The Jay Franze Show: Music - News | Reviews | Interviews
The Jay Franze Show is your source for the latest music – news, reviews, and interviews, providing valuable insights and entertaining stories, stories you won’t find anywhere else. Hosted by industry veteran and master dry humorist Jay Franze, alongside his charismatic co-host, the effortlessly charming Tiffany Mason, this show delivers a fresh, non-traditional take on the world of music.
Jay and Tiffany bring you behind the scenes with insider insights, untold stories, and candid conversations with seasoned artists, industry pros, and rising stars each week. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the information, or to be part of The Crew (their family), they’ve got you covered.
You will be entertained, educated, and maybe even a little surprised, because nothing is off the table here.
The Jay Franze Show: Music - News | Reviews | Interviews
Country Scandals, Replacement Singers, and Country Music News
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What happens when country headlines collide with hard radio data and a lightning-rod debate about replacement singers? We open strong with legacy-name scandals and the messy myths that follow artists, then pivot to why High Road became the most-played track and how Morgan Wallen still blankets the airwaves. From Garth Brooks saluting KISS to arena tours and heartfelt tributes, we trace the lines between genre, showmanship, and what actually moves listeners to hit replay.
We get honest about a stat no one likes: only five songs by women cracked country radio’s top 50 this year, and most were features. Is that bias, taste, or risk-aversion? We unpack the label incentives, production choices, and fan habits that tilt playlists toward male voices—and where the breakthroughs really happen when women lean into sharper narratives and bolder arrangements. If you’re a programmer, artist, or fan who wants more balance, you’ll find practical takeaways to nudge the system forward.
Then we light the fuse: name a replacement singer better than the original. The board fills with ACDC’s Brian Johnson, Journey’s Steve Perry, Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, and Queen with Adam Lambert. We separate technical upgrades from cultural fits and show how casting can redefine a band’s destiny—just as it can in country.
Episode Links
- Scotty Simpson: https://jayfranze.com/episode3/
- Jim Cristaldi: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/
- Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/
- Dave Jackson: https://jayfranze.com/episode53/
- William Lee Golden: https://jayfranze.com/episode72/
- Billie Jo Jones: https://jayfranze.com/episode98/
- Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/
- Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/
- Eugene Rice: https://jayfranze.com/episode170/
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And we are coming at you live. I am Jay Franzi, and with me tonight, the John to my Paul, our beautiful co-host, Miss Tiffany Mason.
SPEAKER_02Alright.
Jay FranzeIf you are new to the show, this is your source for the latest news, reviews, and interviews. And if you would like to join in, comment, or fire off any questions, please head over to jfranzie.com. Alright, my friend, tradition has it. Before we get started, let me tell you about the question of the day. The question of the day. Name a replacement singer that is better than the original. Name a replacement singer that is better than the original. Do not tell me now. Wait and give me your response
Country Scandals
Jay Franzea little later in the show. And if you would like to put your comments in the comment section, we'll go ahead and read those off a little later in the show as well. And we would like to thank James. James for providing the question of the day. Alright, we're going to go ahead and kick it off with an article we came across. An article called Eleven Country Stars Charged with Horrifying Crimes. 11 Country Stars Charged with Horrifying Crimes. Could be interesting. Who knows?
Tiffany MasonI just hope they're not all Morgan Wallen.
Jay FranzeYou know what? I don't know. You know why I don't know? Because I don't read them in advance. I like to be as surprised as you are, my friend. All right. No particular order. Let's go ahead and start with David Allan Coe. He was charged with possession of burglary tools. That doesn't seem fair. I mean, if he didn't use them. If he didn't use the tools, just having the tools. It's like saying, I have a hammer. I didn't use it to smash your window in, but I have one.
Tiffany MasonIt should be just like possession of.
Jay FranzeJerry Lee Lewis. Oh no, he has probably had quite a bit of charges against him, but this one says public drunkenness and gun possession.
Tiffany MasonAgain, these are not horrifying, but this was 1976.
Jay FranzeAnd to be fair, if he was in public, drunk, and had a gun all at the same time, that could be scary. Yeah. All I can remember every time I think of Jerry Lee Lewis is him playing that show through the whole show, saying he was fine, he was fine, he was fine, and then finally at the end he goes, alright, fine, I'm drinking.
Tiffany MasonIsn't he the one that married like his first cousin or something?
Jay FranzeYeah, he married his cousin.
Tiffany MasonYeah. That's horrifying.
Jay FranzeThey're working on making it legal. Who knows?
SPEAKER_04I know.
Jay FranzeWe'll see what happens. Oh, next, Steve Earl. Drugs and weapon possession.
Tiffany MasonThat is horrifying. For the same reasons we just said it was horrifying.
Jay FranzeWell, if he was on drugs, sure. If it was to sell the drugs, I don't know.
Tiffany MasonMaybe he used a knife to make people buy them.
Jay FranzeIt's true. Could be a knife. It does say weapon, it doesn't say gun.
Tiffany MasonI'm giving it the benefit of the doubt. I'm saying it is a knife. Based on nothing.
Jay FranzeBased on nothing. We'll we'll go with that.
unknownAll right.
Tiffany MasonYou don't know how I appreciate facts, Jay.
Jay FranzeYou are. You're a very factual person. That's why we brought you on here to read the news. Next, Merle Haggard. Attempted robbery. Again, he failed. He wasn't very good at it.
Tiffany MasonWell, no, because they're good at singing.
Jay FranzeIt doesn't sound very horrifying.
Tiffany MasonJust stay in your lane.
Jay FranzeHe could have been taking a gumball from the five and dime. We don't know.
unknownI don't know.
Jay FranzeMerle Haggard. Sorry. I had a chance to work with him.
SPEAKER_04Really?
Jay FranzeI worked on one of his projects. He was not there.
SPEAKER_04Okay. Well, appreciate your chance.
Jay FranzeSo definitely before my time. However, I did get to work on one of his live recordings. Next. Billy Joe Schaefer. Aggravated Joe.
Tiffany MasonBilly Joe Jones.
Jay FranzeYes, not Billy Joe Jones. This has an E. Oh, very big difference.
Tiffany MasonYeah.
Jay FranzeBilly Joe Schaefer. Aggravated assault.
Tiffany MasonNot good. Not good.
Jay FranzeOoh. Ooh. Here we go. Jelly roll.
SPEAKER_03Uh oh.
Jay FranzeAggravated robbery.
SPEAKER_03Yikes.
Jay FranzeNow to be fair, it says he was 16.
Tiffany MasonOh gosh.
Jay FranzeBut he had a gun. And he was charged as an adult.
Tiffany MasonJelly's got a gun. No, please don't.
Jay FranzeOh, next, Johnny Paycheck.
Tiffany MasonOoh, I've heard this name.
Jay FranzeAssault.
Tiffany MasonI took you a long time to read us assault. Did you sound it all out?
Jay FranzeI had to sound it out of my head. Johnny Paycheck, assault. I was just leaving room for conversation. I love you like a bad rash.
SPEAKER_04I know you do.
Jay FranzeJohnny Paycheck again.
SPEAKER_04Again.
Jay FranzeMisdemeanor, sexual assault. I'm sorry. Was that read quick enough for you? Johnny Paycheck again. Misdemeanor, sexual assault.
Tiffany MasonHe was having sexual healing.
Jay FranzeApparently was not healed.
Tiffany MasonIt was not healed.
Jay FranzeOkay, here's a name I've never heard before.
Tiffany MasonThat was sexual feelings. Feelings. I'm sorry, please proceed.
Jay FranzeWell, thank you. Next on the list, Lefty Frizzle.
SPEAKER_04That's the artist's name.
Jay FranzeLefty Frizzle. It says so on his guitar as well.
Tiffany MasonOh wow.
Jay FranzeLet's see. 1945. But he looks like a cowboy. Hat, plaid, button-down shirt, jean jacket over it, holding an acoustic guitar that actually says lefty frizzle across it.
Tiffany MasonWow. Classy. What was his offense again?
Jay FranzeStatutory rape.
Tiffany MasonYikes. I don't like that.
Jay FranzeAll right. Next, Johnny Rodriguez.
SPEAKER_04He who speaks first loses.
Jay FranzeAnd you lost. So Johnny Rodriguez murder.
SPEAKER_04Do you have to sound it out again?
Jay FranzeNo, it's just that this is the only one that really qualifies.
Tiffany MasonWell, the other ones, I mean, the the aggravated assault, those are kind of scary.
Jay FranzeYeah, I guess.
Tiffany MasonThe person was fired up and they're like, you know, a little deranged.
Jay FranzeI get it.
Tiffany MasonYeah.
Jay FranzeAlright. Last but not least. Spade Cooley. Spade Cooley. This is gonna be old 1961. He's dressed in an Elvis type jumpsuit with a scarf around his neck that hangs to his left and it's polka dotted. And the right side of his jacket is rhinestone. He looks like a performer from that time period. So Spade Cooley, first degree murder.
Tiffany MasonYikes. That's horrifying.
Jay FranzeIt is. It really is.
Tiffany MasonIs it weird that none of them were like recently?
Jay FranzeJelly Roll.
Tiffany MasonOne. Yeah.
Jay FranzeHe was 16 at the time. So it's still not that recent.
Tiffany MasonAll of them are like 30 years old.
Jay FranzeAt least it is a modern singer.
Tiffany MasonYeah.
Jay FranzeSomebody who's on the charts.
Tiffany MasonWell, let them know. Our feedback. We want current horrifying
News
Tiffany Masonstories.
Jay FranzeWe want it to be a little bit more current, please.
Tiffany MasonWe want to know if we're in danger or not. Okay.
Jay FranzeAll right. Well, shall we move on to the news?
Tiffany MasonLet's do it. Okay. I am excited about this story.
Jay FranzeHow excited are you?
Tiffany MasonI'm going to put myself at a 10. I mean, it's pretty real.
Jay FranzeAll right, let's hear it.
Tiffany MasonCole Wetzel, Top Country Radio, the song High Road, named number one song of 2025. I am very excited about this song. The very first time I heard it was last summer, not 2025, 2024. Um, I heard it and I loved it immediately. And I learned all the words immediately, and I listened to it like, I don't even know a million times in a row because it's got Co Wetzel featuring Jesse Murph. I love the imagery. I just I love this song so much. And talking about when they like get in a fight and he knows that she's gonna freak out, and he's like, I'm not doing this, I'm gonna take the high road. You do what you gotta do. And then she comes in with that really rough and like gritty, raspy voice. Oh my god, I freaking loved it. Okay, so I was very, very, very excited about it. So I'm excited that it is being named the number one song of 2025. I concur.
Jay FranzeIt's also the most played song of 2025.
Tiffany MasonOh, that's what I was supposed to say. Yeah, that's the most played song. Again, here I go with my supposed to say that. Yeah, that's the most played song. Country, yeah.
Jay FranzeOkay, sorry. I thought I was adding a tidbit, but I'm not.
Tiffany MasonNo. Well, regardless, you were right. And I don't say that right.
Jay FranzeRight. Clip it. Um, producer, sir. Can you go and clip that? Thank you.
Tiffany MasonHe's only clipping it because I never tell him that. So and he's gonna play it even when he's not right.
Jay FranzeI'm gonna start putting it on one of these pads over here, and I'm gonna trigger that thing all the time.
Tiffany MasonOkay, well in the same in the same breath, in the same story, in the same vein, Morgan Wallen landed two more tracks in the top five with Love Somebody and I'm the problem, further cementing his dominance on the airwaves this year. But I am kind of excited that he got beat out by Coetzel and Jesse Murph.
Jay FranzeSo he's got beat up. I'm excited he got beat up.
Tiffany MasonNo, no, but I will say the Co-Wetzel version by himself is kind of the quote unquote clean version. And if you play the one with featuring Jesse Murph, which is the one that has been most played, you will hear some vulgar language. You may need air muffs. So just heads on. Okay. Megan Moroni got to see her this summer with her M I O K tour. And now she has a new global tour, Cloud Nine, and it is going to begin in 2026, and it is a full arena scale run covering US major cities and international stops across Europe. The tour supports her upcoming third studio album, Strike Studio, from the recording. Uh, her third album, Cloud Nine, which she calls the most personal work yet. So that's exciting. I'm excited to hear some new music from her. Yeah. And I heard the new color is supposed to be purple.
Jay FranzeOh, we're back on that again.
Tiffany MasonYeah. Yeah. Who told you that? They did.
Jay FranzeI believe it was one of the crew members.
Tiffany MasonThey no, because she liked, she said she liked all the pink. Pink was the first album and then blue, and now we're on to purple.
unknownOh, okay.
Tiffany MasonYes.
Jay FranzeSo purple. You know what that is? That is the color of my graduate school. Go UQ.
Tiffany MasonParker in kindergarten learned a very cute song. P-U-R-P-Lurple. Purple. And it had all these words that went with it. So I know purple very well. And I know how to spell it because of a song that my son learned in kindergarten.
Jay FranzeNice.
Tiffany MasonBack to the news. Legendary voice, lost Mavericks, frontman Raul Mallow, passes away at 60. Longtime frontman of the Mavericks has died at age 60 following his public battle with colon cancer. Fans and peers are mourning a defining presence whose voice and Latin rock inflected country helped reshape the genre's boundaries.
Jay FranzeHe's one of the first that fused country and rock together, so I like him.
Tiffany MasonLatino rock.
Jay FranzeI like that too.
Tiffany MasonYeah, me too.
Jay FranzeIt doesn't get as much recognition as it should. You know, you have like one hit song that people can recall. Maybe two, but La Bamba.
SPEAKER_03La la la la la bomba.
Jay FranzeI saw it, I saw it in your eyes.
Tiffany MasonI waited to like warn you it was coming.
SPEAKER_06Let's move on.
Tiffany MasonThat's actually a movie I watched a lot as a kid. A lot.
SPEAKER_06It was a great movie.
Tiffany MasonSomething that I want to watch is Christmas in Nashville. NBC's Christmas in Nashville. Uh, the duo War and Treaty moved fans to tears with their holiday performance, dressed in festive red Western gear, and the viewers were immediately beginning to clamor for a full holiday album after the emotional rendition. They were on the CMA show and they were up for an award as well, I believe. I have not really tuned into any of their music, but if you missed it like I did, you can actually catch it on Peacock. It is streaming now.
Jay FranzeIs it streaming right now?
Tiffany MasonRight now. But do wait until after the Jay Franzi show is done. Then you can head over to Peacock and then you can watch.
Jay FranzeI see. We just lost half our audience.
Tiffany MasonNo, they're they're hanging tough.
Jay FranzeOh.
Tiffany MasonOur people are true to us.
Jay FranzeTrue to form.
Tiffany MasonYeah. Crew members don't bail when they hear Christmas in Nashville is on Peacock.
Jay FranzeNo, if they do, they don't get paid. Somebody's gonna tear down all this gear.
Tiffany MasonBoth microphones.
Jay FranzeRight. That's a lot of work.
Tiffany MasonAnd two sets of headphones.
Jay FranzeSomebody's gonna zero out the mixer. I mean, come on, there's a lot of things to do.
Tiffany MasonOkay, all the gear. Well, Garth Brooks showed up at the Kennedy Center, but surprised everyone with a rock tribute. So the country icon played at the 2025 Kennedy Center Awards, not for his country peers, but to tribute his rock legends, Kiss Belting Out, Shout It Out Loud. The unexpected set sparked chatter among fans and media. Some say it showed his genre crossing boldness. Others called it controversial. Why is it controversial? Garth Brooks and play country and known as a country artist, but then celebrate rock.
Jay FranzeTrump was there and they took a picture together, and I saw a bunch of people online criticizing the president, saying, You look, even Garth Brooks and the other artists, they don't want to be there. You can tell by the look on their face. But every one of them were Republicans, and every one of them funded his campaign. First of all, if you did not support him, and that's your right, if you don't want to support him, I get it. Sure. But if you don't support him, why would you be there performing in the first place? Right. Right. So I mean, if they chose to go perform there and they chose to take the picture and they chose to do all the stuff, they chose to give their money to him during the campaign. I'm gonna assume that they wanted to be there.
Tiffany MasonYeah, you know, I actually took a picture.
Jay FranzeUh oh. It scares me when you do things like this.
Tiffany MasonBecause I wanted to talk about it.
Jay FranzeI don't know who it was that said they liked it when you went off script, but it kind of scares me. Never know where things are going. How far left are we going?
Tiffany MasonNo, there was some someone else there that I wanted to make note of.
Jay FranzeGeorge Strait was there.
Tiffany MasonOh, maybe that's what it was. That's exactly what it was.
Jay FranzeAnd they said George Strait, you know, he didn't want to be there. And again, George Strait being from Texas and funded the campaign and is listed as a Republican, I think. Whether you like that or not, I think he chose to be there. And what I don't understand is I don't care which way you go, left, right, indifferent, doesn't matter to me, but we should all back whoever the final person elected is.
Tiffany MasonAmen to that. Yes, George Strait is exactly what I took a picture of. Yeah, I think we all need to get better at fact-checking before we share anything. Just everybody. There was a picture that was posted of oh, Dolly Parton falling. And somebody was like, You guys, it's AI. And it was funny because it shows her falling, but like you can see her boobs are straight up. Her boobs are straight up. The twins are peaked forward.
Jay FranzeTwin peaks. Oh, I love that place.
Tiffany MasonBut somebody was like, Come on, that's AI. And I think it's true. Like, we all just need to like you see it, and you're like, oh my gosh, do you want to tell something? You're like, wait a minute, fact-check. Okay, well, something you can fact check is Maddie and Tay press pause. The duo announces a hiatus after 15 years. Members go solo and family first. So Maddie and Tay reveal that they are taking a break, one pursuing a solo career while the other one is focusing on family and motherhood. Though they stress that it's not a permanent split, fans are already feeling nostalgic for their harmonies. I agree because that is a strong suit for them.
Jay FranzeYeah, it's sad. And it says, Well, I'm gonna pursue a solo career. Pursuing a solo career by default. I mean, you have no choice. If I'm gonna go raise a family, guess what? You're on your own.
Tiffany MasonIt's probably got to be a really tough conversation, though.
Jay FranzeYeah. It sucks. I heard it on the radio or something just today. I heard somebody talking about it. I was like, oh, that sucks. And then I was surprised. You know, you bring it up in the news, like it's almost like you've got a real story going.
Tiffany MasonHey. Nothing but facts here.
Jay FranzeNothing but the facts.
Tiffany MasonI have some more facts for you. So in 2025, country rankings are in, and Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Jason Al Dean, Luke Combs, and Post Malone's reign supreme. Post Malone. There's only one of them. Post Malone's reign supreme.
Jay FranzeDid you get the post Malone's?
Tiffany MasonAccording to iHeartRadio or iHeartRewinds, year end tally, the guys I mentioned are at the top of the list in 2025 as most listen to country artists. Their songs and collaborations, because they all collaborate with each other, also dominate streaming, radio, and radio charts. A clear signal of what's resonating with fans all year. Think that they're like, ugh, they just have such good songs, and then you like they're so amazing on their own, and then you're like, oh my god, they're together, they're collaborating. Of course, that's what the fans want to hear. They're amazing on their own, and then you put two of them together. Double the pleasure. What?
Jay FranzeI don't know. I'm not the biggest fan of the collaboration.
unknownAh.
Jay FranzeNot all of them. I like some of them. You know, I like Kenny and Dolly when they're doing a duet. But it was because they were doing an actual duet. All right.
Tiffany MasonTell me more. I want to listen.
Jay FranzeLike a stub toe.
Tiffany MasonOkay, well, if you're over it, I guess I'm going to move on. Yeah, yeah.
Jay FranzeMove on.
Tiffany MasonOkay. Country Thunder. Florida 2026 reveals their star-studded lineup. And that is going to be at the Trade Winds Island Grand Resort on St. Pete Beach, Florida. So not too far from me, about two and a half hours west. Tiny bit south.
Jay FranzeI lived there for a little while.
Tiffany MasonYou lived there for a little while?
Jay FranzeI did.
Tiffany MasonOh, fun.
Jay FranzeI was working on a gig that we stayed there for like six months.
Tiffany MasonOh. Well, St. Pete has an awesome new pier. Awesome. So if you travel back, you got to check out the pier.
Jay FranzeThey also have a Hooters.
Tiffany MasonAny Twin Peaks?
Jay FranzeNo, well, not that I noticed.
Tiffany MasonI mean, they got a lot because everyone's in their swimsuits. So different kind. All right. Well, the upcoming lineup is going to be Kane Brown, Zach Top, Gavin Adcock. The Beachfront Festival promises to be one of the biggest country music events of the year, drawing fans looking for sun, surf, and live hits. Nice. 2025, Country Radio.
Jay Franze2025 Country Radio.
Tiffany MasonA boys' club.
Jay FranzeImagine that.
Tiffany MasonSo despite the surge in new female talent, data shows only five songs from female artists cracked Country Radio's top 50 in 2025, underscoring a persistent gender imbalance. So I will say of the five, and I will tell you who they are: Jesse Murph, Carrie Underwood, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Dasha, Jesse Murph, Carrie Underwood, and Ella Langley were featured. It wasn't like their song, like how he said it was the Co-Wetzel song featuring Jesse Murph. Right. So it wasn't them on their own, even. So there's really only two that were on their own, Megany and Dasha.
Jay FranzeWell, the crew has been saying they want more female artists. I don't think it's a female artist thing. I think there's plenty of female artists out there. I think listeners just typically like the male vocalists or the male fronted bands better or quicker or something. I agree. You know, I prefer female fronted rock bands. However, most people prefer the male-led stuff. And I don't know why that is, but record labels specifically. When I was working in Nashville, record labels would make the comment we already have our female artist.
SPEAKER_02Oh gosh.
Jay FranzeSo I mean they would have, you know, say ten artists that they were working with at that moment, but they would only have one female because you know each label, especially like when Shania Twain broke or when Faith Hill, you know, they were they all wanted to get their version of that female artist. So once one label breaks with one, then the next one copies it and the next one copies it.
Tiffany MasonUm, I was watching The Road, I think it was that charity, I think that's her name, The Redhead. She was saying that women have to just work that much harder in Nashville to be considered or whatever. And I do see that. I don't think it's a gender thing. I think that you're right that the fans just gravitate towards the men voices or the men music or whatever it is. I don't really know. But I think there's truth in that, and I don't think it's a gender thing.
Jay FranzeI mean, it is a gender thing, but not like they're female, it's just how it happens to be. It's also their choice of songs. It's there's a whole list of things that go into it, but like if you get some of the rougher female artists like your Gretchen Wilsons or your Miranda Lamberts, they stand out more because of that roughness and gives more of that cowboy vibe and more of that stuff, and their music typically becomes a little bit more popular because of it. And even Carrie Underwood, she broke in with Jesus Take the Wheel, a great song, but she didn't really become mega popular until she started to get all those angry songs.
Tiffany MasonYeah. We got a lot of pent-up aggravation we're all trying to get out, I guess.
Jay FranzeI like it.
Tiffany MasonI do too. I think that's what I started realizing about, like how I was saying I'm discovering some of the rock bands or whatever. And I would like to add Leonard Skinner to that list. I feel like that one does qualify because you disqualified a lot of the rock bands that I gave you, and so I'd like to put Leonard Skinnard in there. And I feel like he quali they they qualify.
Jay FranzeSo 38 Special.
Tiffany MasonOkay, I like 38 Special a lot too. But I think it has
Question of the Day
Tiffany Masonso much to do with the guitar. So much to do with the guitar.
Jay FranzeSo I think that's the thing that makes music powerful is the instrumentation, and female fronted artists typically have softer sounding music.
Tiffany MasonYep. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.
Jay FranzeAll right. Moving on to the question of the day. Question of the day is name a replacement singer that was better than the original. Name a replacement singer that was better than the original. I'm interested to hear your choice. Would you like to go first or would you like to go at the end?
Tiffany MasonUm I'm gonna reserve my submission to the end.
Jay FranzeAlright, fair enough. Let's start off with Megan. She goes right for rock. She's skipping country and saying, I'm going straight to rock.
Tiffany MasonI think have there been more rock bands with changes than country music. I mean, the lead singer changes, don't they just dissolve?
Jay FranzeThat's just it. Country is a lot more of the individual singer. There are bands, but you got the Tim McGraw, the Jason Al Deans. You don't typically have a band. Some of them do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah.
Jay FranzeBut there are definitely more bands in the rock world. It's primarily bands in the rock world. But Megan says Brian Johnson.
SPEAKER_04You're gonna you're gonna have to help me understand.
Jay FranzeBrian Johnson. Front man for ACDC.
Tiffany MasonOh man. Okay.
Jay FranzeThat's a good one. Alright, next, Caleb. You fail. Sorry.
Tiffany MasonOh now you know how it feels, Caleb.
Jay FranzeCaleb says Arnell Pinata. Pinata, it's not pinata. Pinetta.
SPEAKER_03Pinetta? Pinetta.
Jay FranzeCaleb says Arnell Pinetta. The answer is no. He replaced Steve Perry for Journey, and the answer is no. Steve Perry, the greatest voice to ever hit rock music for sure. Him and Jeff Tate to me are the like absolute standouts when it comes to rock vocals.
Tiffany MasonI hope that we can still be friends after I ask this question.
Jay FranzeQueensreich.
Tiffany MasonOh, thank you.
Jay FranzeJeff Tate, lead singer of Queensreich. Alright, Samantha says, Sammy Hagar. You know what? Samantha, that is a good one. Even though Sammy Hagar, the better singer, and definitely a better songwriter, but David Lee Roth still had the swagger and still wrote good songs, and they were just two different types of performers. I think they were both equally as good, but Sammy Hagar was definitely the better singer.
Tiffany MasonI do not know their voices apart from each other, so you would if you heard the songs for sure.
Jay FranzeEspecially if you ABM. Sammy Hagar can actually sing and he's got a range. Where David Lee Roth is all one range and he's not really a singer. He's just a front man, does all the you know almost gymnastics on stage and I was gonna say acrobatics, that's funny. Your mother chimed in saying there's nothing like an original singer. I agree. All right. Derek says Tim, the Ripper Owens. Judas Preacher. Oh. And I would say fail. Oh sorry, Derek. But fail. Lisa says, Chester Bennington, he stepped into Stone Temple Pilots. Oh now he is an amazing singer, or was an amazing singer. Sadly, no longer with us. He was the singer for Lincoln Park, and he stepped in and replaced the singer for Stone Temple Pilots.
Tiffany MasonDon't you have a connection with Lincoln Park?
Jay FranzeNo. Oh I went to see him. I went with Jenny, 8675309.
Tiffany MasonOh my gosh, you guys must have had so much fun. Did you call her?
Jay FranzeGave her a call.
Tiffany MasonI mean, I know she's got your number, but you got her number.
Jay FranzeKara says Lawrence Gowen stepped into Styx. Oh Kara, I would also have to say hard no. Sorry. Mark says William Duvall, not the Mark. William Duvall stepped into Alice in Chains. No. No. Jerry Cantrell, by far better. Oh, and Donna, you're wrong as well. This is like a lot of rock artists.
SPEAKER_04Well, it's like we said, the the rock groups have an interchangeable piece, but the country ones don't.
Jay FranzeRight, yeah. So Donna says Johnny Solinger for Skid Row. No. Like your mother said, it's hard to replace an original singer.
Tiffany MasonWell, right, because you get used to them, and that's the sound that you know, and then someone comes in and changes it up.
Jay FranzeNatalie says, Okay, Miss Tiffany, you like Leonard Skinnard? I'm going with Johnny Van Zamp.
SPEAKER_02Alright.
Jay FranzeUm, better equal. All right, Riley says, Jason Chef for the band Chicago. Now, I actually recorded the band Chicago with Jason. He was a nice guy. But he replaced Peter Sotera. I don't know if I would say he's better than Peter Sotera.
SPEAKER_03I could not tell you one way or the other, Jay.
Jay FranzeWell, that's great.
Tiffany MasonI cannot cast a vote.
Jay FranzeOkay. Now this is gonna tie in later on down the road, so I'm gonna go ahead and mention it now.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
Jay FranzeHeather says Alex Lingert would L-I-G-E-R-T would.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Don't hurt yourself.
Jay FranzeSorry. Replaced Greg Raleigh in the band Santana. Oh now Greg went on with Neil Sean to form a band called Journey. But he's a keyboard player first. Oh Dave says Van Halen, anyone but David Lee Roth. Because Van Halen has had multiple singers at this point. Nina says if you kind of go with Arnell for Journey, he wins just for showing up. Because Steve Perry stepped aside. Carl says, well, Phil Collins made dad rock cool. Toby says smash mouth. No one beats Steve Harwell. Jess says, I agree, Brian Johnson for ACDC. And Hunter says agree with Johnny Van Zant for Leonard Skinnard. And Rosa agrees with Jason Scheff for Chicago. And Mike, you're wrong. Agreeing with Arnell for Journey. Here's an interesting one.
Tiffany MasonLay it on me.
Jay FranzeKelly says Adam Lambert, the replacement singer for Queen.
Tiffany MasonI could see that. He's freaking awesome.
Jay FranzeBut so is Freddie Mercury.
Tiffany MasonOkay. Okay, so.
Jay FranzeI mean, Freddie Mercury, well, so is Adam. I was gonna say it has a lot of charisma. But so does Adam.
Tiffany MasonI agree. So this is what I think. I think I don't know if it was like best replacement or the replacement is better, but it was a uh an appropriate replacement. So I don't know if it was better. Maybe equal. It was definitely a good fit. Yeah, because he's got a lot of talent, a lot of range, he can hit all that falsetto.
Jay FranzeHe's also got the same charisma in a flamboyant way. I mean, he can actually hit and sing all those songs.
SPEAKER_06Mm-hmm.
Jay FranzeBut I would say that. That would be appropriate. That's a tie.
SPEAKER_03That's a tie. That's a tie.
Jay FranzeChe Vicious says Brian Johnson, ACDC. Don't get me wrong. I still love Bon Scott. Okay. Fair enough. Maya Project Music, thank you. Maya Project Music, previous guest of the show, here every week. I truly appreciate it. She says, William Duvall.
Tiffany MasonWe.
Jay FranzeWe. We really appreciate it.
Tiffany MasonTruly appreciate it.
Jay FranzeI can't speak for you.
Tiffany MasonI am the turd in your pocket, Jay.
Jay FranzeProducer, sir. Please clip that. I would say that is probably the best comment. Or the most truthful comment. Maya Project Music says William Duvall, Allison Chains. I'm going to have to go back now and listen to William because Lane Stanley was just awesome.
Tiffany MasonWell, I don't know how long it takes our crew members to get through an episode. My favorite thing to do is when I know I'm hitting the road for an hour plus. God, I love to play our episode. Go play all these songs. So the episode's playing, and then we mention a song, and I'm like, hey, lady in the phone, go play blah, blah, blah. And she cues it up, and I'm like, oh yeah, I do know this song. Oh man, this is awesome. And then sometimes it takes even longer because I'll let that song go to you know, rabbit trail to the next, to the next, to next, and then finally I'm like, ah, I gotta go back to the episode.
Jay FranzeAll right. Paul here just about every week. Thank you, Paul. You're gonna have to do a little bit better. I think you've skipped a week or two.
SPEAKER_04Oh, Paul.
Jay FranzePaul, come on. He says Sammy Hagar. Replaced David Lee Roth Van Halen, so that's another one. Liz, we're gonna come back to Liz because she has got mine. Oh John says Brian Johnson again, ACDC. Haters gonna hate, he says. The James provided our question of the day, says Bruce Dickerson of Iron Maiden. And I will say Bruce is awesome. And he was the singer of the band when I worked with them, and he is the one I was assigned to for the security detail. I think it's on Instagram. There's a picture from that night of the backstage pass in my view from the stage. But I get to pick him up at the back of the hotel and drive him through all the tunnels and do escort him to the stage and keep the crowd away from him. It was a pretty fun night. He's also a pilot. He's the one who flies their their tour plane.
Tiffany MasonRight. And they broke up the airplane, they made it into kitchen.
Jay FranzeYou're tying it all together. I love this.
unknownI know.
Tiffany MasonSometimes I hate that too.
Jay FranzeJust a be. Just a before. He says Dio for Black Sabbath. Ooh, and he says haters gonna hate. Dio is awesome, but is he better than Aussie?
Tiffany MasonI don't know. I'd have to go listen because I'm a pretty big fan of Aussie.
Jay FranzeDio's awesome. Don't get me wrong. He might even be a better singer. Like vocally talented. But Aussie created a genre. Him and the original Black Sabbath created heavy metal. Dave Gibbs, I'm gonna use his last name because he's an artist. I worked on his project. He says Paul Westerberg. I do not know who that is. Sorry, Dave. Dave Jackson, previous guest of the show, says John Karabi for Vince Neal in the band Motley Crew. I do not know John. I do know Vince. Vince was never a good singer. I mean, I think he'd be the first to tell you. He he can sing and hit some notes and stuff, but he's more of a showman for sure.
Tiffany MasonWell, they say that there's like uh personality hires, right? So he was the personality hire, the front man.
Jay FranzeOkay, Lee. We're gonna go back to Lee as well. So remind me, Liz and Lee.
SPEAKER_04Liz and Lee.
Jay FranzeThey both have selected my choice as well. Ooh, here's a name that I'm never gonna get. I'm gonna just pronounce the whole thing.
Tiffany MasonBotch it.
Jay FranzeDo it. Julio Teens and Submarines. It's all one word, all lowercase, so if that's not the way you want it broken up, I don't know. It could be Julio Teens sand submarines. I don't know, but it says Brian Johnson.
SPEAKER_02Oh.
Jay FranzeOh, here's an interesting one. Smithy the first says David Coverdale better than Ian Gillen. Uh David Coverdale's awesome for sure. Alright, now's your opportunity. Do you want to give me your choice?
Tiffany MasonI would feel like a big fat fraud if I gave you a choice. You guys, I don't know those things. I don't talk about lyrics, I'm all over it. Talk about something a little bit more recent, I'm all over it. But I, you guys, I missed out on the rock groups. I just missed out. So I'm trying to learn now. I took notes of all of them. I even considered in my head, I was like, maybe I'll make up note cards and I will quiz myself.
Jay FranzeDon't struggle. Don't don't hurt yourself.
SPEAKER_04I've got to get better.
Jay FranzeAll right. Liz and Lee.
SPEAKER_04Yes.
Jay FranzeThey both say Steve Perry. Now, let's talk about that for a minute. Because people, when they think of Journey, they think of Steve Perry as the singer, but he was not the original.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
Jay FranzeAs I just mentioned earlier, Neil Sean was the original guitar player, and Greg Raleigh was the keyboard player for the band Santana. They had the same manager and they split off and formed a band very similar to Santana, a jam band, and they called it Journey. And Greg Raleigh was the singer. And eventually they found a lead singer. So Greg Raleigh, even though I'm sure he liked being the lead singer, was not intended to be the lead singer.
SPEAKER_02Right.
Jay FranzeThey were looking for a true front man.
SPEAKER_03Got it.
Jay FranzeSo that's when they found Steve Perry, and that's when the band actually took off. And then eventually Greg Raleigh stepped aside and Jonathan Cain came in, and Neil Shaw and Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry became the trio that wrote all of the hit songs. Although Greg Raleigh did write a couple good songs. But there you go. That's my choice. Steve Perry. Steve Perry and Jeff Tate by far the best
Countdown
Jay Franzerock singers ever, in my opinion. Eva.
Tiffany MasonEva.
Jay FranzeAlright. Shall we move on?
Tiffany MasonLet's move on. Do you want to talk about charts?
Jay FranzeAlright, yeah, let's do it.
Tiffany MasonYou want to talk about the charts?
Jay FranzeCan we start at number 10?
Tiffany MasonWe can start at 10. I think that's a good idea.
Jay FranzeI like when we start at the back.
Tiffany MasonAnd we're going to start out with Hudson Westbrook and number 10 with House Again.
Jay FranzeHouse Again.
Tiffany MasonHouse Again. Number nine is Mr. Blake Shelton, Stay Country or Die Trying. Okay, again, I was listening to our episode and I was like, do I know this song? I do not like this song. I definitely know this song, and I do not know how it's on the charts. And I thought it was old. So I don't know how it's on the charts, but y'all better get your hearing checked. I don't care.
Jay FranzeI like the song. I do. I just think it's got a handful of corny lines or lyrics in it that make it a little hard, hard to tolerate.
Tiffany MasonYeah. Well, spot number eight is Mrs. Miss Megan Moroni.
Jay FranzeAnd I do like that song.
Tiffany MasonYes. I am a fan. That doesn't kill you, makes you stronger and blonder and hotter. Got it. Spot seven from number six, so he's slipping a spot. Tucker Wetmore, three, two, one. Can't wait till it's off. Just no.
Jay FranzeYou don't like it at all.
Tiffany MasonSee ya, Tucker.
Jay FranzeI don't mind it. You know, it's just not my favorite.
Tiffany MasonYeah, yeah. Now, number six, I'm a fan of. It went from eight to spot number six, so it's climbing the charts. Mr. Hardy with favorite country song. That's my favorite country song.
Jay FranzeIt's not my favorite country song. However, I see what you did there.
Tiffany MasonI see what you did there.
Jay FranzeI'm pretty clever sometimes.
Tiffany MasonHolding steady, Parker McCollum. What kind of man? Whoa. The top five, y'all, have not changed.
Jay FranzeSo then we don't even need to review them.
Tiffany MasonNo, we're done. We can go right on to the new charts.
Jay FranzeAll right. Fine producers in my ear saying finish the chart. Go ahead.
Tiffany MasonOkay. Holding steady at number four. Parmalee with Cowgirl. I do like that song. Number three, the fans have spoken. They love it too. Riley Green with Ella Langley. Don't mind if I do.
Jay FranzeI do like that one.
Tiffany MasonI do. I do. The in-person performances have been just as good as you hear on the radio. They look great together. They have good chemistry. Great song. Great video. Great everything.
Jay FranzeI just like the story.
Tiffany MasonYeah. All of it's great. Okay. Uh, spot number two, holding steady, Miss Laney Wilson, somewhere over Laredo.
Jay FranzeWhat's a Laredo?
Tiffany MasonI don't know. Ask Hannah, maybe she knows.
Jay FranzeHannah No H.
Tiffany MasonHannah No H. Uh, I did come across a documentary on Hulu, and it's really good. And it starts in 2023. So she's still like kind of fresh. She can't believe it's happening. It's really good. So I don't know. It said season one, episode one. I was like, how many seasons are there of Lainey Wilson? But I'm going to give it a go. I liked it so far.
Jay FranzeSend it to me, I'll check it out.
Tiffany MasonWell, and she talks on there too about how um she's just like grinding and she's just like doing whatever she can to um get her name out there.
Jay FranzeWhat's the rating of it?
Tiffany MasonShe's not being a lot lizard. But she is sleeping in a camper. But it's really sweet. I'm not gonna give the story away. You gotta go listen to it. It's a very sweet story where she got to camp out and why she got to camp out there. But she's talking about her social media, and I've shared here on the show before. That is one of the things I love about her, that she just comes off so authentic. And you know, it's it's so interesting to me that celebrities used to be like these people, you know, unattainable. Right. And now they're like coming down to our level where they like have to be influenced. It's our level. Our level not quite this far down. The low men, the lowly men. They're starting to, you know, do things with social media and stuff that I'm like, huh, would have never thought. I can't remember who it is. They're pitching a product, and I'm like, wow, things must be getting rough.
Jay FranzeArtists don't get paid these days. All right, darling. Let's move on to number one.
Tiffany MasonNumber one is Chase Matthew with Darlin.
Jay FranzeNice. I like that one. Wait, wait, wait, do we have it? He gets a little bit of applause.
Tiffany MasonWell, the country charts usually get a full round of appeal.
Jay FranzeYou want all the applause? I mean, come on, how about a little bit of a narrow one?
Tiffany MasonI don't know why I think that's so funny when it's just a little bit.
Jay FranzeHe's had some applause in the past. Nobody wants to hear these cheesy sound effects. Let's move on.
Tiffany MasonI want to. Okay. Can we do it again?
Jay FranzeCan we start at number 10?
Tiffany MasonWell, I think ten. I think ten is where you start. Okay. 10 smells like whiskey by Jesse G. Oh, I hope that stays. That's fun to say. Uh, number nine is Said No Redneck Ever by Aaron Goodwin.
Jay FranzeGoodwin.
Tiffany MasonAnd that is from spot seven up to nine. Or I guess down to nine. Holding steady. Numero ocho. Single of the year by Maddie True.
Jay FranzeTrue Blue Music. I tried. I was I wasn't gonna do it, but I just couldn't do it. I'm not gonna say Domash this time, though.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, you are.
Jay FranzeI'm not. I'm I swear. No Domash for you.
Tiffany MasonSpot seven is Wish You Wouldn't Go by Ken Domash. Spot number six, moving up from spot number ten. Second hand smoke by Alex Miller. Five making leaps and bounds jumps is life's highway. Not life is a highway.
SPEAKER_06No.
Tiffany MasonBut life's highway by Soul Circus Cowboys with Andy Griggs.
Jay FranzeThey're on Kismet. I just like saying Kismet, sorry. Don't mean to ruin your flow.
Tiffany MasonYou always do. Okay. Spot four.
Jay FranzeAt least I always apologize for it. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_04Well, you can't.
Jay FranzeI'll try not to interrupt you again. Yeah, I think you're gonna see if I can stop myself.
Tiffany MasonSpot four, improving from spot five. Perfume on my jersey by Caleb Lathrap. That is a cute song. Holding steady at spot number three, red by Jet Jurgensmeyer. You look like you're holding your breath, Jay. You're turning bright red.
Jay FranzeI'm very sad about number two. It was only one week.
Tiffany MasonWell, Sweetley Joe Jones has our spot number two with turquoise and silver. Spot one for a week, spot two for a week. That's good.
Jay FranzeThat's good. I just would have liked to have seen it last a little longer.
Tiffany MasonWell, you know, we talked about it. Things they are a change in Jay.
Jay FranzeThey are. I don't like the changes. More music, more problems.
Tiffany MasonNo. All right. And spot number one, Hell That I Call Home by Porter Martin.
Mailbag
Jay FranzeGood old Porter.
Tiffany MasonWe barely even got the hands together on that clapping.
Jay FranzeIt's not the same as Russ.
Tiffany MasonIt's not the same as Russ.
Jay FranzeOh, mercy. Shall we move on to the mailbag?
SPEAKER_06Wow.
Jay FranzeI'm afraid to look at the mailbag. I don't know. I haven't even glanced at it this time around. I think people just want to mess with me.
SPEAKER_03I get it.
Jay FranzeSo it makes the fun to the show.
SPEAKER_03Heck yeah.
Jay FranzeOh, Midnight Molly. Didn't we have Midnight Molly before?
Tiffany MasonI don't remember. I feel like I would have remembered that name.
Jay FranzeOkay, now you're just pissing me off. Someone's got their their handle is Tiff's Hype Squad. She doesn't like Tiff.
Tiffany MasonOh my god.
Jay FranzeI'm just reading the the titles, the names.
Tiffany MasonWell, I want to know what Tiff's Hype Squad had to say.
Jay FranzeAll right. I'll start from the bottom of the list then.
Tiffany MasonNo, just start with Tiff's Hype Squad.
Jay FranzeI'm going to lose my place. Tiffany, you don't just co-host, you referee.
Tiffany MasonPoint in case. In the charts just now. I got my lasso out. I had to rein you in.
Jay FranzeWell, it's funny you say that. Because I'm going to read the rest of it.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
Jay FranzeTiffany, you don't just co-host, you referee. You roast, you redirect, and you rescue the conversation every time Jay goes full professor mode.
SPEAKER_06Boop, boop, boop, boop.
Jay FranzeI'll take it. I'm professor. She says, Professor Franzi. I'll take that. Jess says, I'm in the line at Starbucks, but I'm going to write this anyway.
SPEAKER_03Oh my God, I love that.
Jay FranzeJay, you've got the most dangerous combo. A calm voice and a sharp brain. Oh. Now, see, that I'm going to take. See? You can stay. Jess, I don't even care that you go to Starbucks. Just throwing that out there. Every good Bostonian knows Duncan is better. Alright. This person's handle says the intern that knows too much. Oh. I like it. I do too. Then it starts off and says, serious question. How many people in the industry are successful because of talent? And how many are successful because somebody else lost a bet asking for a friend?
Tiffany MasonI don't think you had that in your book, did you, Jay?
Jay FranzeI don't know. Place a bet? It could be. It's in the bonus chapter. Um, that's a good question. This is in my opinion, and again, this is just my opinion. Sorry for if you don't like it. Haters are going to hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.
Tiffany MasonJust shake it off, Jay. Shake it off.
Jay FranzeIn my opinion, there's a lot of people who who make it to major label status that don't truly deserve to be major label status.
Tiffany MasonYep.
Jay FranzeSorry.
Tiffany MasonBut if you are one of those people and you have talent, but maybe not the most talent, you just get the book, Stand Out or Fade Out by Jay Francis. I mean, you had so many good things in there about how it's not all dependent on ability.
Jay FranzeThat's true. I'm not throwing any shade. If you get the record deal, you get the record deal for whatever the reason it is, you got it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
Jay FranzeHowever, there are people out there with much more talent that don't get the record deal. It's unfortunate.
Tiffany MasonWell, I feel like some people have the total package, which is a little bit of all the package. Which is a little bit of all the things that make the it factor, right? And then maybe somebody has like this amazing voice, but they're not very charismatic, or they have an amazing voice, but they can't get their social media down. You know, like sometimes it's a it's a perfect storm of all the right ingredients that that person just has the it factor, and you know, they get the deal.
Jay FranzeAll right. I figured this one out on my own.
Tiffany MasonWow.
Jay FranzeAll lowercase, one word, but it says southern lightning.
Tiffany MasonSouthern Lightning. Lightning. Oh, cool.
Jay FranzeIt says, here's a question. I like this question because it's something that is amazingly true to me. I've seen it time and time again. It says, why do artists spend $5,000 on outfits but only want to spend $50 on studio sessions? Now, outfits, whatever they choose to spend their money on, that part doesn't matter. But they always spend their money everywhere else but in the studio. They always look for a deal or a discount or something in the studio. But, you know, I've seen them pay a graphic artist extreme amounts of money. My wife's a graphic artist. I've seen her, she doesn't discount her rates. I've seen her get paid amazingly well where I'm in the studio and they're trying to well, can't you do it for $25 an hour? No, no, I can't. My favorite line was Bob Bullock. When a major producer, one of the biggest in the world, asked Bob Bullock, Hey, is there any chance you can do this for $50 an hour? And he says, No. And he said, Well, do you know anybody that would? He goes, You could ask my assistant. I love that. That's my favorite. Midnight Molly. You two bring on guests I've never heard of, and somehow I end up becoming their biggest fan.
Tiffany MasonMe too.
Jay FranzeNice. I like that. We like to break new artists. Uh-huh. Like Miss Billy Joe Jones. I don't know if we specifically broke her.
Tiffany MasonWe did.
Jay FranzeI like to think we did.
Tiffany MasonWe did. Hands down.
Jay FranzeThe crew didn't necessarily know who Billy Joe Jones was before we brought her on the show.
Tiffany MasonThat's right.
Jay FranzeCowboy Dan.
Tiffany MasonOoh, he's been here.
Jay FranzeCowboy Dan. He says if a song has more name drops than lyrics, it's not storytelling. Fair enough. Tony, no filter.
Tiffany MasonThat's what I'm talking about. I'm going to change my handle. Tiffany No Filter.
Jay FranzeThat's all I'm going to say because this comment sucks. He says Tiffany's left needs its own merch line. I'd buy a t-shirt.
Tiffany MasonShould I have like a little audio button? You click it. Oh, like those kids that had the the squeaker shoes, you know, they walk and it squeaks each time. Have you seen those?
Jay FranzeYes, yes. Your mother says that's that's so funny.
Tiffany MasonIt's hilarious. Oh, my mom thinks I'm funny.
Jay FranzeAnd she also says my sound effects are fun. Thank you, Miss Kathy.
Tiffany MasonEspecially when you chip them short.
Jay FranzeRoxy. Oh, Roxy Rance. I wasn't gonna read the rest of it because I thought it was her last name, but Roxy Rance. You know why? Because she actually separated it and capitalized it.
SPEAKER_02She helped you out.
Jay FranzeShe's helping. I appreciate that. And if you're gonna start leaving comments, please make your name something that I could recognize. Oh, she says, Jay, I don't know how you stay so calm when guests go off. Oh, when guests go off on tangents. Well, you know why? Because I also edit the show and I can make sure those tangents don't end up in it. Erin says, hey crew. Hey crew? She's not tugging us. I've always wondered how much the producers really shape a record. A lot. A lot. Ooh. This is where I need a rant button. I can go off for a while on that one. You can get a really, really good producer, or you can get a really, really bad producer, and I'll tie the engineer in with that producer. Let's say either a duo or a package deal, maybe one does both, whatever it is. Think of those people as artists themselves. And as much as they say, I try not to put a signature sound on things, they do. They use the same equipment, they go for the same microphones, they do the same things over and over and over again because it works. When you're in the studio and you're spending somebody else's money, you go for the microphone that you know is going to work. You go for the preamp that you know is gonna work, you go through the same console, you record on the same platform, everything becomes routine for you. So you end up developing a sound, and then your talent level will determine how well you can produce the band. So if you've got a band that needs help in the studio, one that may not be the best songwriting band or one that may not be the best performing band, you have to be able to pick up that slack. And I don't think a lot of producers can actually do that. It takes an extremely musically talented producer like a Jim Cristaldi. Jim Cristaldi can do that, where I think Bob Bullock would admit that that's not his thing. He doesn't play all the instruments. He hires a team of people to go in the studio where Jim can go in and play all the instruments himself. So that alone can shape a record. So, yes, I think that a producer and engineer truly can shape a record for sure.
Tiffany MasonI remember from your book you saying that uh make sure you get a producer that will do the music justice, give it its full due, give it the time and attention it deserves.
Jay FranzeYes. Your mom says, You two are my favorite people on Wednesday nights. Miss Kathy. I want to be one of your favorite people every night. Oh gosh. Not just that way. Although that could work too. Didn't your mom just have a birthday? Happy birthday, Miss Kathy.
SPEAKER_03She did. She did. Happy, happy birthday. Yesterday. Yesterday.
Jay FranzeNice. Happy birthday, Miss Kathy. Joe. J-O, no E. Do you think Nashville is still the place for young artists? Yes. If you want to make it in country music for sure. That's where all the record labels are. Until they move, then that's where you gotta be. Those are the people you want to mingle with. Yep. Joe does go on to say, what about other cities like Austin or Tulsa? Yeah, I mean, those are great, but there's no record labels there. There might be a record label or two in Austin, probably not in Tulsa. But if you're looking to be a modern country artist, you want to be where the modern country artists in the community are, and that's in Nashville.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
Jay FranzeThe live community might be in Austin, and you might have a decent live scene in Tulsa.
Tiffany MasonYeah.
Jay FranzeBut the true community is Nashville for sure. We see that over and over and over again. Even when I was teaching at the college, we get people who would come in from out of state to go to the college. And then they would always ask, Well, do you think I need to stay here? It's like, well, if you want to work in country music, you do.
SPEAKER_04Well, you know, yep.
Jay FranzeIf you want to work in maybe rock music, go to LA or New York, or you know, you want to work in rap or hip hop, go to Georgia, Atlanta. You know, pick your poison, go to that area. And I would take that a step further. We used to have engineers say all the time, Well, you know, I got an internship at the mastering studio. I'm like, but you want to be a mixed engineer? Yeah, but I get an internship at the mastering studio. Well, all that's gonna do is introduce you to mastering the mastering community. You're gonna be working in the studio, you're gonna be mastering projects, you're never gonna learn how to mix a record.
SPEAKER_02Right.
Jay FranzeSo think it through.
Tiffany MasonYep. Even if you're taking the lowest level position in the place, like if you're the secretary at the at the radio station, or you're just the greeter at the door or whatever, take those spots. You know, you're rubbing elbows with The right people.
Jay FranzeAbsolutely. All right. Kevin says, Tiffany, I love it when you challenge ideas.
Tiffany MasonJay does too.
Jay FranzeYeah, I do. Cody Country Purist. And I almost read the last name.
Tiffany MasonOh, I'm so glad you had some self-restraint.
Jay FranzeOh, by the way, have I not told you yet?
Tiffany MasonOh, I am number one?
Jay FranzeYes, you are. Me? Yes. Cody Country Purist. If your live show relies on backing tracks, you're not a musician. You're just doing karaoke.
SPEAKER_04That's right. That's fine.
Jay FranzeThat was a good one. Almost a good one to end on, but I think I want to do one more. Oh, here's one. Only because I haven't read the comment. I just like the name. Nate and the night shift crew.
SPEAKER_02Cool.
What's Going On
Jay FranzeWe listened to your show during our midnight rounds. It's become our unofficial Keep Us Awake soundtrack.
SPEAKER_04Oh, cool.
Jay FranzeWe even quote your jokes like they're inside references, only our team understands.
SPEAKER_04I love that.
Jay FranzeThere you go. That's so cool. We can end on that one.
SPEAKER_04That's cool.
Jay FranzeWhat is going on?
SPEAKER_04What's going on?
Jay FranzeWell, hell, there's a lot going on. Miss Tiffany.
Tiffany MasonMr. J.
Jay FranzeWill you find yourself in California this week?
Tiffany MasonNope. No airline tickets booked. No.
Jay FranzeAll right. Well, let me tell you why I'm asking.
Tiffany MasonOkay.
Jay FranzeAmerican Mile. They are playing in California this week.
Tiffany MasonNice.
Jay FranzeLike doing a run through California. They are playing on the 11th, the 12th, the 13th, the 18th, the 19th, the 20th, and a second location on the 20th.
Tiffany MasonWell, cheapers, if you live in California, look them up, find out where they're going to be near you.
Jay FranzeYes. AmericanMileMusic.com. Now we talked about Miss Billy Joe Jones. Yes. One of our family favorites here on the show. She is also playing this week. Where? She is playing in Texas.
Tiffany MasonOh, yeah, because she's from Texas, right?
Jay FranzeShe is from Texas.
Tiffany MasonI saw that sadly she got cut from the road. She did. But she's very sad.
Jay FranzeShe made the top five.
Tiffany MasonI was gonna say, like, 12 people started on there, which is quite the feat in and of itself. And then she just posted on Instagram when she got home, and it was cute to see her kid get so excited to see her come through the door.
Jay FranzeI did see that and the little kid running across the kitchen.
Tiffany MasonNow, when you watch people on Instagram, are you nosy? Are you trying to pay attention to the background of everything?
Jay FranzeYou pause the video to look at everything in the background.
Tiffany MasonI don't pause it. Are you pausing it, Jay?
Jay FranzeI don't look at it. It has to be something extremely interesting for me to watch the video, let alone to try to see what's in the background.
Tiffany MasonBecause I always watch the video, but you know, it like plays itself automatically again. And I'm like, okay, now I'm gonna get nosy. Now I want to see like, do you have pictures up? Do you have artifacts out?
Jay FranzeI have a hard time watching the video. Like I flip through. This is this is how I flip. I see an artist I like, double tap it real quick, flip, double tap the next one, flip. I don't even watch the whole video. It's gotta be really good for me to stop to watch the whole video.
Tiffany MasonWow. Well, now I know I gotta make the first two seconds really good.
Jay FranzeYes, that's exactly right. All right, so Billy Joe Jones, she will be in Texas this week. However, she will be in your area in January.
Tiffany MasonReally?
Jay FranzeIn Florida, F L A.
Tiffany MasonOoh. January.
Jay FranzeJanuary 14 and 15.
SPEAKER_06Ooh.
Jay FranzeAll right. We mentioned Billy Joe Jones. We're gonna go right into Trey Calloway.
SPEAKER_06Woo-hoo, woo woo!
Jay FranzeAnother family favorite here on the show. Trey Calloway is playing in Nashville. All over Nashville.
Tiffany MasonHe seems like he keeps his schedule full.
Jay FranzeIt is full. He has one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight shows this upcoming week in Nashville.
Tiffany MasonYep. He always seems to have a lot on his calendar. Always.
Jay FranzeFive of the eight are listed saying live streamed.
Tiffany MasonOh, cool.
Jay FranzeSo you can check that out.
Tiffany MasonCould you put information in the show notes?
Jay FranzeI hate you.
Tiffany MasonI hate you.
Jay FranzeWhy would you give me work like that?
Tiffany MasonI always give you work. Jay, yeah, I know you have a lot of free time. I don't want you to spend a lot of time.
Jay FranzeYou and my wife, they're both the same.
Tiffany MasonYou didn't know by getting a female co-host, you were telling he's welcome.
Jay FranzeI'd take you off his hands on Monday. That man's having a blast right now. Or Wednesdays. What day is it? Monday and Wednesday weekend.
SPEAKER_04He's like, go tell Jay.
Jay FranzeYeah. Go talk to Jay. But yes, Trey Calloway playing all over Nashville, and he's playing downtown on Broadway as well. So those would be free shows, people. On Broadway. Check that out for sure.
Tiffany MasonHe's got some great songs. You know, I don't know if you guys are like me, but I like to study up before I'm going to see somebody in person.
Jay FranzeMy daughter's been doing that lately.
Tiffany MasonOh, I love that. Because I want to get there and I want to shout all the words at the person and like, you know, fist pumping or pointing at them as the words are coming out. Like, I want to be a part of it. So, you know, if you don't know the words, you can't you can't. So I would say go on, check out his music, and then when you get to the show, sing your little heart out. Or if you're gonna watch on streaming, make your own party.
Jay FranzeRock out in your living room.
Tiffany MasonYou'll have a house party. You don't need nobody.
Jay FranzeNext would be Connor Daly.
Tiffany MasonOoh, where's Connor Daly gonna be?
Jay FranzeNashville.
Tiffany MasonSnap.
Jay FranzeBut he's only playing one day. It's December 12th, Friday. Oh, wow. It's in two days.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
Jay FranzeCheck him out. Wanna spoon. I love that. Wanna spoon is where he's playing. I'm always open to spoon, but if you want a spoon, you have to be the big spoon because I like to be held.
Tiffany MasonOh it's your softer side.
Jay FranzeIt's my softer side of Sears. All right, Mr. Rye Rivers is gonna be in your neck of the woods. He is gonna be in FLA this week. Uh-huh. And New Year's Eve as well.
Tiffany MasonOh wow. We'll have to check that out.
Jay FranzeBlake Tyler.
Tiffany MasonOkay.
Jay FranzeHe is playing at Laurie's Roadhouse.
Tiffany MasonNow.
Jay FranzeAnd I will be there.
Tiffany MasonYou always get to go to Laurie's.
Jay FranzeLaurie's Roadhouse. I like Laurie's Roadhouse because they get great acts that come through town and it's I say local. It's local enough. It's not that far for me. It's like a 30-minute ride.
Tiffany MasonYeah, that's local.
Jay FranzeIt's local enough for me. I mean, it's in Ohio. I live in Kentucky, so it's not necessarily local, but 30-minute drive.
Tiffany MasonYou could make it sound cool enough.
Jay FranzeI drive to a whole nother state to see it.
Tiffany MasonRight, right.
Jay FranzeBut I'm looking at his website, and if you ever check out Blake Tylermusic.com, the hero image is a video. It's a video of him playing at Laurie's Roadhouse.
SPEAKER_02Oh, cool.
Jay FranzeJosie Sal or Josie Sal, depending on how you would like to pronounce it.
SPEAKER_02Sal.
Jay FranzeIt's technically Sal because the name is longer than that, but her stage name is Sal S-A-L. Got it. Josie Sal or Salvetti.
SPEAKER_06Oh.
Jay FranzeSo got it. Anywho, she is playing in Nashville.
SPEAKER_06Oh.
Jay FranzeOr Tennessee, because they're not all in Nashville, but they are in Tennessee.
Tiffany MasonVery cool.
Jay FranzeShe's playing a Christmas show as well.
Tiffany MasonIs she 13 now?
Jay FranzeI think she just turned 14.
Tiffany MasonOh wow. Okay.
Jay FranzeI know that sounds ridiculous. But this girl looks and sounds like a grown-ass adult. She really does. She looks that way, she sounds that way, she performs that way. She's like a seasoned artist. It's amazing to me how good she actually is. I mean, she is absolutely amazing.
Tiffany MasonYeah.
Jay FranzeAnyway.
Tiffany MasonExpect great things.
Jay FranzeJosie Sal, check her out. Will Wesley also playing this week, but he's playing all over the place. So he's playing in Louisiana. He's playing in Mississippi. But he's playing one, two, three, three spots in Louisiana and two spots in Mississippi, and then back to Louisiana and Mississippi again.
Tiffany MasonFrom my little documentary that I watched about Laney Wilson. She is from Louisiana. Nice.
Jay FranzeThat is cool.
Tiffany MasonWell, I have a friend. Every time Laney Wilson talks, I'm like, she reminds me of somebody. She reminds me of somebody, and she reminds me of my friend Tara. And then when I was watching the documentary, immediately I had a text and I was like, I knew it. Laney Wilson's from Louisiana. And my friend Tara is from Louisiana. So it made sense.
Jay FranzeChad Bushnell. You like Chad.
Tiffany MasonOh yeah.
Jay FranzeHe's playing in Las Vegas.
Tiffany MasonThe Whisky, a work.
Jay FranzeYeah, that's a great song.
Tiffany MasonIt is.
Jay FranzeHe is playing in Las Vegas.
Tiffany MasonWow.
Jay FranzeNow he's also playing in Anderson, but it doesn't say what state. Oh, nope, nope. It's California. Anderson, California.
SPEAKER_03Well, there you go.
Jay FranzeHere's a good one.
unknownOkay.
Jay FranzeThe Oak Ridge Boys.
SPEAKER_03Mmm.
Jay FranzeThe Mighty Oaks, as they're called.
Tiffany MasonYes.
Jay FranzeThey will be in Wisconsin. They will be in Minnesota.
Tiffany MasonMm-mm.
Jay FranzeThey will be in Indiana. Ding ding ding. They will be in Ohio, folks.
SPEAKER_02Canton?
Jay FranzeOh, I hate when you say that. Yes, it is Canton. And then they will be in Michigan. Wisconsin, Minnesota. Back to Wisconsin, Indiana, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan.
SPEAKER_02Bang.
Jay FranzeThat's all this week. For 80-year-old men, 82-year-old men or whatever they are.
SPEAKER_06That's a lot.
Jay FranzeThat is a lot of playing. And they haven't stopped. This has been their farewell tour. It was supposed to be for like three months. It's been over three years. I've gone every year. I've seen them over three times. It's amazing to me how much they keep playing. And they lost a member and they just added a new one.
Tiffany MasonWell, that's too bad.
Jay FranzeOh, what else we got? John McEwan. John McEwen's on the road, folks, playing in Tennessee as well. Tennessee's a hopping place if you want to see some music this week.
SPEAKER_03Well, we just said if you're trying to make the musical Tennessee.
Jay FranzeWell, he's not trying to make it. He's in his 80s as well, and he was the lead singer and founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. But he is playing his 80th birthday celebration. And he will have special guests. And he's doing this in Madison, Tennessee on December 19th, my niece's birthday.
SPEAKER_06Wow.
Jay FranzeHappy birthday, Nicole. Here's with a favorite of mine, Miss Chloe Steiler.
Tiffany MasonOh.
Jay FranzeShe will be playing in Australia.
Tiffany MasonOh. Donda, eh?
Jay FranzeYeah, she is.
Tiffany MasonIn the bush. What?
Jay FranzeWhoa. I trim. Mackenzie Phipps.
SPEAKER_06Oh.
Jay FranzeShe is also playing in Tennessee. Wow. She has four gigs in Nashville. And she's also playing on Broadway. She's playing at Margaritaville.
SPEAKER_04Ooh, fun.
Jay FranzeSo and she's also playing at All Red. That's um. What's her face? Blaze Shulton's bar. There you go. You want to see Mackenzie Phipps? Um, she was just on The Voice.
Tiffany MasonThis is the Snoop's team.
Jay FranzeSpeaking of somebody who's been on The Voice, who else has been on The Voice? That's a show favorite, family favorite of ours.
Tiffany MasonPresley Tennant.
Jay FranzeI mean, I was gonna say you could pick many of them. However, Presley Tennant is the one I was looking for, so ding ding ding. All right, enough of that. Presley Tennant. She will be playing in Nevada as well. Nevada. Oh wow. Nevada. She's playing in Las Vegas, let's say that. She will be playing at the Nowhere Lounge in Las Vegas. She will also be playing in Anaheim, California. And then back to Las Vegas. She will be playing at Stoney's Rockin Country. That's a big, big country venue. That's like a Lori's Roadhouse out in Vegas. That is right next to Keith, but Keith refuses to go there because he is not a fan of the country music. But I have one more to share with you.
Tiffany MasonTell me one more, Jay.
Jay FranzeBilly Yates.
Tiffany MasonWhere's he gonna be?
Jay FranzeHe's gonna be in Branson, Missouri. Branson, Missouri is another place that has become like a show place for Nashville or country artists. It's a a big, big live venues there. But he is gonna be playing there, I believe, if I'm not mistaken. He lives in that area. Billy Yates, he's been on the show, you can go listen to his story, but he had a deal with Sony and he asked them to let him go so that he could do it on his own. He thought he would be more successful on his own. And he did. He got 13 number one hits, and he's also written songs for other major artists. He started as a songwriter, so I love that for him.
Tiffany MasonI told my husband before we moved from the Midwest I really wanted to go to Branson, Missouri, and we did not make it there.
Jay FranzeYeah. Well, get them together, come on up here, and the wife and I will meet you there or something.
Tiffany MasonOkay. Sounds like a plan.
Jay FranzeOr head this way and we'll drive together. Whatever.
Tiffany MasonRoad trip.
Jay FranzeSo I said I'm gonna go see Blake Tyler at Laurie's Roadhouse, and that's on Saturday. If anybody would like to get together, meet, hang out, buy me a drink. I'm up for it. It's fine. Head on over to Laurie's Roadhouse this Saturday night and I'll see you there. But Miss Tiffany, what do you got going on?
Tiffany MasonWell, I don't have anything too exciting, but you know, I'm always open to any invitations. So if any crew members know of somebody great in the Jacksonville area and they want to meet up, throw me an invitation. I'd love to meet you. I'd love to check out some new music. Otherwise, I have about five favorites that I really love in the Jacksonville, St. Augustine area. So catching them whenever they become available. So looks like Vegas Gray and Mandala will be out. And so maybe I'll hit one of those two up this weekend.
Jay FranzeNice. All right. Well, I guess it's that time. Shall we try to crash this thing or land this thing? Try to land it, but we always crash it.
Tiffany MasonIt's always scary coming in for the landing chain.
Jay FranzeIt really is.
Tiffany MasonAh, the left engine's on fire.
Jay FranzePoor bird. I don't know. All right, folks. Well, we have done it. We have reached the top of the hour. We have reached the top of hour number two, which does mean we have reached the end of the show. If you've enjoyed the show, please tell a friend and Miss Tiffany. If you have not, tell two. Tell two. You can reach out to both of us over at jfranzie.com. We truly mean it. Reach out to us, talk to us. We like the comments. We like reading them on the show, but we also just like talking to you on the website. It's fun. It's a good time. Reach out. We would love to talk to you. You can do all of this and our socials over at jfranzie.com. Miss Tiffany, my friend, it's that time. Do you have any final words for us?
Tiffany MasonThat's it from us, crew members. We are so grateful that you choose to spend part of your week with us. Take good care of yourselves, and we will see you right back here next week. Same time.
Jay FranzeI really thought you were going to end it after that first sentence. I was like, wow, that was inspiring. All right, folks. Have a good night. Thanks for listening to the Jay Franzi Show. Make sure you visit us at jfranzi.com. Follow, connect, and say hello.