The Waco Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Waco Brothers are an alternative country
band in Chicago
, Illinois, formed by Jon Langford
of the Mekons. The group grew out of Langford's wish to play more country-influenced music as the Mekons concentrated more on a punk
sound. They were originally put together simply for local Chicago shows, but the success of their Bloodshot Records
albums allowed them to tour the US occasionally. Many of the members also participate in Langford's Pine Valley Cosmonauts
project.
Although the band has recorded seven studio albums since 1995, their cult popularity is primarily a response to their live performances. Their latest album, Waco Express: Live & Kickin' at Schuba's Tavern is a concert recording which Ken Tucker
, the pop music critic for NPR
's Fresh Air
and Editor-at-Large at Entertainment Weekly
, described as "country as it should be written and played, with a long memory for roadhouse honky-tonks rather than TV-ready music videos." Author and music critic Sarah Vowell
told the Chicagoist, "I’ve never been able to find a live band in New York as consistently thrilling and funny and fun as the Waco Brothers."
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
band in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois, formed by Jon Langford
Jon Langford
Jon Langford born October 11, 1957, Newport, Monmouthshire is a Welsh-born musician and artist who is presently based in Chicago. He is the younger brother of science-fiction author and critic David Langford...
of the Mekons. The group grew out of Langford's wish to play more country-influenced music as the Mekons concentrated more on a punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
sound. They were originally put together simply for local Chicago shows, but the success of their Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
albums allowed them to tour the US occasionally. Many of the members also participate in Langford's Pine Valley Cosmonauts
Pine Valley Cosmonauts
-History:The group was initiated by Jon Langford as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs...
project.
Although the band has recorded seven studio albums since 1995, their cult popularity is primarily a response to their live performances. Their latest album, Waco Express: Live & Kickin' at Schuba's Tavern is a concert recording which Ken Tucker
Ken Tucker
Ken Tucker was an English footballer who played as a left winger....
, the pop music critic for NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
and Editor-at-Large at Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, described as "country as it should be written and played, with a long memory for roadhouse honky-tonks rather than TV-ready music videos." Author and music critic Sarah Vowell
Sarah Vowell
Sarah Jane Vowell is an American author, journalist, essayist and social commentator. Often referred to as a "social observer," Vowell has written five nonfiction books on American history and culture, and was a contributing editor for the radio program This American Life on Public Radio...
told the Chicagoist, "I’ve never been able to find a live band in New York as consistently thrilling and funny and fun as the Waco Brothers."
Members
- Jon LangfordJon LangfordJon Langford born October 11, 1957, Newport, Monmouthshire is a Welsh-born musician and artist who is presently based in Chicago. He is the younger brother of science-fiction author and critic David Langford...
- vocals - Joe Camarillo (Number Nine, Gear, the Hushdrops) - drums
- Alan Doughty (Jesus JonesJesus JonesJesus Jones are a British rock band. The Wiltshire-based group, formed in late 1988, recorded and performed in the late 1980s, throughout the 1990s, and into the 2000s. They are best remembered for their track, "Right Here, Right Now", an international hit and subsequently globally appropriated for...
) - bass - Deano Schlabowske (Dollar Store, WreckWreck (band)Wreck was an indie rock band formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1988, and later based in Chicago. After releasing three albums the band split up in the mid-1990s, with singer/guitarist Dean Schlabowske going on to join The Waco Brothers.-History:...
) - guitar - Tracey Dear - vocals, mandolin
Former members
- Tom Ray (Bottle RocketsThe Bottle RocketsThe Bottle Rockets are an American rock band formed in 1992, currently based in St. Louis, Missouri. The founding members are Brian Henneman , Mark Ortmann , Tom Parr and Tom Ray . Current members are Henneman, Ortmann, John Horton and Keith Voegele...
, Devil in a WoodpileDevil in a WoodpileDevil in a Woodpile is a band from Chicago, Illinois. Although they routinely give a fresh sound to 80-year old songs, their repertoire and instrumentation categorizes them as a country blues or jug band.-History:...
) - Steve GouldingSteve GouldingSteve Goulding is an English drummer, best known for his memberships with Graham Parker and The Rumour, The Associates, Poi Dog Pondering and The Mekons. With the Associates he had a UK #9 hit single with "Party Fears Two"...
(Mekons, Pine Valley CosmonautsPine Valley Cosmonauts-History:The group was initiated by Jon Langford as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs...
, Graham Parker & the Rumour) - drums - Mark DuranteMark DuranteMark Durante is a pedal steel guitarist who is currently based in Chicago.Durante began playing guitar in 1968 after being inspired by the fretwork of Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Merle Travis. Ten years later, Durante founded a rock combo he named "Public Enemy"...
(KMFDMKMFDMKMFDM is an industrial band led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, who founded the group in 1984 as a performance art project...
) - steel guitar
Discography
- To the Last Dead Cowboy (Bloodshot RecordsBloodshot RecordsBloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
, 1995) - Cowboy in Flames (Bloodshot, 1997)
- Do You Think About Me? (Bloodshot, 1997)
- Wacoworld (Bloodshot, 1999)
- Electric Waco Chair (Bloodshot, 2000)
- New Deal (Bloodshot, 2002)
- Nine Slices of My Midlife Crisis (Buried Treasure Records, 2004)
- Freedom and Weep (Bloodshot, 2005)
- Waco Express The Waco Brothers Live and Kickin' at Shubas Tavern (Bloodshot, 2008)
External links
- [ Waco Brothers] at Allmusic.com
- Waco Brothers collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive