Taylor Hicks -- "West Texas Sky"

“West Texas Sky” was written by Taylor Hicks before he also was…

“… driving away these miles
So far away from your southern home
Takin' your charms and dreams to the Golden State
Make your way, seal your fate"

following those same miles taking his dreams to Hollywood for American Idol in 2006.

This is a bittersweet song that weaves layers of colors and images as beautiful as the West Texas sky. It is laid against the sounds of the Southwest and evokes feelings as lonely as the vast open spaces that stretch for miles.

“West Texas Sky” is about an ending where

“Nobody wins and nobody loses
Just a handful of sorrows
And too many excuses”

and the beginning of someone’s dream

“…to walk beside the ocean,
Oh, and stand beside the sea”

There is something synonymous with dreams and the West. It is a poet’s place that promises hope and a bright shining new life—as Jackson Browne said, where we are, “running into the sun.”

“West Texas Sky”
By Taylor Hicks

So you're driving away these miles
So far away from your southern home
Takin' your charms and dreams to the Golden State
Make your way, seal your fate

That's when you're gone away
Where no one will hear you cry
When you're late
For that west Texas sky

When you left home, I didn't think twice
Oh, I knew, you had to roam
I knew that life was getting you down
You always feel alone when there's no one around

But who gets cut when the knife is dull?
And who gets lost when the map is full
Nobody wins and nobody loses
Just a handful of sorrows
And too many excuses

You wanted to walk beside the ocean
Oh, and stand beside the sea
And now you can't wait until tomorrow
There's so much to do
And so much to see

So you're driving away these miles
So far away from your southern home
Takin' your charms and dreams to the Golden State
Make your way, seal your fate

That's when you're gone away
Where no one will hear you cry
When you're late
For that west Texas sky

When you're late
For that west Texas sky
When you're late
For that west Texas sky

hmmhmm

When you're late
For that west Texas sky

“West Texas Sky” was first recorded by Taylor Hicks on Under the Radar, an indie pre-Idol album, and later released on Early Works in 2008, the first album for his own record company, Modern Whomp Records.

The beautiful backdrop and images of “West Texas Sky” were interpreted in video two years ago by KarinP and Allyn. With Taylor Hicks in Texas this weekend for the Ride 2 Recovery Benefit Concert, it is the perfect opportunity to feature “West Texas Sky” and their stunning video:

Many thanks to KarinP (MagnoliaBreezes) and Allyn (WhisperingPines) for their beautiful interpretation of “West Texas Sky” and for permission to share it here. (Don't ask where Taylor is singing; Allyn can put him anywhere in her graphics.)

Two Years and Still Going--The Distance!

On this day in 2009, Taylor Hicks released The Distance, on his own Modern Whomp Records label, with stellar collaborations of songwriters and producer, Simon Climie. Stellar, too, were the back up musicians—from Eric Clapton’s band!

One record, so much music!

“What’s Right is Right” was the first pre-release single with the beautiful retro-chic Chicago-on-a-snowy-night music video by New York filmmaker, Jake Davis.

As The Distance hit the streets, fans were packed for Roxy’s where in just a few days, we would experience the real music of The Distance—Taylor’s first live concert after its release. He bounded onto the stage that night to the striking notes of the title song.

Taylor Hicks at Roxy's March 18, 2009, after release of The Distance (photo by San)

The eclectic music of The Distance would come to many stages in so many places as it went along on the National Broadway Tour of “Grease.” Taylor sang “What’s Right is Right” and later, “Seven Mile Breakdown,” as an encore on the “Grease” stage after every performance. It was the “cutting edge” for releasing a new album onto the music scene.

I took an initial look at the tracks in “The Distance…first impressions” the day following its release:

http://thetaylorhickscommunity.blogspot.com/2009/03/taylor-hicksthe-distancefirst.html

And reaction to the music grew and evolved.

“I Live on a Battlefield” was not a favorite at first. “Talk about a dark horse coming on strong.” It has become the most pounding, energetic track on the album. In concert, it is unparalleled for getting the heart pumping.

“Maybe You Should” was the heartthrob song with pure Taylor voice. There isn’t anything not to like about the beautiful lament of lost love. Taylor has said on several occasions that “Maybe You Should” is on hold for a major country singer.

“Nineteen” took us out of ourselves and gave us all the opportunity to honor our heroes, and Taylor began an effort to always thank our troops whenever we see them. The poignant story and Jeff Lopez’s “Dixie” flute line at the end took us out of the music and made it something much more.

“Seven Mile Breakdown,” the second single release, was raucous delta rock with country down laid on top! And a music video from Oregon film maker, Spence Nicholson, was miles and miles from the first snowy Chicago one. Delta country went to the California hills and the two married very well in a fun music outing that was No. 1 on the AOL and MuVids music video charts for months.

And “Seven Mile Breakdown” took Taylor Hicks back to the American Idol stage that year for one delta-rocks-with-attitude evening! Delta down was up that night. Way up. Taylor Hicks brought it!

Taylor Hicks rocks American Idol, 2009, performing "Seven Mile Breakdown" (screencap by Gypsee)

The Distance has seen glorious days and rocked out stages in two short years.

A good run—but it’s not over.

Taylor Hicks always mixes it up. With his unique performances and infusion of new covers, The Distance concert that first played at Roxy’s in 2009 is as new and vibrant today as it was then.

There is still an opportunity to enjoy The Distance music on tour before it is, at least slightly, eclipsed by a new and exciting album from Taylor Hicks slated for “late fall,” that he describes as country soul.

Taylor has said that you have to live with the music you record for a long time.

Fair enough. We can live with the music on The Distance for a long time!

Check out our TTHC Discography for music from The Distance.

http://www.thetaylorhickscommunity.com/distance.html


Check out the Taylor Hicks 2011 Concert schedule for The Distance music LIVE…the best way to go… The Distance!

~~~

Taylor Hicks Beach Ad for Alabama Tourism's Gulf Coast

"Get back to the beaches we all love!"

Taylor Hicks appeared today on his hometown FOX6 News in Birmingham and told viewers of his love for the Alabama beaches.

From http://www.myfoxal.com/ :

“A series of new commercials unveiled on Sunday at the Governor's Conference on Tourism shows several Alabama-native celebrities enjoying all the Gulf Coast has to offer. Two of the commercials that have created the biggest buzz are American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and actress Courtney Cox-Arquette.

“Hicks says he was very glad to help with the effort. ‘Four days after I heard about the spill, I called the governor's office and pledged to do whatever I could do,’ said Hicks in an interview on FOX6 News. ‘I made sure to lend my name to a cause I could believe in.’"

http://www.myfoxal.com/global/story.asp?s=12986530&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

Taylor takes his cause to the Gulf Coast Tuesday as he joins other artists and musicians for a free concert at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on the Gulf in Biloxi. Bo Bice, Terri Clark, Lone Star, and Montgomery Gentry entertain at the 8:00 p.m. show being taped for CMT and airing in late August. Tickets are available at the Coliseum.

“We want to make sure that people keep coming back…the beaches are open,” Taylor said on FOX this morning.

Staycation, flycation, or road trip—the beaches are calling!

And they have a good whiskey tenor voice!

Taylor Hicks ~~ "Can't it be about the MUSIC"

From Taylor Hicks on twitter this week:

“@TaylorRHicks: This is some serious music!!! Yall ready?”

My forty-something niece follows a band. When they appeared for a major New Year’s event, I decided to watch. There are a lot of good bands out there.

I did like their sound. And then came the pyrotechnics. They lost me. Stage pyrotechnics—not New Year's fireworks. I was gone.

I have quoted music blogger, Bob Lefsetz, often because he expresses many of my feelings about music much better than I can. He is SO much “about the MUSIC.”

I know someone else like that.

From yesterday’s blog about Pink’s Plunge:

“If the music is not enough, we're doomed.

“Music when done right is the hottest medium there is. Nothing can compete, not movies or sculpture or television or Facebook. But you've got to respect it, you've got to own the imperfections and build upon them, not get so much plastic surgery that you look like Jocelyn Wildenstein. Yes, that's what today's records are, plastic confections. Built in studios by Pro Tools experts, you can dance to them, but they've got the nutritional value of a Sprite, sweet and sticky, you might like it going down but then you get sick.

"I'm glad Pink wasn't seriously hurt. But come on. Can't it be about the MUSIC!”

Taylor Hicks is all about the music. The most stage effects you might sometimes see is what is fondly called “quirky dancing.”

His upcoming Summer Tour 2010, opening in New York City at the Highline Ballroom July 25, will be about the MUSIC. There’s an idea for a title:

Taylor Hicks About the Music Tour 2010!

It may not have the same ring as “The Bad Ass Tour”!!! But it IS descriptive of what will happen every time he and his musicians light up the stage in over 20 venues this summer and fall.

And I think that’s pretty “bad ass”!

Yall ready?? Here’s the complete “bad ass” schedule:

July 25~Highline Ballroom, New York City, NY, 8:00 p.m.
July 27~Jonathan’s Ogunquit, Ogunquit, ME, 8:00 p.m.
July 29~The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, 7:30 p.m.
July 30~Crocodile Rock Café, Allentown, PA, 7:00 p.m.
July 31~Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ, 8:30 p.m.
**August 3~Ram’s Head On Stage, ANNAPOLIS, MD, 8:00 p.m.
August 6~Fat Fish Blue, Cleveland, OH, 9:00 p.m.
August 7~Veterans’ Park, Bay City, MI, 7:00 p.m.
August 9~Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL, 9:00 p.m.
August 10~Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield, IL, 7:30 p.m.
**August 11~Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, 7:00 p.m.
August 12~The Annex, Madison, WI 8:00 p.m.
August 16~The Grove, Lincoln NE 7:00 p.m.
**August 19~Mesa Theatre, Grand Junction, CO 8:00 p.m.
August 21~Aquarius Pavilion, Laughlin, NV, 8:00 p.m.
**August 22~Anthology Supper Club, San Diego, CA, -Unconfirmed
**August 24~Downtown Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA, 7:00 p.m. -Unconfirmed
August 25~The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 p.m.
August 26~Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, Coarsegold, CA
September 18~Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT, 8:00 p.m. -Unconfirmed
September 26~SOS Children’s Villages Concert w/Matt Cusson, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, 8:00 p.m.
**November 6 & 7~Epcot Center “Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Orlando, FL, 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 p.m.

**New and rescheduled shows.
"Unconfirmed" concerts are not posted on taylorhicks.ning.com

@Taylorhicksteam on Twitter Tour Schedule with ticket links:

http://twitpic.com/265f3n

For more tour and venue information:

http://taylorconnections.com/forum/1573907/


Quoted: Bob Lefsetz, “Pink’s Plunge” 7/16/10 http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/

Photo by San: Taylor Hicks and Josh Smith, Biloxi, MS, 2007's "bad ass" tour