I know the usual rule is “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” however in this case I just can’t comply! Spending an evening watching 3 different Southern Ground recording artists perform is just too good to keep quiet about. Friday night, January 20th, the Mandalay Bay Hotel played host to Zac Brown Band along with Sonia Leigh and Nic Cowan. All of these artists brought everything they had to what looked to be a sold out crowd. The stadium was filled with excited fans just waiting to hear their favorite song. The show started with Nic Cowan at 7p.m. and ended with Zac Brown Band at about 10:45 p.m. The time literally flew by with these artists rolling out one great song after another.

Nic Cowan, an artist from Atlanta, kicked off the night with “Wrong Side.” It was an upbeat tune that set the pace for a fun evening and got the crowd on their feet. He continued by dishing out other tracks from his album “Hard Headed” that came out in the summer of 2011. In addition he tried out a new song on the crowd called “Illumination.”

Next up was Sonia Leigh. With her country/rock sound, edgy voice and guitar skills she quickly had the crowd singing along to her big hit “My Name is Money.” Her album “1978 December” is out now and she treated us to a live version of her next single to hit country radio, “ Bar.”

After a short set change the lights dimmed once again and this time the crowd went completely wild. It was now time for the main course! The curtain lifted, music started, fans stood up cheering and Zac Brown Band took the stage. They started with their 9th consecutive #1 single, “Keep Me in Mind!” I am a huge fan of this song, and hearing it live made me love it even more. The sound in the arena was fantastic and Zac and the band were spot on! The night continued with one hit after another. They played “Knee Deep,” “Highway 20 Ride,” and “Quiet Your Mind” just to name a few; all with amazing instrumentation and fans proudly singing along. The band has a new single out on country radio called “No Hurry.” They played it for us, and if their track record is any indication this one is going to be a big hit. The band also introduced the enthusiastic Vegas crowd to a new song. Zac wrote it with Nic Cowen and it is called “Guitar in My Hand.” It is always exciting to hear a “sneak peak” at a concert and this was no exception. This song had great lyrics and a memorable sound.

The whole show was fantastic, but there were definitely some “WOW” moments. The first was the band’s rendition of the Charlie Daniels classic “Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Charlie is the master and you would think no one could touch this one, but lets just say Zac Brown Band held their own and then some. His intensity during the song was remarkable and the band was on fire. Another standout song was “Free/Into the Mystic.” I love how Zac has taken his song and infused it with the Van Morrison classic. It suits the song perfectly and highlights his guitar playing. The uniqueness takes an already great song and makes it even more mesmerizing. During this song they also had footage playing in the background of military troops. This was a great tribute to the men and women who serve our country. Zac also took a moment to talk about something he is very passionate about. He is creating Camp Southern Ground in Georgia. The facility will help children with developmental disorders. He is avid about helping children and knows this camp will greatly benefit them.

After playing 17 songs and ending with “Make This Day” Zac Brown Band said goodnight. When they left the stage the fans kept cheering, feet were stomping and hands were clapping. Clearly the band knew we weren’t quite ready to call it a night. Lucky for us, neither were they. They came back out and did a cover of the Marshall Tucker Band’s song “Can’t you See.” This was really well done and every band member was suburb. Zac has an amazing voice and is quite a guitar player, but his band also deserves a lot of credit. Jimmy De Martini, John Driskell Hopkins, Coy Bowles, Clay Cook and Chris Fryar all did an incredible job. Finally the night did have to come to an end. The band started with “America the Beautiful” and then went into “Chicken Fried.” This is the song that made the band popular and it is just as loved today as when it first came out. I went to this show a fan of Zac Brown Band, but seeing them live made me like them even more. I think the part that struck me the most is how much fun they were having on stage. You just have to love watching people who truly love their job. That “feel good” feeling is extremely contagious. If Zac Brown Band comes to your town I would say it is a show you shouldn’t miss.

Zac Brown Band Set List

“Keep Me in Mind”
“Knee Deep”
“It is Not OK”
“I Play the Road”
“As She’s Walking Away”
“No Hurry”
“Highway 20 Ride”
“Whiskey’s Gone”
“Quiet Your Mind”
“Free/Into the Mystic”
“Where the Boat Leaves From” (which he added in a few lines from “Islands in the Stream”)
“Devil Went Down to Georgia”
“Guitar In My Hand”
“Who Knows”
“Sic ‘Em On a Chicken”
“Toes”
“Make This Day”
ENCORE
“Can’t You See”
“Colder Weather”
“Chicken Fried”

Krissie Humphrey
CMTT Music Contributor
@khmusic12

James Otto has a new reason to celebrate.  The song “No Hurry”, which James co-wrote,  will be the new single release off of  Zac Brown Band’s latest album, You Get What You Give. The heartening, ‘slow-down-and-smell-the-roses’ ballad is the fifth single from You Get What You Give and hits radio airwaves this week, joining the race to become the band’s tenth consecutive No. 1 single on country radio.

“When I got the call, my wife and I stopped what we were doing and started dancing around the kitchen of our house, we were so excited,” said James Otto .

“No Hurry” was co-written by Otto, Zac Brown and long-time collaborator Wyatt Durrette, who is responsible for crafting many other ZBB hits including “Chicken Fried” and “Colder Weather.” Reminding listeners that life is too short not to make time for the people and experiences that matter most, the melodic violin-infused track’s chorus recites:

Ain’t in no hurry
Be a fool now to worry
About all those things I can’t change
And the time that I borrow
Can wait till tomorrow
Cause I ain’t in no hurry
Ain’t in no hurry
Ain’t in no hurry today
(Z. Brown, J. Otto, W. Durrette)

They are lyrics Otto has lived over the past year since welcoming new baby girl Ava Katherine into the world in the midst of transitioning from top-charting country star and GRAMMY-nominated singer and songwriter to “Daddy.”

“When she came along, I realized it was time to slow down and focus on what really mattered to me in this life — and that was being there for those unrepeatable moments of her first steps, words and discoveries…and I’m still in ‘no hurry’ to let those little moments go,” he said.

Although Otto will always put family first, he’s planning on resuming his regular touring schedule in 2012 to promote his new music and current album Shake What God Gave Ya; and now, celebrating ZBB’s release of “No Hurry.”

“There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing one of the most successful bands in country music right now is going to release your song,” he said. “I’m simply blown away, and utterly humbled.”

For more information on James Otto, visit www.JamesOtto.net.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Zac Brown Band have joined the performance lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2012 CMA Music Festival. The event that USA Today calls “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals” will once again take over downtown Nashville for four days this summer, Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2012.

Fans can purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Ticket prices are based on the level of seating at LP Field for the Nightly Concerts, and range from $115 to $325 plus handling fees. A limited number of four-day parking passes for LP Field are also available, ranging from $32 to $124 plus handling fees, depending on the size of vehicle.

Ticket and parking prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable. Four-day ticket package categories correspond to a different level of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE. For information on ADA seating, please call 1-800-CMA-FEST.

Fans can stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news, follow the CMA Facebook and Twitter feeds for more insider info, play games, and of course see the entire lineup of Country Music’s biggest stars as they are announced for the event.

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com

It’s the party within Country Music’s Party of the Year® that gives country fans an up-close and personal look at the 47th ACM Awards, and man, is it a lot of fun!

The 2nd Annual ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Zac Brown Band, will take place once again at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, April 1st. This live remote location gives country music lovers the ultimate fan-pass to be part of the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards! Throughout the three-hour Awards telecast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, there will be live ACM Fan Jam performances, via remote, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center by Zac Brown Band and other top-tier music acts, to be announced at a later date. The ACM Fan Jam includes a profusion of entertainment, prizes and special giveaways only for attendees, including autographed guitars, trip packages to country music events and merchandise. The ACM Fan Jam continues after the Awards telecasts ends, with performances by Zac Brown and friends. Details will be announced soon. The inaugural ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Sugarland, took place in 2011.

Tickets for ACM Fan Jam hosted by Zac Brown Band will go on sale to ACM A-List members in an exclusive pre-sale on Friday, January 20th. Tickets are available to the general public on Wednesday, January 25th.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

The Academy of Country Music announced today that Blake Shelton and Reba will return as hosts together for the second year at “The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” on Sunday, April 1, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The ACM Fan Jam will also return for the second year. This year the Fan Jam will be hosted by Zac Brown Band. Additional performers will be announced at a later date.

“ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits” will be held on April 2nd featuring performances by Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and others. The special will air on CBS on a later date.

WHO’S READY FOR THE ACM Awards????

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com

Billboard, the world’s most influential music media brand, and marketing agency ‘stache media announced today the launch of the first-ever Billboard mini-magazine dedicated to country music. This special fan-focused publication will be available exclusively in Target stores nationwide on Tuesday, December 27th, for only $4.99.

Guided by Billboard’s esteemed editorial team, the limited edition mini-magazine includes two collectible covers featuring Zac Brown Band and Jason Aldean, more than 48 pages of artist interviews and reviews, a fold out 2012 calendar/poster, and a 20-track bonus CD showcasing music from Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Aaron Lewis, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Thompson Square, and more. [Preview the bonus CD here on Spotify.]

“We’ve successfully partnered with various magazines that include SPIN, Alternative Press, Revolver, Decibel, and now Billboard to create innovative music products for consumers” says ‘stache media’s SVP of Marketing Tony Bruno. “Partnering with Billboard on this special country edition has allowed us to offer a great value proposition to the consumer. Because of the brand’s prominence and the credibility of the magazine, we are able to expose the country music scene to an even wider audience.”

“From ‘The 615,’ Billboard.com‘s new country music blog, to the Country charts, Billboard has a deep connection with the country music community, and we’re excited to partner with ‘stache media to expand the brand’s coverage of this genre through this new mini-magazine,” says Lisa Ryan Howard, Publisher of Billboard.

The Billboard mini-magazine will be prominently featured in the music section at all Target retail stores nationwide, and are also available at Target.com/billboardcountry. For more information visit Facebook.com/TheDirtRoad where fans also have a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Target and other prizes.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

Carhartt, like country music fans have a story to tell. A shared story. A timeless story. An accessible story and a story that is more relevant than ever: a true story.

REAL apparel for REAL people who do REAL work.

Carhartt stories are memorable because they are meaningful. This is not to say stories are easy. Overcoming challenges can sometimes be what make stories good.

Carhartt and CMTT wants to hear your stories! But we want your hands to do the talking!  Send CMTT your stories about some you know and admire for their dedication and hard working hands.   Your stories can be submitted online thru pics, written stories and/or video.    All submissions should be emailed to contact@countrymusictattletale.com. 

The winning entry will receive a Carhartt/Zac Brown Band Prize Pack!  Make sure to have your entries submitted no later than January 14, 2012. 

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com