MIRANDA LAMBERT'S EARLY RADIO TOUR

Miranda Lambert understood at an early age what grass roots promotion was all about while embarking on what the old-timers refer to as a "tower tour." Showing up at the doorsteps of country stations and begging for some airplay worked well for Loretta Lynn back in the '60s, and it helped the boys of Alabama chart their first country song in the late '70s. "I had an independent record out when I was 17 and it was on the Texas music chart," Miranda tells X Radio, so me and my mom got into our Ford Expedition and had bologna sandwiches in the back, in the ice chest. We went around to 75 stations in Texas and just walked in basically with my guitar and said, ‘Hey, I’m new, play my record please.’ I did my own promotion. I called every week, and called 70 stations a week, every Monday, and asked if they would add my record and all this kinda stuff... I had no clue what I was doing. I just kind of like guessed and it actually worked," she laughs.

(from gactv.com)

Thursday, Jan 26, 2006

Knight Ridder Newspapers

You never know what's going to happen when you sign to a major label: You could languish in obscurity as you did before, or you could turn into Miranda Lambert.

Lambert hasn't quite hit household-name status, but the gritty country singer's getting there: Her major-label debut, "Kerosene," has been a steady seller since its release this year, and after her appearance on the recent CMA Awards (in which the stage was set on fire, literally), it's not like anyone's gonna forget her anytime soon.

We recently stole a few minutes of the 22-year-old singer's time:
Question: I haven't talked to you since the record came out and all these great things have happened to you. So how's it feel to have done so well?

Answer: It's been awesome. The record just went gold, so I got my first gold plaque - the best Christmas present I could ask for. I went on tour with Keith Urban. (This year) I'm on tour with George Strait.

It's going so well that it's hard for me to imagine that it's happening this easily.

Q: Wait. You're on tour with George Strait?

A: Yes, THE George Strait, the king of country music. There's no other tour as big as this. It's me, him and Tracy Lawrence.

(The tour will stop at Albany's Pepsi Arena Thursday, Jan. 26.)

Q: You put on quite a show at the CMAs, with the pyro and all.

A: My manager came up with setting the stage on fire. I'm a new artist, and people are going to forget about you if you don't make a good impression. I think I did. You could feel the heat 30 rows back. Everybody has ballads out now, and so that's what everybody was playing, except me and Big & Rich. Everybody seemed laid-back, then we set the stage on fire and woke up everybody.

Q: When you first started out, where'd you play?

A: Well, there wasn't anywhere to play in East Texas, so I played Dallas a lot. My first gig was at a dive bar in Longview (Texas) called the Rio. I had the house gig there for a while - three nights a week, four hours a night. It was tough. But it taught me how to play bars and interact with audiences. I did bars every weekend for two years before I got on "Nashville Star."

Q: That's right - you were on that show, sort of a country version of "American Idol."

A: Yeah, I came in third. Buddy Jewell came in first, John Arthur Martinez came in second.

Q: How funny that you're doing better than either of them.

A: Well, I didn't want to win first place. I know a lot of people say that after they lose, but I got on there to try to get a publishing deal for my writing, not a record deal. I wasn't ready to win. I was only 19. I'm a little older now, and I feel like if I would have won, it would not have turned out this way.

Country Standard Time magazine has "Kerosene" listed as #6 CD of the year.

In case you were wondering who finished above her...
1-Lee Ann Womack
2-Brad Paisley
3-Dierks Bentley
4-Patty Loveless 
5-The Wrights

6-Miranda Lambert

CMT Canada's website:

21/01/2006 - LEE ANN WOMACK came out on top in three different categories in the Nashville Scene magazine’s recent Critics’ Poll for country music. Over 100 music critics were asked to name the best country records of 2005. Lee Ann was named #1 for her single, "I May Hate Myself in The Morning". She was also named Country Artist and Female Vocalist of the Year in the poll. The Best Live Act went to KEITH URBAN. GARY ALLAN was named Best Male Vocalist and MIRANDA LAMBERT was given the title of Best New Act.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Cover_Story/2006/01/19/Country_Music_Critics_Poll_2006/index.shtml

Story
January 19, 2006

Country Music Critics’ Poll 2006
The Winners

For the Scene’s annual country music poll, we asked more than 100 critics from all over North America, from big-city newspapers and glossy magazines, from alternative newsweeklies and self-published fanzines, to vote on the best country acts and records of 2005. This year, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert, among others, came out at or near the top—all singers who grappled with the classic honky-tonk themes of sin and salvation. To read more about the poll results, and what they say about where country music might be headed in 2006, read Geoffrey Himes’ essay.


Gary Allan
#1 Male Vocalist
#2 album
#5 single

Albums

1. Lee Ann Womack: There’s More Where That Came From (MCA)
2. Rodney Crowell: The Outsider (Columbia)
3. Robbie Fulks: Georgia Hard (Yep Roc)
4. Marty Stuart & the Fabulous Superlatives: Souls’ Chapel (Superlatone/Universal South)
5. Gary Allan: Tough All Over (MCA)
6. Brad Paisley: Time Well Wasted (Arista)
7. Dwight Yoakam: Blame the Vain (New West)
8. Mary Gauthier: Mercy Now (Lost Highway)
9. Patty Loveless: Dreamin’ My Dreams (Epic)
10. Miranda Lambert: Kerosene (Epic)
11. Bobby Bare: The Moon Was Blue (Dualtone)
12. Dierks Bentley: Modern Day Drifter (Capitol)
13. Martina McBride: Timeless (RCA)
14. Neil Young: Prairie Wind (Reprise)
15. Gretchen Wilson: All Jacked Up (Epic) 16. Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell: Begonias (Yep Roc)
17. James McMurtry: Childish Things (Compadre)
18. Merle Haggard: Chicago Wind (Capitol)
19. John Prine: Fair & Square (Oh Boy)
20. Deana Carter: The Story of My Life (Vanguard)
21. Trisha Yearwood: Jasper County (MCA)
22. Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Come on Back (Rounder)
23. Nickel Creek: Why Should the Fire Die (Sugar Hill)
24. Bobby Pinson: Man Like Me (RCA)
25. Shooter Jennings: Put the O Back in Country (Universal South)

Singles

1. Lee Ann Womack: "I May Hate Myself in the Morning"
2. Brad Paisley: "Alcohol"
3. Miranda Lambert: "Kerosene"
4. Dierks Bentley: "Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do"
5. Gary Allan: "Best I Ever Had"
6. Shooter Jennings: "4th of July"
7. Patty Loveless: "Keep Your Distance"
8. Toby Keith: "As Good as I Once Was"
9. Mary Gauthier: "Mercy Now"
10. Trisha Yearwood: "Georgia Rain"
11. James McMurtry: "We Can’t Make It Here"
12. Gretchen Wilson: "I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today"
13. Dwight Yoakam: "Blame the Vain"
14. Rodney Crowell: "The Obscenity Prayer"
15. Gretchen Wilson: "All Jacked Up"
16. Robbie Fulks: "Georgia Hard"
17. Keith Urban: "Making Memories of Us"
18. Bobby Pinson: "Don’t Ask Me How I Know"
19. Merle Haggard: "Where’s All the Freedom"
20. Sara Evans: "A Real Fine Place to Start"

Reissues

1. Charlie Poole: You Ain’t Talkin’ to Me (Columbia/Legacy)
2. Johnny Cash: The Legend (Columbia/Legacy)
3. June Carter Cash: Keep on the Sunny Side (Columbia/Legacy)
4. David Allan Coe: Penitentiary Blues (Hacktone)
5. The Band: A Musical History (Capitol)
6. Emmylou Harris: Heartaches & Highways: The Very Best of Emmylou Harris (Warner Bros./Reprise/Rhino)
7. Doug Sahm & the Sir Douglas Quintet: The Complete Mercury Recordings (Hip-O Select)
8. Various Artists: Good for What Ails You: Music of the Medicine Shows, 1926-1937 (Old Hat)
9. Rosanne Cash: Seven Year Ache (Columbia/Legacy)
10. Shel Silverstein: The Best of Shel Silverstein: His Words, His Songs, His Friends (Columbia/Legacy)

Artists of the Year

1. Lee Ann Womack
2. Marty Stuart
3. Brad Paisley
4. Alison Krauss & Union Station
5. Rodney Crowell
6. Keith Urban
7. Gary Allan
8. Gretchen Wilson
9. Dierks Bentley
10. Patty Loveless

Male Vocalists

1. Gary Allan
2. Dwight Yoakam
3. Marty Stuart
4. Brad Paisley
5. Merle Haggard
6. Dierks Bentley
7. Alan Jackson
8. Robbie Fulks
9. George Strait
10. Rodney Crowell

Female Vocalists

1. Lee Ann Womack
2. Gretchen Wilson
3. Patty Loveless
4. Martina McBride
5. Trisha Yearwood
6. Alison Krauss
7. Miranda Lambert
8. Sara Evans
9. Mary Gauthier
10 tie) Shelby Lynne / Caitlin Cary

Live Acts

1. Keith Urban
2. Alison Krauss & Union Station
3. Marty Stuart
4. Brad Paisley
5. Big & Rich

Duos and Groups

1. Big & Rich
2. Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell
3. Alison Krauss & Union Station
4. Brooks & Dunn
5. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

Songwriters

1. Rodney Crowell
2. John Rich
3. Robbie Fulks
4. Mary Gauthier
5. James McMurtry

Instrumentalists

1. Jerry Douglas
2. Brad Paisley
3. Chris Thile
4. Kenny Vaughan
5. Keith Urban

New Acts

1. Miranda Lambert
2. Shooter Jennings
3. Sugarland
4. The Wrights
5. Hanna-McEuen

day after a truly rockin' time in the heart of Missouri...

KANSAS CITY - There are performances and then there are rockin' performances...

Before the show got started, I spoke with Rick as is always the case. He asked me if there's any place in the country where I haven't seen Ran yet. I replied that I'm continually working on it. Even though I did end up going alone, that comment and speaking with some of the people who went made me forget all of that...

Onto showtime...at 9:05, the lights dimmed while the crowd roared in anticipated applause. With the band members taking their positions and starting the intro to " New Strings ", Ran walked out onto the stage and the audience's roar grew even louder ( myself included Here's how the set went :

" New Strings "
" What About Georgia "
" Mama, I'm Alright "
" Greyhound Bound for Nowhere "
" I Wanna Die "
covers she does I have to work on the titles " Angel Song ", " Creek Song ", "Down Song "
" Bad Moon Rising "
" There's a Wall "
" Love Is Looking for You "
" Love Your Memory "
" I Can't Be Bothered "
" Bring Me Down "
" Me and Charlie Talking " ( crowd went nuts )
Ran actually did an encore and she closed with " Crazy "

To close out the evening, the members of the fan club got to say hi to Ran ( I'm very sure there are some fans who post here who did go ), another " Kerosene " CD cover, and my most dear work, my sig book. the set Ran put, snapping all sorts of different stageshots of Ran and her band ( while still having a blast ), and to close out, meeting Ran again to tell her how much of an excellent evening it was. Out of all the Ran experiences I've had to date, Columbia ranks as my second all-time favorite now only behind the twin set she put on in Paso Robles on my b-day last year. That gives you an idea how much I loved last night!

Ran really rocks,
Mark - honeybee Ran - Draper, UT

----------------------------

Hey Mark, I was there at The Blue Note too. That is a great place to see bands and artists for sure. I've seen many great acts there. I thought the whole night was great. What did you think of the opening band? A lot of the time the opening band is from ok to bad, but I was surprised to actually hear a band opening a show that I really enjoyed! How about you? What was your opinion of the whole experience?
Thanks!

deranged - Missouri

---------------------------

Wow!!!
I don't know if I could beat your review of the Concert at the Blue Note.. I was there my first Ran concert and M&G...The whole show was awesome. Who opened up for her was Exit 41. I think that is the bands name and they were very good. I actually knew the guitar player Tom. I didn't even know that he was in the band. But they did a very good job.

Ran's performance ROCKED!!! The whole place was pumped up. I almost came out of that concert not able to speak since I was screaming so loud and singing to every song she did. She did really good with the song Crazy it was great. I love the Blue Note because it is such a small venue and there is not a bad seat anywhere. Well the seats are in the balcony and on the main floor you stand. I have seen many concerts and that concert people were singing loud to her songs and you could hear Ran but sometimes the crowd was so loud you could hear us sing.. It was awesome the intensity of that place. I did meet Ran back stage and she is very sweet, down to earth, and very beautiful inside and out.
She did sign several things for me and I spoke very little. You know how you get when you know what your going to say and then nothing comes out. That was me. But, I decided I will get another chance in St. Louis in Feb. I did take pictures with Ran and her dad. So, when I get them I will post them as soon as I can.

Thanks Ran for the AWESOME concert in Columbia and just wanted to say that TEXAS GIRL DID ROCK THE SHOW ME STATE...

shellr - (Rachelle) - Missouri

---------------------------

Hello all from a new Miranda fan. I really enjoyed the Blue Note show as it was a rockin' performance from both Ran and the opening band, Exit 41. It was a perfect venue and the show sold out, although 90 tickets were still available when the doors opened. Exit 41 was the best opening band I have seen in a very long time and apparently had alot of fans there, too, because people were all singing along to a song called "Honeysuckle Wine" as the band rocked. They were also giving out free cds in the front lobby of the club after Ran started playing. I saw several of the band members come back into the club to check out Ran's set and they seemed to be really enjoying themselves, as was everyone there that night! I always prefer to see an artist like Ran in a club setting than a big concert situation. It's so much more personal and the artist is always so much more accessable for the fans. This was definitely one of the best shows I have been to in quite some time. I wish I could have caught her on the Keith Urban tour!

bigbubba

-------------------------

This is my first post to the board, but I felt compelled to register and join after seeing Miranda in concert at the Blue Note. To help out with the review, the names of the cover songs are:

Angel from Montgomery (Bonnie Raitt)
Cripple Creek (The Band)
Crazy (Patsy Cline)
Bad Moon Rising (Creedance Clearwater Revival)
Hillbilly Highway (???)
The Night the Bottle Let Me Down (Merle)

aheide - Kansas

-------------------

Hey everyone ( I'm sure some are still buzzing over Wednesday night At every Ran appearance I go to, I always make it a point to get the titles to the covers she does but I only get a couple of them. Now that I think of it, I probably saw some of y'all when we were waiting to meet Ran after the performance. The other aspect I loved was the audience being intensely pumped up as it was. I'd have to say that there were times where the crowd was singing louder than Ran and you could tell! Please take care and thanks again for all of the responses !

You guys rock
Mark - honeybee Ran - Draper, UT

Dec. 4-5, 2003 - Miranda performs the opening accoustic show for George Jones at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana. Performances were at 7:30pm.

Oct. 25, 2003 - Miranda performs at the Marshall Civic Center in Marshall, Texas. Performance was at 5pm. A Bar-B-Q followed at 5:30pm. Performance again at 7pm. This was Miranda's birthplace.

Oct. 24, 2003 - Spirit of America Tour - Miranda performs for the troops at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. Performance was at 7pm.