At least you attempted to watch it. That's WAY more than we did or have done for quite a few years. I guess hope springs eternal
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
The closest to country they came was Chris Stapleton.
I had to take the dog out and when I came back in I think it was a group called Midland doing a pretty hot and faithful cover of EastBound and Down in a tribute to Burt Reynolds.
The channel was changed shortly thereafter.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
They should change the name from CMA (Country Music Awards) to PMA (Pop Music Awards)! There was no country there. Paisley and Urban can sing and play country but they don't on these award shows.
My wife is a big fan of this new "country". Our rule is whomever is driving the car controls the radio. It can be painful as a passenger! I play jazz, blues or classical when I drive. She tolerates blues and likes classical but not so much for jazz.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I used to get my evening entertainment watching the Facebook die hard country music critics dissing that show..... but knowing me.... I always had to make some smart alack comment.... one guy in particular one year was really ticking me off with his inane commentary. I knew him and at one time he had tried to hire me to play in his band. I begged off, too busy with studio stuff, etc..... He was a likeable fellow. However. He fashioned himself to be one of the "old traditionalists" and best buds with the Nashville and Bakersfield legends. He even painted his guitar red white and blue....to play the hole in the wall gigs where 20 people might show up. He even had multiple sequined suits that he wore and a big white cowboy hat..... everyone else in the band had to wear the same matching clothes...... anyway, he was babbling on...diarrhea of the mouth on the computer keyboard about how bad the music was that night. Nothing was country.... but at that time, yeah, it was pretty nice country music.... they still hadn't even hit the bro country phase yet. Anyway, I forget what I said to him but it included "if it's really that bad, why the heck* are you even watching it?"..... I clicked back in a few minutes only to get a pop up message that the post was unavailable..... hummmmm.... not only did he unfriend me, but the guy blocked me. Oh well.... some folks can't take a joke.
Watching the CMAs since just hasn't been the same since.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
The closest to country they came was Chris Stapleton.
I had to take the dog out and when I came back in I think it was a group called Midland doing a pretty hot and faithful cover of EastBound and Down in a tribute to Burt Reynolds.
The channel was changed shortly thereafter.
Midland is a great group I believe from Texas. They are one of the few more traditionally based acts out there right now.
The closest to country they came was Chris Stapleton.
I had to take the dog out and when I came back in I think it was a group called Midland doing a pretty hot and faithful cover of EastBound and Down in a tribute to Burt Reynolds.
The channel was changed shortly thereafter.
Midland is a great group I believe from Texas. They are one of the few more traditionally based acts out there right now.
Yep... I caught the tail end of their cover. The guitar twin lead solos were hot.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
I KNEW Caaron Hear to Learn was going to play the voice of the Group Conscience and stand up for the onward evolution of the human species and our Divine right to produce...I don't what, exactly...but something!
And I am on Hear to Learn's side after seeing Bohemian Rhapsody.
What I am Here to Learn is to see if we call all pull together so that next year Chris Stapleton is in drag, and there are a lot of nose rings, and guys in baseball caps in drag kissing one another, and a lot of girl on girl, boy on girl on girl on boy or girl on boy on boy, and some Lady Gaga country, and as much lipstick and glitter as we can get on those baseball caps, with lots of Hip Hop.
Come on you old fuddy duddies!! This is new country! This is America! This is Disney, and it is all about family friendly multi-sexual, gender neutral frolic and fun!
Get with it Herb!
You go Hear to Learn!
You tell 'em man! The kids are all right!
Oooops...
make sure to insert smiley so people don't think I am being sarcastic..
Or will that make them think I am being sarcastic? Mmmmmmmm. Maybe two smileys??
Three to be on the safe side? Don't want to get moderated...
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
I don’t recognize a single name mentioned here. But I can emphasize. Most of the music at “jazz festivals” isn’t jazz.
Quote:
Same deal with blues, much of the music at blues festivals isn't blues. The headlining act at the Ottawa blues fest a couple of years ago was Kiss eek
Likewise, an awful lot of the music at Merlefest isn't bluegrass.
Music is a language, and all language evolves. Otherwise, we'd all be speaking Latin.
I see music festivals as being like fashion shows. They focus on what's coming in fashion, and its never what's currently on the racks at the mall. They're flinging spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, and consumers resist change so very little sticks. I find it interesting that you can still buy bell bottoms. Who'd have guessed?
...I see music festivals as being like fashion shows. They focus on what's coming in fashion, and its never what's currently on the racks at the mall. They're flinging spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, and consumers resist change so very little sticks. I find it interesting that you can still buy bell bottoms. Who'd have guessed?
Good point. I think the Telluride BG Festival discovered that before Merlefest.
Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
I think the MC made some sort of statement about No one is "straight" in Nashville anymore...... My wife and I caught that little tidbit.... it was said in one context, but so true in another context. Some of the most innovative and fresh writers in Nashville are not straight. Do I care? Nope.... not one bit. I care about how they look at the world through song. Brandy Clark being one of my favorite newer writers from Nashville town..... if you're not familiar with her writing.... hit Youtube for an education. A local writer... Mark Bunn, David Snyder also knows him, gave me a cd with some bro country and the last half dozen tunes were Brandy Clark.... I wore that thing out. Take a little Pill, That's How illegitimate children are born, What'll keep me out of heaven, and......
Hold my hand. Do yourself a favor.... use headphones. Set back, close your eyes, and listen.
As far as sleeved tats..... hey, whatever pulls your trigger. I served in the Marine corps for a while. Not much surprises me after seeing the things I saw while on active duty in the places we were sent.
I'm with it.... I think.
And really.... aside from the "purists"..... every single genre of music has evolved and changed. Look at what has happened to rock, country, bluegrass, and more. Regarding the purists.... they tend to be stuck in a certain timeframe of that genre's music.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 11/19/1807:36 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
And really.... aside from the "purists"..... every single genre of music has evolved and changed. Look at what has happened to rock, country, bluegrass, and more. Regarding the purists.... they tend to be stuck in a certain timeframe of that genre's music.
As is often the case, I agree with Herb
Music is music, period. Genres are thought up by people, mere classifications based on what a certain song that started the genre sounded like. If purists had their way, there'd only be one song, played with exactly the same holy technique every time, and those who deviate from the holy technique would be excommunicated.
Regarding Country being Pop today; I've watched the new show Real Country and I had to laugh when Travis Tritt, Shania Twain and Jake Owens all stated that today's CM is blah and sounds like Pop. THEY are part of the problem that began with Garth, IMO.
I think that started with Waylon.. Lord it's the same old tune fiddle and guitar, where do we take it from here, Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars it's been the same way for years, people need a change...
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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