One of Drag the River’s frequently shifting lineups
If you’re a frequent reader here at HTFAF, you may already know the following: first, I was a big Drag the River fan, and wrote about the band in a guest post, my first for HTFAF, here. If you know that, you also probably know that, unfortunately, this band no longer exists. I try not to mention or think of the aforementioned fact too often, as it tends to make me sad. Finally, as Caleb warned in my first post, Drag the River played “for real country … not like Ryan Adams, (but) the real deal, so be careful if you can’t handle that.”
And now, readers, no matter how frequently or infrequently you visit us here at HTFAF, you know everything you need to know to enjoy this post … except this one thing that I’ve yet to mention: it’s still Covers Week at HTFAF, so below you’ll find three live covers recorded at the Starlight in Fort Collins, Colorado, in July 2002. These traverse the songwriting spectrum from Glen Danzig to Steve Earle, but they all share Drag the River’s booze-tinged, no-frills country/punk touch.
[mp3] Drag the River – Hybrid Moments (Misfits)
This song first appeared on The Misfits’ 1985 release, Legacy of Brutality. And it’s scary — lyrically, but not musically, in this rendition. Listen to Drag the River’s Jon Snodgrass agree with me after they play it.
[mp3] Drag the River – Indianapolis (Bottle Rockets/Henneman)
An autobiographical tale of life on the road, written by the Bottle Rockets’ Brian Henneman when he was a roadie for Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Jay Farrar’s (Son Volt) groundbreaking Uncle Tupelo. If you know who Bob is, don’t tell him that I prefer this version to that of the Bottle Rockets.
[mp3] Drag the River – Johnny Come Lately (Steve Earle)
The UK’s Irish-folk/punk band The Pogues backed Earle on his original recording of this song, which appeared on his more-rock-than-country record, Copperhead Road; it was released in 1988 and won Earle some brief mainstream notoriety with its title track. And then he went to jail a few times.
You can still buy Drag the River records (and other stuff) here, and Bottle Rockets records (and, again, other stuff) here. And you shouldn’t have much trouble finding records from Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar, Son Volt, Steve Earle, or The Pogues online or at your local independent record store. Please support your local shops when you have the chance.
Every once in a while I find myself in the mood to listen to talented people sing karaoke. Some may simply call this covering a song, but it’s more fun to think of it as talented people singing karaoke. I’m done with the ironic cover, I think. I don’t laugh anymore when bands cover top 40 hits to be funny. Take Dan Rossen/Department of Eagles JoJo cover, that I can appreciate because he just sang the song, rather then mocking it he mined for it’s potential. No more ironic covers, just do it or don’t.
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