those words made me so curious. I was also in love with him and heartbroken by him all the time. I wrote the title, “Nickel Plated Man,” on top of one page and then another and another and another. I tried a million ways to write that song. I’d write it, turn the page and try again. It just never seemed to work.

Finally, the song fell on the page in 5 minutes, but it was probably a year after I first tried to write it. It came when I started plucking out those notes that repeat throughout the whole song. That is probably my most enduring song and one of the first I wrote. I’m still very proud of it. It’s also a song that Tom Waits said he thought was cool (message delivered by a mutual friend). It takes me back to a time in my life and a person that I knew (and still do). I love that about music, that it can create a whole world full of memories and feelings. I guess the lesson is that sometimes the songs that are the hardest to come to life are the ones that stick with us the longest.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

My rituals before a show are not cool or romantic. I like to get one drink that I sip on throughout the night, usually bourbon. I’m not a big drinker at all but sipping a bourbon on ice puts me in the mood to perform. I need it less and less as I get older but I still like the taste and the warmth. My number one ritual, and the nerdiest of all, is that I have to brush my teeth before I walk out on stage. My father was a dentist and I worked for him after I first graduated college. I am serious about proper oral hygiene! The last thing I want to do is taste food while I’m on stage or breathe on a fan after a show. Now everyone knows. Maybe people will start bringing me toothbrushes. I also always go and hang out at the merch table after shows. I love meeting people and seeing the same people around the world over the years.

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc — inform your music?

I feel like any artist learns and grows by experiencing art. I am a word person. I love words, the way they sound or feel in your mouth and the variety of meanings they have, in English or other languages. I love translations bouncing back from one language to another and how that can change or enhance a word for me. So, that said, I think literature always influences my work because when I read a word or combination of words or phrases in literature, I am undoubtedly influenced and inspired.

I also love photography and old movies. I am always inspired by great art that sucks me in, like an Ansel Adams photograph I saw recently at a museum. The intensity of the light and shadows made me fall in love. That euphoric feeling makes me want to pick up a guitar and sing.

Photo credit: Max Gerber

BGS 5+5: The Delines

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The Delines
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Latest album: The Imperial
Band members: Amy Boone, Cory Gray, Sean Oldham, Freddy Trujillo, Willy Vlautin

Answers by Willy Vlautin

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

Man oh man that’s a tough question. I go in phases so I can’t name just one. I grew up worshipping Willie Nelson, he’s always been my personal sorta saint, next was X and then The Pogues and Los Lobos then probably Tom Waits and Louis Armstrong and a dozen others as well.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

The Delines were playing a gig in Madrid and in the audience, right in front of the stage, were two couples making out. A man and a woman and then two men, and I went to myself, goddamn maybe what we’re doing is working! With Richmond Fontaine no women ever came to our shows. It was all middle-aged drunk dudes and none of them had probably made out with anyone in years.

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc — inform your music?

I always write songs thinking they are part of a movie and I write novels for a living so those two have always been a big part of my life. I love novels more than anything and I could spend my life in a movie theater. Since I started, I’ve written in characters and stories. For a shy kid it was always easier for me to do it that way. I could say what I needed to say without anyone looking at me. I was way too insecure otherwise. Writing in stories gave me complete freedom from everything, including myself.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

Probably from age 12-26. I wrote obsessively, hundreds of tunes and not one good one. Not a single one. You would have thought I’d have stumbled upon one or two but I didn’t. But I loved writing them even though I knew I was no good at it. And then finally a good song came to me. I was 27 and worked at a trucking company loading trucks and all the drivers were talking about seeing shit on the road late at night, white line fever. I was like hot damn, I’ll write that tune. So I write the tune about a long haul trucker who never calls his wife and all the while his wife is on a bender and ends up in a psych ward. I was so proud of the tune, my first good one after 14 years of writing bad ones. Then I played it in a bar one night and a guy comes up to me and says, “That sure don’t sound like Merle’s ‘White Line Fever’ to me.” That’s when I found out Merle Haggard had already written the tune. Even when I was certain I’d gotten a good one someone had already done it.

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

It started for me around ten but I never thought I would be much of a musician. I just always wanted to plant my flag with musicians because I grew up believing in records more than anything else. Records were always my favorite friends in life. So after a while, just to get closer to them, I joined up.

Photo credit: Jason Quigley

3×3: Julie Christensen on SXSW, Senior Year, and Splitting the Geographic Difference

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Stone Cupid / Julie Christensen
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Latest Album: The Cardinal
Rejected Band Name: Piehole

 

On my walk this morning.

A photo posted by Julie Christensen (@stonecupid) on

If you had to live the life of a character in a song, which song would you choose?
I have lived the character in the Randy Newman song "Marie." I think she may be the girl in "The Cardinal."

Where would you most like to live or visit that you haven't yet?
I had "astro-cartography" done a long time ago, and was told to go to the Portuguese islands of the Azores in the Atlantic. So I would like to go. They're supposed to be what's left of the lost civilization of Atlantis.

What was the last thing that made you really mad?
I can't tell you what it was exactly … probably a friend getting sick or dying because of the inequity in our health care system.

 

Oh, hell yeah.

A photo posted by Julie Christensen (@stonecupid) on

What's the best concert you've ever attended?
I can't decide between two concerts: In 2008 during SXSW, I heard Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express in a sweaty basement full of 300 people rock with the same fire and abandon we all carried in the '80s in that punk scene in L.A. (So glad I have that Chuck Prophet song on The Cardinal.) Same with X at the Ryman last year: John Doe said "Ernest Tubb must be turning over in his grave …"

What was your favorite grade in school?
When I was a senior, all I had left to take was French IV, dance team, and Chorus.

What are you reading right now?
A book of stories by Canadian author Alice Munro that my co-producer Jeff Turmes gave me, called The Love of a Good Woman. I've been savoring, for a good while, her exploration of the depth inside these Great Plains "plain folk." These are my people. Kind of dark down in the soul.

 

Vintage Feet. Well-traveled.

A photo posted by Julie Christensen (@stonecupid) on

Whiskey, water, or wine?
For the last 28-and-a-half years, water.

North or South?
Somewhere in the middle.

Pizza or tacos?
Tacos. Hello.

Photo credit: Michael Kelly