May 30, 2017, Issue 552 Hockey Country Put To The Test For those who don’t follow hockey or Carrie Underwood’s Instagram, the Nashville Predators are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, losing last night’s first in a best- of-seven series to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Be- yond the action on the ice, the faceoff between the Preds’ ever-growing fan footprint and next week’s CMA Music Festival (June 8-11) is quite the challenge. CMA CEO Sarah Trahern and her team are ready, however, as she tells Country Aircheck. “The tricky piece has been that there were Sarah Trahern so many scenarios for awhile,” Trahern says. “Starting a few weeks ago, CMT made their Speak Easy: Capitol’s Lady Antebellum open Club Labellum decision to move the CMT Music Awards to the Music City Center backstage on their new tour. Pictured (l-r) are Lady A’s Dave (CAT 5/9). And now we see that was a very wise decision. We Haywood, KRTY/San Jose’s Nate Deaton, the band’s Hillary started meeting with them first, coordinating loading docks and Scott, Nate’s wife Judy Deaton and Lady A’s Charles Kelley. logistics to make their experience smooth, since we have that big Fan Fair activation [in the same building]. As a community, we’ve been meeting with the Mayor’s office, the CVC, the Predators, Golden State Horned In CMT and Music City Gives Back.” The You Look Good Tour with Lady Antebellum, Kelsea Bal- Trahern sings the praises of CMA Sr. Dir./Live Events Chris lerini and Brett Young looked good to California radio pros in its Crawford. “Chris and his team were already so buttoned up on first weekend. Our assemblage of “beat reporters” were eager to Music Fest, we had the bandwidth to deal with these additional see the headliners after some time off logistical challenges that have come with adding other events.” the road, and came away impressed. While there’s no way to predict the future, here’s how the Pred- “When Lady A announced they ators’ schedule could play out: May 31, game two in Pittsburgh, a were going to take a break from re- “Preds Party in the Park” viewing will be held at downtown Nash- cording and touring in August 2015, ville’s Music City Walk of Fame Park; June 3 and 5, games three I thought we had heard their last,” and four in Nashville, will have expanded outdoor viewing parties admits KRTY/San Jose PD/morning on 5th and Broadway entitled “Broadway Smash: Preds Party with show co-host Julie Stevens. “After a Purpose” (more here); June 8, if necessary, will be game five in Saturday night’s show at Shoreline Pittsburgh, with game six potentially falling on Sunday, June 11 in Amphitheater in Mountain View, I am Nashville. That’s the final day of the festival, and likely the highest happy to report Lady A is baaaaack degree of difficulty for organizers in both camps. and better than they’ve ever been.” “We were really fortunate in the way the games fell out,” says But first, a word on the openers. Trahern. “The initial games will be away. Then we have games on Native Californian Young took the Lady Antebellum (continued on page 8) stage in a Sacramento Kings Jersey ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 30, 2017 Page 4 at Toyota Amphitheater in Wheatland and a Golden State Warriors Jersey at Shoreline. OFF THE RECORD: RAY Scott Stevens noted Young’s four-song set included two No. 1s. “The only complaint I had is there The Holland Group’s Ray Scott puts an wasn’t enough music,” she says, though he industry spin on the artist interview: did return later with Charles Kelley and Dave I grew up listening to WAKG/ Haywood to cover Tim McGraw’s “Something Danville, VA. They’ve always played a Like That.” good mix of stuff. One of the biggest Ballerini’s 50-minute set included mixed Julie Stevens memories of my childhood was, every covers of Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and morning, I would hear my dad turn on Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” with the radio and they’d play Steve Wariner’s songs from her debut album. She and Lady Ray Scott “Life’s Highway.” He loved that song. A’s Hillary Scott later donned matching denim The first time I heard myself on the jackets for a cover of Beyonce’s “Crazy In radio, I was on radio tour and we were driving through Phoenix Love.” “She just shares her whole self and and “My Kind Of Music” came on KNIX. It was kind of surreal. the audience is mesmerized from the first I used to enjoy traveling with my friend (singer/ note to the last wave goodbye,” Stevens says. “Oh, and did I mention that she plays guitar, songwriter) Ward Davis, because no matter what, I wasn’t the Brent Michaels drunkest guy. keyboard, and drums?” KUZZ/Bakersfield I always get beef jerky at truck stops. And I also make PD/middayer Brent Michaels also approved. sure I have ice for my Yeti. “Honestly, they were fantastic picks as open- I’d love to have dinner with my grandfather, Paul ers,” he says. “You can see they both have the Coleman. We’d both order a ribeye, done medium. potential to be big stars.” My new album is a collection of songs that go back On to the main event. “The stage is a great maybe 15 years. I wanted it to remind me of the music that lit accompaniment to the vibe of the show without a fire under me when I was young, that spoke to me the most being too much,” says KBEB/Sacramento and the loudest. And I think we did that. PD Bryan “B-Dub” Washington. “Many Bryan “B-Dub” moving parts on the stage match the vibe of Washington My last impulse buy was a king-size Whatchamacallit. It the song that is playing at the time.” The show had been so long since I’d had one! I may need a king-size opens on a dimly lit stage with a single trumpet brassiere before too long, though. A “bro.” player and one trombone player. “They light up The most redneck thing I’ve done lately is pee outside. the crowd just the two of them playing for what They could build a bathroom right inside the door of my seems like a good couple of minutes,” says house and I’d still walk outside. It’s an animal instinct. But I KRTY GM Nate Deaton. The lights come up don’t cock my leg. Only because my knee hurts. as the trio emerges from behind three columns I wish I’d written Bob McDill’s “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” singing “Downtown.” Deaton adds, “The two recorded by Don Williams. It’s a beautiful, brilliantly written guys playing the horns are present pretty much Nate Deaton song. It’s very nostalgic and reminds me of my childhood. all night and make a great show even better I can’t go on the road without my Yeti cup. It has to be with their presence.” Michaels agrees. “The full of ice at all times. And I have to have Dentyne Ice gum. horn section makes such a big difference on My least favorite interview question is about the most this tour. It made the production and band redneck thing I’ve done lately. It dredges up memories of a sound bigger.” painful past, full of rental trailers and debauchery. Meanwhile, the headliners themselves were I’d love to be stuck in Sedona, AZ. There’s magic in the fully recharged. KNCI/Sacramento morning air there. I’d also love to be sitting on the beach in Destin, FL show co-host Tom Mailey noted, “Charles at sunset with a cold beer. was full of energy and all over the stage like a hyperactive grade-schooler working the crowd Tom Mailey ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] May 30, 2017 Page 6 and exhorting them to stand, sing, clap, cheer.” Stevens enjoyed MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE Ballerini so much, she was worried Lady A might have been upstaged. “That was unfounded,” she says. “There is a new spark Warner/Chappell’s Courtney Cole and feeling to these guys that will knock you out.” discusses her most influential music: In addition to the covers with Young and Ballerini, Lady A 1. Miranda Lambert’s Revolution: The covered the Rolling Stones “Honky Tonk Women,” Shania Twain’s songwriting on that album really inspired me “You’re Still The One,” and honored the late Gregg Allman with and changed the way I approached writing. “Midnight Rider” during Saturday’s show. It was so real, honest and simple. Listening Mailey’s favorite moment was a “high-octane” version of to those songs made me feel like home. “Love Don’t Live Here.” “They turned it an almost-southern rock Courtney Cole raver, and absolutely killed it,” he says. Washington suggests, 2. Mariah Carey’s Daydream and “The entire crowd singing to their final song ‘Need You Now’ Music Box: When I was growing up, I had this little boom was probably the coolest moment.” Deaton counters, “The single box in my house and it had a microphone.