"Sometimes wishing (why not wish and just do?) to be able to shed all hipster irony'n'such (but if I do possess this...incorrect dialogue...)...just to muster a band of musicians who wanna play somethihng similar to Springsteen romance rock. Combo of '70s Boss, Doug Sahm in all of his reverent incarnations, Jerry Jeff & the Lost Gonzo Band, Willie & the Family, Waylon & the Waylors, Sonic Youth -n' whatever else might be brought to the mix. Some simple'n'sincere straight up rock which must lurk behind the artistic/intellectual outputs. If one can be praised for cheeseball metal -- why not cheeseball rock? (Ah - forgot the strong dose of Dylan: namely Nashville Skyline, New Morning, Self Portrait, Pat Garret, Desire, Rolling Thunder, Basement Tapes). Just simpler things. Rhythm sections gotsta have groove up the groove. (A Response to SCG's high art, exotica, etc...purity as validity: though that madness would have to be accounted for. The Beatles as well. Crazy Horse ([all Neil in general]).
Avoid all overtones of punk rock, metal, '90s rock (in almost all variations: even if dug.) Remember the old rhythms and arrangements. (Lesson of the Beatles: how to arrange a 4-piece rock band to sound like a Phil Spector song.) (Harmonies, interplay ::: IMAGINATION in general). A lesson forgotten. All the new "rootsy" bands - alt.country, new indie types - must be avoided in any similarity. Pure band: no borders, no indie hipster image.
TONIGHT FOLKS - we will be at the dancehall singing some unpretentious songs 'bout shit everyone's gotta go through and in general we'll be using the language and poetics of the Common Man. Or at least our perceptions. The point is in the goal: kind of a psychedelic American country rock band with no track of Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, etc. (huh?)
In our current culture, if someone said, "This is for the girls, here," it probably wouldn't be a song like "Fire." Rock & roll avoids sex - except certain sectors. It's a decadent activity. on the R&B-dance front, sex has been reduced to various misogynistic sloganizers, vocal pyrotechnics (which are indeed obscene). But now the only folks who sing boy-girl or simply songs or whatever (the songs of the language) are commodified indie-hipsters or twee emo-poppers: idealized high school commodities. Day to day shit in the world keeps spinning on and it's music should be given credible value."
--Gary Nielsen, Drunk in 2008.
The Contraband Countryband is Jared Emmett Nelson (Wah-Wah Exit Wound) on guitar and vocals, Chris Borgia (The Quit, Elba) on bass, Olie Eshleman (Corespondents) on pedal steel and Kory Ochsner (Sugar Skulls) on drums.
In 2007, the Contraband Countryband released I'm Dressed as Bullfighter on the Inside. A collection of songs written and performed by Jared Nelson and features performances by Dave Webb (Girth, Wah Wah Exit Wound), Chris Borgia (The Quit, Elba), Peijman Kouretchian (Secret Chiefs 3, Girth), Jordan Michelman (Patience Please), and Michael van Bebber (2004 MACRO Composition/Theory Award and Honorarium). Produced by Dave Webb, Bullfighter ranges from solo acoustic folk, beer drenched Crazy Horse dirges, to 12-minute psychedelic explorations.
I'm Dressed as a Bullfighter on the Inside was released by the 1/2 Ass Universe in a run of 1000 and can be purchased through this page. Just sent a message if you're interested.
