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61-448: Alternative country (commonly abbreviated to alt-country ; also known as alternative country rock , insurgent country , Americana , or y'allternative ) is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream country music, mainstream country rock, and country pop . Alternative country artists are often influenced by alternative rock . Most frequently,

122-457: A Day , was delayed until late 1997. The band parted ways with Atlantic in 1998. The Bottle Rockets are featured in the PBS documentary The Mississippi River of Song: The Grassroots of American Music. In the series, which is narrated by Ani DiFranco , Brian Henneman says that he and the band are "reporters from the heartland" writing stories about their friends. The Bottle Rockets performed live at

183-553: A UPS strike holding up distribution of one of their new records, band personnel changes, and family emergencies. Concurrent with the band's business difficulties, grunge and alternative rock came to prominence. As a result, the music industry effectively abandoned traditional rock artists, in favor of marketing more trendy acts. The path Henneman and the Bottle Rockets had been on seemed to disappear. Despite those struggles, in 2005, founders Brian Henneman and Mark Ortmann got

244-465: A collection of songs by Doug Sahm , which came out on Chicago label Bloodshot Records in early 2002. Shortly after finishing this record, Parr left the band. Bottle Rockets toured as a three-piece for a while, and recorded their fifth full-length record Blue Sky (which was released in 2003 on the Sanctuary label), before adding multi-instrumentalist John Horton to the band. Kearns amicably split with

305-479: A distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. While acoustic instruments are often present and vital, Americana also often uses a full electric band." The origins of Americana music can be traced back to the early 20th century, when rural American musicians began incorporating elements of folk, blues, and country music into their songs. Americana musicians often played acoustic instruments such as

366-407: A driving rhythm that propels a song forward. The mandolin is a small, stringed instrument that is commonly used in folk and bluegrass music. Its bright, high-pitched sound adds a distinctive flavor to Americana music, and its fast, intricate playing can create a lively and upbeat feel. Mandolins are often played using a technique called tremolo , which involves rapidly picking the strings to create

427-482: A fan's set list for each of the special anniversary shows and entered the set list winners in a year-long contest to win one of 2 grand prizes, a $ 1500.00 custom Golden Rocket guitar by Creston Electric Instruments or the "Bottle Rockets for life" prize package. The results of the first such collaboration were detailed by Roy Kasten and Barry Gilbert in their reviews of the performance, in the Riverfront Times and

488-475: A new style of Americana music that blended elements of rock, folk, country, and blues. Rolling Stone notes that "Americana" first came to fashion as a descriptive musical phrase in the mid-Nineties, when a group of radio promoters and industry outsiders dispersed throughout Nashville, California and Texas sought to carve out a distinct marketplace for a wave of traditionally minded songwriters like Guy Clark, Darrell Scott and Jim Lauderdale, artists whose work

549-561: A popular and commercial phenomenon begins with the career of The Weavers , formed in November 1948 by Pete Seeger , Lee Hays , Fred Hellerman , and Ronnie Gilbert of People's Songs , of which Seeger had been president and Hays executive secretary. The Kingston Trio , a group originating on the West Coast, were directly inspired by the Weavers in their style and presentation and covered some of

610-644: A result of the financial success of high-profile commercial folk artists, record companies began to produce and distribute records by a new generation of folk revival and singer-songwriters Phil Ochs , Tom Paxton , Eric von Schmidt , Buffy Sainte-Marie , Dave Van Ronk , Judy Collins , Tom Rush , Fred Neil , Gordon Lightfoot , Billy Ed Wheeler , John Denver , John Stewart , Arlo Guthrie , Harry Chapin , and John Hartford , among others. Some of this wave had emerged from family singing and playing traditions, and some had not. These singers frequently prided themselves on performing traditional material in imitations of

671-581: A sense of nostalgia and longing. Despite the genre's most common name, it is not practiced solely by artists from the United States, as numerous artists from Canada are also prominent in the genre. Canadian bands in the genre will sometimes be referred to as Canadiana rather than Americana in Canadian media, although this is not a widely recognized synonym elsewhere. A Norwegian scene is often referred to as Nordicana . The Bottle Rockets As noted in

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732-489: A sustained, shimmering sound. The fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument that is often used in Americana music. Its versatile sound can create both slow, mournful melodies and fast, lively rhythms. Fiddles are often played using a technique called "sawing," which involves rapidly moving the bow back and forth across the strings to create a driving rhythm. Fiddles can add a haunting quality to Americana music and can create

793-421: A variety of non commercial radio stations. The acoustic guitar is perhaps the most essential instrument in Americana music. It is often used to provide the rhythmic foundation of a song, as well as to accompany vocals and other instruments. In Americana music, the acoustic guitar is often played fingerstyle , which produces a warm and organic sound that is perfect for the genre's earthy, rootsy feel. The banjo

854-444: A version of the genre under the name insurgent country . The bands Blue Mountain , Whiskeytown , Blood Oranges and Drive-By Truckers further developed this tradition before most began to move more in the direction of rock music in the 2000s. Americana (music) Americana (also known as American roots music ) is an amalgam of American music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up

915-732: Is KFAT in Gilroy, California, active from mid-1975 to January 1983, as described in the book Fat Chance , authored by Gilbert Klein in 2016 and published by MainFramePress.com. KFAT was succeeded by KHIP in Hollister CA, KPIG in Freedom CA, and Fat 99 KPHT-LP in Laytonville CA. Though some say Americana as a radio format had its origins in 1984 on KCSN ("college radio") in Northridge, California, but that did not happen until after KFAT, Gilroy went off

976-415: Is a distinctive and essential instrument in Americana music. Its bright, twangy sound is instantly recognizable and often associated with Appalachian and bluegrass music also. Banjos are often played using a technique called clawhammer , which involves striking the strings with the back of the fingernail. The banjo adds a unique texture to Americana music, and its intricate, fast-paced playing can create

1037-409: Is typical for the rock-solid quartet. The opening "Better Than Broken", the brooding "Happy Anniversary", and the acoustic wistful "Where I Come From" all evoke the aftermath of romantic upheaval.... "Middle Man" could be the band's signature tune defining a sensibility that is Middle American in more than geography. The sage wisdom of frontman Brian Henneman's "Blind" and the twang of "Feeling Down" show

1098-510: The New York Times by William Hogeland, the Bottle Rockets' songwriting has been likened to Woody Guthrie 's folk style in spirit, smarts, and satire. The band's lyrics encapsulate the common experiences of the everyman, and are set to rousing and searing rock 'n' roll. The band has been named as one of the leaders of the '90s alt-country / roots rock revival, alongside Uncle Tupelo . The strong social commentary of their songs reflects

1159-460: The Nashville -dominated industry for a more lo-fi sound, frequently infused with a strong punk and rock and roll aesthetic. Alternative country drew on traditional American country music, the music of working people, preserved and celebrated by practitioners such as Woody Guthrie , Hank Williams , and The Carter Family , often cited as major influences. Another major influence was country rock ,

1220-513: The Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965, where he was backed by an electric band , was also a pivotal moment in the development of the genre. In the 1990s the term alternative country, paralleling alternative rock, began to be used to describe a diverse group of musicians and singers operating outside the traditions and industry of mainstream country music. Many eschewed the increasingly polished production values and pop sensibilities of

1281-653: The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC at the premiere for the film, and also appear on the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings soundtrack. Bottle Rockets then signed with Doolittle records, which later became New West Records . Doolittle released an EP of outtakes from 24 Hours A Day called Leftovers in 1998. About this time, Tom Ray was replaced on bass by Robert Kearns . The Bottle Rockets' fourth full-length record, Brand New Year ,

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1342-563: The UK Singles Chart . The single's success initiated the folk rock boom of 1965 and 1966, during which a number of Byrds-influenced acts had hits on the American and British charts. The term "folk rock" was itself coined by the American music press to describe the band's sound in June 1965, at roughly the same time as "Mr. Tambourine Man" peaked at number 1 in the U.S. The commercial success of

1403-576: The guitar , banjo , fiddle , and upright bass , and their songs typically told stories about the struggles and hardships of everyday life. The American folk music revival began during the 1940s and peaked in popularity in the mid-1960s. The folk revival in New York City was rooted in the resurgent interest in square dancing and folk dancing there in the 1940s as espoused by instructors such as Margot Mayo , which gave musicians such as Pete Seeger popular exposure. The folk revival more generally as

1464-405: The 1963 and 64 Newport Folk Festivals . For example, traditionalist Clarence Ashley introduced folk revivalists to the music of friends of his who still actively played the older music, such as Doc Watson and The Stanley Brothers . In the 1950s and 1960s, folk revival music began to evolve and incorporate elements of rock and roll and other popular music styles. Artists such as Bob Dylan and

1525-518: The 1990s, the term alternative country , paralleling alternative rock, began to be used to describe a diverse group of musicians and singers operating outside the traditions and industry of mainstream country music. Many eschewed the increasingly polished production values and pop sensibilities of the Nashville -dominated industry for a more lo-fi sound, frequently infused with a strong punk and rock and roll aesthetic. Lyrics may be bleak or socially aware, but also more heartfelt and less likely to use

1586-486: The Bottle Rockets appeared on the FX morning talk show Breakfast Time in what was supposed to be an episode long appearance, but after performing only one song, they left the studio because they were annoyed by the shows puppet Bob, and they would not return to the studio unless he was gone. Bob stayed and the band didn't return. The single "Radar Gun" was a hit on rock radio—reaching No. 27 on Billboard ' s rock chart—and

1647-524: The Byrds began blending traditional folk and country music with electric guitars and drums, creating a new sound that came to be known as folk rock . On January 20, 1965, the Byrds entered Columbia Studios in Hollywood to record Bob Dylan's acoustic tune "Mr. Tambourine Man" for release as their debut single on Columbia. The full, electric rock band treatment that the Byrds and producer Terry Melcher had given

1708-473: The Byrds' cover version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and their debut album of the same name , along with Dylan's own recordings with rock instrumentation—on the albums Bringing It All Back Home (1965), Highway 61 Revisited (1965), and Blonde on Blonde (1966)—encouraged other folk acts, such as Simon & Garfunkel , to use electric backing on their records and new groups, such as Buffalo Springfield , to form. Dylan's controversial appearance at

1769-538: The Carter Family , often cited as major influences. Another major influence was country rock , the result of fusing country music with a rock & roll sound. The third factor was punk rock , which supplied an energy and DIY attitude . Attempts to combine punk and country had been pioneered by a number of bands prior to 1990, including Nashville 's Jason and the Scorchers , San Francisco ’s American Music Club , and

1830-616: The Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks , along with the 1980s Southern Californian cowpunk scene with bands such as the Long Ryders and X . However, the “alt country” label did not gain popularity among music journalists until the release of Uncle Tupelo 's 1990 LP No Depression , which has been credited as being the first "alt-country" album. It is also the namesake of the online notice board and eventually magazine that underpinned

1891-581: The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, respectively. While other artists have covered Bottle Rockets’ songs, including John Hiatt , (Hiatt recorded "Welfare Music" for Don Imus ’ Ranch Record ), Peter Blackstock of No Depression implores: "...somebody, SOMEBODY record [the Bottle Rockets’ song] 'Kerosene' on your next album. Big band, little band, country rock band, rock band,... punk rock band,...somebody just get smart and give this song

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1952-538: The Scorchers , and in the 1980s Southern Californian cowpunk scene with bands like the Long Ryders and X , and the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks . X signed with major label Elektra in 1982 and released Under the Big Black Sun , which marked a departure from their trademark sound. While still fast and loud, with raw punk guitars, the album displayed evolving country leanings. The Scorchers released their debut, D.I.Y. EP, Reckless Country Soul , in 1982 on

2013-507: The Weavers' material, which was predominantly traditional. The Kingston Trio's popularity would be followed by that of Joan Baez , whose debut album Joan Baez reached the top ten in late 1960 and remained on the Billboard charts for over two years. It was not long before the folk-music category came to include less traditional material and more personal and poetic creations by individual performers, who called themselves "singer-songwriters". As

2074-549: The air when it was sold and the format changed. Mark Humphrey, a contributor to country/folk Frets magazine, hosted a weekly radio show called "Honky Tonk Amnesia" which played "country, folk, honky tonk, cajun, dawg, blues, and old-time music", a combination that the country music station KCSN advertised as "Americana". The format came into its own in the mid-1990s as a descriptive phrase used by radio promoters and music industry figures for traditionally-oriented songwriters and performers. Americana type radio shows can be heard on

2135-591: The band back on course, along with the newest additions John Horton and Keith Voegele, the current line-up of band members. The band also re-hired their manager from the early days, Bob Andrews. The Bottle Rockets' first live album Live in Heilbronn Germany was released in February 2006. The double-disc set was recorded on July 17, 2005 at the Burgerhaus, Heilbronn-Bockingen, Germany with the band's current roster. It

2196-485: The band in the spring of 2005. After a brief search the Bottle Rockets named Keith Voegele as their new bassist. Voegele is from Saint Louis and has played in bands including the Phonocaptors. After the Bottle Rockets' eponymous debut, having a radio hit ("Radar Gun") on their second album, extensive touring, and critical acclaim, the band endured a decade of subsequent hard luck, including problems with record companies,

2257-402: The band played only 15 shows in select cities during the entire year. The Bottle Rockets' reputation as the underdog spokesmen translated into a collaboration with fans in 2008. Fans of the Bottle Rockets had a voice in the band's 15th Anniversary Tour, having been invited to design set lists for the 2008 tour from the Bottle Rockets’ catalog plus one cover song suggestion. The band hand-picked

2318-435: The band toured extensively to support the album. The band appeared on the television show Late Night with Conan O'Brien performing one of their original songs as well as being featured in a comedic skit. The relationship with Atlantic Records turned out to be difficult. Most of the original staff who promoted The Brooklyn Side had been laid off or fired from Atlantic. The release of the Bottle Rockets' next record, 24 Hours

2379-546: The band's countrier side while "I Quit" has the groove of retro soul. Yet the guitar finale of the seven-minute album-closing title song ["Zoysia"] finds the Bottle Rockets as explosive as ever. — Don McLeese Zoysia received positive reviews, including a spot on novelist/ audiophile Stephen King 's Best Records of 2006 list in Entertainment Weekly magazine. The band celebrated its 15th anniversary throughout 2008. Instead of extensive touring like in previous years,

2440-547: The band's music as "hillbilly", the band's catalog proves otherwise with themes of maturity, generosity of spirit, neighborliness, insightful self-reflection, personal roots and modern society, individualism, pride of place, slow-mending hearts, and post-9/11 reality through the filter of a couple's romance. The Bottle Rockets continued with Zoysia : It would be a mistake to claim that Missouri's answer to Neil Young's Crazy Horse has gone soft but their first release in more than three years shows greater range and reflection than

2501-426: The clichés sometimes used by mainstream country musicians. In other respects, the musical styles of artists that fall within this genre often have little in common, ranging from traditional American folk music and bluegrass, through rockabilly and honky-tonk, to music that is indistinguishable from mainstream rock or country. This already broad labeling has been further confused by alternative country artists disavowing

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2562-502: The cultural and social landscape of the United States, and it continues to reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people. In recent years, the genre has incorporated more influences from blues, R&B, and soul, in addition to the country and folk elements that have always been prominent. In 2017 Rolling Stone published an article claiming that Americana was having an "identity crisis," which focused on changing definitions and efforts to promote ethnic diversity in

2623-645: The genre (which was somewhat of a niche, in the shadow of country and rock) and made it mainstream. In 2011, the genre was officially inducted into the Merriam-Webster dictionary. In modern times, Americana music continues to evolve and expand, as new generations of artists continue to draw inspiration from the rich history and cultural traditions of the United States. The instrumentation of Americana music continues to be characterized by acoustic guitars, fiddles, banjos, mandolins, and harmonicas, as well as electric guitars and drums. The genre remains deeply rooted in

2684-491: The genre. In 2014, traditional country musician Dale Watson formed the Ameripolitan Music Awards, focused on the genres of honky tonk , outlaw , Western swing , and rockabilly , on the premise that these genres can no longer be properly categorized as country or Americana, thus necessitating the creation of a new term, "Ameripolitan". The radio station laying the best claim to the Americana radio format origins

2745-423: The high harmony. Additionally, Richie Unterberger has stated that the song's abstract lyrics took rock and pop songwriting to new heights; never before had such intellectual and literary wordplay been combined with rock instrumentation by a popular music group. Within three months " Mr. Tambourine Man " had become the first folk rock smash hit , reaching number one on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and

2806-601: The independent Praxis label. But these styles merged fully in Uncle Tupelo 's 1990 LP No Depression , which is widely credited as being the first "alt-country" album, and gave its name to the online notice board and eventually magazine that underpinned the movement. In the 1990s and 2000s, Americana music underwent a resurgence in popularity, as a new generation of artists began incorporating elements of traditional American music into their songs. Artists such as Wilco , Lucinda Williams , and Gillian Welch helped to popularise

2867-562: The influences of Woody Guthrie, Neil Young and The Replacements . For much of the Nineties, Missouri's Bottle Rockets were the torchbearers for smart Southern-style rock.— Mark Kemp , Rolling Stone The Bottle Rockets released their self-titled first album in 1993. The Brooklyn Side followed on East Side Digital , in 1994, to resounding critical acclaim. In 1995, the Bottle Rockets then signed with Atlantic Records , which re-released The Brooklyn Side . In January of that same year,

2928-465: The movement, mainstream artists declaring they are part of it, and retroactive claims that past or veteran musicians are alternative country. No Depression , the best-known magazine dedicated to the genre, declared that it covered "alternative-country music (whatever that is)". Alternative country drew on traditional American country music, the music of working people, preserved and celebrated by practitioners such as Woody Guthrie , Hank Williams , and

2989-457: The movement. They released three more influential albums, signing to a major label, before they broke up in 1994, with members and figures associated with them going on to form three major bands in the genre: Wilco , Son Volt and Bottle Rockets . Bottle Rockets signed, along with acts like Freakwater , Old 97's and Robbie Fulks , to the Chicago-based indie label, Bloodshot , who pioneered

3050-601: The musical ethos of the United States of America, with particular emphasis on music historically developed in the American South . The term "Americana music" was defined by the Americana Music Association (AMA) in 2020 as "…the rich threads of country , folk , blues , soul , bluegrass , gospel , and rock in our tapestry."  A previous 2016 AMA definition of the genre included rhythm and blues , with additional comments that Americana music results "in

3111-569: The respect, and legs, it deserves." In July 2008, The Bottle Rockets reunited with producer Eric Ambel ( Brooklyn Side , 24 Hours A Day , Leftovers , Brand New Year ) at his Cowboy Technical Services Recording Studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York for their latest album, Lean Forward (Bloodshot). On May 2, The Bottle Rockets played a special concert at the High Dive in Champaign, IL that

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3172-481: The result of fusing country music with a rock & roll sound. The artist most commonly thought to have originated country rock is Gram Parsons (who referred to his sound as "Cosmic American Music"), although Michael Nesmith , Steve Earle and Gene Clark are frequently identified as important innovators. The third factor was punk rock , which supplied an energy and DIY attitude . Attempts to combine punk and country had been pioneered by Nashville 's Jason and

3233-483: The song effectively created the template for the musical subgenre of folk rock . McGuinn's melodic, jangling 12-string Rickenbacker guitar playing—which was heavily compressed to produce an extremely bright and sustained tone—was immediately influential and has remained so to the present day. The single also featured another major characteristic of the band's sound: their clear harmony singing , which usually featured McGuinn and Clark in unison , with Crosby providing

3294-468: The style of the source singers whom they had discovered, frequently by listening to Harry Smith 's celebrated LP compilation of forgotten or obscure commercial 78rpm "race" and "hillbilly" recordings of the 1920s and 30s, the Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music (1951). A number of the artists who had made these old recordings were still very much alive and had been "rediscovered" and brought to

3355-422: The term has been used to describe certain country music and country rock bands and artists that are also defined as or have incorporated influences from alternative rock , indie rock , punk rock , heartland rock , Southern rock , progressive country , outlaw country , neotraditional country , Texas country , Red Dirt , roots rock , indie folk , folk rock , rockabilly , bluegrass , and honky tonk . In

3416-512: The world, was formed in 1999. It is a network for Americana artists, radio stations, record labels, publishers, and others with the goal of developing an infrastructure that will boost visibility and economic viability. The 2010s saw several musical groups connected with Americana music finding their way on to the Billboard charts. Bands like Mumford and Sons , The Lumineers and The Avett Brothers helped bring contemporary Americana to more people than ever before. Their popularity as artists took

3477-475: Was filmed for an upcoming live concert documentary DVD release. The set list included "Hard Times," "Done It All," "Shame On Me," "Give Me Room," "Way It Used to Be" and "The Long Way" from the then-forthcoming Lean Forward album. Lean Forward was released by Bloodshot Records. The album charted on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart at No. 23. On November 27, 2017, permission

3538-568: Was granted to the Live Music Archive at the Internet Archive to add a collection for live audio recordings for public download and noncommercial, royalty-free circulation. As of March 2018, over 100 live recordings had been posted to that site. On March 2, 2021, the band announced its retirement, for reasons as posted to its public Facebook account: "It’s with a sad heart that we announce this uneasy news: Brian has decided to retire from

3599-403: Was no longer being served by a country music industry riding high on Garth Brooks and Shania Twain. This new style of music reflected a renewed interest in traditional American music forms, and it helped to establish Americana music as a distinct and important genre in its own right. The Americana Music Association, a not-for-profit trade organization advocating for American Roots Music around

3660-671: Was released in Europe on CD and vinyl by Blue Rose Records. Bloodshot Records released the band's next album, Zoysia , recorded in Ardent Studios in Memphis with producer Jeff Powell , in June 2006. Zoysia (zoy-zhuh), a metaphor for tolerance and centered values and common ground, is a hardy grass, plentiful in Festus/Crystal City and Saint Louis, Missouri, where these hardworking musicians grew up. After years of misleading portrayals of

3721-486: Was released on Doolittle in 1999. "Power hooks and muscular guitar fights that would make Skynyrd proud" and "'70s power rock with a dirty edge—sort of ZZ Top meets Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Bad Company " is the calling card of Brand New Year . The Bottle Rockets performed at the Horseshoe Tavern in early 2000. The band again had problems with their record label, and did not record anything else until Songs of Sahm ,

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