Gang Of Outlaws Tour: ZZ Top, 3 Doors Down, and Gretchen Wilson

"ALL JACKED UP"  GRETCHEN WILSON

Love the video, Gretchen drinking, getting rowdy, and holding her own with Hank Jr, Kid Rock, even Charlie Daniels at the bar.    Gretchen has such an aura of positive energy, powerful vocals, and her style is unlike any female in country music today.   "I'd Love To Be Your Last" is a hauntingly beautiful love song by Gretchen that I highly recommend checking out!

"LA GRANGE"         ZZ TOP

Love when music genres mix and fans of one style get to experience a new music experience.   Summer 2012 will feature the Gang Of Outlaws Tour featuring ZZ Top (Classic Rock), 3 Doors Down (Modern Rock), and Gretchen Wilson (Country).     They will be coming to St Petersburg as a concert after a Tampa Bays Rays game.  

  

"IT'S NOT MY TIME"   3 DOORS DOWN

Southern boys, 3 Doors Down, bring their Mississippi-bred rock sound to the tour.  The video for  "It's Not My Time" was shot in Cincinnati has a great twist at the end!  I won't spoil the ending but it features an amazing, acrobatic free runner (parkour) doing some death-defying stunts.

Cool Hand Luke 2002: BLAKE SHELTON, THREE DOORS DOWN (Bob Seger), and JAMEY JOHNSON

"OL' RED"                 BLAKE SHELTON

My all-time favorite movie list would include Paul Newman's "Cool Hand Luke" and Shawshank Redemption.    Two prison themed movies that remind us the power of the human spirit can't be contained even with prison walls surrounding us.   "Ol' Red" is Blake's take of the theme.   A classic love story involving two coon hounds and a very creative prisoner.     Blake's NBC show, The Voice (Season 2) premieres Super Bowl Sunday.

CLICK: Video "Ol' Red" Blake Shelton

"LANDING IN LONDON"         3 DOORS DOWN (Ft. Bob Seger)

Many songs have been inspired by the loneliness of touring, being out on the road and missing the ones you love.   Bob Seger's "Turn The Page" with it's haunting saxophone solo left the biggest impression on me.    Mississippi band, 3 Doors Down, continued the trend with "Landing In London"  a/k/a  "All I Think About Is You".    Fittingly, halfway the song, the chorus takes a twist as a familiar voice ups the emotional ante of the song.    Bob Seger's voice has aged but his presence on this track makes the dramatic lyrics even more meaningful.   

"2 OUT OF 3 AIN'T BAD"          JAMEY JOHNSON

From the iconic 70's LP, Bat Out Of Hell, "2 Out Of 3 Ain't Bad" was the top 40 song that introduced Meatloaf to the world.   Emotional lyrics like "There's only one girl that I will ever love   And that was so many years ago     And though I know I'll never get her out of my heart    She never loved me back, I know ".    Country music rebel, Jamey Johnson, a traditionalist, a throwback artist, who values the integrity of the music over record sales tackled this masterpiece live in 2010 on the Don Imus' radio show.  With a slower pace and steel guitars, Jamey wrings out all of the raw emotion in the lyrics.    

Prince Bootleg, Extraloveable: 3 Doors Down, Mary J Blige

"FEEL INSIDE"                  MARY J. BLIGE (Ft. NAS)

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul is back with a new CD.   This release has a commercial feel, lots of guest stars, Mary's voice is so emotive she doesn't need the gimmicks.   But I do love what Nas adds to this song plus there's a Wu Tang Clan sample, passionate lyrics, could be a big hit!    Chants of "Brooklyn" with effects at the end is creative....FYI  Nicki Minaj was on this track on the mixtape but Nas replaced her.

"BELIEVER"                                  3 DOORS DOWN

3 Doors Down with a faster, almost grunge-sounding track after so many power ballads.     From the 2011 CD, Time Of MY Life, this track has energy, a big chorus, swirling guitar riffs, fun song to play loud driving in your car!

"EXTRALOVEABLE"           PRINCE

Technically, a NEW RELEASE by Prince but it's been on bootlegs years ago.    This one has a classic 90's R&B bassline, a crazy hook, sexy lyrics, and a fun summer vibe.     Prince is a genius and like many geniuses, he's been too creative for his own good.   But anyone who saw him in concert knows he's electric and has the audience addicted to him on stage.     I've seen him 3 times live and each time was an "experience I'll never forget".