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Dec
7
Thu
Whiskey Myers LIVE @ The Bluestone
Dec 7 @ 7:00 pm

Whiskey Myers

live at The Bluestone

Thursday, December 7th, 2017

Doors for the show will open at 7pm

Opening Artist: Goodbye June

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show

 Tickets On-Sale Friday, June 9th at 10am

PURCHASE HERE

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RESERVED LOFT TABLE SEATING

RESERVED TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.  

Admission tickets must be purchased separately.

  • Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
  • Prime view of stage!
  • Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
  • Server
  • Exclusive Private Bar access
    Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)

    Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light

  • Server
  • Private Bar Access
  • May be Obstruction in View

*All Reserved tables located in the loft area

ALL SALES ARE FINAL

It would be an understatement to say that a lot has happened since Whiskey Myers was last in the recording studio. Over two whirlwind years, the gritty Texas band hit #1 on the iTunes Country Chart with their breakout third album ‘Early Morning Shakes,’ earned raves everywhere from Rolling Stone to USA Today, and toured the US and UK relentlessly, slaying massive festival crowds and sharing stages with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., Jamey Johnson, and more along the way. You’d be forgiven, then, for expecting things to work a little differently this time around when the band reunited with acclaimed producer Dave Cobb for their stellar new album, ‘Mud.’ But as it turns out, success doesn’t change a Southern gentleman, and they don’t come any more Southern than Whiskey Myers.

Fueled by larger-than-life performances honed tight from countless nights on the road, ‘Mud’ finds the band scaling new heights of songwriting and musicianship, with searing guitars, soulful vocals, and indelible hooks. While their approach to the music and humble, hard-working attitudes may not have altered, there have been developments in the Whiskey Myers world, most notably with the arrival of new faces. For the recording sessions, the band’s five founding members—Cody Cannon on lead vocals and guitar, Cody Tate and John Jeffers on guitars, Gary Brown on bass, and Jeff Hogg on drums—fleshed out their sound with the addition of fiddler/keyboard player Jon Knudson and percussionist Tony Kent, who are both now full-time members. “They bring a great energy, and I think it’s really helped our sound and makes the band more versatile,” explains Cannon. “There’s less room onstage now, but sometimes a family grows.”

 

Dec
8
Fri
Wcol Winter Wonder Jam MICHAEL RAY @ The Bluestone
Dec 8 @ 8:00 pm

Wcol Winter Wonder Jam with

Michael Ray as part of his “Get To you Tour”

Special Guests: Love and Theft, Devin Dawson

Doors for the show will open at 8pm

Tickets just $30 in advance, $35 day of show

Tickets On-Sale November 6th at 10am

PURCHASE HERE

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Michael Ray Roach (born April 29, 1988), best known as Michael Ray, is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Warner Music Nashville, for which he has released his debut single, “Kiss You in the Morning“. The song has reached No. 1 on Country Airplay. Before this single’s release, Ray was mentored by John Rich of Big & Rich on the singing competition The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep, which he won. He and Rich co-wrote Big & Rich’s 2015 single, “Run Away with You“.[1]

In March 2017, it was reported that Ray would put his acting chops to the test when he revealed that he landed a guest role on CMT’s show, Nashville.[2]

Love and Theft is an American country music group founded by Stephen Barker Liles, Eric Gunderson, and Brian Bandas, all three of whom alternated as lead singers and acoustic guiarists. Signed to Lyric Street Records subsidiary Carolwood Records in 2009, Love and Theft made their chart debut in early 2009 with the single “Runaway,” which reached the Top 10 on Billboard Hot Country Songs. The band’s debut album, World Wide Open, was released on August 25, 2009.

In 2011, following the departure of Bandas, Love and Theft continued as a duo consisting of Gunderson and Liles. The duo moved to RCA Records Nashville that year and released the single “Angel Eyes“, which became their first number 1 single. It and the Top 40 singles “Runnin’ Out of Air” and “If You Ever Get Lonely” all appear on their second, self-titled album.

Devin Dawson is an American country music singer-songwriter.

Devin Dawson first became famous after filming a mashup of Taylor Swift songs, which gained popularity on YouTube.[2][3][4] His debut single “All on Me” is also his first hit song.[2] With the help of producer Jay Joyce, he signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2017.[5] Dawson’s “All on Me” has charted on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Dawson has also toured with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.[6]

Feb
9
Fri
SOLD OUT -Eli Young Band & LOCASH LIVE at The Bluestone @ The Bluestone
Feb 9 @ 7:00 pm

Eli Young Band and LOCASH will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone

Friday, February 9th, 2018

Special Guest: Muscadine Bloodline

Doors for the show will open at 7pm

Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 day of show

THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT

PURCHASE HERE

LOCASH Meet & Greet Upgrade (Ticket to Show Not Included)

    • Exclusive meet & greet with LOCASH
    • Personal photograph with LOCASH
    • Private and intimate acoustic performance by LOCASH
    • Q&A session
    • Autographed tour poster
    • Exclusive LOCASH merchandise item
    • Official meet & greet laminate
    • Limited availability

To purchase, click here: http://future-beat.com/event.cfm?id=274095&cart

For questions, please contact info@future-beat.com

 

Eli Young Band

Eli Young Band Will Perform Live at The Bluestone

This is an All Ages Show

 Three Great Artist one Night of Music!!

Eli Young Band

Somewhere in the midst of 10,000 towns, along a lonely highway between packing clubs in their native Texas years ago and more recently performing stadiums on one of country music’s hottest tours, the Eli Young Band became more than a band. They became a brotherhood. Camaraderie and creativity fused into an intoxicating cocktail that has propelled the talented foursome to the vanguard of contemporary country music.

With three No. 1 hits under their belt as well as a Grammy nomination and an Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year for their hit “Crazy Girl,” the Eli Young Band approached their second Republic Nashville album, 10,000 Towns, with a sense of confidence and purpose. “We were genuinely excited about making this new record,” says bassist Jon Jones. “People talk about the sophomore record being really tough to make and in a lot of ways this felt like our sophomore record even though it’s technically our fifth record as a band.”

“We learned over the progression of those records our strong points in the studio, and we were confident,” adds drummer Chris Thompson, “We knew what we wanted and how to get what we wanted.”

LOCASH

It’s an exciting time to be LOCASH these days. That might very well be one of the biggest understatements in Nashville. Already in their career, the duo of Preston Brust and Chris Lucas have enjoyed hit singles, sold-out concert appearances here and abroad, and have tasted the top of the chart as two of Nashville’s quickest-rising songwriters. But, to quote the old saying… You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.

Recently signed to Reviver Records, the duo is joining forces with some of the biggest names on the Country Music business landscape. Brust says they could feel the team’s energy from the first meeting. “We haven’t felt an energy like this since the day we began our journey. This feels like it has all come together –the right label head, the right promo team, it finally feels like we’ve got all of our ducks in a row for the first time in our lives. We’ve been out there doing the grass roots thing for so long, and to feel it all come together, is so encouraging.

Musidine Bloodline

Unapologetically Alabama.  There’s a new force making major waves in country music. Natives of Mobile Alabama, Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster came together to form Muscadine Bloodline in early 2016.  With three single releases under their belt and a schedule full of shows spanning from coast to coast, they’ve hit the ground running from day 1. Nashville took notice the first time these two stepped on the stage and it’s no surprise the rest of the music world is quickly catching on. Charlie’s [contemporary] vocals complimented by Gary’s harmonies and masterful guitar licks, MB is a powerfully refreshing mix of talent, passion and unfiltered authenticity.  Infamously undaunted by the big stage, their sound intertwines the brash irreverence of early southern rockers with the seductive quality of 90s country love songs. Captivating hooks heard in songs like “Porch Swing Angel” and the aggressively anthemic “Shut Your Mouth” stand as a testament to MB’s wide ranging music-making capability. Every song and every show is a moving experience but at the same time, unmistakably Muscadine Bloodline.

Get your tickets now!

Mar
3
Sat
Columbus Brewgrass Festival @ The Bluestone
Mar 3 @ 6:00 pm

Columbus Brewgrass Festival will take place at The Bluestone

March 2nd and March 3rd

Doors Open at 6pm

Ages 18+

Tickets On-Sale Now

PURCHASE HERE

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Jun
14
Thu
A Thousand Horses LIVE June, 14th @ The Bluestone
Jun 14 @ 7:00 pm

A Thousand Horses live at The Bluestone on June 14th, 2018!

*Opening Artist: Kendell Marvel and Cody Barnett

*Doors will OPEN at 7PM

*Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show

Tickets On-Sale NOW!

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America’s bona fide band of brothers A Thousand Horses deliver an authentic fusion of Southern rock and contemporary Country mixed with rowdy jams. Their 13-track project BRIDGES features working man’s anthem “Preachin’ to the Choir” along with seven acoustic tracks, six of which were recorded live in the U.K. at the famed Metropolis Studios. The group’s debut single “Smoke” made Country Aircheck history as the highest debut for a new artist and solidified the band (with at least three members) as the first this decade to score a #1 with their first single on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. A Thousand Horses have landed multiple awards show nominations, most recently vying for the title of ACM New Vocal Duo or Group at the 52nd Annual ACM Awards. The band’s debut album, SOUTHERNALITY, blends Southern Rock and influential sounds of The Black Crowes and Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street era. The talented foursome soars with Michael Hobby on lead vocals as Bill Satcher and Zach Brown on guitar and Graham Deloach on bass round out their unique grooves. After opening for Country powerhouse Jason Aldean and a string of performances in the U.K. last fall, A Thousand Horses are currently headlining shows across the U.S. before kicking off their opening run on Kid Rock’s AMERICAN ROCK n ROLL TOUR 2018 in January. New music from the band is on the horizon, with details coming soon. For more information and tour dates, visit AThousandHorses.com.

 

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Jun
21
Thu
Chris Janson LIVE June, 21st @ The Bluestone
Jun 21 @ 7:00 pm

Chris Janson LIVE at The Bluestone on Thursday, June 21st, 2018!

*Doors for the show will open at 7PM

*Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show

Ticket On-Sale NOW! 

 

Chris Janson Approved Image

Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville country artist Chris Janson was born to entertain crowds. The electrifying multi-instrumentalist is known as much for his hit songwriting as his “infectious” (Billboard) performances, with Rolling Stone describing him as having “a mesmerizing stage presence that most arena-headlining artists would kill for.”

“Fix a Drink”, the lead single from his highly anticipated sophomore album Everybody, went Top 10 at country radio, though Janson is no stranger to the charts. In 2015, Chris Janson’s breakthrough No. 1 Platinum single “Buy Me A Boat” was the 7th bestselling country song of the year. The singer/songwriter has also penned multiple top-charting hits including “Truck Yeah” (Tim McGraw), “That’s How I’ll Always Be” (Tim McGraw), “I Love This Life” (LoCash), and over 25 additional hit songs recorded by a long list of established artists.

Chris Janson joined Sam Hunt on the road for the 15 in a 30 Tour and announced The EVERYBODY Tour with headlining dates through 2017. He has become a Grand Ole Opry regular, taking the legendary stage more than 150 times to date, and made numerous television appearances including The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CONAN, The Today Show, ACM Awards and ACCA Awards.

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Jun
29
Fri
Joe Diffie LIVE June, 29th @ The Bluestone
Jun 29 @ 7:00 pm

Joe Diffie LIVE at The Bluestone on June 29th, 2018

*Opening Artist: Dillon Carmichael and David Adam Byrnes

*Doors for the show will open at 7PM

*Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show

Tickets On-Sale Now!

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Joe Diffie was regarded by many of his peers as one of the better vocalists in contemporary country, and lent his traditional sensibilities to humorous, rock-tinged novelties and plaintive ballads. Diffie was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1958 and grew up in a musical family, first performing in public at age four with his aunt’s country band. He played in a rock band during high school, and later moved on to a gospel quartet and, during college, a bluegrass band called the Special Edition. He worked on his songwriting and singing over the next few years while working in a foundry, and caught a break when his “Love on the Rocks” was recorded by Hank Thompson. When Randy Travis nearly recorded another of his songs, Diffie was convinced he had a shot in the business, and moved to Nashville in 1986. He took a job at the Gibson guitar plant while continuing to write songs, and became an in-demand demo singer as well. Holly Dunn’s 1989 recording of a Diffie collaboration, “There Goes My Heart Again,” proved a major hit, and Diffie found himself a hot commodity. He signed with Epic and released his debut album, A Thousand Winding Roads, in 1990. His first single, “Home,” went all the way to number one on the country charts, and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)” duplicated that feat; meanwhile, two more singles from the album, “If You Want Me To” and “New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame),” reached number two.

Diffie became a regular hitmaker over the rest of the ’90s, and scored again with his sophomore LP, 1992’s Regular Joe; “Is It Cold in Here” and “Ships That Don’t Come In” both made the Top Five. Known primarily for his ballads at this point in his career, Diffie switched things up with 1993’s Honky Tonk Attitude, which emphasized his rambunctious, rocking side and sense of humor, and proved to be his biggest-selling album yet. The title track, “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die),” and “John Deere Green” all went Top Five. Sticking with engaging humor as the selling point of his hugely popular follow-up, 1994’s Third Rock from the Sun, Diffie scored two number ones with the title track and “Pickup Man,” plus a Top Five hit in “So Help Me Girl.” 1995 brought a holiday album, Mr. Christmas, as well as a proper release in Life’s So Funny, which gave Diffie his fifth number one hit in “Bigger Than the Beatles.” 1997’s Twice Upon a Time saw his commercial momentum slipping a bit, and so Epic issued a Greatest Hits compilation the following year; its new song, “Texas Sized Heartache,” returned Diffie to the Top Five. 1999’s A Night to Remember was the most straight-ahead, traditional country record Diffie had yet recorded, and it gave him two Top Ten hits in the title cut and “It’s Always Somethin’.” He returned to his more established style for 2001’s In Another World, which found him transferred to Sony’s reactivated Monument subsidiary; its title track went Top Ten early the next year. Tougher Than Nails followed in 2004, then in 2010 Diffie returned to bluegrass for Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album, which was released by Rounder Records and was greeted by warm reviews.

Diffie had a bit of an unexpected revival in early 2013, when his name provided the chorus of Jason Aldean’s party-hearty hit “1994.” Later that year, Diffie set out on the road with fellow country singers Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin on a tour called All in the Same Boat; the trio released an accompanying album of the same name in May. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

 

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Aug
2
Thu
SOLD OUT – Drake White and The Big Fire LIVE August 2nd @ The Bluestone
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm

Drake White and The Big Fire live at The Bluestone on August 2nd, 2018!

*Opening Artist: Stevie Monce

*Doors for the show will open at 7PM

*Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show

Tickets On-Sale Friday, May 11th at 10AM

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

tickets The Bluestone - Columbus Ohio

 

 

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Born in Hokes Bluff, Alabama, country singer and songwriter Drake White’s mix of country, blues, funk, rock & roll, and reggae and his energetic, foot-stomping live shows eventually led him to Nashville and beyond. Growing up, he sang in the choir at his local church, and after getting a guitar at the age of 14 from a neighbor down the road who played bluegrass, he began writing and playing songs, continuing to do so while attending Gadsen State Community College and then Auburn University, earning a degree in building science even as he played in the local venues at night. After graduation, White took a job with a general contractor in Nashville, working by day and playing the song rounds at night, developing, with his band the Big Fire, a crackling and energetic stage presence that often found him freestyling lyrics in the middle of songs. He caught the eye of producer Jeremy Stover and was soon signed to MCA Nashville, turned his attention full-time to music, and released a debut single, “Simple Life,” on the label early in 2013. A year later, White signed with Big Machine affiliate Dot Records, resulting in a pair of 2015 singles, “It Feels Good” and “Livin’ the Dream.” In August 2016, Dot released White’s debut album, Spark. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi

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Aug
10
Fri
Dillon Carmichael LIVE August, 10th @ The Bluestone
Aug 10 @ 7:00 pm

Dillon Carmichael LIVE at The Bluestone on August 10th, 2018!

*Opening Artist: TBA

*Doors for the show will open at 7PM

*Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show

Tickets On-Sale July, 6th 2018 at 10AM!

tickets The Bluestone - Columbus Ohio

 

 

 

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REMEMBER WHEN COUNTRY SONGS USED TO SAY SOMETHING?

The lyrics of “Made To Be A Country Boy,” the debut single from Dillon Carmichael are ones that, while are simple, definitely have a lot of meaning. What is being a “Country Boy” to him? “It’s something that is in your heart and soul. It’s not something that’s not about material objects. It’s a way of life – not one that is any better than anybody else’s, but I think it’s all about being proud of where you come from – whether it be your city, state, or country.”

The heartfelt sentiments are ones that Carmichael knows all too well, as it describes his own hometown – in the heart of metropolitan Mercer County, Kentucky. “I grew up on the lake which was created as a hydro-electric energy plant in a town called Burgin, Kentucky. The population has grown over the years to a whopping one thousand.” The town – at the intersection of Kentucky State Routes 33 and 152 – lives up to his description. “It’s a lake town, and everyone there works at the power plant. The school is there all in one building – from kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade. There was a baseball team and a softball team, but not enough to field a football team,” he says with a smile.

Music was a part of his growing up experience, as his father and uncles performed in a Southern Gospel Quartet, and his mother also sang around the area. Her brothers – future Country superstars John Michael and Eddie Montgomery – also made a name for themselves performing around the Eastern Kentucky area, as well. Dillon says that as much as it was a part of his surroundings, it was sure to rub off on him. “I knew eventually that it was something I was going to want on my own at some point, and I fell in love with it too.”

In 2012, Dillon – who also cited Vern Gosdin, Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard as influences – decided to roll the dice, and haul himself and his belongings down Interstate 65 to move to Nashville. He says it took some getting used to.

“It was difficult being away from home at first. I had never been anywhere outside of my hometown,” he confessed, also admitting that the deep talent pool of Davidson County was a more than a little bit intimidating. “I jumped head-first into writing songs,” he recalled. “I didn’t dabble as much into the live show and being on stage as much as I did the writing at first. I think for my age group, I was always one step ahead of the writing, and one step behind in the performance game. That’s something that I was very overwhelmed by – was how good the singers and guitar players were. In a way, I still am. It’s just about doing the best that you can.”

Over time, he began to hone his writing skills, thanks to those who he collaborated with. “Co-writing was a big turning point for me. I got offered a publishing deal when I was seventeen. They started booking me with writers who already had success before. I started to learn with each appointment, and it changed everything for me. I began to see how they put their melodies together with the lyrics, and how they generated ideas.”

“Made To Be A Country Boy” is the first single from Dillon, and one that teamed him up with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Strurgill Simpson). He says that Cobb allowed him to approach recording the old-fashioned way, which he prefers. “I prefer having a live band in the studio rather than bringing in just one instrument at a time to record a part. Sometimes, you’ll go back and you will hear something that might not be right the first time. Being in the studio is one of my favorite parts of the creative experience.

Cobb also steered the ship for Dillon’s debut full-length album, and there’s not a better producer anywhere. “Dave is great, and very authentic. He’s a musical genius. He understands so many different types of music, and is also such a great guitar player. It’s important for me to be working with people who are just good and authentic people. I think that translates into the music, as well.”

Another track from the album that Dillon Carmichael is excited for fans to hear is “It’s Simple,” which is a tribute to the little things in life – which all too often are the biggest. “I wrote that with three other guys who were from rural areas, and we were talking about how life was just so simple and how the people there like it. You go to work, come home, grill out with the family, and the lyrics are ‘Love is for making. Kids are for raising. Home is that place in your heart,’ and the concept is that no matter where you go, home is the place in your heart – which for me is always going to be Kentucky. It’s a story about the old man next door who tells you that life is simple, and you shouldn’t overthink it.”

With stardom just around the corner in 2018, just how does Dillon Carmichael quantify success? “The Opry is a big thing to me. That’s always been a goal of mine. I think that success is moving forward. I think that achieving your goals is something that is never ending. I’d like to have a number one on the charts, and, of course, sell a million records. I’d like to play Rupp Arena in Lexington, as well as the FFA National Convention. I grew up going to that, and I remember seeing acts like Craig Morgan play it.” At the end of the day, Dillon Carmichael says he just wants to aim for the stars – and keep aiming. “I think that the biggest mark of success to me, is just achieving your goals – and setting new ones. I don’t think that ever stops.”

 

Aug
23
Thu
Aaron Lewis LIVE August, 23rd @ The Bluestone
Aug 23 @ 7:00 pm

Aaron Lewis at The Bluestone Two Nights, BACK TO BACK!

*August 23rd, 2018 and August 24th, 2018 (SOLD OUT)

*Opening Artist: Travis Marvin

*Doors for the show will open at 7pm each night

*Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 day of show

(Ticket is only valid for admission for the date printed on the ticket)

Tickets are on-sale NOW!

PURCHASE THURSDAY, AUGUST 23rd TICKET HERE

tickets The Bluestone - Columbus Ohio

 

 

ALewis_SoldOut (1) copy

 

 

 

 

Lewis has been performing solo acoustic shows since he was 17 and still does today. He has written and performed many songs that have never been officially released such as “Angel”, “Something Like Me”, “Bonghits for Breakfast” (originally performed with J-CAT), and “Sleeping at the Wheel”.

In July 2010, Lewis finished recording a country music EP entitled Town Line that was released March 1, 2011 on Stroudavarious Records. It features seven tracks including three versions of the first single “Country Boy” featuring George Jones, Charlie Daniels, and Chris Young, as well as the songs “Massachusetts”, “Vicious Circles”, “The Story Never Ends”, and a re-recording of “Tangled Up in You” originally from The Illusion of Progress.[5] Lewis said in a July 2011 interview that he was introduced to country music as a child by his grandfather, but his interest was recently rekindled when he toured with fellow rock turned occasional country singer Kid Rock.[6]

Lewis performing at the House of Blues in Cleveland in 2013

Lewis released his first full solo album, The Road, in November 2012. Its debut single, “Endless Summer”, has also made the country charts. Lewis wrote every song on the 10 track collection, except for “Granddaddy’s Gun” which was penned by Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Bobby Pinson, marking the first time Lewis has recorded outside material for an album.[7] In an interview with Broadway’s Electric Barnyard, Lewis said he recorded “Granddaddy’s Gun” as both a compliment to a friend, and because he was pressed for time.[8]

Lewis wrote songs for his second solo album whilst touring in support of The Road, often performing the unreleased material in his live sets.[9][10] The album, dubbed Sinner, was mostly recorded in a single 18 hour session, with many tracks done in one take. Aaron’s daughter Zoe also provides guest vocals on one song.[11] It was released on September 16, 2016, with the lead single, “That Ain’t Country”, released on 17 June. Country artist Willie Nelson is featured on the album’s title track as well.

Nov
8
Thu
Ashley McBryde LIVE November, 8th @ The Bluestone
Nov 8 @ 7:00 pm

Ashley McBryde live at The Bluestone on November 8th, 2018 as part of her “Girl Going Nowhere Tour” performing live at The Bluestone on November 8th, 2018!

*Opening Artist: Dee White

*Doors will OPEN at 7PM

*Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show

 Tickets On-Sale Friday, May 25th 10AM!

tickets The Bluestone - Columbus Ohio

 

 

Ashley McBryde- Approved Image

 

Ashley McBryde Biography…

“I hear the crowd, I look around, and I can’t find one empty chair. Not bad for a girl going nowhere” sings Ashley McBryde on “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” the seminal title track from her forthcoming LP. They’re words built from experience: over the course of her life, McBryde’s been finding her own way to fill those seats and sway those hearts since the very first time her teacher told her that her dreams of writing songs in Nashville would never see the light of day. Every time she was brought down, she persevered; trusting her timeless tone and keen, unwavering eye for the truth. It paid off. In April, Eric Church brought her on stage and called her a “whiskey-drinking badass,” confessing that he’s a massive fan. The rest of the world is quickly catching on, too.

Dubbed as one of Rolling Stone’s “Artists You Need To Know,” citing she’s “an Arkansas red-clay badass, with the swagger of Hank Jr. and the songwriting of Miranda Lambert,” McBryde fearlessly lays it all on the line, and it’s that honest all-in approach that has led to NPR critic Ann Powers to ask if McBryde could be “among the first post-Stapleton country stars?” McBryde’s album will showcase an artistic vision that will prove her to be one of the genre’s keenest working storytellers, bringing unwavering honesty back into a pop-preoccupied genre. Pulling tales from every corner of her human experience, McBryde sings with fire and fury, laughing and swigging that brown stuff along the way.

McBryde was raised in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. At three, she’d secretly pluck her father’s guitar like an upright bass, and after about the 17th time being caught, her father bought her a guitar of her own. When she was twelve, she played her parents and grandparents her very first composition. It was at Arkansas State when, while a member of the marching band, McBryde finally started sharing her voice with others, and finally moved to Nashville in 2007 where steadily worked a circuit of dive bars, biker hangouts, and colorful joints fighting to have her songs heard.

Her first EP, the self-released 2016 Jalopies and Expensive Guitars was just a taste of what McBryde can do, and, on her full-length debut, she will meld her songwriting chops with the vision of producer Jay Joyce, peppering her tales with a touch of guitar-driven rock fury. McBryde isn’t afraid to tell the truth, get raw and real and use the spirits of country, folk and rock when it serves her greater purpose. And that’s to tell the stories that shake us, make us and tell us a little more about what it’s like to be human.

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Nov
17
Sat
Midland LIVE November, 17th @ The Bluestone
Nov 17 @ 7:00 pm

Midland LIVE at The Bluestone on Saturday, November 17, 2018!

*Opening Artist: Desure

*Doors for the show will open at 7PM

*Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show

Ticket On-Sale July 13th, 2018 at 10AM

tickets The Bluestone - Columbus Ohio

 

 

 

Midland Plain Image

With all the chest-thumping going on in Nashville today, where bluster and swagger have replaced heart and soul, you half expect some of country music’s male stars to be sporting bruises. Which is what makes Midland, a trio of friends based in Dripping Springs, Texas, so undeniably refreshing. Made up of singer Mark Wystrach, lead guitarist Jess Carson and bass player Cameron Duddy, Midland is the embodiment of Seventies California country, all smooth Eagles harmonies and heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics. Their songs are intoxicating, sung with the twang of George Strait.

And it’s impossible to resist.

Now, after endearing themselves to fans with the hit radio single “Drinkin’ Problem” and a self-titled EP, Midland unveil their full-length debut, On the Rocks (Big Machine Records).

A collection of 13 tracks all written or co-written by Midland – the guys took their name from a Dwight Yoakam song – On the Rocks excels at setting a mood, transporting the listener to another place and time. It’s an album made for wide-open skies, endless deserts and wondering where the road is going to take you next.

“Drinkin’ Problem,” written with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, who produced the album with Dann Huff, reclaims the drinking song for classic country music, making it less about an endless party and more about self-medicating. “They call it a problem, I call it a solution / just sitting here with all my grand illusions,” sings Wystrach, evoking the best booze ballads of both Gary Stewart and Merle Haggard, two of the trio’s chief influences.

“Make a Little,” a rollicking ditty, is more optimistic, soaring with the brotherly harmonies of Wystrach, Duddy and Carson and a timely message: “There’s just not enough love in the world.” The rapid-fire lyrics embody the clever wordplay that is unique to country music – “we should make a little, generate a little / maybe even make the world a better place a little” – and also nod to Alabama, another country band that helped spark a revolution in the genre.

Midland hearken back to a time when an artist’s personal style – colorful suits, tailored denim and well-worn hats – dovetailed with the music. And they tip their hats to other groundbreaking artists throughout On the Rocks.

The kick-back and get-high ode “Altitude Adjustment” name-checks John Denver, the majestic “Nothin’ New Under the Neon” sounds like vintage Eddie Rabbit, and the glorious “At Least You Cried” channels Dwight Yoakam. By album’s end, the band 2 returns to the Eagles, recalling their famous intro to “Seven Bridges Road,” with the closing “Somewhere on the Wind.”

“On the Rocks is a confluence of our musical tastes and our reverence for classic country,” says Duddy, whose wife, photographer Harper Smith, shoots all of the group’s stylish photos.

“This record is truly a nod to the time period we are influenced by,” says Carson, a Pacific Northwest native, “and is an effort to bring that sound and that pageantry back to the forefront.”

“We write with a very visual storytelling approach. We paint that big picture and go to that place,” says Wystrach. “Where is this story going? Let’s paint it.”

“Electric Rodeo,” with its plaintive piano, sweeping strings and high-in-the-saddle chorus, is a prime example of the “picture” the band talks about creating. And “Check Cashin’ Country,” a solo composition by Carson, stands as the band’s true-life road diary: the tale of a country-rock band trying to find time to sleep as they hustle from gig to gig, barely making enough money to put gas in the tank. It’s the country equivalent of Seger’s “On the Road.”

Midland first came together at Duddy’s wedding in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the three members ended up jamming onstage at the rehearsal dinner.

“It was this serendipitous chain of events, and it was the best week ever,” says Wystrach, who, despite his hippie persona, was actually raised on an Arizona cattle ranch. “By the end, we knew the three of us had amazing chemistry.”

“Midland isn’t manufactured,” says Duddy, born in California. “We are three real friends who stumbled upon making music together.”

Whether they intended it or not, Midland are filling a void in country, with songs that run the gamut from lush Urban Cowboy anthems to loose campfire sing-alongs. Putting their own spin on a classic sound, they’re making something old relevant again.

“We are a band,” says Carson, declaratively. “That’s a big part of the spirit of what we do, that group experience and camaraderie.”

Says Wystrach, “We’ve poured our hearts and souls into writing and making these songs and are extremely proud of what we’ve been able to create.”

With On the Rocks, Midland have captured a sound decades in the making that is just right for today.

Feb
7
Thu
Devin Dawson “Stray Off Course Tour” LIVE @ The Bluestone
Feb 7 @ 7:00 pm

Devin Dawson will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone as part of his “Stray Off Course Tour” on

February 7th, 2019

Doors for the show will open at 7pm

Opening Artist: Jillian Jacqueline

Tickets are $15 in Advance and $20 day of show

Tickets On-Sale Friday, November 9th at 10am

PURCHASE HERE

DD_503

Devin Dawson is a country singer and songwriter with a keen ear for clever turns of phrase and a knack for splitting the difference between rootsy and contemporary. A native of Orangevale, California, Dawson spent his formative years soaking in the sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Alan Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Johnny Cash. In 2012, he packed his bags and headed to Nashville, where he became ensconced in the Music City songwriting machine, penning songs for other artists. After spending a few years honing his chops, he decided to strike out on his own, and enlisted the help of producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne). He inked a deal with Warner Music Nashville and released his debut single, “All on Me,” which reached the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The track was included on his 2018 full-length debut, Dark Horse, which also included collaborations with songwriters Luke Laird, Josh Kerr, Seth Ennis, and others.

Mar
1
Fri
Cody Johnson LIVE March 1st @ The Bluestone
Mar 1 @ 7:00 pm
Cody Johnson LIVE March 1st @ The Bluestone | Columbus | Ohio | United States

Cody Johnson will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone on March 1st, 2019

Doors for the show will open at 7pm

Opening Artist: Randall King

Tickets are $20 in advance

THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT

PURCHASE HERE

It’s Cody Johnson’s time.

After landing two releases in the Top 10 of Billboard’s country albums chart on his own CoJo label and selling 74,000 tickets for a single show, to earn recognition as the only unsigned artist in history to sell out NRG Stadium at RodeoHouston, one of Texas’ most-sought-after talents finally agreed to sign with a major label. Warner Music Nashville won a Music Row sweepstakes and enticed Johnson – who’d turned down several majors before – to join the team and take a shot at turning a concert success story into one with multimedia, national hit-making cred.

Johnson’s passionate, rowdy concerts have already drawn comparisons to Garth Brooks, and the music from his previous albums – inspired by ‘90s country foundations, but built for the 21st century – has made him a familiar presence on Texas and Oklahoma red-dirt radio.

Johnson’s introductory Warner project, Ain’t Nothin’ to It, ups the ante. After writing the bulk of his previous material, he put out word in Nashville that he was open to songs from other sources, and the results were astonishing. A-list writers – including Chris Stapleton, Radney Foster and Brothers Osborne guitarist John Osborne – came to the table with songs that suited Johnson’s life and disposition. Music fans who are just now coming to the table will get a quick understanding of Johnson, from the rowdy troublemaker in the swampy “Doubt Me Now” to the devoted family man in the title track to the self-penned ex-bull rider in “Dear Rodeo” to the devoted Christian in “His Name Is Jesus.”

Mar
3
Thu
Jon Langston March 3, 2022 @ The Bluestone
Mar 3 @ 7:00 pm – 10:45 pm

Jon Langston

March 3, 2022 7 PM

at The Bluestone

Columbus, Ohio

Bio: Jon Langston grew up in Loganville, GA, listening to music by his heroes Alan Jackson and the Eagles. He played football, eventually earning a Division 1 college football scholarship. Jon always thought football would a part of his life, but after his sixth concussion left him blind for fifteen minutes, his football career ended abruptly. So, he picked up his guitar which he hadn’t touched since the eighth grade and re-taught himself how to play. Playing open mic nights and working on his songwriting eventually lead to the 2013 release of self-penned, “Forever Girl,” the first song he ever wrote. That release kicked off his music career which has culminated in sold out shows across the country and over 500 million career streams. Jon opened for Luke Bryan on his Farm Tour in 2017, which was a full circle moment having attended as a spectator of the Farm Tour only a few years before in Athens, GA. He was invited to perform on the tour again in 2018 and joined Luke in support of his Sunset Repeat Tour in 2019. Jon signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV, management with KP Entertainment, and is the first artist signed under Luke Bryan’s new Label 32 Bridge Entertainment with EMI Records Nashville. Jon released his highly-anticipated EP, Now You Know, featuring six original songs all written by Jon. Jon’s debut major label single, “When It Comes To Loving You” reached No. 1 on the all-genre iTunes Chart and his single “Now You Know reached the Top 30 on the radio charts. Jon released a pair of new songs, “Happy Ever After” and “Try Missing You,” both of which highlight Langston’s songwriting and his classic country influences.

COVID-19: The Bluestone does not require COVID Vaccinations to enter our venue. We follow all local guidelines and cleaning procedures. The current Columbus “Mask Mandate” for an indoor event does not apply to anyone who is “ACTIVELY EATING OR DRINKING.” We kindly ask that you enter the building with a mask on. You can keep it on or remove it as long as you are actively EATING OR DRINKING! This will be a full capacity show, and it is an “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK EVENT.”

Mar
31
Thu
Dillon Carmichael March 31, 2022 @ The Bluestone
Mar 31 @ 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm

Dillon Carmichael

March 31, 2022 7 PM

at The Bluestone

Columbus, Ohio

About Dillon Carmichael:

FOR DILLON CARMICHAEL, THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN A WHIRLWIND, TO SAY THE LEAST.

Since unleashing his critically acclaimed 2018 debut, Hell On An Angel, he’s toured with everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Trace Adkins to Dwight Yoakam and Justin Moore, written a song for Travis Tritt’s latest album, racked up millions of streams on Spotify, gone viral on TikTok, and even gotten engaged. And while you might have expected the cancellation of a year’s worth of tour dates to finally slow him down, Carmichael instead used his pandemic downtime to head right back into the studio and record Hot Beer, a brand new collection of high-energy, feel-good country.

“I felt like my catalog could use a little more fun in it,” says Carmichael. “After putting out a record as heavy as Hell On An Angel, I wanted to make something faster, something looser, something that’d leave you with a smile on your face.”

Recorded with producers Jon Pardi and Ryan Gore, Dan Huff, and Phil O’Donnell, Hot Beer is all sly humor and raw heart, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and double entendres lurking around every corner. Carmichael’s rich, velvety baritone is still very much front and center here, but there’s a newfound playfulness to his delivery that manages to offer up a knowing wink even as it breaks your heart. It’s a delicate tightrope for any artist to walk, but if Hot Beer proves anything, it’s that Dillon Carmichael is a songwriter who knows how to take his fun seriously.

“Whether I’m singing a tear jerker or a party tune, the only thing that really matters to me is that it’s a great song,” Carmichael says. “And great songs are honest songs.”

Growing up in the small town of Burgin, KY, Carmichael inherited his passion for honest music through familial osmosis: his father and uncles performed in a Southern Gospel Quartet, his mother sang all over the eastern part of the state, and her brothers (John Michael and Eddie Montgomery) both enjoyed massive chart success. As a kid, Carmichael fell in love with country legends like Waylon Jennings and Vern Gosdin alongside the rock and roll he heard on the radio, and by the time he hit his teens, he was writing his own songs and performing live.

“I didn’t at any point consciously decide I was going to be a musician,” says Carmichael. “It just happened naturally. I found a kind of truth in country music that I couldn’t get anywhere else.”

After finishing high school, Carmichael relocated to Nashville, where he earned a publishing deal at the tender age of 18. It was his first taste of life outside of rural Kentucky, and the discovery of a whole city full of like-minded artists whose lives revolved around making music thrilled him. Buoyed by his early success, Carmichael began collaborating all over town with some of most revered writers in the business, but no Nashville resident had a bigger influence on him than producer Dave Cobb, whose stewardship helped guide Hell On An Angel from a dream to a reality.

“Dave just immediately understood my vision,” says Carmichael. “He helped me zero in on my truth.”

Merging a sonically progressive palette with a tasteful reverence for the past, Hell On An Angel was at once old school and modern, traditional and contemporary, timeless and timely. The New York Times compared Carmichael to Randy Travis and said his voice “moves with the heft and certainty of a tractor-trailer,” while NPR praised his “deep holler,” and Parade raved that “Carmichael defines pure country.” He landed on Artist To Watch lists from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Taste of Country, Pandora, and more, reached #2 at country radio’s Most Added chart with his debut single, “Dancing Away With My Heart,” and electrified festival crowds from Seven Peaks to Faster Horses.

“One of the things I learned getting to play big festivals and arenas and theaters was that it doesn’t matter if there’s 200 people or 20,000 people in the audience,” says Carmichael. “They’re there to hear country music and have a good time. It’s that simple.”

And so Carmichael began plotting his follow-up to Hell On Angel with those good times in mind. Reaching back to the lighthearted 90s country that had always held a special place in his heart, he began cutting a series of lively, uptempo, sometimes hilarious tunes full of mischief and innuendo. Lead single “Hot Beer,” written by Carmichael’s good friend HARDY, rattles off a list of everything the singer would rather do than get back together with his cheating ex (“I’d rather drink a hot beer / Build a fire in the pouring rain / Burn all of my fishing gear / Then set sail in a hurricane”), while the anthemic “Big Truck,” written with David Lee Murphy and Jessi Alexander, questions the true source of his partner’s affection, and the bawdy “Sawin’ Logs” spins a tale of two lovers on very different pages.

“Phil sent me that song last year and it was our summer jam,” says Carmichael. “We rocked out to it all the time, and I posted an acoustic version to TikTok just for fun one day. It ended up getting millions and millions of views and everyone started singing along to it at my shows, so I knew I had to record it.”

Not everything on Hot Beer is quite so irreverent, though. The sweetly sincere “Since You’ve Been In It” celebrates the kind of love that makes everything better; the bittersweet “Somewhere She Ain’t” reckons with the ghosts of a lost love that just won’t fade away; and the grateful “Lucky Man” takes stock of the little things that add up to a beautiful life.

“My uncle Eddie originally recorded ‘Lucky Man’ with Troy Gentry back in 2006,” says Carmichael, “and I thought putting my own spin on it would be a nice nod to my family legacy, as well as a tribute to Troy, who passed away in 2017. I’ve loved that song ever since I heard them sing it for the first time, and I’m honored be able to share my version of it.”

With live music returning and his calendar filling up once more, Dillon Carmichael is indeed a lucky man. And with Hot Beer, it’s clear he’s ready to dive back into the whirlwind and have some serious fun.

COVID-19:

The Bluestone does not require COVID Vaccinations to enter our venue. We follow all local guidelines and cleaning procedures. The current Columbus “Mask Mandate” for an indoor event does not apply to anyone who is “ACTIVELY EATING OR DRINKING.” We kindly ask that you enter the building with a mask on. You can keep it on or remove it as long as you are actively EATING OR DRINKING! This will be a full capacity show, and it is an “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK EVENT.”

Apr
10
Sun
Whitey Morgan and the 78’s April 10, 2022 @ The Bluestone
Apr 10 @ 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s

with Alex Williams

April 10, 2022 7 PM

at The Bluestone

Columbus, Ohio

About Whitey Morgan:
In a career spanning 15 years, Morgan has released five studio albums and a live recording from his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Additionally, he has toured relentlessly averaging over 125 shows annually. Rolling Stone has described him as a “Waylon Jennings acolyte.. modern day outlaw [with a] hard hitting blue-collar brand of music” while NPR Music hailed, “Staying close to the sound and subject matter of classic outlaw artists like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and David Allan Coe, Morgan is poised to lead this hand-worn brand of country to the next generation.” His most recent LP, Sonic Ranch (2015), was released to critical acclaim and praised by Detroit Free Press as, “a bold well-crafted album that doesn’t forsake the gritty undercurrent running through Morgan’s stuff.”

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s anticipated new album, self-produced by Morgan, was recorded in the Neve Room at famed Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas. Featured on the record are collaborations with acclaimed songwriters Travis Meadows and Ward Davis plus a cover of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid.” Alongside Morgan, the 78’s consist of Brett Robinson (pedal steel guitar), Joey Spina (guitar), Alex Lyon (bass) and Eric Savage (drums).

Of the recording, Morgan shares, “It’s not like my vision happened overnight. I’ve been chipping away at it forever. It’s slowly evolving and it’s going in a little bit different direction. It’s not so straightforward anymore. This record definitely has a wider path, it’s broader, but it still sounds like a Whitey Morgan record.” With grandparents from Tennessee and Kentucky and hometown roots in Flint, Michigan, Morgan’s family geography has factored into his approach to music.

May
13
Fri
Ian Munsick May 13, 2022 @ The Bluestone
May 13 @ 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm

Ian Munsick

with Ryan Charles

May 13, 2022 7 PM

at The Bluestone

Columbus, Ohio


ABOUT IAN MUNSICK

Breathing fresh Rocky Mountain air into the Nashville music scene, Ian Munsick is pioneering a new brand of country. The Wyoming-born singer / songwriter’s upbringing was a mix of working the ranch and working crowds. Under the tutelage of their fiddle-playing father, Munsick and his two older brothers grew up playing everything from bluegrass to The Beatles. Incorporating elements across genres, he has now begun to establish himself as a progressive artist with an old soul. Captivated by traditional lyrical truth and the modern soundscape, Munsick followed his ear to Music City.

In 2017 he released a self-titled EP, winning iHeartRadio’s Rocky Mountain Song of the Year for the rootsy “Horses Are Faster” and becoming the only artist who simultaneously qualified two tracks as finalists in the NSAI/CMT songwriting competition. Since then, Munsick has signed a major label record deal with Warner Music Nashville, earned more than 100 million global streams and been named one of Spotify’s inaugural Hot Country Artists to Watch. His debut album Coyote Cry features his mile-high tenor underscoring self-penned songs that conjure equal parts epic adventure and down-to-earth wisdom. The record marks the dawn of western pop-laced country, pulling a thread straight from Chris LeDoux through Post Malone. Munsick hit the road in the fall alongside labelmate Cody Johnson and his own sold-out, headlining dates. He wrapped the year with his Grand Ole Opry debut and is starting 2022 strong as a MusicRow Next Big Thing artist. Fans are finding that with Ian Munsick, western country is reborn.

About Ryan Charles

Western rapper Ryan Charles hails from the valley of Buffalo, WY. Similar to his hometown, once referred to as the most lawless town in America, Charles brings a style all his own — meshing the cowboy lifestyle with flow of 2000’s rap. A natural-born entertainer, Charles quickly became one of the most skilled freestyle rappers on the school bus, eventually making the move to Seattle, WA to pursue his music career more seriously. As an artist, Charles has released a few singles, including the jiggy buckaroo bop “Gettin’ Western” in 2020 and most recently, “Old Dirt Fancy” in 2021. Known for his signature fashion sense, light hearted twang and high-energy live shows, Charles continues to work on new music in Nashville, TN.

May
19
Thu
Paul Cauthen May 19, 2022 @ The Bluestone
May 19 @ 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm

Paul Cauthen

May 19, 2022 7 PM

at The Bluestone

Columbus, Ohio

Want to get a bead on Paul Cauthen?

Good freakin’ luck — especially on his third album, COUNTRY COMING DOWN.

Suffice to say that the singer, songwriter and proud son of Tyler, Texas — steward of a rich, resonant, bass-leaning tenor dubbed Big Velvet — covers a lot of ground and embodies a lot of characters. He’ll tell you right off the bat that he’s “Country As Fuck,” throwing down a wad of “Fuck You Money” and heading into the night to “Cut a Rug.” His “Country Clubbin'” has as much to do with swinging as his swing. But a song or two later dude’s vowing to be loving his wife “Till the Day I Die” and, in COUNTRY COMING DOWN’s title track, dreams of living in “a cabin in the country, far away from the city lights” where “life is slow and easy.”

The fact that all of that exists within the same guy, who’s full of good humor, sharp wit and a heart as big as his home state is what makes Cauthen someone who’s easy, and exciting, to spend 10 songs with.

“Y’know, you got your bangers and you got your ballads,” Cauthen acknowledges. “You got your meaningful songs where you’re opening up more of your vulnerable side, and then you’re putting on a fucking show — all in one album. And it’s all honest, I’ll tell ya that. Everything on there is something I’ve felt or thought before.”

COUNTRY COMING DOWN has been in motion awhile, actually. The title track, one of several co-writes with good Nashville pal Aaron Raitiere, has been around since before Cauthen’s dark sophomore album ROOM 41. Its sense of campfire calm and “damn near off the map” idyll set a bar, for both music and lifestyle, that Cauthen aspired to, while the rest of the new album, recorded at Modern Electric Sound Recorders in Dallas with regular collaborators Beau Bedford (Texas Gentlemen) and Jason Burt (Medicine Man Revival), shows that Cauthen was able to get there without losing any of the playful “hot dog holly golly dagnabit” good-time spirit that rolls off his tongue like a tumbleweed in the west Texas panhandle.

As he promises in “Country As Fuck,” “I ain’t gotta sell my soul. If I want it then I grab it.”

“I’m having fun,” Cauthen says. “I’ve finally figured it out. I’m more settled and comfortable. I know I’m good at making records and great at entertaining. That’s my gift more than anything, to be able to get up there and deliver these songs to people.”

That gift is part of Cauthen’s DNA, of course, from a family deeply steeped in music. Texan on both sides, his paternal grandfather went to school with Hank Williams while his maternal grandpa, who worked with Buddy Holly and the Crickets during his youth, introduced Cauthen to singing. His grandmother taught him to play piano, while his grandfather and great uncle were the song leader and preacher, respectively, of the local Christian Church of Christ.

“Yeah, I had no choice, really” Cauthen says now. “(Music) is what I call my birddog trait; You don’t have to tell a birddog to jump in the river and grab the duck and bring it back to you. And you don’t have to tell me to get up on stage and perform. That’s what I’m supposed to do. My family enjoyed watching me perform when I was a kid; I would get up in front of everybody at Christmas with my guitar and play ‘Jackson’ with my grandmother. I learned my trade, y’know?”

Cauthen pursued that trade into young adulthood, showcasing at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos and forming the duo Sons of Fathers, whose early albums were produced by Lloyd Maines. After the group ran its course, Cauthen set off on his own in 2016, recording MY GOSPEL partly in Muscle Shoals, AL.; The album made Rolling Stone’s list of Top 40 Country Records that year. 2018’s HAVE MERCY EP began his association with Bedford and featured contributions by other members of the Texas Gentlemen, and also led to Cauthen’s Grand Ole Opry debut as a solo artist on June 22, 2018.

The critically acclaimed ROOM 41, meanwhile, chronicled and exorcised a rough period in Cauthen’s life, marked by a romantic breakup, substance abuse, depression and anxiety issues. “My growing years were like going to college,” Cauthen confesses. “I just got screwed so many times by so many different people on this whole freakin’ journey. I had this void I was trying to fill in my heart, with booze or any type of, just, abuse. I made every stupid mistake you can make in the business, and in life, in order to learn ’em all.
“I don’t feel that hurt anymore. I’ve changed.”

Marriage helped, he says. So did cleaning house and restructuring the business operation that surrounded him. That allowed Cauthen to plunge into COUNTRY COMING DOWN with a lighter heart and wicked humor — one that allowed him to find the profound meaning in a “schmoozie bougie brouhaha.”
If you want to know what that sounds like, tuck into the album’s sonic array, an austere, sinewy attack that puts Cauthen’s vocals dead center in the ride. “We’ve really unleashed Big Velvet in this situation, which I love,” he says. Nowhere is that more true than “Country As Fuck,” with a taut groove and loping gait tailor made for a 21st century honky tonk. Cauthen, Bedford and Burt play with that template throughout COUNTRY COMING DOWN, punctuating “Caught Me At a Good Time” with a sharp guitar solo, “High Heels” with a tasteful Wurlitzer break and the satiristic “Country Clubbin'” with a disco beat and chorus of female backing vocals.

But just when you buy in — and happily convert — to Cauthen’s brand of unapologetic hedonism, the soul comes out. “Till The Day I Die” smoothes his raw heart with the promise of true and lasting love, while the stock-taking “Roll On Over” takes a wistful look in his rearview mirror. And “Country Coming Down” realizes a dream of calm — although not exclusive of the next sojourn with “Champagne & a Limo.”

I’m always on a quest, sonically,” Cauthen explains. “I was wanting to go at this just serving the song, more, ‘What does this call for?’ rather than worrying about genre or sonic palette or any certain sound. I had a lot of these songs brewing for a long time, and we just let them grow on their own.”

His muse fully engaged, Cauthen is looking towards doing more of that in the future, with a few conceptual ideas up his sleeve about what he might do next. No matter what direction he takes, however, he won’t be abandoning that cabin in the hills or the “Country Clubbin'” life; Cauthen will just be adding more to the mix he’s stirred together.

“It’s just about looking at yourself in the mirror and knowing that what you’ve done to this day has been in good standing, with good morals and a good compass in life, driven the right way,” he says. “Legacy is all we have — that, and try to be a good person as well. If you get all that together, then you can do whatever the fuck you want and it’ll be alright.”

Aug
31
Wed
Matt Nathanson August 31, 2022 @ The Bluestone
Aug 31 @ 6:30 pm – 11:45 pm

Matt Nathanson

with Donovan Woods

August 31, 2022 6:30 PM

at The Bluestone

Columbus, Ohio