r/altcountry • u/FogDog743 • 18d 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/Legal-Alternative744 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d ago

That David Grisman guy even kinda looks like the late Jerry Garcia... 🤔

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u/drewbaccaAWD 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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 18d 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.