MIA Country Blogger Returns

Where have I been the last couple of months? No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth (well at least not for good). But just in case you missed me, here's the rundown on what I've been up to:

Miranda Lambert showed me and the rest of NYC what a woman is made of.

Miranda Lambert was at MSG and we all took nothing but a memory. The openers were fantastic, too. Ashley Monroe was onto something good with her sweet, southern voice that reminds me of Dolly Parton.

Justin Moore... well, there are no adjectives to properly describe his performance. But let me just say that country done came to TOWN! Just a few of his fabulous quotes from the evening: "Just so y'all are aware, you CAN come to a country concert in New York City!" - Yes. WE KNOW. "I know we're in the middle of the city, but do we have any rednecks in here?" - Only one gentleman was wearing a cowboy hat, but I don't think that's make or break to be considered a redneck. "Why have we waited so long to play here, y'all?" - I wondered the same thing, Justin!

And then there was Miranda, who kicked ass (I love that I can say that on here!). Some of her best, in my opinion, were Little Red Wagon, The House That Built Me, and Gunpowder and Lead. She's just so cool. At the end, Ashley Monroe and another woman from the band joined Miranda to sing a Dixie Chicks cover! You guys, it was nothing short of amazing. They ain't the kind you gotta shake, but you can check out the pictures on Instagram.

I contemplated breaking up with him after an Old Dominion serenade.

"We like to pat ourselves on the back in this band," the lead singer Matt Ramsey said at one point during the show, and I'd gladly do the same. Aside from their own big hits, they performed several of the songs they've written for big names like Dierks Bentley, Tyler Farr and Craig Morgan (and yes, even a co-write Ex To See with Sam Hunt). A personal favorite from the night was Said Nobody Ever, which I believe will be a new song on their album. The guys were very interactive with the crowd, telling jokes and laughing at themselves... It was such a fun night! Old Dominion is definitely going SOMEWHERE fast. Side note: They also told us they'll be at CMA Fest (for those lucky enough to be going) so don't miss them. 

I got country crazy at a StageCoach bachelorette party.

I'd never been to a music festival before (if you haven't, you need to) and it is truly a unique experience. 7 of us girls stayed in an RV on the grounds the entire weekend. To be able to wake up, tailgate, and walk a short distance to a stage to see some of the best names in country music - honestly, what could be better? The festival is on the same grounds as Coachella, but is a much different experience from what I hear. Some of the noteworthy performers: Tim McGraw (AMAZING), Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Blake Shelton and Jake Owen. I had some of the best times I'll never remember. Can anyone say FarmBorough?

Darius Rucker told me how much he wanted me to hold his hand.

We don't need no concert in the city. Darius Rucker was right there in Holmdel, New Jersey! It was the first stop on his Southern Style Tour and it was absolutely phenomenal. The openers certainly held their own as well.. Brett Eldredge was an incredible entertainer - just downright fun - but I honestly didn't expect anything less (if you follow him on Instagram, you understand). I  was falling in love to the beat of his music, as well as Brothers Osborne with their hits Stay A Little Longer and Rum (aka the perfect summer theme song) and A Thousand Horses' Smoke.

Literally every single person there was singing along to even the ones that they barely knew. They still sounded good... a little outta tune, but we didn't care. As Hootie would say, let her sing. Speaking of, were there any throwback Hootie and the Blowfish songs? HECK YES. And all the best ones too: Time, Only Wanna Be With You, Let Her Cry, and Hold My Hand - assisted by the openers. The best news you'll ever hear, HATB are writing a new album which they plan to finish within the next few years... hopefully it doesn't take too much tiiiiiime. I've been on a serious Hootie and the Blowfish kick ever since.

And of course he saved Wagon Wheel for last, sending us all out of the venue with it stuck in our heads (rock me momma). Darius was right when he said it wouldn't be like this for long and don't think we won't think about it.

I watched a cowboy ride off into the sunset with the woman of his dreams.

It may sound so sappy, but for my brother, it's true. The beautiful country-chic wedding was at a barn in Scottsdale, Arizona where all of the bridesmaids (including me) and the groomsmen wore cowboy boots (and most of the guests as well). Yes, there was even line dancing to Alan Jackson's Good Time and more. I'm glad I have such a country music loving family (for the most part at least). I'd like to do a whole piece on this one - so be on the lookout for it!

When it comes to a good time

You know what they say

It's never too early

It's never too late

#NYCountrified

Country In Brooklyn... Brought To You By Beer

NASH BASH in Brooklyn was the place to be last night. There may have been more empty seats than filled ones, but c'mon guys, it's quality not quantity. And those of us that were there were swayin' and prayin' that Cole and the band didn't ever stop playin'.

Amongst the openers were Jana Kramer and Gloriana, but to kick it off was Michael Ray, who by the way is not all that hard to look at (and what a great way to get us in our seats). You might recognize his name from his hit song right now, Kiss You In The Morning. I hadn't heard any of the others, but he won us over with Dust On The Bottle, which is always a fan favorite. 

Jana Kramer was as fierce as could be. She stunned us with some killer heels and a hott outfit, but she'd look great in just about anything. I'm sure the guys were wondering why she had to keep making them want her too. Jana was belting it out seriously hard for Love and a little AC/DC All Night Long, but to me, nothing was better than her beautiful voice during some of the slower songs. Jana, I still believe in love too. 

And Gloriana's set made me wonder why they are so completely underrated (Tom, Mike and Rachel really are wild at heart). Some noteworthy songs were Can't Shake You, [Kissed You] Good Night, and Trouble, which brought everyone to their feet. I don't know why I haven't paid more attention to them, but I certainly will now (and you should too).

Cole Swindell was like something straight out of a country song. That man is a Luke Bryan in the making (from his voice to his moves) and he sure knows how to shake it alright! I'm pretty sure I said multiple times last night how adorable he is. 

Of course CS played all his popular tunes: Ain't Worth The Whiskey, Chillin' It, Hope You Get Lonely Tonight (and then some). Something you may have in common, he's a big Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley fan (but really who isn't?). BBQ Stain and What Was I Thinkin' were hits with this Brooklyn country crowd. It felt like we were somewhere between the back roads and the back row.

Not only does he put on a fabulous show, Cole is also quite impressive off the stage as well. He writes music for himself and many others in the country world (Get Me Some Of That by Thomas Rhett, This Is How We Roll by FGL, Roller Coaster by Luke Bryan - all of which he performed last night - and so many more). 

Anyone else at the show would probably agree that all the worries in the world, they were gone. I mean, some drunk dude was even in the crowd yelling, "Let's get weird, y'all." Ok, not really, but I'm pretty sure there were many moments that could have only been #BroughtToYouByBeer (or maybe it was the whiskey? Who cares). Cole may not be able to fill Barclays Center just yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he starts selling out arenas in the next few years. Thanks for letting us chill it with you, Cole :)

Some are gonna wanna fight, some are gonna wanna dance
Some are gonna wanna carry 'round one in each hand.
Yeah, we all have a get a little crazy plan
When we break out and we go out.

#NYCountrified

Walkin, Talkin, Drinkin Proof

Tyler Farr was at Starland Ballroom recently and if you weren't there, here's what you missed:

Get a little redneck crazy. Add some whiskey to your water. Throw in a little dirty talk (thanks to the woman who threw her bra up on stage). And you're all caught up. TF sang an acoustic version of Hello Goodbye (which was phenomenal). I really felt that true emotion, but half of the crowd was hardly paying attention and I could hear them talking over most of it. The problem you ask? Maybe they weren't even drinkin'. Okay, that's a lie. But shame on y'all! 

While it wasn't quite as much of a party as some of the other shows I've seen, I thoroughly enjoyed it. He may not have been dancing around the stage like Thomas Rhett, but I was entertained and I respect his style and ability to sing. I also have to mention his cool setup. The way his name lit up came from a shadow box of sorts, so no matter what the lighting was like during each song, you always had a clear photo (above). 

The opener, Scott DeCarlo (pictured above) was pretty impressive as well. And get this... I talked to his photographer after the show and he said Scott only does this part-time. He has a full-time job and plays local venues in his free time. Now THAT'S dedication. Best of luck to you, Scott!

And just like all good things.. it had to come to an end. We barely even said hello before we had to say goodbye. For some of you lucky dogs, you'll get to see the guy walk into a bar again on April 28 at Irving Plaza. Just don't forget to pay attention this time.

Get your hands up

If your whiskey bent and hell bound 

Get your hands up

If you like the way that guitar sounds

#NYCountrified

Billy Currington Knows What To Do With A Friday Night

Billy must be doin' somethin' right, and his sold out show last Friday was one way to prove it. It started with an "I" and ended with a "U" and Billy had a feelin' we were feelin' it too.

We Are Tonight, Don't It, People Are Crazy, Hey Girl... you name it, he played it. But if he was going to play anything, it had better be Good Directions - and it was clear that the entire audience agreed. Who needs backup singers when you've got two thousand country music fans singing along to every word? 

To sum the night up, God is great. Beer is good. And people are crazy. 

But really... We found a floor and we danced on it. We were tonight. We had lots of feelin's. We were pretty good at drinkin' beer. And yes, we enjoyed ourselves. Everyone was having fun and really, what more could you want from a concert? The only complaint I have is that it wasn't near long enough (and not just because I never wanted it to end). He let us down easy just before 10pm and only came out for a few more for the encore. It was like one minute he was telling us he was pretty good at drinking beer and the next we were watching him disappear into a cloud of dust. Sigh...

On another note - Have you ever instantly connected to an artist after only hearing them perform just once? Well, that's exactly why I must mention the incredible opener that evening, Kelsea Ballerini. This was my first time hearing her live (and honestly the first time hearing more than one of her songs). All I have to say is... She. Killed. It. Her current hit is Love Me Like You Mean It, and if you're wondering, yes, she can talk the talk and walk it. My favorite that night was a song where she compares her pain to wearing stilettos... even though they may hurt, you keep your head up high, putting on a show. All of her lyrics are so unbelievably honest and relatable. And the woman's only twenty-one!

I met her after the concert and she's just as awesome in person as she is on the stage. Did I mention Taylor Swift loves her too? Okay, let me stop because I could go on about this girl forever! I am so excited to follow her journey. She's going places. If you haven't heard of her, you need to go listen. Unfortunately not all of her music is up on Spotify, but there's more on YouTube.

Kelsea and Billy, thanks for the fabulous night. It's good to know New York City can feel a little more "country" sometimes. In the words of the man himself, thank God for good directions, and turnip greens.

Enjoy yourself, let it all hang out

And you'll know exactly what I'm talkin' about

If you come on over without a doubt

You'll enjoy yourself

#NYCountrified

Because There's No Such Thing As "Too Many Concerts"

With so many (but still not enough) shows coming up in the NYC area, we could all use a little discount or free show. Honestly, there's just too much month at the end of the money. So, in order to ease the pain (kind of) I've gathered links to all of the current contests and discount codes out there. I'll continue to update as I find them, but jump on these while you can! Feel free to share below if you know of any more!

Discounts:

Taste of Country Music Festival - $10 off with code: SUMMER10

Giveaways:

NASH FM 94.7

Tim McGraw @ Jones Beach 6/11 & PNC Bank Arts Center 7/18 - Ends 3/11

NASH BASH @ Barclays Center 3/24 - Ends 3/12

Miranda Lambert @ MSG 3/28 - Ends 3/12

Shania Twain @ MSG 6/30, Nassau Coliseum 7/1, PruCenter 7/7 - Ends 3/16

*All of their contests end at 12am on the dates above

ORSVP.com

Miranda Lambert @ MSG 3/28

Tim McGraw @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater 6/11

Kenny Chesney & Jason Aldean @ MetLife Stadium 8/15

Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater 8/18

All gone, oh, heaven only knows.

All gone, oh, where on earth it goes,

But it sure goes.

Well, sometimes I think it blows away.

#NYCountrified

Who Wants a Little Taste of Country this Summer?

Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Billy Currington, Eli Young Band, Jerrod Niemann, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin, Chase Bryant, Colt Ford, Josh Abbott Band, Tracy Lawrence, LOCASH, Logan Mize, Western Underground, Rachel Lipsky, Sasha McVeigh, Jackson Michelson and Annie Bosko. I'm out of breath. Buttttt, that's a pretty sick lineup. The coolest part? You'll receive $10 off just by using my code: SUMMER10. Thank me later, but totally share with your friends now.

The 3rd Annual Taste of Country Music Festival will be held June 12-14, 2015 at Hunter Mountain Resort (Hunter, NY) in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County. All of the details are here. 

If you're reading this, you're obviously interested, or maybe you just came to drink (we're all just drunk Americans after all). But if you're looking for a little bit of everything, Keith, Toby and the rest of the artists have you covered. And Tim? Well, Tim's just there to see you smile (and I know you will). 

Summer comin' through a rolled down window

Tearin' down an almost two lane back road

Freedom and fireflies in the air

#NYCountrified

Shania Twain Is Still The One

No, you're not dreamin' or stupid. Shania is still going strong, but apparently not for long. She just announced her LAST TOUR EVER and I'm happy (but also a little sad) to share that she's got three stops in our area. No matter what kind of day you were having before this, it can only go up from here :)

I've had Shania on Spotify ALL day (highly recommend doing the same) and I can't help but think back to my middle school days when I was a dancer (short-lived, but still happened) and wanted so badly to be a part of the older girls' group so I could dance to Man! I Feel Like A Woman. I still remember a lot of the moves (from watching, obv) and you better believe that I WILL be testing a few of them out at the concert. After all, you only live once.

In case you're suffering from a little memory loss, let me make it clear to you, my dear:

• Love Gets Me Every Time
• Don't Be Stupid
• That Don't Impress Me Much
• Come On Over
• Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
• Any Man Of Mine
• No One Needs To Know
• ... need I say more?

You're welcome for the sweet vids. Now, for the dates:

June 30 @ Madison Square Garden

July 1 @ Nassau Coliseum

July 7 @ Prudential Center

Presale tickets will be available starting 3/10, but general tickets go on sale to the public 3/13 at 10am. If you wanna make some noise and really raise your voice, then get to this show! In the words of the lovely lady herself, don't be stupid. You can betcha bottom dollar I certainly won't be.

The best thing about being a woman

Is the prerogative to have a little fun

#NYCountrified