Artist: Dixie Chicks

Video footage from the Mad Ripple Hootenanny at Minneapolis' Music Box (07/10/2009).

Yoko Ono is to bands as Raid is to bugs — or so the story goes. Guess that’s why she’s such a common comparison, especially when the very foundation of the mob, the atom, or the Bush administration has been shaken to its foundations.

In honor of the American servicemen and women overseas, JamsBio's editors present a list of 10 great "soldier songs."

        MUSIC NEWS -   Nashville singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, Buddy Miller suffered a heart attack in Baltimore, MD, on Friday, February 20. He was on tour with Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin as part ot the  " 3 Girls And Their Buddy " tour.  Mr Miller, 56, was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and he underwent a successful triple-bypass heart surgery. Miller will be recovering in Baltimore for several weeks and unable to make the final February 20 thru 22 tour dates. His songs have been recorded by the Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Brooks [...]

During the Bush administration, everyone seemed to agree: there were no protest songs . Or, at least, no good ones . At any rate, it definitely wasn't like the '60s . In her latest blog post for NPR, Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein provides a welcome correction to this idea, noting both how many protest songs there were and how widespread the perception was that releasing a protest song was a bad idea. But even if there were protest songs, surely they didn't have the same effect as in the '60s, right? [...]

In a matter of hours, we'll put the presidency of George W. Bush behind us. (His legacy, of course, is another matter entirely.) While much of the nation is looking ahead, singing along to Pete Seeger's "This Land Is Your Land" at the Barack Obama inauguration concert without an ounce of irony, I'd like to take this moment to reflect upon what we're leaving behind. Specifically, I'm thinking of the music that arose during the last eight years -- the bands and songs that wrestled with the fear, uncertainty, disenchantment and frustration that for many people defined the Bush era [...]

About a month back now, we first caught wind of the defamation lawsuit Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of three 8-year-old boys killed 15 years ago in West Memphis, Arkansas, was filing against the... Continue reading "Dixie Chicks Defamation Lawsuit Moved To Federal Court" >

There’s some bad news for one of the Dixie Chicks as lead singer Natalie Maines is being sued for defamation by the stepdad of one of the 3 8-year old boys killed back in 1993. The incident involved the death of 3 kids and their 3 suspected murderers, Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley. One of the boys’ stepfathers, Terry Hobbs, is apparently upset with a comment that Natalie made. Natalie was at a rally in Little Rock last year when she claimed that the suspected murderers were innocent and that new evidence showed that Hobbs was actually the [...]

This should come as a surprise to absolutely no one: Natalie Maines, of the one-time Dallas-based Dixie Chicks, is in the news again, this time because she's, like, totally getting sued by this guy w... Continue reading "Natalie Maines Still Isn't Ready To Make Nice--Even When She Probably Didn't Intend To Be Mean In The First Place. Oh Well!" >

A litigious week in rock. Guitar wanking 80’s relic Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay for his copyright infringement. Apparently Coldplay stole some melodies from his instrumental 'If I Could Fly' and reused them in the band's single, 'Viva La Vida.' Satriani is seeking damages and "any and all profits" from the group for their alleged plagiarizing . Jose says Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! After Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines spoke in support of the [...]

Where do the Dixie Chicks go next? Having been banished from country music in 2004, they went pop with Taking the Long Way , which won a ton of Grammys but was, artistically speaking, an utter disaster ( This review pretty much hit the nail on the head.) Several months ago they put together a new song for the film Lucky Ones , but due to squabbling over licensing and such, the song was pulled from the soundtrack. Now, the track has been made public. Bad news: It sounds like the boring, hook-free fluff of [...]

• Dixie Chicks - Lucky Ones » DixieChicksLuckyOnes.mp3

The section "Public statements and controversy" in the Wikipedia article about Natalie Maines just got a little bit longer, thanks to Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one the children killed in the 1993 West Memphis Three incident, suing Maines for defamation. Hobbs took exception to the implication— made by Maines in a post to the Dixie Chicks' Web site —that he might be the true killer of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore and not the currently imprisoned Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin. I'm no legal expert, but it's hard to see where [...]

stole this from J.D. at hiphopupdate : I must say, this is an interesting Gap commercial right here. Now, Gap always gets celebs and music artists in their ads, but the lineup is pretty odd right here. We've got Sandra Bernhard, Janelle Monae, Jon Heder, Rainn Wilson, Selma Blair, Trey Songz, Dixie Chicks, Freddy Rodriguez, Romany Malco, Flo-rida & Jason Biggs. Dwight Schrute aka Rainn Wilson gets it in right there. You already know these people [...]

With a slumping economy it seems the onslaught of Christmas ads have come out in full force even earlier this year, reminding people to go out and buy stuff. The folks over at Gap are always good for simple yet interesting tv ads (see the Daft Punk ad from years back) but this new one featuring Flo-Rida's hit about girls of the night remixed to have a more family appeal (enter the Dixie Chicks ) and pimp jeans that aren't as apple bottomed. Click here to view the embedded [...]

The Gap's holiday ad campaigns have often featured pop musicians recasting holiday tunes—recall Luscious Jackson's take on "Let It Snow," or Rufus Wainwright's "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" —but this year, in order to get "interactive," the mall staple is letting people remix the Flo Rida/Janelle Monae/Dixie Chicks/Sandra Bernhard/Other People cover of "Jingle Bells" in the ad above to send to friends. Which is a holiday present that's a lot cheaper than a $69.50 pair of jeans. (Plus it has synthesized cowbells!) [ YouTube ]

Above: "Funeral for a Soldier" by Scott H. Spitzer for USAF (DOD 030403-F-1166S-001, public domain) Tuesday was Veteran's Day . Newly restored aircraft carrier the USS Intrepid-a ship that saw extensive combat in the Pacific during World War II-was rededicated as a museum in New York at Pier 86 on the Hudson River. In America, and in many countries around the world (where the holiday is known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day), people took time to remember those who have served in their nation's military, especially those who lost their lives. [...]

After a two year hiatus, Lisa Underwood has rejoined Lantana , the feisty country trio originally from Coppell. Consisting originally of Underwood, Karol Ann DeLong and Biz Haddock, Lantana released its debut, Life Is Good , back in 2004. After Underwood’s departure, the band recruited Darlene Richelle and released 2006’s Unbridled . Both efforts highlighted the trio’s pristine vocal harmonies and the ladies’ way with folk/country melodies. Now comes word that DeLong is out and Underwood is back in place and that a new effort is forthcoming in the [...]

It's been a busy few months for this ghey, but sanity has finally returned and Reality TV Makes Me Cry is now coming to you live from a new location - Chicago. I may not have cable yet, nor is my Internet connection the most reliable, but I intend to update this blog as frequently as I am able to with remarks on the various crazinesses of our world. Yahtzee, game on. Hallmark goes gay with new cards. Ever read [...]

Tammy Wynette sang one of the most famous country songs of them all, and now Dixie Chick Emily Robison and her husband, singer Charlie Robison, have carried it out. Anyone for a rendition of D.I.V.O.R.C.E ? Reports claim that Charlie Robison filed for divorce in January. The couple were at the Bexar County Courthouse on Wednesday when the divorce was finalized. The divorce filing states their marriage had "become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities." Well it’s anyone’s guess what that could mean.

Or so E! Online is reporting, citing The San Antonio Express News ' report . Says E! : "Both Robisons were present at the Bexar County Courthouse yesterday when their single status was restored." So, I dunno, have at it and whatnot. -- Pete Freedman