Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House – Church Street Station, Orlando, FL

My friend “J” is a regular at the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House in Orlando, Florida. Recently opened in Church Street station, Cheyenne Saloon is home to a great concert venue and bar/restaurant. The Saloon should bring the crowds back to the recently defunct area with acts like Lonestar, Lee Greenwood, CMA Festival concerts and coming up this weekend, Jake Owen.

Jake Owen (http://www.jakeowen.net/) is a true country artist discovered as a songwriter for a potential Kenny Chesney song and later signed to RCA Records. He released his first CD, “Startin’ With Me” in late 2006 and toured as the opening act for Sugarland, Brad Paisley and Little Big Town.

If you are in Orlando and have some free time on April 17, 2008, head on down to Church Street Station to check out the new Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House and Jake Owen. $15 ticket charge.

http://www.cheyennesaloonandoperahouse.com/home.html

Lady Antebellum – Self Titled Debut CD

Lady Antebellum – Lady Antebellum (Release Date: April 15, 2008)

Not only is Mariah Carey’s CD E=MC2 coming out on April 15, 2008, but a highly-anticipated debut album by Lady Antebellum will be released. It may only be highly-anticipated by me, but I feel like I have been waiting years for this practically perfect album.

The band is made up of Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood. Charles Kelley is the younger brother of Josh Kelley (recording artist and husband of Katherine Heigl), Hillary Scott is the daughter of Linda Davis (most known (by me) for her duet with Reba McEntire “Does He Love You”), and Dave Haywood is a true musician (not sure of connections).

I have been listening to Charles’ solo CDs for a few years now and when I heard that he dropped the solo biz, I was disappointed. Come to find he was forming a new band with Hillary and Dave and persuing the country business. What a great choice! I stalked their Myspace page and loved the live clips and demos that were posted. When Jim Brickman chose them to sing his song “NEVER ALONE” I was stoked. What a great song to add to his collection. Now, well, April 15th, here they are spreading their music around the country.

This is one of those albums that you can listen to from beginning to end and then press repeat cause you loved a certain track. There are great songs where Charles takes lead, then some where Hillary takes lead. Dave always harmonizes and plays a million instruments. Where they stand out is when Hillary and Charles duet on tracks such as I RUN TO YOU and ALL WE’D EVER NEED. The uptempo songs are very enjoyable such as the lead single, LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE and LOOKIN’ FOR A GOOD TIME shows their playful side.

I recommend this CD to anyone, even those who don’t particularly like country music. Nashville is taking the world by storm. Lets put these folks on the map. ENJOY

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Billboard.com gave a fantastic review and I couldn’t agree more.

“Not only is this one of the best new-artist debuts in recent memory (think Dixie Chicks in 1998), Lady Antebellum’s self-titled set will go down as one of the year’s best, period. The singing/songwriting combination of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and multi-instrumentalist Dave Haywood is fresh and mature. The trio’s unique vocal arrangement—Kelley’s blue-eyed soul leads on some songs, Scott effortlessly leads on others, and the two also duet—sets them apart. “Love Don’t Live Here” is driven by Kelley’s powerful vocal, while Scott shines on the defiant “Long Gone” and the romantic “Can’t Take My Eyes off You.” “All We’d Ever Need” and “I Run to You” finds the pair seamlessly intertwining in the tradition of Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris. —Ken Tucker”

 http://ladyantebellum.musiccitynetworks.com/

BB9 – Nominations – April 6, 2008

Food competition works out well for the house. They manage to make a bunch of mashed potato valleys and pour their gravy into many containers. No slop for anyone this week.

So Balla apparently got conned by  James or (if the rumors are true), the producers locked him in the Diary Room and convinced him not to put James up on the block.

Sheila and Sharon get nominated and the house is stunned.

So, I think not being nominated is worse for James this week. He has a huge potential to be backdoored by the rest of the house. He has to win the POV to ensure his safety.

www.bb9spoilers.com will tell you what transpired.

To credit James and validate his tears, just imagine you were in a house where everyone hated you and they were the only people there 24/7. No TV, no Internet, nothing but them. I think I would cry too.

Mariah – E=MC2 Leaked?!

We all knew it would happen, but fortunately, the die hard fans have already pre-ordered the CD and we are anxiously awaiting the release and subsequent standings on the Billboard sales chart. Hopefully round 2 of the comeback continues full force.

So, I’ve heard the songs. I think she was right in saying that this is the 2nd power of Emancipation of Mimi. The album has the same feel to it. I think that E=MC2 might have more radio friendly hits. The ballads aren’t as soaring as We Belong Together and Don’t Forget About Us, but BYE BYE, I STAY IN LOVE, and LOVE STORY might have a chance as chart toppers or top 10. MIGRATE ft. T-Pain and SIDE EFFECTS ft. Young Jeezy are somewhat catchy and I can definitely hear them being played in a club.  The fun bubbly tracks are O.O.C. and I’M THAT CHICK. I WISH YOU WELL is her obligatory gospel-esque track. Sounds fantastic.

Rounding out the album are a few tracks that, to me, feel like fillers. I think most fans will be fine with playing this album from start to finish. Way to go Mariah!

We will see you on Wednesday singing “FLY LIKE A BIRD” on Idol Gives Back.

4 Minutes to Save the World! AHHHHHHHH

So, when I first heard this song, I was like, EH. Definitely EH, for awhile now I have dreaded the new releases by Madonna. I feel like the last few albums have all been the same garbage. Fortunately this time around, she has some production by JT and Timberlake, so it will sound like them instead of her.

I posted the video because I think this is the best Madonna has looked in years. Could it be that she just looks like Britney Spears in her good days? Maybe I am just hoping for hot britney to re-emerge. Maybe like a Phoenix?