CONCERT REVIEW: Kristian Bush & Michael Ray

1.30.2015

Dusty Armadillo || Rootstown, Ohio

WQMX Charity Concert

Michael Ray & Kristian Bush

Michael Ray: I didn’t know what to expect from rising star Michael Ray when I heard his name during advertisements for this event. Well let me tell ya, from the moment he hit the stage I was a fan. I was immediately captivated by his voice and the lyrics that he was singing. Just in case ya don’t already know, this guy can SING. He blew me away with the variation in his sound from one song to the next, and I couldn’t get enough. Not only did he sing his own music, but he threw in a few covers too. Every girl in the bar went crazy when he threw it back circa the 90’s to sing a little Backstreet Boys. My favorite cover wasn’t the 90’s pop hit but rather a song by a country legend, Folsom Prison Blues. It’s not often that I listen to an artist cover Mr. Johnny Cash and feel that they’ve done him justice; well that wasn’t the case here. Johnny Cash himself should be proud of how well Michael Ray sang his 1^st hit. MR is an artist that I would go see in concert again & again. The energy that he puts into his music is something that I desire in any artist that I find myself watching on stage. 

Michael Ray is gonna take Nashville & country music by storm, just you wait & see.

Kristian Bush: You’ve all probably heard his name in reference to being half of the duo Sugarland. But Kristian Bush himself is a new artist. He’s got his own songs that make you wanna dance and have a good time. That doesn’t mean he won’t throw a few Sugarland classics into his set list every now and then. His personality is something that will make you smile from ear to ear. He isn’t afraid to say what he’s thinkin’ or interact with the crowd. He makes sure that everyone in the bar gets what they came for; a damn good time. And you’ll get just that as he makes ya laugh and dance along to his catchy tunes. I’ve always been a fan of Sugarland & their song Baby Girl is one of the first songs I ever heard about Nashville, but I can confidentially say I’m a fan of Kristian Bush as a new solo artist.

Not only were both artists able to draw in the attention of the audience, but they were able to do it acoustically. That’s an accomplishment when the show is taking place in a crowded bar and you’ve got nothin’ but your voice & your guitar.

This concert was a spur of the moment decision for me, so I kept my outfit pretty simple by just pairing my go-to black Johnny Cash tee with a pair of jeans, a leather jacket, cowboy boots, & my Free People American flag scarf.

I’m glad I made the choice to take in the concert vibes at the Dusty on Friday night. I discovered a new favorite artist, Michael Ray, who immediately took hold of the #2 spot in my list of artists who I will endlessly support & promote. I also was able to see an artist who I already knew and loved, Kristian Bush, but I was able to watch as he took off on his own path separate from the one I knew him from. These artists are only starting out on their respective paths and I am personally looking forward to watching them gain all of the recognition they deserve.

Kristian Bush said it best himself, “Music should do either two things: shake your hips or explode your heart”.

xox
Christy

ARTIST INERVIEW: COLE TAYLOR

Full Name: John Cole Taylor   Age: 23   Hometown || Currently Live: Hometown- Cuthbert GA/ Currently live in Nashville TN   What made you want to start writing /singing songs? I grew up singing in church and one day somebody was like Cole you sound really good. So I took that and ran with it. My older brother introduced me to Karaoke tracks so I remember my first one was “Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis and I practiced and practiced and finally got up and sang in front of a crowd of about 50 at Faith Baptist Church in my hometown. That lead to fall festivals, and festivals lead to singing the Star Spangled Banner at my high school and that lead to getting a guitar player and playing small dive bars when I was 15 to learning how to play myself to writing my own songs. THEN I found out I could make some money doing it and that really lead to me focus on my craft because I knew it’s something I could see myself doing as a career.    Do you play any instruments? I play guitar    Did you teach yourself? I did teach myself. The first song I ever learned to play was “Can’t You See” by The Marshall Tucker Band.   Who are your biggest musical inspirations? Musical Inspirations for me goes from Left Field to Right Field. Of course Luke Bryan because we are from around the same part of Georgia so seeing a small town guy like me do something I dream of doing and sing songs that I grew up living is very inspirational. My other influences are Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Doug Stone, Keith Whitley, Shenandoah, and Travis Tritt, those guys had a way of telling a story in a song and making you believe every single word that came out of their mouth, whether they wrote the songs or not and the story telling of country music is what made me fall in love with it, but I also grew up listening to a lot of Usher, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and for me that is where a lot of my melodies and phrasing for my songs come from is that influence in my life.    Where do you get inspiration to write your songs? With my music I really grab inspiration from the stuff that I see going around that I know my fans would want to hear. I write songs for the people that don’t know how to put their feelings into words. I write songs for the Good Ole’ Boy in Georgia thats trying to figure out the words to say to tell this girl at a party he has a thing for her. I write songs for the guy wanting to build up the courage to call a girl up and tell her just cause she just got dumped she doesn’t have to sit at home alone on a Friday. From the windows rolled down to some dude sitting at a bar by himself and everywhere in between. Every day I try to bring a song to life that I feel will touch someone someday.    You recently had the opportunity to write a really cool jam for FGL. How did this collaboration come about? Matt and I wrote the tune back in December and I got a call around March saying that FGL wanted the song but they wanted the verses to be a little different so Rodney came in and did his thing on the verse and turned the song into magic. Rodney has such a great way of saying things and telling a story and it was all in the hands of FGL and their team then and Thank the Lord it made the record and I love seeing the feedback from all of the fans about it!     Favorite songs you have written/recorded? This is a REALLY tough one because all of them are like my kids, if you will, haha. I love all of them but I would have to say See You Around or Break That Lonely is definitely my favorites that I have recorded   What moment in your music career is your favorite so far? This used to be a hard one but definitely October 14, 2014 when I went to Target at 3:15 after my morning write and picked up 3 copies of “Anything Goes” by Florida Georgia Line to see my song “Sippin On Fire” that I co-wrote with Matt Dragstrem and Rodney Clawson on there. Definitely one of the coolest feelings opening up that CD case and seeing my name on the credits.   Finish this sentence…if I could sing a song with anyone I would choose______. Justin Timberlake   If I could play any venue I would choose_____. Red Rocks   If I weren’t a singer/songwriter I would be ______. Well I went to school to study accounting and I have 13 hours left in that degree but in all honesty I would probably be helping my dad skin and process deer at the family business in Georgia. Taylor’s Outdoor Advantage   I'm afraid of _____. Not taking advantage of every opportunity I get.   I never get tired of_____. Singing   Okay, I always ask people to tell me one thing about themselves that is random or strange that most people don’t know! I don’t like pies, or cake, or chocolate candy. I’m a weird guy I know it! haha  

C O N N E C T TWITTER || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM   P U R C H A S E IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, PICK UP FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE'S NEW ALBUM 'ANYTHING GOES' TO HEAR COLE'S SONG "SIPPIN ON FIRE" HERE!

ARTIST INTERVIEW: RYAN BIZARRI

Full Name: Ryan Michael Bizarri   Age: 40   Hometown/Currently Live: Coal Valley, Illinois / Nashville, Tennessee   What made you want to start writing /singing songs? My dad, my grandpa & Garth Brooks   Do you play any instruments? Guitar   Did you teach yourself? Dad taught me a couple chords then I did have a teacher for a moment but mostly self taught.   Who are your biggest musical inspirations? Tony Arata, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley Where do you get inspiration to write your songs? Just living life.   Favorite songs you have written/recorded? "Eat, Sleep, Love You, Repeat" and "I Could Have Been Beautiful"   You recently got the honor of having a song you co-wrote get released by country star Rodney Atkins.   What was the inspiration behind the song? My wife and daughter. What were your thoughts after learning the song would not only be in his new album, but primarily be his next single? An overwhelming feeling that all of my prayers had finally been answered and in fact, God had been hearing me all along. What moment in your music career is your favorite so far? My mentor, Tony Arata called me once upon a time to tell me he had just listened to "I Could Have Been Beautiful" and that not only did it move him, he said if given the chance, it could be song of the year.   Finish this sentence…if I could sing a song with anyone I would choose______. George Strait; for my grandpa.   If I could play any venue I would choose____. I play the Bluebird frequently so I'd choose The Opry.   If I wasn’t a singer/songwriter I would be … boring.   I"m afraid of ______. bad songs.   I never get tired of_______. taco pizza.   Can we expect any new music coming in the future? Yes, I plan to release some individual tracks digitally in 2015.   Okay, I always ask people to tell me one thing about themselves that is random or strange that most people don’t know! ​ If I told you then everyone would know. What would I say to the next interviewer who asks that same question?

 

Purchase Eat Sleep Love You Repeat HERE!!

[SPECIAL THANKS to Ryan Bizarri for working with me on this interview! Can't wait to see Eat Sleep Love You Repeat climb the charts!] 

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