Hey, have you guys heard about the thing happening today?
That’s right, today is the NFL trade deadline. I’ve got my fingers crossed the Steelers can somehow get a wide receiver but I won’t be getting my hopes up after they failed with Brandon Aiyuk, DeAndre Hopkins, and Cooper Kupp…
Oh yeah! Today is also when the first official College Football Playoff rankings come out! Almost forgot about that with all the buzz about the trade deadline… Penn State (unsurprisingly) didn’t pull out a win versus Ohio State last weekend, and while they still have a good shot to make it, are bound to lose round one to someone like Boise State.
Okay, okay, you’ve got me…
Obviously, today is the presidential election and while I don’t think there is going to be mass upheaval at the scale we saw in 2020 one way or the other (just because everyone expects there to be and law enforcement will be ready) there’s no denying that things are quite testy right now.
Get out and vote, support your candidate, and let’s all remember that, regardless of who get sworn in come January, we’re all Americans and should be rooting for that person to guide the country to better times.
If you’re like me, you may be wanting to distance yourself from the election after casting your ballot and I firmly believe there’s no better way to do that than to sink into some of the best live country albums of all-time. Sure, studio records are great, but if an artist is able to capture some of that in-person magic and release it for the entire world to enjoy, why not lose yourself in those magical, fleeting moments?
In no order, here’s some of my favorite live country albums of all-time to help us get though this election:
Eric Church – Caught In The Act
- Venue: Tivoli Theatre
- Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Date: October 8 & 9, 2012
- Memorable Moment: “Over When It’s Over”, featuring Joanna Cotton
Johnny Cash – Live At Folsom Prison
- Venue: Folsom State Prison
- Location: Folsom, California
- Date: January 13, 1968
- Memorable Moment: “Folsom Prison Blues”, especially the iconic intro line of “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash”
Emmylou Harris – Live at the Ryman
- Venue: Ryman Auditorium
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: April 30 – May 2, 1991
- Memorable Moment: “Guess Things Happen That Way”
Shane Smith & the Saints – Live at Red Rocks
- Venue: Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Location: Morrison, Colorado
- Date: May 9, 2023
- Memorable Moment: “Born & Raised”, featuring Molly Tuttle
Carly Pearce – 29: Written In Stone (Live From Music City)
- Venue: Marathon Music Works
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: April 6, 2022
- Memorable Moment: “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”, featuring Ashley McBryde
Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) – Live from the Devil’s Backbone
- Venue: Devil’s Backbone Tavern
- Location: Fischer, Texas
- Date: May 20, 2022
- Memorable Moment: “Steak Night at the Prairie Rose”
Patsy Cline – Live at the Cimarron Ballroom
- Venue: Cimarron Ballroom
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Date: July 29, 1961
- Memorable Moment: “Walkin’ After Midnight”
Charley Crockett – Live From The Ryman
- Venue: Ryman Auditorium
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: November 14, 2022
- Memorable Moment: “Welcome To Hard Time”
