I have, for some time been captivated by the notion of music from the deserts of the United States.

This rather dubious affectation initially kicked in around the time of the release U2’s The Joshua Tree which came out to some acclaim in 1987. The sombre photography of Anton Corbijn and the wide screen music invoked, it seemed to me, exactly what U2 were..ermm…looking for. Namely the imagery and cinematic feeling that the group felt was conjured up where the desert met civilisation.

In due course and not long afterward came the “new” genre of Americana or Alt.country, where the music and writing sought in many case to emerge out of the sun baked wilderness. This though was not some re-hashing of the past like The Band chasing some Arcadian driftwood..this was meant to be a collision of Hank Williams and punk….a melding of twanging geetars, weeping steel and in yer face existential lyricism. Indeed.

In addition to the music, I came under the spell of Cormac McCarthy’s wonderfully invocative western novels such as Blood Meridian and of course The Border Trilogy. I then went on to discover the work of Daniel Woodrell (more Bayou Country..but hey, that’s a whole ‘nuther programme) and also the novels by one Willie Vlautin…who just happens to be lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band Richmond Fontaine…and latterly The Delines.

Springsteen’s Nebraska also suggested the wide and unforgiving heartlands…an album which has a mystique that continues to beguile and bind…I pay tribute to that album also.

 So… for the next two hours or so I will take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Laredo… ye bloody ha…!

Richmond Fontaine – Intro / Border Country – Thirteen Cities – 2007 – Track 1

Richmond Fontaine originally from Oregon relocate to Arizona and with the help of members of fellow desertists Calexico and Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, carve out a soundscape surely meant for Cormac McCarthy’s lonesome characters…

The Walkabouts – Straight to the Stars – Trail of Stars – 1999 – Track 2

The Walkabouts…one of my favourite bands. Thoroughly Western but with much European sensibilities. Again, a band from the American north-east. Formed in Seattle n in 1984, the central members being vocalist Carla Torgerson and vocalist and songwriter Chris Eckman.

The band drew inspiration from folk and country artists, particularly Johnny Cash, Neil Young and Townes Van Zant, but also from other types of artists and musical styles such as Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen and Jacques Brel.

Their sound was at times augmented by gorgeous string arrangements.

This track from their 1999 album Trail of Stars just had to be included in this show.

U2 – Desert of Our Love – The Joshua Tree Sessions – 1987 – Track 3

The desert is central to the imagery and symbolism that streams through the whole of the Joshua Trees vast landscape. This sense of the desert pervades even tracks from the sessions that did not make the final album cut.

The physical desolation of the desert is here on this track linked to the “desert of the soul” and the “desert of our love”.

The Cash Brothers -Nebraska – Raceway – 1999 – Track 4

Based in Toronto Andrew Peter Cash clearly reveal their debt to the Nebraska vibe…. Their greatest moment…

Los Lobo – Johnny 99 – Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska – Track 5

Straight outa East Los Angeles, Los Lobos (Spanish for the Wolves) contribute a wild tribute to this bleak and desperate fable…the tale of a man that had debts “no honest man could pay”. The complete despair of a man shaped and driven by his economic circumstances.

An epic performance that will ensure that Los Lobos will be back in force in future programmes.

Eddie Vedder – Rise – Into the Wild – 2007 – Track 6

This tracks from Eddie Vedder’s debut solo album. The songs from the album contributed to the soundtrack of the film of the same name.

The film traces the true story of Christopher McCandless, a Californian who after graduating from Emory University, Georgia in 1990. McCandless decided travel across North America and eventually landed up in Alaska.

McCandless intended to live of the land and in some seclusion – that’s all I’m giving you…watch the film…its well worth it.

Let’s just say he found and experienced the wilderness and that’s why the music makes the cut.

Blue States – What We’ve Won –Man Mountain – 2002 – Track 7

What ! …a Brit band…well, why not…

Blue States are headed by Andy Dragazis. Their last album was released in 2022 and Dragazis appears to be active as a solo artist.

Man Mountain was released in 2002…expect to hear more from them in subsequent episodes.

Echolalia – Blood Moon – Echolalia – 2024 – Track 8

A so called Nashville super group featuring Spencer Cullum, Andrew Combs and Dominic Billett. Rather strangely, recorded and produced on the Isle of Wight.

Their vibe very much fits our vibe..but also, according to the magazine Uncut..conjures up Bill Fay and possibly the gentler aspects of the Canterbury sound…you choose..

Uncle Tupelo – No Depression –No Depression – 1990 – Track 9

The lead track of a hugely influential album which drew much critical acclaim. It was released independently and sold 15,000 copies in its first twelve months. The record is probably the most important alternative alt-country release and inspired the magazine No Depression.

The band featured two of the most influential alt-country musicians. Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar.

Tweedy went on to form the sensation that is Wilco with Farrar forming the band Son Volt. Both bands will feature down the road apiece.

Jeff Tweedy – Via Chicago – Together At Last – 2017 – Track 10

A true Renaissance Man – Tweedy (see above) as well as being in at the start of the alt-country movement also wrote (and writes) poetry and writes widely.

This track taken from his first solo album which is a stripped down affair featuring only Tweedy on vocals, guitar and wheezy harmonica.

Golden Smog – You Make It Easy – Another Fine Day – 2006 – Track 11

Another so-called alt-country super group, Golden Smog once featured members of The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and Big Star.

The band did not regarded stability as an asset and so drifted and ebbed as the personel became available.

During the course of this episode of 3rd Sun I bring you this song from their third reincarnation – the album came after an 8 year hiatus.

The album is called Another Fine Day and is somewhat different to its predecessors Jeff Tweedy is again present and brings the glint of Wilco’s success with Yankee Foxtrot Hotel and A Ghost is Born and one can sense the confidence and nuance that that success yields.

A great entry point for those who may wish to follow-up on Golden Smog.

The Eagles – My Man – On the Border – 1974 – Track 12

I have chosen this track as it hymns on of the most enigmatic figures from the period when mainstream rock attempted to absorb the older type of Country and Western practiced by the likes of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams etc.

This would be Ingram Cecil Connor III – that’s Gram Parsons to you.

Written by Eagle Bernie Leadon the song pays tribute to Parson’s attempts to meld country and rock.

Leadon was a band mate of Parson’s when they were members of the pioneering country-rock group The Flying Burrito Brothers.

Parsons also largely shaped the sound of the Byrd’s Sweetheart of the Rodeo, another album that created its own myth and made quite an impression Keith Richards…but then again a lot of things did…

Parsons and Richards became great pals…but that’s for the future.

Just enjoy the track and let that old hickory wind take you home…   

U2 – Walk to the Water – The Joshua Tree Sessions – 1987 – Track 13

A song infused with longing and lost lust… a whole world within a grain of song. Bono lays bare some random lives…Eno and Lanois bring their miasma to the mix…. One of Bono’s best howls…

Explosions in the Sky – First Breathe After Coma – The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place Track 14 So, after a brief hour in the desert we bliss out to Explosions In The Sky…a so-called post-rock band – whatever the hell that is – the drifting roll of their music ends our sojourn amongst the sand and birds and rocks and thing….