Waterfront Wednesday is here!
Tonight the Old 97’s are going to be kickin’ some West Texas ass on the banks of the Old Ohio.
Old 97’s formed in Texas in 1993, it was a zeitgeist moment when grunge was at its self-destructive apex, and not the most ideal moment for a good time drinkin’ band with firm roots in country music to be forming. But lead singer Rhett Miller didn’t care, he was going to make the music he had lived and loved. By '93, Miller had moved all over the country living everywhere from Austin, New York, Chicago, to Los Angeles; but landed back in Texas. Once he began peppering the music with references to the diverse towns and cultures that he'd experienced, the songs began to bleed an authentic sense of Americana that the waning grunge movement couldn’t replicate.
The band took the road, building an old fashioned grassroots audience; following a similar template of punk rockers years earlier. Play hard, play often, and play everywhere – eventually people will come back for more.
A decade later commercial success eluded them, but they were critics’ darlings and had amassed a large underground fan base…many of which were very recognizable faces in pop-culture. Leading to their highest profile gig to date, appearing in The Break Up with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn (Vaughn had been a huge fan for years); it was an appearence that made them the band everyone had heard of but no one had actually heard.
In the meantime, the band has continued to record and tour almost incessantly. Their live show, perfected by playing sloppy bars in nowhere towns, is one of the most electrifying concerts this side of Bruce Springsteen. This tour the band is supporting their latest whiskey soaked release, All Messed Up, which came out in April to rave reviews.
This is a Waterfront Wednesday not to miss!
WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday with Old 97’s (9 PM), The Whigs (7:30 PM), and Dawn Landes (6 PM). Cost is free (as always), show starts at 6:00 PM.
