Amy Francis–I’m Still Not Over You
Andy Vaughn & The Driveline–Before You Said Goodbye
Angie & The Car Wrecks–Bender Bound
Big Smith–Go Away Maggie
Bobby Dean–Enough To Leave
Bobby Mackey & O.M.E.B.–Rockin’ The Country
Carolina Still–Distiller
Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy–Drunkle
Charlie Haden–Road Of Broken Hearts
Chuck Cusimano–Two Steppin’
Cletus Got Shot–Unamerican
Connie Smith–Anymore
Danny Gilley–Baby Loves That Texas Swing
Deby Kelley–Cowboy Rock & Roll
Fifth On The Floor–My Young Life
Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue–Send Me Away
Hackensaw Boys–Look Out Dog, Slow Down Train
Hard Money Saints–Drink Up
Husky Burnette–Hog Jaw
Jackson Taylor & The Sinners–Jack Is Drunk Again
James Talley–W.Lee O’Daniel And The Light Crust Dougboys
John Lilly–Cold Comfort
Justin Haigh–In Jail
Leavin, TX–One More Seven
Lembo Allen–Hello Honky Tonk
Lonnie Dean & Will Taylor–Amber Amnesia
Mr. Jay–Burning The Roadhouse Down
Ricky Fugitt–One More Day
Roger Wallace–Almost Good Tonight
Ronnie Hymes–Gear Slamm’n Daddy
Sarah Borges & Broken Singles–False Eyelashes
The Skiffle Minstrels–(All I Can Do Is) Wonder Why
Stage Lee–Ho In Honky Tonk
T. Jarrod Bonta–Does Your Conscience Ever Bother You
Tim Hus–Longest Stretch Of Road
Tom Vanden Avond–Steak N Eggs With Gristle
Whiskeydick–Train Robbin’, Gun Totin’, Dope Smokin’, Guitar Pickin’, Mother F**kin’ Goodtime Band
Whistle Pigs–Uppers Get You Down
The White Trash Whiplash–Double Wide
Wrinkle Neck Mules–Pull Me From The Wreckage

Honky Tonk Christmas Music November 30–December 25

Alan Jackson–Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)
Asleep At The Wheel–Xmas In Jail
Asleep At The Wheel–Mele Kalikimaka
Bellamy Brothers–Old Hippie Christmas
Billy Burnette–Rock And Roll In Christmas
Billy Keeble–Dear Santa
Boxmasters–We Three Kings
Brandon Kinny–Frosty Ain’t Got No Snowballs
Brooks & Dunn–Rockin’ Little Christmas
Brooks & Dunn–Santa’s Coming Over To Your House
Charla Corn & Steve Helms–You Still Jingle My Bell
Christian Serpas & Ghost Town–Rockin’ Ol’ Christmas
Chuck Cusimano–Won’t Be Christmas
Dale Watson– Christmas Without An Angel
Dale Watson–You Can Call Me Nick
Dave Cox–Drunk On Christmas Eve
Demolition String Band–I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Doggone Honkabilly Band–Swinging Red Ball For Christmas
Dwight Yoakam–Run Run Rudolph
Eleven Hundred Springs & The Tejas Brothers–Orale! Santa Claus
Holy Moly–Christmas Balls
JD Higgins–Christmas Time Alone
Joey + Rory–Come Sit On Sant Claus’ Lap
Joey + Rory–I Know What Santa’s Getting For Christmas
Joey + Rory–Let It Snow (Somewhere Else)
Joey + Rory–What The Hell (It’s The Holidays)
Libby McGrath–I Love It At Christmas
Lindi Ortega–All I Want For Christmas Is A Cowboy
Lisa & Her Kin–Don’t Come Home For Christmas
Shane Worley–Waltzing Mrs. Santa
Smokey River Boys–Honky Tonk Christmas

Entertainer:  Jackson Taylor & The Sinners.  I have been a huge fan of Jackson’s music since I first heard it three years ago.  I always thought he had one of the best voices in music and considered his songwriting to be right up there with the best of them but it wasn’t until I saw his live show in a dancehall in Texas this year that I realized how truly exceptional he is.  That particular night the crowd was unusually thin, but that didn’t bother Jackson or his band, The Sinners, they delivered an out-of-this world show like they were playing for 3000 people.   I consider it to be somewhere in the top 5 shows I’ve seen.  Ever.  He is a true triple threat–singer, songwriter, performer and he more than deserves to be this years HonkyTonkJunkie.com’s Entertainer of the Year.

Single (for the artist):  Tore Up by Carter Falco.  It was three months before I realized that this track didn’t have drums on it because I was so captivated by the vocals, the tempo changes and the haunting steel guitar.  When I found out that this, the best country song I’d heard in 2011, was written and performed by a guy who I used to live down the street from in Venice Beach, who I never met, I flipped out.  I have since met Carter and seen him perform the song live with just a steel player and Carter on acoustic and I have to say, it knocked me out live as well.

Song (for the writer):  Mi Tornillo by Jason & The Punknecks.  The first time I heard it, it stuck with me for weeks, and for a day or two I considered the implications of playing this song on HonkyTonkJunkie.com.  The song details Jason Punkneck’s feelings with being a marginalized English-speaking American.  He says what a lot of us think when he sings, I don’t want to speak any of your Spanish.  Ultimately I decided I would play it and let the chips fall where they may because one of the reasons I started this station was so songs and messages that more than likely would never get mainstream airplay would have an outlet.   Guess what happened.  The song shot straight to #1 and stayed there for 6 weeks.

Album:  W.C. Edgar Old School Survivor.  With a voice reminiscent of Johnny Paycheck and a Waylon Jennings/George Jones vibe, how can you go wrong?  W.C. Edgar is a steel guitar player who has played with everyone from Dale Watson to Tim McGraw who is now going it on his own.  This is one of those records I can’t get enough of and I’m still playing cuts from it as well as from his first album Alcohol of Fame.

Male Vocalist:  Jackson Taylor.  When he sings it, you believe it.  Period.

Female Vocalist: Vanessa Niemann of Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue.  Man, I just love her voice.  When my wife, who is only able to listen to HonkyTonkJunkie.com at home on the weekends, can identify Gal Holiday songs (which she loves) after not hearing one all week, I’d say you’ve got something distinct and special.  She’s a dynamic performer as well.  If Gal Holiday comes to your town, do yourself a favor and check ’em out.

Group: Shivering Denizens.  These guys are highly entertaining.  I brought a couple of non-country/honky tonk fans to one of their shows and needless to say, they became hooked.  These guys are serious about their music but don’t take themselves too seriously.  How can you go wrong with a band that sings about Good Times at the Gates of Hell.

Duo:  Gene Watson and Rhonda Vincent.  I don’t know whose idea it was to put these two together since they come from different backgrounds and genres but it was brilliant.  Watson is a honky tonk singer who was huge in the 70’s and 80’s.  Vincent retreated from the mainstream Nashville scene  in the late 90’s and went with Bluegrass, a style true to her.  Their collaboration, however, is a straight-up, real country music duet record in the tradition of George and Tammy.  Great stuff.

Music Event:  The Merle Haggard/Kris Kristofferson Tour.  This was the year I got to see many of my heroes play live.  This tour gave me the opportunity for a two-fer. It was great to see these two share the stage and trade songs, stories and banter.  Never mind country music royalty, these guys are American music royalty.

New Artist:  Whitey Morgan and the 78’s.  Sure they have two CD’s out and have been around for a few years but if the CMA can give the New Artist award to Joe Nichols after two CD’s and seven years in the biz, I can too.  These guys are a stand-out, blue collar, honky tonk band from Flint, Michigan.  If you don’t believe they know a thing or two about grit and hard times then you should just go listen to Taylor Swift.

Musician:  Boo Reiners.  According to his biography, he’s a Grammy-winning, multi-instrumentalist.  That alone would make anyone take notice but in my world it’s all about the twang and I thought his Telecaster work with the Demolition String Band was simply stunning.

Favorite Steel Guitar Performance:  Dan Johnson.  I met Dan a few times when he was playing with Doug Moreland and again recently while he was playing with Jackson Taylor and the Sinners.  My friends and I still talk about those performances and how we had never seen or heard anyone play a steel guitar the way Dan does.  We didn’t even know you could play one like that.  For lack of a better term, Dan makes that thing his bitch.

Favorite Record From A Band From My Neck Of The Woods:  The self-titled CD by The Far West.  When I first heard this I thought it sounded like a mix of Ryan Bingham and Bakersfield twang.  Since then I’d have to add a little Gram Parsons in there as well.  But even with hints of their influences, they managed to put out something totally original and honest.  I’m already looking forward to their future projects.

Favorite Rediscovery:  George Jones.  Last year when I got my hands on the CD by Georgette Jones, George’s daughter with Tammy Wynette, I’ve been on an outright George Jones kick.  Get a little liquor in me and I’ll outright cry to his duet with Georgette, You and Me and Time. I’ve had a great time this past year going through his lengthy catalog of material and finding some gems I never knew about and I’m not done yet.  Long live George Jones.