Music

This kid is going places…fast. Fresh off a record deal, Kolby Cooper discusses his new single “Excuses,” writing heartbreakers as a happily married man, blacking out with Koe Wetzel, playing private shows (AKA some rich guy’s house), George Brett’s phenomenal landscaping, Alan Jackson, “Cannonball,” performing at bars underage, beer-drinkin’ foreign exchange students, high school football,

Ray Scott‘s new video delivers a shot of pure country heartache. The fiercely traditional country singer-songwriter keeps it simple in his new stripped-down live video for “As Long as the Bar’s Open.” The singer shows off his rumbling baritone over a very simple acoustic arrangement in the new video, in which he accompanies himself on

What do you do when you don’t want to play the Nashville major-label game? Simply start your own label. That’s the exact route Cody Jinks is going, as he’s just announced the addition of his own independent record label, Late August Records. The label will be led by his longtime manager, Arthur Penhallow Jr., and

Singer Alexandra Kay appreciates her social media following both on a personal level and for their collective opinions on music she’s working on. A demo of her new song “How Do We Go” first appeared on TikTok in the spring, and her nearly two million followers loved it. She loves the song because it’s a power ballad that shows

Just when they were taking off, they were pushed right back down. Bishop Gunn was poised for stardom after the success of their debut album Natchez in 2018, which included their two biggest hits to date in “Shine” and “Alabama”, but unfortunately was plagued by internal issues which caused the band to “suspend all future activity,” surprising

Dennis Quaid joins the Bellamy Brothers for a thoroughly enjoyable new cover of the Billy Swan classic “I Can Help.” The actor and musician teamed with the classic country sibling duo of David and Howard Bellamy for the spirited new track, which arrived on Friday (July 9) as the lead single from the Bellamys’ upcoming covers project,

Live music has been back in full swing for a couple months now, and thank the Lord for it. We’ve already seen some great stuff from our favorite artists during shows, like Miranda Lambert breaking down at Billy Bob’s Texas and Riley Green pulling a little fan up on stage to sing with him and

Kyle Park revisits some painful memories in his single “Rewind.” The song’s accompanying music video, premiering exclusively on The Boot, follows the Texas singer-songwriter as he reminisces and writes the song from his trusty red pickup. Park’s new video follows the artist through the songwriting process. Throughout the clip, he scribbles down lines here and

If you need something good to watch this weekend, here it is. George Strait’s set from Austin City Limits in 1989 is on YouTube, and it’s glorious. I had no idea how badly I needed to see this until I watched it, and you’ll thank me once you do, too. He sings some of his

Country superstar Luke Combs delivers again with his new single “Cold as You.” The king of solid lyrical hooks surprises listeners when he sings this one: “drinkin’ beer almost as cold as you.” According to the song, the go-to move for a guy who’s been hurt by a girl is to take up residence in

Can’t say enough good things about Hailey Whitters. Her album The Dream is easily one of my favorites from last year, and for the deluxe album, she teamed up with some of her co-writers for a series of duets. One of those duets? Brent Cobb. Brent Cobb wrote “Loose Strings” on the album (one of my

Charley Crockett is ready to release his second album of the year, Music City USA this fall, and its first single is a dose of horn-filled soul. The singer-songwriter dropped “I Need Your Love,” along with the details on his new album, on Friday (July 9). “I like to think of my sound as ‘Gulf & Western,’

Jon Langston just released a new song, “Try Missing You,” It’s all about the heartache that often comes along with chasing a dream and leaving love, and everything else you know back home, behind. It’s also the first new music he’s released this year, and according to him, close to the heart: “‘Try Missing You’

Kalie Shorr tells her life story in her new song “Love Child.” The autobiographical tune is the title track of a forthcoming EP. “Daddy came here on a boat / Mama came here on a plane / I got here by accident, but God doesn’t make mistakes,” sings to open “Love Child,” which covers the

Happy Friday. This week on the Whiskey Riff New Music Friday Playlist, we have new tunes from Bishop Gunn, Cody Johnson, Zac Brown Band, Kolby Cooper with Corey Kent, Jon Langston, Charley Crockett, Chris Young, Chase Bryant, Sarah Hobbs, RC & The Ambers, Hannah Dasher, Brit Taylor, Boy Named Banjo, Luke LeBlanc and more. Turn

Rocking guitars and upright saloon piano riffs set up Eric Church’s nostalgic new song about young love, “Heart on Fire.” With a jangly John Mellencamp kind of organic-feeling drive, the song tells a heartfelt story that sounds like a good time. The narrator recalls the small details, from driving an old truck down a bumpy road,

I think Zac Brown is back. After the tenderhearted daddy/daughter song, “The Man Who Loves You The Most,” the signature Zac Brown beach vibe of, “You And The Islands,” and then the new single “Same Boat,”  it was looking like Zac Brown was finally get back to their roots. And then today they hit us with two new

Rare is the carefree, summer song that doesn’t lean heavy on rhyme, but Walker Hayes has one with his viral smash, “Fancy Like.” There more brand references than actual rhymes in this song, but that doesn’t mean his phrasing won’t stick in your ears until the leaves fall. Take the first verse, where “bangin'” and “maintenance” are coupled.