Gothic country

This article is about the country music genre. For the genre of fiction, see Southern Gothic.

Gothic country (sometimes referred to as gothic Americana, Southern Gothic, the Denver sound, or dark country) is a genre of country music rooted in early jazz, gospel, Americana, gothic rock, and post-punk.^[1] Its lyrics focus on dark subject matters.^[2] The genre has a regional scene in Denver.^[1][2]

Gothic country
Other names	Gothic Americana Southern Gothic the Denver sound dark country
Stylistic origins	Country[1] gothic rock[1] post-punk[1] gospel[1] Americana[1] jazz[1]
Cultural origins	Late 1990s – early 2000s, Denver, Colorado
Typical instruments	Vocals guitar bass banjo mandolin fiddle cello drums
Local scenes
Denver
Other topics
Artists neofolk gothic rock gothabilly Gothic Western

History

Gothic country is rooted in early jazz, gospel, country, Americana, gothic rock, and post-punk.^[1] The genre's lyrics focus on macabre and grim subject matters.^[2] J.D. Wilkes, frontman of the band Legendary Shack Shakers, described gothic country as "[taking] an angle that there's something grotesque and beautiful in the traditions of the South, the backdrop of Southern living."^[3]

Slim Cessna's Auto Club, formed in 1992, often deals with lyrical themes derived from apocalyptic religious imagery, applying a gothic lyrical approach to country and gospel songs, although the band has denied that their songs are gothic.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} The following year, the gothic country group the Handsome Family formed;^{[11][12][13][14]} Andy Fyfe of Mojo called them "Americana's ghostly Sonny & Cher."^[15] A.V. Club reviewer Christopher Bahn compared their music to "a collaboration between Hank Williams and Edgar Allan Poe."^[16]

Johnny Cash's American Recordings series, produced by Rick Rubin, a producer best known for working with hip hop and heavy metal artists, was described as having a gothic country sound and image; amidst covers of songs by non-country artists such as Depeche Mode, Danzig and Nine Inch Nails, as well as traditional and World War II-era songs, Cash's album series lyrically derived from haunting, despaired themes such as death, and recurring religious themes in the form of dark gospel recordings.^[17]

Pioneered by David Eugene Edwards through his band 16 Horsepower (and later, Wovenhand), a regional gothic country scene developed in Denver.^[1][2]

See also

• List of gothic country artists

References

1. Johnson, Aaron Loki (January 29, 2015). "Yes, there is a 'Denver Sound,' and here's a brief history". CPR. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
2. ""The Denver Sound" and more". July 26, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
3. Oksenhorn, Stewart (February 21, 2006). "Shack*Shakers get back to the roots of Goth". The Aspen Times. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
4. "Slim Cessna's Auto Club Brings Its Gothic Americana To Beachland Ballroom". Cleveland.com. November 22, 2016.
5. Thanki, Juli (June 24, 2008). "SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB: CIPHER". PopMatters. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
6. Bernstein, Joel (December 2000). "Slim Cessna's Auto Club: just call them country". Country Standard Time. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
7. Pehling, Dave (January 10, 2018). "Eclectic Alt-Country Outfit Teams With Garage-Punk Vet". CBS. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
8. Le-Huu, Bao (September 4, 2012). "Slim Cessna's Auto Club revives their country-rock sound with an eerie gospel aesthetic". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
9. Miller, Jay (November 25, 2016). "The Commandments according to Slim Cessna's Auto Club". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
10. DeLuca, Dan (December 4, 2016). "Dan DeLuca's picks: Dylan's real Royal Albert Hall concert; The Jingle Ball; Angelica Garcia". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
11. STEINHOFF, JESSICA (April 17, 2009). "The Handsome Family's gothic country gets romantic". Isthmus. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
12. MCKEOUGH, KEVIN (July 22, 2013). "Family Q&A". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
13. Compton, Hannah (September 9, 2016). "The Handsome Family – Unseen – Album Review". Building Our Own Nashville. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
14. Plagenhoef, Scott (November 11, 2003). "Singing Bones The Handsome Family". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
15. Fyfe, Andy (September 16, 2016). "The Handsome Family: Unseen". Mojo.
16. Bahn, Christopher (May 14, 2013). "The Handsome Family: Wilderness". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
17. "Did Rick Rubin Turn Johnny Cash Into A Cheesy Goth?". slate.com. August 15, 2006.