Big Country Notes for JULY 16

TIM AND FAITH ROCK CHICAGO WITH IMPROMPTU GIG

Friday the 13th was a lucky day for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill fans in the Chicago area. After playing the first of a two-night stand at Chicago’s United Center, the duo headed to downtown House of Blues club to perform a “Bread & Water” show. According to radio station US99, the show was announced for the first time Friday morning but by 12:30 a.m. 12-hundred fans filled the House of Blues to capacity to see more Tim and Faith. Halfway to Hazard performed a seven song set followed by Lance Miller who combined golden oldies with some of his new material. At 2 a.m. McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors took the stage and played for two-and-a-half hours. Jim Belushi surprised the audience with a guest appearance on harmonica for a few songs. US99 reported that fire marshals and management finally closed the club at 4:30 a.m. These intimate club performances were started by Tim seven years ago. The set list ranges from the hits to covers of Aretha Franklin and Boz Scaggs songs. Over the years several artists including Reba McEntire, Kid Rock, Peyton Manning and Sheryl Crow have made surprise guest appearances. All proceeds from Friday night’s “Bread & Water” gig benefit the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls of Chicago as well as the couple’s Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation.

· Tim and Faith’s concert at the United Center was also packed. The two open this year’s tour with a duet of Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.” Hill then does a 13-song set followed by two more duets by her and Tim. Then McGraw introduced his 19-song set with, quote, “I love the hell outta my job.” He performed a three hour show including more collaborations with Faith.


BROOKS & DUNN GET INSPIRED BY THEIR FANS

You never know where your next hit song could come from – just ask Brooks & Dunn. If you’re one of the many folks who’s seen the duo in concert the last few months, you may have helped in inspiring their lastest single record “Proud of the House We Built.” Ronnie says he walked offstage one night after a show in Georgia with the basic idea for the song in his head. He gives some credit to the audience. Dunn admits, quote, “That’s energy…I stepped back for a second, and it just came to me.” “Proud of the House We Built” is the first single for a new album by the duo scheduled later this year.

TOBY KEITH’S VIDEO GOES NUMBER ONE

No one can say Toby Keith doesn’t have great fans. With their support, Keith’s video of his latest single “Love Me If You Can” has reached number one on CMT Pure Country. Meanwhile, he’s burning up the highway on his “Big Dog Daddy” tour with Miranda Lambert and Flynnville Train. The trek is in the Top Ten on TicketNews.com’s list of the Most Sought After Tickets. Also on the list is Broadway’s “Wicked” and the Boston Red Sox as the biggest in-demand events. The singer is performing next in Samia, Ontario, Canada on Friday and the next day he’s at the big country music festival Jamboree in the Hills in Ohio. Sunday finds him in Philadephia.

BLAKE SHELTON HELPS POLICE WITH ARREST OF BURGLAR

Blake Shelton is a hero in his hometown. According to the “Ada Evening News,” Shelton aided police in the arrest of James Robert Gastineau when he broke into Shelton’s uncle’s home last week. Apparantly Blake was at the home of his mother, Dorothy Shackleford, when her brother, Dempsey Byrd, called to say there was a strange man in his home. The two jumped in a vehicle and went over to see what was going on. By the time they got there, Shackleford’s brother was out of his house but the suspect was still in it. Shelton knocked on the door, the man answered it and the singer told him to step outside. Ada police officers arrested Gastineau, who was charged with first-degree burglary and public intoxication. Blake’s mother says she’s not even sure if the police knew who Blake was. She told the “Evening News,” quote, “Blake just happened to be home in Tishomingo and had come over to the house. I don’t think he would have guessed he’d end up helping arrest a man and then end up in the police reports.”

SARAH BUXTON’S DIGITAL EP BEST SELLER ON iTUNES

This week Sarah Buxton celebrated a first in her young career. Within 48 hours of the release of her digital EP, “Almost My Record” is already the third best-selling country disc on iTunes. She says, quote, “It’s so exciting to be able to share my music and then to find out it’s one of iTunes best-selling albums this week. I can’t believe it!” One of the tracks on album is her co-written tune “Stupid Boy,” which was a number one hit for Keith Urban.

TRAVIS TRITT RELEASES NEW ALBUM NEXT MONTH

Travis Tritt is gearing up for the release of “Landfall”—his first new CD in a few years. “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson is producing. The pair met when Tritt recorded a duet with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Sam Moore for his Jackson produced CD “Overnight Sensational.” The singer is known for his souful voice and it’s reflected on the new project. Travis says, quote, “Growing up just outside of Atlanta, to the north of us you’ve got the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. A little bit south you’ve got Macon, Georgia, home of the Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band and Capricorn Records.” Tritt adds, quote, “And off to the west you’ve got delta blues. Sprinkle southern gospel over the top of that, and you’re talking about where I come from.” “Landfall” hits stores on August 21st.

GENE WATSON ENDURES BAD FRIDAY THE 13TH

Gene Watson may not have been superstitious before but now he’s not so sure. The singer and his Farewell Party band were heading to Nashville Friday morning for a Grand Ole Opry appearance when his bus caught on fire. Luckily they were near their exit outside of Nashville so they pulled off and began battling the flames themselves until the Nashville Fire Department arrived. Before his first big hit in 1973 “Love In The Hot Afternoon”, Gene worked as a mechanic/ autobody man and so it was Gene that first jumped into action, putting out the flames. The singer says, “We used everything we had on the bus to douse the flames. I even poured my last Dr. Pepper [soft drink] on them.” He adds, quote, “The firemen still gave it a good shot too when they got there.” The fire ignited from a broken axle shaft spewing grease. Gene and his band were unhurt, with Gene having a few singed hair on his arm and a little smoke inhalation. Watson’s performance on the Opry was flawless despite him having had only one hour of sleep in about 30 hours. Watson says with his characteristic humor, quote, “When we say we were smoldering hot in Nashville, we really mean it.” The bus remained in Nashville for repairs while equipment and clothing were transferred to a rented coach so Watson and the band could get back to their homes in Texas.
· Gene’s new album “In A Perfect World” will be release September 25th. Among the guest vocalists on this album are Joe Nichols, Vince Gill, Connie Smith, and Mark Chesnutt. Smith, who also played the Opry with Gene Friday night, says she was nervous when she found he wanted her on the album. She says, quote, “He’s a great singer and he sings with a lot of heart.” Watson says Connie is one of his favorite female singers of all time.

STARS TEAM UP WITH CMT FOR NEW SPECIALS

Sugarland, Sara Evans and Big & Rich will have their own music specials on CMT. The three acts will headline in their own one-hour concert special titled “CMT At Summerfest.” Taped in June in front of an audience of thousands, Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is billed as the world’s largest music festival. It will premiere on CMT August 3rd-5th. Additionally, Sara Evans will be giving one lucky aspiring artist the chance of a lifetime—to be her opening act in the new CMT special “Big Break.” It debuts on August 4th. In its latest installment of “CMT Cross Country,” Texans Miranda Lambert and Jack Ingram will team up to share music and stories. “CMT Cross Country” will be taped later this month and is scheduled to air August 31st. In the newest episode of “CMT Crossroads,” LeAnn Rimes and British soul singer Joss Stone will share the stage for an evening of music. The special will air this fall. “CMT Giants” will honor Hank Williams Jr. when it premieres on the network in November.

JO DEE MESSINA SINGLE IS SECOND MOST DOWNLOADED

Jo Dee Messina received some good news. Her latest song “Biker Chick” is the number two most downloaded single in the U.S. for the second consecutive week according to Play MPE. The single is from Messina’s upcoming disc “Unmistakable” out this fall. Jo Dee loved the song when she first listened to it. Messina was attracted to its “energy and free spirit” and that’s why she picked it for “Unmistakable.” A new album is not the only thing happening this fall, Messina will run her second marathon in October.


QUICK BITES

Taylor Swift was on double duty this past weekend. She performed on the Best Buy Fun Zone stage at the Chicagoland Speedway Saturday noon and that night she opened for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on the “Soul2Soul Tour 2007.”

Hank Williams Jr. will be honored as a “CMT Giant” with his own two-hour special. “CMT Giants” will air in November on CMT.

Heartland’s new single “Once a Woman” was co-written by John Rich of Big & Rich and Richie McDonald of Lonestar.