Eli Young Band's 2011 CD, Life At Best. Photo by Jeremy Cowart, courtesy of Republic Nashville.

Eli Young Band returns with their brand of Texas Country on Life At Best, the quartet’s fourth full-length studio album, and their first with the Republic Nashville label. Based in Denton, Texas, EYB builds on the loose country/rock vibe of 2008’s Jet Black & Jealous with fourteen songs highlighted by Tom Petty-esque grooves, insightful lyrics and the comfortable ease of a band that understands each other’s nuances.

A single acoustic guitar opens the record on the lead track “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” before singer Mike Eli’s fluid vocal enters to describe a young boy being helplessly wrapped up in music, from steel guitars to Memphis all the way to rock and roll. That line goes a long way to describe EYB’s sound as the band (made up of lead guitarist James Young, bassist Jon Jones and drummer Chris Thompson) breaks in on the chorus with a heartland rhythm section and ringing guitars a la Petty’s “American Girl.” The hard-hitting drums and locked electric/acoustic guitars of title track, “Life At Best,” show the band’s love for uptempo country/rock as they support the song’s message of joy and pain all being part of truly living. The group’s quick, rhythmic left turn through the pre-chorus works nicely to give the song additional depth while bassist Jon Jones’ smooth playing through the breakdown anchor the track before taking off again towards the song’s exciting climax.

On “Skeletons,” slightly distorted guitar notes ring through the verse as Mike’s vocal delivery sounds completely at ease admitting, Continue Reading

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Eli Young Band photo courtesy of Universal Records South.

If you were a bit confused over the Eli Young Band and its hit “Always The Love Songs,” you can take a bit of solace in knowing that you weren’t alone.

EYB is a four-piece band out of Denton, Texas, although none of the members is actually named Eli Young. The group’s brand is actually a conjunction of two guys’ names: lead singer Mike Eli and guitarist James Young. But if you were to meet them at a concert, it’s a good bet that they wouldn’t take offense at being addressed incorrectly.

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Montgomery Gentry photo courtesy of Sony Nashville.

Country Throwdown 2010, a multi-act outdoor tour produced by the same company that created rock’s annual Vans Warped Tour, has enlisted Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram among the initial acts for a five-week, GAC-sponsored series of concerts next spring. Specific markets and the entire lineup have yet to be revealed, though the Throwdown will feature 21 total acts on an itinerary from May 13-June 20.

“When Eddie [Montgomery] and I were approached about doing the Country Throwdown Tour we immediately said yes,” Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry said. “We loved the idea of it being like a big festival, a big party. I mean, that’s what Montgomery Gentry is all about. We’re keeping the ticket prices low because we know it’s hard out there. Fans are going to get a lot of entertainment for their money. This tour is going to be a great experience for us, the other artists and especially the fans.”

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