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MD 20/20....good times with Matthew and Jamey

 
I don't drink very often now that I'm older and wiser, but that doesn't mean I was always so good.  Long ago and far away in my pre-21 days - back when getting drunk was dangerous and illegal and a whole heck of a lot of fun (and didn't involve migraine-like hangovers like it does now) - MD 20/20 was my drink of choice....not because it was necessarily good, but more because it was hella cheap and let's face it, when you're young, dumb, and flat-ass broke, price is often a deciding factor in illegally-obtained booze consumption. 

That said, the gorilla in this Matthew McConaughey-directed video for Jamey Johnson's Playing the Part pulling out a bottle of good ol' 20/20 brought back some fond booze-filled memories and a smile. 

Good times.  Good times.

If the video below doesn't work, you can check it out here. 

Reader review: Jamey Johnson

Reader Janelle took in a recent Jamey Johnson concert and then was nice enough to send along a review and a some pictures.  Thank you Janelle!

8/20/10 Jamey Johnson concert review:

It might only have been an hour and twenty minute show...but when you think about the amount of incredible music that was played, it was another amazing concert by Jamey Johnson tonight in Mt. Pleasant, MI. 
 
Jamey took the stage shortly after 8pm in the midst of "Cowboy" Eddie Long's steel guitar intro to "High Cost of Living" and the show took off from there.   Jamey went right into a trio of songs from the eagerly awaited (9/14 release) double album, "The Guitar Song", including a cover of the Keith Whitley tune "Lonely at the Top", "Poor Man Blues", and "Write Your Own Songs".  From there it was a couple songs the crowd found more familiar and they could be heard singing along to "That Lonesome Song" and "Between Jennings and Jones".   After a drink from his infamous red Solo cup and raising it to the crowd, which unfortunately was his only interaction with the fans in attendance all night, Jamey slowed the show down with another new song, "Thankful for the Rain", and a great cover of Vern Gosdin's "Do You Believe Me Now".  Then segued into another cover, this time it was George Jones' "Still Doing Time".   Jamey then did a Willie Nelson song I'd never heard before, "Can I Sleep In Your Arms Tonight" - a heartbreakingly sad song!  Next came Jamey's rendition of "I Fall to Pieces" and "Can't Cash My Checks", the song Jamey and "Rowdy" Jason Cope co-wrote and performed at Farm Aid.  Finally, came the new single "Playing the Part" and then another cover, "The Way I Am".  The show continued with his hit single, "In Color", which he started and in usual fashion, let the fans finish singing it back to him.  The set list rounded out with an amazing version of "For the Good Times", "Mowing Down the Roses", a rocking version of "Tulsa Time" spotlighting the members of Jamey's band.  Jamey ended the night with "Are you Sure Hank Done it This Way", sat down "Ole Maple", blew a kiss to the crowd and walked off stage. 
 
It was a short concert in comparison to the other shows we've been fortunate to see...but I believe its the Soaring Eagle Casino that set the time limits tonight.  We used to go to quite a few shows up there, but stopped a while back because we felt they weren't worth the ticket cost.  Tonight our front row, almost center, seats cost us $32.  A pretty good deal for a concert, however this show didn't include an opening act and the concert wasn't even an hour and a half long.  
 
It was great to see Jamey and the guys again tonight, including Wayd Battle, who hasn't been with them the last four shows we've seen! 

Introducing Hurricane Jamey Johnson

Jamey Johnson's new album 'The Guitar Song' hits stores 9/14.  Now I'm super excited for this album because 1) it's going to have 25 songs and my cheapskate self gets really, really excited when I hear that one purchase will net me 25 tunes and B) I have a thing for Jamey Johnson because I love those bearded biker sorts and I'm really curious about what kind of scars are hidden beneath his beard.

Oh, and I really love Jamey's music so it's a win-win. 

But let's talk about Jamey's album art.  I've stared at it for a while and can't quite figure out what's going on.  It's like one of those inkblot tests and I'm afraid if I decide it looks like an x-ray of a prostate exam then that's going to prove I'm totally warped so I don't want to admit that. 

Of course, if I look at it for a little while longer it starts looking like cigarette smoke.  Another glimpse and it looks like a hurricane.

Oh well, no matter how confusing it is to me I must say that I really like it. It's interesting and different and thought provoking. 

"The original idea was always to do a double album," says Jamey. "The album is a tale. The first part of it is a very dark and sordid story. Everything after that is progressively more positive, reassuring and redemptive."

Let's just hope it's not too positive and redemptive, I prefer my Jamey Johnson bad-ass, thank you very much.

Jamey Johnson has a new song and a new app

Jamey Johnson has finally gave us a release date for his next musical offering, a 2-CD set called 'The Guitar Song' which will be released September 14th. 

Jamey's doing things a little differently than the rest of Nashville - while everyone else is going the six-pack route, Jamey's releasing a set of 25 songs with two hours' worth the music. 

The man is a rebel.  Now if they'd just offer his 25-pack for the same price as a six-pack, all would be right with the world.  

To get things started, Jamey's got a new song called Macon that you can download on www.JameyJohnson.com.  Jamey will debut the song on tomorrow's CMT Music Awards with the help of a few of his friends. 

And while we're talking about Jamey, he may be a rebel in most respects, but when it comes to technology Jamey's keeping up with the rest of today's artists.  He's released a new free iPhone and Android app that will let you stream music, watch videos, get news and tour info, and lots more.  Get your free app here.

   

Gamblers Anonymous doesn't want Jamey Johnson's money

In case you didn't know it, Jamey Jonson and Matthew McConaughey are old buddies, and as old guy buddies often do the two made a football bet.

Matthew McConaughey lost.

Unfortunately this bet didn't involve embarrassing tattoos, naked runs through public places, or even prank calling George Clooney. Nope, it was a boring old money bet, although the money is going for a good cause.

From Life & Style magazine, "We made a $500 bet on the Texas-Alabama national-championship game, with the money going to the winner's chosen charity," Matthew tells Life & Style. "Jamey had 'Bama." Sadly for Matthew, the Crimson Tide won the Jan. 7 game 37-21. But Matthew is having some trouble paying his buddy. "Jamey wanted to donate the $500 to Gamblers Anonymous, but they wouldn't take it," he says. "So I'm writing this check to him so he can finally go out a winner and get out of the gambling game." All fun and games aside, Matthew donates time and money to his J.K. Livin Foundation, which benefits children.

Glad to see the money is going to a good cause (eventually), but let's hope the next time the two make a bet it involves incredibly embarrassing fun stuff.

 

Jamey Johnson "High Cost of Living" video

I love Jamey Johnson's High Cost of Living and thanks to Urban Country Blog we finally got to see a video for it. 

Jamey is definitely too cool for his own good, but I will tell you one of my favorite things about this video...it's the main druggie guy. He looks like the one-armed cleaner salesman from the movie "Sunshine Cleaning", who I love, love, love. What can I say, I have eclectic taste.

It's officially yank-a-beard day thanks to Kellie Pickler

Love this picture, although Jamey Johnson doesn't seem to be enjoying the whole beard-yanking antics of Kellie Pickler nearly as much as Kellie does.

Randy Houser, Kellie Pickler and Jamey Johnson posed for the pics backstage during the CMT Tour at the Wildhorse Saloon on December 8, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. Fun stuff!

More pictures here (via PicApp).

And while we're on the subject of Miss Pickler, word is she'll be headed overseas for her third USO Tour which, incidentally, will also include the bearded ones, Randy Houser and Jamey Johnson.

Kellie tweeted about the tour, “Started packing for my USO Tour. Think I’m gonna leave the Red High Heels at home for this trip. It’s easier to jump in/out of helicopters in flats.”

Reader review: Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser

Gab friends Bobbi and Jim Bowles were lucky enough to catch a recent Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser show and then were nice enough to send a few pictures and a review my way.  Enjoy.

We went to the CMT tour with Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser on Thursday th 12th. It was so much fun! Randy Houser played for about an hour. All of his set was really good. I didnt get the set list to know which songs he played but he played Boots On and a couple new ones he said were to be on his new cd. Then Jamey Johnson came on, he opened up with Lonesome Song. He played for about an hour. The crowd sang In Color to him and he brought out his sister and brother in law so they could see us all singing to him. Then he called out Randy to jam with him. And they did, for about another hour. They played bob segar,johnny cash and others. Both bands were on the stage and the setting was unbelievable. We were front row for the entire night and they sounded perfect! I wish i could pass the set list along with this, sorry. But no matter what they would have played, they would have sounded good! Both have amazing voices and sounded so true to their cd's. Which we bought and had the bands sign them minus jamey and randy. what a great night. enjoy the pics!

 

James Otto gives me my favorite Twit Pic ever

This has got to be my all-time favorite Twit Pic ever.  James Otto posted this picture of him, Blake Shelton, and Jamey Johnson on his Twitter with the accompanying Tweet... Not sure what we're laughing at but I'm sure the alcohol was helping.

Not sure what they're drinking, but I'd sure like to have some of it right about now.

Free Jamey Johnson tune

From UMG Nashville...

The debut single from Jamey Johnson’s forthcoming album is entitled “My Way To You.” The song, co-written by Johnson and Charlie Midnight, is available now as a free download at www.jameyjohnson.com. On August 11, the digital e-single will be available for download at iTunes and all other digital partners.

The follow-up album to Johnson’s critically acclaimed That Lonesome Song will hit stores this fall and will also be released on vinyl. “Man, that’s how I listen to music. It’s my favorite, number-one preference at home, to go put a vinyl record on my great grandmother’s old record player. Which reminds me, I need to get somebody to do some maintenance on it. It needs a new needle.”