For the past few years, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo have been branding Seattle clubs with their self-described “cowboy arena rock,” and, like a stubborn steer getting the flesh of its behind seared by a cowpoke, their music has a kick and puts up a fight.
That kick hits hard when you’re slamming down shots while listening to “Bring Me the Whiskey” and the fight comes strong on “Knock You Out.” Those songs perfectly encapsulate what Amaker and the Rodeo — bassist Sugar McGuinn, drummer Mason Lowe and guitarists Steve Davis and Ben Strehle — are about.
Their music is outlaw country that covers the traditional bases of lost loves, tears in beers and barroom brawls, with extra attitude. And while the music packs a wallop, it’s visual flair and showmanship that delivers the knockout punch and sells the essence of the Rodeo.
“People are either going to either love us or hate us right out of the gate because we put on a show,” Amaker said.
The show typically begins with Amaker taking the stage donning a red velvet cape. The cape is taken off by a stagehand, who hands Amaker sunglasses and black gloves before he and the Rodeo break into “Welcome to the Rodeo,” the opening track from the group’s 2008 release “Howdy Do!” Oh, and it is worth mentioning everyone on stage is dressed from head to toe in black, complete with cowboy hats and boots.
“I don’t know when bands decided to play and stare at their shoes, but people deserve a show,” Amaker said. “When I go to a show I want to see people putting on an event, so I try to do the same. Our goal is to put on an arena rock concert as cowboys.”
Sometimes part of that show involves what Amaker calls a “whiskey baptism.” This can happen during “Bring Me the Whiskey,” when shots of liquid courage are brought to the stage and Amaker “baptizes” fans into the Rodeo by pouring the shots down the hatches of the willing.
So what exactly inspired an outlaw country band in Seattle?
“We’re all fans of really good old country music you don’t hear anymore,” Amaker said. “It seemed like country music had become so crappy and worthless on mainstream radio. Once we started doing this thing it was so fun, it just seemed worthwhile.”
Another reason Amaker wanted to play country was to breathe some life back into music he loves.
“I felt there was a whole generation of people who grew up listening to a type of music that had no identity,” he said.
Part of that identity has been the outlaw cowboy image that has helped them find success in, of all places, Europe. Whenever the band goes overseas, members always wear their outfits.
“We dress the part and wear our matching outfits all the time,” Amaker said. “It’s easy to get a buzz going when you travel like that. I can’t tell you what a cool experience it is to go to another country like a cowboy 24/7. … It’s like a weird social experiment.”
While the cowboy lifestyle is cool, for Amaker it’s all about the music and the show.
“The bigger the stage and the better the light system the bigger the show we’re going to put on. It’s a spectacle,” he said.
