Eli Young Band’s Album – Love Talking is Available Now

Eli Young Band’s Album – Love Talking is Available Now

Posted on June 3, 2022

Eli Young Band‘s new album, Love Talking, is available now.

The band’s Mike Eli shares, “I found such a creative haven in songwriting over the past couple years of uncertainty, so we had more songs to pick from for this album than ever before.”

When it comes to the tracks on Love Talking, Mike says they all have one thing in common, “When it came time for us to really listen through and narrow it down, we all collectively realized that the songs raising their hands the most were the positive, optimistic ones. That big, uplifting energy is what we needed as a band in that moment – and we understood that our fans were probably needing it, too, so that’s the vibe we hope this album portrays to the world.”

As far as the title of the project, Eli commented “We just thought it had a ring to it.(Laughs) And the reality of the matter is that us as a band, we’ve latched onto love pretty hard-core, you know. And I think that we felt as if reaching for the positive energy and all that, we felt like that title spoke to that.”

Love Talking track list;
1. “Love Talking” (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jeffrey East)
2. “Lucky For Me” (Mike Eli, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)
3. “Break Up In A Bar” (Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)
4. “Love Ain’t” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally)
5. “Chances Are” (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jordan Minton)
6. “Live With It” (Mike Eli, Josh Osborne, Daniel Ross)
7. “Tell Me It Is” (Mike Eli, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins)
8. “A Good Thing” (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jeffery East)
9. “Love Talking” (Acoustic) (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jeffrey East)

Produced by Jimmy Robbins & Eric Arjes (Tracks 1-3, 5-9) + Dan Huff (Track 4)
Executive Produced by Scott Borchetta & J.R. Schumann (Tracks 1 + 9)

Get the story behind the title track here…

The Eli Young Band is out on their Love Talking tour – with a show in Washington DC this weekend, and next week in Fort Collins, Kamas, and Burley.

For more tour dates check out their WEBSITE

Eli Young Band’s Love Talking is available now – and the title track is their current single at country radio.

Photo Credit: Corey Ray

Lee Brice Gets his Current Single “Soul” Remixed by R3HAB and Blanco Brown

Lee Brice Gets his Current Single “Soul” Remixed by R3HAB and Blanco Brown

Posted on June 3, 2022

Lee Brice‘s current single at country radio is “Soul” – and as he’s hitting the road on his Label Me Proud tour, Lee’s giving fans a new take on the song thanks to DJ R3HAB.

Amping up the danceability to the song, R3HAD added a new musical arrangement and Blanco Brown to Lee’s “Soul.”

Check out the remix here…

Fans will checkout Lee Brice out on the road as his Label Me Proud tour with Michael Ray, Jackson Dean, Tim Montana and Tyler Farr launched this week.

Label Me Proud tour dates;
6.3.22 Bridgeport, CT Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*
6.9.22 Kearney, NE Viaero Center*
6.11.22 Maryland Heights, MO Saint Louis Music Park*
6.16.22 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo Amphitheater**
6.17.22 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum**
6.18.22 Sterling Heights, MI Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre**
7.8.22 Washington, D.C. The Anthem***
8.11.22 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Bay Center*
8.12.22 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre*
8.13.22 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheater*
8.25.22 Huntington, WV Mountain Health Arena*
8.26.22 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall Civic Center*
8.27.22 Chattanooga, TN Soldiers and Sailors Memorial*
9.8.22 Charlottesville, VA Ting Pavilion*
9.9.22 Youngstown, OH Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre*
9.10.22 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater*
9.15.22 Cape Girardeau, MO Show Me Center*
9.16.22 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion*
9.17.22 Indianapolis, IN TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park*
9.22.22 Jonesboro, AR First National Bank Arena*
9.23.22 Bossier City, LA Brookshire Grocery Arena*
9.24.22 Sugar Land, TX Smart Financial Centre*

*Michael Ray & Jackson Dean
**Michael Ray & Tim Montana
***Tyler Farr & Jackson Dean

Check out the original version and Lee Brice current single at country radio, “Soul.”

Photo Credit: Spidey Smith

Gabby Barrett Shares with Fans her Rehearsal Process for this Weekends Shows

Gabby Barrett Shares with Fans her Rehearsal Process for this Weekends Shows

Posted on June 3, 2022

Gabby Barrett is in Florida this weekend opening for the legendary Brooks & Dunn on their Reboot 2022 tour.

Gabby shared a behind the scenes clip of her rehearsal…sitting and eating. Well, what do you expect as the singer is pregnant with her second child. Gabby joked, “pregnant, eating, and sitting. My kinda rehearsal.”

Fans will be able to catch Gabby this weekend with Brooks & Dunn, or next week as she will be taking part in CMA Music Fest in Nashville.

Gabby has several shows of her own before she heads out with Jason Aldean on his Rock N’ Roll Cowboy tour starting next month in Scranton, PA on July 15th.

Check out the music video for Gabby Barrett’s current single at country radio, “Pick Me Up.”

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

A South Knox County Club is Ordered Closed by a Judge

A South Knox County Club is Ordered Closed by a Judge

Posted on June 3, 2022

A South Knox County strip club is ordered closed by a Judge.

A court order from Judge Steve Sword has closed The Ball following several criminal instances according to District Attorney Charme Allen’s office.

Filings show that shootings, fights, homicide and other violent behavior were commonplace at the club.

Knoxville Police Department officers have responded to the club several times for violent offenses, including one involving second degree murder.

Officers have made over 80 calls to The Ball, including that homicide. The DA’s office says this shows the business is a continued threat to this community and the decision to close the club stems from a desire to protect the surrounding community.

President of the club, John Nichols says that the club has been operating legally for the past 30 years and plans to defend his right to operate the legal business.

Callista Clark Dreams of Heading Down Under

Callista Clark Dreams of Heading Down Under

Posted on June 2, 2022

With her music career Callista Clark gets to travel when she performs shows – but just like everyone else who starts to think about vacation destinations around this time of year, the country singer has some dream places she’d like to head to too.

Callista says, “I’ve always wanted to go to Australia. Nothing specific, but I don’t know why. I really couldn’t tell you. I’ve just always wanted to go to Australia.“

Another dream vacation Clark shares, “I’ve also always wanted to go to Hawaii because it’s gorgeous. I feel like that’s pretty self-explanatory.”

Sounds like a Australian-Hawaiian tour is in order for Callista so she can play her current single “Gave It Back Broken” for fans in both places.

And just so you know Callista, we’d be willing to cover the tour in person.

Photo Courtesy of Callista Clark

Alabama’s Randy Owen Mourns the Loss of His Mother as She Passes at Age 90

Alabama’s Randy Owen Mourns the Loss of His Mother as She Passes at Age 90

Posted on June 2, 2022

Our thoughts and prayers are with Alabama front-man Randy Owen as we learn of the passing of his mother, Martha Alice Teague Owen.

Photo ID – Back Row: Rachel Carroll, Randy Owen, Reba Patterson – Front Row: Martha Owen, Yewell Owen

Martha left us on Thursday June 2nd, surrounded by her family in Fort Payne, Alabama. Passing at age 90 after a short illness.

Martha was married to the late Gladstone Yewell Owen (Randy’s father who passed in 1980) and is the mother of son Randy and daughters Reba Patterson and Rachel Carroll. Randy’s mother and father were responsible for introducing him to singing live on-stage. When the siblings were children, the family formed The Singing Owen Family, a Gospel group that performed in churches and events in Alabama and the south during the ’60s and ’70s.   

ALABAMA is currently on a 30-city tour but is rescheduling this weekend’s concerts due to Owen’s passing. June 3 in Roanoke, Virginia will now take place on December 9; June 4 in Fayetteville, North Carolina will take place on December 11. All prior ticket purchases will be honored at the new dates.

Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey Had a Full Circle Moment Thanks to a Pop-up & Puppy

Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey Had a Full Circle Moment Thanks to a Pop-up & Puppy

Posted on June 2, 2022

Last week in Nashville, Old Dominion held up another pop-up show before the Saturday night Here And Now concert.

The performance was held a place called The Basement East – which has an interesting connection to OD lead singer Matthew Ramsey.

Matt shared the story from the stage…

In the end…there was “No Hard Feelings.”

This weekend, Old Dominion, along with Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay and Carly Pearce are in Texas to play AT&T Stadium this Saturday night, June 4th.

Photo Credit: Mason Allen

Baseball Preview: Top-Seeded Vols Set to Host NCAA Knoxville Regional

Baseball Preview: Top-Seeded Vols Set to Host NCAA Knoxville Regional

Posted on June 2, 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 1 national seed Tennessee Volunteers begin their run to Omaha on Friday as they begin play in the NCAA Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Volunteers enter the tournament as the top overall seed for the first time in program history after winning both the SEC Regular Season Championship and SEC Tournament title for the first time since 1995.

For the most up-to-date scores, links and other information, visiting the NCAA Knoxville Regional Central Page.

NCAA KNOXVILLE REGIONAL SCHEDULE

Friday, June 3
Game 1 – Georgia Tech vs. Campbell | Noon ET | Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats
Game 2 – Tennessee vs. Alabama State | 6 p.m. ET | Watch (SEC Network) | Listen (Vol Network) | Live Stats

Saturday, June 4
Game 3 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | Noon ET | Live Stats
Game 4 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 7 p.m. ET | Live Stats

Sunday, June 5
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 | 2 p.m. ET | Live Stats
Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 7 p.m. ET | Live Stats

Monday, June 6
Game 7 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 | 1 p.m. ET | Live Stats

TICKET INFO

Tickets for this weekend’s regional are sold out. A limited number of standing room only tickets will be made available at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office 90 minutes prior to each session.

PARKING INFORMATION & ROAD CLOSURES

In an effort to eliminate heavy traffic and promote a safe environment for all fans and staff attending this weekend’s regional, road closures will be in effect for the duration of the tournament. Closures will go into effect at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, June 3, and can only be accessed with a valid NCAA parking pass. 

Chamique Holdsclaw Dr. and Todd Helton Dr. will be closed from the intersection of Chamique Holdsclaw Dr. and Lake Loudon Blvd. to Todd Helton Dr. and the entrance of lot GF4.

Pat Head Summitt St. will also be closed after the entrance to G16 Garage. Fan parking will be located in the following areas: S23 behind the Haslam School of Music – as well as C8, C6, C22 and G16. Additional street parking is located along West Volunteer Blvd. Please plan to use alternative lots as needed during this event. 

An updated parking map for this weekend can be seen HERE (PDF).

BROADCAST INFO

TV/Stream: SEC Network & ESPN+
 
Talent: Mike Monaco (PxP) & Ben McDonald (Analyst)
 
Radio: Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) | Tennessee Athletics App | UTSports.com
 
Talent: John Wilkerson & Vince Ferrara
The Vol Network has added numerous radio affiliates to broadcast Tennessee baseball games this season. The complete list of new affiliates is below. Check your local listings as game coverage varies by station.  

Bristol: WOPI (FM 98.1, AM 1490)
Camden: WRJB (FM 95.9)
Chattanooga: WFLI (FM 97.7, FM 100.3, AM 1070)
Cleveland: The Buzz (FM 101.3)
Cookeville: WKXD (FM 104.7)
Johnson City: WKPT (FM 94.3, AM 1590)
Kingsport: WKTP (FM 97.7, AM 1400)
Lawrenceburg: WWLX (FM 106.1, FM 93.1, AM 590)
Muscle Shoals, Ala.: WSBM (FM 97.9, AM 1340)
Nashville: WGFX (FM 104.5 The Zone)
Oneida: WBNT (FM 105.5)
Pulaski: WKSR (FM 107.7, FM 100.9, AM 1420)
Wartburg: WECO (FM 101.3)

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Appearances: 11 (Most Recent: 2021)
 
Regional Record: 24-13 (.615)
 
Knoxville Regional Record: 17-5 (.773)
 
College World Series Appearances: 5 (1951, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2021)
 
This will be UT’s 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and mark the seventh time hosting a regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols have won all three of their regionals in Knoxville since it switched to the current four-team format in 1999. In those three regionals (2001, 2005, 2021), UT has posted a 9-1 overall record and has gone on to advance to the College World Series in each of those seasons.

NEED TO KNOW

  • Tennessee is coming off its first SEC Tournament Championship since 1995 and its first ever tournament title since the event started including both divisions in 1998. The Vols went 4-0 during their title run last week and never trailed while outscoring their opposition, 35-10.
  • The Vols also won their first SEC Regular Season Championship since 1995, winning the league by a record six games after posting a 25-5 record in conference play. Tennessee won its second straight Eastern Division title after not doing so since 1997 prior to last year.
  • To this point, Tennessee has posted one of the best seasons in college baseball history. UT’s 49-7 regular-season record was the best in program history and the Vols are the only SEC team in league history to enter NCAA Tournament play with 50-plus wins (53-7).
  • The Big Orange rank among the national leaders in numerous statistical categories, including:
    • Batting Avg: 308 (16th)
    • Runs/Game: 9.3 (3rd)
    • Total Runs: 561 (2nd)
    • Hits: 636 (10th)
    • Doubles: 143 (4th)
    • Triples: 23 (10th)
    • Home Runs: 141 (1st)
    • Slugging Pct: .604 (1st)
    • On-Base Pct: .421 (4th)
    • Walks: 358 (2nd)
    • ERA: 2.35 (1st)
    • WHIP: 0.96 (1st)
    • Shutouts: 8 (3rd)
    • Hits Allowed: 6.23 (1st)
    • K-to-BB Ratio: 4.36 (2nd)
    • Strikeouts/9 Inn: 10.7 (9th)
    • Walks Allowed: 2.45 (1st)
    • Fielding Pct: .982 (8th)
  • Tennessee racked up the SEC postseason honors as Chase Dollander was named SEC Pitcher of the Year, Drew Beam was named SEC Freshman of the Year and Tony Vitello was named SEC Coach of the Year. The Vols also had five honorees on the All-SEC teams, which marked the second most in a single season in program history, just one behind the 1994 squad, which had six. UT had three players named to the All-Freshman Team, as well.
  • UT’s 141 home runs are the most by any team since the NCAA switched to BBCOR bats in 2011. The Vols have 13 more home runs than Old Dominion, who ranks second nationally.
  • This weekend’s NCAA Knoxville Regional will feature three of the nation’s leaders in home runs: Tennessee (141 – 1st), Campbell (111 – 7th) and Georgia Tech (110 – t-8th).
  • The Big Orange have eight players that have hit double-digit homers this season, which is the most of any team in the country. With one more long ball, Drew Gilbert would join that group to give the Vols nine players with 10-plus dingers.
  • Tennessee’s pitching staff has racked up a program record 641 strikeouts this season. The Vols rank third nationally in strikeouts and ninth in Division I with 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings. UT also ranks second in the nation with a 4.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
  • Entering regional play, Evan Russell needs just one more long ball to take over sole possession of Tennessee’s career home runs record. He is currently tied with VFL Todd Helton with 38 career round trippers. Luc Lipcius is hot on his heels, entering the weekend with 37 career bombs.
  • Veteran reliever Redmond Walsh needs one more save to claim sole possession of first place in program history. He is currently tied with Helton with 23 career saves after tying the record last Friday night in a win over LSU in the SEC Tournament.

ON DECK FOR THE VOLS

Should Tennessee win the Knoxville Regional, it would host an NCAA Super Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium next weekend against the winner of the NCAA Statesboro Regional.

-UT Athletics

Vols C Evan Russell / Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee Foursome Named to Collegiate Baseball All-America Teams

Tennessee Foursome Named to Collegiate Baseball All-America Teams

Posted on June 2, 2022

Collegiate Baseball All-America Teams

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee led all schools with a program-record four players named to the Collegiate Baseball All-America teams on Thursday morning.

Sophomore pitcher Chase Dollander earned first-team honors as a starting pitcher while senior third baseman Trey Lipscomb and junior outfielder Drew Gilbert garnered second-team acclaim. Freshman pitcher Chase Burns rounded out the group by earning a spot on the third team.

Dollander is the first UT player to garner first-team All-America honors from any outlet since Nick Senzel in 2016 (Perfect Game) and the first pitcher to do so since Luke Hochevar in 2005 (consensus).

The sophomore right hander has been dominant on the mound this season, posting a perfect 9-0 record with a 2.21 earned run average and a 0.71 WHIP, which is the lowest in Division I. Dollander leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with 99 strikeouts, averaging 12.85 punchouts per nine innings, which ranks 14th in the country. The Georgia Southern transfer also ranks in the top 20 nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (4th – 5.06), ERA (16th – 2.21), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4th – 9.00) and victories (18th – 9).

Dollander was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year after helping lead the Vols to their first SEC regular season championship since 1995 and was also tabbed as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy.

After serving in a reserve role during his first three seasons at UT, Lipscomb had a breakout senior season, emerging as one of the top players in the Southeastern Conference and the nation. The first-team All-SEC selection leads all players in the conference with 77 RBIs and ranks among the league leaders in total bases (165- 2nd), slugging percentage (.737 – 2nd), home runs (21 – t-3rd) and runs scored (63 – 4th). Lipscomb also ranks in the top 20 nationally in RBIs (6th), homers (t-16th), slugging percentage (16th) and total bases (17th).

Lipscomb is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, as well. He became just the fourth Vol to ever hit for the cycle when he did it against Iona on Feb. 25, driving in nine runs in that game.

Gilbert was once again one of Tennessee’s top hitters and overall players this season en route to earning first-team All-SEC honors. The Stillwater, Minnesota, native led the conference with a .385 batting average and 20 doubles. He also ranked in the top five of the SEC in slugging percentage (.693), on-base percentage (.480), RBIs (66) and triples (4).

The junior outfielder was named the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after driving in nine runs over four games to help lead the Vols to their first tournament title since 1995. This marks Gilbert’s first-career selection to a postseason All-America team.

Burns came into his freshman campaign with plenty of hype after being one of the top-rated recruits in the nation. The hard-throwing right hander did not disappoint, posting an 8-1 record, 2.61 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched, primarily serving as UT’s Friday-night starter. Burns enters this NCAA Tournament ranked third in the SEC in ERA and strikeouts and is holding opposing hitters to a .213 batting average, good for fifth in the league.

The Gallatin, Tennessee, native earned second-team All-SEC honors and was also named to the league’s all-freshman team. Like Lipscomb, Burns is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, as well. He is the first Tennessee freshman pitcher to earn postseason All-America honors since R.A. Dickey was a consensus first-team selection back in 1994.

Tennessee begins its road back to Omaha in the NCAA Knoxville Regional on Friday at 6 p.m. against Alabama State. 

Tennessee Postseason All-Americans

RHP Chase Dollander
Collegiate Baseball – First Team

3B Trey Lipscomb
Collegiate Baseball – Second Team

OF Drew Gilbert
Collegiate Baseball – Second Team

RHP Chase Burns
Collegiate Baseball – Third Team

-UT Athletics

Chase Dollander, Trey Lipscomb, Drew Gilbert & Chase Burns
VFL Grant Williams Set to Compete in NBA Finals For Celtics

VFL Grant Williams Set to Compete in NBA Finals For Celtics

Posted on June 2, 2022

After playing a role in the Boston Celtics’ run to an NBA Eastern Conference title, Tennessee basketball alum Grant Williams is set to suit up for the NBA Finals beginning Thursday night.
 
Tip-off for Game 1 of the series between the Celtics and the Golden State Warriors is set for Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. Williams is looking to be the first VFL to claim an NBA championship since Jordan McRae did so with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
 
Over the course of the Celtics’ current playoff run, Williams has averaged 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game—also shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point range.
 
This season marks Williams’ third trip to the NBA Playoffs with Boston. In his previous two appearances in 2020 and 2021, he played just 10.0 and 11.4 minutes per game, while averaging 2.8 and 3.4 points per game, respectively.
 
Williams’ breakout moment of the 2022 playoffs came in Boston’s Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, when he scored 27 points on seven made 3-pointers. The 27 points marked his most in a game—regular season or postseason—since his time at Tennessee, and the seven made threes tied Stephen Curry’s NBA Playoffs record for most made threes in a Game 7.
 
A two-time SEC Player of the Year and 2019 unanimous first team All-American, Williams concluded his Tennessee career as one of the most decorated players in program history. During his final season as a Vol in 2018-19, Williams averaged 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He also shot 57 percent from the field and an impressive 82 percent from the free-throw line.
 
He departed Tennessee ranked in the top 10 in program history in career blocks (3rd/160), free-throw attempts (3rd/661), free throws made (4th/501) and offensive rebounds (8th/257). He also ranks 12th in scoring with 1,629 career points.

-UT Athletics

Grant Williams – Celtics / Credit UT Athletics

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