The new Robert Plant album is coming out in September. They released a single from the album, called “Angel Dance.” The video for the song is on the label’s web site and will probably hit Youtube shortly.

I watched it tonight and like the song. I don’t like the video, but I’m sure no one at the label cares much about my opinion. I think it was deliberately made to be controversial and I am frankly getting very tired of being manipulated by marketing and media people for the pure sake of them selling more stuff.

I don’t know if I’ll buy the album or not. If my suspicions are true about the deliberate staging of the video, then I doubt I will buy it. I’m going to let my wallet speak for me.

Again, the dumbasses who plan festivals and book the big acts have caused a huge conflict this week. It is the week of Bonnaroo in Winchester, TN and also CMA Week in Nashville. There is a whole world of Who is Who in the music business coming to Tennessee this week. I’m going to try to get downtown and see at least one afternoon of CMA shows, then we are going to head on down to Bonnaroo – unless the weather gets bad. If it’s going to be thunderstorms in Winchester, I’m just going to stay up here and see the country shows instead. I have absolutely no desire to be standing in a big muddy field in Winchester with thunder and lightning happening.

A lot of my friends went to a surprise birthday party for Bobby Bare. They all got to his house about an hour before he was expected home and thank goodness it was dark before he did, as there were dozens of cars parked in the back yard. It was a huge surprise for Bobby when he walked in, and with all the musicians in the room, you would not believe the variety of wonderful songs that were played all night, well into the wee hours. Of course, musicians are used to be up until the wee hours, but regular folks like me start to droop after 1:00 or 2:00 am!

The CMA awards show last night had a lot of surprises and a lot of firsts. Taylor Swift swept all the big categories and that touched off a firestorm in the country music industry here. A lot of people say that the girl can’t sing. And a lot of old timers are pissed off because she has won so much so quickly – she hasn’t “paid her dues.” But I say she is a bright, talented girl who has worked very hard this year and I’m glad she won. And she looked stunning in her gown. Congrats, Taylor!

This is a very big week in Nashville. The CMA Awards show will be on Wednesday, and everyone in country music is here to strut there stuff and to be seen or heard.

Last night was a big ASCAP awards party and tonight is the even bigger BMI party. These are red carpet events, with bodyguards and paparazzi and throngs of screaming fans. It’s a lot of fun and it really makes this town buzz all week.