Gothic Americana/ Alt-Country/ Dark Cabaret

stupidheader · 03-10-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

My tardiness in updates has many contributing factors.

1.) I've been busy with school and work the past few months.

2.) I started my own website which I've been trying to update at least three times a week.

3.) I was contacted from an actual Gothic Country musician who while praising my blog, wasn't that happy with my free downloads. This kind of shook some preconceived notion I had in my mind that I use to tell myself to assuage the guilt on not legally obtaining the music. I sort of looked at this and though, oh well if he's paying attention then who's to say someone else isn't?

4.) Not all the albums I have a really good... I mean it's kind of a tough call because as with any genre 80% of it is crap and the task becomes wading through it to find the 20% that's worth a damn. I think in my quest to become sort of a guru in the genre (and keep this thread floating) I just collected everything I could find, ignoring the fact that some of it was just not that great.

5.) I didn't really feel like anybody was actually reading my write ups so I chose to just add essential album info but then it felt like I wasn't doing the artist or myself any good because I wasn't critiquing the music for them and I wasn't improving my writing abilities.

I think I'm going to do a hard boot on my blog, completely start over (again) and this time not offer any free downloads on my blog without request. I'm probably going to start contacting the record companies (or bands) and ask their permission to post links to various sites to legally procure their music. Essentially I want to become a professional, and while I still highly believe in free music, I also know that the day when everything is free and record executives are toiling in the acid mines are eras away.

SOunds good, personally,being 16, I can't afford any music cd's, so I'm gonna keep on downloading, and I'll buy when I have the money, my cd collection is already fairly large. Another thing I gotta comment on, is, it's hard to be a guru on something that is constantly changing, and growing. And, blogs are about bringing info to the public, as well as the professionals, don't be hard on yourself.

4ZZZ · 03-11-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcrowprophet

b) they think as long as there is americana instruments, it will be accepted

What are americana instruments?

oldcrowprophet · 03-11-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4ZZZ

What are americana instruments?

typically, instruments used in traditional americana music. Usually acoustic guitars and other acoustic instuments: banjo, mandolin, resonator guitar, dobro/lap slide, fiddle/violin, upright bass, etc.

stupidheader · 03-11-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcrowprophet

typically, instruments used in traditional americana music. Usually acoustic guitars and other acoustic instuments: banjo, mandolin, resonator guitar, dobro/lap slide, fiddle/violin, upright bass, etc.

Ive seen stuff like that used in heavy metal too. Especially folk metal. I think it's the way you play, more than what you play.

oldcrowprophet · 03-11-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stupidheader

Ive seen stuff like that used in heavy metal too. Especially folk metal. I think it's the way you play, more than what you play.

That's my point. Too many bands throw in these instruments and think they have a gothic americana sound instead of realizing that americana itself has a certain style and/or sound. In and of itself, it's hard to pin down exactly. Americana is a blend of folk, country, bluegrass, etc.

Folk Metal is exactly what's it's supposed to be. Metal and folk fused together. Some gothic americana bands play ****ty music on acoustic instruments, sing with a growl or over emphasized drawl or croak and think "Bam! We have a southern gothic/gothic americana/hellbilly/whatever sound".

Musicianship and quality songwriting/composing isn't found to often within this genre, IMO. That could be because there isn't a lot of support in local areas for these bands. So, they record some demos, it spreads abit, they get tired of no one listening and they never give it time to grow into something of quality.

16 Horsepower is a good example of this. There first EP was different at the time and pretty good because there wasn't anything really like that out there. By "Low Estate", they really honed in on there craft and made much better music, IMO. ("Folklore" is my absolute favorite 16HP album.)

Pinning down music into a genre is always a tricky thing to do, anyway. It's a matter of personal taste and opinion. We could argue for months about genre sounds and styles and why on artist(s) should be considered this or that and definitely not that or this. It's fun, till someone loses a toe or something.

stupidheader · 03-14-2010, 12:57 PM

That's about the gist of it. Usually what I do when a genre gets tired, is, I just search into it's roots. Gothic Country is influenced quite a bit by blues, as well, as, obviously, country. So I've gotten into blues recently. Scott H. Biram is awesome modern blues. NOt to mention old blues, like Blind Willie, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Skip James, and their counterparts.

Berni · 03-14-2010, 06:12 PM

S-header-

Have you checked out what's being called "Deep Blues"? Along with Scott Biram, there's Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, Mississippi Gabe Carter, etc. Quite a few are on the Fat Possum label and performed at the now defunct Deep Blues Festival in the midwest which only ran the last 3 years. I guess there's going to be something else called the Deep Roots Festival someplace further south (North Carolina I think).

oldcrowprophet · 03-14-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stupidheader

That's about the gist of it. Usually what I do when a genre gets tired, is, I just search into it's roots. Gothic Country is influenced quite a bit by blues, as well, as, obviously, country. So I've gotten into blues recently. Scott H. Biram is awesome modern blues. NOt to mention old blues, like Blind Willie, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Skip James, and their counterparts.

I actually started with the blues, folk, alt. country and americana and that's what led me to the darker stuff. I always liked dark music and subject matter which is why I'm such a fan.

My reaction, though, is to write the kind of music I want to hear. Of course, soon I'll be subject to the same ridicule from people such as myself.

oldcrowprophet · 03-14-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berni

S-header-

Have you checked out what's being called "Deep Blues"? Along with Scott Biram, there's Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, Mississippi Gabe Carter, etc. Quite a few are on the Fat Possum label and performed at the now defunct Deep Blues Festival in the midwest which only ran the last 3 years. I guess there's going to be something else called the Deep Roots Festival someplace further south (North Carolina I think).

It's a damn shame the Deep Blues Festival is no longer going on. There myspace page is a great resource for that style. Lots of band links.

Some of my favs are:

Radio Moscow
Left Lane Cruiser
The Black Diamond Heavies
Jawbone
Hillstomp
Hell's Kitchen

Berni · 03-15-2010, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcrowprophet

It's a damn shame the Deep Blues Festival is no longer going on. There myspace page is a great resource for that style. Lots of band links.

Some of my favs are:

Radio Moscow
Left Lane Cruiser
The Black Diamond Heavies
Jawbone
Hillstomp
Hell's Kitchen

Yes, those are some good bands. It really is a shame about the Festivals ending. I never made to a single one, kept thinking "maybe next year".

I'll be going to see Southern Culture On The Skids soon. I won't even attempt to hang a genre label on them but it should be a hoot.

03-14-2010, 12:57 PM	#256 (permalink)
stupidheader Groupie Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Idaho Posts: 29	That's about the gist of it. Usually what I do when a genre gets tired, is, I just search into it's roots. Gothic Country is influenced quite a bit by blues, as well, as, obviously, country. So I've gotten into blues recently. Scott H. Biram is awesome modern blues. NOt to mention old blues, like Blind Willie, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Skip James, and their counterparts. Last edited by stupidheader; 03-14-2010 at 01:02 PM. Reason: Additional Thoughts.

03-14-2010, 06:12 PM	#257 (permalink)
Berni Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 67	S-header- Have you checked out what's being called "Deep Blues"? Along with Scott Biram, there's Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, Mississippi Gabe Carter, etc. Quite a few are on the Fat Possum label and performed at the now defunct Deep Blues Festival in the midwest which only ran the last 3 years. I guess there's going to be something else called the Deep Roots Festival someplace further south (North Carolina I think).