Finishing up a three week tour and heading back home to Austin, Tx., the roots rockers stopped in and played all the big songs like "Ragged as the Road," "Nobody's Girl," "I Still Do," "Wild Western Windblown Band" and "Wicked Twisted Road," only to be urged back to the stage by shouts, screams and some of the loudest, most persistent whistling I've ever heard. Their encore started with "Seven Nights in Eire" -- my favorite song about a trip to Ireland. I love the sway in the guitar and fiddle -- and moved through the up-swelling "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" before finishing with a flourish of drums on "Castanets."

It was a bit of a special night, though, since the band has a new album coming out in early February. Called Somewhere in Time, it's a tribute to Pinto Bennett of the Famous Motel Cowboys, an old friend of the Braun family and one of many influences on Reckless Kelly. Two of the members of the Motel Cowboys were in the crowd Thursday night, so lead singer Willie Braun gave a little preview of the new project by playing "Best Forever Yet." I won't give away how it sounds just yet, since it's more fun to catch a show and find out for yourself, but I'll bet the guys keep winning their nightly battles for quite some time.

To begin, we bundled up for ICE!, an enclosed display made up of two million pounds of ice all set to the theme of A Charlie Brown Christmas. While I thoroughly enjoyed the slide and looking inside Snoopy's dog house, all made of ice of course, after 20 minutes, my fingers felt numb inside my gloves. To warm things up, we headed over to check out the sizzling moves of the Radio City Rockettes with their high kicks and meticulous routines. What precision and patience! Finally the musical evening came to a compelling close with a powerful dance routine and a live nativity scene complete with camels.

But I have to be honest. I really thought nothing could top last year's festivities starring Louise Mandrell's impressive acrobatics. However, I was pleasantly surprised and would have to call it a draw. I'd still like to see Louise take on the Rockettes because if you haven't seen her, you should. That woman can move.

Prior to his annual Christmas for Kids show at the Ryman on Monday night (Nov. 23), he'll be signing autographs at his museum in downtown Nashville. Asked about the variety of fans seeking his signature, Daniels replies, "We have people from all ages. We have little kids that come down. We have a few teenagers, not a lot. Then we have older people and older-than-that people who come down. We're in our third generation of fans right now. We have been blessed enough to have some songs that the little guys like, like 'The Legend of Wooley Swamp' and 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' that they get indoctrinated with when they're small."

Speaking of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," Daniels said he missed Zac Brown Band's raucous performance of it on the CMA Awards last week because he was on a cross-country flight -- but that he's eager for its revival. "People ask me how I feel about it. I feel wonderful about it! I think it's great," Daniels said. "I got an award from BMI a few weeks ago because this song has played on the air 4 million times. And so let's hope Zac can get it played 4 million more times."

It's catchy, funny, bouncy and even slick enough to go up against the other guys that rule the air. And its message has a twist to make it a sure thing. As for the song's edgier sound, Lowenstein told me in no uncertain terms, "I didn't go country. Country went pop." (Lowenstein and his twin Evan's pop band, Evan and Jaron, yielded a 2000 pop hit, "Crazy for This Girl.")

But the big lesson here is what Lowenstein doesn't have. He hasn't relied on anything but fan's ears. "This is not about me saying f--- you to labels. In 2009, if your fans are not your friends, you are out of business. I say let the audience decide. I'm letting this happen organically," he said. So while this lesson in viral marketing has proven that you don't always need the Nashville machine behind you, you do need two things: a phenomenal breakthrough song and listeners passionate enough to pull it onto the radio.

But what about all the non-singles on their albums that no one ever gets to hear live? It would be cool someday to hear a show full of those. I'd love to hear Brad Paisley do "I've Been Better," "Two Feet of Topsoil," "The Best Thing I Had Goin'" and "The Cigar Song." If Sugarland calls me for advice, here's what I'd want from them: "These Are the Days," "Genevieve," "Steve Earle" and "Very Last Country Song." And I wish Keith Urban would do a marathon concert so he could play his entire catalog. But in lieu of that, I'd love to hear him do "Raise the Barn," "Ghost in the Guitar," "Hank Don't Fail Me Now," "I Told You So," and "God Made Woman."

If Miranda Lambert wanted to know what I'd like to hear for a change, I'd tell her "Bring Me Down," "I Can't Be Bothered," "Greyhound Bound for Nowhere," "Desperation," "Guilty in Here" and "Easy From Now On." And Dierks Bentley? He hasn't listened to any of my ideas so far, but if he ever starts, expect him to rock an entire show with songs like "Last Call," "You Hold Me Together," "Better Believer," "Band of Brothers," "That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me," "The Heaven I'm Headed To," "Soon as You Can," "I Bought the Shoes" and "Whiskey Tears."

What would you add?

Photo credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Photo credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images