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Magic Bag Presents: Old 97's Ferndale Tour Dates & Concerts

Magic Bag Presents: Old 97's Ferndale Tickets

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  Old 97's

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Limited Seating. First Come, First Served. One of the most enduring bands in the alt-country community, Old 97s merged power pop melodies with classic country feel, anchored by the rock-solid twang of guitarist Ken Bethea and the emotive vocals of Rhett Miller, whose tales of romantic misadventure hit a sweet spot between yearning and swagger. The band first made a nationwide splash with their second album, 1995s Wreck Your Life, while their major-label debut, 1997s Too Far to Care, revved up their rock s soldiered on to become alt-countrys greatest survivors, playing fiery live shows and releasing spirited albums like 2014s insouciant Most Messed Up and 2020s rollicking but thoughtful Twelfth. Rhett Miller and Murry Hammond first partnered up in 1989, when Miller enlisted the latters help in producing his debut solo album, Mythologies. Although six years younger than Hammond, Miller proved to be a dedicated musician as he canvassed the Dallas club circuit, playing a blend of folk and British-styled pop to local audiences. He also displayed a knack for storytelling, having previously earned a creative writing scholarship to Sarah Lawrence College. One year after Mythologies release, Miller and Hammond teamed up once again, this time as part of the short-lived Sleepy Heroes. Although the Sleepy Heroes disbanded after issuing one album, the groups mix of pop and Texas-styled twang helped lay the foundation for Old 97s. Continuing to build upon that sound, Miller and Hammond linked up with lead guitarist Ken Bethea and recorded a demo tape at the Cedar Creek studio in Austin. Drummer Philip Peeples climbed on board shortly thereafter, and Hammonds childhood obsession with trains inspired the bands new name, which paid homage to the country ballad Wreck of the Old 97.With their lineup intact, Old 97s released the debut album Hitchhike to Rhome in 1994. It garnered positive reviews and began to build the groups alt-country fan base, which they consolidated on the albums follow-up, Wreck Your Life. Issued in 1995 by the newly formed Bloodshot Records - a label that would also launch the alt-country careers of Neko Case and Ryan Adams - Wreck Your Life presented Old 97s as a sharp, eclectic country-rock outfit with a pinup-worthy frontman. Such positive attention led to a major-label deal with Elektra Records, which hoped to translate the bands underground buzz into mainstream success.

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