Old 97's

One of the most popular bands in the alternative country movement's rock & roll wing, Old 97's hailed from Dallas and drew their inspiration from classic country, bar band rock, the raw sound of early punk, and -- especially on their later records -- the tight songcraft of power pop.



The band was formed in 1993 by singer/guitarist Rhett Miller and bassist Murry Hammond; Miller had previously played around the Dallas area as a folksinger and a British-style pop devotee and actually earned a creative writing scholarship to Sarah Lawrence College but dropped out to return to Texas and concentrate on music. When he teamed up with Hammond, his original material was allowing the influence of Texas country to seep in. The two soon added lead guitarist Ken Bethea and recorded their initial demo tape at Austin's famed Cedar Creek studio. Drummer Philip Peeples also came on board, and in 1994, Old 97's issued their debut album, Hitchhike To Rhome, on the indie label Big Iron. It received positive reviews and began to build the group's alt-country fan base, which they consolidated on the follow-up, Wreck Your Life. Issued on alt-country stalwart Bloodshot Records in 1995, Wreck Your Life fleshed out the group's sound and presented them as a sharp, eclectic country-rock outfit.

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