Country Cutler's Best of 2024 - Part 2
Events, Artists & Viral Moments
You thought you were done with my thoughts. Nah. You get more.
Best Local Musical Event
This one is difficult as so many of the folks who put these on are my friends. But for my money, Honky Tonk Saloon is my pick for the 2024 event of the year. Hosted by Tar and Flowers frontman Taylor Hungerford, this monthly music showcase always energizes me. For the venue alone, the Maui Sugarmill Saloon, the evening can’t be beat. This dive bar makes me happy – it leaves you asking, “Why does this place exist?” And the simple answer is that it does.
Hungerford works hard to platform a range of different kinds of Americana and country artists every month. He runs a tight ship – resulting in a disciplined run of show. With his right-hand fiddler, Jonathan Sheldon, Hungerford opens each show with a well-rehearsed set of originals and select covers, leaving plenty of room for the other bands to fill the space.
This isn’t the biggest event or even the most consistently well-attended (it’s on Wednesday in the Valley). But it’s still my pick. I love the place and event.
Honorable mentions: “Western Edge: The 80s” | “Honky Tonk & Vine” | “Grand Ole Echo”
Best National Musical Event
The Ameripolitan Awards and Weekend is the perfect weekend of music and culture in our little part of the world. Every second of the schedule included incredible conflicting acts across the city. That said, it didn’t feel impossible to have a wonderful time and only have a little bit of fomo. Unlike other major events, there is no barrier between artists and fans — which is wonderful, even if it brings about some conflict for folks like me.
The awards themselves, held at the Moody Theater in Austin, elevated this bootstrapped event to compete with any awards show in the country. Celine Lee and Dale Watson put on one hell of a show.
Artists of the Year
These artists put out some of the best music I listened to this year. Their albums are complete, smart and well-produced. More importantly, they are the best representations of themselves recorded to date. However, they were named the year's best artists for more than just their incredible albums.
Emily Nenni’s Drive and Cry album was one of my favorites of the year. This year, she took the Opry stage, earned an Ameripolitan Award nomination and embarked on constant national and international tours. While I love the entire album for its flow, style and sound – “Rootin’ for You” has emerged as one of my absolute favorite songs of the year. Its message and slammin’ melody – supported by Nenni’s piercing delivery – should find its way into movie soundtracks for those empowering montage scenes. Her presence on stage and online is outlined in that song. Clearly, Nenni wants the right people to win and does not fear sharing that spotlight. There is so much for the industry to learn from her approach — and I’m rootin’ for her.
Jerry Zinn of West of Texas has been slaving away at his latest album, Hot Motel Nights, for years – bringing together some of the best players from around the country to track parts to this killer, sad, honky tonk album. With significant radio play, chart placement and strong media reception, this album should provide a new path forward for West of Texas. Zinn has a way with sad country music we have not seen in more than a generation — and his dedication to making that music the right way should be celebrated (and rewarded).
Artist who should go away next year
Can we please be done with Morgan Wallen? I know it is cliché to wish him away at this point, but the guy gets a pass on everything and is still on top of the world. His music is catchy, but it’s manufactured that way. Saying his music is fun to listen to is like saying PEZ is sweet. It’s not sweet like fresh pineapple, warmed in the sun. His music tastes like fake sugar and food dye. It's boring, and his act is stale, and it’s so easy.
People, can we also be done with the Wallen Wannabes? If you need to copy a commercially successful country star, perhaps change the point of view and go with Zach Top or Charlie Crockett – but I suppose you need talent to follow their lead.
Viral Moments
This goes to The Doohickeys. No question. Between Chubs, the MasterClass parody and 9-to-6, the LA-based comic country band has been on a roll. If you don’t follow them, you should. While mostly just fun, their joking often has a sharper edge that addresses larger social issues, which I wrote about earlier this year.
Will there be more of the Country Cutler’s Best of 2024? Tune in to find out, or I’ll see you next year.