CMT Blog: Union Station

Hello again! Here we are with my second blog ever, trying to do my little part to help CMT celebrate Bluegrass Month. Let’s see… My last blog was about working in the studio, so with this go-round, let’s talk about taking music out on the road. Touring with the Dan Tyminski Band this year, I’ve found myself playing venues a little closer in size to the ones I started out playing. Having run the gamut of playing venues of all sizes over the years, I’ve learned that there are things I like about both the big and the not-so-big. I have to admit, though, the small venues really are my favorite. I like that you can have that level of intimacy — being really close to the audience. I think it’s a great way to play the music and for it to be heard.

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When I was asked to jot some things down for this blog, they were daring enough to give me a blank slate on choosing a topic — brave souls. But man, the choices of things I have opinions on and could ramble about are really many and varied. Of course, the choices of the things you may want to read, on the other hand, might be a shorter list.So where to start? Well, in the last six months, I’ve tackled recording my first solo album in a whopping eight years, so some meandering thoughts on recording might be fun. Maybe I’ve managed to get a little sharable wisdom over the years.

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Well, I’ve said it before: Only an idiot makes predictions on awards show winners. So that well qualifies me. Without further adieu, here are my selections for the winners in the major categories of the 41st annual CMA Awards.

• Entertainer nominees: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Keith Urban
  Pick to win: George Strait
• Female vocalist: Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood
  Pick to win: Reba McEntire
• Male vocalist: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Josh Turner, Keith Urban.
  Pick to win: George Strait
• Horizon award: Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift.
  Pick to win: Taylor Swift
• Vocal group: Alison Krauss and Union Station, Dixie Chicks, Emerson Drive, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts
  Pick to win: Little Big Town
• Vocal duo: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Sugarland, the Wreckers.
  Pick to win: Sugarland
• Single: “Anyway,” “Before He Cheats,” “Lost in this Moment,” “Ticks,” “Wrapped.”
  Pick to win: “Wrapped”
• Album: 5th Gear (Brad Paisley), It Just Comes Natural (George Strait), Long Trip Alone (Dierks Bentley), Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing (Keith Urban), These Days (Vince Gill).
  Pick to win: These Days
• Song: “Anyway,” “Before He Cheats,” “Give It Away,” “Lost in this Moment,” “Stupid Boy”
  Pick to win: “Give It Away”