New Music From Casey James! Check Out “Drive” (VIDEO)

By On 03/04/2011 · 120 Comments · In American Idol, Casey James

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Photo credit @TonyThomas

UPDATE: Added Videos from Little Rock via amcaro10

This week has been the long-awaited unveiling of new music from Casey James Last night, Casey James played a new song at the annual Sony CRS Boat Cruise for radio DJs and industry people and tonight, he played a 5 song set as an opening act for Sugarland.

Check out VIDEO of Casey’s performance of the uptempo Southern rocker/country tune “Drive” on the Sony boat show last night, after the jump! MJ will be updating this post as video from tonight’s show becomes available.

Credit Cat Country 98.1

Little Rock

Bulletproof

Drive

Long Tall Texan

 
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  • sagi

    @Nostradamas I don’t think I’ve seen you post in forever (unless it is on a thread I don’t frequent?) Good to see you, and ITA with your comment!

  • ri

    just got home from a weekend away and now i can immerse myself in the glory of all new Casey-ness. thank you MJ and WINDMILLS. you’re the best!!!

  • chili1000

    Who does he sound like to you?

    LOL he sounds a lot like my cousin Donny, but Donny isn’t nearly as good of a guitar player.

  • JW

    Nostradamas:
    03/06/2011 at 8:05 pm

    I like how Casey is being handled as an “artist” and not just raw meat

    YES! I sense Casey is being given the respect he deserves as a musican/singer. And it appears seasoned writers and others realize his talent and possibilities.

  • JW

    http://caseymania.blogspot.com/

    Check out Glenda’s review of the show in LR.

  • JW

    Just listened and watched the videos posted on CASEYMANIA and I can hardly wait now to hear good audio as I think I see potential in each of the songs played. WOW! This long, tall Texan has a hunk of talent and is one awesome Dude. Love his voice.

  • artistatheart

    But I’m cautiously optimistic because ITA with what girlygirl said: this is a believable mix of country/blues/rock and it sounds like Casey.

    I was lucky to be there. Agree with above, which is most important, hands down. I don’t know if he came off as “owning the stage” as much as when doing “I Got Mine” on Idol tour, but for first performance with his own new band, he hit it spot on as a legit opener for as big a draw as Sugarland. From what I saw the crowd got him. Tweaking for production single = de rigeur.

  • car3278sweet

    That having been said it’s one of those songs where you can easily imagine it being licensed for NASCAR and stuff like that so the cross promotional opportunities would be there for more exposure

    Wow. What a great idea, windmills. I agree, Drive doesn’t hit everything Casey can do and isn’t the bestest song in the entire world, but it’s catchy, it’s solid. It was in my head all day yesterday.

    What I find interesting after listening to all these songs several times is that I like them all- I don’t find any duds. Each has a distinct style and each delivers. I find different sides of CEJ – blues, then honky-tonk, then a swatch of twangy country, then back to solid rock. It’s just this neverending riff of all that’s America’s music mixed and swirled into, for me, a feast of good music.

    Oh, except for maybe hip-hop. I don’t see hip-hop being added to this mix anytime soon. LOL.

    In any case, this is what Casey said he as going to do and he also said (paraphrasing) – it’s either going to go up or it’s going to down. And he was willing to take the chance on that and be who he was. I really honor that.

  • car3278sweet

    was lucky to be there. Agree with above, which is most important, hands down. I don’t know if he came off as “owning the stage” as much as when doing “I Got Mine” on Idol tour, but for first performance with his own new band, he hit it spot on as a legit opener for as big a draw as Sugarland. From what I saw the crowd got him. Tweaking for production single = de rigeur.

    artistatheart – where does this quote/review come from? I haven’t seen it.

  • pamrichva

    I’ve been listening to the videos from the shows over and over. Sometimes music has to grow on me. I think “Drive” is the strongest contender for a country single and must be their pick since showcased at the CRS show. I’ve been a country fan since…probably Kenny Rogers heyday…with some periods of giving it a rest for one reason or another. I also love blues, but realize that it isn’t a mainstream genre. Even though I like “Drive,” I am not as overwhelmed as I wanted to be. It is growing on me. I am a Travis Tritt fan and this reminds me of him and I can see the Dierks Bentley comparison that was made as well. I don’t think any of the other songs are gonna fit in mainstream country, even today. I think the genre allows for a blues edge or rock edge, but not so much for straight on blues or rock (even southern), which I think the other songs were. I was hoping for a stronger ballad. I like them, but they didn’t blow me away. I probably like “Bulletproof” best, but like another poster I’m not sure whether that is a cover. Hearing the songs when produced for a CD may win me over more. I think “Done Made Up My Mind” may actually be the most natural for Casey, but I really don’t think that will suit mainstream. There is “Wide Open Country” programming on CMT and The Nashville 11 channel and others on sattelite that play outside of the “box” would likely welcome all of these songs, but that’s not gonna get him the superstar hits that fans like me want for him. I would LOVE to be proven wrong! I also realize that I am an older fan and this may appeal more to a younger audience which is usually the target for music marketing. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, I guess my expectations were pretty high and maybe that wasn’t fair. They are all good songs.

    I am interested to know who the co-writers were for these picks. I’ve not understood why there have been so many writers unless they’ve not found what they’re looking for yet. I’ve noticed that artists usually stick with a few writers per CD and sometimes through a career, but Casey seems to have been all over the place. I think he’ll find his place and then it’ll be awesome.

    I think I personally prefer “Shine Your Shoes” to any of these. I think it has more depth and if he’s gonna do blues, then I like that one best so far.

    Something that I do appreciate is that Casey needs to write, record and perform what comes from his heart, regardless of the potential for commercial success (not that I’m counting that out), and for that I definitely respect him and will no doubt remain a proud fan for the duration. I love blues!

    I will be very interested to hear what comes next and how the song selection for a CD plays out and will certainly continue to support and promote Casey when something is released.

  • ri

    i’ve been listening to these videos and this is VERY solid new stuff coming from Casey. i am beyond excited. (notice i said i was LISTENING to the videos. that’s because looking at them turns me into a dreamy schoolgirl and i truly am trying to appreciate the music without being influenced by his ability to arouse me in other ways!)

  • twistdfrk
  • ri

    why thank you, TWISTDFRK. if Lyndsey Parker is a fan of CJs, then i’m a fan of Lyndsey Parker.

  • JW

    Lunch with Casey James this Thursday !!
    Monday 03-07-2011 3:41pm ET

    http://www.wsslfm.com/pages/beth_bradley.html

  • car3278sweet

    Pamrichva – thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate hearing what a real country fan thinks of CEJ’s stuff. And I do think we are all expecting amazing stuff from the guy, and have set a pretty high standard.

    Geez. He’s just figuring everything out – from songwriting with people other than his brother, marketing, recording, making connections, being on a stage with established artists, trying to forge relationships with new management, new label, new band members, radio peeps – much less new fans…And then debuting music in front of thousands of mostly “who the heck is this guy?” concert goers. I would think it must be overwhelming at times.

    I grew up with Lynrd Skynrd, Eagles, John Fogerty… all of whom, at this point IMHO, would be considered country. Country seems to have become the refuge for many artists who do not fall into the “Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Brittany, Beiber” crowd – which dominates pop and HAC. And rock? Really, rock? True rock? What has happened to it? It isn’t being played – there’s only hiphop and the above listed singers. Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi would be “poor Bruce” and “who’s that crowd?” right now. I worry for David Cook, because he’s good, and he’s right in the groove with Bruce and Bon Jovi.

    I think something is changing though. The emergence of Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons might mean a shift. I hope so. I have bought both CDs and think they are GREAT. I truly cannot listen to pop radio anymore. Nothing to do with my age. I used to listen to new pop radio on a regular basis. It’s everything to do with the “music” playing now. It is generic, lifeless and mechanical. Even the good artists succomb to crazy antics just to get attention. I do not need to see Pink swinging wet and fairly naked from a rope to like her music. Just sing good songs everyone. I’ll buy.

  • car3278sweet

    The fact that there’s buzz about Drive after some fairly mediocre vids/audio says something, doesn’t it?

  • JW

    pamrichva:Sometimes music has to grow on me.
    Even though I like “Drive,” I am not as overwhelmed as I wanted to be. It is growing on me.
    I guess my expectations were pretty high and maybe that wasn’t fair. They are all good songs.
    I think he’ll find his place and then it’ll be awesome.
    Something that I do appreciate is that Casey needs to write, record and perform what comes from his heart, regardless of the potential for commercial success (not that I’m counting that out), and for that I definitely respect him and will no doubt remain a proud fan for the duration. I love blues!

    My sentiments exactly! Thanks for your clear expressions!

  • JW

    car3278sweet:
    03/07/2011 at 6:29 pm

    The fact that there’s buzz about Drive after some fairly mediocre vids/audio says something, doesn’t it?

    I don’t know how much buzz there is about Drive. It is growing on me but until I hear really good audio, the jury is still out. I think that Casey is getting his feet wet in the big time arena and it will take a bit for things to settle in. He has great talent and possibilities. Waiting……….

  • car3278sweet

    There are some stellar vids up on burnthismedia – all songs in entirety and the audio is very good. Camera work is good also

  • http://burnthismedia.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/casey-james-live-at-the-verizon-arena-in-north-little-rock/ twistdfrk

    There are some stellar vids up on burnthismedia – all songs in entirety and the audio is very good. Camera work is good also

    Here’s the link, if you lost it

    http://burnthismedia.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/casey-james-live-at-the-verizon-arena-in-north-little-rock/

    Those uploads from Polinka have 9/10 audio, 10/10 video quality

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