KVOO Valentine’s Hangover

The Tulsa radio station, 98.5 KVOO has been delivering a variety of country music for over 20+ years. In addition to talented radio personalities and phenomenal music, KVOO frequently runs contests to give back to their listeners and their Ladies Lock-In shows are one such event. It is a relatively new platform for this radio station and has already netted such acts as Parmalee, Granger Smith, and Chase Bryant. It’s a ladies only show with the single way in being to win your invites. The invite includes a +1 so you can bring a girlfriend AND the opportunity to meet the featured act. February being the month of love, KVOO put together an extra large Ladies Lock-In for the day after Valentine’s Day. This was the biggest Ladies Lock-In to date with an opening act named Brent Giddens as well as the featured artists Drew Baldridge, Dylan Scott, and Jerrod Niemann. 

If you asked the attending ladies whom they were there to see, the answers would have been widely varied. I had actually seen everyone live before. So I knew it would be a fun night. When the event opened at 7, every lady who wanted one was treated to a beautiful red rose. That we were later informed was not provided by the radio station KVOO, but rather Drew Baldridge himself. Local act Brent Giddens did a wonderful job warming up the crowd before Baldridge took the stage. I found out afterward that Giddens has an excellent EP out titled Tangled. Baldridge treated us to several songs from his debut album Dirt On Us including his current single “Rebound,” the adorable melody “Burnt Toast,” and up-tempo hit “Dance With Ya.” Drew Baldridge proved KVOO’s Valentine’s Hangover was not going to be just an “Everyday Night.” 

Dylan Scott was out next and he demonstrated one of my favorite parts of acoustic shows: the stories artists share before some of their songs. We learned two things that night. Scott’s songwriting inspiration is his wife and he loves her very much. He played us several songs from his self-titled album including newest single “My Girl,” “Ball Cap,” and “Crazy Over Me.” We also got to hear “Sleeping Beauty.” A song Scott just released an acoustic video for on Valentines Day. I think “Sleeping Beauty” left the biggest impression on me. Because the only other time I’ve heard the artist’s love for the person behind a song shine through so strongly was when I heard Chris Janson perform “Holdin’ Her” live.

Described by the amazing hosts of the evening as the best hugger in country music, the self-proclaimed half Okie, Jerrod Niemann was the final artist of the night. He opened with one of his songwriting credits that Blake Shelton cut called “You’ll Always Be Beautiful.”  Then he sang us several more songs including “Only God Could Love You More,” “Lover, Lover,” “God Made a Women,” and “Blue Bandana.” Not to mention his newest single, a duet with Lee Brice, titled "A Little More Love." The smooth, soulful style of Jerrod Niemann, the heartfelt ballads of Dylan Scott and the upbeat, movement inspiring style of Drew Baldridge blended perfectly for the perfect night of live music. All three gentlemen were extremely kind while taking pictures and signing autographs for everyone after the show.

With a pending hip surgery, this music lover doesn't think she could have asked for a better last concert before embarking on the pending road of rehabilitation. Check out all the links below to keep up with this amazing radio station and all the talented artists.

KVOO Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Brent Giddens Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify 

Drew Baldridge Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: dbaldridge00  | Spotify | YouTube

Dylan Scott Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube

Jerrod Niemann Links

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube

Justin Adams at The Vanguard

Nothing makes a weekend more enjoyable like a night of amazing live music and Saturday night was definitely one for the books. The Vanguard in Tulsa, OK played host to a couple of extremely talented artists December 3rd. Both Justin Adams and opener Jesse Joice have played at The Vanguard before and both performed as if they were seasoned pros singing to a sold out arena.

This was the first time I heard Jesse Joice perform live and the strength of his voice was just as beautiful as the tone. His band, which consisted of Daniel (keys), Matt (electric guitar), Sean (Bass), and Jarrod (drummer), was nothing to shake a stick at either. Leading up to the show I had actually been listening to Joice's music a lot. Going in I was really hoping to hear "Like I Ain't From Around Here," "On The Edge," and "Oklahoma Weather." Because they were just a few of the songs I had been playing on repeat. Let's just say, disappointed I was not. In addition to those songs, the set list included "Small Talk," "Enough To Fall In Love," "Work Hard, Play Hard," "The South Don't Make You Southern," "Little White Lie," and several others. One of the things at a concert that always catches my attention is whether or not the artist acknowledges their band mates. That simple show of respect says so much about an artist and it was something both Jesse Joice and Justin Adams took the time to do during their sets.

The crowd was plenty warmed up and very excited when Justin Adams hit the stage. If you have read much from this blog you may realize this was not my first show by Adams. I will admit when I didn't recognize the guitarist or bassist I was a little nervous. However, looking back I realize there was no reason to be. As always, Adams was on top of his game and Clark James (drummer), Mark Dejaynes (bass), and Joe Giaimo (guitar) sounded terrific. The set list included recent additions like "I keep It Country," "Feels Wrong," and "Lips On Mine," as well as, older hits like "Miss Me Whiskey" and "My My My." Believe it or not it just got better from there. Because Adams also played a reputable treasure trove of new material that included "Passing Through," "Get Gone," "Me And You," "Don't Hold It Against Me," "Last Thing I Do," and a few others. It was definitely a true treat for both new and established fans alike. After the show both Jesse Joice and Justin Adams spent a decent amount of time talking with every single fan that wanted to meet them. Something I am sure they will not forget any time soon. All in all, it was a great night with fantastic music from some pretty talented artists.

~ Find The Artists On Social Media ~

Jesse Joice

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Justin Adams

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Cole Swindell's Down Home Tour

Sometimes events combine to give a fan one of the best nights ever and Cole Swindell's Down Home Tour was just that special. The opening acts for this years tour are Cole Taylor and Travis Dennning. Both are relatively new artists with some pretty stellar songwriting credits to their names. 

This makes the third year for this tour and each year Swindell releases a Down Home Sessions EP to serve as a sort of soundtrack. When the tour was announced, I discovered not only was it coming to Oklahoma, but the opening stop was here in Tulsa on October 26th at my favorite concert venue, Cain's Ballroom.  Swindell was one of the three remaining artists on my 'See Before I Can't See' list and finally getting to see Cole Taylor live was an amazing bonus. You can read his Artist 411 article here. Needless to say things were aligning to be a great concert and I had yet to hear Travis Denning's music before.

Cole Taylor - Cain's Ballroom

Cole Taylor was the first artist to take the stage and I was not disappointed. Sometimes opening acts have not fully developed their craft for live shows, but that was not the case with Taylor. He played several songs from both his self titled EP and his Step 2 EP including "Drop Top" and "Part Of This Town." He also played his newest single "Cold Beer." A wonderfully written, opposites attract song that I highly recommend. After a small intermission, Travis Denning took the stage and he sounded incredible. We got to to hear several of his songs including "Here's To The Home Town" and "Southern Rock." Not to mention some of his awesome songwriting credits like "Everybody We Know Does." The latest single by Chase Rice. On top of having incredible sets, both Cole Taylor and Travis Denning came out to the merch table to meet their fans. You can listen to Cole Taylor's music on Spotify and Travis Denning's on the Reverbnation Discover app.

Travis Denning - Cain's Ballroom

When Cole Swindell, the 2016 NSAI Songwriter of the Year, took the stage, the energy level was incredible. He has to be one of the most humble and sweet artists I have ever come across and had the pleasure of meeting. I swear his entire time on stage he never stopped smiling! Swindell told the crowd he loves the Down Home Tour. Because it is when he gets to reconnect and give back to the fans that helped him get to where he is today. Swindell's set list was absolutely AMAZING. The songs ranged from the one that started it all, "Chillin It," to the heartwarming tribute pinned about his father, number one hit, "You Should Be Here" to Down Home Sessions 3 songs "You've Got My Number" and "Chevrolet DJ." In fact, we were treated to all Swindell's singles including a favorite of mine "Let me See Ya Girl" and his newest one "Middle Of A Memory." After the Down Home Tour raps up Cole Swindell will be hitting the road with none other than Dierks Bentley. He told us about the pending tour before he sang "Flatliner." A song he sang with Bentley on his You Should Be Here album.

Cole Swindell - Cain's Ballroom

The amount of love and respect Swindell showed his opening acts was like nothing I have ever seen before. He told the crowd to remember their names. Because they were going places in the music industry. At different times, Swindell brought both artists back on stage with him. Cole Taylor performed "Stay Down Town" with him. One of Taylor's songwriting credits from Swindell's album You Should Be Here. When Travis Denning came back out, Swindell let him perform one of his songwriting credits for the crowd. A song several people around me were pleasantly surprised to hear. I heard,"Wait, he wrote this?" several times as he started playing "All Outta Beer." A song recently cut by Jason Aldean. Every artist in the Down Home Tour lineup is proof keeping up with songwriters is definitely a great idea.  

Sometimes a photo truly is worth a thousand words. This one in particular shows just how appreciative Cole Swindell is of his musical journey and the fans that got him there. A journey that he is now actively using to help newer artists. To me, Cole Swindell is one of those artists you can't help, but respect. The third anniversary of the Down Home Tour certainly started out with an incredible bang and is packed full of some extremely talented Georgia natives. I highly recommend picking up tickets if you get the chance. 

Eric Paslay's Angels In This Town Tour

Paslay and Ell Rock The Historic Cain's Ballroom

Eric Paslay is in the midst of his Angels In This Town tour. The song of the same name tells a story of believing in angels. According to Paslay's website, each stop on the tour he will be conducting "Angel Visits." He'll visit local "angels" in their organizations, including hospitals, fire houses, police stations, Girls and Boys Clubs, Habitat for Humanity builds, and more. When an artist goes above and beyond, it deserves mentioning.

On October 19th, Paslay brought Angels In This Town to Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa Oklahoma. He had some rather amazing talent opening up for him too. The stunning Lindsay Ell is no stranger to the Cain's Ballroom stage and she just keeps getting better and better. Her set list included some of her regular hits like "By The Way" and "Criminal," as well as, her newest single "All Alright." A song that was immediately purchased after the show, I may add. Ell came out to the merch table after her set to meet and take an Ellfie, the Lindsay Ell version of a selfie, with any and all the fans that wanted to.

This was my first time seeing Eric Paslay live and he had no trouble carrying on and increasing the energy level the talented Ell created. Paslay owned that stage. I mean his ability to work the stage, interact with his band and the fans was amazing. His set list included a wonderful combination of his song writer credits like "Angel Eyes," "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," and "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" to songs released like "She Don't Love You," his up beat and fun to watch performed single "High Class," and tour name sake "Angels In This Town."

Sometimes there is a show were the singer is not only immensely impressive, but the band sharing the stage with them is as well. That definitely happens on the Angels In This Town tour with Tyler Tomlinson (guitar), Chris Roach (Bass), Marcus Hill (Drummer) and Luke Moller (utility). A super cool part was watching Lindsay Ell come back out and lend her exceptional guitar skills to this amazing band during a song from Paslay's set. My parting advice, don't pass up the Angels In This Town tour!

Michael Ray at the Oklahoma City Fair

Last Friday, the 16^th of September, a few friends and I met up in Oklahoma City to catch Michael Ray at the fair. The last time we saw Ray was his stop in Oklahoma City during Brantley Gilbert’s blackout tour (Show Review and Band Review) and we were all excited to see what he could do as the headlining act. It was like mother nature herself knew there was great music coming. Because the rain we were expecting never showed. I had the pleasure of getting to meet Ray before the show and  he as usual was a total sweetheart.

He started out the show with his up tempo song "Another Girl" and I am pretty sure I did not sit back down til the show was over. We also got to hear the song he co-wrote for Big & Rich, "Runaway With You," as well as "Look Like This," and his newest single "Think a Lil Less."  A truly fun part of the show was when the iPod Shuffle began. Ray and the band played a fun selection of songs from  Toby Keith's "Should Have Been a Cowboy" to Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Though a special mention goes to his cover of Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are." Before Ray began singing, he addressed the females in the crowd saying they were beautiful just the way they were. That they should never change for anyone, but rather they are amazing just the way they are.

We also heard "Everything In Between," "Drivin' All Night," "This Love," "Real Men Love Jesus," and the number one hit "Kiss You In The Morning." Michael Ray is an amazing singer and has a very talented band backing him up. Kurt Ozan (utility player), Jonathan Sepulveda (bassist), and Lucas Chamberlain (guitarist) are just as amazing to listen to and watch perform as Michael Ray. Everyone always looks like they are having the time of their lives while performing. Their cover of "Dust On The Bottle" was perhaps one of the funnest covers I have seen. It was such a fun night and definitely not the last time I'll see Michael Ray.

You can see Michael Ray on his Think A Lil Less tour, which is his first as headliner, starting Oct. 14th in Phoenix, AZ. Tickets are on sale now.

98.5 KVOO's 5 Man Jam

If there's one station that knows how to put together a phenomenal group of talented artists for an acoustic show, it would be one of the oldest country stations in Tulsa OK, 98.5 KVOO. The station's annual 5 Man Jam took place on May 24th and it was packed full of some incredible talent. Chris Janson, Drake White, Brandy Clark, Jordan Rager, and Drew Baldridge were all on the stage together at the River Spirit Casino with Janson acting as the host for the evening. Something each artist on the stage had in common that night is they are not only incredibly talented artists, but songwriters as well. Though the artists played in a round robin fashion, it was the host Chris Janson who kicked things off.

Janson started out the night with "Truck Yeah" a song he helped pen that Tim McGraw released. When he told us about the story behind "Holdin' Her," his current single, and sang it for us, it was clear he absolutely adores his wife and family. If you think genuinely kindhearted people no longer exist, I suggest you meet Chris Janson to be pleasantly proven wrong. Janson sang a few versus of a couple of songs before his hit "Buy Me A Boat" including a bit of LoCash's song "I Love This Life." A song that Janson, himself, helped pen. A truly awesome part of the night came when he discovered two young boys in the audience had made signs for him. Janson invited the little boys on stage. It was easy to tell this family man knows how special little creations like those are.

The country Johnny Depp was up next. Those were Janson's words not mine for the very talented Drake White. Their back and forth banter through out the show never failed. The first song White sang was "It Feels Good," the title track from his EP released last year. His current single "Livin' The Dream" certainly got the entire crowd singing along. Because honestly we all need to remember the first step in loving our life is loving what we already have. The next time White took his turn on the mic he pointed to this little boy who was enjoying the concert from his dad's shoulders and told us it was times like that we need to remember, the simpler ones. He than sang us "Back To Free." Another great song that can be found on his It Feels Good EP.

Four time GRAMMY Award nominee and the only female performer, Brandy Clark, was up next. Like some of the others on the stage, Clark is relatively new to the artist side of country music, but she is a well established songwriter. Her first song of the night was her, tell it how it is, single, "Girl Next Door." The sassy lyrics continued when she sang us a song from her pending album Big Day in a Small Town (out 6/10) titled "Daughter." After playing two songs she helped write, Clark played a song that she says always inspires her by Buck Owen called "Together Again." Knowing that Clark contributed to the writing of every song on her upcoming album has me very excited to hear Big Day in a Small Town on June 10th. "Southern Boy" singer Jordan Rager took his turn on the mic next.

The homemade Jordan Rager t-shirt was the first clue he had a few fans in the crowd and the volume increase when he started singing was definitely the second. All things considered both were and are completely deserved. Because I don't think we've even scratched the surface of what this talented newcomer will bring to country music, both as a singer and as a songwriter. Something that was totally evident when he mixed his first song "Whatever" with a bit of Eminem's "Lose Yourself." His current single, "Southern Boy," a song he recorded with Jason Aldean, totally inspired an impressive sing-a-long with the crowd. Before he sang his final song "All Outta Beer," he told us it was his first official cut as a songwriter. Let me just say I'm intrigued to hear Jason Aldean's version of "All Outta Beer" and more from Rager the songwriter. Because I loved the song.

The ever energetic Illinois native Drew Baldridge played "Train" for his first song. I'll attach the just released official video below. I waited till Baldridge wasn't singing to take his photo. Because when he is performing he is up and always moving. To love what you do and always put a 100% forward is never a bad thing though. Blurry concert photos are a sure sign you had a great time. Everyone else was definitely up and dancing themselves when Baldridge played his first single "Dance With Ya."  His final song was the title track of his debut album (out 6\10) "Dirt On Us." Given the caliber of the track, this is one album I am extremely excited for.

After singing Happy Birthday to one very happy 8 year old in the front row, Janson ended the evening in an impressive and out right hilarious ad-libbed montage of Oklahoma songs ranging from Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" to Garth Brooks' "Friends In Low Places." I say ad-libbed because Janson had actually started making up his own lyrics for the songs. Everyone helped finish it out with Hank Williams, Jr.'s "Family Tradition." Then with an 'I'm going to sign autographs' declaration these stunningly talented artists shocked, surprised, and simply delighted the crowd when every one of them came to the floor to sign autographs and take photos with fans. I actually heard Jordan Rager say to the crowd "Please don't push, I'm staying right here til I get to meet every single one of you." 

The KVOO crew was right when they said these were the best kinds of concerts because you get "up close and personal" with the artists. I walked away not only loving each of them artistically, but also feeling like I knew them.  It will definitely be interesting to see if next years 5 Man Jam can touch the success of this years.

Granger Smith W/Lindsay Ell - Tulsa, OK

In 2015, Granger Smith broke onto the country radio scene with his number one hit song "Backroad Song" and the already huge YeeYee Nation exploded. May 14th, Smith came back to the Historic Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Ok and he had the talented Lindsay Ell opening the show for him.

Before the show, I had the pleasure of meeting Granger Smith. In a move I have never seen before, the meet and greet took place on Smith's tour bus. It eliminated the feel of an assembly line and set the tone for a more personal meet and greet. Talking with Smith, right away, I could tell he was genuinely a good person and not just because of his response to my unfortunate entrance. I’ll just say nothing loosens up a nervous fan quite like falling on their face. After the meet and greet, it was time to head back inside to hear Lindsay Ell.

Lindsay Ell - Cain's Ballroom

This was my third time seeing Ell perform and she never ceases to impress. She set the tone perfectly by opening with her single "By The Way." A fun, upbeat tune about being "good at getting over goodbye." She also played us a song she wrote for a friend called "Not Another Me," “Eyes Off You," "What Does You Good," and "Criminal." A great example of Ell's talent and skills is when she uses her loop machine before she starts “Criminal” to add a second guitar and some beat boxing to it. The song is also mixed with Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood," Ed Sheeran's "Think Out Loud," and John Mayer's "Say What You Need To Say." Among the notable covers Ell played was the classic Deana Carter hit "Strawberry Wine." She had the crowd pretty wound-up for Granger Smith.

Granger Smith - Photo Credit: S.Sanders

Granger Smith took the stage to a song from his new album Remington called "Tonight." A song all about making the most of an entire night. Some of the other songs from Smith's first major-label album that were performed was "Country Boy Love," "Echo," "Likin' Love Songs," "City Boy Stuck," "Blue Collar Dollars," "Tailgate Town," and of course the title track "Remington." A song that is about being as dependable as a Remington shotgun and one of my favorites. At one point in the show Smith slowed it down a bit. He spoke straight to our hearts with the powerful song he wrote about his grandpa titled "5 More Minutes" and the George Straight song "Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa.” The other covers we were treated to included George Strait's "Run" and Garth Brooks' "Ain't Goin’ Down." Of course the crowd sang along to every word of both hit songs.

Smith - Photo Credit: S.Sanders

That was not all though. We also got to hear some older songs, from his album Dirt Road Driveway, that included "Miles And Mud Tires," "If Money Didn't Matter," "Bury Me In Blue Jeans," "We Do It In A field," "Silverado Bench Seat," and "19 Forever." There were several amazing moments throughout the show, but there are two that definitely deserve mentioning. Before singing his newest single, "If The Boot Fits," Smith told the crowd if they were wearing boots to slip one of and hold it up in the air. It's hard to accurately describe the energy of the crowd during that song or the sheer amount of boots in the air. So check out the clip below that Smith posted the day after the concert.

Then, during a song, I noticed Smith discover something I had already seen. In front of me, by the side stage, was an adorable little boy, four or five years old, who was dressed just like Earl Dibbles, Jr. While singing Smith ventured over to grab a guitar pick, came back, and leaned out into the crowd to give it straight to the little boy. The last song before Earl Dibbles, Jr.'s performance was "Backroad Song" and the volume change in the already vocal crowd was staggering. While Granger Smith was back stage "becoming" Earl Dibbles, Jr., the band kept playing. I didn't mind watching this band shine earlier in the show during their mini jam session with the phenomenally skilled Lindsay Ell and I was not complaining this time either. Granger Smith is backed by a stunning band made up of Jonathon Wisinksi on bass, Dusty Saxton killing it on drums, the talented Todd Howard on electric guitar and banjo, and last but, not least the second electric guitarist John Marlin.

Earl Dibbles Jr. - Photo Credit: S.Sanders

I'll be honest. Because of how Smith's alter ego was initially explained to me, I was a bit worried about the Earl Dibbles, Jr. part of the show. However, he just reminded me of half the men I grew up around! "Country Boy Love" and "Merica" were the songs Earl Dibbles, Jr. performed to close out the show. Granger Smith and his alter ego both put on a one of a kind, highly energetic show, and it's one I'd see again. If you get the chance definitely check out Granger Smith and Lindsay Ell. You can catch up with both artists on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Snapchat.

New Face Showcase ~ Jake FM

A few of the most exciting new faces in country music just got together for an amazing showcase in Norman, Oklahoma. It was all thanks to local country station Jake FM and their annual New Face Showcase. On May 12th, the Riverwind Casino played host to the free event. This year the spotlight was on Ryan Kinder, High Valley, Lindsay Ell, William Michael Morgan, and Chris Lane. The set up for this multi artist acoustic show was a bit different then most. Because the artists were not all on the stage at the same time. Ryan Kinder was the first out to perform.

Ryan Kinder, Photo Creedit @Little_Bridgie

Kinder had his bassist and cajon player with him and it was fun to watch them interacting with each other and the crowd. I hadn't seen Kinder perform in over a year. So it was a serious treat to discover we would be getting longer sets from each artists than expected. Kinder played us several songs which included a beautiful ballad titled "Still Believe In Crazy Love," a song about hoping for a second chance titled "Kiss Me When I'm Down," and his single "Tonight." Kinder has an album available on iTunes and Spotify called Deconstructed Studio Sessions. The only duo of the night, High Valley, took the stage next. 

High Valley, Photo Credit @Little_Bridgie

High Valley was also accompanied by their bassist and cajon player, but they had a banjo\dobro player as well. Among the crowd pleasing songs the duo played was their single "Make You Mine," a sweet song called "She's With Me," and perhaps the most stunning cover of "I'll fly Away" I have ever heard. It was truly amazing to hear the entire crowd singing along with them word for word. In most duos there is a predominate singer and the other provides back up vocals. That is not the case with this Canadian duo and their vocals blended beautifully. You can download or stream the duo's music, including their newest single, on any music platform. The ever talented Lindsay Ell was out next.

Lindsay Ell

Ell was the first artist of the night to take the stage solo and she owned it. At times she would even record her own guitar playing and beat boxing to play along with her during a song. Ell started her set with her upbeat, catchy single "By The Way." She kept the great time going with more of her original songs including "Criminal" and "Eyes Off Of You," as well as a few covers. On top of fantastic vocals, Lindsay Ell is amazing on the guitar, both electric and acoustic. You can download or stream her single "BTW" on music platforms like iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. William Michael Morgan took the stage next.

William Michael Morgan

Like Lindsay Ell, Morgan was alone on the stage. However, it did not make a difference to the crowd.  They absolutely loved his traditional sound. A sound that is currently earning him a lot of praise. He opened his set with a cover of one of my favorite Mark Chesnut songs, "It's A Little too Late." Morgan currently has an EP out right now and he played several songs from it including his current single "I Met A Girl," and a song about an old fashion kind of love called "Vinyl." You can download or stream Morgan's self-titled EP from all music platforms including iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. The last artist of the night to perform was Chris Lane. 

Chris Lane

Lane was accompanied by two guitarist (one who played a cajon at the same time) and a banjo player when he took the stage. Lane played several songs from his EP Fix including the title track, "Her Own Kind Of Beautiful," and "Saturday Night." The covers Lane performed were a balanced combination of classic country hits and some crowd moving boy band hits. Lane was all over the stage performing and interacting with the crowd. Fix is available to stream or download from all music platforms including iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.

While each of these artists may be "new faces," they definitely have what it takes to be around for a long time. William Michael Morgan didn't even let breaking a guitar string mid song slow him down! It was clear looking around the venue that night, there is definitely a growing fan base for each of these up and comers.

K95.5 Second Annual Unplugged Concert

Tulsa country station K95.5 fm just recently began putting together a multi artist acoustic show called Unplugged. This year's Unplugged concert featured Drew Baldridge ("Dance With Ya"), Clare Dunn ("Tuxedo"), Jordan Rager ("Southern Boy"), and William Michael Morgan ("I Met A Girl"). Events like these, with the artists on stage together, are extremely enjoyable for fans and end up feeling like a huge party. Tonight's show was no different. It was my first time seeing all four artists live. While they may be new on the country music scene, every one of them owned the stage tonight like a seasoned pro. The first one to perform was Drew Baldridge.

Drew Baldrige

Baldridge played a few different songs for us including "Train," the pending title track for his upcoming album "Dirt On Us," and his up tempo single "Dance With Ya." A song that, as you may have guessed, had everyone in the audience dancing along to each beat. He interacted with the audience, told a few stories, and showcased some great guitar skills to back up his amazing voice. I highly recommend giving his EP Dance With Ya a listen. Clare Dunn performed next.

Clare Dunn

The upbeat Dunn was having such a great time she was Snapchatting the show from her perspective. Let me just say it was that fun for us too. Dunn played us a few songs from her self-titled EP that included the touching song "Old Hat," "Cowboy Side Of You," and the very catchy single "Tuxedo." One of the highlights tonight was how each artist shared and helped us get to know them. Dunn told us it was her first time playing in Tulsa and I just have to say Clare Dunn you can return anytime! Next to play was Jordan Rager.

Jordan Rager

Rager made the night of a couple fans when he acknowledged them from the stage. It was a lot of fun watching their reaction and corresponding smiles. "Underage," "Party Like You," and his current single that features Jason Aldean, "Southern Boy," were a few of the songs this talented singer performed. He, like the other artists, engaged the audience throughout the show with different stories like his pretty funny lead in to "Underage." The last performer of the night was Mississippi native William Michael Morgan.

William Michael Morgan

As the subject of one this blog's prior Artist 411 articles (something I have officially started planning out for the other three artists) I was very excited to see Morgan perform live for the first time tonight. Morgan, like Baldridge and Dunn, has a phenomenal EP out. Morgan's EP is self-titled, like Dunn's, and available on most music platforms. Among the songs Morgan played was a song that is sure to be an "instant classic" called "Vinyl," "Cheap Cologne," and his current radio single "I Met A Girl." After the show Morgan came out to sign autographs, take pictures, and shake hands with the fans. This talented artist is perhaps the best definition of a sweet southern gentleman. He was humble and kind with everyone he encountered.

The stunning array of original music was not the only treat of the night. There were a few well-know covers performed as well. Each leading to a crowd sing-a-long with fellow artist participation as well. Drew Baldridge got everyone moving with "Shut Up & Dance." Clare Dunn pulled out a rather incredible version of the classic "Fishin' In The Dark," while Jordan Rager performed a rather stunning cover of "Brand New Man" and William Michael Morgan sang an impressive rendition of "Friends In Low Places." There is no doubt each cover did the original artist seriously proud. The proceeds from sales tonight went to help St. Jude's hospital and the work they do. This year's Unplugged is definitely one for the books. I want to say thank you to the artists for such a great night, K95.5 for putting it all together and my concert buddy Skyla for the great photos above.

I highly recommend keeping an eye on each of these artists. You can follow each of them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Bands at the Ballroom

The big picture of music is pure artistry, but the sum parts that make up the whole can be just as breathtaking.

Justin Adams and Mike Ball

My Bands Matter Too stories are a way to meet the bands that share the stage with the incredible artists we all know and love during their live performances. This concert was at Cain's Ballroom and the particular band to meet shared the stage with Justin Adams, an amazing singer/songwriter and terrific guitarist in his own right. This was not my first time seeing them perform. However, I was no less impressed than the first time I saw them. I told you all about Justin Adams' performance in my Pardi in the Ballroom review. Now here is a little about the band's.

Tommy Kratzert and Mike Ball

 Tommy Kratzert plays the guitar, Clark James the drums, and Mike Ball the bass. Sometimes an artist is so talented it takes a special caliber of skills to help bring their songs to life and Adams' seems to have found that with his band. All three band members actually rotate singing back up vocals throughout Adams' set. Different parts of Adams' performance highlights different instrumental riffs from each band member. Whether it be Tommy or Mike's impressive accomplishments on their various guitars or Clark's stellar abilities on the drums, these talented musicians are exceptional to watch perform. 

Clark James

 I discovered something that seems to add to a show from prior concerts. They are more enjoyable to watch when you know the performer is not just talented, but genuinely a nice person. One of my new favorite quotes is, "Talent gets you in the door, but class keeps you there." I mention all this because I've had the pleasure of meeting Justin Adams and his entire band. All four of these men are so nice to any and every fan that walks up to them. I highly recommend catching any Justin Adams show that comes to a city near you. You won't be disappointed in him or this band.

Tommy Kratzert and Justin Adams

Pardi In The Ballroom

March 3rd a Pardi Came to the Historic Cain's Ballroom. 

Jon Pardi at Cain's Ballroom

Tons of excited Pardi Animals showed up to watch singer Jon Pardi perform live and he put on an incredible show! Pardi played tons of hits both new and old including his singles "Up All Night," "Missin' You Crazy," and the newest chart climber "Head Over Boots." For the several in attendance that night, the surprise came when singer Justin Adams took the stage. Many concert goers never really stop to think about the opening act when they head out to see their favorite acts perform live. However, opening acts are not just there to get the crowd warmed up before the headliner comes out. It is an opportunity for attendees to hear a new artist they might not have been familiar with prior to the show. After hearing SEVERAL near by people's responses, it was clearly evident Adams gained tons of new fans that night.

Checkout the New Drum Cover

Justin Adams has been on the Nashville scene for a few years now. He put out his first EP (self-titled) back in 2013 and recently started selling a CD full of new music at his live shows. It was Adams second time playing in the historic Cain's Ballroom. A venue in Oklahoma that has hosted artists from the likes of Bob Wills to Hank Williams. I was already familiar with Adams' music before he took the stage that night, but was no less impressed than the first time I saw him perform. He took to the stage singing a song from his new CD titled "Lips On Mine." A highly energetic tune about how certain things just fit right together. "Lips On Mine" was not the only tune from the new CD Adams played. We also got to hear "Red Lights" and "Cowboys Drivin' Cadillacs." Both of those songs can actually be found on the artists YouTube page if you want to hear them.

Justin Adams at Cain's Ballroom

 From his original EP Adams sang "Can't Forget About You," "Shut Up And Kiss Me," and "Miss Me Whiskey." A real treat of the night had to be hearing "Feels Wrong" and "Wouldn't Be Here." Two relatively new and beautiful songs that can't be heard any where except a live performance. Besides his own songs Adams did a few covers, but there is one that deserves special mentioning. This talented artist performs perhaps one of the best covers I have heard of "Friends In Low Places." For the last chorus of the classic Garth Brooks hit, Adams actually took to the crowd to perform among the fans. If a performance could be a home-run Justin Adams hit his set out of the park. This rising star has a beautiful voice and an incredible stage presence with an outstanding energy level and a remarkable band sharing the stage.

I highly recommend following him on Facebook, Instagram (@justinadamscountry), and Twitter (@justinadamscrty) to stay up to date on all his news. Stay tuned for a write up on his band too.

Bands of the Blackout Tour ~ Oklahoma City, OK

The Blackout Tour was so incredible it can not be properly justified in one review. Brantley Gilbert, Canaan Smith, and Michael Ray are all talented in their own right, but they each share the stage with some phenomenal musicians. Sometimes during a concert one member of the band or another may catch your eye. This could be due to a killer guitar solo or a beautiful melody on the keys. All three bands totally blew me away that night in Oklahoma City.

Photo Credit: @Little_Bridgie @auntie6127

When Michael Ray took the stage, he was accompanied by a guitarist, a bassist, a utility player, and his long time drummer. This was my first time seeing Ray perform with a full band and it was magnificent. Sitting at the side of the stage my view of the bands was pretty great. The guitarist was  Lucas Chamberlain and the only word that comes to mind is outstanding and the bass player of this talented foursome is Jonathan Sepulveda. I had a friend tell me once that there was just something special about bass players and Sepulveda proves it. The utility player of Ray's band is Kurt Ozan. A utility player is the band member who plays multiple instruments. Ozan was on the opposite side of the stage, but I did catch him playing both the pedal steel guitar and the electric guitar. Given his skill level on those two instruments, I am curious as to what else he can play. Rounding out this talented band was Andrew Beselica on the Drums. 

Photo Credit @little_Bridgie @auntie6127

Canaan Smith also has an incredible four man band sharing the stage with him. This band with its two guitarist, bassist, and drummer are one of my favorites to watch live. Each band member seems to have a passion for playing that almost rivals Smith's. As guitarist Kenny Fuller plays, you can see the pure joy emanating from him. One can't help smiling while watching him get lost in the music. Background vocalist Stephen Whitfield was one of the reasons I started paying closer attention to bands during live shows. He's got some pretty serious skills on the guitar and is quite proficient at the mandolin as well. The bassist for Smith's band is extremely talented and his name is Luke Berridge. The rhythm keeper of the band is none other than the drummer Tucker Wilson. Much like every other member of the band he is brilliant and extremely fun to watch.

Photo Credit @shanherrold @auntie6127

The Georgia native Brantley Gilbert took the stage with his five man band and the already high energy level soared through the roof. The variety of instruments Gilbert's band played that night was unbelievable. The utility player in the band is BJ Golden and as my friend put it he was mesmerizing. The band leader Jess Franklin skillfully plays both the guitar and the keyboard. While the amazingly talented Noah Henson rocks out in impressive style on his rhythm guitar. The bass quota for this band was beautifully covered with a stellar performance on both the bass guitar and bass cello by Stephen Lewis and last, but certainly not least, rounding out the band is drummer Ben Sims. The range of instruments these five talented men bring to the table is just plain phenomenal. The show in Oklahoma City was incredible and I have to once again suggest catching one of the remaining stops. My review of everything is here.