Willie Nelson's double-bass guitar, double-drumset era Family band, Waylon & the Waylors' infinite Texas groove pulse, the Lost Gonzo Band's freewheeling American music, Doug Sahm's many, many projects, amped-up psychedelic guitar solos and passages, simple two-step Western swing, Sonic Youth, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Beatles, American underground music in the '80s, extreme volumes and Seattle's under-appreciated and fucking amazing freak scene.
Sounds Like
craggy ragged glory absorbed from endles amounts of country music, Paul McCartney & Toots as a child, docks and abandoned canneries in Alaska with drunken fisherman, New Year's Ever marathon runs at the Whistlin Post, awareness of boatloads of alcohol, too much time listening to Rolling Stones and Faces records, way way way way way too much time listening to Sonic Youth, abused Casinos, what loud music sounds like when you're deaf, jamming in converted barn-houses to "Green Salamander," years in Seattle playing ridiculously cheesy and uninspired classic rock, Zaireeka obssession, noise, noise, noise, feedback, things being smashed, barely latent violence, wolves, horses, chants, bad harmonies, soul, spirit, atheism, Ken Gillis' country songs, Bob Mould guitar solos played even more poorly ... hopefully starting to sound like something which garners a vivid emotional reaction out of the listener ... just starting
"The Contraband Countryband play spirited country rock, with Olie Eshleman's exuberant pedal steel twaaannnggg-eeeennn and sighin' like mad. These locals will leave that 'yee-haw!' you'll reflexively shout upon hearing their music charred on your lips." --Dave Segal, The Stranger, 8/18/09
"Jared Nelson sings, with heartfelt sincerity, new tales of inebriated Americana in a voice both unique and familiar...the music of the Contraband Countryband rolls off the bar stool and into the streets of America." --Jim "Diamond Vincent" Davis (Master Musicians of Bukkake, Spoils)
"Now this is some good, ol' time, cool shit, here. "Darlin," "Look Now," and "Drinking with Jesus" are utterly fabulous. Most of these songs are." --Alan Bishop (Sun City Girls, Sublime Frequencies) on I'm Dressed as a Bullfighter on the Inside
"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.
The Contraband Countryband's Friend Space (Top 24)
Hey! It's really good! This year I am really trying to actually apply myself a little more lol so it's been busy. What've you been up to?? How's the music? I figure in a few months I'll finally be 21 and thus finally able to see one of your shows : )
thanks for the good time last night! we had a blast and you guys were frikkin' excellent. diggin' the cd too! I'm really looking forward to sunday at Full Tilt...
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