Early in 2013, Parmalee will be hitting the road for the "Country Gone Wild" tour. Joining them will be Bush Hawg and special guest Zach Lockwood. The tour will take them to eight different cities spread out over four weeks and will be a chance for fans to see them in an intimate setting, playing their special brand of guitar-driven, harmony-enriched, country-rock. If you're anywhere near any of these venues, do not pass up this opportunity to see an amazing show!
2012 has been a great year for Matt Thomas, Barry Knox, Josh McSwain and Scott Thomas, the exceptional country rock band also known as "Parmalee." With the new year just a few days away, this is a good time to look back on the past year. Whether you were here for all or just part of the ride, you can be sure of one thing. As great as this year has been, the new year - with a new single and new CD - promises to be even better.
Parmalee's first single on Stoney Creek Records was released on February 21, 2012. The song, "Musta Had a Good Time," became an instant hit on satellite radio, sitting at Number 1 on The Highway Country for four consecutive weeks before spreading across terrestrial radio. It became a regular on daily fan-voted countdown shows from coast to coast, hitting Number 1 on stations from North Carolina to California. The song has a five star rating on iTunes and became the band's first song to hit the Top 40 on the country music charts.
In
April, the band shot the music video for MHGT. The video shoot took
place at Deep South The Bar in Greenville, NC, on April 27th, and locals
were invited to take part. Since its release, the video has been a
staple on the CMT Pure 12-Pack Countdown, where it hit Number 1on its
twelfth consecutive week on the show. The video was world premiered on AOL's The Boot on August, 29th, with an article featuring the Top 5 moments from the video shoot published the preceding day.
In June, Parmalee was featured as a Billboard "Bubbling Under" artist, was one of Clear Channel's NEW! Artist to Watch, and saw their party anthem MHGT listed among CountryMusicIsLove.com's Top 15 Songs of Summer. The next month, the band was on Fox Nashville's "Tennessee Mornings" show. The band was interviewed and played two songs, including an acoustic version of "Carolina."
Parmalee played at various industry events throughout the year. In October, they played the International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference. Later that month, they played the 3rd annual BBR Pre-CMA party at the Hard Rock in Nashville.
Taylor Hill/Getty Images North America
In November, they attended the Country Music Association awards show and were interviewed by some country radio stations and media sites beforehand.
In its October 8th issue, Country Weekly introduced its readers to the band in a great article, aptly entitled, "Introducing Parmalee." There was also a companion video interview with the band which was released in September on Country Weekly's website here. Later in the year, Billboard.com's Chuck Dauphin shined "The 615 Spotlight" on the band in a December feature article, entitled, "Parmalee Thriving Two Years After Near-Tragedy."
The band also played four Stage It shows, one a month starting in September. The first show was "live from the tour bus," the second was "help Parmalee pick the songs for the album," the third was "songs they were thankful for," and the fourth was "live from the studio" where the band is currently laying down tracks for their upcoming album. Each of the four songs garnered a large audience of enthusiastic fans enjoying some familiar favorites while being introduced to some new songs.
During the third Stage It show, Matt announced the news that their next single would be "Carolina" and that it would be released on February 4, 2013. They have been working on their debut for Stoney Creek Records, which is expected out the first half of 2013. Some of the songs that might make the album were played during the December Stage It show, which you can read about here.
As 2012 comes to a close, Parmalee's concert calendar is starting to fill up for next year. They've already been announced as part of a number of major country music festivals as well as headlining their own "Country Gone Wild" Tour with Bush Hawg and Zach Lockwood. They will finish the album they're currently working with producers New Voice Entertainment.
In December, Roughstock.com included Parmalee among their annual year-end list of new artists to watch in the coming year. In the article, 13 for 13: Ones to Watch, Roughstock said of Parmalee, "Parmalee's First Top 40 single "Musta Had A Good Time" announced their arrival. Look for "Carolina" to make them stars." That's the best way to sum up this year, as we look towards the new one.
Parmalee's fourth Stage It show was held tonight, 12/18/12, and this one was live from Sound Stage Studios on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, where the band has been laying down tracks for their upcoming CD due out next year on Stoney Creek Records. The show gave the fans a sneak peek at what songs were being recorded and might make their way onto the band's highly anticipated 2013 release.
A portion of the proceeds from tonight's show will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and those in attendance were very generous with their "tips." If you'd like to make a donation to St. Jude on behalf of Parmalee, you can do that by clicking here.
After first sending out condolences to the families who had suffered terrible losses in Newtown, Connecticut, the band focused on bringing the music they had been working on in the studio directly to the fans and sharing the holiday spirit. The first song they played was a brand new one, the autobiographical "Back in the Day," which they said they had just recorded. We happen to have a video of the first public performance of the song from their show at the Royal Palace Theatre last week in Roanoake Rapids, North Carolina.
Next, they sang another new song which has quickly become a fan favorite, "Already Calling You Mine." Matt said that they had tracked it yesterday and added that he was also "loving it right now." So are we! This was played acoustically tonight, but last week we heard it plugged in for the first time:
After that, was another beautiful song, "Another Day Gone," which Matt said they had also tracked yesterday. He discussed the song as one that "says a lot about us...about taking advantage of the day you have in front of you and not letting a moment slip by" which is a particularly appropriate message. Here's a version of the song from an appearance at radio station WFUS in October:
They next played a request from the Stage It chat room for "Day Drinking." Afterwards, Matt mentioned that he hoped to be doing a little of that when they got back to eastern North Carolina in a few days. The whole band seemed to be looking forward to getting out of the studio and back home! Here's a video of Day Drinking from a similarly intimate setting, just before their performance at the Market Street Saloon in North Charleston.
Matt introduced the next single, "Carolina," which will be going to radio on February 4, 2013. But before playing it, he thanked all the fans who had helped make "Musta Had a Good Time" a success and the fans in the chat room all shared their love for the new single and their plans to request the heck out of it! Here's an acoustic version from last month in Overland Park.
Matt called the next one a "pretty song" and told us it might be one that Josh will be playing piano on. Unfortunately, we don't have any video yet of the romantic "I Think You Oughta Know." But we do have video of a live performance of the next song they performed, "Empty Streets." When introducing the song "about small towns," Matt mentioned that it had been written a year ago in the basement of their place in Nashville. The video we have is from an extended live version eight months ago.
During the encore portion of the show, the guys took another request from the chat room, this one for "Gasoline." While we were treated to a great, acoustic version, here's an electric version from a show in Myrtle Beach in 2010.
They finished off with the song that has started this new adventure for them, brought us all together and is leading them to what should be a spectacular 2013, "Musta Had a Good Time." Here are the guys all decked out as Elvis for a recent Halloween show showing everyone a good time.
There will be two more Stage It shows, so make sure to subscribe to Parmalee's official website, follow the band on Twitter @parmalee and like them on Facebook, so you never miss another show. If you want to meet other fans, we have a Facebook page and a Facebook group that you can join. Make sure to also follow us on Twitter @parmaleefans for all your Parmalee news.
Parmalee fans in Roanoke Rapids, NC were treated to an amazing, electrifying set at the Royal Palace Theatre last night. Matt, Barry, Josh and Scott debuted a new song, the autobiographical "Back in the Day," and played some songs plugged in that we had only heard acoustically in the past. They also played the first song they ever wrote together, "Broken Records." The crowd even heard a new mix of their hit single "Musta Had a Good Time."
Photo by Crystal Causby Hill
The reaction from the crowd was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The Royal Palace Theatre tweeted: "they did an outstanding job- @parmalee has become a lot of Ro.Rap folks new favorite group!" Others tweeted: "Ya'll rocked the house last night in NC! Thanks for a awesome show as always! <3" "If you didn't come see @parmalee and @JMCOfficial tonight at the Royal Palace .. YOU MISSED A DAMN GOOD SHOW!! They rocked the house!!!" "Very impressed! parmalee just ROCKED the stage. Go see them!" "@parmalee y'all were awesome tonight hope y'all have a good time while y'all are back home. I know I'll be saying I #MHGT tomorrow."
Thanks to long-time fan Crystal Causby Hill, we have most of their set on video. So enjoy!
There must have been something in the air last night at the KSD Santa Jam held at The Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri. The reaction from the fans in attendance to Parmalee's acoustic set was off the charts! Tweets and Facebook posts poured in from fans wowed by what they'd just heard:
@chriscagle
@craigcampbell @parmalee great show tonight!! Thank you very much for what you guys
do! Great music, great fun, great guys!!
After hearing
@parmalee tonight, my heart is won!! Best acoustic performance, EVER!!!!
@parmalee did y'all
write your set list on a paper plate and throw it in the crowd tonight? If do I
caught it! Y'all were badass tonight!
@parmalee loved you
tonight at #santajam!! Where can I buy your day drinking song?!
@ Pageant watching Parmalee.
We want T-shirts and Cd's. The guy at the booth said we're the 19th person to
ask! Parmalee Rocks!
Great concert
tonight! Buying your music tonight! @craigcampbelltv @parmalee
@parmalee You guys
rocked Santa Jam!! Would love to buy your album. When's it coming out? Awesome
job! You're all smokin hot! #mason&remy
First picture of
@parmalee in STL before they're HUGE! #MHGT pic.twitter.com/0fYi6j10
@parmalee just
rocked it at the pageant in st Louis
Parmalee was
awesome!:)
I'm already calling
you mine. #parmalee
AMAZING show @The
Pageant in STL last night....had never heard you guys before & am now a
HUGE fan!
You did a great job
at Santa Jam!!!!
Just saw u guys at
SANTA JAM!!! U were GREAT!!!
I think I feel in
love with the whole band tonight so good :-):-):-):-)
We had a few photos tweeted from the show as well:
@Mae_Grove: Parmalee!
Katelynn Street: First picture of @parmalee in STL before they're HUGE!
Billboard.com posted a great article today about Parmalee written by Chuck Dauphin. The article, entitled, 615 Spotlight: Parmalee Thriving Two Years After Near-Tragedy, highlights the history of the band, Scott's near-fatal injuries, and the great things that have happened to the band since that fateful September night. As the article succingtly put it, "2012 has been a great year for Parmalee, and 2013 - with the release of their debut album, looks to be even better." Check out the article here.
Photo by Jon Currier Photography
Elsewhere, Country Music Rocks published a fantastic review of Parmalee's set at last weekend's KUPL Santa Jam. Recapping the fantastic, energetic show, where the band showed off both its fun and serious sides, the review beautifully captured the essence of a live Parmalee show. And we couldn't agree more with the reviewer who added, "Parmalee is one to keep your eyes on and ears tuned-in to. They are Ones to Watch in 2013." Check out the entire review here.
"@parmalee: I'll be on Twitter in 15 min. answering Q's"
Matt took to Twitter today to answer fans' questions, as each member of the band has been doing on a regular basis. Today he mentioned that the band is currently working on their new album, due out early next year. The album is being produced by New Voice Entertainment, comprised of members of Jason Aldean's band and David Fanning (the same production team behind Thompson Square's self-titled debut).To keep up on the latest and to chat with them next time they're on, follow the band @parmalee.
The biggest news for Parmalee this past week was the music video for Musta Had a Good Time landing the top spot on the CMT Pure 12-Pack Countdown on its twelfth consecutive week on the show! Here's a screen cap taken by Barry's dad, the man who broke the news that MHGT was #1 on Facebook last Friday night:
In other news, Parmalee played literally from coast to coast last week, going from The Emporium in Patchogue, NY to the Rodeo Club in San Jose, CA. Radio station KMLE took some great photos, which you can check out on their website here.
Photo by KMLE
Country Music Rocks took photos during the band's show at the Roseland Theatre in Portland, OR, which you can find on their Facebook page here.
Photo by Country Music Rocks
We also have video of MHGT from their show at Denim and Diamonds in Mesa, AZ.
This coming week, Parmalee has a packed schedule. On Wednesday, 12-12-12, they'll be playing the Q93 "End of the World" party at Cotton Eyed Joe in Knoxville, Tennessee. Thursday, they'll be in St. Louis, Missouri, playing the 93.7 New Country Santa Jam at the Pageant. Friday takes them to Silver Springs, Maryland, for the WMZQ Christmas Show at the Filmore. Then Saturday, they finish up their four-in-a-row with a trip back to their home state of North Carolina, where they're playing the Royal Palace Theatre in Roanoke Rapids.
If you don't get a chance to catch Parmalee at any of their shows this coming week, have no fear! They are scheduled to do their fourth Stage It! show "Live from the Studio" on Tuesday, December 18th, at 6P/9E. This show will be live from the Black River Studios during the band's
first session of recording the new album. They will be donating a portion of the proceeds to St Judes Childrens Research and
hope to have some special guests drop by to say hi to everyone while were doing the show. Get your tickets for this intimate, up-close-and-personal, every seat is the best seat in the house, show right HERE.
Finally, Roughstock is having a year end poll of its readers, asking for their favorite single of 2012. If you'd like to vote for Musta Had a Good Time, go here.
