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Modern "Country"

#61
TuneIn said:
That's actually a reason I like playing in a country band, new material all the time. I've been in bands that might learn a couple new songs every few months, and maybe some people like playing the same 40 songs over and over, week after week, but to me, the band, the audience - soooo boring.
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45 hour a week job, two kids, travel, house....you get the picture. I'm just saying I like learning new tunes, but "new" country is a tough pill. I'd at least like to get a few gigs on the new material befor we have to dump it. Guess I should give you an example...Band Crossing Dixon,song Guitar Slinger....we thought they/song had something. We were so wrong, but at the time vids and country radio was playing the heck out of it.....What a waste of our time.
 
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#63
City said:
45 hour a week job, two kids, travel, house....you get the picture. I'm just saying I like learning new tunes, but "new" country is a tough pill.
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I hear ya, and I'm livin' that dream too! 45+ hrs/week too. It's taken my band a long time to get the right players that have the aptitude to stay on top of constant changes, and most important - the availability! It total time-suck, and quite a commitment to be good and have a cohesive project. If I had kids, my attitude would probably change.
 
#64
TuneIn said:
I hear ya, and I'm livin' that dream too! 45+ hrs/week too. It's taken my band a long time to get the right players that have the aptitude to stay on top of constant changes, and most important - the availability! It total time-suck, and quite a commitment to be good and have a cohesive project. If I had kids, my attitude would probably change.
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Gotcha Ross. My kids are now grown, not at that time I delved into country. The example I used above, Guitar Slinger by Crossin Dixon.....think its a good tune, then radio stops, video stops and Crossin Dixon goes away. You just hae to be careful about the songs you pick, i guess
 
#65
BassCliff said:
Oops. Yes, that's the one we do. I got confused. Forgive me, I'm just the bass player. No, I don't think Katy Perry does "Timber". :oops:
The audiences love it when we do it. The drummer does the rap part. He's good at it, has the right attitude. I can never pull off a rap. I sound like a white guy at a bad poetry contest. :bag:
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Well, it's easy to get those singers with funny hair and names that start with K confused. And I love doing the rap verses, though there's no way I can play bass at the same time.
phillipkregg said:
The most interesting stuff in modern country seems to be coming from the female artists:
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Or how about this? It's definitely pop with some country influence, not pretending to be a country song by a country artist, but I think it's great.

 
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#66
Mike N said:
Some of the 80 stuff was heavy, I guess the hair metal bands I was comparing to modern country were bands like Poison, Warrant, Ratt etc.... you know the cheesy ballad bands.

For the record I like some of the modern country stuff so I don't want this to come off like I'm bashing them. I'm trying to talk my guitar player in to doing a country side project, just something on the slightly heavier side. I mean if they can mix country and hip hop, why can't we bring some Iron Maiden into country?
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I'm not a fan of glam metal, but country doesn't have anything on even the lamest of the "is that a guy or a chick" bands. In terms of tone, rhythm and subject matter metal will always be heavier than country, otherwise it wouldn't be country any more.
Why can't you bring Iron Maiden to Country? Because the audience can't do it. Country fans like simple, tried and true, folksy stuff. You can't mix a love song for your pickup or getting all steamy in pants for Jesus with something as aggressive or multilayered as The Trooper. You can't line dance to Invaders. Because the pedal steel guitar is the musical equivalent of lithium.
 
#69
Hi Mr. pklima,

pklima said:
Or how about this? It's definitely pop with some country influence, not pretending to be a country song by a country artist, but I think it's great.

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Yes, I like this too. It's not deep, lyrically or musically, but it rocks and makes for a good performance. I'll have to listen to it a few more times and then decide if The Kelly Rae Band might want to pick it up. Thanks for the link!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
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#70
I'm in a fairly successful "alt-country" pop band. I enjoy the music, we draw crowds, and everyone has a good time. The best part is hearing the hate from my hipster friends. Some people just are bummed by people having a good time I guess.

My favorite term lately has been "sell out". Yes, we sell out the venue. Yes, we sell out the merch. Haters gonna hate.
 
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#71
Hi,

SpruceGoose54 said:
Hank III has been doing metal country for a while now.

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While this particular song doesn't float my boat, I really do appreciate when artists incorporate different aspects of other musical genres into the "traditional" country music forms. I'm sure Hank III has more tunes that I would really like. I enjoy the "cutting edge" in traditional format. (Does that make any sense?) Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
#73
And for no particular reason, just a completely different exampel of things on the edge between country and very different genres, here's a classic country song turned into reggae by Busy Signal.



Now, if somebody starts making redneck electro house...
 
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#74
Yes, I know Matt Prater and JVGreene and have played with Matt some. Nice guy who is sort of neuvo retro country. I like JVGreene's playing as it flat works with the song. What more can you want? Not a whole lot of drunk in the pickup truck wearing my cowboy boots stuff. Everytime I have seen him (Even when I played with him LOL) he has had good players and executed the material well. Truth is my daughter who dislikes most all country, modern or otherwise, like Matt.
 
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#75
I said this in another thread recently but for those looking for Iron Maiden in country, check out "Billy The Kid" from Charlie Daniels Band. Listen to the whole thing.. the extended solo part in the middle is pretty insane.
 
#79
#80
Hi,

denton57 said:


Listen to this Iron Maiden country tune! 1976, so it's even pre-Iron Maiden. The solo is very impressive IMO.. Sweet leads and bass line
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Yes! Charlie Daniels has always been great. This track makes me think "What if Return To Forever played country music?" Sort of like "Enigmatic Cowboy". ;)

This is a more traditional tune, but still innovative in a jazz swing/boogie/bluesy kind of way.



Yes, lots of heavyweights on that arrangement. I think it's really cool. You just don't hear country music like this much any more.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
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