Bo Bice - VH-1 Vote this week, help Bice rise to #1

VH-1 Top 20 - just drag Bo Bice - he's on "fiyah" at number 4 and rising! The more you vote the more of a chance he has to hit that number one spot. Bote, folks!

Happy Birthday Bo!

Watching our local Fox news station as I was groggily waking up this morning, who was given special mention? None other than Bo Bice. The morning show has a 'how old are they' celebrity birthday spot every morning, and of all the celebs having their birthday today, Bice gets a mention.

Bo Bice - Making of "See the Light"

Apt description, as Bo Bice has truly 'seen the light'. The album is a testament to the man's growth as a musician and artist. I'm absolutely loving this album, ya'll go on over to Wal-Mart and pick up your copy. Or just sit here at your computer and get it here.

Music Review: Bo Bice - See the Light

The Real Thing is the real equation apparent in this sophomore album released by Bo Bice following his time in the American Idol spotlight.

This is The Real Thing - in the world of Bice. He rolls and rocks and revels in the rock-a-billy stylings that this man is obviously most comfortable expressing himself within. This is The Real Thing when it comes to Bo Bice's heart, his soul. Turning on the album the listener is treated to a hearty mix of Southern soulful rock and roll with a twang of Country-at-heart thrown into the mix.

I find "Witness", the first track, striding out with a retro sound. It harkens back to a definite 1970's vibe. A little bit of MoTown creeps into the tone, and don't miss the "Frampton Comes Alive" voicebox sound. But hey, that fits in with the mix because what is rock-a-billy if not a conglomerate of new and old? I will say I'd rather hear The Biceman's vocals anyday over Peter Frampton's.

Second track on the album, "Take the Country Outta Me", is a strident twist into the roots this man derives his musical heart from - lyrics such as, "I grew up on Merle Haggard", he references ZZ Top, and includes of course, "Free Bird" (Lynyrd Skynyrd). Bice carries on to extol Marshall Tucker, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, Jimmy Rodgers, JJ Cale - basically a long shout out to paint the picture of what and where his heart comes from musically. This tune may come out as bar brawling, beer drinking music, but the man's paying dues to who fulfilled his mind and enlivened his musical soul.

"I'm Gone" is a tune with Bo giving his drawling best raw music-man vocals. The mixing put me in mind of his old SugarMoney sound. "Only Words", incorporates a glorious steel guitar introduction. I found this quite an introspective tune. As a side note, I love the background vocals, the gal has a kind of EmmyLou Harris sound - she compliments him very nicely. This track also includes an endearing blubbering saxophone which compliments the vibe. The next track, "Only Words" hits me as a fine tune, very bar band Southern Rock, smoky, summing it up in four words, "Pass the Jack Daniels".

"See the Light" has this whole, to use a semi-current Pop culture phraseology - "Brother Where Art Thou" vibe. Opens with a mellow mouthharp, rolling rhythm and blues groove, and a great flow. Religious overtones as Bo exhorts all to come on down pay their dues, recognize and repent. It's all about letting it 'shine'.

The next song is mine. "Sinner in a Sin". Bo gives it a more country twang than I've previously heard on other recordings and it fits the lyrics and the theme. Mellow harmonica flavors the song, the lyrics, "Loser that never wins, poet without a pen always been and doing it again" reverberates within my very soul. It's a song about lost love, about dreams not realized quite yet, regret about frivolous pursuits. The song also carries the theme running under the current of this entire piece of work: retribution, repentance, forgiveness. This song touches me in a personal way, emotionally, every time I have heard him sing it. I adore this treatment of it.
Lyrics:

Bo Bice - "Sinner In A Sin lyrics"

Sometimes it's hard to know
If you're going or if you're gone
So you dodge from right to left
Never knowing which way is wrong, no
Holding strong to all you know
But slippin' faster to your fall

You're like a sinner in a sin
The losing that never wins
Well, I'm a poet without a pen
I've always been and I'd do it again

Gonna paint the town tonight
I'll use colors green and amber
I'm like a painter without a brush
Whose colors fill to capture
And it's the chaos I understand
It's the calmness in my rants of anger

Just like a sinner in a sin
The loser that never wins
A poet without a pen
I've always been and I'd do it again

One day I'm going to wake up
And I know that the sun is gonna shine
Keeps on shinin' down
One day I know clouds, they're gonna part
Yes and I know it's rays they will find me
Keeps on shining down

You might say that I'm beaten down
Just so you'll always know
There's not a grain that's worth reaping
If your seed can't grow, ah no

Like a sinner in a sin
Never losing or never win
A poet without a pen
I've always been and I'd do it again

Oh, I'm a sinner in a sin
Oh, a loser that never wins
Well, I'm a poet without a pen
I've always been
And I'd do it again

Oh well, I'm a poet without a pen
And I've always been
And I'd do it again

"This Train" is a cool rolling tune, more uptempo, yet still retaining the religious undertones. Bo Bice is singing his life and times as most artist will do; this tune relaying the carrying on he's done through bad and the good times. Bice has experienced life threatening situations with illnesses he's fought and this song feels like an anthem to keep on keeping on no matter what is happening.

The next track, "Ain't Gonna Die" finds Bo Bice all rock n roll righteous. He hits old school with a killer Molly Hatchet groove. "Whisky, Women and Time" is one of The Biceman's older tunes, very Allman Brothers sounding, you feel and hear that influence.

This album is Bo Bice coming out; showing everyone what is The Real Thing in his world. Should he have been able to do this album straight out of the Idol experience, perhaps he'd been giving Underwood more of a run on the charts. (As if that even matters.)

On a personal note to the artist: Bubba, you're no longer that poet without a pen. The Sun's shining down on you. Much Love and Much Success.

Bo Bice: Sharing a new Widget

Bo Bice always ready to share with the Peeps has a new widget you can add to your web pages and myspace blogs. It will update on a regular basis with new material, no work on your part. Put this up and let it do what it do.

This is very cool, looks great too. Love "Witness".

Bo Bice Track List off new CD

I raped this track list right off of Bonafide Bice, info for the Bo Bice story.
Track list:
Witness
Whiskey, Women & Time
Got Money
This Train
Take The Country Outta Me
See The Light
Ain’t Gonna Die
Only Words
I’m Gone
Sinner In A Sin (my favorite!)
"Witness" (He's so gorgeous without that beard mess.)

and again: (this one takes me back to my dropping acid, injesting the 'wrong' mushrooms days)

I love you 'Bubba'. I am so looking forward to this CD.

Much Love. Much Success.

Bo Bice Seeing the Light with Thomas Lee

Bo Bice, according to his myspace page has named his upcoming CD, "See the Light". It's the name of a tune he co-wrote with Thomas Lee. The video provided by bovixen, she comes out with the best Bo Bice videos:
"See the Light"

Nice tune, I really like Bo when he's not got all that beard scraggle, nice look in this video. Looking forward to the new tunes.

Much Love

Bo Bice and Thomas Lee's tune, "This Train"

Bo Bice and Thomas Lee provide the crowd at The Canal Room in New York City a few months back a real treat with the acoustic, "This Train". No word of confirmation whether this song is on the CD due out October 23rd.

Thanks to Bovixen for the video footage and for her sharing that Bo Bice love.

Bo Bice, "Freedom and Redemption"

According to the great Bo Bice blog team at Bonafide Bice, several great suggestions have poured out from one of their recent blog posts regarding naming the mystery CD due out on October 23rd the latest release date. The suggestion of "Kicking Up the Dust" is a catchy idea, and proven popular over there with the gals, but my take would be for Bo to provide an insight into what this particular CD might mean for him.

I like the name, "Freedom and Redemption". In numerous underlying themes in Bo's songs, the themes of freedom and redemption surface, so obviously they are important philosophies in Bo's life, to Bo's career. Random thoughts; he's free now 'to be Bo' something many fan forums have been rallying for since the post-Idol CD, largely seen as somewhat a shackle put upon The Biceman by that "evil" Clive Davis.

"Freedom" is one of the most important things we have in life and the one main love of our culture as Americans, our source of patriotic pride. I'd think too it a representation that Bo is setting forth his own man, not 'owned' any longer by the ties hindering and compromising his music from which he communicates his heart, his soul. This new CD is his declaration of freedom, a free new beginning.

For me, Freedom IS life.

Redemption another theme that circulates within many of Bo's tunes. It's a word providing that ability to reinvent yourself, to grow and be 'reborn'. Making changes for the better for those you love and for yourself, making good choices. Redemption from whatever source you may believe in is a gift whether from a belief in a Higher Power or from within your own heart. Redemption saves you, your soul, and those with whom you are involved. Like a wheel it's an all encompassing circle of paying it forward and paying it back, that well-worn karmic reference I like to refer to, live well and good things come back to you.

When I think of perhaps winning the lottery or dream of spending my time, full-time as a writer and artist, I don't review the financial implications or engulf my thoughts with the sole monetary aspects. I think of what really lies behind having a large windfall of cash or being able to devote your life to what you truly love in your heart and soul (rather than what's needed to feed your children and put them through college...); it's Freedom. The most important thing money can buy is not $2,000.00 designer purses, fancy cars or other materialist crap; if you're smart you realize what money can really bring; Freedom. Having the luxury to spend your life doing what is in your heart and soul the ultimate in freedom.

I hope for Bo Bice that this new CD provides everything that lies behind the beautiful meanings of those simple words.

Much Love.
AMENDMENT:
Lyrics to "This Train" written by Thomas Lee and Bo Bice
This train is coming down the track and I'm hearing it calling my name.
I've got a dollar in my pocket and I'm hoping that I can make it on OK
All the years of counting on nothing, well at least its on my mind
If I can make it on this time, you know I'll take it on down the line

Chorus
Well now this train
Is coming down for me
And I know this train
Is coming down full speed
I know this train
Is coming down my way
I know this train
Is going to make it OK

I'm at the station with a bottle and a bible
And I'm waiting on a northbound train
God's willing and I'm hoping that He's happy
cause I know that I'm feeling no pain
All the years I've counted on nothing went by in the blink of an eye
All the tears and blissful years - you learn to crash before you fly.

Chorus
Yeah I know this train
Is coming down my way
And I know this train
Is going to make it OK
I know this train
Is coming down full speed
Yeah this train
Is coming down for me

This train is coming down for me.

[repeat chorus]

For me
Yeah
I know this train
I know this train
Yeah

Bo Bice Singing on the Road

Bo Bice performs acoustic guitar singing one of his new songs in this YouTube video provided by ThreeDimen and the best Bo Bice website, BonaFide Bice.



I love hearing Bo like this, raw, natural, sexy.

Blue Bird of Happiness?... (Bo Bice soars undercover)

Bo Bice sang at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN on Friday night. He appeared as the mysterious 'special guest', listed on the calendar. Bo Bice appeared with pals, Chris Tompkins, Gary Nichols, Jason Isbell. Undercover Bo must have decided to slip out sans Bo Peeps herd and try something different. This poster on the Taperssection Forum divulged the dirt in this posting:

"You Nashville folk missed one HELLUVA showcase last night. It was out of this world good. Jason Isbell, Gary Nichols, Bo Bice, and Chris Tompkins at the Bluebird Cafe. Some of the best shit I have EVER seen in Nashville. Not to mention it was FREE! Singer/Songwriter Craig Wiseman even played a few. That guys apparently has written over 30 #1 hits. Incredible guy as well. Wilker, Tom, and I all represented. I ran from the board and captured one of the best boards for me to date. Good times for sure. Wish I could share it, but looks like it will have to collect some dust until Isbell releases his solo album this Spring. " posted by 'm.'

Chris Tompkins is the guy who penned Carrie Underwood's hit tune, "Before He Cheats". Seems like these musicians are working on a new album according to the forum discussion. Wonder if Bo is to be part of this or was he just hanging out with the boys? Gary Nichols is listed with Mercury Records, Chris Tompkins", listed as Indie, and Jason Isbell of the "Drive-By Truckers". Exciting match up and I imagine our man, Bo, sounded great with them.

Confirmation that Bo Bice's is returning to his roots? After all this Alabama boy has been obviously greatly influenced by country music. Southern Rock is just a half-step from today's country, and this influence is reflected in Bo Bice's song writing and his history. I'm excited to see and hear that Bo is out and about, albeit "undercover" playing with guys like Gary, Jason, Chris. Stepping away from that cumbersome American Idol mantle and walking and talking among a form of music real and true to his heart. We know "Bubba" can rock out, but country music is another love of his, and his sound works well within the format.

Let your dreams fly, good news Biceman.
Much Love.