I am in a Country Band...(seriously)

[dajaymann]

In a previous thread somewhere, I mentioned my misadventures playing lead guitar in a fill-in basis for a local country band...and also that I thought I was already dismissed from the group. Well, much to my own surprise, I was not dismissed, but instead I have usurped the former lead guitarist and have been made permanent. Now, before I get onto my real reason for starting this thread, I would like to avoid the clamors of "DUDE CONTRY SUCKS HOW CAN YOU STAND THAT REDNEK MUSIC!!!!111" let me tell you my reasons for being involved:

1. I am not into country music, and never have been, but I am excited at the prospect of expanding my musical horizons by doing something totally different, and learning to play in a whole new style, with some new tricks to learn.

2. We actually make money by playing out.

Which brings me to my point - we've been trying to come up with some new songs to learn. We're steering towards new country, but I'm mostly interested in the faster stuff. I know only a few of you (if any) are really into any country music, but do you have any suggestions on any random favorites? Good new songs? Classic gems? I'm a country n00b, so if anyone has some suggestions on what's good, I'm all ears.

-Jay-

[Magill]

When you say "new country", do you mean poppy Shania Twain "country" or do you mean alt-country?

I like the latter. Especially when it first started (early 90s) it was described as the bastard child of punk and (especially older) country. Listen to some Uncle Tupelo (who pretty much invented the alt-country movement with their album No Depression), Whiskeytown, and early Wilco (Being There, A.M., Summerteeth). Although I don't particularly consider it alt-country, try to listen to Crooked Fingers' first, self-titled album. Especially "New Drink for the Old Drunk." It's pretty fast.

As for classic gems, go out and buy Johnny Cash's 2 prison albums--At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin. Both have an interesting mix of prison songs, songs about God, sad songs, and good old-fashioned rolickers. The closing medley on At San Quentin is an interesting mix.

[Lissa]

I listen to country music a lot, although I'm fairly new to it (past few years). My top 10 favorite fast songs of the moment:

1.) Red Dirt Road- Brooks and Dunn
2.) Standing Outside the Fire- Garth Brooks (and heck, Garth Brooks in general!)
3.) Just about anything by Toby Keith (it's slower, but check out the song "My List". It's absolutely beautiful.)
4.) Wild West Show- Big and Rich
5.) Hell Yeah- Montgomery Gentry
6.) Something Like That- Tim McGraw
7.) Just Don't Happen Twice- I think that's Kenny Chesney
8.) I Just Wanna Be Mad for a While- Terri Clarke
9.) Love Will Turn You Around- Kenny Rogers (long time favorite)
10.) Goodbye Earl- Dixie Chicks

I LOVE the Chicks, personally, but I do tend to prefer their slower stuff. Also, if it's an all-guy band, some of the Chicks' songs just don't work.

Also very popular right now is the "Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet. I liked it until it was played into the ground.

TONS of great stuff out there. Let me know if you need more suggestions!

[dajaymann]

Magill - Poppy country. Alt-country is way beyond the fellows I play with and the crowds we play for. Not that *I* wouldn't want to check it out - my long term plans revolve around a theoretical alt-blues-folk project I've had in my head for a long time. I need to check out some of the alt-country stuff you suggested, though, so thanks! We already do Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, and I need to get those albums to get into his head some more.

Lissa - Top Ten Lists rock! Thanks for the input!!! Bring on the suggestions!!!

[puggyd]

How about "Wild Wild West" by Escape Club.

...what?

[funkymartini]

I dare you to go to a gig and sing "I Feel Like a Woman"

[dajaymann]

Sooooo you've seen that commercial too?

[duckie]

I once saw an all-guy punk band play I'm Just a Girl, by No Doubt... ;D

And Lissa, yea, that's right.... a country band thread, and I read it anyway... so don't be dissin' me, I'll see it

[Genetic Mishap]

I have developed an extreme distaste for most country music. The few songs I do like are from the 80's and early 90's, mostly.

*My favorite country song of all time is Cherokee Boogie, by BR-549.
* Everything by Alabama.
* Some Sawyer Brown (This Night Won't Last Forever, The Race is On, Cafe Down on the Corner)
*Some Judds (Girl's Night Out, Have Mercy, Rocking with the Rythm of the Rain)
* Forever and Ever, Amen and Deeper than the Holler by Randy Travis.
*The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, by Rheba Macintire
*Something In Red-Lonnie Morgan (I think)
*Some Chris Ledoux (Hooked on an 8 Second Ride comes to mind)
*Mel McDanials
*Words By Heart, by Billy Ray Cyrus
* Bop. Don't know who sings it. "I wanna bop with you baby, all night long..."
*Dumas Walker. Dunno who sings it.
*And of course, I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit.

The only recent country songs I like are Mrs. Steven Rudy and She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy (the latter soley for its MST3Kabilty.)

[funkymartini]

there's a commercial like that?

[duckie]

funkymartini said:

there's a commercial like that?

Yea, here's a blurb on it.... Chevy Colorado 4x4 ad

[Lissa]

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy is good for a laugh. So's All My Exes Live In Texas. Also a fan of Brad Paisley's "Celebrity."

Lone Star is also getting pretty big these days. I do like their song 'What About Now', but please, please, PLEASE don't bother with 'Amazed.' SO overplayed.

If you have a good pianist, Phil Vassar is really good, too. I really like (and I suspect you would too) his song "Another Day in Paradise." "American Child" is good too. (Lots of patriotic songs in country.)

By the way, interesting thing I heard this morning. Charity concert being done by Billy Bob Thorton, Tim McGraw, and Poe. Who the heck put that mix together?

[Head Mutant]

...Country music... *curls up into a ball and wishes it away*

[duckie]

Hmmmm.... Poe, at a country music benefit? weird. I saw them open up for Seven Mary Three in a small club in Philly, and there was a lot of headbanging / moshing going on there.

Ya know, that could be the one country show that you drag me to, Lissa