Farce the Music

Sep 10, 2012

OMG Rant: Modern Country Music

by Brittany Fant, 14-year-old music fan and aspiring reviewer

OK, I'm getting sick of all of u and TRAILER(!) picking on the music I like!!! U people are all old and out of touch with what's cool in America these days, so why should I listen to what u have to say? I mean, u listen to stuff that's like sooooo depressing - u need to get on some meds like my mom and cheer up! Jason Eady? Cute, but depressing. Gretchen Peters? OMG, she makes me wanna go to a shrink. Lucero? Even their fast songs are sad and that guy sings like he just ate a Brillo pad or something. What's the deal with u folks? My real life is already hard enuff. I just want my music to make me smile or dance or kiss my boyfriend or punch his ex in her peppy cheerleader face. I'm on the backside of puberty y'all, I need some happy!!! That's why Taylor Swift and Hunter Hayes (<3) and Brantley Gilbert and stuff like that are all that's on my iPod. And that motorboatin' song, LOLZ! I don't even know what that means but my boyfriend laughs his butt off and looks at my chest every time. Listen, Taylor speaks to us girls. I mean, I am NEVER EVER getting back with my ex. All he wants to do is play Assassin's Creed all day and never ever return my texts. What a loser. And my someday boyfriend Hunter Hunter Hunter Hayes!!! He sings the words that every girl wants to hear. I JUST WANT TO BE WANTED! My current boyfriend doesn't say stuff that sweet, but at least he's on the B Honor Roll and he won me a Plants vs. Zombies doll at the fair. Brantley Gilbert kind of scares me, but "U Don't Know Her Like I Do" is my jam. I always change the words to "u don't know him like I do, that boy's my best friend" and just zone out. It's kind of a sad song, but at least there's lots of guitars! All UR Americana stuff just has guitars that aren't plugged in and violins or something. It sounds like an elephant just lost his best friend. And who cares about country? I don't want to hear some redneck from Dogpoot, Tennessee whining about his woman and his whiskey. That's not real life. Real life is texting and flirting and going to see The Possession on Friday night (don't tell my dad) and laying out in the backyard listening to HUNTER HUNTER HUNTER! So, in summary, country music is about what us kids like and the songs we download on OUR iPhones and what we do after the football game when our parents think we're having a sleepover! It's not about what old people like my parents like. George Strait is old enough to be my grandpop, I don't want my grandpop up on stage in tight western jeans singing about love, gross! So all u people over 25, move out of the way or get run over! Go play Pac-man or listen to Guns and Roses or take ur vitamins.

Indie Rock Parody Covers: Arcade Fire, The xx, etc.

Monday Morning Memes: Hank, Tim McGraw, Merle

Sep 9, 2012

Awkward Gary Levox Photo of the Week

Sunday Mornin' Music: Elvis Presley

Sep 8, 2012

Saturday Night Music: L.A. Guns

From the Archives: Country Day August '09 Parody Album Covers

Sep 7, 2012

This Never Gets Old

YouTube Gems: Lucero Live at the Lucero Family Picnic

My buddy Chad got this video of Lucero performing "Downtown" from their current album, Women and Work, when we attended the Lucero Family Picnic a few months ago.

Parody Cover: Brantley Gilbert - Country Must Be Country Wide (Remix)

Poor Gary

Sep 6, 2012

Honest Radio Promo Ad: Little Big Town - "Pontoon"

CMA Nominations Memes

CMA Nominations

Sep 5, 2012

FTM or TMZ? Who's Brantley Dating?!?

A little birdy told me that the lovely Jana Kramer is dating the goat-faced Brantley Gilbert.

Hey, didn't they make a movie about that already?

New Scotty McCreery Christmas Album Cover Revealed

3 New Parody Covers: Train, Matchbox Twenty, 50 Shades of Grey

Sep 4, 2012

New Avett Brothers Album Cover Revealed

New Dierks Bentley EP Cover Revealed

Concert Review: Shovels and Rope, Washington D.C., 8-22

Shovels & Rope At The Hamilton in D.C. 8/22/2012

by Matthew Martin

Shovels & Rope don't suck. In fact, they do the opposite of suck. They prove as much with each song on their first two albums. And, they prove it even more in a live setting.

Why would I start it this way? Well, to be honest, there have been a glut of guy/girl duos recently (She & Him, Honeyhoney, The Civil Wars, and even The White Stripes). Don't get me wrong, I really like The Civil Wars. But, there is something refreshing about what Shovels & Rope is doing.

Blending countless genres, Shovels & Rope deliver a talented, raucous live show. Michael Trent (formerly of The Films) and Cary Ann Hearst switch up duties on guitar, drums, vocals, harmonica, and keyboard.

I showed up to The Hamilton in D.C. right around the time the opener was about to end. I had a prior engagement, so I can't really vouch one way or the other for this guy- much less remember his name! Around the time of the show, Shovels & Rope tweeted that around 100 tickets were left for the 450 capacity venue. I'd say it was even fewer than that by the time they went on stage. It was pretty impressive considering they had opened up for Jonny Fritz at the same venue a few months ago and there were maybe 75 people total.

Not sure where the recent fans have come from, but it was a welcome sight for such a hardworking band.

They opened up with the song that I generally use to convince people to listen to Shovels & Rope-"Gasoline." What always impresses me about bands like theirs is the amount of sound being cohesively created by two people. It seems there must be one more hand on stage creating one of the many sounds being heard. However, you look on stage and see that it is only Trent and Hearst switching up/blending instruments and vocals.

By the time the first 5 songs are done, both are dripping in sweat from the amount of work they are putting into a Wednesday night show. It was also around this time that those sitting down migrated to the front of the stage. Every driving, rock and roll song was met with dancing and swaying. Each slow song was met with relative silence and attention. Fortunately for those mover-and-shaker types, Shovels & Rope have more quick-paced songs up their sleeves. Throughout the night they played most of the songs in their 2 album catalog, including what is quickly becoming my new favorite Shovels & Rope song- "Birmingham."

So the show went, with Trent and Hearst playing every instrument. The chemistry between the two was insurmountable and each word not sung out to the crowd was sung directly into each other's eyes. While this could be a distraction at times, Shovels & Rope pull it off. It is a "show" after all. You are there not only for the music. You are there for the stage act.

I'm not implying they are acting out their affection for each other. I merely mean to say- remember that while the music is the most important thing, pay attention to all facets at a show. It's easy to see those loving what they do and those trying to love what they do. Shovels & Rope clearly love what they do and they love who they are doing it with: themselves.

Get all of their albums here.