CONCERT BLAST!

A Podcast-Blog-Photos Website on Concert Reviews, Interviews, & Music Discussions

You are currently browsing the archives for the year 2014.

2014 CMA Music Festival – Friday (Podcast 262)

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    Posted on 7/14/2014

    2014 CMA Music Festival - Tom Thompson with Fans

    2014 CMA Music Festival - Tom Thompson with Fans

    As the Concert Blast coverage of the 2014 CMA Music Festival continues, this podcast is focused on the activities from Friday. Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson headed downtown for the first act of the day, which was Craig Morgan on the Riverfront Park stage at 10am! Later in the day helper Will Perry joined in. The coverage ended as Blake Shelton said goodnight from the Stadium stage at 12:30am. That’s over 14 hours of walking, waiting, talking, and snapping pics of many artists, fans, and others. Friday’s coverage included (in order); Craig Morgan, Will Hoge, Holly Tucker (contestant from The Voice), Trace “the rib-whisperer” Arnold (not in the podcast), Mike Wolfe (from American Pickers), Hunter Hayes (surprise acoustic show). Then they covered the stadium concerts of (in order); Travis Tritt, Eric Church, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton. What an exhausting day and night, but with a lot of fun! Enjoy listening to the 262nd audio podcast and/or reading the blog written by Mike Arnold.

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      Concert Blast Video Webisode 16 – 2014 CMA Music Festival – Thursday – Luke Bryan and Rascal Flatts

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        Posted 7/7/2014

        2014 CMA Music Festival - Rascal Flatts

        2014 CMA Music Festival - Rascal Flatts

        The Concert Blast Webisodes continue from the 2014 CMA Music Festival. This concert footage was taken during the Thursday night stadium concerts. Rascal Flatts show us their vocal harmonies while Luke Bryan displayed his energetic dancing. Both artists perform a cover. Rascal Flatts perform the latest mega hit, “Happy” while Luke Bryan reach back several years to embed a portion of the hit “Dynamite” into one of his tunes. Special thanks to Will Perry for taking the videos for us! Enjoy the 16th webisode from Concert Blast.

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          Concert Blast Video Webisode 15 – Mike Wolfe of American Pickers Interview

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            Posted on 7/6/2014

            Mike Arnold (Concert Blast) and Mike Wolfe (American Pickers)

            Mike Arnold (Concert Blast) and Mike Wolfe (American Pickers)

            One of the thrills of the CMA Music Festival are the various non-music events that take place during the festival.  The daytime festivities not only allow you to get up close and personal with the country music stars, but with all types of celebrities.  This video webisode is a short fun interview with Mike Wolfe of American Pickers from the History Channel. Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson led a light-hearted discussion with Mike Wolfe on barbecue, the upcoming season six of American Pickers, and how Mike met his co-stars Frank Fritz and Danielle Colby-Cushman. Special thanks to our video camera man, Will Perry.  Enjoy our 15th video webisode.

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              2014 CMA Music Festival – Thursday Night (Podcast 261)

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                Posted on 7/4/2014

                2014 CMA Music Festival - Thursday

                2014 CMA Music Festival - Thursday

                The 2014 CMA Music Festival put another shot in the arm of the Nashville, TN economy and Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson, and Will Perry (substituting for Brian Hasbrook) of Concert Blast was there to cover as many events as they could. There were so many concerts and other events that no one person could attend, not even the three of us. This is the first of many podcasts from this festival. Enjoy the Thursday night stadium show coverage with plenty of live clips and fun with the attendees. Concerts covered were (in order); Alabama, Luke Bryan, Brantley Gilbert, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, and headliner Tim McGraw. Also interview fun with country music newcomer Jenny Casey and Concert Blast fans… Enjoy the listening or the reading of Mike Arnold’s blog… or both!

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                  Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival 2014 – Saturday (Podcast 260)

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                    Posted on 6/24/2014

                    2014 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival

                    2014 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival

                    It was day two of the 2014 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival and the guys from Concert Blast was ready for another day of fun and music.  They started the day with a delicious lunch with their friends (and Saturday sponsor) at Rendezvous.  The best barbecue ribs in town… maybe the planet!  From there Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and Will Perry headed to Tom Lee Park to begin their duties.  We covered several top acts, but only a few made the audio podcast; Four Vines Winery interview, Los Rabanes (from Panama), Jerry Lee Lewis, Blues Traveler, Joan Jett, and the headliner for the night, Kid Rock.  Special thanks to our festival sponsor, The Best Around Concessions.  Enjoy the audio podcast coverage and Mike Arnold’s written blog review!

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                      Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival 2014 – Friday (Podcast 259)

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                        Posted on 6/16/2014

                        Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival 2014

                        Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival 2014

                        It was one of our favorite times of the year, the first weekend in May.  Also known to us as time for the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival. Every year Concert Blast has been invited to cover this huge music festival.  This year’s lineup was not as good as the past years, but we still had a good time.  This year’s Concert Blast staff consisted of Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and our special guest helper, Will Perry.  Here is the podcast on Friday night’s events with live clips from Third Eye Blind, Dropkick Murphys, Fitz and the Tantrums (our favorite), 311, Foster The People, and we closed out the night with Dickey Betts & Great Southern.  We also must thank our Friday festival sponsor, The Best Around Food Concessions… Enjoy the podcast and the Mike’s written blog review!

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                          Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival 2014 Photos

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                            Posted on 6/10/2014 

                            2014 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival

                            2014 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival

                            After all the fun of covering a festival, comes the work!  Now that we have weeded out and edited the hundreds of photographs, check out the 2014 Memphis In May Photos from Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and Mike Arnold.  Here are two slide shows of this year’s festival photos.  Mike took shots mainly of the fans, Tom took shots of various acts such as; Buddy Guy, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Los Rabanes. Brian’s photos consists of Foster the People, Third Eye Blind, Fitz & the Tantrums, Dropkick Murphys, Dickie Betts & Great Southern, AER, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wolfmother, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Kid Rock.  Enjoy the photos!

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                              Concert Blast Video Webisode 14 – Friday Night Concerts – 2014 Beale Street Music Festival

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                                Posted 5/14/2014

                                Tom Thompson with Memphis In May Fans

                                Tom Thompson with Memphis In May Fans

                                It was the opening night of the Beale Street Music Festival and the gang from Concert Blast were very excited to start the coverage and to be a part of the events taking place at the 2014 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival.   Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and our helper Will Perry had a fun time at this year’s festival. This year’s event was extra special because the weather was exceptional.  For the first time since we’ve attended this festival back in 2005, it did not rain at all during these three days.  Not only did it not rain, the weather was perfect! Check out this video webisode of our Friday night coverage from the photo pits of Third Eye Blind, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Foster The People. ENJOY!

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                                  Concert Blast Video Webisode 13 – Memphis Bound – 2014 Beale Street Music Festival

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                                    Posted on 5/11/2014

                                    Concert Blast Memphis Bound

                                    Concert Blast Memphis Bound - Left to right Brian Hasbrook, Mike Arnold, and Tom Thompson

                                    It’s that time of year again as the Concert Blast crew make their way to Memphis, TN to cover the 2014 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival.  This year Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson brought along their favorite helper, Will Perry.  Will had the duty to do whatever the staff needed; take photos, capture video, carry the equipment, and whatever else the crew requested, but most importantly, he’s young enough to keep up with Mike, Brian, and Tom during the physically brutal task (and lack of sleep) of covering a music festival.  This video webisode captures the trip down I-40 from Nashville to Memphis and walking through the luxurious downtown Doubletree Hotel before walking to festival.  Special thanks go out to our trip’s sponsor, The Best Around food concessions and the video work of Will Perry! Enjoy this first video of our 2014 Memphis in May coverage!

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                                      Concert Blast Video Webisode 12 – Four Vines Wine Tasting With Concert Blast

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                                        Posted 5/5/2014 

                                        Four Vines - Concert Blast

                                        Concert Blast with Jeff Lubin (Four Vines Winery)

                                        Four Vines Winery from Northern California invited Concert Blast for a wine tasting during Memphis in May’s Beale Street Music Festival. Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson participated in the event as they tasted two brands from Four Vines Winery, Naked Chardonnay and Biker Zinfandel.  To sum it all up, YUM!

                                        Enjoy this video of Mike, Brian, and Tom during the wine tasting with the Four Vines Winery promotional staff.
                                        Special thanks to Will Perry for the video camera work.

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