Then you are being narrow minded and putting him in a box. He's not Hootie and the Blowfish. He's Darius Rucker.
Saw the Avett Brothers on Thursday. That's the route country should go. They sing genuinely country melodies, with genuinely mountain/country content, and play the old instruments. They only had the arena they were in less than half full. Wife said Miranda Lambert (who on the modern day country spectrum is actually not horrible admittedly) filled it up two weeks ago. And I'm guessing the number of people that went to both are few.
This is a great blog where I have found a lot of good artists over the years... http://www.savingcountrymusic.com
[video]https://youtu.be/NhL2wVX8cNc?list=PLvtgqoDIgSO0GZWbnCT01O1vRhO8hIgi g[/video] I highly recommend this artist.
Listening to wivk because......I don't know. 3 of last 4 songs played have been about trucks in an open field with a girl in a sundress drinking and they end up in nearest body of running water.
With YouTube and SiriusXM and other avenues, my hope is that acts like Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton (whom I had not heard of until 20 minutes ago), and others will keep the real Country and Western sound alive and well, no matter what Radio music produces.
Music is as good as it's ever been but the mainstream stuff is as cookie cutter and lame as ever though. OCMS didn't get near the air time that darius rucker did with wagon wheel, even though they're a million times better.
i'm not a big country guy really but i love these guys, and this song [video=youtube;C2ZW0pA5COc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ZW0pA5COc[/url][/video]
I've determined that if you have a steel guitar playing a prominent role in a song, chances are 99% greater that I'll like it.
