Rev. Bubba Comments on The Hooks Band

At lot of young bands and musicians ask for my advice and, occasionally, for my help with their careers.  I’m more than glad to share what little knowledge I have and try to steer them in the right direction or to the right people.

The Hooks Band is 4 siblings from Pensacola (ages 16 through 22) who are uniquely talented and I’ve been fortunate to be involved with their career development.  Well, long story short (I know there are some wise asses saying “too late”), the band has released their first single to Adult Contemporary radio nationwide, and this week their single “Coming After Your Love” is the #1 most added song at AC radio in the country.  I’m very proud of them!

Their music leans toward “power pop” and can be heard at  www.hooksband.com .   Meanwhile, Rev. Bubba D. Liverance & the Cornhole Prophets will be announcing the release of a new single very soon.  Y’all be cool!  Rev. Bubba

Rev. Bubba Update December 2011

The band and I have been in Nashville recording at Sound Stage Studios recently and have finished about half of our upcoming album.  The first group of songs are being mixed in NYC by Joe Rainone.  Joe is of Italian decent, however he must celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa because he’s not done yet, but promises it will be finished soon.  We’ll be releasing a single in January 2012 and will make the decision on which single once Joe finishes up.

Most of the songs were written by the band and I, however, we did cover “The Deep End” written by Christine Ohlman.  Christine is a great singer, performer, and writer and you may be familiar with her as the featured singer with the Saturday Night Live band.  There’s no way I could come close to Christine’s stellar performance on the song (did I mention, she can really sing), so we had to take the song in a different direction, injecting a little Southern Soul.

I read a great article yesterday from John Hook’s newsletter “Dancing on the Edge” about the Spartanburg Six.  These are six very popular DJ’s from the Carolinas and it’s obvious they know a lot about Southern Soul and Beach Music.  You can check it out at www.beachshag.com

The band and I will be performing at the Georgia Dome on NYE prior to the Auburn/Virginia Chick-fil-A Bowl.  There’s been a lot going on with Auburn’s football program lately (offensive coordinator leaving, defensive coordinator left, a star running back taking the night off to re-evaluate his career after a “team violation”, etc.).  The game is a toss-up, but I’ll be pulling for the Tigers!  Y’all be cool.  Rev. Bubba

Rev. Bubba “It Is What It Is”

I was in a business meeting yesterday in Atlanta with four men and two ladies.  It amazes me that these well-educated and successful people resort to so many clichés when discussing important matters, especially when it comes to my money.  I heard “at the end of the day” several times, “duh” once, and a few “whatevers” sprinkled in the conversation.  I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it does.

When I asked the group “is this the best plan you can come up with?”, one answered with “It is what it is”.  Now, I’ve heard that about a thousand times, and I’m still not sure what it means, but I believe the next time someone answers my question with “It is what it is”, I may just have to slap the shit out of them!  Rev. Bubba

Rev.Bubba In the Studio

The band and I spent some time recording in Nashville at Sound Stage Studios in November.   We were able to complete six songs and plan to record the rest of the album sometime in early spring 2012.

We’re planning to release a couple of singles to the beach music audiences in January and again in May.  Then, the full album will be released sometime in the summer targeting Adult Contemporary Radio nationally.

Working with the talent level of musicians I’m fortunate enough to be associated with, the finished songs far exceeded my expectations.  I hope that doesn’t sound like bragging, but these extraordinary players did some incredible work on my songs and I couldn’t be happier.

The recordings are currently being mixed and mastered and we should have them back within a couple of weeks.  For those interested, we’ll have a lot more detail on these songs on the “Backstage” page of our website in January (pictures, credits, and some write-ups about each song).  Meanwhile y’all be cool and have a Merry Christmas!

Auburn vs. Alabama 2011 Iron Bowl

Auburn is bowl eligible and to me has exceeded anyone’s expectations for the season.  Auburn will have played the #1 team in the nation(LSU), the #2 team(Alabama), and the #3 team (Arkansas)  this year as well as #12 (South Carolina), #13 (Georgia) and #17 (Clemson).  I don’t care which end of the cotton field you’re standing, that’s been a mighty tough row to hoe!  Consider this was all done with freshmen, redshirt freshmen, and sophomores.  They’ve learned a lot and will get much better in the next few years.

Does Auburn have the talent that Alabama has this year?  No.  Does anyone in their right mind think Auburn has a remote chance against Alabama? No.  But, with a home field advantage, nothing to lose, and the nation’s most intense rivalry on the line, I can guarantee Auburn will give Alabama all the fight they can handle.  It may not be enough to win, but both teams will go home knowing they’ve been in one heck of a football game!

Auburn vs Ole Miss and Rev. Bubba Heading to the Studio

Ole Miss gave Arkansas fits last week and I thought they were on their way to an upset which might have cooled down the hot seat for their coach.  Auburn has Ole Miss at home which should give us the edge and hopefully a “W”.  Clint Mosely can put his first starting game behind him and probably be able to open up a little more of an air attack.  In last week’s game, Clint and the team were not really that bad………LSU is that good!

OK it’s official.  Rev. Bubba D. Liverance & the Cornhole Prophets will start recording their new album on Nov 18th at Sound Stage studios in Nashville.  The plan is to record six tunes in November, then revisit the studio in February for six more.  Our label, Hit Bros/Sony/Red Music will probably release a few singles early in 2012 and follow-up with the full album release by early summer.  Y’all be cool!  Rev. Bubba

 

 

Auburn vs LSU 2011, and Rev. Bubba’s Trip to the Alabama Driver’s License Dept.

Vegas has LSU over Auburn this week by 22 points!   With LSU’s talent and experience, they should probably win, but I don’t think it will be nearly as easy as the oddsmakers do!

I took my 15-year-old daughter to get her driver’s permit yesterday.  There were about 30 people in line and only one State employee giving the written tests, so we took a number and sat in the “waiting room” (very appropriately named).

Next to me was a Grandmother, a granddaughter waiting to get a driver’s permit, and a very small child (I’m thinking the granddaughter’s baby).  The grandmother has saved a lot of money on toothpaste over the years, because she only had one tooth which was protuding prominently and slightly to the left center of her mouth.

Across were 4 middle eastern looking gentlemen, I’m guessing Pakistan.  I couldn’t understand a word but I think they were talking about the acquisition of convenience stores and rural motels.  Soon 3 young men sat behind me, their pants weren’t “on the ground” but close to it, and their conduct, conversation, and appearance is what gives ghettos a good name.  To my right sat a lady who I don’t think has caught onto the “Skinny Girl” brand of products and she was with her 15-year-old son, I think his name was “Heavy”. 

I was happy the two girls ahead of my daughter were Asian, because I knew they’d ace the test quickly and get us closer to our turn.  Most of these people only had to show one form of ID to get into the testing area.  My daughter, whose family has been in country for a little over 400 years, had to show proof of school enrollment, an original birth certificate, her social security card, and 2 utility bills to prove where she lived.

She finally was tested, passed, and I let her drive home.  I said enough prayers on the trip home, I think we can just skip Sunday School this week.  Y’all be cool!  Rev. Bubba D. Liverance

Auburn vs. Florida 2011, and Rev. Bubba visits a Psychic

Last week, the band and I did a few dates in Louisiana (New Orleans, Thibodaux, Baton Rouge) and having a little time on our hands, our guitar player, Sam, talked me into going to a Psychic.  Her name was “Sister FriedChickenisha” or something like that.  After throwing down a “twenty”, she went on to tell me how much my love life was going to improve and how rich I was soon going to become.  Then she told me for another “twenty”, she would answer the most important question I have in my life.  So, after contemplating a while, I threw another “twenty” and asked her, “Who’s going to win the Auburn/Florida game this weekend”?

I’m not going to reveal her answer about Auburn/Florida ( I’ve got money on the game and I don’t want to rattle the oddsmakers).  However, she did say, if any Auburn fan can convince an Alabama fan to listen to our recording of “Let The Eagle Fly” on YouTube, all the way through, then Ole Miss will pull off an upset this weekend!  Just sayin’!  Rev. Bubba D. Liverance & the Cornhole Prophets  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSI65Qock0s

Rev. Bubba D. Liverance Calls For Congressional Reform

Dear Congress,

In case you forgot, you’re in office to serve the American public!  Here’s what the American public wants, a new constitutional amendment, and we want it now!

1. No Tenure/No Pension:  A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office

2. Congress (past, present, and future) participates in Social Security.  All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately.  All future funds flow into the Social Security system and congress participates with the American people.  It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void, effective immediately.  The American people did not make these contracts with Congressmen.  Congressmen made these contracts for themselves.  Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work!

I didn’t come up with all these ideas myself, but they are a great way to start getting this country back on the right track!  Rev. Bubba D. Liverance

Auburn vs Arkansas 2011, Rev. Bubba D. Liverance stuff!

To all the beach music loving, shag dancing, BBQ eating, low country cooking, Gamecock fans, I have to admit, I don’t know how Auburn pulled off a victory with all the odds against them!  Plus, I still think USC had one second left on the clock at the end of the game.

Auburn’s October schedule is brutal with Arkansas away, LSU away, and Florida at home.  The odds makers will have Auburn as an underdog in each of these games, so we’re just hoping the ball bounces our way and we pull out another unexpected victory somewhere.  I suspect Arkansas will take to the air and go after our secondary in a big way.  They’re number one in SEC passing offense and we’ll have our work cut out for us, but don’t expect the boys in orange and blue to lay down and make it easy!

Meanwhile, it’s back to our songwriting chores in preparation for recording which should start in late November.   We’ve got a lot of new turns and twists for you in our music, and we’re excited!  See ya, Rev. Bubba D. Liverance