It's a great song. There was a Blaze Foley biopic that came out a couple years back. I caught it on a flight, though I landed before finishing it. The actor they found to portray Blaze was a good fit. He fit the look of Blaze well and could even play guitar and sing. The only problem is the actor was a tenor when Blaze is a baritone.
I'll admit I never know whether to call something country or western. That Luke Bell guy is interesting. He was poised to really make a name for himself like Sturgill Simpson. He apparently didn't much care for the lifestyle or limelight and walked away. So, good for him but our loss, I think.
Charley Crockett is another recent artist in a similar vein who might be worth your while to check out.
They really are quite different, even though they ran together around mid-century. Western is easier to define: it turns on the themes of the Old West, or being out West; riding and roping and things like bullfighting. Try this old link, and be sure to read the comments, in which Gringo corrects me in my understanding.
Country music is rooted in Scottish and Irish music, which transforms into a kind of Appalachian folk. Hank Williams was country; Waylon Jennings, who was from Oklahoma, was at turns one or the other. Singing about cowboy stuff is Western, but Johnny Cash did it, and he did more country than Western.
I'm a fan of folks like Don Edwards and The Sons of the San Joaquin, so that actually helps to have that definitional difference. I always just called it Cowboy Music, but Western makes perfect sense. This also made me realize how long it's been since I've seen The Blues Brothers.
7 comments:
It's a great song. There was a Blaze Foley biopic that came out a couple years back. I caught it on a flight, though I landed before finishing it. The actor they found to portray Blaze was a good fit. He fit the look of Blaze well and could even play guitar and sing. The only problem is the actor was a tenor when Blaze is a baritone.
Oh, and while we're on the topic of lesser known country music, I highly recommend Luke Bell's album. Here's a link to my favorite song on the album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epN_L_dhPNk
Now that's an interesting piece. Maybe more Western than country, but not bad -- and for 2016, far better than most.
I'll admit I never know whether to call something country or western. That Luke Bell guy is interesting. He was poised to really make a name for himself like Sturgill Simpson. He apparently didn't much care for the lifestyle or limelight and walked away. So, good for him but our loss, I think.
Charley Crockett is another recent artist in a similar vein who might be worth your while to check out.
"What kind of music do you usually have here?"
"We like both kinds -- Country AND Western!"
-The Blues Brothers, 1980
They really are quite different, even though they ran together around mid-century. Western is easier to define: it turns on the themes of the Old West, or being out West; riding and roping and things like bullfighting. Try this old link, and be sure to read the comments, in which Gringo corrects me in my understanding.
https://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/2012/07/continuing-education-western-swing.html
Country music is rooted in Scottish and Irish music, which transforms into a kind of Appalachian folk. Hank Williams was country; Waylon Jennings, who was from Oklahoma, was at turns one or the other. Singing about cowboy stuff is Western, but Johnny Cash did it, and he did more country than Western.
I'm a fan of folks like Don Edwards and The Sons of the San Joaquin, so that actually helps to have that definitional difference. I always just called it Cowboy Music, but Western makes perfect sense. This also made me realize how long it's been since I've seen The Blues Brothers.
I think it's been about a year and a half for me, but Bob's Country Bunker is by far my favorite scene in a movie with many great scenes.
Post a Comment