Brandon Rhyder’s newest CD “Every Night” hits stores and iTunes August 19th. Visit the Brandon Rhyder forum on Sunday August 17th at 7pm. for a special listening party featuring the cd before it hits stores! Brandon will be online giving away prizes, answering questions and chatting with members, so mark your calendars to take part!

Be sure to also check out all of the great pre-sale packages available on www.brandonrhyder.com. Not only will you receive the cd on August 19th there’s also some pretty sweet swag to go along with it as well as chances to be entered to win prizes such as an entire year of tickets, guitars and attending special events with Brandon.

click Read More for some reviews.. one by our own Sara S.

Brandon Rhyder “Every Night”
Sara Samford

Every Night, the title of the fifth album for Brandon Rhyder, is a reminder to he and his band of their job - to “bring it” every night. Making its debut August 19th and produced by the acclaimed Radney Foster, this album is pure country infused with what listeners have come to expect from Brandon Rhyder. This collection of songs conveys a fresh sound and perhaps a new direction for the songwriter.

Having solely written five of the twelve tracks and co-written the remaining songs, Brandon’s words are as strong as ever. The album’s first single, “This Ain’t It” brings to song a true tale of what real relationships are about – hard work and love. With lyrics co-written by Liz Rose like, If all you have is half a heart, I don’t mind I’ll take the broken part, it’s no wonder this tune is quickly climbing the charts.

The album’s fourth track, “Again”, is a haunting tale of forbidden yearning and love. The lilting melody and harmonies from Georgia Middleman, bring to mind secret rendezvous’ and passionate longing. A blush to the cheeks while listening to this stimulating track would not be a surprise.

If “Again” is the hidden love song, the potential wedding song of 2008 must be “Happy Ever After”. It takes the listener on a journey of love with the promise that if happy ever after means fighting some battles, baby you’re worth fighting for. Sarah Buxton who provides a refreshing sound with her distinctive voice provides harmony vocals on this track.

My personal favorite on the album is “When You Wake Up”, a tune penned by Rhyder and Foster. The tune is catchy and the words are infectious with a perfect blend of the two song-makers. It’s a song of a message left for someone who is greatly missed. It gives a feeling of life on the road mentioning cities such as New York, Dallas, Boulder and Phoenix.

This album weaves it’s way through regret, friends, family, infidelity, longing, leaving, staying, and happiness. And what a journey it is. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day we turn on the radio to more than one of these tracks – and maybe even sung by one of today’s top country artists.

Review of Brandon Rhyder’s Album “Every Night”
By: Andy Meadows
Operations Director Ranch Radio Group, Fort Worth, TX

Few artists ever put out a studio album that captures the passion of their live shows, with “Every Night” Brandon Rhyder has done just that. Brandon’s fifth record, and his first studio record in three years, gives us a glimpse at the conflicted emotions that occur within the introspective mind of a songwriter. It covers everything from love, lost love, friendship, to family and fatherhood. Once again the subject matter is sensitive enough to appeal to women, but worded in such a matter that it’s masculine enough for men to feel comfortable singing along with every word. This collection of songs also displays the smooth vocal ability that truly sets Brandon apart from other artists, and as always he makes it look easy.

I was very happy to see a redone version of “Have I Waited too Long” that he’d originally done on his first record. It seems to be a fan favorite at his concerts and this updated version is a welcome addition to “Every Night”. There are a couple songs on this album that will translate very well to radio, like the first single, “This Ain’t It” and the female friendly “When You Wake Up.” One of my personal favorites, “Old Red Door” tells the relatable story of old friends getting together for a night of bad jokes, drinking, and stories from the road. This song will make a nice transition into the mix at Brandon’s highly acclaimed live shows. “Every Night,” the title track for the album could act as an instructional manual for every man or woman who’s relationship is lacking in the passion department. Long story short, fellas, call up your girl, get a bottle of good red wine, cook something you won’t screw up and put on this record…. You’ll be in the clear.

Brad's Corner is a monthly commentary written by Brad about whatever he feels like. It's supposed to be funny, interesting and thought provoking, but most geniuses are misunderstood. Check out the August 2008 edition of Brad's Corner and see what's on his mind.

*Defending Your Scene

When you are part of a “scene” as it were, you are by nature defensive and protective of it. Add in the independent streak born into any native Texan and you have yourself one heckuva musical cocktail. As I’ve detailed in this space many times, I grew up in a home full of music fans from the country of my parents to the 80’s pop of my sister to the old school hip-hop of my neighbors. As I moved on to my own musical adventures behind the wheel of my ’85 Chevy pick-up as a teenager through Arnold Hall and apartment 713 at the Meadows in San Marcos as a college student and road trips and dancehalls across Texas as a member of the real world, there have been many times when I’ve had my musical snobness and acuity challenged.

The earliest memory I have of defending something I dug is “Elvira” as a three year old. I hadn’t the slightest clue about what cool music was, but I sure knew I dug when the bass singer belted out “Omm pappa mau mau”. I distinctly remember my older neighborhood buddy and ringleader telling me that song was “stupid.” I gave up easily on this one because he was already five and obviously much smarter than I was. As I grew older, my tastes became a tad more sophisticated…graduating from “Elvira” to the heavy metal sounds my circle of friends deemed so “awesome!!”

Despite digging the music so much that I literally became a card carrying member of the Metalliclub, I attempted to straddle the line between metal head and country boy. So, that generally meant landing somewhere in the southern rock zone. Which was pretty non-existent in the early to late 90’s. There was no Ragweed and Skynyrd hadn’t been good in 15 years at that point. Anyhow, I remember having a cd titled “Best of Southern Rock” or something to that effect…complete with a classy rebel flag motif. We were riding around in my buddy’s 1992 Camaro with T-tops trying to find something to do on a small town Friday night in the winter time when suddenly it became time to change cd’s. I nearly broke my arm whipping out that southern rock greatest hits cd to the changer. The first couple songs went smoothly, then Elvin Bishop came out of nowhere with “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”. The immediate disdain for that song that happened in that car was reminiscent of the most vicious routines on Def Comedy Jam during that time. While I hated the song too, I felt disrespected and knew I had to take up for that album…it was my cd…warts and all! I argued my case enough to get them to put the cd back in eventually…agreeing to just skip that song.

Fast forward to the college years, and I had become thick and heavy with some new-fangled beast called Texas Music reincarnated. Pat, Cory and the boys were tearing up honky-tonks from Amarillo to Corpus and more people were joining them all the time. I’d come home on the weekends sometimes and play my latest discoveries for the hometown crew…fully expecting them to get it. But, the first several times, there was dogged apathy. It wasn’t Tim McGraw or Kenny Chesney or what have you they said. I was happy to point out that…yes, it was most definitely not those things and that meant it was actually good. Slowly, after many listens to a variety of everything from Bob Keen to Owen Temple they started to get it. My defensive promotions and protest finally got them to listen to the music.

Galleywinter and its peer discussion boards for whatever music or subject they are supporting is just a technologically advanced way of standing up for your favorite song or artist. The threads we have around here are no different than what I argued in the backseat of that Camaro or in the living room as a 3 year old singing along with Richard Sterban. But, it must be something you feel in your heart and soul. Posers are as bad as the closed minded people you’re telling about the music you love. What prompted this article was me stumbling on a website link on “how to be a scene kid.” It was related to emo and was so laughable that at first I thought it was developed by Andy Samberg for a skit on SNL. It had such insightful tips as: “get scene hair” and “get eyeliner”. If you love a certain style of music there shouldn’t be any trying or forcing yourself into a box. The music should represent you.

There’s a reason we support the bands and style of music we do around here…it’s because we believe in it with all of our fibers. Its certainly not fame or fortune…because I know our wives and friends would probably be happy if it wasn’t such a time-suck on our lives. But, we do it because we love it. Because the music drove us to tell more people about it…and we will continue to tell people about how awesome new bands like Band of Heathens, Modern Day Drifters and Jason Eady are or what to expect from the new albums of Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers Band or Micky and the Motorcars.


MINOR CHORDS:

-The Wolf’s decision to not renew Justin Frazzell’s contract is among the dumbest things I’ve seen in this industry. He was single-handedly bringing them revenue and listenership on Sunday nights…a radio no-mans land. His traffic reports were one of the only reasons to still tune into the Wolf during the week. As I’ve pointed out before and others like Michael Devers have this week…it sucks, but it is probably for the best that Justin gets off of a station that proclaims it is “Texas Country” yet plays and promotes all those great Texas artists like Rascall Flatts, Toby Keith and Taylor Swift. Justin will land on his feet somewhere and be better off for it. Way to go Cumulus…they’ll probably screw up the Ticket next.

-And related to radio...what the devil is going on over at 105.3...Pugs and Kelly leave...then Russ Martin gets popped for assaulting his girlfriend...strange times over on John Carpenter Freeway in the Big D.

-Moving has got to be one of the worst things you can put yourself through…but its nice when you are settled again.

-Check out some of the contests we have going on...like tickets to Owen Temple's Frio Fandango. We'll have some cool events in the coming weeks with all the cd releases...look for 20 Questions 2nd Edition with Randy Rogers, Listening Party with Brandon Rhyder and much more! I hope y'all take advantage of it...lately we've had more posts/views on non-music items in GD than ever...and have seem some really cool music prizes go to a handful of people because nobody else bothered to even post in the entry thread.

-If you haven’t been…make sure you check out the Texas Dirt video series each week on Lonestarmusic.com. It’s always an entertaining look at the goings on, new releases etc. Betsy and Michael do a nice job of including new, old, and everything in between while enjoying Texas brew and giving each other a hard time.

-Speaking of the Lone Star Music peeps…be on the lookout for the latest edition of their magazine. As with the past couple issues, I’ve got some pieces in there. I’m excited about the feature article I wrote about Wade Bowen. It was fun to do, I was honored to be asked…and I think you’ll find it an interesting read. Plus, I’ll have cd reviews for RRB and Boland in there.

-While on the subject of Wade, my brother in law’s army unit shipped out this week for the third tour in the Middle East. Wade and Randy Rogers Band respectively took time out of their schedules to go visit them at the armory as they prepared to ship out. No PR people or media in tow…just genuinely going over there to say thank you and boost some morale. Wade even put on a private show at a local bar for the soldiers and their families. Class moves by class people. Les Lawless has pics and stories from the RRB’s visit on his blog. You can find the link to it in the RRB forum.

-I’m so excited for football season to get here. Reports from Cowboys camp look good early. I couldn’t stand Martellus Bennett’s mouth when he was an Aggie, but now that he’s with the good guys, I enjoy his candor. Funny how that works.

-This is a ripe time for good music in the scene right now. Boland, RRB, Wade, MMC, Chris Knight, Brandon Rhyder and many more coming out with killer new albums…support them…and the little guys!

-Keep Fallon Franklin and Jason Boland in your prayers as they go through some vocal difficulties now. I have faith that they'll come out on the other side stronger than ever!

-Gabe Garcia should win Nashville Star, but won't because the American public has poor taste and would rather support a Lifetime Movie set to music.

-This month’s recommended film: Step Brothers. No explanation should be needed…Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly pick up where they left off in Talladega. The premise is much funnier this time. While, there are some gags that are flat, for the most part there are more laughs than not.

-This month’s recommended album: Brandon Rhyder-Every Night. Conviction took Brandon from a struggling artist to an artist to watch. This latest album finds him trolling the same Drew Womack-ish soaring hooks and everyday life lyrics.

-“Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.”-Mark Twain

The Second Annual Owen Temple Frio Fandango will be held August 8 and 9 in Concan, TX. It will be a gathering of like minded folks enjoying music and good times on the Frio River in the Texas Hill Country.

The impressive line-up includes: Owen Temple, Jason Eady, Adam Carroll, Modern Day Drifters and Paul Eason.

Galleywinter is giving away a pair of tickets to this event. The camping is up to you, but there are still spaces left, they are filling up quickly though!

To win your tickets, Reply To This Thread! by 5PM on Tuesday Aug 5.

For more info on how to Fandango, click read more!

HOW TO FANDANGO:

1. Find a cabin, campsite, RV parking spot, or hotel room in the Concan/Leakey/Garner State Park/Uvalde area for Friday August 8th and Saturday August 9th

2. Get a Frio Fandango wristband from Frontgate Tickets -
http://tickets.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?a=1&lid=22825&eid=27859

3. Enjoy the water, sun, and the special music events for Frio Fandango participants on August 8th and 9th, 2008

General admission tickets for the August 9, Saturday night public show will be available at the door, though there will be a hospitality area reserved for Frio Fandango wristband holders.

The 2008 schedule (so far!)...

FRIDAY, AUG 8, 2008

8:00pm

Acoustic show on the river with Adam Carroll, Jason Eady, and Owen Temple (exclusive to Frio Fandango wristband holders)

SATURDAY, AUG 9, 2008

12:00pm to 4:00pm

Float the Frio as a group...

8:30pm

Owen Temple Band Show at the House Pasture Cattle Company

Special guests: Adam Carroll and Jason Eady and the Modern Day Drifters

Rodney Hayden is throwing a cool shindig at the Wildcat Saloon in McCoy, TX (just south of San Antone) Saturday July 26, complete with some of his best musical friends and two stages. If you would like to attend, please VISIT THIS THREAD and tell us why. We will select a winner on Thursday.

The line-up includes: Drew Kennedy, 2 Tons of Steel, Owen Temple, Scott Wiggins, Gary P Nunn and of course Rodney Hayden himself.

Galleywinter's summer tradition of music and fellowship continues this July with our 5th Annual Summer Bash. The 12th of July to be exact. In the past, we've had summer parties at George's, DJ's and River Road Icehouse with artists such as Randy Rogers, Stoney LaRue, Peter Dawson, F. Co, Ryan Turner, Josh Grider, and Drew Kennedy among others.

This year Modern Day Drifters will be headlining and they will be joined by Scott Matthews.

WHAT: Galleywinter's 5th Annual Summer Bash featuring: Modern Day Drifters & Scott Matthews

WHEN: Saturday July 12th, 2008 7PM

WHERE: Slippery Minnow on Lake Waco

Brad's Corner is a monthly commentary written by Brad about whatever he feels like. It's supposed to be funny, interesting and thought provoking, but most geniuses are misunderstood. Check out the July 2008 edition of Brad's Corner and see what's on his mind.

*Another Year Older

I'll be turning 29 this month, and it has caused quite a bit of reflection on the past ten years. Not so much like the Tim McGraw song, "Next Thirty Years", but more so in a triumphant mode of having been through a lot and seen a lot both in this business and personally. 29 has a mystical, romantic image in the minds of many music fans due to the passing of Hank Williams, Sr. back in 1953 at that age. Yet, I've always considered it an accomplishment that all of us and the musicians in this scene made it past 27 (the age of expiration for Cobain, Hendrix, Morrison, and Joplin) pretty well unscathed. Ryan Adams has allusions to the age of 29 in many of his songs. And, even titled an album after the age.


What is it about this time in everyone's lives that makes them think they suddenly know it all again like they did when they were 18? 29 seems to be when you've figured everything out again. For the most part you're in a good place personally. At peace with the misguided travels of your early to mid 20s because you are content with the runway you have ahead of you in your 30's. Aging in general has long been fodder for songwriters and musicians. One of my favorite instances of this is Rodney Crowell's "Song for the Life", most notably covered by Alan Jackson. With lines like "Somehow, I learned how to listen…for the sound of the sun going down." So many times in our earlier musical escapades we're listening to the sounds of water flowing down a river while we have a beverage in our hand, that we fail to notice the sun going down at all.


And, in today's 18-34 market, we are hammered by pop music with an insane amount of tunes about going to the club and having fun in the club….and hooking up in the club. I don't know what clubs these pop songwriters and musicians are going to, but they sure aren't the same ones our boys and gals play in. I've been to at least something you would refer to as a "club" in every metropolitan area of the state and all I've ever found is white trash, a dj that is pulling his second shift of tune spinning after getting off from the day shift at the local 3rd rate gentleman's establishment and a dance floor that gets as packed for the electric slide today as it did in 1987.


Somewhere along the way my musical tastes began to mirror my growing age. Now, that doesn't mean I don't turn it up and rip knobs off at least once a month or at LJTs or at some other sacred occasion. It's just that I've become the people I thought just didn't get it when I was 21 and yelling Pat F'ng Green at Gruene Hall. But, as usual…the older folks were a tad bit wiser. As maturity has begun to set in these past few years (many people I know would argue I know what that is!), I've gravitated to more serious songwriters and the guys who talk about the life I'm leading. It's the age old argument about Pat not writing about Lone Star beer in his cereal anymore. I get that. Most good musicians write about what they know and see. Now, this doesn't excuse that sippy cup song or 99% of Trace Adkins and Martina McBride's material of the past five years. But, I do get where they are coming from, even if the end results are a bit misguided.

And, don't underestimate the nostalgia factor in music. Just because I'm not doing certain things or going certain places anymore, doesn't mean I don't enjoy the occasional song that takes me back to that special place.

Today on the radio after I'd already started putting my finishing touches on this column, I heard a bit on my favorite talk station that focused on the top signs you're getting older. Some of them hit incredibly close to home, such as: if you hear one of your all-time favorite songs on the classic rock station for the first time. Or you find the music in the aforementioned club too loud.


I think we all carry our past around with us like battle scars we like to share. Be it from the music we like to the stories we've told too many times. As long as there is a new audience, we like to share. So, Texas Music and world…here's to another amazing decade coming up as I balance being an adult with the urge to rip knobs off the wall once a month and crank life to 11.


MINOR CHORDS:

-We are in the process of selling our house and moving/trying to get a new house in the new town. What a fun concept that is with the awesome economy/market right now.

-Have you heard Hootie aka Darius Rucker's new country record? It's actually pretty darn good. He's tamed some Hootieness out of his voice without losing its rich qualities. Check it out.

-Galleywinter Summer Bash is this month at Slippery Minnow on Lake Waco at the Marina. Saturday July 12th to be exact. Modern Day Drifters and Scott Matthews are on the bill. It should be one heck of a party, I hope to see some people make it out for this. This is a tremendous party that started back in 04 as a way to say thanks in between Greenfests. Randy Rogers Band, Stoney LaRue, Ryan Turner, Josh Grider, Peter Dawson, and Drew Kennedy are just a few of the people who have hit up the GW Summer Bash stage. It is good to have family like Scott on there…and the hottest band in the scene, MDD, isn't a bad addition to the lineage either!

-Sake Fest was great again this year. Just two complaints…can Mother Nature hold on to the rain until I'm done floating next year? Or at least dump it back home on my yard, not on me in the Guadalupe. That was the coldest, most miserable float EVER! And WhiteWater Amphitheater decided it'd be a good idea to charge $10 for parking. BAD IDEA WhiteWater. Its not like the sound system runs on diesel and we were having to chip in.


-Congrats to Wade Bowen on baby boy #2! I am working on a big article about Wade and his career for the next issue of LoneStarMusic Magazine…keep your eyes peeled, as one of the nicest guys in the scene is about to take that next step to the big time.


-I'm taking 12 hours of grad school crammed into a summer session. I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane…until now. Wow, it is quite a load and I'm going through mid-terms at the moment. About as big a fan of midterms as I am $10 parking.


-My fantasy baseball team is not doing so hot this season. I've been in the middle of the pack despite having a great roster. It seems like my best players decide to take weeks off while the other guy is having career weeks. It happens. It's bad enough that in real-life my Rangers can't ever get over the .500 clip. Twenty-something times this season we've been a game over .500 and then lost the next game. Twenty-something times.


-This month's recommended film is: I've been too busy to see much...and all the stuff I have seen is horrible...so no recommendations this month.

-This month's recommended album is: Reckless Kelly-Bulletproof. One of their stronger efforts. If you're offended by the lyrics of "American Blood", at least remember it is real. Willy Braun's not posing or posturing. He's writing form his heart right or wrong in your eyes. That's more than can be said for the bulk of music produced these days. The sound and musicianship on this album are as good as they've ever been on a RK record. I think this album showcases a band that is in their prime cranking out the most creative, controversial and complete album of their career. When people look back and talk about Reckless Kelly in twenty years, this will be the album they go back to.


-"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."-Mark Twain