Going Out With a Bang!

Thanks for the Memories card with colorful background with defocused lights

Before enrolling in Rhetoric 309K, I thought I knew country music. I had grown up listening to it, I had an AMAZING playlist on my iTunes, and I even knew the lyrics to nearly all of Randy Travis’ songs, and I’m not a fan of today’s country radio. So I believed myself to be an expert… until second question into class when we were asked, “What makes a song ‘country’?” It was really hard for me to come up with an answer other than, “you just know when it’s not!” I had a great time learning about the origins and evolution of country music, and what factors go into making a song popular at the time, but I had the most fun getting to explore the extent of country music influences around Austin!

Threadgills-Austin-sign-photoFirst stop: Threadgill’s!!

I had always wanted to try Threadgill’s since freshmen year, when a professor suggested it to me when I told him I was a total Foodie! For some reason I never had gotten around to doing it until I found out it was the list of things to do for this class. And I’m so glad I had a reason to go, because it is some of the best southern-style, home cooking you can eat (other than your grandma’s house of course!). A group of friends and I went after church for their Sunday Brunch Buffet and while we were enjoying our food we also got to appreciate live bluegrass gospel music from a local band. It was delectable food served in a brilliant atmosphere, filled with country music memorabilia. I have already been there five times this semester! (This may be a slight problem, but it’s too good to pass up!) I suggest you give it a shot if you haven’t visited already.

Read all about it!

Usually I’m one of those girls who just reads a magazine while waiting in the checkout line, but I decided to go ahead anScreen Shot 2015-11-29 at 3.43.29 PMd subscribe to a one-year digital subscription of “Texas Music” for this class. I actually enjoy the magazine, because it highlights musical artists and bands from Texas only and also covers different musical events in the state. I didn’t know Texas had so much hidden talent. I actually starting YouTubing (yes that’s a verb!) some of the artists that were featured and now I can say I’m a fan to some. It’s an entertaining magazine that covers all genres of music, so it’s really nice to just pick up and find out what’s happening in the Texas music world. I’m cheap though, so once this year is up I will be unsubscribing. (It’s still a great magazine though!)

A night out… actually several nights out!

This class has given me an excuse to go out dancing almost every other weekend. I was able to take some of friends who had never been before and guess what… My other blog post, “We’re Going Boot Scootin’,” was actually a great guide for them. (These things really do help!) Broken Spoke was the go-to place for us on Friday nights. Even though it was an older crowd, we still had a lot of fun and it was just nice to have a night of carefree dancing to some of the greatest country hits. I had the honor, and yes I will say honor, to dance with the best two-stepper I have ever seen. HE was so smooth I literally didn’t have to put much effort into anything, he spun me so much I was confused. It was  so much fun!

Thanks for the Memories!

While exploring Austin’s country scene I was pleasantly surprised to find the rich history that this city holds. It was nice to have the opportunity to experience a lot of the atmosphere’s I wouldn’t have normally went to on my own . Now, I just have to binge watch “Nashville” on Netflix, and life will be complete! I’m thankful  for the opportunities to made this semester oh so memorable.

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Filed under Blog Post 5

Unexpected Influences

Note: This is an example of Blog Post 5.

Country music has been a huge influence on me as a person ever since I can remember. Everyone knows that I am passionate about the genre and constantly listen to it throughout each day. The genre has instilled beliefs and values into me that make me the man I am today, and I am thankful for that. I will even go as far as to say I would be a much different person if I had never adopted listening to country music. Although I have been around country music all my life, I still have a lot to learn from it. When I signed up for this class I expected to learn a lot about the genre, but wasn’t sure specifically what it would be.

PATThe first activity I completed this semester was to go see a live country show. I have been to so many country concerts in my life, and didn’t think this one would be any different. The only thing I did differently at this concert was to be aware of how this environment influenced me at that particular moment. The concert I chose to attend was a Pat Green concert here in Austin at the Fiesta Gardens. The concert was smaller than a usual Pat Green concert, because he was playing for a student organization to help them raise money for charity. The concert was as anyone would expect. People dressed in jeans and cowboy hats, and of course beer and fried food were being sold. What this concert taught me was how important a good venue is for a concert. The Fiesta Gardens is an open-air venue surrounded by a large lawn, setting the perfect tone for country music. The barn like feel gets you excited to hear country music, and the food and drinks that are available also set a good tone. When picking concerts to go to I now research the venue beforehand to see if looks fitting, I would recommend doing this.

COUPLANDThe second activity I completed was to go two stepping at a dancehall. I went to The Old Coupland Dancehall in Coupland, Texas. I went just last week, and there was a small country cover band playing. It is safe to say I have two left feet, and openly despise dancing. Despite that, I was forced onto the dance floor at the beginning of the night for what felt to be the longest three songs of my life. What this experience taught me was that you do not have to be listening to a big name singer to enjoy a dancehall. This cover band was a local Austin cover band that no one knows; yet I still had a great time. Now I am confident that I can go into a small dancehall on a random night when a local band is playing. After all I could have just as much fun doing that as I do seeing a famous artist.

Last Sunday I ended my semester activities by watching the Academy of Country Music Awards. The event was held in Las Vegas this year and hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley. When I watched the awards I noticed how many people it takes to make an album or send a star on tour. During the acceptance speeches the artists often spoke of many names that I did not recognize that helped them earn the award. All the fans hear about is the stars, not about the producer who is working long hours to make sure the album is perfect. We also don’t hear about band managers or the guys that are working behind the scenes at a concert. These people are just as important and need more recognition.

All in all I have learned more about country music this semester than I would have ever imagined. It is something I enjoy learning about, and am eager to learn more. I have now realized I have so much more to learn, its just a matter of opening my eyes and looking at the music and its surrounding in more depth. I am excited to continue my journey of learning about country music, and cant wait to see what else the genre has to offer me.

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Filed under Austin, Awards, Blog Post 5, Dancing, Texas

Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival

In just 18 days thousands of country music fans will head to sunny Southern California for the 10th Annual Stagecoach Country Music Festival. The festival is located at the Empire Polo Club in the dry desert of Indio, CA. This venue name may ring a bell. Coachella takes place at the same place by the same company, Goldenvoice.

Stagecoach offers a variety of music such as mainstream country, bluegrass, some rock, and also alternative country. With three stages of artists to choose from all day long, you’ll never be dissatisfied with a performance.

In 2012 Stagecoach had a record sell-out crowd at 55,000 attendees. After hearing about how great it was, my friends and I decided to finally go. The first time I attended stagecoach was my senior year of high school in April of 2013. A few friends and I skipped our senior prom to be able to attend the whole weekend and it didn’t disappoint.

The three headliners were Friday- Toby Keith, Saturday- Lady Antebellum, and Sunday- Zac Brown Band. But those weren’t the only big names to look forward to. Other artists such as Hank Williams Jr, Dierks Bentley, Tanya Tucker, and Florida Georgia Line were fan favorites as well.

The 102 degree heat was a bit discouraging but we pushed through and had a great time. The festival usually provides cooling tents and misting fans to help with that as well.

As soon as the 2014 Stagecoach tickets were released, we planned our weekend because we knew we couldn’t miss it. This time my mom and sister came along so we got “VIP” wristbands. Having this special wristband meant you got to escape the rowdy crowds and go into a separate pit up front with a private beer garden. It was awesome to see the performers up close however, as a college student a part of me wished I was back with my crazy friends so I didn’t not stay there the entire time.

Stagecoach offers on site camping. I HIGHLY recommend this option if you are looking to attend the festival. My brother and some of his friends brought an RV out for the weekend and we ended up hanging out there more than our house because it was so close to the venue. I would even argue there is just as much entertainment in the campground as there is in the festival itself. People hangout between the rows of trailers playing flip cup, beer pong, or even riding horse bicycles.

The music isn’t the only thing to look forward to inside the festival. Line dancing lessons are offered at “The Honkytonk Dance Hall.” Vendors such as Maui Jim, Toyota, and Barefoot Wine set up booths to show you their products. You can also find small carnival games and an energy playground! You may think Californians don’t barbecue like Texans, which might be partially true, but each year Stagecoach hosts an annual BBQ Cook-off at the festival where attendees can buy items for $5. The winner of this competition goes to the World Championship in Kansas City, so it’s a big deal!

Stagecoach has been such an exciting weekend for me the past four years, Unfortunately, moving to Texas last year broke my attending streak but this year I made sure I could fly home for it! The lineup is one I can’t miss!

If you have the chance and love country music, I highly recommend attending Stagecoach in the future! Stagecoach is the highest grossing festival centered on country music in the world, so clearly I am not the only one that enjoys it. Don’t believe me? Just watch this video.

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Filed under Blog Post 4, Concert, Dancing, Live Music

Chris LeDoux For President

Although Chris LeDoux is no longer living, I took a look into the man he was, and why he would have been the perfect candidate for the next President of the United States. I know that this humble he never got too involved in politics, but he never had an opportunity to run against Trump.

When political platforms begin to revolve around the size of opponents hands, a political race seems a little bit more open. I know I sound like I am on a soap box here complaining about The United States’ presidential candidates, but I think adding one more candidate to the mix would make this reality TV series of a debate even more lively. I would like to nominate a living Chris LeDoux for the president of the United States.

I would nominate him into the republican party, just for the thrill of seeing him compete against Mr. Trump. We all know that Mr. LeDoux would be much above low belittling comments that make the debates so interesting thus far. His platform would be based on only one brilliant idea. “A five Dollar Fine for Whining.” As he mentions in his song “Five Dollar Fine,” it is the only problem he faces at the humble Wyoming bar he drinks at his whining. By implementing the five-dollar penalty for whining, LeDoux’s bar becomes only for a fun loving crowd, and who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

As Trump spouts off about how he plans to “Make America Great Again” Chris LeDoux has the simple solution. If nobody is whining, there are clearly no problems. It is just one simple rule that it would take to truly make America Great Again. County music can be criticized for being too simple, just like LeDoux will be when he runs for president, but that is where its beauty truly lies. It is relatable, understandable, and just well… American. Because LeDoux embodies these qualities of country music he again stands far above other possible candidates for either party.

Alright, you have made it this far into the post and so you are clearly interested in why Chris LeDoux set foot in the oval office. He is an economic genius, with the same simple song that his campaign is based on. A five dollar fine for whining would lead to immediate government funding, because all the funds would go to the government. This would lead to tax cuts across the board, or a strong decline in whining… Either way America is winning. I know you are questioning how much people really whine, and you may be among the first. Nobody has done a study on it, but Psychology today has many articles talking about why we whine and how to deal with whiners (language disclaimer).

RachelWhine (that’s a five dollar fine!)

This plan of implementing the five dollar fine for whining would do one of two things. Fund the economy, or put an ending to the disease that is whining in America. Both of these are wins of the American public. They either are paying less in taxes, or they have nothing to whine about ever. That is how you really make America great again.

But is Chris a humble American just like you and I? Yes, yes he is. Sure he became famous, and now is doing pretty well for himself, but in this telling interview, LeDoux fans hear about his times competing rodeo where he and his wife couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel unless he won, and how he would just sell his tapes outside the rodeos. Compare this to the small two-million-dollar loan that trump got from his father, or just the political advancements Ms. Clinton can make with just her last name. Both of these people are pretending to be what is right for America when there is really just one clear answer. Chris LeDoux 16. If you don’t like that well there’s a five dollar fine for whinin’, we tell you, before you vote Chris… If only he was still alive.

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Filed under Blog Post 3, Politics

Check Out Your ‘Buzzfeed’ Listicles

Note: You are welcome to comment on this post for credit.

At last, your listicles are up and ready for public viewing. While it’s tempting to keep looking forward, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to look back at some of the incredible work y’all have done in the last few weeks.Taylor Swift

Katerina Taylor Swift Is Your Free Psychologist
Shira Betrayal 101: From a Female Country Music Perspective
Olivia 5 Not-So-Subtle Country Break-Up Songs
Timothy 5 Outrageous & Accurate Country Relationship Songs
Julie 7 Country Guys and One Single Girl in a Bar…

Dierks & Luke

Kevin 7 Gateway Songs to Liking Country Music
Tyler 6 Songs to Kick Start Your Tailgate
Max 8 Country Songs Guaranteed to Pull Fishes
Mackenzi 5 Stereotypical Dirt Road Country Songs
Mae Has Country Music Made Us All White Trash?
Erin 5 Country Songs that Don’t Fit the Country Bill

Brad & Carrie

Joseph 6 Country Song to Listen to on a Road Trip
Cassidy Top 5 Country Songs to Make You Kick Up Your Boots
Lottie Best Daddy-Daughter Country Songs
Laura 6 Songs that Describe What Your Parents Are Feeling…
Brittany 5 Songs that Portray What You Want to Say to Your College Self

Romeo

Adrian 5 Country Songs Depicting Alcohol Abuse
Walker 5 Songs Where Whiskey Washed Women Away
Drew 7 Songs that Show Country’s Love-Hate Relationship with LA
Paige 7 Country Songs to Help You Perfect Your Spanglish
Lee 6 Country Jams on Donald Trump’s Playlist

In the comments below, tell us what you love about these listicles and what you thought about the process of making them.

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Filed under Buzzfeed article, Class work, Lists