NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Josh Thompson thinks country crowds have always been rowdy

He also shared his thoughts on Sammy Kershaw's recent comments about the genre. Take a listen below.

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Josh Thompson Releases 'Turn It Up'

 

When Josh Thompson released his new album Turn It Up on April 1st via Show-Dog Universal alot of people were wondering what they could expect. Would he cave into the mainstream pressure of a pop sound or would he stick to his country roots? 

Turn It Up is the perfect album title for this record, the songs are designed for those who like to have a good time. Also, the title fits Josh's career path these days. It's clear he is turning things up in the country music world. The album, for the most part, is pure country all the way through. However, there is one song Josh took a chance with. "Down For A Get Down" seems to be a little more mainstream than the others. Then you have "A Little Memory" which is considered a ballad. The song is one of my favorites.  Josh co-wrote each song on this album except his current single "Cold Beer With Your Name On It." Josh wrote with a lot of big names including Brent Cobb and Justin Moore. "Hank Crankin People" was written for the outlaw crowd and for those of you who can relate to this track, it hits hard.

It's been nearly four years since Josh Thompson released Way Out Here and this album was long over due. The album title is exactly what you will want to do when you hear it,Turn It Up.

 

For more country music news follow me via twitter @brittwv.

Josh Thompson Answers 10 Random Questions

 

Wisconsin native, Josh Thompson, has officially made his come back into the country music world. Josh is most recognized for his past singles such as "Beer On The Table" and "Way Out Here" which were released via Columbia Records back in 2009 and 2010. In Sept. 2012 Josh signed with Show-Dog Universal, which is also home to Toby Keith. In August he released his new single to country radio titled "Cold Beer With Your Name On It." The song is pleasantly written and sticks to your brain like glue. It's a catchy tune that has a unique spin on missing someone. Josh Thompson is incredible at everything he does. His songwriting skills? Genius. His voice? Vigorous. He is everything country music needs, especially in a time where pop is taking over our genre. Country music needs a super hero and Josh Thompson just might be wearing a cape.

1. What is your favorite thing about country music?

It has always been considered the common folks music and that's why I love it. It's real life. 

Tribal leaders in trouble for holding illegal hunts for country singers

There are enough places to hunt legally in this big ol' country of ours, so why is it that people keep taking country stars on illegal hunts?

According to TheState.com, three former Blackfeet tribal leaders have been sentenced to three years probation for holding illegal big-game hunts for country singers including Josh Thompson, Justin Moore and Mark Cooke who were all taping an outdoor television show on the Montana reservation. 

John Michael Montgomery had also been expected to hunt, but due to a scheduling conflict never did.

On top of probation, Jay St. Goddard, Jay Wells, and Gayle Skunkcap Jr. were also ordered to pay $56,625 in restitution after they pleaded guilty to holding four hunts in 2010 and 2011 without the proper licenses and to using tribal funds and personnel to outfit and guide the musicians.  

None of the singers or television show producers involved were ever in trouble and were probably completely oblivious to the illegal actions of their friendly neighborhood tribal leaders. 

Former (I hope) Josh Thompson band banjo player arrested for seeking sex with child, pleads guilty to enticement

What a creep. Let's hope this guy is out of public rotation for a long, long while.

30-year-old Abraham Eugene Spear is/was a banjo player for Josh Thompson's band. While in Dallas to perform at a Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in the area, Spear was arrested after the FBI had monitored him contacting adults in hopes of having sex with young children. 

Last Friday, February 15th, Abraham pleaded guilty in a Dallas federal court to one count of attempted enticement of a minor and faces 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release. He faces sentencing on June 7.

According to Crime Blog, Abraham had been in contact "with someone he believed to be the mother of 7- and 9-year-old girls in hopes of engaging in sexual acts with them." The mother he thought he was speaking with was thankfully an undercover FBI agent. According to a release from U.S. Attorney Sarah Saldana, Abraham was expecting to meet the “mother” that day but instead the FBI arrested him at a local deli.

Reportedly, Spear admitted that this wasn't the first time he had approached mothers of young children and had even offered to pay $200 for sex with one minor girl.

Scary that there's people like this out there. Let's just hope he gets some help while in prison and receives a sentence on the higher end of the 10 years to life possible. 

{Dallas News Crime Blog}

Justin Moore addresses illegal hunting incident

Justin Moore and Josh Thompson were mentioned in an indictment of three tribal leaders who have been charged with hosting illegal big-game hunts in Montana. We asked Justin if he would be doing any time in the hoosegow.

JM=Justin Moore
BW=Broadway

BW: I read a story about this tribe in Montana, and they’re in trouble for setting up some illegal hunts and I guess your name came up. Have you heard anything about that?

JM: I do have knowledge of it, and I can’t say a whole lot about it. Just because, you know, the way things are. But, no, I’m not in any trouble. I was involved in some capacity unbeknownst to me. I’m too petite to go to prison. I don’t think I’d fair well.

BW: I’m picturing you in your princess dress right now…

Click Here for my full interview with Justin

Posted by Broadway (Guest Writer)
Listen to my radio show weekday mornings, 6-10a eastern on iHeartRadio and follow me on twitter @broadwayonair.

2nd Annual Music City Gives Back

On Tuesday, June 5, award-winning and platinum-selling country star Rodney Atkins  once again hosted the Second Annual “Music City Gives Back” benefit concert in partnership with Music City, Inc. The event was free to the public and featured an all-star lineup including the legendary Clint Black, Thompson Square, Lee Brice, Josh Thompson, Jana Kramer, The Farm, Mallary Hope, and The Willis Clan. Sponsors included Wrangler, Cricket Wireless, Carl Black Chevrolet, and GAC. Fans were given the opportunity to donate to the American Red Cross on site.

The Willis Clan, Mallory Hope and The Farm kicked off the show. Once Jana Kramer took the stage, Broadway was packed with country music fans from all around the world. Jana’s set included “Good Time Comin’ On,” “Whiskey,"

 

“One of the Boys,” “I Hope it Rains,” and current single, “Why You Wanna."

 

Jana’s debut CD was released on Tuesday. She celebrated with an album release party on Thursday, during CMA Fest. Fans could also have seen her on the Chevy stage on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Please visit her website for more information: http://www.janakramer.com. Jana is one of my favorite up-and-comers, so I hope she comes out on top.

Josh Thompson opened with “Blame it on Waylan,” and “You Ain’t Seen Country Yet.” Mallory Hope came out to the front of the stage to check out Josh’s set. He continued with “Won’t Be Lonely Long,” “I’m Coming Around,” “Way Out Here,” and “Beer on the Table.”

 

 

My personal favorite, Lee Brice, continued the party after Josh Thompson. I had seen Lee perform earlier in the week in an acoustic setting, so I was pumped to see him live with a full band. He opened with “Four on the Floor” and “Sumter County Friday Night” – two songs that definitely got the crowd going!

 

He sang title song off his second album, “Hard 2 Love,” and other album cuts, “Beer,” and past single “A Woman Like You.”

 

Unfortunately, I had to catch another show and missed the end of Lee’s set, Thompson Square and Clink Black. However, I got back just as Rodney was taking the stage. He kicked things off with “Farmer’s Daughter,” “What I Love About the South” and “Back Road.” Rodney also has tons of energy and is so engaging with his fans – so much fun to watch! Other songs included, “Watching You,” “Cleaning This Gun,” a new song, “Just Wanna Rock & Roll," current single, “He’s Mine,” “America” and “These Are My People.”

 

Music City Gives Back stepped it up this year, and the show was bigger and better. I hope this show continues to act as the “unofficial” kickoff for CMA Fest to provide fans with a free show and support an amazing cause.

 

Music City Gives Back Concert kicks off CMA Fest week

 

Rodney Atkins headlined a free concert downtown on Broadway last night in Nashville, kicking off CMA Fest a few days early for fans in attendance. The “Music City Gives Back” concert, presented by Wrangler and sponsored by Carl Black Chevrolet, Crown Royal, GAC, Sennheiser, Tempus Jets and THE BIG 98 COUNTRY, featured Atkins along with friends, Thompson Square, Josh Thompson and Mallory Hope. The purpose of the concert was to increase awareness and accept donations of needed items and raise funds for tornado victims for the American Red Cross Relief Fund. Donations to the American Red Cross Relief Fund can be made at anytime by visiting www.redcross.org. Rodney Atkins said, “It is important for us to give to all of those in need.  As an artist, I have performed in just about every town that has been hit by the many storms and I feel that this concert is a great way to reach out and help as many people as we can. I know that a lot of people from all over the world will be hitting the streets during this week and we wanted to kick off a week of music with a direction that will call people to action to continue to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in any way that they can.”

The show kicked off with a few songs from Mallory Hope, followed by Josh Thompson. 

 

Thompson pumped the crowd up with Beer on the Table, You Ain’t Seen Country Yet and A Name in This Town. Josh sang a song called, Always Been Me, which I had never heard, but I loved the lyrics! Josh ended his set with Way Out Here, Won’t Be Lonely Long and Blame it on Waylon.

I was really excited to see Thompson Square because I had not seen the duo since last year’s Country Music Tattle Tale Second Harvest Food Bank Benefit Concert during CMA Fest week. Since the last time I saw them, they’ve been on tour with Brad Paisley and had a number one single with Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not, so I knew their stage presence was going to have improved. Thompson Square did not disappoint with their energy.

 

Shawna and Keifer kicked off their set with Let’s Fight, Getaway Car and I Won’t Back Down. By the way, Shawna looked GORGEOUS last night!

 

 
Next, they performed their new single I Got You. One of the highlights of their set was their song As Bad as it Gets followed by a Katy Perry cover, Waking Up in Vegas. Shawna proved that she has a great voice and can sing any genre of music.

 

The duo ended the show with One of Those Days and Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not. I am very excited to see more from this duo in the future.

I have always been a Rodney Atkins fan – I like his down to earth personality, boyish good looks and most of all his music. I didn’t think I could like him much more than I already did, but last night I saw a more energetic Rodney Atkins than I had ever seen on stage before and it was so much fun to watch.

 

Rodney was so excited to be performing for the fans, giving back to the communities devastated by tornados and sharing new music. Rodney kicked off his set with It’s America, which couldn’t have been any more fitting with the lyrics I saw a little town that some big Twister tore apart/People came from miles around just to help their neighbors out. Chills. He followed with What I Love About the South, Simple Things and Farmer’s Daughters. With a new album coming out later this summer, Rodney performed his current single Take a Back Road and a new and personal favorite song of mine, Cabin. I first heard this song at his Fan Club party at CMA Fest last year, and I have been waiting for him to put it on an album. I am so happy to hear that this song will be on his new album, and I can only hope he releases it as a single.

 

Other songs performed included, Always Tell A Country Boy, Friends with Tractors, Wasted Whiskey, Leave This Long-Haired Country Boy Alone, Cleaning This Gun, Watching You, These are My People and Garth Brooks cover Much Too Young, To Feel This Damn Old. It was a great night of music to kickoff a very busy CMA Fest week. A few more videos can be found here.

 

Josh Thompson was too hot for Big D & Bubba

Josh Thompson tried to give an in-station performance and interview with Big D & Bubba this morning.  Unfortunately he was interrupted by a fire alarm.  Check out the rest of the interview/performances here.

That, my friend, is called a photobomb

Josh Thompson Tweetedthis picture and mentioned all the camo. I, however, am much more interested in the total photobomb in the background and whether the guy thought all the camo would keep him hidden.