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Historic Downtown Jasper, Alabama
Friday Night Lineup:
SAMMY KERSHAW
Since his debut on the music scene in the early 90’s, Kershaw has remained one of the most consistent power hitters in country music—both with a chain of major hit records and sell-out touring schedules.
Sammy Kershaw’s plan for country music is re-claiming its roots and recapturing the spirit that made it great “Man, for someone like me who had George Jones’ music imprinted in my DNA before birth, the last few years have been rough as a fan of country music,” noted Kershaw candidly in a recent national interview. “Country music is not a formula…it’s a music with its own soul…and I’m all about saving that soul!” Kershaw’s current album "Honkytonk Boots" promises to be a much-anticipated first step in that plan of salvation.
For the newest Kershaw project, the singer’s soulful sound and Cajun vocal kick is teamed back-up with the genius of producer Buddy Cannon—whose efforts, like Sammy’s, have lined his walls with platinum. Sammy’s vibe about his latest studio venture has all the earmarks of a proud father talking about his new arrival “In music, everything is timing. I knew when we were in the studio working on the new album that we had something radio and fans are ready for…the feel of the album is a return to the kind of country music I, and a lot of other people, have missed.” Powerful words from a man who has picked, written, and sung a lot of hits.
Often referred to as the “heir apparent” to the legendary ‘voice’ himself—George Jones—Sammy Kershaw helped make the ‘90’s a shining decade for country music. It’s a comparison not lost on Sammy, who grew up in the Cajun country of Louisiana on a diet of crawfish and country music. The oldest of four children, the tragic loss of his father, matured him even faster than the clubs and honky tonks he was performing in at 12 years old. He speaks openly today of years spent battling substance abuse and addictions. “It’s not a period of my life I’m proud of but I do talk about it to encourage kids not to follow in my footsteps,” Kershaw recently noted. Helping others is a subject close to the heart that beats within what might often appear to be a tough, macho exterior. Sammy Kershaw is, in fact, a softie when the subject turns to kids. If proof were needed it stands in his hometown of Kaplan, Louisiana. There Sammy has established the Sammy Kershaw Foundation. Its outreach has extended through donations so far of more than 2 million dollars in aid to children and child related charities. With projects that extend from granting wishes through “Make A Wish Foundation” to establishing camps for crippled children, the foundation exists to fulfill Sammy’s simple goal of improving the lives of children. In the course of breaking into the ranks of stardom in country music, Sammy Kershaw has made contributions to more than just the charts. His platinum albums were propelled into the records books by hits such as “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore,” “National Working Woman’s Holiday,” “Love Of My Life,” “Cadillac Style,” “Don’t Go Near The Water,” “Haunted Heart,”…and many other milestones.
MARK CHESNUTT
Mark Chesnutt is one of Country’s true musical treasures. Critics have hailed him as a classic Country singer of the first order and some of Country music’s most elite entertainers, from George Jones to George Strait, echo the sentiment.
Mark Chesnutt’s stature is easily gauged. He has 14 No. 1 hits, 23 top ten singles, four platinum albums and five gold records to his credit; he maintains a front-and-center presence with a hefty tour schedule year after year.
Country music critics and fans alike need look no further when it comes to Country music basics. If you ask Chesnutt, he’ll tell you, “It’s the music and the fans that have kept me around this long.”
In a creative forum that sometimes confuses style with substance, Mark Chesnutt possesses both. Remaining true to himself as a traditional country artist, while keeping the pace with the ever-changing country recording landscape,
Mark Chesnutt has a knack for picking great songs, delivering them with world-class style and a heart-felt emotion that’s lived-in.
With a trademarked voice, Chesnutt has set the bar for his generation and those that follow in his footsteps shaping the music of today’s country music newcomers and the new country music format. “Mark Chesnutt gave honky-tonk music back its soul,” noted music critic Robert K. Oermann. “When Chesnutt appeared on an arid musical landscape back in 1990, I dubbed him the hillbilly messiah.” Oermann stated. “I still feel that way today and I’ll feel that way decades from now.”
Now, some twenty-odd years later, Mark Chesnutt marches on to preserve and honor the splendid works of the sculpturing forefathers, George Jones and Waylon Jennings, to bring music from the honky tonks right back to where country music began.
Dubbed as one of the “most reliable country artists” (Craig Shelburne/CMT.com), Chesnutt does not disappoint. He is masterful in his natural ability to let his voice shape the words to create a moving musical motion picture (reminiscent of traditional country music standards such as Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” and Vern Gosdin’s “Is It Raining At Your House”) and his current single, entitled “When The Lights Go Out (Tracie’s Song)” is the very essence of Chesnutt’s musical fiber as an autobiographical reflection of his life and loves--country music and his wife, Tracie.
Mark Chesnutt History
Chesnutt got his start in the honky-tonks of Beaumont, Texas, learning from his father, Bob Chesnutt, a singer, record collector and major fan of classic country music. Playing alongside his dad, Mark embraced his father’s influence one set at a time and to begin making a name for himself. Mark sang covers by Lefty, Merle, George and Waylon to develop his unmatched crowd-pleasing rapport and his authentic country style.
Bob Chesnutt often traveled to Nashville to record and to broaden his exposure. He began taking Mark along to record when he was just 17. After nearly a decade of recording on regional labels, word got out about this young country vocalist. Music Row executives came to hear Mark on his own Texas turf and recognized the depth of Mark Chesnutt’s raw talent. In 1989, he was signed to MCA Nashville and his list of accolades tells the rest of his story. With the release of his first single “Too Cold At Home,” Mark established himself as one of country’s most authentic and talented vocalists. He won the CMA Horizon Award attracting the attention of country legend [and Mark’s greatest mentor] George Jones who introduced him as “A boy from Beaumont, Texas who is the real deal.”
That recognition and initial success opened the door to offer Mark his chance of a lifetime, to do what he loved most—sing country music for country fans; this time, on a national level. “The first couple years it was non-stop.” Mark says. “I can remember one time during a tour, I didn’t step foot on the front porch for ten months, with exception of a day or a day-and-a-half, then, it was right back out again.”
Mark’s dedication paid off. He developed a true blue fan base. Fans, he confides, “are the reason for my success.” His fans helped his records to climb the charts one right after the other making him one of Billboard’s Ten Most-Played Radio Artists of the ‘90’s. Mark’s singles were some the decade’s most memorable; from the fun tempo “Bubba Shot The Jukebox” to emotional ballad “I’ll Think Of Something.” Mark is easily identified for his string of hits including “Brother Jukebox,” “Blame It On Texas,” “Old Flames Have New Names,” “Old Country,” “It Sure Is Monday,” “Almost Goodbye,” “I Just Wanted You To Know,” “Going Through The Big D,” “It’s A Little Too Late,” “Gonna Get A Life,” and one of his biggest, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing;” a song that held its position at the top of the charts for four consecutive weeks.
Of all the recorded highlights Chesnutt has enjoyed, they take a back seat to his first love; Mark Chesnutt lives to perform on stage. “I just make records because I want people to come see my show,” he says with a grin. “Recording music for folks to just listen to music is great,” he says, “but I’ve got to be out there on stage making it.” Fans who have seen him perform agree. Known as one of the industry’s hardest-working concert performers, maintaining a hefty tour schedule and steady presence in front of his fans, Mark’s dedication to deliver live music is unsurpassed. Mark has been on the road since 1990. Whether you hear Mark Chesnutt with a new release on the radio, or see his face on the cover of a new CD, folks can always find Mark doing what he was born to do playing. “The clubs and honky tonks are home for me; it’s comfortable and I’m always with friends,” says Chesnutt.
Married since 1992, Mark and Tracie Chesnutt are the loving parents of three boys, Waylon, Casey and Cameron.
END OF THE LINE
End Of The Line is the premiere Allman Brothers tribute band. Having carved up the southeast with sold out shows in Georgia & Tennessee, End Of The Line is making a name for themselves with a sound as classic & heavy as the original Brothers themselves.
From the authentic, raspy vocal approach of Justin Smith to the chugging drum/percussion train of Chase Bader & Ryan McClanahan, the band both pays homage while pushing the boundaries of the timeless & extensive catalog. Carrying the electric weight of Duane Allman is is Conor Kelly & his counterpart Dickey is Adam Gorman, who is the band’s lone Maconite. Last, but certainly not least, the low end duties are
vastly covered by Casey Conway, who is a perfect bottom end sandwich of Berry, Allen, and Oteil.
With endorsements from the official Allman Brothers Museum, The Big House, End Of The Line carries on the legacy of The Allman Brothers with poise & power. Come experience the soul, the guitarmony, the jam, and the ramblin’ spirit that still lives on through each note hit.
SATURday Night Lineup:
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BETTER THAN EZRA
The best songs, records, and bands transport you back to the first moment you heard them each and every time they play.
Whether you caught a house party gig after Better Than Ezra formed in 1988 at Louisiana State University, heard “Good” on the radio once it hit #1 during 1995, became a fan following Taylor Swift’s famous cover of “Breathless” in 2010, or saw them headlining sheds in 2018, you most likely never forgot that initial introduction to the New Orleans quartet founded by Kevin Griffin [lead vocals, guitar, piano] and Tom Drummond [bass, backing vocals].
Those hummable melodies, unshakable guitar riffs, and confessional lyrics quietly cemented the group as an enduring force in rock music. How many acts can boast being the inspiration of a classic Saturday Night Live skit? Very few.
Speaking of incredible accomplishments, they occupy rarified air with spots on Billboard’s “100 Greatest Alternative Songs of All Time” and “100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time” as of 2018. Additionally, 2018 also marked 25 years since the arrival of the breakthrough album Deluxe. Maintaining a steady pace forward, the new single “GRATEFUL” garnered acclaim from Billboard who praised its “highly commercial, anthemic sheen that certainly pairs nicely with the approach of Deluxe.”
The story of Better Than Ezra began before the nineties explosion they remain so often associated with ever even happened. Griffin and Drummond comprised the core of the band at its onset as they hit the road and won over one fan at a time beginning in 1989. This fan base would go on to be known as “Ezralites” by the time the first pressing of Deluxe landed independently in 1993. As the audience dramatically grew, Elektra signed the boys in 1995 and officially released Deluxe. A fixture on radio and MTV, “Good” captured #1 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks Chart and went multi-platinum. 1996’s Friction, Baby yielded definitive anthems such as “Desperately Wanting” and “King Of New Orleans.” A string of fan favorite albums followed, including How Does Your Garden Grow? [1998] and Closer [2001].
2005’s Before The Robots represented another creative high. Its lead single “A Lifetime” peaked in the Top 15 of the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart as “Juicy” went on to famously soundtrack a Desperate Housewives campaign. Paper Empire followed in 2009 and then the band released their latest album in 2014, All Together Now. Produced by Tony Hoffer [M83, Beck,] it spawned the hit “Crazy Lucky,” which notched 10 million-plus streams.
At the same time, their touring presence burgeoned year after year as Better Than Ezra continue to sell out amphitheaters and arenas worldwide. A force of nature on stage, the group consistently deliver on tour as countless fans sing along to every word nightly. Their gigs further uphold a growing legend.
Outside of Better Than Ezra, Griffin established himself as a sought-after hitmaking songwriter, having songs recorded by the likes of Taylor Swift and Train. He also penned #1 hits for Howie Day and Sugarland in addition to writing with The Struts and Moon Taxi. In 2015, Griffin co-founded the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which counts Justin Timberlake among others as partners.
Along the way, they launched the Better Than Ezra Foundation (www.BTEFoundation.org) in order to support their hometown. Chaired by Drummond, its charity endeavors span coastal restoration projects, after school programs for underprivileged kids, and more. Since 2008, it has raised over $1.7 million for causes throughout greater New Orleans.
Celebrating 25 years of Deluxe in 2018, the guys reissued the record on double vinyl. Detailing the release, Forbes summed up the group’s influence beyond the nineties scene it helped define.
The outlet wrote, “So many of that decade's most influential, like supernovas, burned up fast... New Orleans alternative rock trio Better Than Ezra defied those odds.”
In the end, you’ll never forget the songs on Deluxe or any other release from their discography—and that’s better than anything.
FUEL
Destiny unfolds unexpectedly. However, it pushes us exactly where we’re supposed to be at just the right time. In this respect, you could say the 2021 rebirth of GRAMMY® Award-nominated multi platinum rock band Fuel was simply meant to be. After rebuilding their brotherhood, founder, guitarist, and songwriter Carl Bell and longtime drummer Kevin Miller didn’t just celebrate their history together. They rushed into the future joined by new blood—Aaron Scott [lead vocals, guitar], Mark Klotz [guitar, vocals], and Tommy Nat [bass, vocals]—and armed with their first album together in 18 years, Ånomåly.
Much like the title suggests, it serves as the aberration rock music needs.
“We’re excited to start a new chapter,” smiles Carl. “We wanted to
honor those fans who have been there since day one, but progress forward and ask ourselves, ‘What would Fuel sound like in 2021?’ We found a mix of the past and the present, and we looked into the future. By definition, an Ånomåly is something peculiar, different, and, most of all, unexpected. A year ago, I had no idea this would happen. Now, I’m in a band with Kevin again and a bunch of hungry guys. It’s an interesting time.”
So, how did it happen?
Well, Carl’s cell phone rang out of the blue one day. Despite an almost-religious aversion to answering unknown numbers, he picked up. It was Kevin. Over a few years, one phone call led to another before they finally agreed to meet in person in 2018. The two longtime friends understood one another like never before.
“We were just patient with each other,” Carl observes. “From the first conversation, I recognized the same feeling in Kevin’s voice. Fuel was huge for us. It was a great moment in our lives, and Kevin was as grateful for the opportunities that Fuel gave us as I was. We bonded on that fact. I would’ve taken a bullet for him—I still would. Kevin had been jamming with Aaron, Mark, and Tommy, and he was like, ‘I promise you. You’re going to have a great time with them’. I’m proud to say these dudes were as advertised,” Carl grins.
“I vividly remember placing that first phone call to Carl,” recalls Kevin. “I was sitting in my kitchen and thinking about all of the memories I had with Fuel. I was so proud of everything we accomplished. I thought of the early days in an RV. We spent hours playing video games and laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. Shortly after, I remembered some situations and realized I didn’t do a great job handling them. I felt compelled to call Carl and tell him how sorry I was. He was very surprised it was me. I said my peace and apologized. He offered the olive branch, which I graciously accepted. We would periodically call each other and check in until we met up in person, laughed, cried, and made amends. The rest is history. We picked up better than ever.”
Starting in 2020, and into 2021, the album was recorded out of Carl’s personal studio, as well as vocals being recorded at Soundmine Recording Studio and King Studios in Pennsylvania. Carl’s songwriting had sharpened in the past decade, while Kevin, Mark, Tommy, and John reignited Fuel. It also marked the first time Carl took full reins as the album was written, produced and even mixed by Carl.
“It’s crazy because Mark, Tommy, and Aaron were all fans,” Carl says. “That was fun to watch from our perspective. Most importantly, they were all up to the task. It’s probably the best band I’ve been in. Aaron is an amazing singer with a great range and delivers this incredible finesse, as well as being an amazing guitar player. Kevin is the guy you always want by your side. I wouldn’t be doing this without him.” “Kevin came to me with a life-changing opportunity,” says Aaron. “I had to step up to the plate, and I knew it was my opportunity. Without telling me, Kevin had me record a demo of a classic Fuel track ‘for a friend’. I could only bite my lips knowing what it could potentially be. On July 4, 2020, we took the steps forward in reigniting Fuel. We got the whole band together, jammed, and smiled at each other. I was content to see Carl and Kevin so happy to be playing these songs together.”
They introduce this era with the single “Hard.” A bludgeoning riff dissolves into fragmented delay before the guitars seesaw back-and-forth. It culminates with a rapid-fire hook, “Staring at a photograph of everything we used to have of memories of long ago…hard to shake them now.”
“I’m always putting down riffs in the middle of the night as voice messages,” Carl goes on. “It started like that. Lyrically, it’s an experience of wondering what could’ve been in a relationship. You have to live with your actions, and those actions have consequences.”
“I was dialing in a mix of all of my biggest influences and blending them with a modern touch,” Aaron says. “I wanted to deliver the darker lyrics in a powerful, yet fun format. It ties into my personal experiences in life, which helped the song fall into a more personal level. This track will hopefully introduce fans to a new side of Fuel that still resonates with the old side as well.”
“Keep It Away” tosses and turns under a chantable refrain. Elsewhere, “Landslide” hinges on a head-nodding beat and the echo of post-punk guitars before a fret-burning and fiery solo.
“I wanted to do something a little different for us,” Carl states. “It’s about the uplifting side of a relationship. The lyric ‘caught in a landslide’ is about being overwhelmed by your feelings for someone. Musically, the entire record is like an unintentional homage to so many great bands and references so many influences: Def Leppard, The Cure, Duran Duran, Zeppelin, the Fixx, Journey, and even KC and the Sunshine Band,” he laughs.
Then, there’s “Give.” The ballad showcases yet another dimension of the quintet as it inches towards a skyscraping refrain from Aaron. “Lyrically, 'Give' is like a personal letter to myself,” Carl says.
“For 'Don't Say I', everyone has been in a relationship that isn’t working out,” he elaborates. “The other person says you never attempted to make it work when you’re like, ‘No, I gave everything for the situation. It just isn’t working. Don’t say I didn’t try’. That’s ‘Don't Say I .”
Just before the turn-of-the-century, Fuel quietly emerged with a melodic brand of hard rock rooted in eloquent songwriting and heavy guitars. 1998’s Sunburn not only went platinum, but it also yielded enduring anthems such as “Shimmer” and “Bittersweet.” Its 2001 follow-up, Something Like Human, earned a double-platinum certification and elevated them to arenas. The lead single “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” would reach #1 for 13 weeks and would even become the No. 6 Alternative Rock song of the past 25 years according to Billboard's Alternative Chart 25th Anniversary: Top 100 Songs, making it “one of the Top Ten most-listened to alternative rock songs for the past 30 years.” Their music appeared everywhere from Prison Break, Daredevil, and Scream 3 to WWE Pay-Per-View events. 2003’s Natural Selection bowed in the Top 15 of the Billboard Top 200 and garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Engineered Album. Non-Classical.”
Their catalog continued to resound throughout popular culture as well. Daughtry famously covered “Hemorrhage” on American Idol, while modern platinum rock juggernaut Red also released their own rendition of it and Hands Like Houses notably performed “Shimmer” on Triple J in Australia.
After 11 years away, Carl and Kevin brought Fuel back to life in 2021. In the end, their return may have been unexpected, but it couldn’t be more welcome.
“Fuel meant the world to me, and it still does to this day,” agrees Kevin. “I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished. I’m excited beyond belief to do it with Carl, Aaron, Mark, and Tommy. If you are a hardcore fan, there will always be a special place in your heart for what was. I’m very confident that older fans and newer fans will embrace the new lineup and music. Carl did a fantastic job of reaching back to Fuel’s roots with a little flare of today. The band delivered.”
“This band has always been everything to me,” Carl says. “I’m super stoked to be back. This record was a lot of work, but it was fun and rewarding. I hope people think, ‘That’s not just a solid Fuel record, it’s a solid record in general’.”
COWBOY MOUTH
Much like gumbo, the famous dish of their hometown, the New Orleans-born Cowboy Mouth uses a potent blend of musical ingredients - rock, blues, punk, funk, country, pop, soul and whatever else feels good – to create their bodacious, kickass tunes. Frontman, drummer, and co-founder Fred LeBlanc has asserted “if The Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby, it would be Cowboy Mouth." His description not only reflects the group’s amazing diverse sound, but it also conveys the fire and commitment they bring to their music.
Cowboy Mouth formed in 1990, and their festive, free-wheeling style stood in sharp contrast to the then-popular grunge sound. In 1996, the band signed with MCA and their major label debut, Are You With Me?, spawned their biggest hit, “Jenny Says,” which cracked the top 40 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock and Alternative Rock charts. Their tunes have appeared in films ranging from the crime drama The Underneath (which featured them performing on screen) to the family comedy Meet The Robinsons. After doing several more albums on MCA Records and then Atlantic Records, Cowboy Mouth has continued to get their music to the people with a series of well-received independent and self-released albums.
New Orleans and Louisiana have always been special places for Cowboy Mouth, who are inductees in The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. Their tune, “Mardi Gras State Of Mind,” featuring another NOLA luminary Big Sam Williams (of Big Sam’s Funky Nation) on trombone, delivers a joy-filled, footloose tribute to the world-famous carnival.
LeBlanc (previously of the punkabilly band Dash Rip Rock) and former Red Rocker guitarist John Thomas Griffith have been guiding Cowboy Mouth from the very beginning. Bassist Brian “Bruiser” Broussard joined the group in 2014, and quickly developed a telepathic groove with drummer LeBlanc (Broussard, by the way, is a beermaster too). The band’s newest member is Frank (aka Frankie G) Grocholski, who has teamed up with Griffith to create a formidable two-man guitar army.
The phrase “Cowboy Mouth” typically is defined as “one with a loud and raucous voice,” and the term fits the band too. This is especially true for their legendary live performances that have been described as celebratory, life-affirming experiences possessing the ability to save souls. The galvanizing connection between band and fans is one reason Cowboy Mouth has stayed strong for so many years. LeBlanc, however, offers another explanation: “bullheaded tenacity and determination, with a pretty healthy dose of faith.”