40 Minutes From Glory

Posted: April 3, 2012 in The High Priest of the Big Blue
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Written on the night of Kentucky’s National Championship game vs. Kansas, April 2, 2012

Tonight, you are 40 minutes from glory.  You are 40 minutes from being legends.  You are 40 minutes from being considered one of the all-time elite teams in college basketball.  Each one of you have taken a different road to get here, and each one of you will take a different road after tonight.  Enjoy this, because this is the last time we will see you together as one team. Now you know what it means to have KENTUCKY across that chest.  It’s not just any other team in the nation.  It is KENTUCKY.  That name across that uniform means so much more to this state than you could ever imagine.  We coach this team, practice with this team, play the game with this team and we celebrate with this team. And yes, at times we let our emotions dictate our actions with this team.  KENTUCKY BASKETBALL is a way of life.  Many, many years down the road, I will be the proudest KENTUCKY fan ever when I can tell my children and grandchildren about the greats of KENTUCKY BASKETBALL.  The day I can mention your names with the greats…Rupp, Hall, Macy, Givens, Walker, Mashburn,  Delk, Bowie, Farmer, Woods, Pelphrey, and Feldhaus. The day that I can talk about the accomplishments this team has achieved.  The day were I am dying, and the only thing that will spark a little bit of life back into me is when somebody mentions your names to me.  Tonight, do this for the fans.  Do it for that old timer who sits up at Wheelers talking about the glory days with Coach Rupp.  Do this for “Mr. Wildcat” Bill Keightley and Cawood Ledford who are looking down from Big Blue Heaven cheering you on.  Do this for the blind guy who can’t see the tv, but is hanging on to every word that Tom Leach is speaking through that radio.  Do this for the families rebuilding their lives after  the violent storms that swept through our state.  Do this for our soliders who have put their lives on the line so we have the freedom to enjoy college basketball.  Do this for that little boy on that KENTUCKY farm who spends countless hours dribbling a basketball and shooting it up into a hoop attached to barn in hopes for playing for the BIG BLUE on day.  Do this for the high school team in Eastern KENTUCKY that still knows how to dream big.  Do this for your family, and the coaching staff who have stood by you and have been there every step of the way.  Do this for KENTUCKY, but most importantly, do this for yourself.  You deserve this more than anybody.  Tonight, we are all in this together.  You have one shot at glory…and you are 40 minutes from it.  Regardless, your legacy will live on for eternity in BIG BLUE NATION.  GO BIG BLUE!!!

Kentucky defeated Kansas that night, 67-59

Shooter Grows Up w/Family Man

Posted: March 20, 2012 in Music
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Shooter Jennings has never disappointed me with an album. Ok, I missed his little journey into the creative darkness that was “Black Ribbons” from 2010. I just never got around to it. However, if it is the combination of country and southern rock, his views on country music today, or his testifyin’ music…I like it all.

So with this past week’s release of Family Man from Shooter, I expected good. I expected real good. I expected a strong country album. I expected the same ole Shooter that has rowdy rock riffs, soul-stirrin’ testifyn’ and great southern rock grooves fused with old timey. What I got was much more…and it’s for the good! Family Man is refreshing. It’s not that cookie cutter country music coming out of Nashville today. It’s not all about the redneck girl, corny catchy John Deere rhymes with beer, I’ve got me a country song. Thank goodness!

Again, I go back to this album being refreshing. Shooter gets this thing started off with “The Real Me.” It’s a rock em, sock em, foot stompin hellacious romp of that classic outlaw sound, and then 110 mph of hellraising, strugglin’ with demons n such.  I love it, because we have all been there!  We’ll come back to the testifyn’ a little later on in the album.

“The Long Road Ahead,” featuring Tom Morello and Eleanor Whitmore, has a nice Bob Seger-ish classic rock feel to it. It is good a road song. Put it on and drive! “The Deed and the Dollar” gives us that classic Waylon outlaw bass line, and it’s just a sweet way to tell us about what his fiance, Dre de Matteo, means to him. It’s funny, but sweet at the same time. Check out his video below shot right in here the great state of Kentucky.

Next, we must testify again with “Manifesto No. 4.” It’s Jesus, wine, fine southern gospel and enough guitar licks to give that extra push. What I wouldn’t give to hear all of Shooter’s Manifesto songs to be sung at church! Somehow, he can pull off praising Jesus and raising hell with his Manifestos. Genius!

DJ Otis w/Shooter Jennings

“Summer Dreams” takes us all to that perfect place where we wanna be. It’s away from where you are now. Just to get away from it all. Shooter paints a perfect painting of that “happy place” in your mind. Just when ya’ feel all cozy inside, it’s time to change it up! “Southern Family Anthem” is raucous, white trash pride, rocknroll song that we all know where he is coming from on this. Shooter states “Southern Family Anthem,” that song is really true, every single line of that is true of my family, especially on my daddy’s side. There is some stuff that a lot of families can relate to. Skeletons in the closet. It’s all real.” It’s real, and it rocks!

“Daddy’s Hands”…you know who it’s about. It strikes a nerve with ya. Kinda of hard to put in words, but it’s Waylon and Shooter, but it applies to all of us. Father and son. “The Black Dog” is a haunting tale that is dark, ominous and thunderous all in one breath. I think ole Burford (my trusty Jack Russell) got a little spook put in him when listening.  I’ve always had a deep appreciation for country music and the combination of story telling.  It’s a curveball, but it’s a good curveball.

Towards the end of the album, Shooter ties this whole thing up with “Family Tree.” A bluesy little roadhouse number that is loose, fun, and screams “Here I am, this is who I am, if you don’t like it…” In an interview with cmt.com ,Shooter explains, “Family Tree” was written to a person who is very smart and has built a great label, but he felt that some of my stuff was encroaching on his artist. So I released “Family Tree,” which kind of makes fun of that situation. Shooter concludes the Family Man with an easy, laid back, maybe somewhat reflective “Born Again.” The song change momentum throughout its course in some kind of space age way. Kind of surprised how Family Man ends.

Family Man is real!  Real accounts of  the son of a legendary country music icon.  Real accounts of a boy growing up and becoming a Family Man.  And Shooter is a real as you can get today in country music.

For more on Family Man, check out this little ole video.

Rampage Radio Exclusive! Coach Joe B. Hall and the Dukes of Hazzard!

Posted: March 14, 2012 in The High Priest of the Big Blue
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Friends!  Did ya know there was alternate opening that never made the air for the Dukes of Hazzard?  Apparently, former University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball coach, Joe B. Hall, recorded a version of the theme from the Dukes of Hazzard.  It is on the album entitled Kentucky Calling Me.  Joe B. Hall brought some of his friends along for this album including:  Cawood Ledford, Governor Happy Chandler and Coach Al McGuire.  This album is a must for any KENTUCKY WILDCATS fan!  Such great country hits including, “The Gambler,” “On the Road Again,” and “Elvira” provides you the ultimate pre-game soundtrack before the CATS take the court.  Cheer on the CATS, crack ya open a cold PBR (give that team a Blue Ribbon) and listen to some great country music, courtsey of the People’s Coach, Coach Joe B. Hall.   Don’t believe me about that alternate opening to the Dukes of Hazzard?  See below!  What?  Ya think I sit around my house making this stuff up?  GO BIG BLUE!

 

Wanda Jackson Rocks!

Posted: March 5, 2012 in Music
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She is old enough to be your grandma, but she is just that damn cool enough to hang out with and listen to some great music. Last Sunday (2/26/12), Wanda Jackson, the undisputed heavyweight Queen of Rockabilly, brought her 5 1/2 decade career of straight rocknroll country to Busters for an all out musical journey.

Any woman that has toured with (and dated) Elvis is mighty fine in my book. To think that at 74 years old, she is just now enjoying a revitalized career with the help of Jack White, who produced her latest album The Party Ain’t Over, is amazing…and she has aged well too…not all the plastic surgery n stuff.

I will spare you the long history of Wanda’s career, but to know how good she is, in 2008 she was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an early influence. That says something right there friends.

Last Sunday night’s hootenany got started off with my friends, Fifth on the Floor. Their set included some of the new songs that will be featured on their newest release due out this year, and some credible classics from their catalog.

FOTF

After a heavy dose of southern rock, Greg Garing and his band took to the stage. Greg is an interesting cat, because 1) He embodies and embraces the old timey country music. 2) He was a major contributor to bringing back the honky tonk sound to Lower Broadway in Nashville as it was being brought back to a robust, rowdy, bustling music and bar scene during the late 80′s and 90′s. Hey, an endorsement from Johnny Cash doesn’t hurt either. Great set by this dude and his band. Check his bio out. Perfect opening choice for Wanda.

Finally, we find ourselves in the presence of the Queen of Rockabilly. Taking the stage to that sultry little Pulp Fiction ditty (damnit which one was it…one of them Dick Dale tunes) and then launching into an all out rockabilly assault, she hit us with the ole R&B staple, “Cell Block #9.” From there, you could tell Wanda wasn’t there to waste our time, and we sure as hell wasn’t there to waste hers. She took us on a rocknroll journey from the fifties right up to her latest release from a few years ago. There are not many artist out there today from yesteryear that can provide us with pure rocknroll, but Wanda still can.

Hashing out some of her classics such as “Wedding Ring” and “Fujiyama Mama,” her only #1 hit…in Japan, one thing became apparent to me. There are some hot chicks at this show that actually has good taste in music. HOLY SHIT! It was a refreshing site to see some of these fine ladies enjoy some good rocknroll. For once, they weren’t all drunked up, ready to bash a car, kill Earl, or burn down the trailer. It was all about having a good time that night.

Wanda sprinkled the crowd with stories about her timw with the King, and paid the utmost respect to him by telling us how he encouraged her to pursue music. Didn’t know that one did ya? Dang if she didn’t start it off with Elvis’s 1954 single “Good Rockin Tonight.” Then she launched into a steamy, blues infused version of “Heartbreak Hotel.” We also heard some of her new songs that were produced by Jack White, including an Amy Winehouse song. Forgive me for not remembering what it was. Here is one for ya…”Shakin All Over.”

The last set that she put on us flew us back to the 50′s. When rocknroll was pure, and fun. When it was not about the corporate cash cow it is today. 1958′s “Mean Mean Man” was the catalyst for the set, but Wanda had to set us straight after this rowdy version of her song. Testify with the Queen of Rockabilly with “I Saw The Light!” Yessir, that little high pitch voice lifted us to the heavens, but then it was time to party once again with the Queen. She reminded us all of why were there with “Let’s Have a Party.” As she walked off the stage, it couldn’t be over? I want more rocknroll! By God, I got it! The Queen came back out and kicked everyone’s ass on “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On” and then right back into “Let’s Have A Party.” Hank would have been proud! Elvis would have been proud! And you damn straight that Jerry Lee always knew that Wanda was also all killer and no filler.

Last week, I made the following comments on Facebook…

“Later on tonight there will be two concerts going on. One will be of a little country blonde headed twit playing to a sold out Rupp Arena. The other will be less than a mile away, smaller venue and she is a true influence of rocknroll! She is known as the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson (and she toured with Elvis!). So Miranda, if you have done your homework, you have Wanda Jackson to thank so you can sell millions of albums and play sold out areanas. Without her, you wouldn’t have a career. Surely to God you are smart enough to know that she too is from Oklahoma, just like you.”

Well, through the grapevine, I heard there were was a video montage of some great women in rocknroll and country music in said concert that I have spoke of last week. One of those pics included Wanda Jackson. I will meet you halfway on this one. I’m not going to retract my statement, but I will give you this. I’m somewhat impressed, just somewhat, that somebody in today’s cookie cutter country music industry gave some respect to the Queen.

I will say this in closing. The Queen deserves much more that just her pic in a video montage.

Junior Brown = Badass!

Posted: March 4, 2012 in Music
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For the 2nd weekend in row, there were two different country concerts going on at the same time. Same city, and less than a mile apart. One concert was your typical, radio friendly, over-glazed pop country music. The other concert included a tribute to that old timey sound, a somewhat mythical instrument, classic country slide, and rowdy honky tonk rocknroll riffs that would make any guitarist proud.

If Jimi Hendrix, Ernest Tubb, and Chucky Berry had some kind of mythical child by the same woman…then the offspring is Junior Brown. There are some things in rock and roll and country music that I consider a great mystery. How would country music sound if Hank Williams had lived longer? The same for Jimi, Janis and Morrison. How is Keith Richards is still alive? Is Elvis is alive and what the hell is that instrument that Junior Brown plays?

Junior mosted noted for his guit-steel (combo double neck of guitar and a lap steel) and some of his tongue-in cheek lyrics, provided a rowdy night of entertainment by pickin n grinnin on that guit-steel. It was amazing to watch this man work, and his ability to command an audience by this instrument. I will tell you this, Junior Brown has more talent in two fingers than Brad Paisley has in his whole body (Brad played Rupp Arena same night too.)

The honky tonk was alive and well as Junior played a solid 2 hours of his classics, bluegrass, rocknroll, surf music and some instrumental jams. It was a complete show and that guit-steel was in overdrive the whole time. Starting off with “Broke Down South of Dallas” from his 1st album, 12 Shades of Brown, and ending with the ever eternal Chuck Berry song, “Let It Rock,” Junior pulled no punches.

There is something great about Junior’s songs. Yeah, it’s that mythical all empowering guit-steel, but the lyrics. They are hilarious. Not to the point were it’s corny, or overdone knee slappers. Or the typical trailer park mamma country girl lyrics that dominates country music today. Dude writes about woman talking on the cell phone…”Hangup and Drive.” How about “Green Chilli Level 2?” “Freedom Machine” and “Party Lights” which are Junior Brown staples. Point is, Junior writes and perform songs that we all can relate to, but on a different level…way different than your run of the mill working on the farm sexy tractor song.

Talk about some of JB classics, he delivered, and then some. “Highway Patrol” is one of my favs and a crowd favorite. Not to be outdone, “My Wife Thinks Your Dead” just riled up the crowd more, followed up by “Hung It Up.” Show us…show us how badass you are…”Yakety Axe” slicin and dicin that guilt-steel

I gotta say though, what stood out to me about Junior is that he is a hell of musician. He is changing tuning during the songs just to add a little effect to that guit-steel. He seamlessly changes between guitar and steel, and he does it with ease. And when he damn put out “Freeborn Man,” the ole Jimmy Martin classic, it rung the hillbilly tuning forks in my loins so hard that I still can’t walk straight. Check out the crappy quality video I took of it…

Halfway during the show, Junior offered his sympathy and condolences for the people who have lost so much during the storms we had here in Kentucky. He told the crowd that he would like to play this song as a tribute to Kentucky legend, the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. And damn if we didn’t dance a jig to the “Sugarfoot Rag!”

Wait…there is more. How about jamming on a little Hawaian ditty, oh wait…surf music? Yeah, he played it. Let’s change it up on yonder guit-steel and jam on some roadhouse blues. Damnit, Johnny Rivers even made an apperance via “Secret Agent Man” that was whipped out of the guit-steel arsenal.

The crowd didn’t not want him to stop on this jamming. Me neither. Hellfire, we could have stayed there all night, and drank the bar dry of PBR and had our own church service on Sunday morning with the Reverend Junior. I think sometimes Junior even surprises himself with what he can do with that guit-steel.

Ending the show with the Chuck Berry classic “Let It Rock,” it was the perfect intstrumental jam for Junior. It’s blue collar rocknroll at it’s finest, and the way Junior manipulates that guit-steel is nothing short of a blue collar effort…he just makes it look effortless.

As I said earlier, there was a big arena country show, and small venue country show at the same time. Lesson learned…sometimes the big arena country show does not mean it’s a better show than the little country show down the street.

The Backstage Pass – 2/28/12

Posted: February 28, 2012 in Music
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Friends and neighbors, we are back with ya after taking a few weeks off, but we are going to get ya primed and ready for March Madness. Bring it!

First, our friend Shooter Jennings has now released some tour dates for the “Magical Misdemeanor Tour” in support of his upcoming release Family Man, due out on March 13. Opening act will be Cody Canada and the Departed. So far, I don’t see anything on the schedule close to here, but I will keep ya’ll posted. In the meantime, check out the behind the scenes video that Shooter has out for the new album. Actually, the new terminology is called “Electronic Press Kit”. See, ya learned something, didn’t ya? Shooter has been dropping some videos on all kinds of stuff, from him falling into the creek where he shot “The Deed and the Dollar” to the vinyl pressing of Family Man. It is pretty evident that he has had fun with this project.

Congrats to our friends at Sol Records who were invited to the Grammys. Take a listen to the podcast of my interview with Brian DeBruler, CEO of Sol records, who attended the Grammys. It’s a cool behind-the-scenes look from the other side of it all.

Also, congrats to Glen Campbell, the Allman Brothers, George Jones, Diana Ross, and the Memphis Horns for receiving their Lifteime Achivement Awards. Good to see that some good music was recognized at the Grammys.

Speaking of Sol Records, we caught up with Sol recording artists (and good friends) the Dallas Moore Band. It’s always good to catch up with these boys. We had a wild night of watching some KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, great honky tonk music, The Most Interesting Redneck in the World, and Inside the Redneck’s Studio. Seriously, you don’t think this shit happens…go see them and report back. The boys are getting ready for some major MARCH MADNESS action as they make their first appearance at Bobby Mackey’s in Wilder, KY along with some other dates in KY. Don’t know Bobby Mackey’s? Look it up. I damn near say we’ll be there with Proton Packs and a Ouija Board, and the Staff of Obedience in hand! Next time ya see the “King” ask em about his encounter with the Hag!

According to some info from savincountrymusic.com, Hank III has resurfaced and he is planning on burning up some dates in Europe this summer. Also, we can expect a new project alongside David Allan Coe within the next few months. Think “The Conversation” with Hank Jr. and Waylon and you are onto something. I’ve always had a respect for Hank III, because he doesn’t give a shit, he’s all about sticking it to the man (read up on his longstanding battle with Curb Records) and any man that has the idea of putting speed metal and cattle auctioneers together for an album has my seal of approval. Curb also plans to release Long Gone Daddy from III on April 17. It will consist of rarities and outtakes from III’s first few Curb releases. Do some digging, and he’ll tell ya how to go about getting it. However, I’m looking forward to the project of Hank III and DAC.

Speaking of Bocephus, his Taking Back The Country tour kicks off in April. Rest assured that Rampage Radio will be in Louisville for the hellraising at the Kentucky State Fair, August 16. Bocephus has pulled no punches on his opening acts, with shows including Jamey Johnson, 38 Special, and George Thorogood. DAMN KING!

There are two concerts going on at the same time this Sunday night (actually now, 2 days ago) in Lexington. One show will be at a very large arena with a packed house of drunk, pissed off girls/women thinking that every man they see is essentially “Earl” (leave Earl alone…it’s been 13 years, he has paid his debt to society). Their leader, a fiery pissed off, blonde headed girl who is married to some dude who I stopped listening to when he cut off his mullet. I blame both of them for the downfall of country music. The other concert, less than a mile away. She is known as the Queen of Rockabilly. She toured with Elvis. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an “early influence on rock and roll.” She is one badass chick…the one and only WANDA JACKSON! Shes has enjoyed a revitalized career over the last decade, and at 74 years old, she is still kicking ass. I can’t wait to see this legend Sunday night at Busters. Local dirt rockers, Fifth on the Floor will open. Showtime is at 9. My prediction is that little blonde hair twit doesn’t even know the name Wanda Jackson. And trust me honey, you are both from the same state…Oklahoma, so if you have done your homework and you know something about rockabilly music, then you know her. Without her, you wouldn’t have a career selling out arenas and making music So give respect to where it’s due, and my only hope is that one day, you say THANKS to the Queen of Rockabilly that is playing less than a mile away from you, while you are playing out to a sold out crowd and making a shitload of money. You have Wanda to thank for that.

What Johnny Cash Means To Me

Posted: February 26, 2012 in Music
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Today, Johnny would have been 80 years old, and something tells me he still would have been making music until he physically could not do it anymore.

I remember many years ago, visiting my grandparents farm in Jessamine County many a summer’s day and the sounds of the old timey country music would fill the house. My grandmother would always keep her radio on the legendary K93 (which was the last great country music station in Lexington) and then in the basement and on the patio, my grandfather would bombard me with records and cassettes of the country music that I love today. It’s that house, that farm, those summer days that I learned about country music. It was those Saturday nights at 7pm in which my grandfather and I would watch HeeHaw. Sunday morning was jazz morning with my grandfather, while my grandmother would continue to listen to K93 and read trashy love novels, and in the same time could whip up the best country breakfast, lunch and dinner you could ever have. That basement is where I would hear Johnny and Waylon, and hearing stories of my grandparents traveling the United States following Willie Nelson around. Damn cool!

“A Boy Named Sue” I found hysterical. I loved the rhthym of “Get Rhthym” and “One Piece at a Time.” ”Cocaine Blues” is just fun. ”Sunday Morning Coming Down” was explained to me as “you will understand it when you get older.” Then when I learned about Sun Records, Elvis and Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and that Johnny used to run with these cats, well that just solidfied in my mind that he is one badass dude. This is me being only 6 years old at the time.

Years later, I realized what made Johnny Cash one badass motherfucker. Struggles with drug addiction, women, and yet he pressed on with his music, not giving a damn. He was the link between prisoners and the outside world. He was humble, never thinking he was better than anybody else. Amongst all of his trials and troubles, he was able to make that connection with everybody. When he sang, you could enjoy his sense of humor. You could his feel his pain. And even when he read the Bible, which he did record, you thought the wrath of God would strike upon thee.

Friends, when it comes down to it, it’s longevity and influence. For 50 years, his impact on American music until his death (and beyond) is unprecedent. 9 years after his death, we still continue to talk about Johnny Cash, and the songs we love play on the radio, listen to at a bar, or as a songwriter, we style our writings after him. Take any country music artitst today, and 10 years after they die…we won’t be talking about them. For us who enjoy doing what we do, his music runs deep into our veins.

So in closing, how do you explain Johnny Cash to a younger generation? Rick Rubin did it, but did it with established credibility and respect in the 90′s. The problem is, all that this younger generation knows about Cash is from a dumb ass country singer from Georgia who decided who to record a song entitled “Johnny Cash.” And there is no substance to that song. I hope that one day, this younger generation will begin to learn and understand how important Johnny is to American music.

Just like Johnny connected with his audience, his music connected me with an older generation, being my grandparents. Talk to anybody that knows a damn thing about country music, and you never hear anybody say they don’t like Johnny Cash. Cash is more than a name. He was the walking, living proof of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” He is now the complete spirit of country music in which his legacy will never be unmatched in country music.

To this day, I still believe Johnny Cash is the only human being that could look the devil in the eye and say “fuck you” and the devil himself would be scared.

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