CMR Exclusive: Getting To Know…. Mark Mackay

If you haven’t heard of Mark Mackay, it’s time to stop what you are doing and fix that right away! For starters, you can get to know the singer/songwriter in our exclusive interview below. Mackay recently released his debut album, Trials & Tribulations, and provides listeners with a solid collection of music throughout. The California native co-wrote six of the eight tracks, and provides a unique sound to the genre that fans of all generations can enjoy.

We caught up with Mark Mackay to talk about his new album and so much more. Get to know Mark Mackay in our exclusive interview, and pick up Trials & Tribulations at a digital music outlet such as iTunes here. 

Country Music Rocks (CMR): You recently released your debut album, Trials & Tribulations. For folks that have not picked up the album yet, tell us about this new collection of music?

Mark Mackay: It’s genuinely me! It’s a combination of stories and common themes, you can hear all my musical influences in it… it’s a country record that crosses the rock and roll border a few times. I spent a lot of time trying to write a record that was an album, not just a couple singles. You can put this record on at the top and enjoy the whole thing start to finish.

CMR: The title of your album is not named after a song on the album, but it is a very strong title. Give us a little background on this and what made you name your album, Titles & Tribulations?

Mark Mackay: The title came so naturally when I finished the record. As an artist you spend so much time trying to make these things perfect. After all the BS we deal with every day on the business side, Trials and Tribulations is exactly what you go through to get to the point you’re happy with your project the way it is. I love the way it turned out.

CMR: You’ve already had a busy year and the momentum continues for you with a schedule packed with live performances. For folks that haven’t seen you perform yet, how would you best describe your set?

Mark Mackay: Energy, energy, energy! The live show is my favorite part of what I do. I remember going to concerts and just being blown away by the power the artists created. I strive for that in my live show. You’ll hear some stories, laugh and smile with us… and you might be blown away by some guitar work 😉

CMR: With 2017 well underway, what are some additional things that you are looking forward to and excited about for this year?

Mark Mackay: We’ve just been added to some major festivals, I’m really excited about that. Getting to have 50k people discover me will be a good feeling. I’m just excited to get the music out there and keep going.

CMR: You hold a very busy schedule. When you’re not writing or performing, what do you like to do in your off-time? How do you unwind and make the most of your time off?

Mark Mackay: I like being active. Love surfing and skiing- both of help keep my sanity. I love working out, finding new restaurants, watching my San Francisco Giants have the worst season ever, ha!

CMR: As fans continue to get to know you, what is one thing you would like to convey to fans about you and your music?

Mark Mackay: It’s music that is meant to stand the test of time. It takes you on an introspective journey about things I’ve seen and problems we all deal with – It’s real music. I’ve got a lot of classic rock influence that’s where that comes from.

CMR: What is one song that you remember hearing on the radio that made a significant impact on you and still to this day when it comes on it takes you back?

Mark Mackay: “Shooting Star” by Bad Company. I heard it for the first time in my dad’s car, when it was over the DJ said “that was Bad Company,” my dad and I were so stoked because we love Paul Rodgers… we drove right to the record store to buy it.

CMR: Music consistently evolves and grows, and we’ve certainly seen that with country music. What is one aspect about this genre that has always resonated with you and continues to do so?

Mark Mackay: The honesty. I love all the sounds and changes… the pop stuff is cool and the outlaw stuff is cool. I’m good with all of it. But I like that we just tell it like it is in country. No hiding anything!

Mackay has a schedule full of tour dates all throughout the summer. To see if he is heading to a city near you, click here.

Get connected with Mark Mackay by checking out his Official Website, and following him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Florida Georgia Line Rocked Their First Headlining Stadium Concert at Boston’s Fenway Park

Superstar duo Florida Georgia Line rocked Boston’s Fenway Park to its historic foundation on Friday night (7/7), blazing through their FIRST-EVER headlining stadium concert to a SOLD OUT crowd.

Photo Credit: Jason Kempin | Getty Image

With roaring fans greeting the duo – Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, the night was a high-octane signal of their arrival as top-shelf entertainers, which also included a genre-busting lineup of Pop idols Backstreet Boys (featured on FGL’s 13th #1 smash, PLATINUM-certified “God, Your Mama, And Me”), Hip-Hop icon Nelly and breakout Country star Chris Lane.

Part of the groundbreaking THE SMOOTH TOUR 2017, the Fenway Park show was one neither Hubbard or Kelley will forget.

“Four years ago, we played the House of Blues right across the street, took a tour of the stadium, and dreamed of one day playing here,” Hubbard shared from stage. “Thank you Boston for making our dream come true with our very first sold out headline stadium show.”

Photo Credit: Jason Kempin | Getty Image

Standout moments included Backstreet Boys joining FGL onstage for their heartfelt ballad, “God, Your Mama, And Me,” which ended in a surprise plaque presentation to celebrate the song’s #1 on Country radio airplay charts – the first time BSB have contributed to a Country single. And all artists capped off the night with a bang reuniting for a red-hot encore of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre,” Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” and FGL and Nelly’s DIAMOND-certified hit “Cruise” that wrapped with a massive fireworks finale.

Two more stadium concerts are on tap for this summer, with Backstreet Boys returning for massive shows at Minneapolis’ Target Field (7/29) and Chicago’s Wrigley Field (8/12). A limited number of tickets for the Minneapolis date are still available, while the duo’s Chicago show sold out shortly after it was announced.

Meanwhile, THE SMOOTH TOUR 2017 rolls on with its sizzling lineup of Hip-Hop superstar Nelly and “For Her” singer Chris Lane, plus talented newcomers Russell Dickerson, Ryan Hurd, and Morgan Wallen on select dates. Coast-to-coast concerts are scheduled through the fall, culminating with a two-night stand at the Verizon Amphitheater in Alpharetta, Georgia, on October 20 and 21.

For more information on Florida Georgia Line and THE SMOOTH TOUR 2017, visit floridageorgialine.com.

Thomas Rhett Scores Eighth Career No. 1 with “Craving You” Featuring Maren Morris

ACM Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett’s “bold” (GQ) single “Craving You” feat. Maren Morris hit No. One on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase charts, sky-rocketing to the top in just 15 weeks as the fastest-rising song of his career so far.

The single marks Thomas Rhett’s second No. One this year and the eighth of his career. “Craving You” is the lead single from Thomas Rhett’s highly-anticipated upcoming third release, due out later this year.

“I heard this song went No. one this morning while I was on vacation with my family,” said Thomas Rhett. “It just reminded me how everything about this song has been fun. From having Maren sing on it, to making a really rad video to just feeling the energy from the fans each night when we play it live. It’s an unbelievable way to start out this record…I really can’t wait to share more.”

For more information on new music and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.thomasrhett.com.

Jackie Lee Writes Love Song To Amazon’s “Alexa” To Celebrate Prime Day

It’s Amazon Prime Day, and to celebrate one of the biggest online shopping days on Amazon.com, rising star Jackie Lee compiled a song for Amazon’s Alexa.

While in Nashville yesterday, Jackie Lee stopped by the “Ty, Kelly & Chuck” show and wrote a “love” ballad specifically for Alexa during the show’s “10 Minute Tune” segment. Check it out here, or watch below.

Jackie continues to showcase his latest single, “Getting Over You,” at country radio, and recently surpassed 14 million streams on Spotify. Pick up “Getting Over You” on iTunes here.

Miranda Lambert’s Hit Album The Weight Of These Wings Certified Platinum

Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville GRAMMY Award-winner Miranda Lambert’s sixth studio album The Weight of These Wings is now certified PLATINUM by the RIAA.

Released on November 18, The Weight Of These Wings arrived at No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart with 122k albums sold and No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 all genre Chart with 133k total consumption. Now, 33 weeks after its release, The Weight of These Wings is PLATINUM.

The Weight of These Wings which has been praised by critics from NPR, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Associated Press, The New Yorker, Billboard, The Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly to name a few and was awarded the ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards this past April.

In addition, the first song released from the now PLATINUM album, “Vice,” hit the Country Radio airwaves almost a year ago to date, when it released on July 18, 2016. The debut single was just an early taste from what fans would eventually come to know as The Weight Of These Wings also received multiple GRAMMY and ACM Award nominations on its own.

The Weight Of These Wings features 24 songs and was produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Eric Masse.