Country Meets Synthesizers | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Country Meets Synthesizers

Shooter Jennings' last album "Countach (For Giorgio)" blends the electronic music of Giorgio Moroder with his blues/country roots

When your father is a country music legend, the odds are good that some of that talent flows through your veins. But don't write Shooter Jennings off as a carbon copy of his father (though he did play him in the Johnny Cash biopic, "Walk the Line"). Son of Waylon Jennings, Shooter has established his own name and reputation in "outlaw" country music. The younger Jennings has his own set of influences and surprised everyone with his latest release "Countach (For Giorgio)."

"Countach (For Giorgio)" pays tribute to electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder. You heard that right, electronic music. Moroder, an Italian singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer, often gets credit as being the father of electronic dance music. You may recognize his work from the score of "Scarface" and "The Neverending Story," the latter of which Jennings cites as a major influence of his musical foundation.

For "Countach," Jennings recruited some big names, who you may or may not have paired with him in the past. For "The Neverending Story," Jennings duets with indie folk-rock badass Brandi Carlile in a dreamy, '80s-esque tribute to Moroder. "Cat People," a David Bowie cover, pairs Jennings with the Antichrist Superstar himself, Marilyn Manson. Jennings interprets the songs of Moroder through a tasteful and refined lens. That and lots of synthesizers, something not too common in a country musicians recording studio.

Whether—or not—you're as excited about a blues/country take on the electronic music of Moroder as some of us, Jennings also performs the outlaw country he's best known for. Waymore's Outlaws, the band formerly knows as The Waylors, features members of his famous father's backup band. This current run with Waymore's Outlaws will also be their final. Jennings captured the performances with a Record Store Day live release on April 22. "Shooter Jennings & Waymore's Outlaws: Live" was recorded at two shows in West Virginia and North Carolina, featuring Waylon classics and songs from Shooter's catalog.

For fans of Southern rock, blues, outlaw country and, surprisingly, electronic music, there's something for everyone when Jennings performs. Catch Jennings with his father's band on their last run together, for free, at the Bite of Bend.

Shooter Jennings

Sat., June 24. 8:30pm.

Downtown Bend - Bite of Bend Music Stage

On Minnesota Ave. between Bond St. and Lava Rd.

No cover


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