Gothic country
Gothic country (sometimes referred to as gothic americana, southern gothic, the Denver sound, or even simply just dark country) is a subgenre of alternative country that began in the United States in the city of Denver in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[1] It combines alternative country, gospel, and blues with lyrical themes touching on subject matter frequenting gothic, and particularly southern gothic, literature. Songs often examine poverty, criminal behavior, religious imagery, death, ghosts, family, lost love, alcohol, murder, the devil and betrayal.[2]
Gothic country | |
---|---|
Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | Late 1990s, early 2000s Denver, Colorado |
Typical instruments | Vocals, Guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, cello, drums |
Local scenes | |
Denver, Colorado | |
Other topics | |
History
The Denver Post in a 2016 article identified an active music scene finding its beginnings in the early 2000s, and being rooted in country but being composed of more macabre and grim subject matter. The article described Denver as the epicenter and place where this genre found its beginning, with Slim Cessna's Auto Club, 16 Horsepower, and Tarantella forming the genre's basis.[3] Since its rise to prominence locally in the Denver music scene, the genre has spread beyond and bands from outside of the scene such as Uncle Sinner, Sons of Perdition, Murder By Death, and O'Death have borrowed from it.
Artists
- 16 Horsepower[4]
- Big John Bates: Noirchestra
- Bonnie Prince Billy
- Brown Bird
- Calexico
- Johnny Cash (later work on American Recordings)[5][6]
- Vic Chesnutt
- Dorthia Cottrell
- The Cramps
- Delta Rae
- Johnny Dowd
- Dr. John
- Drive-By Truckers
- Drivin N Cryin
- Bob Dylan
- Tav Falco
- Bobbie Gentry
- The Gun Club
- The Handsome Family
- Two Gallants
- Heathen Apostles
- Iron & Wine
- Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter
- Cotton Jones
- Katie Dee & The Quaking Aspens[7][8]
- Kid Congo Powers
- Legendary Shack Shakers
- Mark Linkous
- Julie Mintz[9]
- Jay Munly
- Lorin Morgan-Richards
- Murder by Death[10]
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds[11]
- Old Crow Medicine Show
- Will Oldham
- David Rawlings
- James Ray
- R.E.M.[12]
- Dax Riggs
- Thayer Sarrano
- Slim Cessna's Auto Club[13]
- Smog
- Southern Culture on the Skids
- Sparklehorse
- Tav Falco's Panther Burns
- Dan Tyminski
- Uncle Sinner[14]
- Adia Victoria
- Mirel Wagner
- Gillian Welch
- Jim White
- Hank Williams III
- Tyler Childers
- Wovenhand
- Nick 13
References
- "Gothic Country". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- "Gothic Americana tag". Last.fm. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ""The Denver Sound" and more". Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- "16 Horsepower Artist Biography". AllMusic.com.
- "Did Rick Rubin Turn Johnny Cash Into A Cheesy Goth?". slate.com.
- "'Johnny Cash And The Paradox Of American Identity' by Leigh H. Edwards". books.google.com.
- "Tapestry Music Podcast Episode 2: Katie Dee". SoundCloud.org.
- "Millvale Music Festival 2018". Punksburgh.
- "Featured Artist Julie Mintz: The Haunting, Otherworldly Side Of Folk". LA Music Blog.
- "Interviews: Adam Turla (Murder By Death)". PunkNews.org.
- "Joshua Cutchin: Weird Words & Brass Beats". Joshua Cutchin: Weird Words & Brass Beats. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/4/9/18300837/rem-reckoning-35th-anniversary-mega-post
- "Slim Cessna's Auto Club Brings Its Gothic Americana To Beachland Ballroom". Cleveland.com.
- "Uncle Sinner". GothicCountry.se.