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
- 70 Years Ago, Hank Williams Records ‘Tear In My Beer’ & it Disappears October 26, 2021On this night in 1951 when Hank found the time to record the demo for "Tear In My Beer," and 40 years later when it became a big hit in country, it proved that a good song with a simple sentiment can often withstand the ultimate test of time, and be entered into eternal cultural […]Trigger
- Evan Felker to Play Virtual Show with Rhett Miller of Old 97’s October 25, 2021All you Turnpike Troubadours fans out there chomping at the bit for anything and everything related to the band, carve out some time on Thursday, October 28th because frontman Evan Felker will be making a very rare live appearance with his old buddy Rhett Miller.Trigger
- ‘Rocky Top’ Banjoist Sonny Osborne of the Osborne Brothers Has Died October 25, 2021When it comes to the banjo in bluegrass or anywhere else, aside from maybe Earl Scruggs, nobody else has been heard and enjoyed more than Sonny Osborne of The Osborne Brothers. Both prolific and influential, the Osborne Brothers rendition of the iconic song “Rocky Top."Trigger
- Joshua Ray Walker Gets National TV Opp Singing National Anthem October 25, 2021Sunday, October 24th was the running of North America's only stop on the Formula 1 racing series at the Circuit of the Americas just outside of Austin, TX, and Dallas native and reigning Saving Country Music Song of the Year winner Joshua Ray Walker sang the National Anthem.Trigger
- On New York City Losing Its Only Country Radio Station October 24, 2021I know what you're going to say. "NeW yOrK CiTY!" like that guy in the old Pace Picante Sauce commercial. Or if you pride yourself in having any sort of semblance of taste, maybe you're wondering why anyone in 2021 would still be listening to mainstream country radio at all.Trigger
- Sarah Shook Opens, Jade Bird Headlines 1st Day of Old Settler’s Fest October 23, 2021After numerous false starts and postponements due to the pandemic, the 34th Annual Old Settler's Festival finally got underway on Thursday, October 21st for early revelers in the campground, and on the main stages on Friday the 22nd, with Sarah Shook opening, and Jade Bird headlining.Trigger
- Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Shouts Out Gethen Jenkins, Mickey Lamantia October 22, 2021In a recent interview, The Rock went deep with his independent country music knowledge, name dropping two guys you might have heard about around here, but certainly not in the mainstream, while also hinting he might be getting into the country music game himself.Trigger
- Country Music’s Oldest Living Links and Legends October 21, 2021With the recent deaths of some of country music's oldest living legends and links to its past such as Don Maddox of Maddox Brothers and Rose at the age of 98, and Sue Thompson at 96, it seems like a suitable time to ask, who are some of the oldest legends of country music still […]Trigger
- Brent Cobb to Release Gospel Album “And Now, Let’s Turn to Page…” October 21, 2021For Brent Cobb, the motivation to record a Gospel album isn't just symbolism. Although he'd wanted to record a Gospel album for a long time, it was a near-death experience in July 2020 when the vehicle that he was driving with his young son inside, got T-boned at a crossroadsTrigger
- Ronald Reagan Shooter John Hinkley Jr. Is Free & Making Country Music October 20, 2021When I first heard that John Hinkley Jr. was making country music, the first instinct was to either be shocked by it, or mock it humorously. But after watching his YouTube videos, reading through the surprisingly supportive comments, there appears to be a deeper lesson here.Trigger
- Bloodshot Records In Limbo As Co-Owner Rob Miller Leaves Label October 20, 2021None of this might be happening right now if it wasn't for Bloodshot Records. And when I say "this," I mean this website, you reading it, many of the artists featured here, a.k.a. the independent country music movement that has given rise to so many of your favorite artists.Trigger
- Album Review – Zac Brown Band’s “The Comeback” October 19, 2021So here Zac Brown goes again, making 'The Comeback' to his roots. You know, just like he did on 'Welcome Home.' At this point, you have every right to be sporting a neck brace and calling up a shady ambulance-chasing lawyer from the whiplash Zac Brown has given you.Trigger
- Are Grammys Excluding Women & Kacey Musgraves? The Numbers: October 18, 2021The latest album from Kacey Musgraves called 'Star-Crossed' is more pop than country. Nonetheless, in the polarizing time we live in, the recent decision by the Grammy Awards to move Star-Crossed from consideration in the country category has set off a firestorm.Trigger
- Album Review – The Royal Hounds – “A Whole Lot of Nothin'” October 18, 2021The Royal Hounds are one of the bands who still embody that original Lower Broadway revivalist attitude. Playing standing residencies at Layla's every Sunday night, and Robert's Western World on Tuesdays, they're rockabilly, they're country, they're wild and funny.Trigger
- George Strait, Willie Nelson to Help Open New Arena in Texas October 17, 2021No name in entertainment is bigger in Texas than George Strait, and nobody more legendary than Willie Nelson, and both men are pairing up to help give the venue a proper Grand Opening, along with The Randy Rogers Band opening the show.Trigger
- Sen. Rand Paul Endorses Keith Whitley for Country Hall of Fame October 16, 2021Senator Rand Paul is throwing his weight behind the effort to induct fellow Kentuckian Keith Whitley into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It adds even more name recognition behind the push by many to get the country legend whose career was tragically cut short.Trigger
- Hank Williams & Grand Ole Opry Steel Guitarist Billy Robinson Dies October 16, 2021Imagine having backed Hank Williams on his legendary Grand Ole Opry debut in 1949, or playing behind any of the other country music legends who performed on that hallowed stage during the Opry's golden era. This was the fortune of steel guitarist Billy Robinson.Trigger
- Song Review – Miranda Lambert’s “If I Was a Cowboy” October 15, 2021Any time Miranda Lambert releases the lead single to what is (presumably) an upcoming album, it's worth stopping down and discussing, because it's commonly a leading indicator as to what direction this modern queen of country music will point the brim of her Stetson.Trigger
- Album Review – Noel McKay – “Blue Blue Blue” October 15, 2021The songs of Noel McKay, they're like those one of a kind items, carefully crafted with their dovetailed joints and beveled edges, and proudly engraved with a maker's mark. They're well-loved, and presented to the world without commercial concern, and more for the memories they hold.Trigger
- Guitarist Joe Don Rooney Apparently Quit Rascal Flatts October 14, 2021It appears the underlying issue for the band is guitarist Joe Don Rooney. In a recent interview, lead singer Gary LeVox revealed that the issue with fulfilling the planned farewell tour or any future plans is in fact Rooney. "I've never been OK with the way that it ended."Trigger
