CONCERT BLAST!

It was Sunday, the last day/night of the 2014 CMA Music Festival and Concert Blast was there to cover the fun. The acts on this last night consisted of Charlie Daniels Band, Thomas Rhett, Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Zac Brown Band, and Brad Paisley. Also included in this podcast are two quick conversations with Concert Blast fans. Enjoy the podcast with Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson, and Will Perry.

It was officially day three of the 2014 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN. Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson, and Will Perry continued with the concert coverage. Day three lasted about 15 hours and this was after two prior long days! Yes, we were tired but excited to cover more concerts. On this day we started at the packed Riverfront Park to cover LoCash Cowboys, went to the Bridgestone Arena plaza for Chuck Wicks, strolled over to the HGTV sponsored barn to see an invitation only solo performance of Sugarland's Kristian Bush, and then completed the daytime shows back at Riverfront Park to see one of our favorite up and coming artists, Maggie Rose. After a dinner and a hour rain delay, we headed over to the stadium to catch Sara Evans, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, and closed the night with Keith Urban. Enjoy the podcast and written blog review by Mike Arnold.

As the Concert Blast coverage of the 2014 CMA Music Festival continues, this podcast is focused on the activities from Friday. Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson headed downtown for the first act of the day, which was Craig Morgan on the Riverfront Park stage at 10am! Later in the day helper Will Perry joined in. The coverage ended as Blake Shelton said goodnight from the Stadium stage at 12:30am. That’s over 14 hours of walking, waiting, talking, and snapping pics of many artists, fans, and others. Friday’s coverage included (in order); Craig Morgan, Will Hoge, Holly Tucker (contestant from The Voice), Trace “the rib-whisperer” Arnold (not in the podcast), Mike Wolfe (from American Pickers), Hunter Hayes (surprise acoustic show). Then they covered the stadium concerts of (in order); Travis Tritt, Eric Church, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton. What an exhausting day and night, but with a lot of fun! Enjoy listening to the 262nd audio podcast and/or reading the blog written by Mike Arnold.

The 2014 CMA Music Festival put another shot in the arm of the Nashville, TN economy and Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson, and Will Perry (substituting for Brian Hasbrook) of Concert Blast was there to cover as many events as they could. There were so many concerts and other events that no one person could attend, not even the three of us. This is the first of many podcasts from this festival. Enjoy the Thursday night stadium show coverage with plenty of live clips and fun with the attendees. Concerts covered were (in order); Alabama, Luke Bryan, Brantley Gilbert, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, and headliner Tim McGraw. Also interview fun with country music newcomer Jenny Casey and Concert Blast fans... Enjoy the listening or the reading of Mike Arnold’s blog… or both!

It was day two of the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival and the guys from Concert Blast was ready for another day of fun and music. They started the day with a delicious lunch with their friends (and Saturday sponsor) at Rendezvous. The best barbecue ribs in town… maybe the planet! From there Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and Will Perry headed to Tom Lee Park to begin their duties. We covered several top acts, but only a few made the audio podcast; Four Vines Winery interview, Los Rabanes (from Panama), Jerry Lee Lewis, Blues Traveler, Joan Jett, and the headliner for the night, Kid Rock. Special thanks to our festival sponsor, The Best Around Concessions. Enjoy the audio podcast coverage and Mike Arnold’s written blog review!

It was one of our favorite times of the year, the first weekend in May. Also known to us as time for the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival. Every year Concert Blast has been invited to cover this huge music festival. This year’s lineup was not as good as the past years, but we still had a good time. This year’s Concert Blast staff consisted of Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and our special guest helper, Will Perry. Here is the podcast on Friday night’s events with live clips from Third Eye Blind, Dropkick Murphys, Fitz and the Tantrums (our favorite), 311, Foster The People, and we closed out the night with Dickey Betts & Great Southern. We also must thank our Friday festival sponsor, The Best Around Food Concessions… Enjoy the podcast and the Mike’s written blog description!

It's that time of the year again where we celebrate getting together with friends and family, eat lots of great food, wind down the year, but most importantly celebrate the birth of Jesus as The Christ. This podcast is reflecting on Christmas songs by rock artists submitted by Concert Blast listeners and some of our own favorites. Actually this podcast is a spliced and diced podcast from several past Christmas specials from 2005-2007. Listen to this audio podcast while Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson take you through several Christmas song clips... ENJOY!

It was a cool October Friday night in Nashville, TN as the first annual Marathon Music Village Festival hosted the Los Angeles based, energetic band, Vintage Trouble. Concert Blast was on site to produce another audio podcast concert review on this fun evening. “Troublemakers” (the nickname of their fan base) came in from different parts of the country and we met one fan from France. Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson were back together again for this evening of fun. Enjoy the podcast!

Country singer/songwriter Brian Milson from Odessa, TX was in Nashville recently and stopped by to see Concert Blast while on his media circuit of his anti-bullying campaign while promoting his song, "Nothing Grows In Shadows".  This song not only touches hearts, but the lyrics and melody reaches into a person's chest and rips out the entire heart!  Not only is the song very touching, but the video of this emotional tune puts the song over the top.  Mike Arnold of Concert Blast  sits with the singer of this future hit, Brian Milson, to discuss the song, the video, and his career.  This is a special audio and video interview podcast... ENJOY!

During the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, TN, Concert Blast had the opportunity to interview one of their favorite new bands, Vintage Trouble. Mike received a text and a phone call from the VP over the Memphis in May media to tell us we were approved for an interview with the guys after their performance. Which was a good thing since we were up against the stage barrier ready to enjoy their show. We accepted the invitation and met three of the four guys from Vintage Trouble in their back stage trailer to discuss several topics. During the festival our audio recorder went out so we had to rely on our video. We videoed the interview and used the audio for the podcast, but also have the video here through our Concert Blast You Tube Channel. Here's the interview with Mike and Tom leading the discussion with Ty Taylor (lead singer), Richard Danielson (drums), and Nalle Colt (guitar) joins the conversation later. Bassist Rick Barrio Dill had to leave to catch a flight at the airport as soon as they left the stage. ENJOY!

It was time for Concert Blast to visit the Ryman Auditorium again in Nashville, TN. This time it was a pre-sound check interview with the twenty-three year old blonde beauty guitar slinger from Australia, Laura Wilde. Laura was in Nashville as the opening act on the Ted Nugent tour. Although Laura is only twenty-three, her rock and roll musical tastes and knowledge goes way back. Laura can carry on a conversation as if she grew up in the 1970s like the hosts of Concert Blast did. Tom Thompson and Mike Arnold arrived early to the concert to head backstage to Laura’s band dressing room to conduct this fun interview. Enjoy this conversation along with a few song clips from Laura Wilde’s current CD, “Sold My Soul”.

It was another music filled July night in Nashville, TN as new artist Bree performed in the historic Cannery at The Mercy Lounge. Bree recently did a media blitz to push her album debut, “All American Girl”. This show wasn’t necessarily a show for the media, but a show for her friends as she celebrated her birthday, which is why Concert Blast wanted to be a part of it. Mike Arnold covered this concert review by himself due to Brian Hasbrook being on vacation and Tom Thompson having a last minute family emergency. Mike started the podcast with a short talk with Bree, then stepped through each song of her performance. After the show Mike spoke with the drummer, David Castello and a post show discussion with Bree before his recap and rating. Enjoy our 253rd podcast and/or read the written blog on the Bree Concert Review!

As we approached the last night of the CMA Music Festival 2013, we were sadden to see it all come to a close, but we were even more saddened to experience the sets that were shortened due to the threat of the bad weather which was approaching downtown Nashville, TN. This Sunday night Concert Blast staff consisted of Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson. And our guest Will Perry, as he substituted for the ill Brian Hasbrook. Listen to this podcast and/or read Mike Arnold’s blog on the coverage of this fun, but disappointed evening as we covered (in order) Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Jake Owen, and Carrie Underwood.

It was night three, Saturday, during the stadium concerts that the CMA Music Festival 2013 got the biggest surprise on the history of the festival. There were the guest hosts of the night with Willie, Jase, and Si Robertson from the popular TV Show, Duck Dynasty, but that wasn't the biggest surprise. The Country Music Festival was turned into a rock and roll party as super rocker, Lenny Kravitz made an appearance to see how country fans liked rocking. They like it for about 15 to 20 minutes before they had enough and was ready to get back to the country side of life. Listen to this podcast (or read this blog) as we cover (in order) Florida Georgia Line, Lenny Kravitz, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, and headliner Keith Urban, not to mention the other surprise guests and the fans we talked with... ENJOY!

As we continue our CMA Music Festival coverage from 2013, Mike Arnold narrated this podcast on some of the various stages that they have to offer for the fans in attendance. The outside stages are free for all, but the intimate stage in the Music City Center (the Fan Fair area) had a ticket price with it, although the price was included if you had a four day stadium show admission ticket. Enjoy listening to this podcast of the various performances by (in order) Lady Antebellum, Marshall Tucker Band, Grits and Glamour (which is Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan), Mac Powell (of Third Day with his rockin’ country side), Lucas Hoge, Bo Bice (with friend Hollywood Yates performing together), Wynonna, Julie Roberts, David Nail and The Goo Goo Dolls (yes at the CMA Fest!). Enjoy listening to this podcast and/or reading Mike Arnold’s blog about the fun adventures. Special Thanks to The Old Spaghetti Factory for sponsoring Concert Blast during the CMA Music Festival 2013!

Throughout the week of the CMA Music Festival, there are many publicists who contact the attending media to have interviews or attend the events for the artists they represent.  Each year we receive more and more requests (and we like it!).  Sometimes we get excited about meeting someone new and then the performance schedule changes so we have to constantly balance how we work and who we will cover.  Here's our interviews from this year's CMA Fest in the order on the podcast... Bo Bice - Hollywood Yates - Lucas Hoge - Jenny Casey - Maggie Rose - Rachel Williams - Mustang Sally - The Band Perry - Julie Roberts - Lady Antebellum.   Enjoy the audio interviews!

It was night number two of the CMA Music Festival stadium concerts and Concert Blast was on hand to cover this fun event. This podcast is the review/coverage on the second of four nights of the stadium concerts with Mike Arnold, special guest host Will Perry (Tom was absent that night), a short recap from photographer Brian Hasbrook (who was losing his voice), and lots of Concert Blast friends in attendance. Here are the artists that performed that night, (in order of appearance) Randy Travis, Kip Moore, Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town (with special surprise guest Sheryl Crow), and Blake Shelton… ENJOY! Thanks to our CMA Music Festival sponsor, The Old Spaghetti Factory. Please visit them and tell them Concert Blast sent you!

It's that time of the year when Concert Blast makes their way to downtown Nashville, TN to cover one of their favorite music festivals, The CMA Music Festival. This music fest is something that all music genres should learn from. It's when the top selling country music artists, the legendary country artists, as well as the new country artists gather together in Nashville, TN during the second week of June to perform for the fans which drove in and flew in from all over the world to see all the concerts and meet their favorite country artists. The key music lesson here is that all the performers do this for nothing but the love of their fans! Special Thanks to our CMA Music Festival sponsor, The Old Spaghetti Factory (http://www.osf.com). Please visit them and tell them Concert Blast sent you! Enjoy this podcast on the first of four nights of the stadium concerts with Tracy Lawrence, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and the Zac Brown Brown… ENJOY!

On Saturday June 1st Contemporary Christian Radio Station K-Love presented its first Fan Awards. Concert Blast was invited to cover this event and they all had a great time. Mike Arnold and his wife, Sandra, covered the Red Carpet event by talking to almost all the artists that walked down the carpet. Those on our Red-Carpet podcast coverage included the hosts of the K-Love Awards, the Duck Dynasty cast of Jase and Missy Robertson, along with Phil and Ms. Kay Robertson. Contemporary Christian artists included are; Newsboys, Big Daddy Weave, The Afters, Sidewalk Prophets, Mandisa, Colton Dixon, Building 429, and many others, also from the film industry, Alex Kendrick (“Facing The Giants” and “Courageous“) and David Evans (Producer of the movie “The Grace Card“)… Enjoy the Podcast!

Concert Blast continued the coverage of the Beale Street Music Festival on the final day of one of our favorite music festivals. On this last day of coverage we saw portions of Public Enemy, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, and Al Kapone. We also were up front and center for the entire show of one of our favorite new bands, Vintage Trouble. Special Thanks to our festival sponsor, The Best Around Food Concessions (http://www.thebestaroundconcessions) - Thank You Kevin McGrath! Please continue to read and/or listen to our podcast on our last day.