Did you know there is a strong Country Music and Americana Music scene in Los Angeles, California. No? Well, unfortunately you’re in good company. Most people who like country music don’t know that on any night of the week they could venture out and hear world-class country music in Southern California.
I’ll attempt to give you a run-down of the important artists who are based in LA and appear around town with some regularity. Clearly, the opinions expressed below are my own. Also, my hope is that this would be a fairly comprehensive list…so if you know of someone that is making waves out there, please let me know.
Let’s start with some categorization to make it all easier to digest. Artists can appear in more than one category.
The Traditionalists
David Serby
Grant Langston
Heather Waters
Tony Gilkyson
Rich Shea
Bob Woodruff
Dave Gleason
29 Mules
Merle Jagger
Linda Kay
West of Texas
The Cheatin’ Kind
The Groovy Rednecks
The Running Kind
The Dime Box Band
The Hippies
Old Californio
I See Hawks in LA
Chris Laterzo
Psychedelic Cowboys
Whispering Pines
The Roots Rockers
50 Cent Haircut
Rich McCulley
Bob Woodruff
John Ramey
Dead Rock West
Dean Chamberlain
Gina Villalobos
The Southern Rockers
29 Mules
Austin Hanks
Whispering Pines
The California Country Artists (Non-Bakersfield Category)
I See Hawks in LA
Tony Gilkyson
Rich Shea
Dave Gleason
Dead Rock West
Chris Laterzo
Leslie and The Badgers
Whispering Pines
Old Californio
Gina Villalobos
The Modern Country Artists
Grant Langston
29 Mules
Dead Rock West
Folk/Americana
Claire Holley
Heather Waters
Dan Jansich
Leslie and The Badgers
Vicki Hill
Amilia K. Spicer
Gina Villalobos
The Dime Box Band
Eclectic Americana and Hard to Define
50 Cent Haircut
Linda Kay
Dafni
Welldiggers Banquet
Dean Chamberlain
Eric Corne
Cowpunks - Rough and Rowdy
The Cheatin’ Kind
The Groovy Rednecks
Grant Langston
Amilia K. Spicer
The thing I like most about Amilia is that musically she is downbeat. This is music for driving across a snow-covered Nebraska. There’s something bleak and beautiful about every tune. It’s mostly singer-songwriter in its orientation with her piano providing the canvas. It’s wistful…and brings to mind Ricki Lee Jones.
Austin Hanks
Austin splits his time between Nashville and LA, but years of work in Southern California make him a local in my book. He is Mr. Southern Rock - Lynyrd Skynyrd - esque. Marshall Tucker - esque, with a dash of Keith Richards tossed in for good measure. He’s also got a stroke of blues that anchor him in that rich tradition. It’s easy to imagine his songs as sing-along anthems on Modern Country Radio or classics on Outlaw Country radio.
Bob Woodruff
Bob’s story is the stuff of movies. He was a Nashville “next-big-thing” in the early 90’s, and it just didn’t go as planned. That’s all in the past. The good news is, he’s recording and playing in LA; and picking up where he left off. His classic material is well-written country played with a smile and driving backbeat. His newer material is less…traditional but so good. Great songs from a man who still has the goods.
The Cheatin’ Kind
Bab’s has built a musical institution with TCK. 3 parts honky tonk to 1 part driving punk, they manage to be mean, sexy, sassy and scary all at the same time. It’s rough, rowdy, and if that all sounds like too much for you understand that you’ll be humming their songs for days. It isn’t just bombast…there’s great material underneath it all.
Chris Laterzo
Chris has a perfect take on the 70’s California Alt-Country made famous by Neil Young and Jackson Browne. His songs are intense and thoughtful, with a great voice. He makes a rustic kind of music, you can imagine him on the back of a pick-up truck in wine country playing in the evening heat.
Claire Holley
Mississippian Clare Holley has that voice that takes you right back to the classic female vocalists of country music — Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt…it’s all in their. Stylistically, she can do anything from Roadhouse ass-kickers to soft as a pin A Capella ballads.
Dafni
It would not surprise me one bit to stumble into a Parisian cafe and see Dafni and her band serving up her brand of jazzy, Billie Holliday-esque pop. It’s earthy, smart, and rooted in great songs. I’ve seen her bring a small club to a complete stop as everyone, including the help, just stood in awe. I know your asking, “But is it Americana?” It falls into that crack…the instrumentation is certainly in the right ball park - mando’s, accordians, banjo’s, etc. Let’s call is jazz/country - never mind, it’s impossible not to like it.
Dan Janisch
Dan is a very funny man. When you see him in a bar, he’s very likely to give you a hug — and a kiss — on the mouth. But when it comes to his music he doesn’t goof around. It’s very Arlo Guthrie…Bob Dylan…Tom Waits…lyrical storytelling. It’s a melancholy kind of music made all the better by Dan’s fine lead playing. Perfect folk oriented Americana music.
Dave Gleason
Dave is certainly one of the top 4-5 country guitarist in LA. He has the tele, he has the fender amp, and he has the tone. He’s played with everyone and for good reason. When it comes to his own music he is clearly in the Bakersfield camp, he twangs like a pro and does a pretty great Gram Parson’s Cosmic Country-Rock as well.
David Serby
A traditionalist at heart David Serby leads the charge for LA cowboy hat honky tonk. The most obvious first comparison is Dwight Yoakam, but it’s all in there…the heartfelt ballads of Lefty Frizzell. The smoking swing of Muscle Shoals country, think Truck Driving Man or 6 Days on the Road. The easy-dancing rhythms of early 70’s Merle Haggard. And the songs…it’s stuff you’ll be humming on the drive home.
The Dime Box Band
Singer Kristi Callan leads this traditional country quarter in a style that is rootsy and rural. There is a heavy emphasis on mandolin, fiddle and harmonies; and a clear OLD school vibe, and I’m talking about before Hank Williams, to much of their music. Rooted more in 1930s Roy Acuff and The Carter Family. They’ve perfected a mix of modern songs, traditional tones that would be right at home at today’s Grand Ole Opry.
Dead Rock West
Cindy Wasserman and Frank Lee Drennan are the driving forces behind DRW. You can hear lots of rootsy, countryness in their songs but it shakes out to be a kind of X meets Old 97’s meets Son Volt. It can be quite rocking, but never looses its way from the Americana trail. Harmonies are a big part of what makes DRW so special…the kind of interweaving lead lines that evoke John Doe and Exene Cervanka.
Dean Chamberlain
For my money Dean Chamberlain has the best voice in LA roots music. It’s the rasp, that God just gives some people. His music has strong blues, hillbilly, RnB and gospel influences. While he is an LA born and bred guy, his vibe is almost southern tent revival. You can imagine folks speaking in tongues and jumping pews. So soulful. check out, Why’d You Make Me This Way for a strong example.
Eric Corne
Eric Corne has many tricks up his sleeve. As a much acclaimed engineer and producer at Dusty Wakeman’s famous, and now defunct, recording studio Mad Dog, he was at “roots central” for years. When he decided to finally put his vision down on wax it was with the best of the best backing him up. His record, Kid Dynamite and the Common Man, has many things to recommend it but just listening to some of the best players alive is one of them. There’s no way to avoid the tag eclectic for Eric. He can at turns sound like Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and his fellow Canadian Neil Young. I even hear a little Tom Petty in there. The arrangements are smart. The songs are constructed with new listener treats around every corner. Eric has taken all the lessons he’s learned and molded them into a fresh take on roots rock.
50 Cent Haircut
Los Angeles veterans 50 Cent Haircut has morphed through several phases, at one point quite traditional in a Texas/Cali country kind of way. Their last incarnation is the most interesting of all — a kind of gothic country house band. the sort of top hat and vest personae you might see on a Mississippi river boat band at the turn of the last century. Jay Souza has a world-weary voice and guitarist Bosco is his perfect foil. They don’t do silly, or big choruses, or boot slappin. 50 Cent Haircut specializes in sad, serious, almost exotic roots/gothic southern rock — with a touch of Brit Pop and Tom Petty thrown in for good measure.
Gina Villalobos
When I listen to Gina’s blend of country, folk and rock the word that comes to mind is “cool”. Much of her material has a quiet, almost wounded quality. There are tracks where she gets so intimate her voice breaks up like a fender amp, crackling just on the top end a bit. This brings to mind “Nebraska” era Springsteen’s voice, and Mellencamp or Sheryl Crow’s best stuff. Of course, just when you think she’s going to settle for boot-gazing, she gives you a track like, “What I’d Give”…more back-beat, more energy, and a soaring vocal. It’s warm, friendly and moving.
Grant Langston
Just by means of classification…it’s quite traditional - Willie, Merle, George, and Johnny, with occasional detours into some CCR territory. It’s essentially Roadhouse music, usually up-tempo. the kind of stuff that you stomp your foot to and yell along with. The lyrics usually smart and fun, but can’t help falling into an occasional sad country ballad. There’s also an outlaw country element as well - irreverent and crazed.
The Groovy Rednecks
There’s nothing I can say about The Groovy Rednecks that their 3rd record, “Ass Grabbin Country” doesn’t tell you. These guys have played over 500 shows of REAL country. (They number them.) Singer Tex Troester is an icon, having graced the cover of LA Weekly as the representative of LA Country. If you go see these guys, they’ll be having fun, and so will you.
Heather Waters
You like beautifully sung folk/country music with tear-up lyrics and a world-weary voice? Heather is your girl. Sure, she can do loud and sassy. In fact, she has one of the loudest voices, I’ve ever heard. Just a quirk of her physiology, I suppose. But when she gets quiet and sad…you’re in trouble. It’s a little bit Patty Griffin, it’s a little bit Bonnie Raitt (the good stuff). Recently saw her at the Hotel Cafe…and it was big, bold, and moving.
I See Hawks in LA
It’s been 10 years now that I See Hawks in LA has been building a reputation as the preeminent psychedelic, peace&love, social commentary, hippy country-rock band. They do mean 3-part harmonies and with songs like Humboldt and Raise by Hippies you know this is no Merle Haggard tribute. Rob Waller’s voice is deep and dark and helps take the band into a more contemporary leaning. If you like The Flying Burrito Brothers then this is your band.
John Ramey
John Ramey can do anything. any style you want. But his sweet spot is thoughtful, well-crafted roots music that lives in the JJ. Cale, Rolling Stone, Tom Petty zone. With occasional excursions into freak-out hippy country-rock. Perhaps unimportantly his voice has an unmistakable George Harrison tone.
Leslie and the Badgers
Leslie Steven’s voice sits as the anchor in LATB. It’s like Emmylou Harris with a touch of Patsy Cline, but infused with an optimism that makes it fresh and fun. The band is making smart Americana music in the vein of Whiskeytown and Neko Case. So pleasant, so satisfying. A great band for a mild summer night, if you know what I mean.
Linda Kay
Texan Linda Kay is a unique talent. She does a heart stopping take on classic pop country…equal parts Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline. Soaring vocals, lush arrangements…and all of it with the soul of a honky tonk bar singer. She’s dramatic in presentation, innovative in her arrangements (she has played a kick drum made from a suitcase.) and equipped with great songs.
Merle Jagger
Let’s add another to the list of 4-5 best pickers in LA. Mark Christian has a long history as a top LA session player. His instrumental trio Merle Jagger has monopoly on fast and fascinating telecaster pyrotechnics. If you think you don’t like instrumental music, you’re wrong. These guys make it fun and hummable.
Old Californio
Sometimes hard to classify, Old Californio has one foot in the Hippy Jam world of bands like The Grateful Dead and one foot in the more rugged country-rock world of Crazy Horse and Moby Grape. It’s harmony rich California roots music, evoking images of central California pastures and wine-stained party houses.
The Psychedelic Cowboys
So, do these guys need an explanation? It’s the 3 B’s baby - Beatles, Byrds, and (Flying) Burritos. This music is, somewhat, crazy. It’s Cosmic - a blend of folk, country (west coast), and psychedelic. Despite all that, there’s something so listenable about it all. It can be challenging to the uninitiated, but in the end the tunes pull it back together.
Rich McCulley
Rich is an interesting cat. He’s a curious hybrid of old tones, old feels, old rhythms and great songs. Think Exile-Era Rolling Stones, The Replacements, Tom Petty. Rich falls into the “if it is rootsy then it’s probably Americana Music” category. His whiskey-soaked voice is pitch perfect for telling sad tales about life and love.
Rick Shea
There’s Bakersfield Country, and then there’s California Country…forged in the lonely desert towns with hints of traditional country, the Mexican music of East LA, and Tex-Mex. Rick is a master of both. He grew up in San Bernardino on the edge of that Inland Empire and he is perhaps the best proponent of it’s dusty, unadorned California Country music. But he also had access via radio to the Bakersfield sound. He’s an outstanding instrumentalist - mandolin, lap steel, and 6-string and his voice, plainspoken and soulful helps deliver his material with deep impact.
The Running Kind
Matt and Leslie Bosson and their band The Running Kind, have built a reputation delivering heartfelt traditional country music. There’s something old-timey about their presence…Leslie’s vocal delivery would be at home in 1963 or 1943 as well as today. The actual music, certainly touches base with the classic song structure of the past, but they aren’t marooned there, venturing into more modern Americana. Guitarist George Alexander is one of the best pickers around, as well.
Sarah Stanley
Songwriter, Actor, Singer Sarah Stanley’s voice is what first makes you stand up and notice her. It’s rough, airy, gritty, WEARY. Not the kinds of words you generally use to describe a female singer. Even that description really doesn’t do her justice. She can pull off sexy wry humor or profound sadness with equal ease. And if her voice isn’t enough, her songwriter skills are perhaps even more impressive. Unlike most of the female talent around she is clearly not a “singer/Songwriter” type despite doing both. She is an Americana vocalist and most often plays around town with a great band.
Tony Gilkyson
Tony has a tremendous resume playing guitar with Lone Justice, X, Dave Alvin and most other West Coast roots talents. Few are as familiar with his own material, which is almost textbook Americana - hints of folk (Woody Guthrie), Honky Tonk, traditional country and even some rock. It’s rustic, rootsy and classic all at the same time. Oh, and he’s one of the top 3-4 guitarists playing LA on a regular basis, IMO.
29 Mules
I think it’s safe to say that Casey and Xavier run the top Outlaw Country band in LA. With a 5 year residency at the valley’s Ireland’s 32 these guys have honed great songs and a rowdy style. Casey is the closest thing in town to a mad hatter master of ceremonies, and they write songs that bring to mind Hank Williams Jr and David Allan Coe.
Vicki Hill
With her banjo and rich alto Vicki Hill has a great way with a song and the sadder the better. Her recordings have a late 60’s quality to them…Dusty Springfield without all the reverb, and while she isn’t about the past or doing tributes there is a timeless old-school vibe to her music. She writes songs about loss and betrayal like “Austin” as well as backwoods hardship like “Paycheck 2 Paycheck”. It’s stripped down old school country in a sultry style.
Welldiggers Banquet
One of the best things about Americana music is the infinite number of combinations that are possible when you start bringing together various elements of British and American music from the last 50 years. Welldigger’s Banquet has shuffled their influences in an interesting way. Clearly some vibe from The Band, Cat Stevens, CSN, and The Rolling Stones. Oh, and the songs are melodic and sung with soul.
West of Texas
Jerry Zinn and West of Texas honor 1960s and 1970s country like they arrived via time machine just yesterday. Heartbreak, cheating, and drinking are the themes and Jerry’s big howling voice shakes me to the core. It’s great. These guys have it all….the songs, the vibe, the players. grab a cold long neck and settle in.
Whispering Pines
Named after a song by The Band, WP has a great take on 70’s country-rock. Equal parts Allman Brothers, J.J. Cale, Flying Burrito Brothers and back porch jam, these guys can do it slow and soulful or like a furious boogie. Beards, western shirts, long hair and denim - if you like dual guitar leads and rich vocals you’ve found the right band.
