I’ve been an on-again-off-again fan of country music since a friend introduced me to Mary Chapin Carpenter in the early nineties. I have spent many a happy hour bellowing along with the ladies of country including Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, the Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood, and more recently, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves. But while I love the women’s voices, I never really developed a taste for male country singers’ sound until our recent trip to Nashville. Now, I’m kind of hooked.

These boys are known as The Dead South. While it seems likely our politics wouldn’t line up, I’m really enjoying their rough, catchy sound, and their driving banjo music. They’re not strictly country, but more of a blend of a number of styles including folk, skiffle, and bluegrass. Toronto Music Reviews calls it hillbilly music, and I guess that’s as good a label as any.

Have a happy Saturday!