Mainstream country music: The artists have no artistic control over their music. The songs are overproduced, pop driven, often meaningless, sanitized drivel, all churned out from the same cookie cutter factory. The labels put out unremarkable artist after unremarkable artist, all interchangeable, and all highly disposable and forgettable. It’s boring. Welcome to country music...circa decade 1970.

It took a group of Texans, mad as hell that their music had gotten so far from it’s roots and the fact they had little say in the music they put out, that they confronted their labels and demanded artistic freedom- to put out the music THEY wanted to, and to do it THEIR way. The late, legendary Waylon Jennings busted down the door, and others such as Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allen Coe, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Joe Ely followed right behind. It became known as the "Outlaw Movement". Many people mistook this term to identify a certain "sound" within country music. In a way it does, it’s the sound that artists make when they have the freedom to be who THEY are, and make the music THEY want to record and perform. However, there was no one particular "sound". The sounds within the movement varied from traditional honky tonk to rock tinged country. The meaning of "outlaw" had more to do with artists who refused to conform to the mould and broke free of it. This group of "outlaws" breathed a new life and excitement into the music and brought the music back to it’s roots. Country music rose again.

Again in the 80's when country started veering too far from it’s roots with the Urban Cowboy phase, it was another Texan that pulled in the reigns and busted down the door- refusing to remove his cowboy hat when cowboy hats weren’t "cool" and singing of all things, "out of style" Texas swing!! Unlikely "outlaw", George Strait stood his ground and opened the door for the neo-traditionalists that were soon to follow right behind him. Country music rose again.

Mainstream country music: The artists have no artistic control over their music. The songs are overproduced, pop driven, often meaningless, sanitized drivel, all churned out from the same cookie cutter factory. The labels put out unremarkable artist after unremarkable artist, all interchangeable, and all highly disposable and forgettable. It’s boring. Welcome to country music...circa decade 2000.

Here we are some 30 years later, right back at the same spot- full circle. Record sales are plummeting, radio listenership is down, and the country market share has lost substantial footing. Tens of thousands of disillusioned country fans shut off their radios and left the stores. They were left longing for the country music they loved- not this "Hot New Country"- Nashville’s watered down, popped up version it was trying to sell to the suburban "soccer mom" crowd, and then eventually the teenybopper set with teen acts and "hunky heartthrobs". Artists that refused to conform or didn’t fit the mold of this "New Country" that Nashville created, were dumped by the major label in droves, leaving them out in the cold. There was no longer a place for individuality, creativity or songs that held meaning and evoked emotion. Nashville’s new way of thinking, as Texas artist Houston Marchman says in his comical commentary, "VietNashville", "son you gotta write for an 8^th grade level and for divorced housewives...said it’s about money boy, money in the bank, country ain’t in to no existential angst..."

So where did this leave the hardcore country fan and the artists who refused to conform?? As did the first wave of outlaws that were sent packing in the late 60's and early 70's, many headed for Texas, primarily Austin. The "outlaw" movement never really died, there were always artists that followed in the footsteps of those originals. Artists like Robert Earl Keen and Steve Earle flourished in Texas during the 80's. The 90's saw it carried on, with artists like Kevin Welch and Kieran Kane. By 1995, the more " popped up and watered down" Nashville became, more and more artists were joining their ranks after being booted or deliberately walking away from the major labels. Some didn’t even bother knocking on Nashville’s door- they headed straight for Austin. New names for this neo-outlaw movement sprang up, "Alt-country", "No Depression", "Texas Music" and "Americana".

This new breed is tired of the politically correct, homogenized version of country music. This new breed carries on the in the tradition of the original outlaws, and as such, the names have changed to Dale Watson, Charlie Robison, Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Houston Marchman, Roger Wallace, Kevin Fowler, Justin Trevino, Cooder Graw, Kelly Willis, and the list goes on and on. They write and sing songs about drinking, cheating, lying, heartache, outlaws, killing, dying, loving, leaving and every other facet of life. Some aren’t pretty and many not even slightly "polite", but all are honest. Fiddles and steel drench their songs. The sounds are as many and diverse as there are artists that perform it. Some are singer/songwriters. Others are honky tonkers. Some are country roots rockers. Some sing western/cowboy songs. Some sing Tex-Mex flavored songs. Some have heavy Celtic, Texas swing and blues influences. Some mix it all up together. However, the one thing they all have in common? They thumb their noses at Nashville’s notion of what country music is. They’re going to do it their way, and they’re not about to have any major label "suit" tell them otherwise. They’re very clear on what country music is- and isn’t. They’re not afraid of country and all it’s glory. They’re loud and proud of it!!

This is very good news for the hardcore country fan. Over the past few years, this new breed has made enough noise to be heard, and more and more diehard country fans are making their way to them. The web has been a great tool to get this music to the fans that have been long starved for the kinds of music they are putting out. Major label mainstream sales may be falling, but sales for these independent mavericks is increasing by leaps and bounds- up 212% last year, over the previous year. No major label backing, no major label promotional machines behind them, and very limited airplay outside of Texas, their popularity is growing primarily though the "underground"- word of mouth. Their success has caught Nashville’s attention, and they’re watching them closely.

Today the buzz word is "Americana", a new genre created for roots music. What was once called hardcore country music, now falls into this new genre. Artists such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Dwight Yoakam, to name just a few, all once country radio staples, now sadly fall into this new genre, as they no longer fit into the new Nashville vision of what it wants country to be- which is something that it is truly not, and never will be. So these artists are now a part of Americana music, along with bluegrass, Texas swing and honky tonk, fiddles, steel and banjo...and this new breed of country artists. A genre of music that had to be created for artists and music, that falls outside the lines of corporate conformity.

For those country fans longing for the real thing- no holds barred, honest country music, in all its politically incorrect glory- it’s out there!! Once again the boys from Texas are leading the charge to steer country music back to it’s roots. Chances are slim to none you’ll hear any of it on your radio or see it on CMT. So if you want it, forget radio and TV, it’s time to take that chance on an artist you may not have heard of and are unfamiliar with. There are links posted to this site on where to find this music. Most of the artists’ websites let you sample their music, as do most of the online music sites. Pick up the phone and call one of the music sites’ order lines. If you tell them what you like, they can recommend artists that will fit the bill. You won’t be sorry.

Will country rise once again? Whining about what you don’t like seldom changes anything. Supporting the artists out there keeping it real, WILL.