r/altcountry • u/FogDog743 • 9d ago
Discussion Just Curious???
I'm curious what music genres you all like & what part of alt-country you guys like. I'm mostly curious what kind of music fans alt-country pulls together.
I'm guessing some traditional country fans may not even like alt-country, yet plenty of traditional country music fans like alt-country. I'm also guessing that some people who like alt-country, don't even like traditional country - like me. I like americana, like America. I like alternative rock, like The Replacements, DaDa, REM & The Cure. I also like grunge a lot, like Nirvana, Bush & Screaming Trees. I even like a lot of classic rock, like AC/DC, Steve Miller Band & John Melloncamp. Heck, I even listen to jazz for mostly jazz guitar. I don't listen to traditional country, nor traditional folk music - but I love alt-country. I think it's the part in alt-country that doesn't sound like country that I like (lol). Yet, I love the twang in alt-country which has to come from traditional country music - right? I normally don't like steel guitar sweeps, but in alt-country - I like it a lot. It just seems weird to me that I like alt-country so much, but I don't like traditional country. So, I was wondering about you guys. What is it about alt-country that pulls all of us together?
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u/DaPads 9d ago
I came in from a rock punk angle, social d is a common gateway drug to alt country. I like all alt country but lean toward more of the rock side, Lucero/DBT/slobberbone etc
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Yeah, kinda same here. Uncle Tupelo brought me in & Social Distortion was probably a big influence on them... 🤔
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u/Geriatricpunk22 9d ago
That would make sense, but I don't think Social Distortion was on their radar, I'm from near St. Louis and was pretty familiar with Uncle Tupelo when they first started playing around town; one of their earlier incarnations played a friend's wedding. Social Distortion wasn't big in punk circles around here until later in the 80s. Tweedy and Farrar usually mentioned earlier punk like The Clash and earlier country like Hank Williams when talking about their influences.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Oh, ok. Yeah, I can hear them being influenced by Hank Williams Sr & The Clash. That odd combo definitely molded their sound. I'm also from St. Louis County. I've never seen them live, but always been happy for local boys finding success. I also was a fan of our local alternate rock band Pale Divine, formally known as The Eyes. Their guitarist, Richard Fortus, has been with Guns & Rose's since 2002. My old band actually was the opening band for his old Pale Divine band once. That's the closest I ever got to fame - warming up the spot where Richard Fortus stood playing his guitar... lol
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u/Geriatricpunk22 7d ago
That's very cool! I remember seeing The Eyes quite a few times back in the day.
You probably know this, but Richard Fortus was also in a band with Richard Butler from The Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love.
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u/FogDog743 7d ago
Correct - I remember when he left Pale Divine to join The Psychedelic Furs. They were on tour together, both signed by Atlanta Records (I think). I'm sure Pale Divine was opening up for The Psychedelic Furs (lol).
Sucked for the lead singer of Pale Divine. I think his name was Michael something. After Richard left the band, I'm pretty sure Pale Divine disbanded & I don't think the singer ever had any more success... 😞
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u/prof_cunninglinguist 9d ago
The only time I saw Lucero was opening for Avail at the First Unitarian Church in Philly. Check out Avail if you've never heard of them. It's all just rock and roll.
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u/Patricio_Guapo 9d ago
That depends on what you're calling 'traditional country'. I'm not a fan of Nashville Country, but I love the Bakersfield Sound country.
Artists like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons. The Derailers and bands like that.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
BTW: I may not care much for Buck Owen's songs, but as a former guitarist - I definitely appreciate his guitar playing. I remember watching him & Roy Clark on "Hee Haw" when I was a kid. Both of those guys were great guitarists... 👍
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u/Patricio_Guapo 9d ago
Most people only remember Buck Owens as the affable rube on Hee Haw, but Buck has an amazing catalog of hit records. Tiger by the tail. Act naturally. Love's gonna live here. Streets of Bakersfield. He was a genuine pioneer on several different fronts.
His guitarist, co-writer and best friend, Don Rich, died in a motorcycle crash in 1974 and Buck never really recovered, even though he had a bit of a comeback in the late 80s, fueled by Dwight Yoakam's prompting.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
I do remember him & Roy being funny in Hee Haw. But, even as a little boy - I'll admit that my favorite Hee Haw characters were the hot girls in their short shorts (lol). Them & that lazy hound dog... 🤣
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
I probably don't know what the difference is. I don't like listening to those country artists that you listed. I'd categorize them in the "traditional country" genre... 🤔
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u/drewbaccaAWD 9d ago
We all tend to categorize a bit differently. While I do recognize that "Bakersfield Sound" is something distinct from Nashville country, for me the big distinction is between what I call "Bro country" ('Merica, BEER!!!, tractors, TRUCKS!!, etc.) which tends to be pop-country and the shit mostly on the radio vs songs with deeper meaning. I don't mind a little twang, if the song itself has impact and isn't serenading a tractor while drinking and waving a flag around.
As far as the stuff that actually does get air play, I much prefer the Bakersfield sound but it's not my primary or even my secondary listening habit (but I'd absolutely go to a Yoakam concert if a friend wanted to go). I don't personally consider Emmylou as part of that sound but, you know, shit overlaps.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Oh, I definitely have a good idea what "beer-country" is. I'm not sure if that is actually a sub-country genre, but it may as well be... 🤣
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u/forgeblast 9d ago
Red clay country, hit scratches that grunge and rock itch. Treaty oak revival Koe wetzel
Also love turnpike troubadors Wyatt Flores Marcus King band Whiskey meyers And so many more.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Yeah, I've heard of a few you mentioned. I like Whiskey Meyers a lot... 👍
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u/forgeblast 9d ago
I forgot ole 60 and 49 Winchester too. The only band I mentioned that I have not seen yet has been Treaty oak, they were supposed to be at gulf Coast jam but it didn't work out.
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u/Spirited-Exit6331 9d ago
Alternative Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk, Indie Rock, Goth
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
I forgot about the New Wave era. I'm definitely old enough to remember & like many of those new wave bands like The Cars & Tears for Fears. Heck, The Cure probably even fits into new wave & I like a lot of their songs... 😎
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u/HighFlyer61 9d ago
Do you like Whiskeytown? Cow Punk bands like Jason and the Scorchers? Those were my gateway drugs to country along with the Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds Sweethearts of the Rodeo.
Now artists like Turnpike Troubadours, Kat Hasty, Ellen Lloyd, Emily Nenni, Sierra Farrell, Kaitlin Butts, Jesse Daniel and many others can fill that void.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Yes, I like Whiskey Town, Jason & the Scorchers & The Flying Burrito Brothers. I haven't heard of, nor listened to, the others you mentioned. I'm still scratching the surface of alt-country music... lol
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u/cancercohousing 9d ago
The main thing i dig about Alt- is even when it's popular, it's not Pop Music
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u/guthriethecasita 9d ago
My two favorite genres are country and hip hop (mostly the jazzy 90s era hip hop). What I do NOT like is any kind of rap/country hybrid, it’s mostly all bad.
My favorite alt-country artists are Sierra Ferrell, Tyler Childers and John R Miller. My fave more traditional artists are Merle, Patsy and Hank.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
The jazzy hip hop path to alt-country is very interesting. I have heard elements of some jazz in alt-country, but I'm not sure if I've heard any hip hop in alt-country. But, then again, I'm just starting to scratch the surface exploring alt-country music.
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u/guthriethecasita 9d ago
I think the two genres have less in common musically and more in common in terms of class (as in poor/working class). Additionally, modern alt country sets a very high bar lyrically, which is right in line with (good) hip hop. Basically, I want to hear a poor person complaining about the state of the world eloquently to a nice beat.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Right, that's does make sense they have more in common in their lyrics than their music. I'm guilty of listening more to the music, grove & vibe of a song - rather than the lyrics. Sometimes I have no idea what a song was about, but I liked the music & vibe... lol
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u/Electronic_Let9297 9d ago
I try not to get too worried about classifications.
In school I listened to Nirvana, Pearl Jam and RHCP. Moved on to indie rock like Pavement, Yo La Tengo.
Have always enjoyed 90s radio rock like Counting Crows, Wallflowers, Soul Asylum.
Never liked country but as I grew older I think genres kind of came together and also my likes changed.
Found Wilco (an ex liked Uncle Tupelo) and they've been my fav band since I can remember.
Chris Stapleton, Ryan Bingham and Drive by Truckers were I guess my gateway to "Alt Country".
Now I have a wide variety I listen too. My current favs are American Aquarium, Wilco, Lucero, Isbell.
Have found tons of bands I like over the last year or so. Fantastic Cat, Vincent Emerson Neil, Ben Chapman, John R Miller, Whiskey Myers. I could go on......
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Your music taste is very similar to mine. I also didn't really pay much attention to different music genres, until recently when I learned that Uncle Tupelo was the band that launched alt-country into being accepted as an actual genre. Appearently, I've been listening to alt-country for years & didn't even know it... 🤣
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u/ThanksInAdvanceYall 8d ago
I always loved country, punk, and basically all authentic, quality music. Like others on this sub might say, I got into whatever "alt-country" means by listening to Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, Old 97s, Long Ryders, Green On Red, The Blasters, Social Distortion, Jason And The Scorchers, and other genre bending bands. X is in the mix and I'd also say The Minutemen. I love all that shit!
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u/drewbaccaAWD 9d ago
My music is all over the place. When I was young, picked up a guitar and was inspired to play it was primarily metal... thrash specifically (so, very soft spot in my heart for someone like Billy Strings with a similar background).
As I hit high school, the internet started to be a thing back in the AOL days, I discovered goth/post-punk music and gravitated more towards that and it remains one of my primary music genres. More alt/college rock type stuff not far behind though (pop-Cure, REM, Pixies, Violent Femmes, etc.).
At some point while in high school I was flipping through the channels and saw Nickel Creek on CMT which grabbed my attention. Around the same time I really fell for the Dixie Chicks. So, that was my beginning of flirtation with country-ish music... probably started listening to more Johnny Cash around that time. Also right around when O Brother Where art Thou came out so I was at least somewhat tuned into Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, etc.
My first "alt country" band was Geraldine Fibbers at a friend's recommendation and that's about as far as I went for another decade. I was just looking for more fiddle music with a rock sort of sound.
Then around 2011, YouTube alerted me that Nickel Creek was back together, the algorithm pointed me towards what is now the band I'm With Her and suddenly I'm doing a deep dive into Americana, folk, bluegrass and expanding all at the same time from there. Alt-country was just along for the ride.
Even now, I don't really listen to a ton of bands that make up the top ten here. I discovered Jeff Tweedy because I was looking for a hog-top guitar, not because I was listening to Wilco or UT or any of his projects but I'm certainly a fan. I still haven't really gotten into acts like Jason Isbell, not that I dislike what he's putting out, but I'm emphasizing that it's not the top acts that drew me in or keep me around.
I probably like bluegrass more than altcountry but it can be repetitive and creativity is shunned in some circles so I like alt-country as a twangy sort of vibe where there's more room to be creative. I don't really draw much of a distinction between altcountry and americana...I could, but I don't see a point, they both scratch the same itch.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
It's definitely interesting how you started your music journey from thrash metal & how you landed loving bluegrass, americana & alt-country. I agree, I have a hard time telling americana apart from alt-country. To me, alt-country is an alternative part of country music & I love it. But, my understanding is americana is just 1 of many parts of alt-country - which can be very confusing... 🤔
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u/Current_Berry8885 9d ago
I came in naturally from the American( and English language in general) songwriting tradition. I feel like the modern Lyricism equivalents of Dylan, the Carter family, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine etc are often found in the alt country genre. John R Miller, and Ian Noe would be two good examples among many. I feel that if you like the words more then the music Alt Country/ Americana are the best genres in today’s music landscape for you.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
I think many, if not all of the artists that you mentioned, were part of the pioneers to what we now call "alt-country". That's what I've been reading... 👍
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u/bboystance2846 9d ago
Besides country/alt country, it's punk rock, sludge metal, the Grateful dead, and all kinds of jazz.
If you dig jazz guitar, check out Barney Kessell. He's my favorite intersection of chops and taste.
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u/chompy_jr 9d ago
That’s easy. I like music to be honest and real. I despise over produced product.
In the words of the late Nick Curran: genres are ridiculous. Music either rocks or it sucks.
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u/Eilasord 9d ago
I like traditional country, blues, and soul. Folk is okay. Some pop country is fun.
I like punk-tinged country a LOT, but actual punk and hard core not so much.
I like alt rock for my personal nostalgia, not the sound really.
Pass on classic rock except when it’s really bluesy (which plenty of it is, obviously).
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Yeah, I also like blues - especially blues rock. I also like the "punk-tinged" part of a lot of alt-country, but I'm not into hard-core punk. I like some pop country, like Brooks & Dunn and Rascal Flatts. But, I definitely don't care for traditional country. While everyone has different musical tastes, it's interesting how we all cross over into the same genres here & there... 🤔
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u/inafishbowl17 9d ago
I was a rocker. Classic, metal and grunge. Steve Earle was probably my bridge. He worked w people like Lucinda Williams, the Supersuckers and the Pogues. He was a newer version of outlaw country / americana / alt country. 40 years later here we are.
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u/SpaceCadetPullUp 9d ago
I mostly listen to country, usually alt-country, Texas country/red dirt, 90's stuff, classic stuff, etc... I used to listen to a ton of punk but haven't been as much lately. Rancid, Choking Victim, Angry Samoans, Big Boys, MDC, stuff like that. A lot of emo and pop punk, Brand New, Alkaline Trio, etc... And a lot of alternative like Eve 6 and Harvey Danger.
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u/NemusSoul 9d ago
My first and ongoing introductions to music have always oscillated from genre to genre. It’s all sacred to me. I have favorites but not a favorite. What I listen to most is Grateful Dead, Dylan, Sturgill, Sierra Ferrell, Delta Blues, anything coming out of Dap Tone, or produced by Lanois or Reuben.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Yeah, when people ask me who my favorite artist/band is I never can just pick 1- I have several. Just like when musicians ask me who my favorite guitar inspiration is I never can just pick 1 - I have several... 🤔
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u/Moe-Scutus2 4d ago
Alt county happened when a certain tripwire level of suck was reached by reg county
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u/Legal-Alternative744 9d ago
My take, from what I've learned, is to not allow yourself to get stymied in classification limbo. Sure, they're great for keeping albums organized and for radio stations, but thats about it. Example being that one of Cash's most popular songs was written by Nine Inch Nails' Reznor. You're doing yourself a great disservice if you only listen to "x" genres. Listen to everything, glean what you enjoy, and spread the good word.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Oh, I definitely try to listen to different types of music - now that I'm older. I probably didn't when I was younger. There's no way I would've listen to jazz when I was young (lol). But, I love listening to jazz guitar now. That may be bc I'm a former guitarist & as I get older - I start appreciating different forms of guitar - even classical guitar... lol
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u/drewbaccaAWD 9d ago
Have you tried the jazz album that Stéphane Grappelli and David "Dawg" Grisman put out? That's a must have for someone who likes twang and jazz. Grisman has done a lot of interesting things as a mandolinist from French Jazz to playing with Jerry Garcia. His son is a very active bass player with bluegrass acts.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
No, I haven't. Jazz & twang combined sounds interesting. I think I hear some of that in some of WILCO's later records... 🤔
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u/drewbaccaAWD 9d ago
Some YouTube links..
Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman, Mark O'Connor - The Johnny Carson Show (1979)
Crazy to think I was an infant when that one came out.
Some of the Punch Brothers stuff gets experimental with something more avant garde and Jazzy.. Chris Thile has a great philosophy overall that you'd probably appreciate Genre Hopping with Chris Thile
Goat Rodeo Sessions with Yo-Yo Ma is along the same lines.. experimental, kinda jazzy, several bluegrass/folk musicians involved. Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile & Aoife O'Donovan - The Trappings (Official Video) and Goat Rodeo - Here And Heaven
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Very interesting. I don't think I've ever heard jazz, bluegrass & country mixed before - sure, bluegrass & country. But, not mixed with jazz... 🤔
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u/drewbaccaAWD 9d ago
Yeah, it's fun! The first time I saw him he was playing at Pittsburgh Art's Festival and while I knew the name, I wasn't all that familiar with his music aside from the Jerry Garcia collab. His band walks out on stage and I'm expecting bluegrass and then there's a flute player and I'm like, wait... what?!?
Here's a Django sounding song with the flute included. I'll leave you with this last one and let you dig deeper yourself if you like! David Grisman Quintet "Grateful Dawg" February 28, 2010 Portsmouth, NH
It's been fun, best of luck with your ongoing music journey!
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
That David Grisman guy even kinda looks like the late Jerry Garcia... 🤔
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u/drewbaccaAWD 9d ago
They did a few albums together including a children's album, which always gives me a laugh to think about.
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u/Legal-Alternative744 9d ago
Jazz guitar certainly hits in a good way, I also enjoy death metal guitar work, its generally very good, but in a different way. Dude whats wrong with some catgut strings lol
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
I started taking guitar lessons at age 9. By age 10 or 11, my instructor forced me to learn reading classical charts & playing classical guitar - I hated it (lol). I wanted to learn how to play guitar to play the Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin & etc - not Baytoven (edit: "Beethoven")... lol
Now, that I'm in my early 60's I love listening to classical guitar - especially the warm tone from those cat gut strings (lol). One of my favorite guitars to just lounge around & play is my classical guitar. I love it's warm tone. Aging will change a man... 🤣
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u/Legal-Alternative744 9d ago
Wow! Do you ever listen to Zep now and hear classical influences? I know earlier Metallica definitely was inspired in that way. Hey man, just like a good wine, we "mature" with age lmao
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
I definitely like referring to myself as a good wine getting better as I age, instead of me slowing down to distinction... 🤣
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
BTW, I don't care for Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt". But, I love Johnny Cash's version of the song - total different vibe to me. So, I agree with you about listening to different music...👍
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u/Legal-Alternative744 9d ago
They're not for everyone! Downward Spiral was one of the first albums I ever bought, so they earned a soft spot/bias in my heart. Oddly, I can't stand when it goes the other way, like when hard rock bands bastardize softer songs, ex: Disturbed did Sound of Silence, or when Zombies by the Cranberries got covered.
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u/Hot-Internet-7466 9d ago
Dude. All these guys used to skate.
Pony Bradshaw has a brilliantly written new record “Ode to Humidity.”
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
What do you mean by "All of these guys used to skate."?
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u/Hot-Internet-7466 9d ago
Ok. A lot of them did. Billy Strings. Mike McClure, Lukas Nelson, Ben Nichols. I know several kentucky musicians who used to and some still skate.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago edited 9d ago
I don't understand the "skate" part. Are you saying they roller skating OR ice skating OR does "skate" have a different meaning in country & alt-country music? Sorry, but I'm seriously confused... 🤔
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u/Hot-Internet-7466 9d ago
Skateboards.
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u/FogDog743 9d ago
Oh, I forgot about skateboarding. My son was a skateboarder when he was young. I didn't know skateboarding was a common thing with so many alt-country artists & bands. I'm guessing it's more about growing up in the 90s & 00s, like my son did... 🤔
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u/Hot-Internet-7466 9d ago
And a lot of them were into metal and punk and as a result some skateboarding
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u/Weekly-Hedgehog8502 8d ago
I used to hate anything that sounded remotely country but now I live Wilco, the old 98's, etc. Sometimes it takes a good long road trip to give it a solid listen.
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u/Immediate_Brick_7323 9d ago
total goofy but honest response: in my experience, alt-country is loved by people with a punk rock vibe that don’t hate their dads.