Gothic Americana

Imagine a backwoods Pentecostal preacher on a bender, with a whisky bottle in one fist and a bible in the other and you’ve got the general idea of what the genre of “Gothic Americana” is about. Mixing generous helpings of spaghetti Western tremeloed guitar, country & western, hillbilly, bluegrass, and even klezmer into gospelized rock & roll, these bands walk hand in hand with the devil and Jesus, seemingly unsure of which they're most comfortable with. Themes of redemption and damnation sit side by side here. Banjo, harmonium, pedal steel, auto harp, fiddle, and accordion are standard. Howls, pants, even yodels are to be found as the frontmen (and occasional frontwoman) sing odes of sin and salvation as if hellhounds are nipping on their trail. Waltz time dirges alternate with double-time barn burners. Think Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner, Carson McCullers and Cormac McCarthy stories in song form.

This is not so much a playlist as it is a proportional representation of a genre you may not be overly familiar with. I’m terrible with making mixtapes, so just consider this a cross-section of the genre with more weight given to the major players (whilst subjective, I’d say Slim Cessna’s Auto Club are the daddies, if solely for the fact that they seem to be the hub of the network). I have also included a couple of songs from The Denver Gentlemen (listen), whom were one of the first bands to be recognised as within this genre; and Murder By Death (listen), whom are a rock band who display hallmarks of the genre. Also of trivial note is that many of the bands have at some point shared the same musicians. Reverend Glasseye (listen) and Jay Munly are both alumni of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (listen), who in turn had a hand in The Denver Gentlemen of whom David Edwards (later of 16 Horsepower and even later of Woven Hand) was also a member. Furthermore, John Rumley of gaucho Argentinean band Tarantella was another member of the Auto Club. You’ve got the past two decades of Denver, Colorado’s music scene to thank for this.

If you like any of the stuff on this sampler, then I do urge you to track down the albums (and pay for them). Several of these bands are still fairly small and still active and if they’re passing through your area then do go and lend your applause. Especially if it’s the Auto Club. Seeing Slim Cessna’s Auto Club live is one of the most amazing experiences you’ll ever have in a dark, sweaty room. Seriously.

Murder By Death - Coming Home
The Denver Gentlemen - Fixin' To Die
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - This Is How We Do Things In The Country
Reverend Glasseye - Seven Little Girls
16 Horsepower - Outlaw Song
Strawfoot - Seven Ways
Tarantella - Dark Horse
Murder By Death - Brother
Reverend Glasseye - King of Men
Jay Munly - A Gentleman's Jihad
Woven Hand - Sparrow Falls
Warren Jackson Hearne & His Merrie Murdre of Gloomadeers - She Wouldn't Look At Me As She Wept
The Denver Gentlemen - That Certain Kind Of Woman
O'Death - Home
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - This Land Is Our Land Redux
16 Horsepower - Black Soul Choir
Reverend Glasseye - Mother Is A Carpegian
Tarantella - Elder Tree
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - Magalina Hagalina Boom Boom
Reverend Glasseye - Midnight Cabaret
Jay Munly - Old Service Road
The Denver Gentlemen - Vulture Girl
16 Horsepower - Scrawled In Sap
Slim Cessna's Auto Club - All About The Bullfrog In Three Verses
Warren Jackson Hearne & His Merrie Murdre of Gloomadeers - The Clove Queen
Reverend Glasseye - Black River Falls

Download HERE (124MB)