Category Archives: Storify

by | April 27, 2015 · 9:20 am

Marissa Gallardo and Country Music

This semester I was able to take a deeper look at country music, not only through Rhetoric of Country Music but also from my own experiences. I saw Eric Church in concert, watched Nashville, saw Dierks Bentley perform at the Houston Rodeo, and saw the TX State Museum Country Music display.

This semester I was able to take a deeper look at country music, not only through Rhetoric of Country Music but also from my own experiences. I saw Eric Church in concert, watched Nashville, saw Dierks Bentley perform at the Houston Rodeo, and saw the TX State Museum Country Music display.

https://storify.com/marissagallardo/marissa-gallardo-and-country-music

Coming into Rhetoric of Country Music in the beginning of the semester, I expected the majority of the students would be interested in learning more about country music, like I did, but I soon found out that I certainly did not know as much about country music as I believed that I did.  I have been continuously impressed by the knowledge of country music and the vast opinions and tastes of everyone’s unique perspective on country music.

I was excited to begin the country music experience project and also continue enjoying country music as I begin to see it in a new light.  I began the project by brushing up on some country music history in San Marcos on the Texas State campus. I actually stumbled upon their country music display by accident.  Along with other important figures in Texas history, country music artists and live music in Austin specifically has played a very important role.

Both the Dierks Bentley and the Eric Church concerts were incredibly fun.  I had a very unique experience in each of the venues, the Frank Erwin Center and the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo.  A concert is one of the most personal ways you can interact with an artist, and many find that after they go to a concert they find a new appreciation for the artist and their genre; this is all very true for me.  Country music touches the lives of so many people, and a concert gives the audience a shared experience; you connect with the artist and the people around you.  Being able to see country music “in action” in the country music community was the best way to understand how and why country music affects people the way it does.

I have watched Nashville from the very beginning!  My mom and I love having shows that we watch together, and Nashville has been a great addition to the list.  Fusing country music and drama seems like a hard task to accomplish, and it can’t get better than Nashville.  I think it is important as someone who is studying country music on a deeper level that we understand how country music is represented in the general public, outside of die-hard country fans.

This course has certainly shaped the kind of music I have listened through during the semester but, perhaps, not in the way you would expect.  While we focus on country music in class, it has made me more and more interested in other genres, how they function in society and how they relate to country music.  I began listening to country music because of my parents; with that notion, I also reflected in all of the music that I enjoy as a reflection of my parents and siblings.  From Ska to Bakersfield Country to Reggae to Texas Country and back again, my taste of music has expanded, my appreciation of all music continues to grow.

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Filed under Austin, Class work, Reflection, Storify, Uncategorized

by | · 9:15 am

Abby Wills’ Country Music Experiences

This semester in my Rhetoric of Country Music class I had the opportunity to see country music’s community through country experiences. I took a selfie with the Willie Nelson statue, watched the ACMs, saw the movie Country Strong, and visited Waterloo Records to see classic country records.

 

https://storify.com/awills03/abby-wills-country-music-experiences

Since I started exploring music and learning about songwriters, I’ve been drawn to country music and the stories it tells. However, I learned this semester in Rhetoric of Country Music that there is a lot I don’t know. Usually as you grow up, you only listen to the music that is being produced at that time. So when I walked into class and learned about the country music stars that helped pave the way, I was inspired.

I had never given much thought into what country music sounded like in the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s. I was familiar with what my parents listen to and what I grew up listening to. This project was the perfect opportunity for me to look back on what country music once was and what country music is today.

My “once was” consisted of visiting the Willie Nelson statue and reflecting on how important his role was in country music. He went to Nashville, tested the waters for a bit, and decided to come back to Austin. His journey displays the differences in country music between Nashville and Texas. My “once was” also consisted of going to Waterloo Records and taking a look at the classic country records of Nashville Sound stars and Bob Wills. One thing I noticed was that I didn’t find many current country records. It was nice to be able to focus totally on the singers who helped define country music and make it grow.

My “today” experiences consisted of watching the Academy of Country Music awards and the movie Country Strong. Watching the ACM’s and seeing how they bring so many pop stars to perform duets really caught my attention. Before this class, I did not particularly notice the appearance of pop stars on country award shows. Similarly I had watched Country Strong about two years ago and I enjoyed it, but no specific moments stood out. Watching the movie a second time with this new knowledge of country music put things into perspective. I wonder if the pressure of fame was as big in Bob Wills’ days as it is in the movie.

This project has been an eye opening experience. I’ve recognized that my perspective on country music was limited; I listened to the songs and appreciated the melodies. I now understand the appeal of country music; there is a country music style for everyone. The subgenres make country music versatile and rich. If I had done these country experiences a year earlier, my take away from them would not be as valuable as it is now. I’ve learned so much in this class. When I look at my Storify, I see the history of country music combined with the present of country music. I’m able to compare the two and see what is different and what may be the same. These changes help me anticipate the future of the genre. And that anticipation is only possible because I took this class.

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by | · 9:10 am

Reid’s Lessons Learned through Country Music

While country music has always been a part of my life, the Rhetoric of Country Music class pushed me to learn and experience more country music than I would have by myself. I took a road trip to San Antonio to experience the Livestock Show and Rodeo, I sang along with the Turnpike Troubadours, I ate breakfast with my parents at historic Threadgill’s, and I watched Walk the Line. All of these experiences opened my eyes and educated me in the field of country music.

https://storify.com/reidthmpsn/reid-s-lessons-learned-through-country-music

Prior to enrolling in Rhetoric of Country Music, I would have considered myself an active member of the country music community. I went to concerts, discovered new artists, listened to country radio, and visited historic country music venues. However, since being a part of this class, I have engaged the country music world with a whole new perspective, which has allowed me to learn plenty of lessons along the way.

The reason my involvement in the country music community changed was not because of the things I did or the music I listened to, but rather the way in which I went about these activities. Although my first experience with the San Antonio Rodeo was this spring, it is definitely something I would have attended in the past regardless of my enrollment in a class. What made this trip different though, was how I treated the experience and truly learned from what I observed.

While in the past I probably would have casually walked past the small pop-up tent boasting the John Christopher Way Band, this class encouraged me to stop and listen. I heard the steel guitar, an instrument we had recently discussed in class, and immediately began to draw connections and build an analysis of what I was hearing.

In a similar fashion, when The Turnpike Troubadours came to perform at my fraternity’s party, it would have been natural for me to tune out the opening act. But because I was more engaged with the music itself, I was able to not only notice Shane Smith and the Saints, but also to compare and contrast their style with the main act.

When my parents took me to Threadgill’s for breakfast earlier this semester, country music was everywhere. The old me probably would have recognized the history, but the new, more engaged me was able to really appreciate the incredible moments that the building had played host to throughout it’s history. To be in the same building as some of the music world’s greatest acts, surrounded by decades of memorabilia, was a cool experience.

Finally, this past weekend I re-watched one of my favorite movies: Walk the Line. I have always known who Johnny Cash is, but this class gave me insight that allowed me to change how I watched the movie. While the movie depicts his time spent in jail and his relationship with June, listening to a portion of his album recorded in a prison in class as well as learning from fellow students helped me to understand the life of Johnny Cash even more.

Regardless of your enrollment in a class, I would encourage everyone to get out and learn more about what you are passionate about. I have always been a country music fan, but this project and class pushed me to discover new facts and experiences that surround me every day. Next time you have an open afternoon, instead of opening your computer and letting Netflix consume the rest of your day, research your favorite genre of music, hobby, or anything else and go check it out. You never know what you might learn.

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Filed under Austin, Live Music, Movies and TV, Music Videos, Reflection, Storify, Texas

by | · 9:05 am

Emma’s Country Music Experiences

Over the past few months, Rhetoric of Country Music has pushed me out into the exciting world of country music. From attending concerts to watching television, it has seemed like I have been completely immersed in country all semester long. I was able to dig into the past at record stores while watching today’s country music unfold in TV and award shows. It is safe to say that now I know much more about country music than I ever thought I would. I’ve always enjoyed country and it has always been around me however, this project led me to new experiences pertaining to country. My experiences start with watching the TV series Nashville every week. It’s been my favorite television show since it aired and it continues to peak my interest the more I watch. In March, I attended the Eric Church Outsider’s Tour in Austin with some of my best friends, which was one of the highlights of my semester. On Sunday April 19th, I sat down on the couch and tuned into the ACM Awards, which I have actually never watched before. Finally, I was able to look back at some older country artists and albums looking around Waterloo Records. Through immersing myself into country music culture I more fully understand the ideals and influences of country music from present day to the past.

https://storify.com/emmam460/country-experiences-reflection

 

This spring, I have had many opportunities to engage myself in the country music community and I thoroughly enjoyed my time doing it. Through watching TV series Nashville, I really feel like I understand the ins and outs of Nashville as the country music capital of the world. It also gave insight into the music making, record producing, and performing aspects, which are definitely important parts of the genre. Watching the ACM Awards let me take a closer look into current country artist’s songs and albums, helping me understand what the world of country music is like today. I was able to delve into older yet timeless records and artists while searching for records at Waterloo in Austin. I found many albums including a Johnny Cash Greatest Hits album, a Glen Campbell album, a Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris compilation album, and a 1979 Willie Nelson and Leon Russell album. Although I didn’t purchase these records, as I would have no way of playing them, it was fun to browse around the store to see what I could find. Seeing Eric Church in concert had to be the highlight of all of my country music experiences this semester. Having never heard much about him, I didn’t know what to expect going into the show, but I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining and fun he was to watch.

Each of my experiences was so different, which was good because I got to see different aspects of country music and everything that encompasses it. From getting a look into current country and looking back at older country music, I feel like I had a well-rounded experience. The biggest thing I learned from these experiences is that country is a melting pot of an array of sounds, voices, themes, instruments, and subgenres. I had always seen country, as having the same general sound and main ideas, but this is not the case. Country is a much-varied genre and it took immersing myself into the culture to fully realize just how amazing country music is.

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by | · 9:00 am

Abby’s Experience in Country Music

This semester, as a part of the Country Music Project, I had the chance to engage in the country music community in a whole new light. I learned all about Willie Nelson, became abolsutely hooked on the show “Nashville,” watched the ACM’s, and read the Texas Music Magazine.  Through these activities, I was able to connect with country music more than I ever thought I could, and learned a new appreciation for the music genre’s history and very promising future.

 

This semester, as a part of the Country Music Project, I had the chance to engage in the country music community in a whole new light. I learned all about Willie Nelson, became abolsutely hooked on the show “Nashville,” watched the ACM’s, and read the Texas Music Magazine.

https://storify.com/shamis_abby/abby-s-experience-in-country-music

This spring, I really immersed myself in country music.  It has been something I have always dabbled in, but never fully immersed myself in before.  Taking this class was a huge step for me to begin with.  I did not know much about country music and its rich history, but I quickly found out how much I would come to learn and then fall in love with it.  I started out hesitant, by bringing my parents to visit Willie in statue form in downtown Austin.  He piqued my curiosity about Nashville, which made me look at the hit show in a whole new way.  I could relate to how business-y the city is, and how different that is from Austin.  I realized the creativity and freedom that Austin holds and how in Nashville the musical freedom does not always come so easily.  I saw the way country music stars such as Tim McGraw were portrayed at the Oscars versus how country music stars were at the American Country Music Awards.  And lastly, I read the Texas Music Magazine which provided me with a new group, Whisky Myers, that I happen to really like.

 

While doing all of these things, I became proud of myself for diving in to something that I haven’t always been the comfortable and familiar with.  My pride quickly turned to hunger as I strove understand why country music is the way it is today.  The broad category of country music and all of the subgenres that fit within this title can be confusing sometimes, but by taking the knowledge I had learned and applying it to real experiences made the knowledge more tangible.  The subgenres project taught me the most about country music, and because of that I feel like I understand the genre so much better.  Because I was able to apply my knowledge, I could understand the differences and similarities between Austin and Nashville.  I could see how Nashville turned Willie to come to Austin.  I could appreciate the way the artists were celebrated and revered for their creativity at the awards show.  And I could open myself up to a new band, and be surprised at how much I like one of their songs, which quickly turned into exploring more of their music.  When I look at my Storify, I see my semester in country music. But what stands out the most is how artist-oriented my semester has been.  I came in knowing a couple of Dixie Chicks songs and a little bit of Kenny Chesney (thanks to my parents’ tastes), but am leaving the semester with a wealth of new artists to listen to.

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