Tag: Kelsea Ballerini

Tin Pan South Night Two: busbee, Ryan Griffin, Emily Shackelton, and Carly Pearce

Concert Review, Writers round

Ryan Griffin, busbee, Emily Shackelton, and Carly Pearce took the stage Wednesday night at Third and Lindsley to start off the second night of Tin Pan South.

busbee is based in LA, but Nashville has adopted him over the years. If you don’t know busbee, he’s a songwriter, producer, and musician who has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Lady Antebellum, Pink, Lennon Stella, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Kelly Clarkson, and many more. He also has worked/is working with everyone in this round. He’s basically a musical genius. He started off the round with introducing “My Church” cut by Maren Morris. Morris walked into the co-write saying “I was just driving up the PCH and I was in my car listening to music and I just felt like that was my church.” He picked up a guitar and sang the chorus right to her and started singing the rest of the melody. In addition, busbee sang his co-write of the smash single “H.O.L.Y.” by Florida Georgia Line, which quickly reached #1 on the Billboard country chart. He brought up sixteen-year-old Lindsey Lomis who shocked the crowd with her strong, bright voice. She sang her songs “Quit On Us” and “Simple Love.” He also brought up Cameron Jaymes, a part of Altadena, to sing his tracks “You Should See Her” and “Summer Forever.”

Newly signed to Warner Music Nashville and Altadena, Ryan Griffin’s talent recognition is long overdue. His voice is a mix of country, soul, and a touch of R&B that’s ready for the world to hear. He performed his songs “Best Cold Beer,” “Nothing Looks Good On You,” and of course his #1 song, “Dibs” performed by Kelsea Ballerini. In addition, he sang his new track “If You Were My Girl” dedicated to his wife. “It was the moment that I met my wife, I told busbee and Emily Shackelton about it; everything I wish I could have said to my wife when she was with somebody else,” Griffin says. “I went home and I was thinking about her, If I could tell her everything that was on my heart, this would be it.” Because of Griffin’s pure talent and refreshing tracks, his album he’s recording with busbee is going to be something special.

Emily Shackelton played her track “Doing Fine” cut by Lauren Alaina and performed a Runaway’s June cut called “Unbreak Your Heart.” Shackelton performed her next song “Dashboard Jesus” and said she wrote it in 2011 and it came back to life this year thanks to Carly Pearce. Pearce cut the song for her new record and man is it the perfect track for her. Shackelton and Pearce performed it together to give us a little tease to Pearce’s next album. The song’s about how hard it is following your dreams and being crazy for believing in them. Pearce jumped into the second chorus, taking over with her powerful vocals.

Pearce gave us another hint of a track on her next record called “It Won’t Always Be Like This.” “I thought since we’re all friends maybe I can share a new baby with you,” Pearce says. “I wrote this song with Sam Ellis and Natalie Hemby. I think so many things in 2018 have taught me that pain takes you somewhere, heartache takes you somewhere, struggles take you somewhere, where you come from, the people in your life that built you and made you who you are; don’t take those for granted. I thought about that sweet sixteen-year-old artist up here and I remember being her. If I could go back and explain to her the things that’s she’s going to experience are all on the path to be where she should be and that it’s all going to be ok.”

“I had big wings / But didn’t have a sky / Just a front row view of everybody flying high / Waiting for my time”

“It Won’t Always Be Like This” – Carly Pearce

Night two of Tin Pan South was full of unexpected song teasers and smash hits. You can find out more about Tin Pan South and when you can catch a show here.

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Loss, Life, Love: Kelsea Ballerini Steals The Ryman’s Heart

Concert Review

Just in time for Valentine’s day, Kelsea Ballerini’s heartbreak and love story took over the Ryman Auditorium. With the help of the young and inspiring Bailey Bryan, and the up and coming hit machine Walker Hayes; It was the perfect valentines present for all the single ladies out there. And I guess you too, couples.

Bailey Bryan is a storyteller for this generation. There’s not one song young girls can’t relate or admire. Her only being 20 years old, there’s some kind of bond us young girls have with her. Bailey’s EP dropped last spring and all of her tracks are beyond impressive. Her song “Used To”, that I first heard in the summer has made me feel not so alone in the college process of moving away, and it was exactly what I needed. You can find her EP “So Far” here on Spotify, and here on Apple Music.

Walker Hayes can surely entertain a crowd. All of his songs are remarkably better live and have you off your feet. My best friend and I have been obsessed with his soon to be hit “Shut Up Kenny”, and I don’t care how much you say it’s a “diss” to Kenny Chesney because this is the best shower bop a girl could ever ask for. Also, he sang his climbing charts track “You Broke Up With Me”, currently peaking #9 on Hot Country Songs on Billboard. It’s safe to say that opening for Kelsea is just the beginning of Walker’s story, and I can’t wait to see the next chapter for him.

Now, Kelsea Ballerini’s intro was the best damn thing to get you hyped up. She, of course, played her album “Unapologetically” to show the order of loss, life, and love. And man when she started with Graveyard, you sure as hell bet I was off my feet. Here was her intro, you’re welcome.

It being Valentines Day and all, Kelsea Ballerini brought the hubby, Morgan Evans, on stage for the most romantic goal-seeking relationship I’ve ever seen. First of all, he brought her a bouquet of roses on stage. Secondly, they sang a duet together to a song Morgan wrote a song about Kelsea called “Dance With Me.” Yes, I might’ve shed a tear. You will too.

Kelsea headlining her show at The Ryman Auditorium is such a breakthrough and accomplishment for a young woman like her. Her writing process and storyline of “Unapologetically” is something that many artists can’t compete with. You could tell how extremely thankful and excited she was; not only for this show, but also her single “Legends” was close to hitting No. 1 on country airplay, and you sure bet it did the end of last week.

I hope I didn’t give away too much of Kelsea’s killer headlining tour. I unapologetically dropped all of my money into this show, and you should do the same.

Keith Urban Pop-Up Show: Graffiti U Tour Announcement

Concert Review

Wednesday afternoon I was sitting in class just going through a normal day, then my mom called me and informed me that Keith Urban announced a pop-up show at Exit/In here in Nashville. Usually, I’m aware of these things but I am extremely sick and was ready curl up in my bed. But what did I do instead? Leave right after my class 4 hours before doors open to stand outside in the freezing cold for Keith. Yes, I think I have bronchitis.

Right when we were able to get in, we ran up to the front. What else would you expect from me? He came out and sang a few bangers, then announced his tour Graffiti U, with his superstar opener Kelsea Ballerini. Of course, Kelsea came out and sang a couple songs. However, Keith played some of his new songs off his new record Graffiti U, and damn are they good. Lucky for you my partial OCD of recording every little thing came in handy last night.

One of the first songs he sang off the new record, “Texas Time”, hit all the states, including New York (that’s me). It’s a fun, different take on Texas and I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it at all. I’ll admit, I was ready to get a cowboy hat on and start line-dancing. I don’t even know how to line dance. Take a listen.

The next song Keith sang “Same Heart”, is a representation of who he is today. It’s pure, genuine, and a song every artist should be able to listen to and take notes. This one is definitely going to be people’s new favorite.

Finally, the song that blew me away was “Parallel Lines”. I was hoping and thinking this is going to be his new single because this could be the wedding hit of 2018, and after today I was right. Not only that, but this is a different vibe from Keith, and I’m digging it.

 

At the end of his show, he starting talking to us about how playing these small venues and all showing up for the same reason makes us all “one”. Not you, me, or anyone else, we’re all one. Music is what brings people together through good and bad, and he reminds us of that. Keith’s gratitude and humbleness has been so powerful over the years. He is one of the best artists and entertainers of all time, and there’s no doubt his new record Graffiti U  will be another success for him. Thanks for the free concert Keith, you’re my broke-college-wallet hero.

 

Unapologetically Obsessed With Kelsea Ballerini’s New Album

Album Review

Kelsea Ballerini did it again. Having such high expectations for her new album “Unapologetically,” and she fulfilled them. I’ve been very impatient after hearing her teasers she released a few months ago, and now that it’s finally here, I can say it’s the best lyrically written album I’ve heard this year.

Her album written as a storyline of her life is so unique and relatable to people, especially young women. We’re growing up with her from “Graveyard’ to “Legends,” and that’s what makes it so special. From start to finish this album is pure gold and there ins’t a song that isn’t a hit.

She’s played some of her new songs on the road, but I’d have to say some of my favorites are the tracks that she saved for us to hear.

Starting with “Machine Heart, ” written by Kelsea, Greg Wells, and James Abrahart. This track is one of the pure songs for girls in their teens/twenties going through finding out who they are and realizing their heart isn’t something people can take advantage of. It’s about self actualization. Kelsea nailed the lyrics. There are too many lyrics I can pull out, pretty much the entire song, but the words that really stood out to me were:

“I kept it quiet
But now you’ll hear it scream
Cause good or bad or right or wrong
It’s finally found its beat”

Her emphasis when she sings the lyrics stands out. You don’t even need to be actually paying attention when you hear the song, because it’s striking enough to grab your attention right back to it when you hear it.

Ladies, “Get over Yourself” written by Kelsea, Shane McAnally and Ross Copperman is the sassy bop of the century. The amount of times I’ve replayed this song and felt like a badass is unhealthy.

“I didn’t miss a beat when I heard you were seeing, somebody else
And, I’m, over you thinking that every move that I’m making is just a game that I’m playing, because my heart is still breaking
Boy, I’m over you, I’m over you”

She unleashed her inner ego that every girl has been wanting/needing to hear. If you forced me to pick a favorite song from this album, this would be it.

“In Between” written by Kelsea, Jimmy Robbins, and Shane McAnally shows exactly what us college students are thinking. We’re all stuck in the middle of not knowing what we’re doing, but somehow Kelsea calmed it down for us in this melody. I think it’s a song us girls need to hear when we’re not exactly sure where our place is in life.

“I’m half head up in the clouds, half feet down on the ground
‘Cause it ain’t that simple
As an adult sittin’ on that page when they say, “Act your age“
But you’re stuck there in the middle”

Kelsea says “It captures as honestly as I could exactly where I’m at in my life right now,” and I think every girl can relate. It’s the last song she recorded for her album and one of her favorites.

Kelsea’s future is nothing but up from here. She is going to be the game-changer for women in country music, whether people like it or not. After dropping “Unapologetically,” she’s dangerous in the music industry. There’s not one song on this album that can’t break top 10 on the charts, take a listen for yourself.