Country Aircheck

15/06/2012

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 June 15, 2012 


» Cage Diving: The release of Zac Brown Band's third studio album Uncaged marks a new chapter in the group's career. Not only will the project feature new percussionist Daniel de los Reyes, they've also aligned with a new staff in Music City to promote their music at radio, and the group just bought a 1,951-square-foot studio space off Music Row. "We're infiltrating Nashville," Zac Brown says. "Now we have an incredible team of people to help execute what we stand for ... I'm not more important than any one person who works with us. We're going to have a restaurant and bar here, eventually. We want to exceed expectations for people." Brown says they're always hiring to further the ZBB brand, which includes the Southern Ground record label, a line of food products, two Southern Ground Food & Music Festivals and the non-profit music enrichment program Camp Southern Ground. ZBB will also perform at the State Farm Home Run Derby in Kansas City, airing on the MLB Network and ESPN July 9.




» Banded Together: Rascal Flatts' Changed tour launches in Hartford Friday (6/15) with an all-star lineup including Edens Edge, Eli Young Band and Little Big Town. "I think it's maybe the first all-band country tour," Gary LeVox says. "We thought it was a great idea until we started looking at our catering bill. We thought, 'There are a lot of folks in those bands,' as they all split one thing of lettuce a night to help save money on lighting and things." With so many voices on one tour, the show definitely has potential for some epic concert moments. "We went to Jay's house, and all three of the bands recorded Grand Funk Railroad's 'American Band' with us ... It's going to be an amazing show." The band also hosted a No. 1 celebration for "Banjo" Monday (6/11).


» That's The Jam: The Band Perry is halfway finished with the follow-up to their platinum-selling debut album. At the helm is celebrated producer Rick Rubin, who's best known in the country world for producing the last five Johnny Cash albums. "We thought he'd be way too busy to even take a meeting with us," Kimberly Perry says. "But he did. We hung out on a Thursday afternoon, and he called us that night, saying he wanted to work together. I think we're wearing Rick out asking questions about Johnny. I heard a story that they took communion together every day they recorded." Rubin launched the rap label Def Jam with co-founder Russell Simmons in 1984, and he's also produced Adele's 21 (2011), Tom Petty's Wildflowers (1994), Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral (1994) and Beastie Boys' Licensed To Ill (1986), among others.


» Taxidermy 101: The first day of fall classes isn't until Aug. 16, but Scotty McCreery is already preparing for college life at North Carolina State University. "My friends back home call the me the 'Real-life Hannah Montana' because I have two lives," McCreery says. "We're planning on having a two- or three-day class schedule and work a tour around college so I can be in class and fly out the next day." McCreery will be living in a house near campus with a few friends, who already have begun decorating their new digs. "We've got a few signs, and my buddy's got a big deer head we're going to put in the living room," McCreery says. "I don't think we're going to put any of my awards in there. We're trying to keep things safe." McCreery is pursuing a concentration in communications/public relations, but right now he says the Virtual Reality tour's Brad Paisley and The Band Perry are "the best professors" he could have.


» Truck Yeah: Newcomer Kip Moore paused at least five times while thanking his many supporters at Wednesday's rooftop celebration for his first two-week No. 1 "Somethin' 'Bout A Truck" (6/13). "I think this is the first time it's hit me," a visibly emotional Moore said. "I used to lie awake every night and dream about what I'd have to do to make this happen. I've got a lot of close friends here who are a big part of who shaped and molded me. My life has changed because of these people." Moore's label president lightened up the party by presenting gag gifts to producer Brett James (cardboard cutout of The Jonas Brothers), co-writer Dan Couch (Richie Sambora action figure) and Moore (old tie-dyed band t-shirt).


» In Case You Missed It: Tim McGraw interviewed with CNN at the Brothers Of The Sun tour launch in Tampa to discuss the HomeFront initiative, which awards mortgage-free homes to wounded service members. "It's the American dream," McGraw says. "And who deserves the American dream more than those guys? I can't imagine anyone who does."

Josh Turner performed "Time Is Love" on Wednesday morning's Today show (6/13).

Rachel Bradshaw and father Terry Bradshaw sang "Everything A Daddy Won't Say" on Wednesday night's Tonight Show With Jay Leno (6/13). Watch the collaboration at the 37:50 minute-mark here.

Lee Brice performed "A Woman Like You" on Wednesday night's Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (6/13). Watch the clip at the 34:45 minute-mark here.

Hit List

  • Josh Turner is among the entertainers appearing on the Independence Day special A Capitol Fourth, airing live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS-TV. Other celebrity participants include Matthew Broderick and composer John Williams.
  • ACM Lifting Lives and Tickets-for-Charity.com have partnered to offer Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band concert tickets to support charities selected by each artist. More here.
  • Trace Adkins hosts the DIY Network's special Ultimate Fishing Lodge Sunday (6/17) at 7pm ET. The show follows Adkins and a construction crew as they build a Deep Water Cay getaway in the Bahamas.
  • In observance of Father's Day, newcomer Glen Templeton filmed an e-card music video of Conway Twitty's "That's My Job" for fans to send to their fathers. Watch and send the clip here.

Birthdays

Michael Britt (Lonestar) (6/15)
The late Waylon Jennings (6/15)
Blake Shelton (6/18)

On TV

Friday (6/15): Gary Allan, Eddie Montgomery, Josh Kelley, Day Jobs (GAC).

Saturday (6/16): Thompson Square, Chris Young, Brad Paisley, Noteworthy At The Opry (GAC); Edens Edge, Fox & Friends (FOX News).

Sunday (6/17): Trace Adkins, Ultimate Fishing Lodge (DIY Network); Glen Templeton, Fox & Friends (FOX News); Taylor Swift, 60 Minutes (CBS).

Monday (6/18): Lady Antebellum, Backstory (GAC).

Upcoming Album Releases

Kenny Chesney Welcome To The Fishbowl (6/19)
Marlee Scott Beautiful Maybe (6/19)




» Mmmm Motor Totin': Little Big Town negotiate with American Pickers' Mike Wolfe at the Sixth Annual Ride For A Cure, which raised more than $55,000 for the T.J. Martell Foundation. The motorcycle ride at Sunday's event was canceled due to inclement weather, but the pre-ride and post-ride Jam Sessions featuring Lauren Alaina and LBT rolled on as scheduled (6/10). Wolfe placed the winning bid for one of the auction's hot ticket items - an Epiphone Guitar autographed by LBT, Rascal Flatts and Edens Edge. Pictured (l-r) are LBT's Jimi Westbrook and Kimberly Schlapman, Wolfe, and LBT's Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet.


» A Man Likes Me: Lee Brice (r) and Craig Ferguson hang on the set of the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. Brice performed "A Woman Like You" on Wednesday's episode (6/13).

 
 

 
 

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