Where did all the hicks come from?

I am, very obviously, from New Jersey. Even though it gets a bad rap, I can't imagine living anywhere else.

I swear, it's a completely different place than it's made out to be.

Last Friday, I went to a sold-out country concert in Holmdel, NJ. This town is located about an hour away from Snooki in Seaside Heights and an hour and a half from the Manzos and other crazy Italian housewives from Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Nor is it in South Jersey, where I was born and raised and, yes, there is a rodeo a half hour from my house.

Below is proof that, well, there is much, much more to New Jersey than GTL.

(Jersey pride tattoo. Jersey Shore, Rt 35, Tillie, Jaws, a hoagie (or sub). Seen through overalls.)

My Holiday Playlist

What says 4th of July on the beach more than a playlist full of my country favorites?

Here's a little sample of what songs are going to be played over and over and over again the next three days!

Barefoot Blue Jean Night- Jake Owen

Country Girl (Shake It For Me)- Luke Bryan

Old Alabama- Brad Paisley ft Alabama

Honey Bee - Blake Shelton

Dirt Road Anthem – Jason Aldean

Live a Little - Kenny Chesney

Knee Deep- Zac Brown Band

Summer’s Little Angel- Steve Forde

Made In America Toby Keith

My Kinda Party- Jason Aldean

Chicken Fried- Zac Brown Band

Felt Good on My Lips- Tim McGraw

Don't Drink the Water- Brad Paisley (feat. Blake Shelton)

Hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!

No shoes, no shirt, no problem

I LOVE summer concerts. Nothing says summer better than cold beer, good friends and great music.

Concert number uno: Zac Brown Band and Kenny Chesney. Hellooo country music super stage.

Too bad the arena- Lincoln Financial in Philly- well, sucked. Maybe great for the people who could afford the $300 seats, but for everyone else, well, the few 200-level fans who were not drunk or didn't know every single word to the songs, it sucked. A blast when I knew every word to every song, so ZBB was awesome, but besides the 10+ Kenny songs I knew, everything sounded the same.

Wah.

If only I had this view it would have been a whole lot more enjoyable.
Ah, not in my lifetime. (Photo compliments of Janelle's Facebook)

[And no, you don't even want to see a photo from where I was sitting. Good views of Uncle Kracker and Any Reid, the morbidly obese coach of the Eagles, though.]

BUT, as seen by Kenny in a Phillies shirt, it was a great night to be in my home city of Philly instead of New York for a change.

Country Music Has Ruined My Llife

Listening to country music has ruined my life.

How so?

1. On the few occasions that I go out with friends, I don't know any of the music being played at the bar or club. Unless there's a cover band, chances are that some pop/rap/r&b music that I just don't listen to anymore. Ke$ha? No thanks. Lady Gaga? Keep your meat dresses to yourself. In the songs I listen to, that's a meal.

2. Mom has my dad's truck for sale, finally. The first person to call was named Jason. When I think of someone named Jason coming to test drive a Chevy pickup truck, this is what I think of:
Something tells me I'm going to be mildly disappointed.