Country Concerts in MN: Chuck Wicks

My friend Jamie and I will be at it again next weekend! We are going to be at The Cabooze in Minneapolis On January 10Th to see Chuck Wicks. Chuck Wick was a participant on the reality show Nashville. It got cancelled in early 2007 after only 2 episodes. Later that year Chuck signed a record deal with RCA Nashville. His debut single off of his Starting Now album was "Stealing Cinderella." "Stealing Cinderella" was the biggest debut for any new country artist in 2007. I love this song and think it should have peaked higher than #5 on the country charts. His second single, which I also love, was "All I Ever Wanted." This song also broke the top 20 and peaked at #14 on the country charts. In August he start dating fellow country artist/Dancing with the Stars performer Julianne Hough. I'm hoping she might make a surprise appearance. I am so excited to hear Chuck Wicks two great songs and many I haven't heard from him yet. I already know I will have great stories to tell all of you after the concert since I will be with my concert friend Jamie. We walk away from every concert with interesting stories if you haven't been able to tell.

Best albums of 2008

My next few blogs are going to a "Best of 2008." Please comment and let me know if I forgot anything on these next few blogs. This one is what I think were the best Albums of 2008. My personal favorite would definitely have to be 'Love on the Inside' by Sugarland. During the last few years they have become one of my favorite bands and I love almost everything they release. A close second was 'Fearless' by Taylor Swift. Taylor yet again released an album with great boyfriend/break-up songs that are so much fun to sing along with. The next three all tie for third in my book cause all three albums have amazing country songs on them that raced up the charts this year. To start out with is 'Learn to live' by Darius Rucker, then 'Lady Antebellum' by Lady Antebellum, and last but not least 'Play' by Brad Paisley. I won't leave out the two Greatest hits albums released this year by Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts. All of there songs on those two albums bring back so many memories. If the albums of 2009 are half as great as the 2008 albums it will be a very good year to look forward too!

Country Concerts in Wisconsin: Country Splash 2009

About a month ago my friend Jamie (who I go to all my concerts with) mentioned something about a concert called Country Splash. At that time I told her I would love to go cause I would go to any concert with her. But, this morning on my hour and half trip to work I heard an advertisement for Country Splash. At that moment I knew why Jamie sounded so excited about it a month ago. The line-up is amazing.. Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Clay Walker, Luke Bryan, SheDaisy, and Darius Rucker are the artist that have confirmed so far! I would travel to the Apple River in Wisconsin to see anyone of these performers, I just can't believe they will all be there at one time. The concert is held from June 18-20 and I don't know how I am going to hold my excitement for that long! If any of you have been to Country Splash in previous years please leave me a comment and tell me what it was like. I'm sure I will be writing about this subject a lot cause I am to excited to not think about it.

Country CD's

Christmas is only 10 days away and I'm 95% sure I know what I am getting. The only thing I asked for was a CD player for my car. My CD player broke a couple months back and it has not been fun being forced to listen to only the radio! I was trying to think of the best Cd's I could ask for from my siblings and extended relatives and so far I have come up with this....
1. Rascal Flatts - Greatest hits
2. Taylor Swift - Fearless
3. Sugarland - Love on the Inside
4. Dierks Bentley - Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory
5. Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
That's my top 5 list as of right now. I am so excited to listen to Cd's in my car I am willing to listen to pretty much anything besides the radio. If you have any suggestions please let me know cause I could def use them.

Worlds Toughest Cowboy Rodeo

The Worlds Toughest Cowboy Rodeo is coming back to Minnesota and I am so excited to go to the event. Just incase there is one or two of you out there that don't know what the Worlds Toughest Cowboy Rodeo is I will fill you in... Toughest Cowboy is the closest you will get to the real American west. It tests strength, endurance and genuine grit as twelve cowboys compete in three gut-wrenching, roughstock disciplines—bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. These are the only cowboys in the world who dare to ride two broncs and one bull in the same night. It is not for the weak—an iron man competition where only the strongest will endure to be crowned the Toughest Cowboy Champion and walk away with the deed to their own Wyoming Ranch. This is a rodeo event like no other. In addition to the Toughest Cowboy competition, the event features the world’s most-famous cowboy, Whiplash “The Cowboy Monkey”. Whiplash has thrilled fans around the world with his dog-riding cowboy antics. Adding to the night’s entertainment there will wild chuck wagon races and electrifying women’s barrel racing. After the dust settles the party continues with the post-rodeo “Party on the Dirt” concert. This year’s tour includes performances by Nashville’s Music Row 2008 “Breakout Band of the Year” Whiskey Falls and Grammy-nominated songwriter Keith Anderson, who is best know for his hit single “I Still Miss You” and his recent release “Somebody Needs A Hug.” I went to this event two years ago and everything about it is amazing! The cowboys are thrilling to watch, Whiplash is hillarious, and the concert in the dirt is so much fun. It is a huge red neck party that I can't wait to be a part of again. I just purchased my Worlds Toughest Cowboy tickets. The Xcel Energy Center tickets are available for the two nights they will be here which is January 30th and 31st. I hope to see all of you there!

Gretchen Wilson 2

What can I say about the Gretchen Wilson concert besides that it was crazy. The opening band was awesome! They sang some great cover songs and def got the crowd pumped up for Gretchen. Lindsay, Amber, Jamie and I did a little of our own "pumping up" before Gretchen came on stage at the bar! They bar at the Myth is awesome it doesn't take long to get a drink and they def aren't shy with the alcohol. Gretchen Wilson sounded amazing, better than on her Cd's. She sang all of her hits and a few new ones. Everyone there was loving every song. Minus the one a**hole bouncer(don't ask to borrow a flashlight from the big/fat bouncer to find your friends missing earring!) everything about the venue was amazing yet again. It has such a fun atmosphere. We were so close to Gretchen that she waved at Amber and I. I would go back to the Myth Nightclub to see Gretchen Wilson or any other country performer in a heart beat.
A few more tips about the Myth Nightclub:
1. If at all possible don't bring a coat the coat check is not worth the hassle.
2. Drink slowly and avoid the shots. The bartenders at the Myth are not shy with the alcohol. They give you huge shots and put a lot of liquor in your mixed drinks.
3. If you go with multiple people have a buddy system it is easy to loose friends for hours in that place (love you Jamie!)
4.(this is only for country concerts I have been told) Make friends with the people around you! Everyone is there to have a great time and it is much more fun if you are able to party with a lot of people!
5. AVOID the very large bouncer. He is easy to spot and he is extremely mean and will try to kick you out for looking at him the wrong way or singing a song a little too loud. Just trust me on this one if he comes by you stay silent and look at the ground. Besides him all the bouncers are awesome so don't be shy to ask them a question or have fun with them!

Country Music News: Does the Grammys really know country music?

Yesterday the Grammy nominations were announced and I am not to impressed with the nominations in the country categories. Before I start explaining myself I will tell you who was nominated in what categories....
Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "For These Times" Martina McBride, "What I Cannot Change" LeAnn Rimes, "Last Name" Carrie Underwood, "Last Call" Lee Ann Womack, "This Is Me You're Talking To" Trisha Yearwood. Best Male Country Vocal Performance: "You're Gonna Miss This" Trace Adkins, "In Color" Jamey Johnson, "Just Got Started Lovin' You" James Otto, "Letter to Me" Brad Paisley, "Troubadour" George Strait. Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: "God Must Be Busy" Brooks & Dunn, "Love Don't Live Here" Lady Antebellum, "Every Day" Rascal Flatts, "Blue Side of the Mountain" SteelDrivers, "Stay" Sugarland. Best Country Collaboaration With Vocals: "Shiftwork" Kenny Chesney & George Strait, "Killing the Blues" Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, "House of Cash" Gearge Strait & Patty Loveless, "Life in a Northern Town" Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town, "Let the wind Chase You" Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban. Best Country Album: That Lonesome Song by Jamey Johnson, Sleepless Nights by Patty Loveless, Troubadour by Geaorge Strait, Around the Bend by Randy Travis, Heaven Heartache and the Power of Love by Trisha Yearwood........I hope after reading the nominees some of you can understand what I am talking about. I want to know how it is possible for Jamey Johnson to get nominated for Best country Albums and artist like Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Keith Urban, or Dierks Bently didn't. Jamey Johnson has had two songs that have broken the top 20 country charts and the highest was "In Color" which only reached 11. Many amazing artist such as Dierks, Kenny, Keith, Toby, and so on weren't nominated for anything. This leads me to believe that the Grammys know nothing about the country world and stick to the older artist that have been around forever even if they haven't had a hit in years or people that have worked with the older artist a.k.a Jamey Johnson. Don't get me wrong I love George Strait and Patty Loveless and they deserve every award they get but so do the newer artist that are blowing up the charts!

Gretchen Wilson continued....

I just learned today that if you Bring a new, unwrapped toy donation for the U.S. Marine Corps. Toys for Tots campaign you'll be entered to win a meet & greet with Gretchen Wilson! I am def. going out and getting a toy tonight to bring with me cause not only will I be helping out kids in need I will also get a chance to meet Gretchen Wilson at the Myth Nightclub!....Wish me luck :)

Country Concerts in MN: Gretchen Wilson

I finally got my Gretchen Wilson tickets in the the mail on Friday! Since then I have been counting down the hours till I get to see her at the Myth Nightclub on December 5Th which is this Friday. I am going with the same girls (Jamie, Lindsay, and Mary) that I went to the Chris Cagle concert with so I already know we are going to have a great time. Don't worry like always I did a little background check on Gretchen Wilson, cause I like to know everything about the performer I am going to see, and this is what I learned. Gretchen Wilson was born in Pocahontas, Illinois to a 16-year-old mother. Gretchen and her mother lived in trailer parks and relative poverty. Gretchen began singing in small bars around the St. Louis, Missouri area at age 17. In 2000, she met John Rich, a member of Big & Rich, who invited her to become his songwriting partner. Wilson signed with Epic Records in 2003 and recorded Here for the Party. This album had the #1 single "Redneck Women" along with many others. On September 27, 2005, Gretchen released her second album All Jacked Up. It peaked at #1 on both the Top 200 and Country album charts and sold 1 million copies. Her newer albums and singles haven't done so great but Gretchen Wilson has proven herself to be tough and can deal with any situation so I know she will have a huge come back. I am so so so excited to see and hear her on Friday!!!! There are still Gretchen Wilson Tickets out there and it will totally be worth the money to go. If you are unable to make it, like always, I will let you know how it goes.