The Rustlanders Were Quick to Celebrate Keith Urban's Call
Say Keith Urban's people call. And they say he likes your music. And he wants your band to open for him at a show in Pennsylvania. Right away. What does that feel like?
I just talked with Jason McIntyre, the front man for the Rustlanders, and he said it felt pretty awesome. "It was overwhelming. I'm not gonna lie about that," McIntyre confessed. "When we got the call that it might happen, though, we weren't gonna hold our breath."
The Rustlanders are actually a local band from the town of State College, Pa., where the show was taking place on May 9. But when they got the green light, they were somewhere in the middle of the country. "We'd been in Texas and Louisiana and were playing our way up to Nashville when we got this call from our manager," he said. "In a way, it was just another show, but we were extremely excited about it, too." McIntyre told me how they celebrated: with a bottle of pricey Maker's Mark bourbon whisky.
While the Rustlanders' sound is far from the full-on mainstream country stuff on the radio, their music is a very likable Americana-folk kind of country. McIntyre says they are more like Neil Young, and you can hear that influence in the vocals on songs like "Blind Faith." Yet one of their songs, "Beginning to Show Through," sounds like it's on the verge of becoming a mainstream pop-country tune. It was that range that Urban liked, and he told them so when he stopped by their dressing room about 10 minutes before their set started. "We got a knock on our door, and Keith came in and hung out shooting the breeze," McIntyre said. "We talked about Levon Helm and The Band. Just a lot of music talk."
The band knew they had big shows to fill since Sugarland was forced to cancel due to illness. "There were some angry Sugarland fans at the beginning, but by the end, they were all clapping," he said. And the next day, the Rustlanders' MySpace page had the most hits it's ever had.
Next up, a few tour stops with Ryan Bingham and then some with Cross Canadian Ragweed. After that, who knows? Maybe Urban will call again.
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solongsowrong says:
Dang, Alison. Talking about The Rustlanders, Ryan Bingham, CCR, Levon Helm…even calling what gets played on Mainstream radio, Pop Country. I’m impressed! I really enjoyed reading your blog on this concert.
Are you sure RedMaz isn’t filling in for you today?
Lioness says:
Good read Alison!! Wish I could have been at this show!!
Alison W says:
Hahaha, Solongsowrong… So true. Sometimes I think they’re eachother’s alter egos or something.
Then again, I think if it was RedMaz, he would have heavily implied that whatever is mainstream country is simultaneously bad music. (not trying to start something, just saying.)
Alison Bonaguro says:
I know, solongsowrong. What’s gotten into me? Could RedMaz actually be influencing my listening habits? Hahaha!
solongsowrong says:
Alison: Like many others here, I used to be one who complained about what was being played on Mainstream radio. Since he influenced me with my listening habits, I guess it’s possible that he could do the same to you, but I’m pretty sure what you listen to isn’t his problem. Everyone should listen to what they like. His problem, as well as mine, is when all country music gets lumped together…. like what is played on Mainstream radio is representative of what all Country music is like. What you wrote about in this blog, clearly shows a difference, and I commend you for finally showing that with your comments. If more people realized the difference, maybe there would be a lot lesss complaining going on about the music being played on Pop Country radio, and why certain artists that some don’t consider Country, are including in that style.
RedMaZ says:
The Rustlanders?????????? Ryan Bingham?????????????? Cross Canadian Ragweed???????????????????? Levon Helm??????????? Who are these people? What are you doing cmt? I know one thing…when I’m taking the kids from the soccer field to the mall in my new minivan, WE listen to Country Music!!!!, and sing along with every song! These people are NEVER played on my Country radio stations. That means the must not be any good!!!!!!!!!! We don’t need this! Please, please please keep the cmt blog site about COUNTRY MUSIC! Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Kenny Chesney!!!!! If it wasn’t for these people Country Music would no longer exist!!!!! Keep it Country cmt!!!!
Oh……sorry. I just had a Mainstreamer moment. I’m okay now. Whew….that hurt.
greatest hits Neil Young says:
Hey Hey…
Young’s art is characterized by deeply personal songs, distinctive guitar performance, and signature falsetto tenor singing voice. Although he accompanies himself on several different instruments — guitar work is the linchpins of a sometimes ragged,…
PAmusik says:
yall that dont get the rustlanders dont get music. plain and simple. these guys are on the road bustin ass tryin to make something happen and spreadin their voice. how bout a hand for that these days!!! that is what music is all about. Have we all moved passed the day of discovering a new band and claiming them as our own? growing with a band as they grow themselves?? apparently one of the biggest acts in MUSIC has not!!!! maybe there is a reason that keith requested the presence of the rustlanders on the big stage???? he digs what they are doin. and wants to extend the hand that was once offered to him.
To those of you that are too closed minded, I lost you at Rustlander. Those of you that are not, help celebrate something that is truely unique and special about music these days…. A band that is out there earning their own day to day. keith urban (amongst others) has given the “bad ass!!!!” endorsement, if that’s what your looking for. If not…..maybe take a risk and discover something for yourself…………………. OUT
Huge fan
Keep it up