James E. Akenson
Even in the worst of times we’ve got to use some humor. No… the coronavirus COVID-19 isn’t humorous. Yes. Corona sounds like a Mexican beer. But…Corona also sound a bit like the Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys classic Corinne Corrine. This is after all, Country Underground Australia and we want at least an upbeat moment before dealing with a serious subject.
The great flu epidemic of 1918 … killed millions…at least fifty million… of people world-wide. in part, some say, by poor management by then President Woodrow Wilson. Just think …the victims of that post World War I pandemic lost their lives some nine years prior to the 1927 Big Bang of Country Music that took place in Bristol, Tennessee.
The COVID-19 (Corona) virus of 2020 may not cause as many fatalities, but it certainly disrupted life throughout the world including the United States and Australia. The BIG question, mates, though for purposes of Country Underground Australia is How does/did the COVID-19 crisis impact Country Music? Well….it’s had a BIG impact. No telling how and when it will end. Let’s take a look at the impact on Country Music.
Merle Haggard’s classic If We Make It Through December comes to mind. Being laid off huts no matter when it happens be it down at the factory or having your concerts in arenas, stadia, honky-tonks or wherever cancelled. It’s the original gig economy…you’re not on a salary, it’s not steady, it’s short term work, it can vanish in a hurry. If you’re an established big name act like Little Big Town that postpones their upcoming tour THE GIG IS GONE. Your immediate income just took a big, big hit. Country Music Tattle Tale posted Little Big Town’s announcement:
This tour means everything to us, but amid the health concerns surrounding our country, we feel like the only thing to do to protect the health of our fans, band, crew, and families is to postpone the upcoming spring shows,” said the band. “We are already counting down the weeks to be back out there with you all, celebrating life, love, music, and health with a new and different appreciation. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for all rescheduled dates. Stay safe and healthy and try to enjoy this unexpected time to spend with your loved ones.
The Grand Ole Opry marches on through streaming video without an audience. Take a look as Marty Stuart, Brad Paisley, and Vince Gill keep the tradition alive. They’re brilliant, but they’re only three musicians being paid. Other artists and back-up singers don’t have their usual pay checks. Think of all the hotels and restaurants impacted by the Opry audience not coming to Nashville and filling the seats.
If you’re a newly established, struggling to make ends meet, Country Music act the canceling of performances be it in a Nashville Honky Tonk on Broadway in Nashville or elsewhere the impact is even more dire. The Gig Is Up. Your income is down. Can you make your rent, fill up with petrol, pay your electric bill? Can the streaming concert performances begin to generate an equivalent side income to your day job? Lots of media sites and personal platforms announced live streaming concerts. The Grand Ole Opry helped out with posts such as this:
As most people are settle into self-isolation for the coming weeks, country music artists are taking their gigs to social platforms and virtual music festivals. We’ve put together a calendar of what shows to tune into in the coming weeks that will keep you connected to the music and artist you love. We’re updating this page daily so that you can have the most current live performance information.
Daily
Stephanie Quayle
Time: 10 a.m. CT (M-F)
What: A positive start to your day with host Stephanie Quayle and her stable of mini creatures including a mini donkey (Minnie Pearl) and a mini cow (Toby Keith).
Where: Facebook
Paul Bogart Played a 7pm The Homebound Hoedown 2020 livestream show with cover charge on mykeylive. Adam Doleac played a 2p.m. Instagram concert Presented by Boot Barn. Kaitlyn Baker performed a 4:00pm Live In Your Living Room concert through Stageit with All ticket proceeds go back to the artists themselves as our mission is to keep revenue streams open during these troubled times. The Powell Brothers announced Let’s go to Luchenbach, Texas…online! We’ll be live in concert on the Luchenbach Texas Facebook page.
In a previous Country Underground Australia I shared the concept of a House Concert given in an affluent suburban setting. House Concerts began as a way for folks to raise money for basics such as rent. You don’t want to be evicted. Paraphrasing what the boll weevil said to the farmer I’ve gotta have a home. COVID-19 brought about at least a mini revival in the House Concert.
House Concert/House party concept revived.
In a time of social distancing and self-isolation, Warner Music Nashville’s sister duo Walker County (Ivy Dene and Sophie Dawn) continues to bring positivity to the world through the power of music. On Monday, March 23, Ivy and Sophie will host a WALKER COUNTY HOUSE PARTY, live streaming at 7:00 pm/6:00c via Facebook (HERE) to perform several of their songs, including their most recent release “The Hamptons.”
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives…. these are marvelous adaptations to keep the music flowing. BUT….I don’t think anyone would say it begins to come close to providing Country Music artists with an income stream close to normal gigs, normal concert events. It’s not surprising that the 2.2 Trillion Dollar….now that IS a lot of money…..stimulus package passed by the U.S. Congress included money for musical artists as well as typical factory and service workers laid off due to COVID-19.
There are other aspects to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them are funny, some are fascinating, all of them shows that the Country Music community adapts to hard times.
Since we’re all supposed to be washing our hands for at least as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday someone came up with a generator to help us wash our hands correctly. Yes. Country Music lyrics work well at washyourlyrics.com. We posted the washyourlyrics.com generated lyrics and hand washing instructions to Hank Williams I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry in our bathroom.
A Tennessee Tech University graduate student who was a student in my Country Music graduate class came up with some great lyrics on his own as he sprayed his office at Tennessee Tech. Ethan Grissom remembered how we used a Venn Diagram to compare Conway Twitty’s Love To Lay Your Down with Anne Bradstreet’s To My Dear And Loving Husband. Ethan Grissom came up with this adaption of Love To Lay You Down as he killed untold millions of viruses in his office Spray you down with a can of Lysol cause’ we don’t Corona round her. Spray you down and kill those germs away let’s keep our distance dear. My guess is that there are lots of other Country Music fans who have created COVID-19 Adaptations as they practiced killing viruses with WetOnes, Lysol, CaviWipes, and other products.
Of course, more accomplished, professional folks have adapted Country Music Classics. Check out the Pandemic Blues Doc Watson Parody by Ryan McKinny with David Petty on guitar and harmonica. And…Shinyribs about …I hear them on Sirius/Xm Outlaw Country have an original ditty Stay Home that isn’t exactly profound, but it does get the message across…..STAY HOME! If COVID-19 lasts as long as it seems possible, then we might see…and hear…more original COVID-19 Country Music songs. A sort of return to the Event Song such as songs based on the 1925 death of Floyd Collins.
The beat goes on and on and on. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum closed but provides radio programming plus created activities to help students and families to stay busy in an engaging and fun way…from songwriting and the banjo to important figures from the 1927 Bristol Sessions…
Kelsea Ballerini stayed at home instead of being on the road to promote her new Kelsea album. She told Rolling Stone Country journalist Marissa Moss that she was dropping the album to a few fans via s safe, social distance-acceptable drone. Ballerini also started a TikTok gone live on Instagram.
Clay Walker posted videos of life on his farm plus uses the time to use Skype or Zoom to work with songwriters on new material.
Walker County hosted another House Party.
Emerging overtly gay artist Orville Peck…his fans are called Peckheads….offered thoughts that might be a nice way to end this COVID-19 ditty. Peck maintains that:
I just want to remind all of you that we have gotten through a lot of terrible stuff in our lifetime, in our civilization,” he said. “And I think art and creativity and caring for one another and caring for ourselves and self-reflection — I think those things help us get through all of this.
In other words, music and the arts help us deal with the problems and the triumphs of life in a way that is powerful. Like Don Quixote de la Mancha we can dream the seemingly impossible dream and fight the seemingly unbeatable foe. As we chafe under social distance and the stress of COVID-19 we know not what tomorrow may bring. But…consider the lilies of the field they toil not neither do they spin. Yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these. Keep it country! Keeping it country will see us through to the other side.
