Between country and a rock-hard place

by T. Ballard Lesemann

 

Brantley Gilbert isn't terribly concerned about fitting the typical Nashville molds. As a country songwriter and vocalist, he's developed his own gritty, Southern-steeped style. On his new studio album Halfway to Heaven, Gilbert handles the role of the polished country heartthrob act alongside that of a roughneck rocker. He's capable of delivering radio-friendly material, but he's clever enough to balance it with a heavy dose of hard-rock and red-blooded redneck 'tude.

A native of the northeast Georgia town of Jefferson, Gilbert utilizes his rural roots in many of his songs. His singing style reflects a healthy blend of Peach State influences. There's a bit of Greg Allman's soulful croon here and a twist of Travis Tritt there (especially on romantic ballads like "My Kind of Crazy" and "Fall into Me"), and even a hint of Michael Stipe's raspy croak.

Halfway to Heaven leans toward a heavy-handed modern-rock feel. His new single, "Kick It in the Sticks," is an anthem in which he gives a shout-out to "AC/DC, Hank, Skynyrd, and George Strait." It resembles the macho rumble of vintage grunge or contemporary nü-metal more than anything on the country radio.

"Kick It in the Sticks" is an authentic redneck anthem that touches all the clichés, from sipping moonshine in mason jars by a bonfire on the tailgate of the mud-covered pickup to snipe huntin' and giggin'. The opening verse goes, "Welcome to the home of a hillbilly/It's a land of barbed wire, moonshine, whiskey." You get the idea.

The official video clip for "Kick It in the Sticks" looks like something Kid Rock might have directed. It's a rowdy kegger in the woods, with Gilbert rockin' out on his black six-string, and stompin' on a junked Chevrolet while leather-clad buddies on Harleys and ATVs wiz by. His drummer sports a peroxide fauxhawk. Hotties holding cups of beer mingle with bikers. It's quite a scene.

Halfway to Heaven quickly reached number one on Billboard's Heatseeker chart this spring. While his fanbase continues to expand, this week's gig might be the best opportunity to catch him before he accelerates to the next level.

BY ALISON RICHTER

AUGUSTA, GA – Trying to get singer/songwriter/guitarist Brantley Gilbert to take credit for his accomplishments is no easy feat. Nudge him about his success and he’ll immediately give the credit to his band, management, label, publicists, fans and street team.

Offer praise about his talent and he’ll humbly describe himself as “just a guy who wrote a couple of songs and thought my mom and close friends would hear them. I’m still in shock over what has happened to us.”

 

Brantley Gilbert

 

Talk to him about second chances, like the one he got following a near-fatal car accident, and he’ll defer to his faith in God and the support of friends and family. Gilbert seems almost ill at ease talking about himself.

His comfort level rises when he can share the spotlight with those who stand by him. 
Gilbert’s sophomore album, “Halfway to Heaven,” was released in March by Average Joes Entertainment, launched by the rousing first single, “Kick It In the Sticks.”

Like much of his music, the track reflects an artist with one foot planted firmly in his country roots and the other in rock ‘n’ roll. Despite the dichotomy, or perhaps because of it, within a month of release, “Halfway to Heaven” was No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers album chart. 
Gilbert is from Jefferson, Ga., outside of Athens.

“This is home and I’m pretty happy here,” he says, “so I reckon I’ll hang around for a while. I have no desire to relocate.”

By Tayleigh Davis 

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Rising country music singer and songwriter Brantley Gilbert performed Saturday night in Albany. WALB got a sneak preview.

Gilbert played his new single "My Kind of Crazy" just for our camera.  He took us behind the scenes and back stage before his show at the Albany Civic Center.

Some say Gilbert's style is hard to fit in to a category. Some say it's country mixed with a little metal. Even though he doesn't have a fiddle or steel guitar in his band, he says he's a country boy at heart.

"I write my songs about things that mean something to me," said Gilbert. Whether it's something that happened on the road or to a close friend of mine, everything I write about is something that relates to me."

The River, Highway 55, Landis Frier and Ty Stone opened for Gilbert. His web site says the next show in Georgia will be in Valdosta July 4th.

Click HERE to watch.

©2010 WALB News. All rights reserved.

By Kathryn E. Darden

The Country Music Association's CMA Music Festival (formerly Fan Fair) is in high gear in Nashville this week and is experiencing a record turnout. I had the opportunity

to check it out on Friday, June 11, 2010 when I visited the Nashville Convention Center and LP Field. Although I am a Nashville native, this was my first time to ever visit the CMA Music Festival or Fan Fair, and it was a crash course in country music.

Temperatures had hit the low 90s by the time I made it to downtown Nashville in the late afternoon after waiting for an air conditioner repairman all day. Nashville skies were partially overcast as the sun set, but that did nothing to ease the heat and humidity that persisted well into the night. However, the Nashville Convention Center was cool, so I started my CMA Music Fest adventure in the exhibit hall.

Brantley Gilbert

I began my tour of CMA Music Fest booths by meeting Brantley Gilbert. Although this Georgia boy looked more like a rapper than a country artist, Gilbert performs country music with a rock spin and had performed earlier that day on the Chevy Music Stage. His most recent project is "Halfway to Heaven."