Last month, genre-defying artist Lily Rose released her long-awaited first full-length album, I Know What I Want, independently via Lily Rose Music. The project marks a defining moment in Rose's career, a project shaped by persistence, creative freedom, and a deep love for the songs themselves.

Over the last four years, Rose has written nearly 800 songs, thoughtfully curating the 13-track collection. Some songs are newer additions to her catalog, while others have long held a place in her heart, waiting for the right moment to be heard.

The album reflects an important shift. For the first time in years, Rose felt she had true creative control, and the result is a project that represents her refusal to stay down, her commitment to get back up, and her clarity of vision.

"I signed my first record deal just shy of five years ago. I think I really needed to find myself as part of the Music Row community," Rose tells us exclusively. "I had been in Nashville plenty of years beforehand, and going after this career, but we took a lot of time making sure that I had the correct songwriters in the room with me and all of that to make some magic happen. We wrote a lot of songs. I would've loved to have an album out a little bit sooner, but I couldn't be happier that it happened the timing that it did because all 13 of these songs are exactly what I want on an album."

The new record follows her 2024 Runnin' Outta Time EP and 2021 debut Stronger Than I Am, capturing a new level of confidence and perspective in her sound.

Lily is currently on the road, bringing her powerhouse live show to stages across North America. Dates are scheduled through November 22nd in Phoenix, Arizona.

After her breakout 2020 viral hit “Villain” was released, the Atlanta native went from local favorite to national name practically overnight – landing a record deal, joining tours with Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan, and Shania Twain, national TV performances, and racking up accolades including an ACM Best New Female Artist nomination and GLAAD’s Outstanding Breakthrough Artist Award.

The Boxmasters, featuring Billy Bob Thornton (or Bud as he's known in the band) and JD Andrew, recently released their latest album, Pepper Tree Hill, marking the group's 19th release. The project showcases their love of the Sixties and the inspiration of their studio, also named Pepper Tree Hill.

The song "Pepper Tree Hill" features legendary trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert and longtime collaborator and Boxmaster alum Brad Davis. The title track is "a salute to the creative atmosphere that The Boxmasters thrive in."

"Pepper Tree Hill is the property where my family and I live, and it’s also where our studio is, and we call the studio Pepper Tree Hill. The studio is at the bottom of the hill, and the house is at the top of the hill. It’s a very steep climb up the driveway, and it's lined with pepper trees. And so we thought that was just a natural name, you know, you got a little little Beatle reference in there," Thornton tells us from the group's tour bus before Andrew interjects, "Sergeant Pepper Tree Hill."

Thornton continues, "This album really is, more so than a lot of our records, even though all of our songs that we write are based on the 70s and the British invasion and all that. This one really has some touches that are more evident than usual and, of course, we had Herb Alpert on the song 'Pepper Tree Hill' which harkens back to the 60s."

The rest of the album contains jangly guitars, a Mellotron, and solid backbeats that drive the songs about nostalgia, hope, and happiness.

The group is on its 2025 Pepper Tree Hill Tour, which wraps in Los Angeles on October 19th. Some familiar stops, like in Kansas City at Knuckleheads, and Tomball, TX at Main Street Crossing, are joined by five nights at the Bourbon and Bonfire weekends in Livingston, Montana, and many other new towns and venues across the country.

They recently opened for The Who in Newark, New Jersey, where the show didn't go as planned. Thornton and Andrew discuss the performance along with the album, tour, and more, including a Landman soundtrack album that's in the works, featuring original songs co-written with Landman co-star and country singer/songwriter Mark Collie, Ronnie Dunn, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Parker McCollum, and Dwight Yoakam, to name a few.

Last fall, Poison drummer Rikki Rockett introduced his new band, The Rockett Mafia! Featuring Rockett on drums, Brandon Gibbs on guitar and vocals, Bulletboys guitarist Mick Sweda, and Bryan Kimes on bass and backing vocals, the group celebrates the best music of the 70s through the 90s classic rock era.

Rockett, who is the co-founder of Poison, and remains the band’s only drummer throughout their storied 40-year career, says the band stemmed from the annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride he hosts in Los Angeles.

“I’m a city host for a motorcycle ride every year called the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. And it’s a worldwide ride,” he tells us. “[B]ut they never had entertainment at the Los Angeles one. And they’re like, ‘Hey, why don’t you do something?’ I’m like, ‘What are you doing? You just go out and do a solo.’ I mean, And I thought to myself, maybe I can put a little something together, do a bunch of cover songs and see how that goes. Just have fun, have people enjoy, the day, so I put it together and I just used the players from Chevy Metal and cuz I had done a fill in for them. And I got Brandon from Devil City Angels who we’ve been friends forever. And I just called up The Rocket Mafia and we did that one-off show and I thought to myself, ‘This is pretty cool. This could be a fun thing to just do cover songs, enjoy some of the stuff that I loved growing up with and just have a great time with it. Maybe reinvent a few little things.’ And then Brandon mentioned to me after looking at a poll about Poison where people were saying, ‘Man, I wish Poison would do more of these deep cuts.’ and I just know we’re not going to do more of these deep cuts. So, guess what? I will.”

Rockett talks more about the new band, what’s ahead for Poison’s 40th anniversary in 2026, his cancer battle, evacuating from the recent Los Angeles widlfires, his memoir, and more.

This year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride takes place on Sunday, May 18th. Those who want to sponsor him can via the event’s website.

“On Sunday the 18th of May 2025, I’m riding in The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men’s mental health on behalf of Movember,” he shares. “Men die on average six years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I’m asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause and to help the men we love, live happier and healthier lives.”

Poison has sold over 50 million records worldwide behind the hits “Talk Dirty To Me,” “Nothin’ But A Good Time,” “Something To Believe In,” “Ride The Wind,” “Unskinny Bop,” and the Hot 100 No. 1 single, “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn.”

Group releases new Dylan cover album
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is celebrating its 56th anniversary with a second album of Bob Dylan cover songs called Dirt Does Dylan. The project is available today (Fri, May 20th) and features 10 gems from Dylan's vast catalog.

The album introduces three new members, including fiddler Ross Holmes, bassist Jim Photoglo (who also wrote the group's "Fishin' In The Dark") and Dirt Band's founder Jeff Hanna's son Jaime Hanna.

The elder Hanna chats with Matt Bailey about the project, the group's legacy and return to the road. He also clarifies a myth surrounding the group's "appearance" backing Steve Martin on Saturday Night Live in 1978.

Full audio is streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Matt Bailey is back in Nashville a month after we covered the 2022 CMT Music Awards. This time, he's in attendance at a Music Memorial for Jeff Carson, who passed away from a heart attack in March at the age of 58.

Michael Ray, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Lee Greenwood, Heath Wright of Ricochet, Craig Campbell, Rhett Akins, Tracy Lawrence, John Berry, Halfway to Hazard, Danielle Peck, T. Graham Brown and War Hippies performed at the Nashville Palace. Don McLean made a surprise appearance to perform "American Pie."

After retiring from country music in the mid 2000's, Carson pursued his other lifelong dream and joined the Franklin Police Department where he remained a dedicated officer until his untimely passing. Carson had begin to revive his music career as he was working on new music at the time of his death. Last year,

 about his latest single, "God Save The World," which we

in early 2021.

The concert was a charity event to benefit the Law Enforcement Assistance Partnership (LEAP), a nonprofit organization that assists sworn officers of the FPD during unexpected life events.

Matt chatted with Ray, Herndon, Greenwood, Wright, Lawrence, Berry, Peck, Brown, and McLean on the red carpet.

Before the interviews, Matt and I discuss other aspects of our joint trip in April 2022. We had the honor to cover the Grand Ole Opry our first night in town which included performances by Sara Evans, Tenille Townes, Riders in the Sky and Nate Smith making his Opry debut. Our last day in town included an afternoon ride on the world famous General Jackson showboat where we enjoyed a concert from the Tennessee Legends, where some of Nashville's finest musicians and singers shared the stories and songs from the pride of Tennessee.

The Power of Women in Country Music highlights the past 100 years
This month, the GRAMMY Museum’s The Power Of Women In Country Music opens for a summer run in Los Angeles. The event highlights the past, present and future of country music’s greatest female trailblazers by exploring the rich history of women as a driving force in country music.

The Power Of Women In Country Music will take visitors on a journey through the history of women in country music, from the early years and post-World War II, to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca, and to female country artists becoming international pop sensations. The exhibit will feature artifacts or special content from a diverse roster of 70 female country artists.

The exhibit launches on Friday, May 27th and will run through Sunday, October 2nd. LeAnn Rimes is scheduled for a special Public Program moderated by Marissa R. Moss, author of Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be, to celebrate the new exhibit on Tuesday, May 31st. Tickets are available now via the GRAMMY Museum's website.

Kelsey Goelz, GRAMMY Museum's Associate Coordinator and curator of the exhibit, chats with us about what artifacts fans can expect to see. She also explains why it's important that the traveling exhibit continues to grow.

Stick around after the interview where Matt and I chat about Naomi Judd, who passed away last week at 76, and Dolly Parton being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this fall.

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/XKf7FEG4ViI

Townes chats about her latest EP, performances and more
Last week, Tenille Townes dropped her highly anticipated new EP Masquerades via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records. The EP is the first soul-baring collection Townes plans to release, where she fully pulls her own mask down. The project features tracks with Breland and Wrabel.

The Canadian country star recently hosted her 12th annual Big Hearts for Big Kids event in Alberta, CA, raising over $450k. At just 15, she started the concert fundraiser in her hometown to benefit her local youth shelter, The Sunrise House, raising over $2 million thus far. She's set to launch a mini tour next week that continues the charity's contributions into the States.

Townes chats with us about Masquerades, the charity, what it's like performing on the Opry and opening for some of country's biggest stars, and more.

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/deZr-jmJH8w

We are in Nashville for a big week of fun
Last week was a big week for us as we trekked to Nashville to cover the 2022 CMT Music Awards on the Red (Pink) Carpet. We spoke to several country newcomers who are making waves, as well as some well known celebs who were in attendance to present such as Joel McHale and Gayle King.

While in town, we covered Breland & Friends at the Ryman and John Mayer at Bridgestone Arena.

Mid-week, we were the first outlet to officially unveil the name of Garth Brooks entertainment complex on Nashville's Lower Broadway. We were on the scene as his team assembled the retail store and scrim that graces the three-story complex.

Before attending both of his Nissan Stadium concerts, we had the pleasure of chatting with the G-Man himself. During the 20 minute press conference, Matt Bailey asked him a question about future touring plans as the Stadium Tour winds down with five sold out shows in Dublin, Ireland in September. We followed with a personal interview with Brooks.

All of our interviews from the CMT Awards and with Brooks are available on this episode of The Music Universe Podcast. We will have more from Nashville soon. Special thanks to everyone who made this unforgettable week possible! We can't thank you enough!

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/HTKnv1FoNfo

Hay chats about his latest album
Men at Work frontman Colin Hay recently released his 14th solo studio album, Now And The Evermore. The set comprises a collection of ten tracks that celebrate life and love, one that insists on finding silver linings and reasons to smile at every turn. Hay is supporting the album by trekking across the country with an acoustic solo show.

Last week, Matt Bailey chatted with Hay in person before his performance at Washington, DC’s Lincoln Theatre. Throughout the two hour, 17-song set, Hay told stories and showed off a dry wit to rival any comedian. In fact, the crowd reacted just as well to his humor and self-effacing nature as they did his music.

During their chat, Hay talks about the origins of the album and what's it like to be back on the road since the pandemic began.

Hay will also be involved in Men at Work's forthcoming 18 date tour with Rick Springfield and John Waite. He's also a touring member of Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band who are due to restart touring soon.

The back half of this hour long episode features us chatting about our upcoming Nashville trip where we are covering the CMT Music Awards and both Garth Brooks shows. We also talk about some recent music news involving Brooks opening an entertainment concept bar, Eric Church canceling a gig to see a NCAA championship game, and the passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Full audio can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Golden releases a three album project with his sons
Country and Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry and The Oak Ridge Boys member William Lee Golden and his sons The Goldens have set Golden Classics, a three album covers project that is now available. The set features 34 songs that were originally recorded by other artists including Tom Petty, Eagles, Janis Joplin, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger, and others.

On Thursday (Mar 24th), we had an exclusive premiere of their version of the Kris Kristofferson-penned "Me And Bobby McGee" that was originally recorded by Janis Joplin in 1971.

Earlier this week, we chatted with Golden while he was home briefly during tour stops with the Oaks. Golden tells us how the project came about and how he and his sons, grandchildren and some friends were inspired to record during the dark days of the pandemic.

Full audio can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Magellan chats about the band's new live album
Last week, Georgia Satellites released Lightnin’ In A Bottle: The Official Live Album via Cleveland International Records. The 18-track album documents the band's epochal performance at Peabody's in Cleveland in 1988 after shooting to fame with "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" and their version of Chan Romero's "Hippy Hippy Shake" that was featured in the Tom Cruise film, Cocktail. It’s the band's first official live album after a series of bootlegs were released throughout their decades long career.

Lightnin’ In A Bottle: The Official Live Album captures the sweaty excitement and spontaneity – both on and off stage – of that special night 33 years ago.

The band's late 80's-era drummer Mauro Magellan chats with us about the project, the band's history and if there are plans to ever reunite and tour.

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/d30CvBq78u0

Feature length episode relives our concert travels
What do Garth Brooks, Tim Allen, George Strait, TWICE, Metallica and Billy Joel all have in common? Us attending their shows over the past five weeks! We’ve got a monstrous episode where we tell you about our experiences traveling to Las Vegas three times in a the shortest month of the year, Los Angeles and San Diego to see some of the hottest live acts on the planet.

We have a feature length film edition of The Music Universe Podcast where Matt Bailey and I chat for an hour and 40 minutes about our February and March travels. Stay tuned until the end where you can hear some uber Garth fans tell us about some of their favorite memories seeing the country superstar in concert.

Below are time frames for each show, for reference. Clicking each link will take you to our written review, where available, or news regarding that show.

Garth Brooks: One Man Show (Park Theater, Vegas) - 10:30 - 35:00
Tim Allen (Mirage, Vegas) - 35:00 - 39:00
George Strait (T-Mobile Arena, Vegas)  - 41:00 - 47:30
TWICE (Forum, Los Angeles) - 49:50-68:30
Metallica (Allegiant Stadium, Vegas) - 68:30-84:00
Billy Joel (Allegiant Stadium, Vegas) - 84:00-87:45
Garth Brooks Stadium Tour (Petco Park, San Diego) - 88:00-100:00

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Skid Row co-founder talks new music and being back on the road
Skid Row is prepping the final installment of their music trilogy, United World Rebellion: Chapter Three later this year. They expect to release new music in March with singles periodically until the album's release on September 16th. The new project is in partnership with earMUSIC, after the band signed with the German label in 2021.

The New Jersey rockers are also heading back on the road where fans can hear a mix of new and old songs. Headlining performances are scheduled through mid-summer, with the iconic band supporting the Scorpions nine date residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Buddy Iahn chats with Skid Row co-founder Dave "The Snake" Sabo about the new music that was produced during the pandemic, returning to the road, the Atlantic Years box set, friend Jon Bon Jovi and more.

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/EYky4BkSmXw

Last week, Dugger Band took the internet by storm after brothers Seth and Jordan Dugger shared a video reading an email that WSMV-TV in Nashville sent about their new patriotic song "True Colors." The brothers were set to perform the self-penned and John Rich-produced track on Today in Nashville, but were told by station management that the lyrics were deemed too "politically biased" and recanted their offer for that song.

Blindsided, the brothers contacted Rich who advised they should not appear on the station at all. Instead, Dugger Band and Rich shared messages on social media that went viral and shot their song to No. 1 on the independent download charts.

"I think WSMV probably had no idea that I had produced this record because if they would have known that my name was attached to that, they would have known all hell was about to rain down if they made the move that they made," Rich tells us in an interview. "But I'm glad they made it. Know why? Because it pulled the curtain back on that television station, WSMV. They're total cowards. They will not answer an email. I have friends in conservative media who have called them multiple times. Guess what they do? They hang up the phone the second they ask the question. So, They're weak. They thought they could kick the Duggars around because the Duggars aren't a big act yet. They thought they could get away with bullying somebody and shoving them around. And they didn't get away with it. And the result of it was these guys go number one on the country download chart. So, hell yeah."

The Duggers said the song was written to unite, not ignite, people.

"We wrote the song trying to bring people together," they share. "We didn't see it as a political issue at all. We saw it as a patriotism type and so we wrote the song with that in mind. And whenever they scheduled us to come perform it on the show and we were excited about doing it. We told our fans, 'Hey, we're going to be able to go on this news network in Nashville and perform this full band on the news.' And it was just about a day and a half, about 36 hours or so before we were supposed to perform, whenever we received the email that they had determined that it was too politically, divisive, I guess, to be able to play it. And we still don't know what lyrics they were talking about, because we wrote the song with patriotism in mind."

The Music Universe has reached out to WSMV for comment, but still has not heard back a week later.

Moore is a co-founder and CEO
TalkShopLive is a leader in live social commerce that provides ease of use, transparency and patent pending proprietary technology that allows customers to purchase products within the video player on any embedded site, turning every video into point-of-sale. The platform is open to businesses of all sizes as well as creators looking to develop their own immersive, livestream shopping experiences.

The site has hosted product launches from stars such as Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Alicia Keys, Reba, Dolly Parton, KISS, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and many others. Unique physical products are often offered, including limited edition pressings, autographed editions and exclusives.

CEO Bryan Moore, who co-founded the social media shopping site with his sister Tina in 2018, has an extensive background in social media marketing. After working as a social media director for 20th Television and a social media supervisor producer for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, Moore branched off on his own where he's helmed social media campaigns for Vanity Fair, Access Hollywood, BAFTA, United Nations, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and others.

Country music fans know Moore as Hashtag, the guy behind the camera for Brooks' weekly Facebook Live series, Inside Studio G, and Coffee Talk with Yearwood. Many often run into him at the pair's shows where he's creating content for their socials.

We chat with Moore about his work with the country superstar couple as well as how TalkShopLive has become a premiere launching pad for more than Nashville and Hollywood celebrities.

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEeEmKdtnuc&ab_channel=TheMusicUniverse

McCollum introduces first-ever NFT fan club
UMG Nashville recording artist Parker McCollum introduces country fans into the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) with the first-ever NFT fan club membership. The singer/songwriter's Gold Chain Cowboy Black Card: Signature Edition NFT sold out within the first three days of being offered as the inaugural launch of MusicFX, a one-of-a kind fan engagement platform for music artists.

During its December launch, ten thousand NFTs were offered with one thousand lucky fans purchasing the Gold Chain Cowboy Black Card that features an individually signed and numbered NFT, 12-month membership to the Gold Chain Cowboy Club, access to private jam sessions, VIP access to future events, secret Airdrops into their Parker McCollum MusicFX Collection, and meet and greet opportunities at select McCollum concerts and events.

MusicFX is a partnership between CurrencyWorks and Crown & Ace. The platform sets the stage for new innovations in artist and fan engagement by using the blockchain, empowering artists to leverage their brand while bringing fans closer than ever before to the music and the people behind the mic.

McCollum, MusicFX co-CEO & CurrencyWorks Executive Chairman Cameron Chell, and MusicFX co-CEO and Crown & Ace CEO Billie-Jo Aasen join us to discuss the new NFT partnership.

Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/iuAqmOHYIHY

Band has gone viral due to Peacemaker theme
Wig Wam's music sounds straight out of the 1980s glam metal scene. However, the Norwegian band was formed in 2001 and has been largely been unknown to American audiences until recently when its song, "Do Ya Wanna Taste It?," was chosen as the theme for the HBO Max original series, Peacemaker.

Peacemaker writer/director James Gunn chose the 12 year old track as the theme and created a catchy dance that has gone viral. Frontman and founder Age "Glam" Nilsen visits with us to talk about their newfound success and what the band's future plans are regarding touring.

In the eight episode series, John Cena reprises his Suicide Squad role with Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick also starring. New Peacemaker episodes drop weekly through February 17th on HBO Max.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/-9_05ANdH5o

The band joins us from their Los Angeles studio
The Grammy Award-winning Temptations are celebrating their 60th anniversary with a yearlong celebration that includes the release of their long-awaited Temptations 60 album. The new 12 song project consists of nearly all-original songs that are both modern and classic in feel and sound. In addition to tracks produced by group members, the album brings the iconic group together again with some of its beloved producers, including the legendary and award-winning Smokey Robinson and Narada Michael Walden.

This summer, the legendary "My Girl" singers will hit the road for a 60th anniversary tour that will see them hit the United States and abroad before year's end. Tour dates are forthcoming, but they assure us families of all ages will be able to see them "movin' and groovin'" to their classic R&B sound.

During the 20 minute video discussion from their Los Angeles rehearsal studio, the band talks to us about their new album, forthcoming tour, legacy, and the success of their Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, based on Otis Williams’s personal journey. The show recently wrapped its Broadway run after having been nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and winning the Tony Award for Best Choreography at the 73rd Tony Awards ceremony in June 2019. The show is currently on tour throughout the United States with dates lined up through the end of 2022.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/nz-m_fz16DE

Emery was a country music broadcasting legend
Last week, Country Music Hall of Fame broadcaster Ralph Emery passed away at the age of 88. Emery was known as "the Dick Clark of country music" and "the Johnny Carson of cable television" as he hosted a variety of programs and introduced new artists to country music.

Among his many accolades were host of TNN's Nashville Now, WSM-FM jockey, Ralph Emery Live, and Grand Ole Opry announcer from 1961 until 1964. With a career spanning more than half a century, he was a 1989 inductee into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, a 2007 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and 2010 inductee in the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Emery was known for his kindness and support of female artists in country music. He gave early exposure to Lorrie Morgan and The Judds, to name a few.

We remember Emery with an archival interview Matt conducted in 2018.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

We talk Ticketmaster practices
In this guestless episode, our first of the new year, Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey discuss the practices of purchasing concert tickets through Ticketmaster.

We often get comped to report shows, but we also buy our fair share of tickets. Most of those come via Ticketmaster. We talk about our trials and tribulations when it comes the queues and how some shows seem nearly impossible to score tickets.

We also discuss how the resale market and how unfair prices can soar with secondary tickets.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey recap an arduous year
The year 2021 was monumental to say the least. It was the second year of a pandemic that continued to dictate the concert industry as artists returned or attempted to return to the road. It wasn't until the back half of the year when concerts starting trekking away again, but COVID continued to rear its ugly head as artists and members of their touring camps were diagnosed with breakthrough cases of COVID. Some artists even decided to cancel or postpone planned tour dates as new coronavirus variants began taking shape and cases continued to rise.

Our first show back was in June with Dan Tyminski before heading to Vegas in July to see Dwight Yoakam and Randy Houser one night and Garth Brooks the next. Our concert coverage continued full force with coverage of Alice Cooper, Justin Moore, Jack Harlow, Luke Combs, Chicago, Hank Williams Jr, Collective Soul, an all-star tribute to Lee Greenwood in Alabama, and others before Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey once again convened in Las Vegas for another three shows that featured Shania Twain, Reba and Brooks & Dunn and Carrie Underwood in early December. Matt finished out the year with another impressive run of shows in the Washington DC area that included KT Tunstall and two nights with Eric Church before wrapping with Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Christmas Eve-Eve.

We were blessed with some big guests on this show in 2021. Gene Simmons, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen, SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk, Police drummer Stewart Copeland and many others graced us with their presence. We also reached our milestone 100th episode which was an NFT-focused show with members of Goodie Mob and Curio's founder Ben Arnon.

We are guestless for this recap which was recorded in our Las Vegas hotel room in December. We want to thank all of our website visitors, podcast listeners, guests, publicists,

Manuel chats with Matt Bailey
Designer Manuel Cuevas is so synonymous with combining fashion and music that he's mostly known by his first name. Manuel was responsible for making Johnny Cash the Man in Black, crafting Elvis' signature gold lamé suit, dressing all three Hank Williams, and creating garments for Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, and many more.

The man is not a fashion designer. He is a costumer and an artist as his original designs have become the trademark of true American style.

On a fall 2021 trip through Nashville, Matt Bailey stopped by Manuel's shop where the pair chatted in person. We first met Manuel during our joint trip to Music City in fall 2020. While an interview wasn't planned this time, Manuel was gracious enough to sit down with Matt and chat about his career and legacy across the music stratosphere.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Gowan talks about the band's newest music
Over the summer, Styx released its first new album in four years, Crash of the Crown. The legendary band also released a Record Store Day exclusive EP as well this year. The music for both was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of it.

Vocalist and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan chats with Buddy Iahn about the process of recording the new music remotely, something that's new to them. He also discusses returning to the road and their newest endeavor, a line of beer.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Grow recently released a new album
Sam Grow is one of country's new voices that everyone is buzzing about. Before his new album, This Town, was released in September, he had earned more than 55 million streams on the tracks. Produced by Colt Ford and Noah Gordon, Grow wrote all of the tracks except for one.

His latest single, "You Ain't Gone" had scored nearly 100k streams within its first week of release in August and was featured on a variety of Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and Amazon Music playlists.

Grow is our guest this week in which we discuss the new project, his career and the often elusive business side to the music industry.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

https://youtu.be/h6Y7cPTHK5U

Legendary artist Bill Medley releases his debut solo country album, Straight From the Heart, via Curb Records. The album sees the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s unmistakable baritone voice covering mega country music ballads alongside some of the industry’s biggest stars including Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin.

Previous tracks include "These Days" featuring Vince Gill, which offers a taste of the singer-songwriter’s blues roots; "(Since You’ve) Gone" featuring Keb’ Mo’, which delivers a doleful version of remorse and regret; "Crying Time" featuring Michael McDonald, a powerful blend of soul and harmony; and a cover of George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," that blends country and soul, adding a new layer of emotional resonance to the country classic.

In the interview, Medley tells us why he chose ballads over a mix of slow and uptempo songs.

"I'm really a blues singer, and so the ballads just are, like (singing) 'Born to lose.' 'I live my life in vain.' That's what I want to say," he says. "They asked me to do a couple of fast songs, but I said, 'I just want to keep it soulful,' and that's what I do best."

In support of the album, Medley will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, February 22nd. The singer-songwriter and his new partner Bucky Heard are also currently performing a residency at the South Point Casino, Las Vegas, and will be hitting the road on tour, taking fans on a nostalgic journey through the catalog of one of the greatest duos of all time.

Matt Bailey interviews the Queen of Bluegrass backstage
The Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, returns to the show, but this time, it's an in person interview in Branson. Vincent is set to perform six Christmas shows at Branson's Mansion Theatre from December 6-12th with some special guests.

On a recent trip to the Missouri city, Matt Bailey chatted with Vincent backstage following an afternoon performance at the venue. Vincent discusses how she makes each show different sans a set list, the atmosphere of Branson and what fans can expect with the Christmas shows.

Buddy Iahn and Matt also chat about the history of Branson and tease some big news.

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Carson returns after a 20 year hiatus
Jeff Carson transports fans back to the early 2000s with his classic country sound for his current single “God Save The World." This single is more relevant now than ever, igniting hope for the future in a world longing for change and healing.

We premiered the video digitally earlier this year, which truly captures each word of the poignant track.

Carson chats with us about the two things that he loves – music and police work. In the mid-90's to 00's, he had several hits that include "Not On Your Love," "Holdin' Onto Something" and "The Car," the latter being his only No. 1 hit. Before that, he sang demos for songs that became big hits for superstars such as Reba McEntire, Tracy Byrd, Faith Hill, Tracy Lawrence and others. He left the music industry 20 years ago to become a police officer in Franklin, TN, but felt like the world needed to hear "God Save The World."

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https://youtu.be/rs8mmn2-pXU

Schneider co-stars with Reba McEntire in Lifetime Christmas movie
Christmas is underway and Lifetime is celebrating with 35 original movies for It's A Wonderful Lifetime in 2021. Among those is Reba McEntire's Christmas in Tune, premiering on Friday, November 26th at 8 pm ET/PT. John Schneider co-stars alongside Reba and Candice King (TV's The Vampire Diaries) in the heartfelt Christmas film.

Years after their personal and professional breakup, the singing duo of Georgia (Reba) and Joe Winter (Schneider) agree to reunite after their daughter, Belle (King), asks them to participate in a Christmas charity concert, only to find themselves getting back in tune on stage and off.

Schneider talks to us about the film and what it was like working with Reba and Candice. We discuss everything from the production in Nashville to the music and how Reba and John's real life chemistry makes the film a new holiday classic.

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Matt is in town for a special project
Branson, Missouri was once a mecca for world-famous live entertainment. Nestled away in the beautiful rugged Ozarks in Southwest Missouri, it once attracted millions of visitors each year with shows covering every genre and variety.

Throughout the 80's into 00's, stars such as Mickey Gilley, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis and others called Branson home. By the mid-90's, the city boasted more than one hundred performances each day, allowing stars to make millions of dollars by headlining residencies at their own theaters on a strip much like Las Vegas. Branson was seen as a great alternative to touring while still performing regularly.

By 2015, Branson's theater shows became less attractive with many high profile and longtime entertainers leaving town. In 2014, Jim Stafford's iconic theater was under new ownership but retained his name. However, a new demographic and change in the touring industry has forever altered the landscape of the city that was once flourishing with high profile celebrities. Many of Branson's iconic theaters, including Stafford's, are being demolished to pave the way for new attractions, but some musicians are still finding success, such as Mickey Gilley.

Matt Bailey is in town working on a special project, and is catching some shows. In this guestless episode, Matt talks about seeing Gilley and Johnny Lee, two of country's most prominent singers who gained famed during the Urban Cowboy movement in the 80's. We also discuss Branson's impact on the industry and tease Matt's project.

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Band celebrates Road Apples 30th anniversary
The Tragically Hip have released a special version of their sophomore album, Road Apples 30th Anniversary Deluxe. The set was released digitally worldwide on November 5th with physical versions on 4 CD/Blu-ray Pure Audio and 5 LP/Blu-ray Pure Audio staggered for Friday, November 12th in Canada, Friday, November 19th in the US and Friday, November 26th for the rest of the world.

The expansive deluxe editions are jam-packed with rare and previously unreleased and never heard before pieces of music chronicling the Road Apples era, including the original album remastered in 2021 by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville.

Bassist Gord Sinclair and drummer Johnny Fay join us to discuss the projects and how they thought much of the vault songs were lost in the Universal Studios Lot fire from 2018. The pair relive many moments from the recording sessions, and share why a show at The Roxy in Los Angeles was included in the physical variations.

Stick around after the interview for a discussion Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey have about Branson and a special project Matt is involved with in the Branson community.

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https://youtu.be/BSd1uj-HXro

Carter talks about debut album's new reissue and upcoming Ryman show
Deana Carter is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her 5X Platinum debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This? with a newly remastered and expanded edition today (Fri, Nov 5th) via Capitol Nashville/UMe. The project includes two new tracks with Carter performing and producing 2021 versions of "Strawberry Wine," featuring Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde, Kylie Morgan, and Vince Gill on guitar, as well as the title track, featuring Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Ashley McBryde, and Vince Gill.

In addition, Carter will headline her first-ever concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium on November 18th with special guests Charles Esten and Breland, with other surprises as well.

Carter joins Buddy Iahn to discuss the iconic album's silver anniversary, the Ryman show and her career.

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https://youtu.be/WN5hAMHysnI

Copeland reinvents The Police music with an orchestra
The Police drummer Stewart Copeland is teaming with an orchestra to reimagine some of the band's biggest hits. On November 4th, Copeland will take the stage a 28 piece orchestra, guitarist, bassist and three vocalists for Stewart Copeland: Police Deranged for Orchestra at The Soraya in Northridge, CA.

The event focuses on the epic rise of Copeland’s career in music that has spanned over four decades, and includes more than 60 million records sold worldwide, six Grammy awards, and induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Copeland joins us from his home studio to discuss the show and what fans can expect. He also talks to us about his legendary career and what's head.

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https://youtu.be/Mjk0rp-EdhA

The group is celebrating its 60th anniversary
The Temptations founding and sole surviving member, Otis Williams, is celebrating his 80th birthday this week and 60th anniversary of the legendary R&B group that's inspired generations of musicians. On November 1st, City College Center for the Arts will host a virtual event that will feature a conversation with Williams with several special celebrity guests.

The “Evolution of The Temptations’ Music, 1961-2021” will be simulcast from the Aaron Davis Hall’s renowned Marian Anderson Theatre, named after the distinguished African American singer who broke racial barriers and inspired new generations of singers of all colors. Distinguished musician, composer and entertainment entrepreneur K. Sparks will conduct the online event, which begins at 7:30 pm EDT and will feature other special guests.

Williams joins us to discuss the event as well as his legendary career including new Temptations music, Ain't Too Proud musical and more.

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Matt Bailey was in attendance
Lee Greenwood was recently celebrated in Huntsville, Alabama for 40 years of hits in the music industry. Stars from multiple genres of music came out to honor America’s well-known patriot ranging from non-country hitmakers Gavin DeGraw, Debby Boone, Sam Moore, Michael W. Smith, Scott Stapp (of Creed) to today’s hot country hitmakers Lee Brice, Michael Ray, Jamey Johnson, Dustin Lynch to country legends The Oak Ridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, The Gatlin Brothers, Janie Fricke, and more.

Matt Bailey was in attendance and spoke to many red carpet attendees, including Neal McCoy, Rhonda Vincent, Alex Miller, T Graham Brown, John Berry, Crystal Gayle, John Conlee, Billy Dean, Debby Boone, Frontmen of Country, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn and hosts Paula Deen and Mike Huckabee.

Saddle up because this is a long one. Clocking in just over an hour, hear all of the interviews and a recap of Greenwood's big night.

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Wariner talks about his new Christmas record
Steve Wariner has released a new Christmas album, Feels Like Christmas Time. The album, available now, features newly imagined arrangements of Christmas classics including “Silent Night,” “The First Noel” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” as well as six original holiday tunes, all written by Wariner.

Christmas songs hold a special place in Wariner's heart as his birthday falls on Christmas Day, and we got the chance to speak to him about the project. He tells us what inspired it and how it became a family affair. He also talks about his legendary career, and who he wants to work with but hasn't yet.

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Quartz Hill Records’ Runaway June is working on new music. Last year, the trio featuring Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall, and Stevie Woodward, released the intoxicating "New Kind of Emotion" and "He Ain't My Problem," which had over a million streams in its first week in November. The ladies co-wrote each track and teamed with Sugarland's Kristian Bush for producing duties.

Each is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Wayne is a California native who started on a path as a tennis pro before forming her first band, then began writing for artists like Eric Paslay soon after her post-college move to Nashville. Stovall took up classical violin at age four in Central Tennessee launched her music career by playing the fiddle in the Opryland Kids Club, attended Berklee College of Music, and eventually linked up with Wayne while on tour with her former band. Woodward got her start playing solo gigs all over South Carolina at 14, studied songwriting and music business at Middle Tennessee State University, and later embarked on a solo career as a singer-songwriter.

Woodward joined the band in April 2022 after Wayne and Stovall discovered her online. Wayne, Stovall, and Woodward made their first public performance together at Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry and are constantly on the road, hitting stages in cities across the U.S.

The trio joins us to discuss their new music and what fans can expect in 2025.

Matt is live from Nashville
Matt Bailey is traveling once again and this time, he's in Nashville where he saw his first-ever show at the famous Ryman Auditorium -- Boz Scaggs. Instead of trying to convey the experience in writing, we decided to record a podcast episode while Matt made his way back to his hotel -- across the Cumberland River in downtown -- on foot.

From somewhere in Nashville, Matt discusses his experience at the venue and why everyone who loves music should see a show there. He also discusses why he's in Nashville and what listeners can expect coming soon on the show.

Special thanks to the Ryman's hospitality for allowing Matt to report to the show.

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Rappers launch new NFT collection
Legendary rappers Goodie Mob have teamed with Curio for the “Dirty South Soul Food Truck” NFT collection. The collection celebrates Goodie Mob’s debut album, Soul Food, and consists of artwork showcasing food, beverage, tin chefs and Goodie Chefs that all represent different rarity values. Proceeds from the collection will be allocated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Goodie Mob members T-Mo, Khujo and Big Gipp, along with Curio co-founder & CRO Ben Arnon, joins us to discuss the new partnership and what fans can expect from the new groundbreaking digital collection that has launched with 2,500 packs that will be distributed blindly. Arnon also explains NFTs and how they've become more widely embraced in recent years.

It's a special 100th episode with Goodie Mob!

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https://youtu.be/OlBqk2wwByY

Slane Castle is one of Ireland's most iconic venues
2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the Slane Concert Series at Ireland’s historic Slane Castle just 30 miles from Dublin. Launched by Henry Conyngham in 1981, the legendary recurring concert series boasts headliners like U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Queen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and most recently (before COVID) Metallica in 2019, and attract approximately 80,000 fans annually. Today, Conyngham scion Alex Conyngham carries the mantle of the castle — as well as its legendary concert series. Additionally, Alex has co-founded Slane Irish Whiskey and built a distillery inside a 230-year-old renovated horse stable located on the castle grounds.

On this episode, we take rock fans backstage at one of Ireland's most iconic venues. Alex Conyngham chats with Buddy Iahn giving a first hand account of 40 years of shows from the man who, as a child, snuck into the room where U2 stored its instruments during the recording of The Unforgettable Fire, and did a little “practicing” of his own. As Ireland has been locked down for much of the past two years due to the pandemic, we discuss the possibility of shows returning in 2022, and, of course, Slane Irish Whiskey and how fans can tour the facilities.

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https://youtu.be/4zESmhYbTIg

 

Sloane has represented some of music's most prominent artists
Entertainment attorney Owen Sloane has more than 45 years of experience representing some of music's most prominent artists and leading corporations in entertainment, internet and music publishing. He regularly handles complex and sophisticated transactions for music industry and other entertainment clients and handles all forms of contract, agreement, and licensing negotiation for clients in the music, film, television and digital media industries.

Over the course of his career, Sloane has represented Elton John, Barry Manilow, Steve Winwood, Chris Daughtry, Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Rogers, ABBA, Lindsay Buckingham and more. He has also represented major companies in entertainment such as Playboy, Lorimar, HBO, Coca Cola and Mary Tyler Moore.

We chat with him about how the pandemic has affected the concert industry with last minute cancelations, precautions, and a hopeful return to normal. We also discuss the pending Nirvana lawsuit by the man appearing naked as a four month old on the cover of Nevermind, music talent search shows having predetermined winners, artists selling their catalogues and more.

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Chicago is prepping massive Carnegie Hall reissue
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago became the first non-classical group to perform six nights in a row at Carnegie Hall 50 years ago, and is prepping to release the complete eight show run in its entirety for the first time ever. Founding member and trumpeter Lee Loughnane and engineer Tim Jessup spent nearly a year meticulously going through more than 40 concert tapes at Loughnane’s new studio in Arizona to remaster each concert.

Loughnane chats with Buddy Iahn & Matt Bailey about the process involved in putting this project together the box set. Chicago at Carnegie Hall Complete will be available on September 10th exclusively at Rhino.com. There may even be a separate vinyl project involving one of the shows in the future.

We also discuss Chicago's return to the road after spending time off due to the pandemic and the band's legacy.

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The KISS founder is debuting his artwork in Las Vegas
KISS founder Gene Simmons has quietly held a passion for art for more than five decades. The rocker has created a broad variety of artwork from sketches to drawings to small and large format paintings, and is ready to show them off as Gene Simmons ArtWorks.

Simmons has joined forces with Nicholas Leone of Animazing Gallery at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas for the debut of Gene Simmons ArtWorks October 14th through 16th. The event kicks off with a private VIP event for art collectors and celebrities on October 14th, followed by two days of public showings with personal appearances by Simmons from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm on October 15th and 16th.

Simmons chats with Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey about his artwork, as well as what KISS fans can expect on the last run of dates of the End of the Road final tour and beyond.

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https://youtu.be/rL1ANXPkVUc

Zappa talks about his new AXS TV memorabilia show
AXS TV puts the spotlight on an eclectic array of passionate collectors and the incredible music items they hold dear in the all-new music memorabilia series Rock My Collection — premiering Sunday, August 15th at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Hosted and executive produced by Ahmet Zappa — the best-selling author, producer, musician, and head of the iconic Frank Zappa Estate — Rock My Collection is a celebration of some of the world’s most legendary music artifacts connected to an impressive roster of industry trailblazers.

Joining Zappa on this entertaining musical odyssey is Stephen MH Braitman of MusicAppraisals.com, an accredited senior appraiser affiliated with the American Society of Appraisers, who specializes in music archives and memorabilia and has worked directly with many notable artists and estates. Using his encyclopedic knowledge and unparalleled expertise, Braitman delivers a unique perspective on the origins of each item and is on-hand to provide a detailed estimate. After appraisal, collectors will have the opportunity to keep their items or put them up for auction where viewers can bid on select rare and often one-of-a-kind items featured.

Zappa joins us Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey to discuss how he became involved with the series and tease what fans will see on the show. We also ask Zappa about his father's estate and show off a couple of our own collectibles, per his request.

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https://youtu.be/sSc474qPyPg

Brittany Vance joins us for a special discussion
Morgan Wallen has given ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) his first interview since his racial slur controversy in February. The disgraced country star chatted with host Michael Strahan, who is black, about the use of the N-word that instantly halted his career earlier this year.

Wallen was blacklisted by the industry hours after TMZ released the video in early February. His label -- Big Loud Records in partnership with Republic Records -- "made the decision to suspend Morgan Wallen's recording contract indefinitely" and swiftly removed his likeness from their website rosters. Most media outlets pulled his music from their playlists by midnight, and he was deemed ineligible by the major award organizations.

Despite the boycott, Wallen's sophomore Dangerous: The Double Album broke nearly every record. His music surged by more than 500% and the album spent its first ten consecutive weeks atop of the Billboard 200 chart, breaking a 34 year old record. At least six of the ten chart-topping weeks were without the help of any promotion. The album is now in its 24th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album Charts.

Brittany Vance -- who has two half black sons and is engaged to a black man -- joins Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey for a roundtable discussion about the interview and what it has felt like in her household as fans of Wallen.

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We are live from Las Vegas reporting as live entertainment returns
After 18 months, major concerts are back with in person audiences and it feels awesome! Over the weekend, Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey met in Las Vegas to cover the big Garth Brooks Allegiant Stadium concert. While we were there, we also enjoyed a beachside concert by Randy Houser and Dwight Yoakam.

The live entertainment capital of the world saw more than 170k fans descend on the desert city as many other events took place, including sold out concerts by Justin Bieber, Dave Chappelle and the UFC fight that saw many celebrities in attendance.

While you can read our written reviews for Garth in Vegas and Randy Houser and Dwight Yoakam, we also share our verbal thoughts on both concerts and the fun we had at each. More than 65k fans turned up for Garth, while Houser and Yoakam performed a three hour show at a unique venue that saw line dancing in two feet of water.

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Dietrich is oversees production of the brand
In 2018, Metallica launched its own brand of whiskey called Blackened American Whiskey. In honor of the 30th anniversary of their iconic self-titled album, widely known as The Black Album, Blackened American Whiskey has released a limited edition The Black Album Whiskey Pack. A true collector’s item for both whiskey enthusiasts and Metallica fans alike, the pack features a 750ml bottle of Batch 114 finished with Blackened's proprietary Black Noise sonic-enhancement process tuned to the songs of The Black Album. The pack also includes a collectible whiskey coin and the Snakebyte Cocktail Booklet, featuring riffs of the classic whiskey “Snake Bite” drink created by some of today’s rock star bartenders from across the country, and named after James Hetfield’s Signature ESP Snakebyte Guitar.

We celebrate this 4th of July with a true patriot and Army vet Rob Dietrich, Master Distiller & Blender of Blackened American Whiskey, who took joined the fold after the passing of original distiller Dave Pickerell in 2019. Dietrich has more than 13 years of experience and oversees the sourcing, blending, and cask finishing of barrels for each batch of Blackened American Whiskey. Dietrich is responsible for every aspect of production and is committed to maintaining the original recipe, artisanal methods, and handcrafted approach to creating world-class whiskey.

Dietrich chats with us about The Black Album Whiskey Pack, the brand's sonic enhancement process and his career.

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https://youtu.be/dLp_gCp2SpY

Last month, Cincinnati-based singer, songwriter and storyteller Michael Marcagi shared a raw and reflective new single entitled “Good Enough” via Warner Records. Marcagi co-wrote the tune with The Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz, while David Baron produced.

The track’s breezy acoustic guitar and propulsive beat underline this modern troubadour’s unfiltered storytelling as nostalgia and bare emotion collide. In between the melodically buoyant harmony, the song culminates on an anthemic yet heartbreaking chant, “You said I wasn’t good…You said I wasn’t good enough.” As always, feeling bleeds through his delivery.

Marcagi chats with us to discuss the track, working with Schultz, and a big year of touring with more on the way.

"I record in upstate New York and it's with the same producer, the Lumineers have you been using for the past couple albums," he tells us. "And it was just one of those things where, you know, we, the producer had always been talking about like, 'Oh, I think you guys would get along. I think you guys would be a good fit to do a song together.' And it's just never really worked out or whatever. Finally, we had time in our schedules and [recorded] a song together. We spent a week, me and Wes, the lead singer of Lumineers spent a week together up in upstate New York and just wrote a song from scratch and recorded it and it was a really, really cool experience."

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Group features three of Nashville's top songwriters
Nashvillains is an incredibly talented group made up of Nashville songwriters and producers Brett Boyett, Troy Johnson and Scott Lindsey. Last month, the band released “Who Don’t,” which is written by the late Andrew Dorff, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, and Corey Crowder, and is produced by Andrew’s father, Steve Dorff.

Signed to Fate Entertainment, Nashvillains’ inception stemmed from the industry veterans’ and musicians’ shared love of country music and rock and roll. Each member has been successful in their own right before coming together for this unique project. Collectively, they have written and produced music for feature films, television shows, and major artists like The Chicks, Keith Urban, Cassadee Pope, James Taylor, Lauren Alaina, among many more.

Band members Brett Boyett and Scott Lindsey first met in a writing session where they shared a commonality on a creative vision; that the country music spectrum was in dire need of a rock meets outlaw country presence that flirts with sonic experimentation. Having been familiar with Troy Johnson through the songwriting community, Boyett pinned Johnson and his gritty vocals as a potential third member when he learned that Lindsey shared his publishing company with the sought-after writer.

The newly formed group looks to create a fresh musical landscape by blurring lines between genres, bending the rules of convention, and expanding country music. The sonic landscape of the Nashvillains is accomplished through using traditional instrumentation with creative modern programming while emphasizing the dramatic and untold stories that are rarely touched upon by today’s popular country music.

The group formed in 2020, but was sidelined by the pandemic in what they call an "asterisk year," as they explain their origins and more to us. Full video is below.

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https://youtu.be/-eNzz3x6Gls

Tyminski discusses his return to the road and new music
Throughout his 30+ year career, Dan Tyminski has left his mark in every corner of modern music. Tyminski’s voice famously accompanies George Clooney's performance of the Stanley Brother's classic song, "I'm A Man of Constant Sorrow," in the film, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. His vocal collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii on the song “Hey, Brother” was a global smash, having been streamed over one billion times to date.

Tyminski has contributed guitar and/or harmony to projects by Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Aaron Lewis and Rob Thomas, to name a few. In addition to his highly successful solo career, Tyminski has played guitar and mandolin for Alison Krauss and Union Station since 1994. His unmatched instrumental skills and burnished, soulful tenor voice have been key components of the band.

Tyminski has been honored with 14 Grammy Awards from 18 nominations, was named Male Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association four times and was recognized as 2004’s Male Vocalist of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.

Following a two and a half year break from road, Tyminski is back on the road as he preps for new music that was recorded at his newly built home studio. Matt Bailey had the rare opportunity to interview Tyminski ahead of his show on Sunday, June 20th at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD where the pair discuss the new music, returning to the stage and more.

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Bluegrass superstar revisits The Music Universe Podcast
The Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, is back with a new album Music Is What I See, which was delayed by the pandemic. The multi-award-winning bluegrass artist and newly minted Grand Ole Opry member used her downtime to perfect the new project that also includes the first-ever recorded bluegrass version of "Unchained Melody."

Vincent returns to the podcast to chat about her recent Opry induction that was delayed by a year due to COVID. We also discuss her new album and what she's looking forward to when she returns to the road later this summer.

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https://youtu.be/hZ6Mnf9amTw