Read more on the article below and listen to the discussion from Saving Country Music
"Alright look. I know that some of you have already grown tired of the back and forths talking about what to call music and how to manage it, and rather we all spend more time focusing on the actual music itself. I agree, and that will continue to be the main focus of Saving Country Music. But right now, I do not think there is a bigger issue facing the music we all love than this proposed XXX genre. I have already made my initial thoughts known, and had many critical things to say, some of which have been resolved with further dialogue and action, some that have not.
I personally have yet to sign the XXX petition, but the more I have been thinking about this, the more I think the important task I have is to inform all of YOU, the fans, so you can make your own decisions, without having them filtered through my opinions. It doesn’t mean that I won’t raise criticism or offer praise, but YOU should decide for yourself on this thing, irrespective of my beliefs, and irrespective of your beliefs of Shooter Jennings, Hank III, or any other artist. As I’ve been saying, judge this on the merit of the idea itself.
In that spirit, on Wednesday I conveined a Saving Country Music Roundtable comprised of me The Triggerman, Jashie P of Outlaw Radio Chicago, and Reverend Nix of Stink Finger Radio/The Mojo Medicine Show, and we discussed in detail the pros and cons. I think a lot of good information about this came out, and I encourage everyone to listen when they have time. As well as check out the robust comments section of the previous article where Shooter Jennings and Adam Sheets, the originators of this idea, refute some of my criticisms and go into further detail about the idea.
Listen or download Roundtable #4 – The XXX Genre
And speaking of Shooter, he just conducted an 1 1/2 hour interview with Outlaw Radio about all of this, that we will be airing on SCM LIVE on Monday at 7:30 Central and the chat room will be open. For those that cannot make it live, we will archive the interview and transcribe the big points, and that will be posted later that evening .
A lot of people are wondering what Hank III has to say about all this. We have reached out to him, and as soon as we have a statement/interview/whatever, I will bring it to you, positive or negative. I am committed to BOTH SIDES being able to speak their mind about how they feel about XXX in the spirit that healthy, respectful discourse is good regardless of where this idea ends up, or who ultimately ends up being involved.
And speaking of what the artists themselves feel on this matter, here is a list of the ones who have publicly backed XXX so far:
- Shooter Jennings (obviously)
- Scott H Biram
- Jason Isbell (formerly of Drive By Truckers)
- Rhett Miller (Old 97′s)
- John Carter Cash
- Mojo Nixon
- Lukas Nelson (Willie’s son – Promise of the Real)
- Dash Rip Rock
- The North Mississippi All Stars
- Whitey Morgan & The 78′s
- Jocephus & The George Jonestown Massacre
- Tommy Townsend (former member of Waylon’s Band & Waymore Outlaw)
- Kevin Sekhani, Jerry Castle, and Johanna Divine
Also Shooter and blogger Adam Sheets sent me statements to accompany the Roundtable, since they were not there to comment.
Adam Sheets: “Most people who listened to “outlaw country” in the ’70s were decent law-abiding citizens, who didn’t like the polished sounds of Nashville at that time and certainly weren’t outlaw. Likewise, XXX, whether you associate it with moonshine or porn, is the harder-edged alternative to Nashville and the top 40 and the name represents that.”
Shooter: “xxx is not referring to any other style of music. It is an answer to AAA (Adult Album Alternative) and the moonshine reference is not an association with alcohol as much as a tip of the hat to deep rooted antique southern culture. For now its catchy and it represents something completely new”"
