Trace Adkins at the New York State Fair

Hi everyone, first off, sorry it's been so long since I've posted. Fear not, I'm back now and I've got plenty of topics to cover and the time/Internet access I need to share them with you!First, who else enjoyed Trace Adkins' performance at the New York State Fair Saturday? He put on a great show, as you can see from the video below. Big Kahuna Donut Burger Now this was an interesting experience for me. As Chevy (or Cole Muffler) Court veterans...

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Best of Trace Adkins

Well folks, the most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us, the great New York State Fair. One week from today you will be able to see the famous butter sculpture, ride the Ejection Seat and ingest more than three times your daily caloric intake in one afternoon (Big Kahuna Donut Burger, anyone?).Of course, several country artists are coming to the Fair this year, beginning with Trace Adkins at Chevy Court on Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. To get you ready for Trace's show, I've composed a playlist of my favorite Trace songs. "Songs About Me" "Ladies...

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Loretta Lynn concert postponed

Hey everybody, quick heads up, the Loretta Lynn concert at the Turning Stone Showroom scheduled for Sept. 16 has been postponed until March 3.Loretta recently cancelled several shows to recover from knee surgery, and I hope she recovers so...

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New single, tour dates for Lady A

A couple of new singles started making the rounds online Monday, one from Lady Antebellum and another from Miranda Lambert's side project Pistol Annies.Also, Lady A and Dierks Bentley announced fall tours. Lady A won't return to CNY after their State Fair appearance, but they will play in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. With Edens Edge opening, I'd say it's worth the trip to Wilkes-Barre, especially if you miss Lady A at the Fair. Dierks' full schedule hasn't been released yet, but he's bringing Jerrod Niemann and the Ely Young Band with him. I've...

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Review: "Tailgates and Tanlines"

Luke Bryan was the second country artist to release his third studio album over the past couple weeks (Eric Church being the other). Church took "Chief" to the top of the charts, but I have a hard time believing Bryan will have the same success with "Tailgates and Tanlines."1) "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)" -- I don't know if everyone shares this opinion, but Bryan comes across as a bit of a creep in this "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)." The chorus just sounds like it should be spoken by a creepy old guy. That being said, it's still kind of...

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Under the Covers -- "Come On Eileen," "Dirt Road Anthem"

A couple of bands performing at the New York State Fair this year shared covers of popular songs on their YouTube accounts this week. Well, one was a cover, the other was a parody. Sugarland (with help from Sara Bareilles) tackles a classic '80s hit:Lady Antebellum gets some help from a former professional golfer to poke a little fun at Jason Aldean's smash summer song:Which of these songs would you rather hear at the Grandstand on Labor Day weeke...

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Review: Trace Adkins "Proud To Be Here"

"Proud To Be Here" - Trace AdkinsThe title of Trace Adkins' latest album could easily refer to his music career or the life he's led. The big man -- who may have been the inspiration for Bruce Willis' character in "Unbreakable" -- has survived a truck accident, getting run over by a tractor and being shot in the heart by his ex-wife. As he croons in the title track, Adkins has clearly "been living on borrowed time for years." After a rough life and...

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CNY country radio debate

I must confess that I'm a pretty lucky guy. I live in between Syracuse and Utica, giving me access to four different country radio stations. So, which one is the best to listen to? Bug Country - Bug Country broadcasts from the Mohawk Valley area, so Syracuse listeners will have a hard time picking it up. I found this station recently, and I like what I hear. I've heard them play new songs before anyone else, but they also play more classic songs than the other three stations, which is a nice change of pace. My only complaint is that they frequently...

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"Remind Me" video most boring ever?

Brad Paisley is one of the most entertaining people in country music. He puts on an outstanding live show, and previous videos for "Online," "I'm Gonna Miss Her" and, my personal favorite, "Celebrity" are laugh-out-loud funny. Carrie Underwood's voice may be the only thing on earth more beautiful than her smile. Put the two of them together, and they create a dynamite hit song. Unfortunately, they also create a lackluster music video.Obviously, making a humorous video for this song makes no sense, so I understand that. I also understand that both...

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Review: Eric Church "Chief"

"Chief"I think it's a safe bet to say Eric Church rocks harder than just about anybody in country music right now, as anyone who witnessed his 2009 show at the New York State Fair can attest to. In fact, he rocked the stage so hard that September afternoon he broke his foot during the show (apparently a common occurrence for country singers). Fans of Church's hard-rockin' ways won't be disappointed by his new album "Chief." Here's my track-by-track...

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