Modern Country Music

[TonyT]

The song " MURDER ON MUSIC ROW"
I know its an old song but I'd forgotten how true and relevant, in my opinion, this is about current Country Music and the demise of our beloved Steel Guitar on most recordings. I post this for any one, if there is anyone, who has never heard it!

[mick hearn]

Country music as we knew it is not dead. Since I started with FRH radio I have learned a lot. You just have to look in the right place. Texas is the place to be when it comes to good country music and with Western Swing being by law the State Music of Texas that is where it is all happening. Apparently even in Nashville in the right places it still continues. It's the big record companies that appear to have deserted it but they are just going for cash. Even the big boys in the UK have deserted it if you have seen the recent ad for the British Country Music Festival. All Hip Hop.

All our favourite steel players like Tommy White, Mike Johnson etc are still making a healthy living in the studios.

I am proud to be able to associate myself with Curt Ryle - singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and owner of Big Matador studios in Nashville. This song he recently released from his Unjustifiable Homicide album. He plays steel and guitar on this as well as writing the song.

[Donny Johnston]

Hi Mick, that's a great track, do I detect a wee bit of Johny Paycheck in there ? Regards Donny.

[hickenjr]

I've never been busier.

I've always been a purist when it comes to the roots of country music however, I've recently done some "country pop" sessions that are very much hip hop and pop influenced and I have put some country steel in. Sometimes I've had to adapt my style but other times, I've sneaked some old school stuff in that I love.

[mick hearn]

Hi Donny. Yes I think you are right. It certainly has that flavour.

[mick hearn]

Steve. At least you are getting the steel in there whereas Nashville seems to have abandoned it. Keep up the good work mate.

[hickenjr]

Steve. At least you are getting the steel in there whereas Nashville seems to have abandoned it. Keep up the good work mate.

Cheers mate! I think it will eventually come back to mainstream Nashville records. I know Eddy Dunlap posts a lot of session pictures on his Instagram page. That's where most of the young steel players seem to be these days.

I don't know why, maybe a Covid lockdown or something, but recently there was a shortage of steel players in Nashville. Saw plenty of posts on social media asking for steel players and some steel players in amazement that they were playing 24/7.

[hickenjr]

Coming back to this post 3 years later...

"Bro" country of the mid to late 2010s has pretty much disappeared. Nash hop is certainly still there but the roots country sound is certainly making its way back into fashion. Pedal steel included.

Here's a couple of mainstream Nashville songs released recently, that are much more back to the traditional side of country. They are modern with a bit of a poppy feel. Certainly not Hank Williams, George Jones, or Alan Jackson. However, the balance has started to shift back to where country belongs. In the past I've had debates with modern country fans from Britain, the kind of people who frequent C2C, and they've always said the line "music evolves" when I've showed even an ounce of purism. This however, is how I think it should evolve in a pop country sense.


ERNEST - Would If I Could (feat. Lainey Wilson)



Ella Langley/Riley Green - Excuse Me You Look Like You Love Me




These are just 2 examples from mainstream Nashville. There's a growing list of young underground artists making a decent living, playing more traditional country. Charlie Crockett, Jesse Daniel, Brennen Leigh, Summer Dean and Emily Nenni just to name a few.

Bit of a usual Hicken ramble, but I'm just happy that after the best part of 10 years seeing pedal steel pushed out, it looks like steel and other traditional influences are making a comeback. For how long, I don't know. I think TikTok, Instagram and other places are making it more popular as now big labels can't fully dictate what people can and can't hear.