When Jamey was in NYC for a Bowery Ballroom show, he stopped by the Rolling Stone office to meet the top executives and thank them for their support of his music. He brought his guitar, Ole’ Maple, (which has now been signed by 12 legendary artists) and he sang Kristofferson’s “Moment of Forever” which was cut by Willie Nelson. CLICK HERE to watch the performance and read more.

Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry + More to 'Throwdown'

Get ready for a Throwdown, country fans!

Billboard reports that Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram will embark on the first annual Country Throwdown tour beginning May 13, 2010, and continuing until June 20.

Three stages will be set up at each venue, with additional artists getting in on the action, including Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Jonathan Singleton & the Grove, Lost Trailers, Ryan Bingham and Emily West. More artists will soon be announced.

The tour, which will hit amphitheaters across the country will also feature lifestyle attractions and vendors, an affordable ticket price, and pre-show tailgate parties. Also on site will be the Bluebird Café Tent, which will feature nine singer-songwriters in an intimate "in-the-round" setting.

A unique ticketing situation, called Ticket Takeover, will give fans the opportunity to score the best seats for one fair ticket price, instead of the traditional front-to-back tiered ticketing -- where fans who pay more get closer. Throwdown will split the seats down the middle and for a limited time during pre-sale -- beginning in February, anyone who buys early can get the Ticket Takeover-priced ticket and be as close as the front row. Regular tiered ticketing will still be available for purchase for half of the amphitheater seating. Pre-sale date announcement more information will be available at countrythrowdown.com.

Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser Offer Postcards for USO During CMT on Tour

October 22, 2009

Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser have partnered with CMT One Country to support the USO (United Service Organizations) during CMT on Tour. At each concert, fans may fill out a postcard thanking the troops for their service and making their own pledge of community volunteering. After the tour concludes, memorabilia from Johnson and Houser will go up on CMTauctions.com with proceeds benefiting the USO. "Those guys in the field need some emotional connection to home, and I think this project will bring a little bit of home to them," said Johnson. "Regardless what your political beliefs are about the war, you have to respect the fact that another human being in your country is willing to give their life for your freedom." Houser adds, "Any way that we, as entertainers, can provide comic relief, music relief or any kind of support to our troops is worth making because of the effort they make for us every day."

"In Color"

"If it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should have seen it in color"

You can watch a movie where they've got an overpaid teenager trying to play scared, you can dial up a book on your Kindle and read a memory of someone who probably wasn't even there, or you can listen to a record and know exactly what was felt, in an instant you can be right there yourself.

Sitting on the hard benches of the Ryman Auditorium the curtain went up on Jamey Johnson, standing there in his jeans and boots, like he just came in from doing chores, like when he was done he was gonna be in a bar fight, or sit on the couch, pop a beer and watch the Titans, and when he started picking that guitar I felt like I'd grown up in Alabama or Tennessee. This was a story not from the keyboard of Diane Warren, not a concoction made for the hit parade, but straight from the heart.

It was a revelation.

Jamey Johnson is no longer a secret. But the power of seeing the man live gave me goosebumps. Even after visiting the history of country music in the display cases behind the Ryman's seats.

You can see Patsy Cline's outfit, even the murdered Stringbean's, but what truly blows one's mind is Johnny Cash's boots. Seemingly tall enough to go right up to his underpants. There are pictures talking about his TV show, his challenges to the network, standing up for what he thought was right. No one stands up for what's right on television anymore, you don't want to fuck up the marketing opportunity.

In other words, music meant something once, can it mean something again?

Chubby Checker got a lifetime achievement award. Seeing him do his act, he deserved it. Those were genuine hits, and he got the audience twisting like they did last summer.

And performances by Randy Houser and Jessie James were very good, and the dancing YouTube sensation was a hoot.

But Jamey Johnson... As agents are prone to saying, he was the real deal.

"I said, Grandpa what's this picture here
It's all black and white and ain't real clear
Is that you there, he said, yeah I was eleven
Times were tough back in thirty-five
That's me and Uncle Joe just tryin' to survive
A cotton farm in the Great Depression"

Times are tough here in '09, that mansion you bought has been repossessed by the bank and you're out of work. You've put on a happy face, but how long is that gonna last? You've been lying to yourself, your children, you've got more questions than answers, what are you supposed to do?

Watch rich people debate how you shouldn't have health care?

Watch nimrods and nitwits act inanely, like no one you know, on television?

Or dance like a fool to the ungodly beats of people telling you their lives are better than yours?

You're looking for some truth, and a salve. You'll ultimately have to lift yourself up, but isn't there someone on your side?

The music used to be on your side, that was its power. But that was long before MTV allowed not only the acts, but their handlers to make so much money that they were no longer middle class, they were supporting their private jet lifestyles, they didn't give a shit about you. Making their evanescent crap. Which we must buy.

Hogwash.

And then you see someone completely real and you get it, this is the way it used to be!

In a legendary hall, with just his guitar and his voice, his intelligence radiating through, Jamey Johnson was more powerful than a team of dancing idiots, had more sound than turntablists synching to canned beats. He wasn't telling a story from streets that don't exist, he was singing a story about life. Which folds out behind you, which you hang on to with regrets as it slips from your hands. You desire to make sense of it, but it's nonsensical. How some get cut down by disease and others live to one hundred. You feel emotions, which are displayed nowhere but in music.

When done right.

Last night Jamey Johnson hit the ball so hard, so long, that it still can't be found.

I hope and pray you can see him one day.

Just checking in and wanted to update you on what's been going on lately. I've been runnin' and gunnin' since we released the record in August. It's been cool cause I've gotten to meet tons of fans out on the road. In Sept I took the guys to New York City. We did the Imus in the Morning Show and then played a set with the amazing Lee Ann Womack. It was my first time in the city and I loved it. We got a car and headed down to the World Trade Center Site which was mind blowing then we headed to Little Italy for a great dinner. I couldn't get over how many people were in Times Square. Very cool.
 
After NY we headed to Boston to play Farm Aid. What an honor that was. I got to hang on the bus with Willie Nelson for a while after our set and I had him sign "old Maple". What an awesome day.
 
We are all over the map these days...I hope to see some of y'all at a show soon. Thanks for all of your great emails and all the support you've shown me.  Oh and thanks for the phone messages too, keep them coming at my number (615)823-5592.
 
God Bless, JJ