The Statler Brothers - The Essential Statler Brothers, 1964-1969

If you're about my age, you probably only know about the Statler Brothers from their cheesy early-'90s TNN variety show and their appearance on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack (and the scene where Bruce Willis sings along). But before they got old and fully embraced corn pone humor, the Statler Brothers laced their humor with a dark underside and an earnestness that makes one wonder exactly who is supposed to be laughing.

Listen:
The Statler Brothers - Half a Man
The Statler Brothers - Jump for Joy

Buy:
From Amazon

Forty Twenty - Lowdown and Dirty

I first saw Forty Twenty opening for BR549 in the spring of 2003. In the year that followed, they must have made the trip from Lincoln down to Lawrence or Kansas City another six or seven times, almost all of which I saw. Forty Twenty is a great country bar band, playing as long as three hours with no breaks, with no set list, and including a wide range of originals, classic country standards, and unexpected covers.

Forty Twenty regularly started off their shows with a cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" in medley with their original tune "The Wagon." (Ninebullets' recent post on "War Pigs" covers prompted me to post this.) In concert, they often interpolated standards into their own songs, invigorating the standards/bar band formula.

Listen:
Forty Twenty - Drink About Her
Forty Twenty - War Wagon (live medley: War Pigs/The Wagon)

Buy:
From Lone Star Music

This is America.

Listen:
Marty Stuart - Hobo's Prayer

Buy:
From Amazon