Monday, October 4, 2010
Toby Keith Talks iPhone Recording
The iPhone's got Toby Keith 'hooked'. Keith logged more than 60 song ideas, melodies and hooks using one of his iPhone apps. "For years I carried a little voice recorder around to collect my thoughts for songwriting," Keith says. "But they're like sunglasses; you lose them. You always have your phone with you, and it's backed up every time you dock it at home. So if you lose your phone, you're only going to lose whatever you put on there since you docked it. For me, it's the greatest thing that's happened to songwriting since the invention of the pencil... the quality of the ideas were turned up tremendously and it showed through on this album." The result is Keith's 10-track 14th studio album, "Bullets in the Gun" Out TUESDAY!!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
WIN A FREE Velveeta Shells & Cheese PRIZE PACK!!!! "Best Side of Dinner Challenge"
Hey y'all!
Kraft Foods & Velveeta Shells & Cheese have been kind enough to supply Nashville Noise with a prize pack valued at over $125! This prize pack and contest is in celebration of Rodney Atkins current 12-week, nationwide "Best Side of Dinner Tour" sponsored by Velveeta Shells & Cheese, to bring families together with his new single "Get Together." The Velveeta Shells & Cheese prize pack includes:
Free coupons for Velveeta Shells & Cheese
One Velveeta Shells & Cheese "The best side of Dinner" apron
A Velveeta Shells & Cheese oven mitt
One deluxe Serving Bowl
One 13' Solid and Slotted Nylon Spoon Set
One $25 grocery store gift card
To be eligible to win your very own Velveeta Shells & Cheese prize pack, enter the giveaway by sending an e-mail to:
ajl1861@vt.edu
include your name, address and your funniest family dinnertime story. A winner will be randomly chosen on Monday, July 19 and notified via e-mail.
Good luck, we look forward to reading all of your dinnertime stories!
Kraft Foods is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Nashville Noise.
Kraft Foods & Velveeta Shells & Cheese have been kind enough to supply Nashville Noise with a prize pack valued at over $125! This prize pack and contest is in celebration of Rodney Atkins current 12-week, nationwide "Best Side of Dinner Tour" sponsored by Velveeta Shells & Cheese, to bring families together with his new single "Get Together." The Velveeta Shells & Cheese prize pack includes:
Free coupons for Velveeta Shells & Cheese
One Velveeta Shells & Cheese "The best side of Dinner" apron
A Velveeta Shells & Cheese oven mitt
One deluxe Serving Bowl
One 13' Solid and Slotted Nylon Spoon Set
One $25 grocery store gift card
To be eligible to win your very own Velveeta Shells & Cheese prize pack, enter the giveaway by sending an e-mail to:
ajl1861@vt.edu
include your name, address and your funniest family dinnertime story. A winner will be randomly chosen on Monday, July 19 and notified via e-mail.
Good luck, we look forward to reading all of your dinnertime stories!
Kraft Foods is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Nashville Noise.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Country Throwdown Tour REVIEW!!!
Hell y'all!
I was at the 2010 Country Throwdown Tour this Sunday June 6 in Bristow, Va and I just wanted to let you know how it went. First of all this concept is awesome. Incase you didn't know already, the creator of Vans Warped Tour started this tour with the same idea in mind. I have to say, so far, it is working out great! If you go, make sure you go in at 1...skip tailgating, that can wait for another concert. The Bluebird Cafe Singer/Songwriter Stage was extremely cool. After singing, artists and songwriters like Ashley Ray, Sarah Buxton, Walker Hayes, Troy Olson, etc... would sit at their merchandise booths and just take pictures and sign whatever. It was a great experience. Jamey Johnson was amazing, I highly recommend seeing him, and as usual Eric Church and Montgomery Gentry rocked the house! Another great thing about this tour is that in between set changes on the main stage, the singer/songwriters from the Bluebird Cafe stage were up on the main stage entertaining as the crew set up for the next act. This way you don't go but a couple minutes without music! Overall, I give this tour an A+ and can't wait to see who's on it next year! If you weren't planning on going, think again....don't miss out!!
I was at the 2010 Country Throwdown Tour this Sunday June 6 in Bristow, Va and I just wanted to let you know how it went. First of all this concept is awesome. Incase you didn't know already, the creator of Vans Warped Tour started this tour with the same idea in mind. I have to say, so far, it is working out great! If you go, make sure you go in at 1...skip tailgating, that can wait for another concert. The Bluebird Cafe Singer/Songwriter Stage was extremely cool. After singing, artists and songwriters like Ashley Ray, Sarah Buxton, Walker Hayes, Troy Olson, etc... would sit at their merchandise booths and just take pictures and sign whatever. It was a great experience. Jamey Johnson was amazing, I highly recommend seeing him, and as usual Eric Church and Montgomery Gentry rocked the house! Another great thing about this tour is that in between set changes on the main stage, the singer/songwriters from the Bluebird Cafe stage were up on the main stage entertaining as the crew set up for the next act. This way you don't go but a couple minutes without music! Overall, I give this tour an A+ and can't wait to see who's on it next year! If you weren't planning on going, think again....don't miss out!!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Jamey Johnson: Two New Albums Out Soon!
I know this is sort of old news (about 12 days or so) but I have just heard about this so I figured I would pass it along to all those who are a little out of the loop like myself. Grammy Award winner Jamey Johnson, whos last album, "That Lonesome Song" was released in 2008 by Mercury Nashville, will be releasing two new albums this year! Rolling Stone Magazine is reporting that Johnson has plans to release two new albums. The first album, 'The Guitar Song', will be released in July. Jamey refers to it as his “white album” because it contains more upbeat, radio friendly type material. In the fall he plans to release a darker, more gloomy album that is still untitled, which he calls his “black album,” this album will have a similar vibe to "That Lonesome Song". "If I record all this material, I fully intend to get it out." Says Johnson. I for one CAN NOT WAIT!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Vote Whitney Duncan's "Right Road Now" on GAC top 20!
(Via Whitney Duncan Fans)
Whitney’s “Right Road Now” video is now on the voting list for GAC’s Top 20 Countdown (yay)!!! Let’s start voting hardcore! Each Friday GAC airs the top 20 videos of the week, and if Whitney’s video makes it on the countdown we will be giving away a prize! The first prize will be an autographed copy of Whitney’s album, “Right Road Now”.
Here’s how it will work:
1. Vote for Whitney’s video on GAC
2. Twitter users- update your twitter status to
“I voted for @whitneyduncan’s “Right Road Now” video on @GACtv Top 20 Countdown http://bit.ly/cukEoj via @WhitDuncanFans”
(please tweet it everyday, everytime you vote. You may want to save it to your “favorites” so it will be easier for u to tweet via copy & paste)
Myspace users- send out a mass message (and include us in it so we know)I voted for Whitney Duncan’s “Right Road Now” video on GAC ’s Top 20 Countdown http://bit.ly/cukEoj ”
3. We will keep trace of the status’ that have been updated since we made a way for it to be sent to us to when it’s updated. We will randomly choose a winner every Friday when the countdown airs on tv.
Remember it MUST make the countdown!
I know y'all can do this to help out the beautiful and talented Whitney Duncan!
Whitney’s “Right Road Now” video is now on the voting list for GAC’s Top 20 Countdown (yay)!!! Let’s start voting hardcore! Each Friday GAC airs the top 20 videos of the week, and if Whitney’s video makes it on the countdown we will be giving away a prize! The first prize will be an autographed copy of Whitney’s album, “Right Road Now”.
Here’s how it will work:
1. Vote for Whitney’s video on GAC
2. Twitter users- update your twitter status to
“I voted for @whitneyduncan’s “Right Road Now” video on @GACtv Top 20 Countdown http://bit.ly/cukEoj via @WhitDuncanFans”
(please tweet it everyday, everytime you vote. You may want to save it to your “favorites” so it will be easier for u to tweet via copy & paste)
Myspace users- send out a mass message (and include us in it so we know)I voted for Whitney Duncan’s “Right Road Now” video on GAC ’s Top 20 Countdown http://bit.ly/cukEoj ”
3. We will keep trace of the status’ that have been updated since we made a way for it to be sent to us to when it’s updated. We will randomly choose a winner every Friday when the countdown airs on tv.
Remember it MUST make the countdown!
I know y'all can do this to help out the beautiful and talented Whitney Duncan!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
SUNDAY NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!!
This weeks Sunday spotlight artist is newcomer Matthew Huff. Matthew is a singer/songwriter from Arkansas and has been gaining popularity over the last year and is really starting to take off. His debut single"Back Again" is already climbing up the Music Row Chart and is now at 120 after only four weeks. He lists his biggest influence as Keith Urban, and writes a lot of strong emotional lyrics that everyone can relate to. Matthew is currently touring with the band Riverbilly and will be opening for David Nail in Little Rock on May 27. For more info on Matthew Huff and to hear some of his music, visit his website at www.matthewhuffmusic.com or follow him on Twitter- @MatthewHuff_Mus. The single "Back Again" can be played on the home page by scrolling to the bottom.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Seven Questions with Ashley Ray
The past couple years have been a whirlwind for Show Dog-Universal recording artist and songwriter Ashley Ray. The Kansas native spent the better part of last year on tour with Eric Church and has since been touring relentlessly with her band throughout Texas.
Due to a rapidly growing fan base demanding music, Ashley’s debut EP was released May 4. The EP features five songs, including her successful single “Dirt Cheap”, which features Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band. This May, Ashley will embark on the highly anticipated Country Throw Down Tour, which kicks off in Tampa.
I recently sat down with Ashley Ray to ask her a few questions about her new music, her career so far and what’s ahead. The following is an edited selection from and interview Ashley Ray recently granted Nashville Noise.
Q: How was it growing up in Kansas and does it influence your songwriting at all?
Ray: Absolutely! Growing up in Kansas was all I could have ever asked for, especially now that I’m older and don’t get to go back that often, I really realize how it's shaped me as a person. I grew up on a farm so there was always something to work on, be fixed and/or fed. I think that’s why I’m such a hard worker to this day. It’s helped my songwriting of course, because I was and still am a tom boy/country girl. I get to write about what I know, there's nothing cooler than that!
Q: You were on the “Young and Wild” Tour last year with Eric Church and Jonathan Singleton & the Grove. That must have been crazy! How was that for you, experience wise?
Ray: That was amazing! Eric hand picked me and really stuck to his decision. Most of the time artists don’t get to go out on a big tour like that unless they have a single out on the radio. I have the highest amount of respect for him because he sticks to what and who he believes in. That’s the greatest character trait an artist can have I think. The tour was craziness. Jonathan, the guys and I hung out and drank all Eric's Jack every night! We got to be in front of his loyal and crazy fans every night and share our music with them. I’d stay out there with those guys 365 days a year if I could!
For the past year or so, you have been touring hard throughout Texas, and have managed to be successful on the Texas Regional Country Chart with your single “Dirt Cheap”. What made you decide to take your music to the Texas scene? How does it compare to Nashville?
Ray: Texas and Nashville have a completely different music scene. It was fun to see how different they really are. You can tour your whole life in the state of Texas and never leave...its really cool. I decided to head down there for a bunch of reasons...One, I have a bunch of buddies (Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, The Eli Young Band) who kept telling me I should head down and do some shows with them. I couldn’t pass up an offer to hang/party and play music with my buds! Two, Nashville can be a slow business sometimes. I have had a finished record for two years now, all I want and all I’ve ever wanted was to take my music to the fans and play for them. Texas seemed like a place I could do that, so I did. Plus, I’m weirdly connected to Texas in many different ways. My best girlfriends live down there now, my manager is from there and Austin is my most favorite city in the U.S. I followed my gut and I’m thinkin’ it paid off because I met so many wonderful people down there!
Your self titled debut EP was released on May 4th. Can you give us a little background on it? What can we expect to hear on this record?
Ray: You can expect to hear every part of me, Ashley Ray! I’m tough, when I say that, I hope you know I’m not tooting my own horn, it’s just a fact! I get my strength from my mama mostly and I’m proud of that. I don’t take any bullshit and that’s important to have as a woman in this business, whether it be having meetings or driving my big ass 15-passenger van to every bar in Texas! But I do have a heart and I’m still a woman and yes that means I’m emotional at times...you'll hear that too...basically you hear these five songs you'll know who I am!
What is your favorite song on the record?
Ray: Geez, this is the most difficult question I face, having to pick one favorite song, whether it be on my EP or not...its like having to choose favorites with your kids... “I Figured it Out” is my favorite up-tempo probably and “Dirt Cheap” is special to me because it’s my first single. I’m just excited for people to hear it and let me know which ones are THEIR favorites!
The Country Throw down Tour kicks off May 14 in Tampa. You are in the line-up on the Bluebird Café stage. I know that the guy who started Warped Tour started this tour too, so what can the fans expect? Are you excited to be part of a tour this big?
Ray: I’m ecstatic! I can’t believe they actually gave us songwriters/artists an opportunity like this! I feel truly blessed and lucky to be apart of it!! Fans can expect to get up close and personal with us in the bluebird songwriters tent. I want to talk to each and every person who comes through that tent! And I know the other writers will too! I wish something like this would have been going on when I was younger, I would have loved to have had the opportunity to sit right smack dab in front of my favorite songwriters. Songs are where music and artists start. I hope that the fans can walk away knowing that!
What is country music to you?
Ray: Absolutely everything! It’s a release, its a relationship, its my fulfillment. Music in general is air to me! Besides my family, it’s the thing I can remember that I’ve loved the longest!
Due to a rapidly growing fan base demanding music, Ashley’s debut EP was released May 4. The EP features five songs, including her successful single “Dirt Cheap”, which features Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band. This May, Ashley will embark on the highly anticipated Country Throw Down Tour, which kicks off in Tampa.
I recently sat down with Ashley Ray to ask her a few questions about her new music, her career so far and what’s ahead. The following is an edited selection from and interview Ashley Ray recently granted Nashville Noise.
Q: How was it growing up in Kansas and does it influence your songwriting at all?
Ray: Absolutely! Growing up in Kansas was all I could have ever asked for, especially now that I’m older and don’t get to go back that often, I really realize how it's shaped me as a person. I grew up on a farm so there was always something to work on, be fixed and/or fed. I think that’s why I’m such a hard worker to this day. It’s helped my songwriting of course, because I was and still am a tom boy/country girl. I get to write about what I know, there's nothing cooler than that!
Q: You were on the “Young and Wild” Tour last year with Eric Church and Jonathan Singleton & the Grove. That must have been crazy! How was that for you, experience wise?
Ray: That was amazing! Eric hand picked me and really stuck to his decision. Most of the time artists don’t get to go out on a big tour like that unless they have a single out on the radio. I have the highest amount of respect for him because he sticks to what and who he believes in. That’s the greatest character trait an artist can have I think. The tour was craziness. Jonathan, the guys and I hung out and drank all Eric's Jack every night! We got to be in front of his loyal and crazy fans every night and share our music with them. I’d stay out there with those guys 365 days a year if I could!
For the past year or so, you have been touring hard throughout Texas, and have managed to be successful on the Texas Regional Country Chart with your single “Dirt Cheap”. What made you decide to take your music to the Texas scene? How does it compare to Nashville?
Ray: Texas and Nashville have a completely different music scene. It was fun to see how different they really are. You can tour your whole life in the state of Texas and never leave...its really cool. I decided to head down there for a bunch of reasons...One, I have a bunch of buddies (Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, The Eli Young Band) who kept telling me I should head down and do some shows with them. I couldn’t pass up an offer to hang/party and play music with my buds! Two, Nashville can be a slow business sometimes. I have had a finished record for two years now, all I want and all I’ve ever wanted was to take my music to the fans and play for them. Texas seemed like a place I could do that, so I did. Plus, I’m weirdly connected to Texas in many different ways. My best girlfriends live down there now, my manager is from there and Austin is my most favorite city in the U.S. I followed my gut and I’m thinkin’ it paid off because I met so many wonderful people down there!
Your self titled debut EP was released on May 4th. Can you give us a little background on it? What can we expect to hear on this record?
Ray: You can expect to hear every part of me, Ashley Ray! I’m tough, when I say that, I hope you know I’m not tooting my own horn, it’s just a fact! I get my strength from my mama mostly and I’m proud of that. I don’t take any bullshit and that’s important to have as a woman in this business, whether it be having meetings or driving my big ass 15-passenger van to every bar in Texas! But I do have a heart and I’m still a woman and yes that means I’m emotional at times...you'll hear that too...basically you hear these five songs you'll know who I am!
What is your favorite song on the record?
Ray: Geez, this is the most difficult question I face, having to pick one favorite song, whether it be on my EP or not...its like having to choose favorites with your kids... “I Figured it Out” is my favorite up-tempo probably and “Dirt Cheap” is special to me because it’s my first single. I’m just excited for people to hear it and let me know which ones are THEIR favorites!
The Country Throw down Tour kicks off May 14 in Tampa. You are in the line-up on the Bluebird Café stage. I know that the guy who started Warped Tour started this tour too, so what can the fans expect? Are you excited to be part of a tour this big?
Ray: I’m ecstatic! I can’t believe they actually gave us songwriters/artists an opportunity like this! I feel truly blessed and lucky to be apart of it!! Fans can expect to get up close and personal with us in the bluebird songwriters tent. I want to talk to each and every person who comes through that tent! And I know the other writers will too! I wish something like this would have been going on when I was younger, I would have loved to have had the opportunity to sit right smack dab in front of my favorite songwriters. Songs are where music and artists start. I hope that the fans can walk away knowing that!
What is country music to you?
Ray: Absolutely everything! It’s a release, its a relationship, its my fulfillment. Music in general is air to me! Besides my family, it’s the thing I can remember that I’ve loved the longest!
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