Gothic Americana/ Alt-Country/ Dark Cabaret

Carpe Mortem · 03-12-2014, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

You're not going to find a band that sounds similar to 16 Horsepower. They have a style and sound that is pretty much completely unique to them. Closest thing you'll find is David Eugene Edwards' solo project Wovenhand, but if 16 HP was heroin then I'd liken Wovehand more to methadone, similar to what you're use to, but just not the same.

I'm open to a slightly different style, and I did like the music/tempo/dark vibe I found on those artists I mentioned hating. I'm just having trouble finding vocals either along the lines of DEE or deep and gravelly, a la Tom Waits.

LoathsomePete · 03-12-2014, 02:31 PM

If you want Tom Waits style vocals you should check out The Peculiar Pretzelmen, although they're more of a cabaret act.

16 Horsepower, again, are hard to replicate, and I think most bands know that. Not only that, but the band never really thought of themselves as a country group. While their influences obviously include bluegrass, country, and traditional folk, DEE has stated in multiple interviews that Joy Division, Nick Cave, The Gun Club, and The Birthday Party are also their influences. I think it's safe to say that many of the other bands that fall under this genre are more influenced by country acts like Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Red Foley, and Bill Monroe, and as such they will adopt singing and playing styles similar to those musicians.

I think you should go through the "Denver Sound" artists, which is basically just a moniker for a collective group of musicians who were all doing variants on the same thing in the late '80's through to the present day. They're all more or less linked together by guest spots, shared musicians, and friendship, and they include Jay Munly, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Lillium (solo project of 16 HP bass player Pascal Humbert), Tarantella (which features members from SCAC), The Denver Gentlemen (which more or less features everyone, including DEE), etc.

But again, nothing is going to sound precisely like 16 HP, but I think the bands from Denver are your best bet.

For gravely vocals, you'll probably have better luck with Outlaw country bands.

Carpe Mortem · 03-12-2014, 02:41 PM

Cabaret... I think that's the genre I'm really looking to explore more, The Peculiar Pretzelmen were the ****. Listening to the whole album this very moment. Denver Gentlemen was really cool too.

Thanks for the tools I need, I really was just plain ignorant on what to call the music I'm looking for. Now I know to google 'Dark Cabaret' as I continue my listening journey!

Sjones · 03-15-2014, 12:07 AM

Does anyone have any info on a band called "No More Buffalo"?

I've seen them once in LA open for Steve Earle but can't find any info anywhere.

**Goofle** · 10-30-2014, 06:59 AM

I've posted about this compilation before but I thought this might be a better place to put it.

I also attached the torrent link to the image if you wanna clickady click. (otherwise you have to sign up to a website and who can be bothered to do that?)

Lisnaholic · 11-01-2014, 01:06 PM

I´ve been a long-time fan of this thread, though I ´ve never had the temerity to contribute anything - until reading Carpe´s post:-.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpe Mortem

Cabaret... I think that's the genre I'm really looking to explore more, The Peculiar Pretzelmen were the ****. Listening to the whole album this very moment. Denver Gentlemen was really cool too.

I also took up Loathesome Pete´s recommendation, and am enjoying some Peculiar Pretzelmen. Their Marie Laveaux track reminded me of Dr. John´s old album, Gris Gris, and then I found out that the Pretzels have covered one of the best tracks from that album, Walk on Gilded Splinters. So just in case Carpe, or anyone else hasn´t heard it yet, I´m going to clog up the thread with something that will be stale news to many MBers:-

MasterCrash · 12-07-2014, 09:58 AM

I quite recently found about a Portuguese Alt-Country band (they sing in English though) and I found them to be quite good, maybe you guys will enjoy it.
They're called A Jigsaw.

Carpe Mortem · 12-10-2014, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

I´ve been a long-time fan of this thread, though I ´ve never had the temerity to contribute anything - until reading Carpe´s post:-.

I also took up Loathesome Pete´s recommendation, and am enjoying some Peculiar Pretzelmen. Their Marie Laveaux track reminded me of Dr. John´s old album, Gris Gris, and then I found out that the Pretzels have covered one of the best tracks from that album, Walk on Gilded Splinters. So just in case Carpe, or anyone else hasn´t heard it yet, I´m going to clog up the thread with something that will be stale news to many MBers:-

Finally checked this thread, glad I did! Definitely gonna give that album a listen. I don't have nearly enough in this genre that I love.

manny2 · 01-09-2015, 04:58 AM

I haven't red all the 39 pages (yet), hope you don't mind if I accidentally repeat something.

Angry Johnny and the Killbillies - High Noon in Killville
The Goddamn Gallows - Y'all Mother****er's Need Jesus
The Devil Makes Three - Old Number 7

(yeah, I don't have permission yet to post urls, just copy/paste them on youtube)

EPOCH6 · 01-14-2015, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpe Mortem

Hey all, I just came across 16 Horsepower yesterday and I'm really, REALLY diggin it. Very excited to be delving into the general area of Americana/Country! It seems to be the one broad genre of music I haven't found much enjoyment in and this amazing band has changed my mind.

Not very familiar with it overall... but I'm looking for the whole, 'dark and insane' tortured vibe that 16 Horsepower seems to have. I also like that their songs I've heard so far (the whole Sackcloth 'N Ashes album) tend to have a slower, almost avant garde tempo instead of the upbeat or country romance sort of mechanics that I've come to associate with most country music. 'Black Soul Choir' by 16 HP is what I'm lookin for more of in a nutshell.

I did check out some of the artists here. I'm easily turned off by vocalists I don't like, and a lot of these have too soft or upbeat of a voice for me, despite excellent instrumentals. I need deep and gravelly, or tortured, nothing soft and pretty. Hellblinki Sextet and Soda Gardocki were pretty cool of what I heard. Any other recs similar to those?

Edit: Just for clarification. Hated Elliot Brood, O Death, The Handsome Family, Vagabond Opera, and Circus Contraption, mainly because of vocals.

I've been dragging myself through this thread lately with the exact same dilemma, I'm absolutely in love with 16 Horsepower but can't seem to find anything else in the genre that comes close. I don't have speakers or headphones available at the moment so I can't check out this last page but have you come across anything yet? Looking for pretty much what you've described above, I too wasn't satisfied with Elliot Brood, O Death, The Handsome Family, Vagabond Opera, and Circus Contraption etc.

03-12-2014, 02:31 PM	#382 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	If you want Tom Waits style vocals you should check out The Peculiar Pretzelmen, although they're more of a cabaret act. 16 Horsepower, again, are hard to replicate, and I think most bands know that. Not only that, but the band never really thought of themselves as a country group. While their influences obviously include bluegrass, country, and traditional folk, DEE has stated in multiple interviews that Joy Division, Nick Cave, The Gun Club, and The Birthday Party are also their influences. I think it's safe to say that many of the other bands that fall under this genre are more influenced by country acts like Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Red Foley, and Bill Monroe, and as such they will adopt singing and playing styles similar to those musicians. I think you should go through the "Denver Sound" artists, which is basically just a moniker for a collective group of musicians who were all doing variants on the same thing in the late '80's through to the present day. They're all more or less linked together by guest spots, shared musicians, and friendship, and they include Jay Munly, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Lillium (solo project of 16 HP bass player Pascal Humbert), Tarantella (which features members from SCAC), The Denver Gentlemen (which more or less features everyone, including DEE), etc. But again, nothing is going to sound precisely like 16 HP, but I think the bands from Denver are your best bet. For gravely vocals, you'll probably have better luck with Outlaw country bands. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

03-15-2014, 12:07 AM	#384 (permalink)
Sjones Groupie Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 2	No More Buffalo? Does anyone have any info on a band called "No More Buffalo"? I've seen them once in LA open for Steve Earle but can't find any info anywhere.

01-09-2015, 04:58 AM	#389 (permalink)
manny2 Groupie Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 5	I haven't red all the 39 pages (yet), hope you don't mind if I accidentally repeat something. Angry Johnny and the Killbillies - High Noon in Killville The Goddamn Gallows - Y'all Mother***er's Need Jesus The Devil Makes Three - Old Number 7 (yeah, I don't have permission yet to post urls, just copy/paste them on youtube) Last edited by manny2; 01-09-2015 at 05:11 AM.*

03-12-2014, 02:41 PM	#383 (permalink)
Carpe Mortem Crusher of tiny Nords Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ugly Bag of Mostly Water Posts: 1,363	Cabaret... I think that's the genre I'm really looking to explore more, The Peculiar Pretzelmen were the ****. Listening to the whole album this very moment. Denver Gentlemen was really cool too. Thanks for the tools I need, I really was just plain ignorant on what to call the music I'm looking for. Now I know to google 'Dark Cabaret' as I continue my listening journey!

12-07-2014, 09:58 AM	#387 (permalink)
MasterCrash Groupie Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Silent Hill Posts: 23	I quite recently found about a Portuguese Alt-Country band (they sing in English though) and I found them to be quite good, maybe you guys will enjoy it. They're called A Jigsaw.