ISSUE 42 MUSIC EDITION JUNE 11, 2007 Urban’s No Myth: “Love, Pain” Tour Launches “This was like a homecoming.... Thanks to Country radio for hanging with me.” So said a very emotional Keith Urban to almost 20,000 fans as he returned to the stage for an encore Friday night (6/8) in Phoenix. The over two-hour show at the sold-out US Airways Center was the first date on the U.S. leg of his “Love, Pain & the whole crazy World Tour,” and his first major U.S. arena appearance in almost 16 months. We talked before the show, and he told me, “Man, I am really ready to get out and play.” And he wasn’t kidding. He Urban Assault: Capitol’s Keith Urban hobnobbed with radio sounded and looked great, and wailed as bad-ass a guitar as I types prior to the opening night of his “Love, Pain & the whole ever remember hearing him play – The Ranch days included. crazy World Tour” in Phoenix last Friday. Getting ready to be Keith also seemed to be having as much fun as the audience, rocked were (l-r) R&R Country Editor R.J. Curtis; KNIX/Phoenix while also demonstrating that he’s in a good place right now. PD Ray Massie; KMLE/Phoenix APD Dave Collins, PD Jay He said as much to the crowd early in the show: “It’s very, McCarthy and MD/middayer Gwen Foster; Urban; KBQI/ very good to be back, playing and touring. It’s been a wacky Albuquerque PD Tim Jones; Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton; few months. It’s good to get back on the straight-and-narrow.” and, KBQI MD/PM driver Jeff Jay. Urban’s new stage features a mammoth 58’x28’ high- definition video screen that was used to display live shots (Pittsburgh, 6/9) and the launch of Soul2Soul II (Omaha, – which had an incredible film-like quality – the band in 6/5), we may have just closed the books on country’s most silhouette, footage of old race cars in London, images from eventful week of the year. We enlisted cub reporter and the ’60s civil rights movement that served as a backdrop to KEEY/Minneapolis PD Gregg Swedberg to cover Soul2Soul the song “Used To The Pain.” It also served as a vivid multi- II’s second stop on Friday (6/8). Here’s his take: color backdrop. (continued on page 7) Just when you thought you had seen it all, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill blew me away. They promised that this year’s Soul2Soul II Hits The Road version would be different than last year – it was. And as Between Urban’s tour open, CMA Music Festival (see good as last year was, this year’s was more relaxed, less page 8), Kenny Chesney’s first stadium show of the season stressed, and both Tim and Faith knocked it out of the park. ©2007 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.countryaircheck.com June 11, 2007 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 3 They opened using essentially the same set as last year, DATE CHECK which is a technical marvel. But they surprised everyone (pleasantly) by starting on opposite sides of the arena singing June 13-15 – 7th Annual All About Music TV & Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars,” countrified. Memo to the duo Film Retreat www.myspace.com/allaboutmusictvandfilm – get that recorded now. Better than the original. Faith then took over for an hour, and just blew the crowd June 20 - Academy of Country Music Special away. She seems more relaxed and confident than at any time Ceremony in the many times I’ve seen her, and she featured some new Tennessee State Museum - Nashville, TN stuff from her [upcoming] Greatest Hits including Abba’s “Winner Takes It All,” which was accompanied by what July 11 – Music Industry Mayoral Candidate seemed like a million mirror balls. Forum Tim came out and played a lot of stuff from his new CD, Wyatt Center, Vanderbilt Campus including his version of “Suspicions,” which was hot. The rest of Tim’s set was great, and they ended with their duets, Limited almost exclusively to artists and staff, past including the single “I Need You” as the closing song. I hear and present, the party opened with cocktails and the that Tim has threatened that this will be the duo’s last tour remembrances of anyone willing to take the stage and recall together. If true, it’s an event that needs to be taken in. Both their part in the label’s remarkable rise. The Hall of Fame artists are obviously at a point where they don’t need to prove atrium was adorned with photos and memorabilia, but the anything to anyone, but they took great pains to entertain both centerpiece of the night was a video the assembled viewed in artists’ fans. the museum’s Ford Theater. The pre-show “Vibe Room” was well done, and the pair The 43-minute clip starts humorously with a voiceover were very gracious and accommodating. Lori McKenna by James Earl Jones from Field Of Dreams encouraging did a nice 20-minute set prior to the main event, and while label President Randy Goodman to “build it.” Next, the it wasn’t exactly what the crowd came for, Ms. McKenna label’s genesis is thoughtfully narrated by Goodman, who played some very interesting songs that I’m anxious to hear recognizes by name every employee in the company’s history. on her forthcoming debut CD. Halfway To Hazard played The video then takes a profound turn, centering on out front to an enthusiastic crowd, and I hope they get to powerful and highly personal anecdotes of military, hospital come inside and crank it up for the waiting crowd. or personal community service as told by Sarah Buxton, Rascal Flatts, SheDaisy, Aaron Tippin, Trent Tomlinson Lyric Street and Lari White. One immediately realizes these recollections Hangs 10 were captured not to glorify or salute the artists’ efforts, but to Passing relatively quietly demonstrate the impact their initiatives had on their own lives. in a week of booming live Each story is powerful, especially SheDaisy’s Karli, shows and frenzied flurries of Kelsi and Kristyn Osborn reflecting how some of the press releases was the 10-year troops for whom they performed probably never came home. anniversary of Lyric Street Unquestionably the most emotional, compelling moment is Records. Don’t worry, we Josh Gracin breaking down while telling the story of parents weren’t invited either to the who approached him for an autograph on a photo of their extremely private event at the Country Music Hall of Fame daughter, who had died just a few days before getting to see last Wednesday. him – her favorite artist. ©2007 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Send news to [email protected] June 11, 2007 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 4 BIRTHDAYS Tuesday (6/12) - Junior Brown, Jeff Allen, Guy Floyd, Candace Nuyens, Mark Phillips, Danielle Taylor Wednesday (6/13) - Joe Barnhill Jr., Lori Hartigan ([email protected]) Thursday (6/14) - Matt Corbin (matt.corbin@ umusic.com), Bobby Roberts, Mary Forest Campbell ([email protected]) Friday (6/15) - Michael Britt (Lonestar), the late Waylon Jennings; Terri Gibbs; Roger Springer; Jeff Stevens; the late Joe Deters; Mary Martin; Joel Raab ([email protected]) Saturday (6/16) - Billy “Crash” Craddock, Sarah Brosmer ([email protected]), Jim Kemp, Jeff Stouten Sunday (6/17) - Russell Smith, Tracy Gershon, Matt Hargis ([email protected]), Chris Ward Monday (6/18) - Blake Shelton, Chris Carroll, Julie Reeves, Shelley Rose ([email protected]), Brian Hill ([email protected]) VP/National Promotion Kevin Herring tells Country Aircheck, “I think a lot of us thought it would be this retrospective, cheery, look-at-all-we’ve-accomplished video, but Randy turned it into something a lot more memorable and meaningful. What’s really important in what we do and how music changes people’s lives. It’s not just about selling records. Aaron Tippin commented that we as staff couldn’t take up arms and do anything to defend our nation, but we could get a message out there to help make people of this country feel better. In essence, that was our call to arms.” Green Joins Aircheck As VP Jeff Green has joined Country Aircheck and News/ Talk/Sports Aircheck to help build their brands, websites, content, ancillary products and events. Aircheck Publisher Lon Helton said, “I’ve known and worked with Jeff since 1983. His career in radio trade publications, along with his knowledge of music, radio, sales, new media and event management, helps further solidify the foundation upon which this company is being built. We’re thrilled to have Jeff on the team.” A 29-year industry veteran, Green brings executive experience from the Americana Music Association, CMA, Radio & Records, Film House and Music & Media in Amsterdam. He is an RAB-certified CRMC and publisher of the Green Book Of Songs By Subject. Reach him at [email protected] or 615-320-1450 x206. McGraw’s “Reading” Ready For Radio Tim McGraw and producer Byron Gallimore have remixed and newly mastered McGraw’s ACM show tribute to families of fallen heroes, “If You’re Reading This.” Curb Records is releasing the song to radio immediately and will work it simultaneously with the McGraw/Faith Hill duet, “I ©2007 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Send news to [email protected] June 11, 2007 Country Aircheck Music Edition Page 5 Need You,” currently at No. 14 on the Country Aircheck/ TUBE CHECK Mediabase chart.