Lady Antebellum does look and sound good at our pretty Syracuse amphitheater

Our one show at Lakeview Amphitheater this summer did it for me. Lady Antebellum, You Sound Great. That horn section borrowed from Justin Timberlake? Genius. Yes, I’d say the power of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood was still merging their trio-style of their decade-long voice and chemistry magic when my dear wife Karen…

Roger McGuinn still relishes bringing his unique sound around the world

People used to call him Jim McGuinn. The musician making folk music at the time didn’t think his given name sounded quite special enough, so he changed it to Roger McGuinn. Now that has a ring to it still, does it not? The man who made “Eight Miles High” ring so true during his time…

We open a new package, and Miranda Lambert’s inside

They finally built it. A brand, spanking new music amphitheater that Syracusans can call their own opened last night across the highway from the New York State Fair. No more having to drive 90 miles east to Saratoga Performing Arts Center or 60 miles or even farther west to Constellation Brands — Marvin Sands Performing…

Kaitlyn Jackson has her own album to celebrate as ‘American Idol’ nears Hollywood rounds

It’s been a big week for 16-year-old Kaitlyn Jackson. Her self-titled album came out, eight songs, all written by the country music singer from Norwich, the small city in Chenango County, some 60 miles southeast of Syracuse, N.Y. She even had a media release sent out about the event. That’s because she’s been signed by…

Hollywood will revisit old-school Nashville to bring back glory days of Hank Williams

Good news, country music fans. The too-short glory of Hank Williams will be given some justice do by Hollywood. “I Saw the Light” is being shot in Louisiana, and stars have been signed for the three major roles. Hank, if you need a reintroduction, died at the age of 29 in 1953 after showing what…

At the Tin Rooster, we kick up our birth week heels

The Tin Rooster was a really big deal. The name may conjur up a dusky little backwoods joint where somebody’s playing banjo on the sagging porch, but certainly not at this place my dear wife Karen chose to celebrate the cornerstone dinner of her Birth Week celebration 2014. When we walked into the lobby of…

Mick Fury, Seth Faergolzia back for Syracuse shows

When I posted the link to last Friday’s piece about Jason Teska’s return from Nashville to play a homecoming show for his Syracuse area fans, friends and family on my Facebook page a week ago, Mick Fury was quick to comment. Why he’d just run into Jason in a Nashville bar, Mick told the world…

A teen singer from Norwich, N.Y., Kaitlyn Jackson, makes ‘American Idol’ night one intriguing

Part way into the Boston auditions that opened this new season of “American Idol” on Wednesday night, a 15-year-old singer introduced herself. Kaitlyn Jackson was her name. And she told of the night her grandpa fell ill while she was performing at the Chenango County Fair. My ears perked up. That’s just down the road…