It’s been a while, but I’ve finally decided to update this page. I’ve been very busy trying to get this new album together. Travis (Linville) continues to work on it with me every chance we get. Like I said in my last post, it’s been nice to be working in Norman. Not only is it close, but it affords me the opportunity to try different approaches with a song without worrying that my studio time will be up soon. It’s been a lot of work, and there remains a great deal of work ahead, but it’s sounding great and I can’t wait to get it out to everyone. The final day of mixing is on February 26th, and I plan to release it on March 24th (almost two years to the day since the last album was released). Stay tuned for details about a CD release party.

Speaking of CD release parties, our good friends the Redbud Revival are releasing their CD, “The Great Van Edom,” this Friday over to the Belle Isle Brewery in Oklahoma City. We’ll be opening up for them. I’ve heard the album and it’s great. This album is actually being released in conjunction with Sweetworth Records (Our album was released on this label run by Kyle Sweet). Come on out and support this fine band and record label. Hopefully, more good things with the label will be happening soon.

A good show to mark your calender for will be February the 10th at the Wormy Dog with Roger Creager. We’re looking forward to a good turnout and a good time.

AFTER READING THE FOLLOWING, CLICK HERE FOR A HUMOROUS ADDENDUM

Finally, I had to find something to critique, but this time, it’s not a movie. Let me quailify the following by pointing out that I don’t usually bash on Nashville. Nashville music is simply a different type of music than I do, so it’s unfair to take issue with anything except perhaps the inappropriate “country” monniker that is associated with most of what we know as commerical Nashville music (Nashville actually turns out some great stuff; it’s just not typically on CMT). There are all different kinds of music out there, some of which I just don’t like (on a side note, I’ve been listening to Gram Parsons almost constantly for the past two days; great stuff). I have learned to accept that not everyone likes what I like and that doesn’t make their opinion any less valuable. Furthermore, I have no business telling anyone how to write a song. There. The polite, I don’t think I know better than you who has no taste in music, disclaimer is finished.

Sometime during the holidays, I was visiting with a family member, passing the time by cruising through the 90 some odd channels he gets on his television. I decided to watch the CMT top twenty countydown just to keep up with what folks are listening to and to see what really pays the bills for a songwriter (I friend of mine recently opined that the best way to write a commercially successful “country” song, is to imagine that the person you are trying to touch with your lyrics is also deeply moved by The Oprah Winfrey Show).

Unfortunately, I missed the first part of the countdown and came in somewhere during the mid-teens. The song that was on was a Brooks and Dunn tune called “I believe.” Pretty typical song. No cause for any raised eyebrows. The next song was called “Just Might (make me believe)”. This was shortly followed by a horrible Joe Dee Messina number called “Delicious Surprise (I believe it).” How many damn songs on CMT have to do with some derivation of the word “believe” these days? Does no one have a thesaurus on music row?

Soon thereafter, I was subjected to the most emotionally manipulative, not to mention predictable, piece of crap yet by none other than Rascall Flatts. How can you not feel sorry for a little girl enduring such a horrible disease as cancer? Especially when the message is delivered with cirque du soleil performers hanging from the ceiling like a bunch of damn decorations at an elementary school party.

While I’m still on the subject, I heard the word “margarita” at least three times (I should have started counting sooner). I expect to hear some words over and over in country music such as “the” , “country”, or even “whiskey,” but margarita. Seriously. No self-respecting country boy or girl that I know (and I’m from rural Oklahoma), rolls in to the local beer joint after work and orders up a sangria swirl. Has the margarita become the official drink of country music these days? Say it aint so.

I won’t even begin to address the “Big and Rich” craze. I had nothingl left to comment on after seeing Honky Tonk Badonkadonk. Ole Trace, he doesn’t do it for the fame or money. No! He does it for….the badonkadonk.

Thanks for Lisnen,

Dameon