Well???

So I have my most recent Jason Michael Carroll concert almost an entire 3 weeks into the history of JMC concerts, and am waiting ever so patiently for the tour schedule to give me something to look forward to. Last year at this time I was 2 days away from my first Raisin the Bar show (my first Jason experience) and then 6 days later had another RTB show to look forward to. On the heels of that was a February show with freezing rain for the trip home, and then the festival season was right around the corner.

I know I have the festival season to look forward to again but with the doom and gloom of winter knocking spring seems so far away. If I lived in the "less seasonal" south I could enjoy the festival season year round. In Wisconsin we have 4 months or so where the weather is bound to be tolerable, if not dry and sunny. Not nearly enough for me, but family keeps me here for now.

So now I am sitting waiting and wondering when I will get my next JMC fix. Each time I listen to the CD or watch a JMC video (I love you Youtube!) I find myself wanting that fix even more and even sooner. What is it about a great country artist that is so darn addictive? I saw 8 shows in 2008, which is 6 or 7 more than alot of people and even 8 more than many.

Maybe I am a bit greedy? Hard not to be when those bass lines come rumbling out over the speakers and you can feel the ground rumble beneath your feet. Watching the band jumping up and down and getting into the show, feeding off the very energy that they are putting into the crowd - and taking that energy right back to keep the flow going.

I probably shouldn't be complaining; courtesy of JMC's management and some web angels somewhere we once again have a place to call home. We have our family back, fellow friends who share the love and appreciation for Jason, the band and the rest of the crew. We can talk about shows coming, discuss shows past - and share photos and favorite memories. I have the holiday card exchange coming up so December should deliver my Jason fix securely into my mailbox and we have a fan club order of "Livestrong" type bracelets on the horizon which I am very excited about. Perhaps when I am looking for my next concert fix, I should take a visit to Official JMC
and be glad to have a place to call home.

Givin' a little back

Jason Michael Carroll's flashy new official site is making the rounds and getting some extra press. I want to point out a couple, be sure and stop over and show some love.

CMILCountry Music Is Love » Jason Michael Carroll is a great fan site for all things country and they have Jason a shout out for the revamped website. CMIL should be on your daily list of webstops to see who is where, what is going on, and who is coming in concert.

Thanks also to NashvilleGab for pointing out that the sheer volume of content on the new site is enough to keep JMC fans busy (yes it is!). Also if you have never been - Nashville Gab has THE coolest logo ever on hooves. Click the link and check it out. Well worth the visit!

And of course - if those aren't your style, you can check REVIEW: Trio of Country Boys entertain at Emens | thestarpress.com | The Star Press
The journalist gives a very kind recap of Jason, Trace and Craig's show AND points out her observations - the other women nearby noted that Jason was "easy on the eyes". He is? Maybe just a little....

Smooth Sailin'

Where were we - got kicked out, got back in - tearing down equipment. Ok, we are on to Craig Morgan. Craig has a LOT of great songs. I had one of his CD's (that International Harvester song is like an anthem to me) but had no idea that there were so many others. I believe his 5th was just released yesterday, so look for it in the local stores and pick up a copy. His set included the majority of his older songs and just a few samples from the new CD. He has a fantastic band backing him, along with a fiddle player. More bands need fiddle players, it brings to mind old school country music and really adds a nice touch to the songs.

Mid set Craig braved the crowd and zoomed off the stage and up the left side of the venue, and up a few steps to sing. Very cool, love that interaction and the crowd loved it. Then he zoomed back down and headed our way. He got captured by a blond who was having perhaps a little bit too much fun (insert too much beer) who pasted herself around him, but thanks to security his new appendage was removed and he was safely able to return to stage. I didn't count songs, but he definitely sang more songs than Jason Michael Carroll (sigh). I am guessing he played 45 minutes to an hour and it rocked the house. I need to see him a couple more times to really become a Craig fan, but I did enjoy the show.

Next up - the big guy! I have been following Trace Adkins for 10 years or so, and always try and catch him if he is in the area. If you have not had the pleasure, give his live show a try. Trace Adkins has been entertaining us on the country stations since 1996 and his presence on stage shows it.He also has a CD releasing in the upcoming weeks and played a slew of songs off it. *I* prefer hearing songs that I know, though of course the more I hear them, the more I will know them. Go figure! He has alot of ballads coming out of the barn on this one, and I love his ballads - but they don't do much in the way of pumping me up during a show. Sooo - while Trace is always amazing to see, the show wasn't "all that" for me. It was good, just not stellar. Sorry Trace fans - maybe it was my seating, maybe it was that I still felt shorted on JMC's set.

Absolutely nothing unusual leaving - the buses were in a privacy fenced area, safely under lock and key. So we headed home, listening to Craig and Jason's CD's on the way.

Oh No You Didn't....

Caution - Concert Recap Ahead!

Y106.1's 2008 Country Fest has come and gone, and I have to say it was a great show! We got there early to attend the "pre-show" party at a local bar, Buckheads Saloon in Milwaukee which was just a short walk from the venue. They had a taco bar pre-show and then were giving away front row seats and some meet and greet passes so we figured we would check it out. We also got treated to a pre-concert show by up and coming artist Adam Gregory CMT.com : Adam Gregory : Artist Main . He put on a fantastic set, and had a deep voice that the crowd really enjoyed. After his first few songs, the radio station did the drawing thing - nada, zip, zilch. That is alright though, we already had fab tickets.

We got to the Bradley Center and a Y106.1 staffer stopped us and asked us if there were only two of us in our group. Yes, 2 - myself and my husband...strange. She asked if we would like meet & greet passes for Craig Morgan - hmmm...let me think, umm...YES! Awesome, so we headed over and got in line. I did ask her about Jason Michael Carroll passes, but by the time we got to the venue, they were wrapping his up and all the passes were gone.

Small group, maybe 20 people for the meet and greet with Craig. Craig's photographer took the pic of Craig and hubby, then went to take a pic of Craig and I and he said "the internal memory is full". Ummno, it can't be. It has a 4 gig memory and I wiped the card before the show. Yes, it says it is full. Oops! I forgot to put the memory card in! Meanwhile I am standing next to Craig scrounging for a memory card and chatting - feeling like a total dork. Craig was awesome about it, as were the other fans. Asked him how it was going, how he liked Milwaukee, at one point he started whistling like he was bored - hilarious. He has a great sense of humor and is a very patient man. Got the memory card in and then the pic and done, thanks Craig!

Headed back to our seats since Jason was opening. I had brought along a photo album for him as the result of a previous conversation and was all but convinced that it was coming back home with me (gosh, a photo album filled with JMC pics? Oh no!) Jason came on and while he had a very short set (maybe 5 songs) it was awesome. Got to see the new guitar player Richie and the rest of the awesome band.

He played "Where I'm From" and told us it releases next month as the first single off his upcoming CD. So looking forward to that, I can't wait to hear the studio cut! Once they finished up they started taking down the equipment, and I thought - hmm, if we go over there we will be maybe 10 feet from the stage - I bet we could holler and toss my photo album to one of the band members (it is a small 4x6 dealy). So I talked to hubby and he said sure, he would do it.

Now I need to say this venue is like your average concert/ sports/all-purpose center (we were at the Bradley Center where the Milwaukee Bucks play). So lots of floor seating, and then seating up all sides of the venue. Unlike other venues - you cannot get to the floor from the other seats. We were in the 2nd row of raised seats, literally 2 feet from the floor, and 25 or so from the stage. There is a wall that separates the floor seating from the rest and it stands around 4 feet tall. We have never been there before, so we are not familiar with their (I will say it nicely) guidelines for behaviour. So my hubby asks me quick about the band members names again - and I rattle them off thinking nothing of it. So he gets up, goes over to the nearest aisle and down to the front and JUMPS over the wall. EEK! That can't be good - what the heck is he doing???

He walked up to Eller and chatted a minute or so and gave him the photo album. We had talked to Eller at length about the pics at a previous show, they were requested and were now delivered. Eller was great about it - thanks man, hand shake. Security??? Not so great about it. Apparently jumping that wall is a big "oh no you didn't" on their list of extreme offenses. So I see my husband walk by me on the floor following the security guard...and hubby doesn't even so much as glance at me. What the heck? He made it back to his seat about 15 minutes later, after lots of talking and explaining. The security guy was paranoid to say the least and had kicked my husband OUT. "What are you doing?" "How do you know him?" "Haven't you been here before???". Well you see, it is like this - we have this very small bomb, and we know him because we are stalking him. When he turns the 16th page of the book, a small poof will happen, a little sparkler will fizzle...and he will be horribly scared. Oh wait - that isn't it. It is a photo album - we know him because we have been to 10 shows. No, we have never been here before, if we had would we risk being ejected? Probably not.

Sooo - Jason's short set was awesome, we delivered the "loot", and we scored meet & greet with Craig Morgan.

Will finish up the recap in the next post - coming: Craig Morgan and Trace Adkins recap and pics.

"Hotter Than a Red Hot Chili Pepper" Part Deux

I told you I would come back to it, finally had a chance to hunt down some photos today and am going to share who *I* think JMC looks maybe just a little bit like - and they aren't peppers.

Exhibit A - the late but great Heath Ledger. Heath's cheekbones and strong jawline led him to look just a little like Jason Michael Carroll. His only child was also the apple of his eye, not unlike JMC and his children. I borrowed an internet picture to compare....

Exhibit B - And then the other one that comes to mind - I am not going to give it away, but he is on a television show, and probably as frequently on a related website. He has the long blond locks, the firm jawline, all the makings once again. Feel free to give me your guesses as to who he is, I will let you know if you are right. Hit me up below at "comments" and we can touch base.

Wow - triplets perhaps? Is it just me, or is there a resemblance? Sorry about exhibit 2 and there being no shirt - I promise if I can get my hands on a JMC shirtless pic and owner permission, I will put it here as a way of apology . In fact if you would like any of your pics highlighted here - shoot me a comment and we can get that together. Full photo credits given, and if we get enough response we can have a guest submitted photo in each blog entry.

Enough for now - Happy Thursday, the weekend is almost here - and what does that mean??? It means tomorrow I have my Jason concert, wahoo! Full recap will be posted here, along with show pics.

Answer to the mystery man: Max Hodges, TMZ Staffer

Happy Dance!

So I have been clicking my ruby slippers together for oooo - 10 months now (while merrily chanting "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.) Finally today the powers that be have shined down and granted myself and a bazillion other Jason Michael Carroll fans a place to call HOME.

I have been hearing buzzing about Jason's official website being revamped since March and have been persistently checking the site ever since waiting for the day. I have to admit I was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen. But now, after 7 long months of waiting the day has finally arrived. Jason has moved from web host Echo to Sony BMG and I loooove the new digs.

It was well worth the wait, and I am thrilled to see so many old friends (and new) flocking there after being gone so long. There are new forums, photo gallery's, extra things (wallpaper!) and lots of other bells and whistles. If you have not been there to check out the new decor, head on over. Your old log in info will still work (if you can remember it). Stop by the boards and give a shout out to everyone. I have also started a thread there about doing a Christmas card exchange among JMC fans - if you are interested in both sending cards to JMC fans AND receiving a bunch of them, let me know either on the JMC boards or by posting a comment (down yonder below this).

Wondering where JMC's official site is? Check the link list ------->> (it is the top one)

Thanks for swinging by, now head on over and take a look. Special thanks to JMC and his management and label for getting this up and running for us, I know the fans thank YOU!

Say it like you mean it!

Fantastic review from Sat, Oct 11's show in Palm Beach. The staff journalist bid a fond farewell to both Martina McBride's "Waking Up Laughing" tour and to Cruzan Amphitheatre's 2008 Country Mega-Ticket. She gave rave reviews, and gave a special shout out to Jason.

Excerpt written by Janis Fontaine, Palm Beach Post
"Jason Michael Carroll followed, performing all three of his chart hits in his quick: Living Our Love Song, I Can Sleep When I'm Dead and the painful ballad Alyssa Lies. Carroll's got tons of energy and quite possibly the best hair in the business. His vocals, especially at the lower range, seem to penetrate right to your heart. " Click for the rest of the article The end of a tour and a ticket

The Virginia Pilot is also sending out high praise from the October 5 show at Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

Frank Roberts writes:
"The songs of Jason Michael Carroll and Jack Ingram were excellent. They are two different types of entertainers, both with good, strong voices.

Carroll gets automatic cheers for his attitude as he sings about small-town America and faith. Ingram, on the other hand, is an energetic nutcase – and that is being said in kindness." Click for the rest of the review Review: McBride powerfully closes out amphitheater season | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Me - 3 days and counting til my brush with quite possibly the best hair in the business. Should be a rocking show with Jason, Trace Adkins and Craig Morgan on the tab. Hmm, Trace has really nice hair too...I wonder if maybe Craig would consider growing his out?

Have a great week!

Hot as a Chili Pepper?

Found a great article Hot as a chili pepper, Carroll to play Midnight Rodeo | Ocala.com | Star-Banner | Ocala, FL

Take a peek, it is a great bit on Jason Michael Carroll and reveals just a wee bit of insight on the hair. Once Jason left the military - he let it grow - and grow - and grow some more. In Jason's own words “It kept growing and growing, and I started to look like Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers,” he said laughing.

Anthony Kiedis? Hmmm - well that got me out on a google search. I am familiar with Anthony Kiedis vaguely, but I never once looked at JMC and said... OMG! He looks just like that guy from the Red Hot Chili Peppers! I did however happen across a photo that gives some resemblance.

Courtesy of Rolling Stone's cover on April 7, 1994.

So alright, it looks a bit like JMC...
kind of - well, just a little bit - umm...they both have hair! Ok, they are both toting 6-pack abs, and they both do the head- banging during the concert (love that! Show off those long locks!) But aside from that, I can think of a few other people who bear a slightly stronger resemblance.

Will try and find pics and get them posted in the upcoming days. Have a great weekend!

And now for something completely different...

Got to see Trace Adkins awesome new video for Muddy Waters and wanted to share it. I love it and it is great seeing he and Stephen Baldwin working together again. Enjoy!

13 Days and Counting

It is almost show time! Another 13 days and I will be seated in relative comfort at Milwaukee's Bradley Center enjoying a Jason Michael Carroll concert, with Trace Adkins and Craig Morgan thrown in. I have never seen Craig, so that should be an experience. Trace I have seen hmm - over 10 times would be safe, but it has been over the past 10 years. Trace puts on a heck of a show, and nothing will make me happier than seeing two deep voiced growly artists with long blond locks taking the stage.

I have "fantasy" concerts that I would love to see - Trace, Jason - and Josh Turner to finish it off would be a baritone trifecta. Recent experiences tell me that I need to expand that to include Joe Nichols and Jake Owen. Gosh that would be a fantastic show though - speakers shaking with the bass lines. The ground rumbling, and thousands of fans hanging on each song. I would need to be an outdoor venue, the ground doesn't rumble much at indoor venues. Under the stars is where it's at for great shows and to let those deep voices shine.

Keeping with the "bringing you a show at home" I am including another video clip today courtesy of YouTube and acavanaugh1 - Stray

Where I'm From

Just a matter of time now - maybe even days, or weeks - probably not months. Jason Michael Carroll's next single set for release is "Where I'm From" which I am looking forward to. If I could score an "all JMC all the time" radio station, I would do it - though playing his CD over and over is pretty close! No updates to the schedule, but Jason's official homepage has updated theirs and it matches the one here, yippee! Me - I am just hanging on for October 17th - much closer than it was just a day ago when it was "not until next month". Now it is just a couple weeks away and I am so set for a good JMC fix I can't even begin to tell you!

I am going to try and highlight a youtube video of Jason performing a variety of songs over the month so that even if you are not looking forward to a concert in a week or two, you can watch them and while it isn't quite as good as being there, it is darn close. Today I bring you "Where I'm From" - such a beautiful song and I can't wait to hear it on the radio and then on the CD.