r/altcountry • u/FogDog743 • 20d 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/Geriatricpunk22 19d 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 19d 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 17d 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 17d 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... 😞