Eric Church – Under The Sound

November 14 2020

Music vs. Pandemic

Country artist Joe Diffie died March 29, only days after sharing his diagnosis of Corona Virus.

John Prine, Americana Legend, died April 7 from complications of Covid-19.

Only days before the CMA awards, Lee Brice and Tyler Hubbard tested positive for Covid-19. Lady A also missed the CMA award show due to having a member of the immediate family who tested positive for the virus.

Is Nashville doing enough to protect it’s musicians and their fans?

Pinkie and I were planning a bucket list trip to Guitar Town in the near future. But after conversing, we are in agreement that now is not the time for inter state travel. This concept has certainly affected the musical industry more so than it has affected us.

Many artists have spoken out on social media that this pandemic is affecting their entire way of life.

When life is good again, I’ll be a better friend, a better person when life is good again. We’ve been brought to our knees. We’ve been so ill at ease, but there are no guarantees but life goes on. And when it’s over I’ll open up my heart and let the whole world in. I’ll try to make amends when life is good again
Dolly Parton

With the many venues either at limited capacity or closed completely these artists are having a harder time in doing what they do.

Selling out shows and selling merchandise is how singers and their bands make a living. And not to mention all of the behind the scenes that we never see. Think about the soundmen, the guys who set up the equipment, the drivers who get the band and it’s equipment from town to town, show to show? If the star isn’t working, then neither is the backup.

Can these venues and musical artists survive another lockdown?

Many artists have shifted to online events. One way we can help out as fans is to continue to watch them even if only online. We need to continue to buy the merchandise and music. If we only streamed our favorite songs from someplace like YouTube, then these artists don’t get paid. They have no way to pay their bills or to take care of their families.

I posted yesterday what Eric Church said at the CMA Awards.

“Music is about unity…it’s going to take everybody…to unite.”
Eric Church

This means us as the fans should be doing more to support the music and the artists we love. I don’t know about you, but for me, without music my life would be a dull blur. I am thankful for the many artists who have continued to write the songs and produce the records even though they have no where to go and perform it for the public. God Bless social media and the writers who are getting the information out on the newest and latest and greatest.

I am ready for the world to get back to some state of normalcy. Until then, I’ll keep my music up loud.

Pancho.

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November 13 2020

Mr Misunderstood

Last Wednesday night, Eric Church was crowned CMA’s Entertainer of the Year for 2020.

Church told people magazine,

“Music is the one thing that is going to save the entire world.”
Eric Church

Eric Church was born Kenneth Eric Church May 3,1977 in Granite Falls, North Carolina. He has released six studio albums since signing with Capitol Nashville in 2005.

The 43 year old artist, Church, has been nominated for the top prize four times previously. This was his first time to win the Crown of Country Music. This year Church was also nominated for male vocalist of the year, but Luke Combs was awarded that title.

In previous years, he has taken home other trophies from the CMA. In 2012 Eric Church received Album of the Year for Chief. 2015 saw Eric Church as the winner of Musical Event of the Year. In 2016 Mr Misunderstood was named Album of the Year.

Mr. Misunderstood is what first drew me to Eric and his music. The album was released November 3^rd 2015 by EMI records Nashville. The album was released on iTunes the following day. The title track of the album is still one of the Top 25 most played songs in my playlist.

Mr. Misunderstood was written by Eric Church and Casey Beatherd. In 2016 the ACM awards gave it the title of Video of The Year. Upon it’s release the song peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs Charts.

I can truly associate with these lyrics. I have never fit in with any particular click. Especially when I was growing up through my school aged years. I feel like I am misunderstood even today. My style is all me. I am probably the only guy I know whose favorite outfit to wear is a pearl snap shirt, a cowboy hat and flip flops. I love music that isn’t the top choice.. I speak my own language of southern drawl mixed with a little tex-ican. I like to laugh and have fun. I am laid back even when I should be serious. Most of the bands that I listen to never even made it to the CMA stage.

I love his songs and his lyrics. I love the fact that he gives tribute to Ray Wylie Hubbard in this song!

Speaking of RWH today happens to be his birthday!

“It’s not any more unusual to be born twice than it is to be born once”
Ray Wylie Hubbard

Happy Birthday Ray Wylie Hubbard.

“Politicians are about division. Music is about unity. And I promise you it’s going to to take everybody in this room to unite.”
Eric Church Excerpt from his speech at the CMA awards 11/11/20

Mr Misunderstood I Understand

Pancho.

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October 7 2020

Wagon Wheel

Country’s biggest night is slated to air on November 11, 2020 on ABC. This is the 54^th Annual CMA awards. This year the event is hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker.

Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood along with Keith Urban have all been nominated for Entertainer of the Year 2020.

I have been a fan of Darius Rucker since I can remember. His early fame began with his days in the rock band, Hootie &the Blowfish. He founded the band while in college at the University of South Carolina in 1986.

Hootie & the Blowfish released five studio albums while he was a member. They had six top 40 hits while Darius was on board. Most of these songs had been co-written by Darius.

Six years after a solo album Darius Rucker recorded with the label Hidden Beach Recordings lacked success, Darius signed to Capitol Nashville as a country music singer.

“Learn to Live” released September 16, 2008. The album scored three number one tracks on the Billboard Country music charts.

“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This for Long,” and “Alright” made Rucker the first Black artist since Charley Pride in 1983, to reach number one on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Darius Rucker became the first black American to win the New Artist Award from the CMA. (Country Music Association).

Darius Carlos Rucker was born and raised poor in Charleston, South Carolina. His father who was never around was a gospel singer.

Becoming a singer was always a dream Darius hoped would come true recalled his sister, L’Corine.

Darius Rucker Regulary works with charities that supports sick and underprivileged children. Since 2008 he has raised more than 1.6 million to support the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Darius Rucker wrote the song “Let Her Cry” while still with Hootie & the Blowfish.

He says,

“Even all these years later, ‘Let Her Cry’ is still the song people talk about.. That still might be the best song I ever wrote.”

I agree that while “Let Her Cry” may be the best Darius Rucker ever wrote, “Wagon Wheel” was the song that made him who he is today.

Early in my sobriety we would listen to Darius Rucker before our Friday night Bad Boys Meeting. The song that really turned me onto to Darius as a country artist was his song “Wagon Wheel”.

When I first heard the song, I had no idea that the guy singing was the same vocalist of Hootie & the Blowfish.

“Wagon Wheel” was a song originally done by Old Crow Medicine Show in 2004 . It written by Ketch Secor and has Bob Dylan Credited as a co-writer.

The song as Darius Rucker sings it has reached 8 x Platinum . Rucker is now the only solo male country act to reach such a feat.

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Not too bad for a poor boy from South Carolina.

Pancho.

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