Premiere: Brent Amaker & the Rodeo – “Man in Charge”

Photo by: Chase Jarvis

Let your mind’s eye wander back to a time when men of honor were the backbone of local towns and stealing a man’s horse was an offense punishable by death. Urban Cowboys presided, and women bound themselves to their men who stood stoic, proud, and strong. Those times might seem long past, but Seattle’s own Brent Amaker & the Rodeo are bringing it back by way of their full-bodied western music with thick, ominous vocals to boot.

SSG has the pleasure to premiere “Man in Charge,” from Brent Amaker & the Rodeo’s October 19, 2010 release Please Stand By. “Man in Charge” has the quintessential elements of a classic country song: clean slide guitar, a pronounced lead guitar atop of an acoustic rhythm, and quiet drums that pull everything together.  But, what listeners will not be expecting is Brent Amaker’s brusque vocals. “Kill or be killed/find a way to feed/you’re gonna go hungry if you don’t know what you need” Amaker beckons in a foreboding tone. He continues with “I’m your worst fear/I’m your best friend/I’m a freight train comin’/comin’ round the bend.” Brent Amaker makes it clear that he’s the man in charge.

(Right click, “Save Link As” to download) Brent Amaker & the Rodeo – “Man in Charge”

Please Stand By will be released by Spark & Shine Records in a limited edition vinyl package along with a “For Adults Only” graphic comic book entitled ‘Mescal De La Muerte’, written by indie horror filmmaker Jay Cynik and illustrated by Simon Young. Look out for Brent Amaker & the Rodeo at Bumbershoot 2010, and at the brand new City Arts Fest.

Here’s the premiere peak at the comic art:

Here are Brent Amaker & the Rodeo’s tour dates:

9.06 BUMBERSHOOT FESTIVAL:
Mural Stage, Seattle WA 11:45am
(w/ Trampled By Turtles, The Thermals, The Raveonettes, Jamie Lidell, Mary J Blige, more)
10.22 HEINEKEN CITY ARTS FESTIVAL @ THE CROCODILE , Seattle WA
(Album Release Party @ City Arts Festival w/ Head Like A Kite)
10.27 YAKIMA SPORTS CENTER @ THE HAUNTED BORDELLO, Yakima WA
10.28 THE FILLING STATION, Bozeman MT
10.29 SIGNATURE’S, Mitchell, SD
10.30 5th ANNUAL SIOUX FALLS ZOMBIE WALK
10.31 NOMAD WORLD PUB, Minneapolis MN
11.01 ELBO ROOM, Chicago IL
11.02 OFF BROADWAY, St. Louis MO
11.03 TBD, Fayetteville, AR
11.04 CRYSTAL PISTOL SALOON, Tulsa OK
11.05 BEERLAND, Austin TX (w/ Los Skarnales)
11.06 CONTINENTAL CLUB, Houston TX (w/ Los Skarnales)
11.07 TBD, Tbd TX
11.08 TBD, El Paso TX
11.09 LOW SPIRITS, Albuquerque NM
11.10 HOTEL MONTE VISTA, Flagstaff AZ
11.11 DOUBLE DOWN SALOON, Las Vegas NV
11.12 DOLL HUT, Anaheim CA 10pm
11.13 TBD, San Francisco CA
11.14 TBD, Portland OR
11.20 HIGH DIVE, Seattle WA 10pm (w/ Virgin)