Music City News: Tuesday, March 19

March 19, 2013

» Burning Red:

"It's quite possible you're going to see a lot of one color tonight," Taylor Swift said while kicking off The Red Tourin Omaha, NE (3/13-14). "It's mostly because of the [University of Nebraska] Huskers," she joked. Cue audience mania. A first-look at the 66-date North American leg provided a view that was, not surprisingly, elaborate, more mature and very, very red. Like, very.

Tom Petty's "American Girl," which was piped through the PA just prior to curtain on the Speak Now Tour, has been replaced by Lenny Kravitz's version of "American Woman." Swift's entrance finds her silhouetted behind a curtain – red, of course – before it rises dramatically and she descends the stairs to the main stage during "State Of Grace." Her dancers carry her through the arena to sing several songs at the back of the house, including a duet with tour guest Ed Sheeran ("Everything Has Changed").

Those who watched her Grammy-opening performance this year will find those images echoed in the closing number, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." As the song draws down and thank-yous pour forth from Swift and her screens, the performing multitudes take their bows and Taylor sinks out of sight. The lights rise quickly in the house, refreshingly ignoring the custom of trolling for an encore that in most shows is already part of the set list.

» Kenny's Pirate Viewing: In a big week for country tours, Kenny Chesney let his pirate flag fly at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium as the No Shoes Nation Tour kicked off for 48,000 swashbucklers. And why not there, considering the hometown Buccaneers have an actual pirate ship in one end zone? Kacey Musgraves ("Merry Go Round") opened, followed by Eli Young Band and Eric Church. "Eric is a rocked-up bar party, and Kenny is more laid-back island fun," our insider says of the show. "[And] it was perfect. Afternoon turned into night and the hardcore party was an awesome transition into what was about to come."

Chesney's production is drawing raves for its crystal-clear screens, and the pirate flag motif dominates. "The video intro included a personal message Kenny recorded from the stadium's nosebleed seats while wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet. The music started and the stage lights were turned all the way up to 'blinding.' And suddenly, Kenny was on the stage in front of us. He just walked out!" Chesney brought Musgraves out for "Come Over" and worked the crowd relentlessly. "Overall, Kenny's performance made us feel genuinely loved here in Tampa."

» The Adventures Of Tim McGraw:

Back in 2000, Tim McGraw and Kenney Chesney were arrested in Buffalo, NY after Chesney tried to ride away on a police horse and McGraw tried to stop the cops from going after him. Same thing happened to Batman and Robin, like a million times. A misunderstanding with law enforcement while trying to save the world. So it's only fitting the incident serves as the opening scene in Fame: Tim McGraw, the new comic book featuring the half Cherokee and Choctaw Indian Outlaw we've all come to know better as Tim McGraw. It'll be made available March 20 in print and digitally. Preview here.

» He's So Unusual:

Country legend George Jones is set to play his final Nashville concert with a lineup that includes Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Kenny Rogers, and it was beginning to sound like boys just wanna have fun. That is, until '80s pop icon Cyndi Lauper was added to the bill. “Now, people may not know this, but I have been a fan of Cyndi’s since I first saw her years ago at the Grammy awards," says Jones. "What a thrill it was to hear she will be part of this final celebration." The true colors of Jones' influence across genres continue to surprise time after time. The show happens Nov. 22 at the Bridgestone Arena.

» Wedding Zinger:

Getting married is every girl's dream. And for a lot of dudes, getting married is a total nightmare because all of a sudden they have to make decisions about stuff like, "What Gloriana song should we play during our first dance?" Brides magazine has invited the country trio to perform at the marriage of Briana Hainley and Jason Schnitzer from Anaheim, CA. The couple won the chance to have a live-streamed wedding event where every decision, including the first-dance song, is determined by Facebook "likes." The mag is donating $10,000 to Gloriana's charity of choice and everone is invited to watch April 7. More here.

» Black & White & Web All Over:

Blake Shelton was "effortless, engaging" at RodeoHouston. –Houston Chronicle
Kenny Chesney "seemed to be savoring" his return to the stage. –Tampa Tribune
Luke Bryan's songs were "a blast of energy" Saturday in Houston. –Houston Chronicle
Miranda Lambert was "practically peeling the paint off the walls." –Jacksonville Times-Union

Hit List

Toby Keith, Brantley Gilbert, Trace Adkins, Eli Young Band, Kip Moore, Charlie Daniels Band, Tate Stevens, Darryl Worley and Blackberry Smoke are scheduled to perform at the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam. The festival takes place in Panama City Beach, FL Sept. 26-28.
Easton Corbin will auction his 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn as a part of Ram Truck's Road to the Ram Jam. The last truck auctioned, from Zac Brown, raised $39,300 for Camp Southern Ground. Corbin's proceeds will benefit the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. Bidding starts March 18 here.
Tracy Lawrence, Bo Bice, David Ball and more will participate in the Christmas 4 Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament in Mount Juliet, TN April 23. More here.

Birthdays

The late Jerry Reed (3/20)

On TV

Tuesday (3/19): Keith Urban, The Ellen DeGeneres Show; Wynonna and Kellie Pickler, Dancing With The Stars (ABC).

Wednesday (3/20): Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX); Kellie Pickler, Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (CBS).

Thursday (3/21): Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX).

This Week's Album Releases

Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer Different Park (3/19)

A working songwriter (Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart"), Musgraves did the whole reality show competition thing in 2007 on USA Networks' Nashville Star. She released "Merry Go Round" in 2012 and now the Female Vocalist of the Year ACM Award nominee offers her major label debut. Musgraves co-produced the album with fellow songwriters Shane McAnally ("Come Over," "Better Dig Two") and Luke Laird ("Hillbilly Bone," "Pontoon").

New Country News