The Secret South

The Secret South

By Hunter Gatherer

I - What you already know about Country

       There is a common statement that grates my nerves like no other. The tired, old "I listen to everything but Country." It's such a tragic statement because, while I can completely understand what the purveyor is referring to, it's the pinnacle of misguided understanding. It of course stems from this:

"She thinks my tractor's sexy, it really turns her on! She's always starin' at me while I'm chugging along!"

Now, these lyrics may either cause you to vomit a little in your mouth (and I am sorry), or raise your hillbilly fist in the air with pride and dignity (in that case, I am very sorry). Either way, Kenny Chesney illustrates a very important point with his song "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," and that is to say that Country music is no longer Country music. It has become nothing more than an enormous parody of itself; one that people enjoy and live by but a parody nevertheless. It has managed to shed every trace of worldly influence that made it America's culturally richest and most rewarding genre of music at one time.
       The primary ingredient that has made Country such a vital part of my life is the theme of communal salvation and fellowship through hardship. It is a concept that has endured through every stage of Country's evolution. By its founding principles it is simply music by the people, for the people. No matter how severe the travesty, there is a song out there that will meet you with mutuality. "It's real music [and it's] very easy to relate to a lot of the stories told in the songs," Stephen Gebhardt gushed when asked why Country was so important to him. "I want honest emotion. Country has a lot of that. Strong narratives too, a lot of the time. And great musicianship," added Karma Wangchuck. "It's all about superb musicians playing very simple listenable stuff with amazing precision," added Paul Fonfara of The Painted Saints.
       So where do we stand now? Nashville holds the reigns as the capital of all that America knows as Country music and we have behemoths like Toby Keith, The Zac Brown Band and Taylor Swift (whom Stephen and Karma held mutual disdain for) being pumped through the radio; manufactured, groomed, and polished to make millions and they make no bones about it. It's known as The Nashville Sound. Just in "2009 Country music was the most listened to rush hour radio genre during the evening commute, and second most popular in the morning commute," (1). It's an unstoppable force that America has made its bed with and what's more, it has become the plaque of lower-to-middle American culture that corporations want to get chummy with. "These companies want Middle America on their side, and country is the route to reach that population; where their down-home heart beats in line with their toe-tapping on their front porch," (2). We've all heard Hank Williams Jr.'s Monday Night Football theme and who can deny the affinity between NASCAR and Country? Those are two lower-to-middle American staples inscribed by major corporate America. Tim McGraw's "Something Like That" became a calling card for Clorox (3). Artists have no qualms prostituting their songs for profit―The Song; that, which is meant to express the deepest elements of our humanity and imagination has been reduced to nothing more than a multi-million dollar contract. It's a business now, not even remotely affected by the bleeding soul of what made Country the people's music in the three-hundred years of its growing.

II - A Brief History of Country Music

The point in Country music as we refer to it, was that it once had no name or specific sound. It made no difference whether the songs were Southern bred or brought to America and played by Romanian immigrants, the focus was the same; joy, sorrow, anger, tragedy, love, triumph, and mythology―every aspect of what it was to be alive. I believe the off-putting aspect of Country is the hillbilly caricature it's adopted since its inception, but it's only a by-product of the region it blossomed in. Since the birth of America, settlers from the old world flocked to the Southern territories with their most prized possessions often being instruments and their songs of hardship, pride and humanity. This brought together a jambalaya of sound that knew no bounds. Complicating this musical palette, European and African settlers moving further west began interacting with the Mexicans and Native Americans, creating what we know today as cowboy & trail songs. The Country-Blues also blossomed much in this same way.
       With the invention of public radio in the 1920's, America became infatuated with what we know as old-time music. There was a time when 80% of Americans were dedicated radio listeners, and the music most of them absorbed was the old-time music that encompassed everything from traditional Irish and Scottish folk tunes to Appalachian string bands. There came the advent of the record label as a way to focus and inspire the workers in the big city with their "hillbilly" music, and we were given legends like Fiddlin' John Carson and The Carter Family, both of whom recorded much of what has become the thematic framework for Country as a genre. The spirituality, folklore and mythology of the South, still present today as it ever has been, can be heard in their songs and anything inspired by as such.       It was during the Great Depression that the radio became especially important. It was the household guest that livened a glum existence with empathetic stories or long tales of heroism and villainy in the wild west. In time, the demand for music grew so drastically that the famous Grand Ole Opry became a holy institution. It has remained the longest running Nashville stage in history and popularized Country through an hour long barn dance style broadcast. It was all the rage and it brought any ol' cotton picker or coal miner up to the stage to share their songs. This is where the heads of Country and Folk music met on a massive scale and the true cross-pollination began; artists traveled long and hard so their songs and instruments could be heard and it made way for a nationally endeared phenomenon.       The music continued right on evolving and expanding straight through the booming 1950's. American originals like Bluegrass, Honky Tonk and Western Swing became all the rage in the Opry and solo female artists were on a steady rise. Who can help but be whisked away by Patsy Cline and her infinitely beautiful "Crazy?" However, where the 50's broke the greatest ground was the biggest musical sensation in history thus far, Rock & Roll.       Here came the leather clad boys of war with their slicked back hair, polished boots and electric guitars. Needless to say this changed the musical landscape, not just for America, but the world over. Country got a razor sharp makeover and while much of its fan base stayed true to the sound and spirit of its tried and true origins, there were motleys of new eager listeners that colligated Rock & Roll as Country's dangerous new brother-in-law and never looked back. The similarities can't be all that apparent now to the casual listener and sometimes the Blues get more credit as defining Rock n' Roll, but without Country, you wouldn't have the swagger. One could not exist without the other. Country charged full steam ahead into the 1960's and 70's where Nashville slowly became the multi-million dollar capital and base of operations for all things concerning.       With that we saw the rise of Folk & Country Rock, almost completely interchangeable with Rock's versatility. Given to us were songs that will stand out in history as symbols of social injustice and positive change; "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield, "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival and who can forget "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills and Nash? These are artists that took the spirit of Country and helped define a nation with the potency of the music's original purpose. Another aspect of down home Country Rock was The Byrds. They joined forces with Gram Parsons and created what can be thought of as Psychedelic Country. For a slice of true down home fireplace, rocking chair, and whiskey-on-the-rocks brand Country, Neil Young gave us his beautiful solo album Harvest, which single handedly shot him to the throne of Country & Folk Rock.       The same two decades saw the rise of Outlaw Country, sort of the last bastion of true, honest and hard edged country in the eyes of many before it fled down forgotten pastures. These were the rebels of the Country industry; Johnny Paycheck, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, David Allan Coe, and of course The Man in Black,  Johnny Cash. While the Outlaw movement made for some unforgettable new stars and revived some old ones it didn't leave much of an imprint and the Countrypolitan Nashville sound muffled what little was left of their rebel yells.As the 1980's reared its ugly head, the essential genetics of Country were altered so horribly that those who remained true to its original down home purpose were seen as heretical if they didn't comply and quickly faded. Taking their place in sold out coliseums were downright disgraceful pop stars sporting costumes that caricatured and mocked their very existence. This is the Country that we have come to know today. Introduced by acts such as Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Alabama, and even some crossover acts like Dolly Parton and Dottie West; they all cashed in on this incredibly anserine business without looking back for a second.       And when it seemed that Country music couldn't lose its grip with itself any more than it already had, there came the 1990's and the larger-than-life behemoths of Pop Country emerged, invading our radios, televisions, billboards; every single corner of American life. It became impossible to ignore with its in-your-face "we're hillbilly proud" affectation and therefore it imposed a profound sense of disgrace and contempt in those who couldn't stand the likes of Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, The Dixie Chicks, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, and so on. The Country Music Television channel only cemented the firm stranglehold these mediocre hacks had on the genre, offering surprisingly strong competition with MTV, which as we all know has also fallen from grace long ago.
       Onward, into the new millennium Pop Country has continued its steady rise in popularity; with that, "I listen to anything but Country music" has understandably become very common phrase. In a world of so much variety, I ask that you allow me to open up your eardrums to the infinite potential that lies before you.

III - Where Do We Go From Here?

       The question stands: where does one go today to find Country music with the principles it upheld over a hundred years ago? Or, what exciting new sounds have ripened within the past forty years with the interbreeding of so many vast genres in America? The surprising answer lingers between the extremely versatile lines of old-time music and Rock & Roll. It's now largely referred to as simply Alternative-Country, but the boundaries are far reaching and a great deal of it you would hardly know to classify as "Country" at all!       Let Beachwood Sparks be our first example. They pick up the twangy soft-spoken spark that The Byrds put down with the death of Gram Parsons and the parting of Roger McGuinn. Their album, "Once We Were Trees" is near perfection when it comes to Country music, much more to the point, Psychedelic Country music. The album is like a dream, driven by a sweet and charming indifference towards the harshness of life.       Tyler Jakes, a world-traveled musician I spoke with is afraid to admit his love for Country because of the reputation it's earned and believes the genre needs to be renamed as a whole because it's simply not representative anymore.

Real country will rape, pillage, and plunder just like Rock 'n' Roll...whereas, fake or "false" country will put the daughter to sleep, just like pop music.

There are still visionaries that have maintained their sharpened teeth; Scott H. Biram, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, Meat Puppets, and The Gun Club are fine examples of artists that have kept the most important sensibilities strong, consistent and alive. They aren't slack jawed southerners with a mile long drawl―they are musicians that know how to play their instruments and can express themselves passionately through music while minding, yet not caging themselves within their respective roots.       Jim White crafted a strange, daring, and beautiful album in 1997 called Wrong-Eyed Jesus (The Mysterious Tale of How I Shouted). It captured the mythological grandeur of American Country as we used to know. The album was so well received that a documentary was filmed, capturing the inspiration and motivation that pushed Jim White to render such a beautiful work. The premise was simple enough; Jim White barters with an acquaintance for a reliable car that will take him through the Bible Belt of the South, exploring and meditating on the hardship, mythology, and the undeniable presence of The Holy Ghost present in each kindred soul he meets along the way. He encounters numerous like minded artists that flesh out the importance song and lore play in everyday life. Once viewed, your outlook on the South and Country will forever be changed. Taylor Swift can't speak for the humbled souls that stir in the deep South, not by a thousand miles.       David Greenald, a folk-oriented mystic, wandering spirit and musical connoisseur currently residing in the UK provided an outsider's perspective through the looking glass on what "Country" means to him:

I've never really thought of music in terms of genre. I either like the way a piece of music sounds or I don't...I have doubtless[ly] been influenced by many beautiful Country songs without knowing that they were Country songs!...I'm not sure where the limits of the Country genre (or any other) lie. However I do like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Leonard Cohen…I think they probably all fit somewhere in the spectrum of Country music. I also love a lot of Bluegrass and stuff like Dan Tyminski's take on "Man of Constant Sorrow." Is that still Country? You tell me!

As you have read through this article, you know now that David's tastes in Bluegrass and the folk-staple "Man of Constant Sorrow" is very much Country by true definition. His uncertainty further proves my point.

I'm in the UK so it's not the home of Country music and I'm influenced more by interesting stuff from around the globe than I am by English Folk music, although that might creep up on me as my years advance! I love the Desert Blues music of Mali and thereabouts, but equally I love the music of the Taraf Da Haidouks (Romanian Gypsies), not to mention the piano works of Chopin and Beethoven, the genius guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix, and even Bowie and Bolan (although I won't be imitating the glam antics anytime soon―it's not the 70s anymore). I guess all things change and evolve. How long anything lasts is sometimes down to the laws of natural selection. Country music will be around as long as folks like to play it and like to hear it! If we want to increase its popularity, we should probably try to make it illegal! That usually does the job!

Greenald's words just go to show how cultural influence will completely defy genre, yet still pertain to a general idea, such as "Country," which is to say the music of the people.

I've never really subscribed to the idea that a particular kind of music is the rightful property of any particular geographical region. Purists sometimes have a problem with this view, but I have always felt completely happy fitting in and out of genres and hovering [between] the gaps as best I can! And while the purists might regard these activities as inauthentic from the strict genre standpoint, I tend to be more concerned about whether my music is authentic as in true to something that I feel. It's just that my feelings vary wildly I guess, but isn't that true for most of us?

It's very much true of any musician worth their salt. Nothing is ever set in concrete. The world is too vast and varied to impose limitations on one's self. To adhere to restriction is to bankrupt one's self of their full potential. Tyler Jakes and David Greenald no doubt know this and demolish the regulations set before them each waking moment of their life. No easy task, to be sure. It takes a bold mind and courageous heart to challenge the extremes on a daily basis.       If you're intrigued by a darker, more adventurous side of Country you might find some eerie comfort in the Denver Sound. A little known, short lived group known as The Denver Gentlemen hatched their seed in the early nineties and every single member has since gone off to create diabolically menacing groups that revel in story and gospel by way of gypsy-klezmer-cabaret laden, gospel charged landscapes with a spaghetti-western flare. The true genre-definer of these groups was 16 Horsepower. Fronted by David Eugene Edwards, this outfit of bible-thumping hellraisers gave Country a makeover that was decades overdue. No untruth will ever go spoken in the mad preacher gospel of Edwards. He lives the music he plays and loves the God he praises unabashedly, serving up integrity that has long been absent. Along with 16 Horsepower, there came the eccentric and unpredictable Slim Cessna's Autoclub, Jay Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots, Lilium, and Woven Hand, which is Edwards' solo project. Your eardrums will be ignited with strange and wonderful sounds you'd never think to expect from the genre of Country, much less American music at all.       In a strange and wonderful twist, Country has found a charm in the ears of the twisted and depraved just as well as the wholesome and it offers an extremely unique facet of Country music and a very unlikely fan base-metal heads! We will call it Gothic Americana since there are innumerable cross-genres involved. Metal aficionado and prestigious leader of The Proud and The Damned: Jim Strange helped shed some light on the fascinatingly alluring iniquities in this fecundation of genres:

The first Country artists I got into were Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins. . . .it reminded me of story-based Heavy Metal like Mercyful Fate, but with cowboys instead of the supernatural. The narratives in their songs were very strong, it was like having a picture painted in my head, something completely lacking in the music popular during my youth.

Equally as fascinating to Jim and Gothic Americaners alike is the concept behind gospel and the "mean-spiritedness" behind it:

"You don't believe in what I do? Cool, you're going to Hell forever." We have a million      love songs, but what are the stakes of a love song? Whatever they are, I don't think they can compete with eternal-damnation. I don't think it matters whether the listener believes in damnation or not as long as the singer does. . . .It's amazing [that] someone can sing a song like this, completely straight-faced, and not be labeled a misanthrope and enemy to all mankind.

A bifocal perspective for a time-honored genre of music! Johnny Cash should be smirking in his grave. It's fascinating what sort of spin an artist can put on a genre of music when you consider its intent more than a hundred years ago.            Local favorite, The Builders and The Butchers, have been rocking Portland, Oregon stages with their unique brand of Gothic Western Country for years now. Their lead man, Ryan Sollee offered me his insight into the state of Country music as it stands today:

I really think [it's] alive and well, just mislabeled. Country Radio and Country music culture seems more like Pop for conservative red state Americans. That kind of Country music has become a soundtrack for a lifestyle and a certain set of values. There will always be Punk kids learning guitar and playing Johnny Cash songs, and as long as that is the case, Country music will be just fine. It's America as whole that I worry about.

Ryan's promising outlook is entirely valid. There is no point salting our wounds with false hope by praying that the radio will someday rise above its mediocrity when there is clearly a vast array of alternative. Just take one of the artists I've mentioned, go to Pandora.com and click play! There is more undiscovered music than you can possibly imagine, just waiting to whoop Brad Paisley's "Accidental Racist" ass.            Paul Fonfara, the multi-instrumentalist leadman of The Painted Saints let me in on his fascinations and inspirational sources with the genre:

Country is sort of to invent yourself in a more interesting mythology. That's what makes the spaghetti western films so appealing. I know a ton of people who perform today in what we think of as oddball [Alternative]-Country, who invented their characters. Life can be damn boring these days especially in an America filled with strip malls, video games etc., so people love a mythology about an idealized America and danger. Johnny Cash singing about shooting a man in Reno [just] to watch him die is all fiction, but really beautiful. I think good Country music contains fiction about the every day, and also some theater to it....kind of like Flannery O'Connor.

Fonfara's band, The Painted Saints ooze mythology and dreamlike texture by way of a more old-timey klezmer induced stringed theatre production and takes the listener on a ride through time with its beautiful variations in instrument. The mythologies are in the setting; dark rooms with low, dim lights and flickering candles; characters of low moral character and the ill-fated virtuous.       For those who still yearn for the sweet old-timey Country stylings of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and George Jones, fear not! The spear has been picked up and sharpened for future generations by Hank III, the gnarled chip off the old Williams block. He offers up what is lacking in everything Country with a pioneer's vision; albums steeped in murky Louisianan Cajun voodoo, fierce Cow Metal pitted within a hellscape of atmospheric Godless animosity, and of course, good old-fashioned songs about our everyday struggles and what it means to be still kicking against the pricks in today's world of shit music. Following his lead; Those Poor Bastards, Giant Sand, Mark Lanegan, Sun Volt, and many others have stepped up to offer vastly different takes on what Country means to them and it is all incredibly unique.

            IV - And So...

            What can be said of Country today? It most certainly shouldn't be taken at face value, for one. It reaches so much further than the grueling love song routine or backyard barbecue anthem, it's almost criminal that it remains as unacknowledged and misunderstood as it is. Paul Fonfara was well spoken when he said that

The best guitar players on earth are all in Nashville and it always amuses me to hear a newer song with the worst cliche, lowest common denominator lyrics with 16 bars of a perfect guitar solo. Most of what you hear out of Nashville today is god awful, and honestly I don't even know who is who in that world.

            Whether Country is just the sheet of background noise to your drive to work, or your religion outside of church, I implore you, reader, to expand your mind. Let's destroy this  monopoly that Nashville has on America's concept of Country and give it new life. My hope is that I've given you more to consider when you hear it said "I listen to everything but Country" because it truly is a terrible blanket statement. As Tyler Jakes said, "it's all about the roots, where it all comes from―the earth, the ground―deep down in the belly of the beast!"

Works Cited

Piazza, Jo. “Going Country Means Big Bucks For Pop Stars.” WWW.PopEater.Com.             03/30/2011. Web. 03/03/2012 http://www.popeater.com/2011/03/30/gaga-bieber-country-
       crossover/Ward, Jaime. “Corporate Sponsors’ Cash Sings to Country Music Industry.”                     http://www.musicnewsnashville.com. 07/13/2010. Web. 03/05/2012             http://www.musicnewsnashville.com/corporate-sponsors-cash-sings-to-country-music-    
       industry