The Music Universe Podcast The Music Universe Podcast

We are back from an extended break with an action-packed episode featuring interviews with Riley Green and Garth Brooks. This edition of The Music Universe Podcast originates from Brooks' new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk in the historic area of Nashville's Lower Broadway, recorded ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and the soft opening of the new multi-level venue.

Before we talked with Brooks, I had a chance to chat with Green in October surrounding the release of his new album, Ain’t My Last Rodeo, released via BMLG Records. The Alabama good ol’ boy shares a close relationship with fans, taking them inside of his country lifestyle and talking about how his grandfather inspired the project.

"The title's after the title track 'My Last Rodeo' that I wrote about my Granddaddy Buford, and something he told me before he passed away back in 2010. I didn't write this song until just recently, so it was one of the last songs to make the album, but I thought the sentiment of it kind of embodied the traditional country music sale that I think we were going for on this record," Green shares. "Also, it's been a while since we put an album out, so it's always nice to remind fans that you're writing constantly and that you got new music and it's great to have new songs to play at shows."

Last week, we attended a press conference ahead of the soft opening at Brooks' new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk. We were on hand as Brooks relaunched The Garth Channel on TuneIn, which has its studio overlooking the stage in the facility. During our three-minute two-on-one chat, Brooks discussed his new The Limited Series box set which features his latest album, Time Traveler, as well as whether additional albums are expected from the country superstar.

"Individual record sales aren't really out there. People do [albums] for like artwork and stuff," Brooks says. "So I don't know when it's gonna [be released individually] -- it'll eventually come out on its own. But right now it's sitting in the box."

He adds, "The whole thing of what albums are now and how music is served, I'm not sure an album is in the future of any artist. So I think right now what you want to do is just watch technology and see how people are digesting music and then we'll figure it out from there."

He also states the highly-anticipated Ireland television special from the five-night-finale of his global Stadium Tour in September 2022 is still in the production stages.

"I'm getting to see the pieces [of the film]. We're working on it a week from Sunday, too, so it's still in the evolution stages. I can tell you this. When you talk about how sweet it was -- top-tier stuff, come back stuff -- I'm going to put this up against anything we've ever shot, including Central Park. When you see it, you're not going to believe it. I can't believe it when I see."

This episode also features an interview with Natalie Cox, who's a new host on The Big 615, Brooks' flagship station with TuneIn and his Sevens Radio Network. Additionally, we talk with Blake Carter, who returns as the voice and Program Director of The Garth Channel.

We round out the episode by taking music fans inside three new exhibitions at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, profiling Patty Lovess, Eric Church and the Los Angeles country-rock scene of the 1960s and 70s.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV.

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In August, platinum-selling, iconic country/rock band Sister Hazel released "Coconut Trees." The track was written by the band's guitarist Andrew Copeland and the late Kyle Jacobs, and was produced by Ben Jackson. The c’est la vie track is a unique blend of sounds meant to be listened to with "a little sun and rum on ice with an ocean breeze," no distractions.

"The song is actually supposed to be an upbeat, fun number. And it is. Once the band got ahold of it in the studio, it became just kind of this feel-good mantra of escaping all the worldly crap, and going and spending some time with somebody you love and someplace with some white sand and blue water and some coconut trees," Copeland tells The Music Universe. "So it's not like a super deep, super deep song. It's all about just kind of letting loose and having fun. And I think that this is the first time the band has ever used steel drums in a recording. So it's just got a kind of a happy hop to it. So I'm hoping people are digging it."

Originating from Gainesville, Florida, Sister Hazel is comprised of five gifted, seasoned musicians who are well-spring of natural talent. The song "All for You," topped the adult alternative charts during the summer of 1997 and the success propelled their album to platinum status. Since then, the band has become firmly established not only in rock and alternative music but now in country with four back-to-back Billboard Top Country Albums Chart entries. They have most recently co-produced a cleverly themed EP compilation series entitled Elements, which includes a bonus seventh track that continues throughout the series. Living up to their fan-centered reputation, the band was a pioneer in the themed cruise industry by co-founding The Rock Boat -- which will mark its 23rd anniversary in 2024 -- and annually hosts events like the Hazelnut Hang, and Camp Hazelnut that focus on creating unique experiences and interacting with the fans. 

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

The Music Universe Podcast gets our wiggle on!

The Wiggles recently returned to North America for their first tour of the region since 2019. The Ready, Steady, Wiggle! Tour is a high-energy celebration of music, dancing, and endless fun, leaving children (and adults) inspired, enthralled, and eager for more. It is named after the Netflix series that has got countless children and families through the tough times of the pandemic.

The eight-piece group played three dates in the US and is touring Canada through October 8th. Concertgoers should be ready to sing, dance and wiggle their way through an unforgettable musical extravaganza of beloved Wiggles hits including "Rock-a-Bye Your Bear," "Hot Potato" and "Do the Propeller."

During the live shows, audiences will be treated to an interactive and engaging experience with the new extended lineup featuring Anthony, Simon, Tsehay, Lachy, Caterina, Lucia, John and Evie. The group is joined on stage by all their Wiggly friends including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, and Captain Feathersword.

The group is also the subject of the forthcoming documentary, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which launches globally on Prime Video on Tuesday, October 24th in more than 240 countries and territories. The highly anticipated Australian Original documentary celebrates icons in entertainment The Wiggles, their enduring global success, and cultural impact spanning more than 30 years.

Anthony, Lachy, Simon, Tsehay, along with Caterina, John, Lucia, and even Captain Feathersword, have a great time chatting with Matt Bailey about all things Wiggles! The group recently chatted from Canada where they discussed what fans can expect from the shows, their legacy, and the documentary. Follow us for more as the Amazon documentary premieres this fall.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Black Stone Cherry will release its eighth studio album, Screamin’ At The Sky, on September 29th via Mascot Records. The release will be available on white solid vinyl, a limited edition deluxe vinyl box set, an HMV exclusive limited edition blue vinyl, standard CD and digital formats. The deluxe box set has sold out.

Screamin’ At The Sky features all-new material written collaboratively while on tour, but when it came time to record, BSC tried something they’ve always dreamed of doing: tracking an album at The Plaza Theater in Glasgow, Kentucky - a legendary 1020-seat venue built in 1934 that boasts meticulous acoustics. In June of 2022, the band rented the whole place, and brought in all its recording equipment and trusty engineer, Jordan Westfall. They set up the basement as the control room and the stage as the live drum room. The time between recording sessions and the incredible room ambiance have resulted in a career-high watermark for BSC.

Frontman Chris Robertson joins us while en route to a show in Plano, Texas over the summer. He talks about the inspiration of the album and the decision to record in the theater.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Equipped with an adventurous and fiery attitude, former Runaway June lead singer and chief songwriter Naomi Cooke Johnson returns with a pavement-pounding anthem, "Livin' Ain't Killed Me Yet." Semi-autobiographical, the song is a musical adrenaline rush celebrating living life to the fullest.

Co-written by Cooke Johnson alongside Phil Bentley and producer Dan Muckala, “Livin’ Ain’t Killed Me Yet” is a scorching celebration of carefree fun with a chosen family of friends.

It's the second offering after signing a solo deal with BMG/BBR Music Group.

Naomi Cooke Johnson’s life is a song worth writing and a story worth telling. Growing up impoverished with no education, Cooke Johnson found her refuge and purpose in music. She’s a real-world example of what’s possible when hope transcends hardship and a real product of the American Dream. This former lead vocalist of Runaway June, who co-wrote many of the trio’s acclaimed hits including the Top 5 smash “Buy My Own Drinks," made her official solo debut in the country music scene with a strong dose of Shania Twain sass releasing “Girls of Summer,” a spirited celebration of carefree fun with a chosen family of friends. With powerhouse vocals and an irresistibly upbeat tempo, “Girls of Summer,” was fans’ first taste of blazing new music from Cooke Johnson who has truly come into her own as a solo artist.

Cooke Johnson joins us to talk about the new song, and how she's transitioned from Runaway June frontwoman to solo artist.

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support

Garth Brooks has used the same studio musicians for all of his albums from 1989 to the present. This group of seven players is known as The G-Men and has worked with the country superstar for 35 years and counting, curating the "Garth Sound" that changed country music.

Drummer Milton Sledge, bassist Mike Chapman, keyboardist Bobby Wood, rhythm guitarist Mark Casstevens, lead guitarist Chris Leuzinger, steel guitarist Bruce Bouton, and fiddlist Rob Hajacos can be heard on every album Brooks has recorded, sans 1999's rock concept album, ...In The Life of Chris Gaines. Their first recording session was on August 25, 1988, at Jack's Tracks on historic Music Row in Nashville. Songs such as "Not Counting You," "I've Got A Good Thing Going, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," and "Nobody Gets Off In This Town" were among the first songs the group recorded live in the studio with Brooks.

Brooks is the first to see nine of his albums certified diamond for sales of 10 million each by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The country star retains the crown as the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history with a total of 157 million overall, according to the RIAA, only second ever to The Beatles's 183 million.

In 2016, Brooks and the G-Men, along with producer Allen Reynolds and engineer Mark Miller, were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville. The late Joe Chambers founded the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2006, marking the only museum to honor the greatest musicians of all time. Inside, guests will find everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley to Glen Campbell and Hal Blaine as members of The Wrecking Crew, the famous group of Los Angeles studio musicians who recorded hundreds of top 40 hits throughout the 1960s and 70s.

During the 2023 CMA Fest, Leuzinger took The Music Universe on a tour of the facility where he talked about the history behind some of music's greatest songs Following the tour, he gave us an exclusive on-site sit-down interview, taking us further into the depths of his career, his appreciation for Chambers and his surviving widow (now-CEO Linda Chambers), and crediting Brooks with being the "the most loyal artist on the planet."

Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Select episodes now streaming on Canyon Star TV and the Roku channel DBTV.

Become a supporter and support this podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/themusicuni/support