Str8 Boys Need Love Too - Bucky Covington

Bucky Covington was a contestant on season 5 of American Idol, a handsome country singer from Rockingham, North Carolina. I loved his charm, that hair, and a roughness to his voice. That season, my three favorites finished 4th, 7th and 8th, leaving me far short of being able to pick a winner. That said, Bucky landed on his feet, scoring a contract and a fantastic eponymous first album. On release, it reached #1 on the Country charts, and the best debut on for a male artist since Billy Ray Cyrus scored with Achy Breaky Heart. Three songs from that album went on to be hits, A Different World, It's Good To Be Us, and I'll Walk. I'll admit I'll Walk was one of my least favorite songs offered, and one of my favorites, American Friday Night, never hit the airwaves.



However, coming in early 2010, Bucky will be releasing his next album, rumored to be named I'm Alright. He recently released a hint of what's to come. The song is Gotta Be Somebody, and I really like it. It is a southern-flavored cover of a Nickelback song.



I think he is just adorable, not bad for a str8 guy. You can find out more about Bucky at his official website here.

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Great Women - kd lang

I remember kd lang in the late 80s, a wild Canadian Country singer with her band, The Reclines. I ran out and bought my copy of Angel With A Lariat when it was released in 1987, and have just been amazed with her voice since.



I believe the first song I heard her sing was some honkey-tonk number on some late night talk show, not even sure which one. She was bouncing around the stage in a classic Country outfit from the late fifties, taken to the extreme. It was a pink silk blouse with fringe, and a skirt with fringe as well. She was wild, and was kinda billed as performing Country 'punk.' kd followed that up with Shadowland (1988) and Absolute Torch and Twang (1989). While she has had some magnificent performances since, they are still my three favorite kd CDs.



After that, the next CD was Ingénue in 1992 with the song that pretty much made her famous, Constant Craving. And afterwards, there was her collaboration with Tony Bennett. I have bought CDs since, but still think there is something extra special when kd sings Country music. But no matter what she sings, her amazing voice and interesting turn of a phrase is something that will set her apart from most singers of her generation.



You can find more about kd lang at her website.

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New Music - Brian Glenn - Original Intent

Well, newish music. Hell, it's new to me. So it came out in 2007, I just bought the Original Intent by Country singer Brian Glenn. Yep, you read that right, Country singer. And did I mention he was openly gay? And pretty damn good looking? I first ran across this talented man about five years ago when I read he was part of a 'new' reality show looking for the first gay superstar. That show, American Pride, also had another guy named Matt Alber. I don't believe the show ever happened, and I looked and looked for more music, but couldn't find it, just that he was playing bass for Marty Stuart's band, and singing backup. He had a song that ran for the preshow press called The Whole World Is Falling In Love and I just loved it.




Brian has worked with most of the big names in Country music, and all credit him for excellent skills as both a musician and a singer. On first listen to the CD Original Intent, I'd say the kudos are well deserved. I love several of the songs, including my 'first love' The Whole World Is Falling In Love. My Nitch, By Love I Mean You, Close The Door, Dues Paying Time, From The Top Down... OK, that is 6 outta 12 songs, if that tells you how much I like this CD. The songs vary from a bluesy style to more of a pop-driven Country. Trying not to sound like a broken record, but I am not a huge Country fan [but I do seem to like a some, don't I?], but like good music, and this is definitely in that category.



I couldn't really find any videos but some promos for Brian, so that is what I am putting up here. The above features the song My Nitch. Below, you can see his main promotional video, with a medley of various songs. And in a point of interest, in an interview with Out & About newspaper, “I think that in regards to the country music industry people are a lot more accepting than they are often given credit for,” said Brian, who is completely out. “I hardly strike fear into the hearts of anyone who has any homophobic ideas and people pick up on that.” Works for me!



For more information about Brian Glenn, find his ReverbNation site here. You can also find pages for him on MySpace and FaceBook.

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Great Women - Patsy Cline

On March 5, 1963, the world lost an incredible talent, one that will not be forgotten. That woman with the a voice so special was Patsy Cline. When she sang a ballad, my heart dropped. When she sang bluegrass or honky-tonk, she lifted me up to the clouds.

I Fall To Pieces is the definitive song about love gone bad. The ache you hear has to be real.

Lovesick Blues is everything that is right with Country music. In 1973, Patsy was the first woman inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. I just hope the bitch is still singing, and meets me with a song when my time comes.

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Worth Another Listen - Mark Weigle

I have been a huge Mark Weigle fan for several years, and I hope there is another CD to come from this talented man. I often search the internet for out performers, and I came across information on him, accompanied with a picture. I have often mentioned how shallow I can be, and this was no exception. I thought he was hot, and ventured further to find his music. I first heard him, and it was all over. I heard The Two Cowboy Waltz and then Take Your Shoulder From The Wheel, both gloriously performed. I knew I couldn't escape his charm. I bought the CD, and each release following and previously recorded.



Mark's music is highly personal, with a country/folk flavor. The warmth and depth of his voice just melts me, his sound so lush. As a singer/songwriter, he often recorded his own songs, but also did some covers. His own songs spoke of his life, be it ex-boyfriends, love, life, and his life as an HIV positive man.



2003 offered Different and the Same, a collection of mainly cover songs, from the countryfied What I Like About You, to the rocking 867-5309/Jimmy, to the poppy cover of the Jackson 5 hit ABC, rewritten to be suit the singer, renamed AZT. His last CD, the eponymous Mark Weigle, was released in 2007, and I haven't heard of anything since. The video above was recorded in October of 2007, a radio interview/performance to support his current CD for a queer Australian radio program. This is one of a four-part series. I chose to focus on his cover of the Dolly Parton song Jolene, although he also performed some of his own stuff.



You can find more about Mark Weigle at his website. To purchase his music, you can go to CD Baby, a favorite music store of mine. You can get the physical CD, or do MP3 downloads.

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STR8 Boys Need Love Too - Travis Howard

I came across the music of Travis Howard on MySpace a couple of years ago, and liked it. I purchased an EP he had for sale, and it immediately moved on my iPod. His style of country-fried rock is cool and sexy, and the lyrics tended to be rather intelligent. Oh yeah, and he is good-looking, too. I haven't been a huge fan of country music, although do have people like Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett, Dolly Parton, Big & Rich, and Emmylou Harris in my collection.



The other day I was cruising around, and heard a new song, The Life of a Driven Man, on his MySpace page, and tried to buy it, but couldn't find it anywhere. So I dropped a comment on there asking where I could. I got a message back from Travis, asking for my email address, which I sent. Soon, I got two emails with songs attached: the song I was looking for, and Come Before The Lightning, a working demo, along with thanks for listening to his music. How freaking kind and cool was that!



One of the things [besides the music] I have enjoyed about Travis are his blogs. He is smart, articulate, and funny - always a great combination. He seems to be gay-friendly, politically aware, and just a great guy. He has written with the exciting Miranda Lambert. I would love to see him perform live sometime, and from the YouTube videos, it looks like those live shows are rocking!



You can find out more about Travis at his website.

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