My first interaction with country music and musicians was getting Lee Conway’s autograph at Wandong Country Music festival some years back. My folks were into country music. In fact, I just discovered that the first concert they went to was Johnny Cash at Melbourne’s Festival Hall in ’59 when they started dating. They played a lot of Cash and Marty Robbins and Charley Pride in the car on our frequent road trips. And along with Skyhooks, AC/DC and Wings, this probably shaped my musical taste early.
My dad’s Rotary club regularly hosted country and western nights at the Greaves Reserve Pavilion in Dandenong (the oval was also the home of the not so mighty St Mary’s footy club, where my brothers and I played from a young age to teenage hood) with acts like the excellent Hawking Brothers. (Whoever told me recently they are related to them and a couple of them still play, pls get in contact). I guess I observed shows being put together and put on from that moment. If I think real hard, I may have a memory of actually selling tickets at these shows. I’m guessing this was ‘74,’75, or ’76? Anyways… Obviously, observations are made and stuck.
Around 1982-83 my dear friends, kinda my second family, the Custersons started a family country band, Custerson & Co. It was probably the first time I actually handled any equipment, but it was certainly the first time I art directed something musical. If that large tan leather backdrop with the burnt/branded band name still exists, I’d love to see it again. From there we’re probably rollin’ with early Steve Earle and Dwight and Lone Justice while trying to bring that whole thing together with Neil to Bob to Mellencamp to Springsteen to Don Walker’s writing. It all kinda makes sense now. From there it probably wasn’t ‘til Gillian Welch and then Steve’s son Justin came around musically that the twang got really interesting to me again. Sure, really getting to know Gene Clark and Doug Sahm kept that all rollin’ throughout, but with JTE the scene then rolled into Old Crow Medicine Show and Robert Ellis, Jonny Fritz, then Josh Hedley. By this stage Americana was born. What was it? Don’t know. Some folks have said if you liked or had some influence from The Band you were Americana, which is funny of course, as 4/5th of The Band are Canadian. The years roll on. Then the Americana name and brand becomes a thing. Hey there were even the Australian Americana Awards which may have actually confused the process, but I did manage to get honoured which was nice. At the presentation some of the Custersons, my kids and mum and dad were there, and I guess it may have been then that I actually did start to get really tuned in to the genre.
We have just finished an excellent tour of Oz and NZ with the great Tyler Childers. Five years ago, he was considered Americana, now he’s country. What is he? He’s a fucking champion - that’s what he is - doing his own thing the whole way through it all. He has inspired a generation of ‘country’ acts along the way, prob most notably Zach Bryan and Wyatt Flores. On the Tyler tour I observed a generation of cowboys and cowgirls and indie people from all walks of life lovin’ the tunes and the vibes. Living the scene. Reppin’ the looks and singing every word. It’s a joy to behold. People are happy, half cut, buying shirts, embracing each other. Awesome. It’s actually a magical moment in music I reckon. Yeah, for the music but also the humanity.
I went and saw Chris Stapleton the other night. There was a whole other scene with slightly older folks. Less tattooed. And maybe a little less booze. But absolute happiness was this guy, who went unrecognised for years, belting out essentially southern rock songs slowed up and down (not that there’s anything wrong with that). If you saw one of those shows, you would have seen the absolute magic and fragility of Chris’s connection with his wife onstage. It was beautiful.
So anyway, music lovers… Country is alright. Americana is great too. Although it may be a cheesy country tune about a truck and tequila playing in the aisles at Woolworths, it makes me happy. Add to that the spirit of Charley Crockett and the amazing Sierra Ferrell and we are ok. I hope it does it for you too.
P.S. Go find Zach Top. Look. Listen. Try not to smile.