Saving Country Music
Saving Country Music is an in your face blog that gives zero shits about whether you agree with them or not, because honestly, from what I have read, what they post is true! As a huge fan of older country music, this new crap they put out on country music stations that I call Hick Hop is garbage. That said, this Bro Country sells, so I will give them that for sure. Today’s false country genre fills up arenas. I love to go and read the material on Saving Country Music so that I can read about reality.
-Shannon Ireland
From the Saving Country Music Wesbite:
Saving Country Music’s purpose is spelled out in its name. It offers news, opinion, reviews, artist profiles, music history, and the always-popular off-color pop country bashing. Saving Country Music primarily focuses on country, but also covers roots, rockabilly, bluegrass, blues, and folk music. First and foremost, Saving Country Music is a consumer advocate and an industry watchdog. Saving Country Music consistently receives on average of over 330,000 unique visitors a month.
Even though Saving Country Music is a music-based website, it works from the core principles that the focus should be people first, then music, and that music is just the excuse to explore deeper issues throughout culture.
How Saving Country Music Began
Saving Country Music was founded in April of 2008 as a blog on MySpace called “Free Hank III.” Free Hank III and freehank3.org was formed to put pressure on Hank Williams III’s label Curb Records to release his albums. Hank III had been lip locked by a provision in his contract that stipulated he could not speak out against Curb, so Free Hank III was an organization of Hank III fans, DJ’s, podacsters, and other musicians who spoke out against Curb Records on Hank III’s behalf to release his music in a timely manner. In July of 2008, Free Hank III helped win the release of Hank III’s album Damn Right,Rebel Proud, and on January 1st, 2010, Hank III was finally released from his contractual obligations with Curb Records, marking the end of Free Hank III.
Free Hank III also covered independent country and roots artists during its run, as well as the rest of the country music world from an independent perspective. Free Hank III became Saving Country Music as the focus began to shift to the larger issues facing the country genre and the preservation of its roots.
About ‘Trigger’
Kyle “The Triggerman” Coroneos is the editor, creator, head writer, and benevolent dictator of savingcountrymusic.com. He officially changed his pen name to “Trigger” on 12/18/2012. His writing has inspired a song by Eric Church, and some believe Taylor Swift’s anti-bullying hit “Mean” is about him. He is also the originator of the “Super-genre, mono-genre, & micro-genre” theory on modern music, and was the first journalist to discover Sturgill Simpson.
Trigger is a published author, and has also written for other music sites and periodicals, including American Songwriter, the9153.com, outlawmagazine.com, ninebullets.net, rnzmagazine.com, farcethemusic.com, 3rd Coast Music, the Rambler Magazine, and UK’s Country Music Magazine.
He has been quoted and interviewed by The New York Times (read), (read), and (read), The Boston Globe (read), the BBC (listen), CNN (read), The Washington Post (read) and (read), Fox News (read), (read), and (read), Elle (read), Playboy Magazine(read), Entertainment Weekly (read), The Daily Beast (read), Bloomberg Businessweek (read), Gawker (read), MacLean’s (read) The Hollywood Reporter(read), The Tennessean (read) and (read), Houston Press (read), National Post(read), The Milwaukee Record (read), Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (read), Texas Standard (listen), On The Forcheck (read), 106.7 The Fan (listen) Country 92.5(listen), and many other news outlets.
Trigger was also featured on a podcast from Wide Open Country.
Trigger is also been rumored to have an alter ego, pop country star Michael Jackson Montgomery; a rumor he adamantly denies.
The Triggerman lives in his mom’s basement, and over-glorifies the obscure music that he loves while bashing anything that he doesn’t solely because its popular. He is strictly motivated by jealousy, and has no right to criticize music because he has never played it, never written songs, and never toured as a musician. He is also a virgin, and doesn’t know how to please women in bed. In short, he is a nerdy crybaby who uses a moderately successful online platform make himself feel better about his pathetic life.
(actual photo)
Saving Country Music
- Willi Carlisle Announces Triumphant Headlining Tour February 1, 2023Folks who've seen him perform live will attest that in the flesh is where the magic of Willi Carlisle really shines. His knack for storytelling, showmanship, and holding an audience in his hands whether it's a silly tale or a seriously sentimental tear-jerkier is second to none.Trigger
- Present & Future of Red Dirt Roots Represented at Mile 0 Fest 2023 January 31, 2023Mile 0 Fest has established itself as one of the premier destination events in all of country and roots music, especially if you're into the Texas/Red Dirt side of things. Now after six years, Mile 0 Fest has its own traditions, it's own nucleus of loyal patrons and regular performers, and a heap of fond […]Trigger
- Alan Jackson Tops Most Listened-To Classic Country Artists in the World January 30, 2023This study sent to Saving Country Music is not only is it plausible and the methodology solid, it's super interesting and in-depth with its findings, and they line up with anecdotal notions we've heard about these country tastes different geographic regions for years.Trigger
- A Special Note from “Trigger” January 30, 2023First let me say how incredibly appreciative I am to you, the Saving Country Music reader, for allowing me to be able to write about music for a living as a primary occupation. It is a dream come true, an incredible privilege, and something that I most certainly don't take for granted.Trigger
- Members of Tyler Childers’ Band Release Album Under “El Dorodo” January 29, 2023Well damn, who knew they had this up their sleeve? With all that down time in recent years, the backing band of Tyler Childers wasn't just sitting there with their thumbs up their butts. Apparently they were busy crafting a side project of sorts called "El Dorodo."Trigger
- Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#113) January 29, 2023The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats, or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations.Trigger
- Charley Crockett to Play with Miranda Lambert at NASCAR Street Race January 28, 2023On July 1st and 2nd, NASCAR Cup Series will be holding their "Chicago Street Race" as part of the greater July 4th weekend, and have booked some major acts to play full sets as part of the festivities, including Miranda Lambert, The Black Crowes, The Chainsmokers, and yes, Charley Crockett.Trigger
- Soaring Kaitlin Butts Blasts Off at Mile 0 Fest January 27, 2023It's all happening for Kaitlin Butts, and it's about damn time. Upon the release of her latest album What Else Can She Do, the country music world is finally waking up to what they've had in their midst for a while. Lots of folks are jumping on the Kaitlin Butts rocket ship.Trigger
- Album Review – Pony Bradshaw’s “North Georgia Rounder” January 27, 2023There is a discipline of Southern heritage deeply interested in the art of language, and not just for the stories and truths it may help tell, but writing and talking just for the sake of it, and finding beauty and wisdom in the words themselves, and how they relate to the Southern experience.Trigger
- 2023 Country Music Hall of Fame Picks & Predictions January 26, 2023It’s that time of year again to consider who might be in the running for the precious few spots as the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A secret committee commissioned by the CMA is going over their final ballots and whittling down the names.Trigger
- Why I’m Not Completely Worried About AI and Country Music January 25, 2023An ominous new suite of AI options such as ChatGPT have some experts especially troubled. The tool is capable of auto generating song lyrics with extreme precision, and can even specifically tailor them to a style or a specific artist. But I'm not worried for country.Trigger
- Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Will Be One for the Ages January 25, 2023Not all of us will end up making it to 90. But we're all the beneficiaries of the fact that Willie Nelson (almost) has. On April 29th, Willie will officially turn 90 years old, and on that day and the next one, a massive cavalcade of stars will converge on the Hollywood Bowl in California.Trigger
- Jesse Daniel Announces New Live Album, New Tour Dates January 24, 2023How many times have you been told to go see an artist in smaller venues when you still have a chance? Well that warning is going out right here, right now for Jesse Daniel who has become a country music success story both personally and professionally.Trigger
- Album Review – HARDY’s “the mockingbird & THE CROW” January 24, 2023Whatever we're calling this post Bro-Country era in popular country music, the bespectacled Hardy has a heavy hand in it, both as a primary song contributor to Morgan Wallen and others, as well as a performing career that continues to swell in popularity.Trigger
- Brooks & Dunn Announce 2023 “Reboot” Tour January 24, 2023No need to go supping at the trough of close facsimiles to the 90s country music that's so near and dear to your heart, served up by 20-somethings who weren't even alive in the era and can only boast being "90s-inspired." Brooks & Dunn are still alive and kicking.Trigger
- Turnpike Troubadours Put Cool Twist on Brew Partnership January 23, 2023The Turnpike Troubadours partnering with a coffee company actually seems quietly awesome, and this is coming from someone who doesn't even drink coffee, and doesn't get excited about these kinds of things ever. It's an interesting twist on the country music brew partnership.Trigger
- Vintage Album Review – Bob Weir’s “Ace” (50th Anniversary Edition) January 22, 2023'Ace' not only seeded the Grateful Dead's legendary live shows with some important cuts, it deserves to be in the conversation for one of the band's best studio efforts. With some exceptions, the album was the Grateful Dead band backing Bob Weir.Trigger
- Marshall Tucker, Namesake of Iconic Southern Rock Band, Has Died January 22, 2023Marshall Tucker never played a lick of music in the Marshall Tucker Band. In fact, he wasn't known for performing at all. He was in the music business though. For almost 50 years, Marshall Tucker was one of South Carolina's most trusted piano tuners.Trigger
- 50 Years Ago: Jerry Lee Lewis Debuts at the Opry, & Burns It Down January 21, 2023Nothing has ever happened on the Grand Ole Opry stage, good or bad, that tops the moment that the recently-minted Country Music Hall of Famer and the even more recently dearly departed Jerry Lee Lewis enacted when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut 50 years ago.Trigger
- Bloodshot Records is Officially Back January 20, 202330 years ago, the independent record label Bloodshot Records was founded in Chicago by Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw, and quickly became one of the focal points and instigators of the independent country music revolution we're currently enjoying the fruits of today.Trigger
