Rock-tober: Day 26

While I know this is Rock-tober, let me take a moment to acknowledge America's bluegrass and country heritage. Music from this genre has a certain sound to it, the "twang" that comes from its deep bluegrass roots that most people love or hate. Music from this genre is also slower than your typical rock ballad. I believe it's because these songs actually tell a story - something hard to do if you're riffing on a guitar at 120 beats a minute.

Call it Southern Rock, Rock-a-Billy, or whatever; there's no denying groups like Marshall Tucker, Skynrd, and Molly Hatchet have influenced and are influencing the sound of rock and roll.

Copperhead Road, was released by Steve Earle in 1988. While definitely in the rock category, there's no mistaking the country influence. The title track, "Copperhead Road", opens with what sounds like synthesized bagpipes before easing into a lilting bluegrass rhythm.

Earle then regales you with the history of three generations of the moonshining Pettimore clan and their troubles with revenuers, the local sheriff, and the DEA. Toss in a souped up "big black Dodge", the Vietnam War, and "some seeds from Colombia and Mexico", and you've got the makings of a pretty intriguing story.

I've been told that a certain relative of mine was a bit of a bootlegger in his day. While working the oil fields in Saudi Arabia, he developed his own hooch recipe. So, in the heart of the Arabian kingdom with some pretty draconian penalties hanging over him if caught, he was distilling and selling 'shine. Dude had some brass ones.

I wonder if he still has the recipe.