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Album Review/Interview: More "Mr. Nice Guy"                                - Eric Paslay is Ready to P(l)ay

8/16/2020

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Picturecourtesy Eric Paslay Twitter
​​by Melissa Coker

                      "Way back on the radio dial,
The fire got lit inside a bright-eyed child
Every note just wrapped around his soul,
From steel guitars to Memphis, all the way to rock and roll

                                                             Oh, I can hear 'em playin'                               I can hear the ringin' of a  beat up old guitar
                                                             Oh, I can hear 'em singin',
                         Keep on dreamin', even if it breaks your heart"                                      

Those dreamy lyrics come from the Eli Young Band's hit "Even If It Breaks Your Heart", co-written by Eric Paslay. "Heart" also suggests that "Some dreams keep on gettin' better" and you "gotta keep believin' if you wanna know for sure." 

Paslay is a big believer. But every so often it seems as if nice guys get the short end of the stick. Maybe that's why on his new (as of August 14) independently-released album Nice Guy that Eric Paslay playfully chose to explore the long and short of what it might be like to be a pr...er, why he has a bone to pick. 

"It don't pay to be a nice guy in a bad world," observes Paslay throughout the catchy chorus of the album's title track. Other lines wryly lay out scenarios such as getting arrested to get one's picture out there and other interesting reasons for why the nice guy is poor. Fitting that this big bold tune was written by Paslay with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Craig Wiseman of "Big Loud" publishing notoriety. Also of note - these lyrics actually pull off a smooth rhyme of "Bentley" with "evidently." 


"Some of these on the new album I definitely held for myself. And some of them have been simmering for a long time. It's been a minute since I've had an album come out. I'm releasing it on my own label. I'm always open to a conversation if someone wants to record a song and I'll think they'll do it justice and it means more people get to hear it. And I'll still probably record it myself," he chucklingly adds. "But every song is brand-new the first time people hear it. And you've gotta remember when you sing it to sing it that way."

Brand-newness likely presents a challenge since he wrote or co-wrote all but one of the album's 12 tracks (a cover). Appropriately-timed "Off the Edge Of the Summer" is one Nice track for which Paslay took to social media to share a special official video (at the time of this interview he's done a music video for every song off of the album so far - "good music videos too" as he says - some shot in studio, some scenes in Nashville and other overseas during tour time). Written with Emily Landis, Mark Trussell, and Emily Shackelton (whose "Love Like Mine" helped earn her a gold-sales plaque thanks to its prominence on the Nashville TV show soundtrack) the wistful nostalgic nod to missing a special someone also features backing vocals from European artist/now Nashville resident Lucie Silvas. By the way, Paslay's YouTube subscriber count is fast-nearing 100K. 

"Heartbeat Higher", a duet with Sarah Buxton (who had a lovely solo career of her own and is the pen behind some big hits including "Stupid Boy" and "Put You In A Song" by Keith Urban, whose album she also sang on) is the current single off of Guy as well as the title track of an already-available EP. There is also an official video for the song featuring the two in studio. Buxton co-wrote "Higher" and the album's "Boat in a Bottle" with Paslay, Zach Crowell and Tofer Brown, respectively. 

"I've known Sarah for almost 20 years. Her voice is so good, she's a great writer; we've written songs together for years...she's a star. She actually took me on a radio tour with her. I played guitar with her on some radio shows back when she was doing her radio tour. She's great and I love singing with her and it's awesome that these songs are coming out and I get to share at least a couple of songs that we've written together over the years," Paslay relays to us. "And I love that her voice is on there with me too."

"I Took a Pill in Ibiza" is a Mike Posner cover and the only track on the album that Paslay didn't have a hand in writing. "I've never recorded an outside song and [album co-producer] Reid Shippen and I, one of our goals for this album was I needed to record a song I didn't write. I had heard the dance mix of "Pill" with Mike Posner. It's sped up a million times and it's just a dance mix rave. But really it's one of the saddest songs ever written. I just wanted to make sure that people really heard the lyric he wrote. It's a beautifully heartbroken song. We gave it a go in the studio and I think we caught magic. Hopefully Mike Posner thinks we did his song justice and gave another beautiful version of it. I think a lot of people go through life and they never really listen. We can all be a little selfish with our own little glow sticks and our little soap parties and drinking a little much and you never actually listen to what the star on stage is saying."

Paslay lets his niceness get the better of him as kindness shines through on tracks like "Fingertips", the sweet journey of life in "Wild and Young" (written with the always-talented tunesmith Chris Wallin) and "On this Side of Heaven". 

"To write this song, we tried to imagine what life would look like if we had lost someone that we couldn’t live without. It was a really hard song to write," he says of "Heaven.'" "For those of you who are suffering, I hope this will help you to feel a little less alone in your loss. I also think this song serves as a reminder to all of us to hold onto loved ones and to tell them how important they are every day." 

Elsewhere on the album there's plenty more mister nice guy. And even a nice girl. Closer "Woman Like Her" (co-written with Laura Veltz and Lady A's Charles Kelley) is a beautifully-written ballad with shrewdly sweet gems about a woman who "loves the kitchen but hates to cook" and is "arms wide open but no open book." 

Speaking of books, though - Paslay is truly continuing to prove his career is a page-turner. Purchase Nice Guy here. 

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Eric Paslay playing at Nashville's 3rd and Lindsley, photo courtesy Melissa Coker
#EricPaslay #NewMusic #HeartbeatHigher #Songwriting #NiceGuy
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Phil Vassar Returns to TV for More Music Taste-Makers in Season 2 of "Songs from the Cellar" - Giveaways on the Way!

8/11/2020

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PHIL VASSAR’S SONGS FROM THE CELLAR BACK FOR SEASON TWO, THIS TIME ON CIRCLE TELEVISION

Following its wildly popular debut, Phil Vassar’s television show Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar will return for more cavernous song creations on September 10 at 7 PM CT for a follow-up season on its new home, Circle Network, with new episodes airing every Thursday night. Viewers can catch up on Vassar’s show with a first season marathon beginning at 2 PM CT leading up to the premiere.

*One of those full episodes, featuring Chip Esten (yes, the Charles "Chip" Esten/"Deacon" of Nashville) and Sixwire's Steve Mandile is embedded at the bottom of this post.*  

In celebration of the new season, Vassar will announce a giveaway on his social media. Fans can enter to win exclusive merchandise from the show, previously only gifted to Songs from the Cellar guests. Vassar will also provide fans a chance to win a virtual one-on-one meet and greet with him via Zoom. The all-new episodes are filmed in the caverns of Vassar’s Nashville, Tenn. home wine cellar where the award-winning hit-maker delights viewers with intimate collaborations with fellow artists and songwriters, plus engaging conversations on music while uncorking bottles from Vassar’s collection.
 
Abby Anderson, Brothers Osborne, Kix Brooks, Kyle Daniel, Larry Gatlin, Vince Gill, Kellie Pickler, Dennis Quaid, Steve Wariner, Craig Wiseman and Chingy with Meg & Tyler are among season two’s uncorked celebrity guests.
 
Songs from the Cellar enjoyed a successful inaugural season on PBS in 2019 with guests CAM, Peter Frampton, Hunter Hayes, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Brenda Lee, Tommy Shaw from Styx and many more. Before makings its domestic premiere, the series previously aired internationally on Sky TV.
 
He recently spoke with Nan Kelley about the stellar Cellar and its upcoming season so if you have access to Circle, look it up for reairings: circleplus.com/show/circle-sessions-artists-2/ 

For more information on Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar visit SongsFromTheCellar.com and follow the show Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

​
ABOUT PHIL VASSAR
Phil Vassar’s reign of signature songs include 10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits, including Carlene, Just Another Day in Paradise, Six-Pack Summer, When I Love You, and many more. Vassar was racking up hits on the radio long before he even began his own recording career that has seen the release of nine albums, two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year trophies, ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist and sold-out shows across the country. Vassar’s songwriting career blossomed in the mid-’90s when he landed a publishing contract with EMI and penned hits for Collin Raye (Little Red Rodeo), Alan Jackson (Right on the Money), Tim McGraw (My Next Thirty Years, For a Little While), Jo Dee Messina (Bye Bye, Alright), and Blackhawk (Postmarked Birmingham). He signed a record deal of his own with Arista in 1998 and was named ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1999 and 2001. 2020 marks an important anniversary for Vassar, 20 years since his first No. 1 single, “Just Another Day in Paradise,” was released. To celebrate, Vassar released his long-awaited 10th studio album, Stripped Down. The album’s effortless production puts the songs front and center. It features songs written over the past 20 years but never-before recorded and new music, including “This is Where The End Starts”, co- written with daughter Haley and Vassar’s take on “Postmarked Birmingham,” a Blackhawk hit he wrote. For more information on Phil Vassar, visit PhilVassar.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.


#PhilVassar #PhilVassarSongs #PhilVassar2020 #CircleNetwork

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SONG SUFFRAGETTES TEAMS UP WITH WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION THROUGH AUGUST WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LINDSAY ELL, MADDIE & TAE, ASHLEY McBRYDE AND RUNAWAY JUNE

8/5/2020

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All-female singer-songwriter collective Song Suffragettes has teamed up with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment - which gave women the constitutional right to vote on August 26, 1920. The Commission will be sponsoring Song Suffragettes’ shows at The Listening Room Café each Monday throughout August along with high-production YouTube livestreams from those shows.

So, want to give a new definition to being the girl in a country song? Then move and groove yourself to the tune of the musical women's movement that is the Song Suffragettes. Throughout August, you can watch these intimate performances at-home or (if you're lucky enough) in person at Nashville's Listening Room Cafe. Stick to the one night standards or even (wait for it)...buy your own drinks.     

To heighten the centennial celebration, Song Suffragettes has invited special guests to participate in those August shows with Lindsay Ell (Aug. 3), Maddie & Tae (Aug. 10), Ashley McBryde (Aug. 17) and Runaway June (Aug. 24) joining members of Song Suffragettes’ ever-revolving and expanding roster which currently consists of over 260 female singer-songwriters.

CMA and ACM-nominated multi-instrumentalist Lindsay Ell got the show started on August 3, joined by special guests, singer-songwriters Carter Faith, Chloe Gilligan, Julie Williams and Raquel Cole with Mia Morris accompanying on cajon.

Ell's sophomore album heart theory releases August 14 (click here to pre-order). Her August 3 performance is available now. Click here for Ell and company's complete Live From Nashville livestream: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKlgloNHLh4

“The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission is thrilled to partner with Song Suffragettes in celebration of the congressionally designated National Women’s Suffrage Month in August 2020,” said WSCC Executive Director Anna Laymon. “Music holds an important place in the history of women’s fight for the vote -- like in all social movements, music helped to inspire and unify the suffragists who were dedicated to expanding American democracy. These activists not only secured the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, but they also broke barriers and opened up new opportunities for women for generations to come. By working to ensure talented women artists are represented and celebrated in the world of country music today, Song Suffragettes carries forward the legacy of the courageous trailblazers who fought for women’s right to vote 100 years ago. It is a privilege to join with Song Suffragettes to honor the sacrifice and courage of the suffragists.”

Based in D.C. and funded by the U.S. Congress, the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission is conducting suffrage inspired digital programming to commemorate August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month. The Commission is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical federal agency with multiple initiatives that can be explored at www.WomensVote100.org.

“For over six years, Song Suffragettes has been fighting the good fight to support underrepresented female voices in music,” said Todd Cassetty, founder of Song Suffragettes. “We named Song Suffragettes as an obvious nod to the fearless women who faced a restrictive government and fought for seventy-two years to earn the right to vote. So it is a true honor to partner with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and be the musical component of their celebration of the 19th Amendment’s centennial.”

The livestream series titled Live From Nashville: Song Suffragettes will be available for free via the Song Suffragettes’ YouTube channel - YouTube.com/SongSuffragettes. A limited number of tickets are available to attend these shows in person and can be purchased at www.ListeningRoomCafe.com. 

All Live From Nashville: Song Suffragettes shows will start at 6pm CST. Going forward, full show lineups will be announced the week prior to each show on Song Suffragettes’ Twitter (singular @SongSuffragette), Instagram and Facebook accounts (@SongSuffragettes).

About Song Suffragettes
Song Suffragettes is a collective of female singer-songwriters that performs every Monday night at The Listening Room Café in Nashville, TN. In six years, Song Suffragettes has showcased over 260 talented women out of more than 1,400 who have submitted to play the show. With weekly sell-outs and a mantra of #LetTheGirlsPlay, Song Suffragettes vocally combats wide-spread discrimination against women in the music industry by giving female talent a place to play, grow and evolve with fellow creatives. Since its inception, 19 Song Suffragettes women have gone on to receive record deals and more than 40 have landed music publishing deals. Their YouTube channel has received over 3 million views.

Maddie & Tae "Girl in a Country Song"
Song Suffragettes "The Man"
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(In case you're wondering more about suffrage, here's Phoebe from "Friends" episode The One Where Joey Moves Out to explain).
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"The Dirt And The Stars" Out August 7th

8/2/2020

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The Dirt and The Stars, the newest album from Mary Chapin Carpenter, will be available everywhere August 7th and is now available for pre-order. In advance of the release, the title track, “Between The Dirt And The Stars,” is available for streaming now.

Listen and pre-order HERE.

Produced by Ethan Johns (Ray LaMontagne, Paul McCartney, Kings of Leon) and recorded entirely live at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, in southwest England, the album finds the 5-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter pondering life’s intimate, personal moments and exploring its most universally challenging questions at an unprecedented time.

Written at her rural Virginia farmhouse before stay-at-home orders became the “new normal,” the songs celebrate invaluable experiences and irreplaceable wisdom, while also advocating exploration of the best in all of us.

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    Hi. I'm a member of the country club. Country Music is what I love.  

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