JACKSON, Wyo. — Bridging the gap between the pioneering era of cosmic country-rock when cowboys, hippies and rockers all found a seat at the bar together, Coyote Queen is the newest project to surface in the Teton music scene. The sextet was spearheaded by guitarist/vocalist Mike Swanson, his wife and vocalist Kate Swanson, guitarist/vocalist Jon DeGroot, bassist/electric pianist/vocalist Brock Benjamin, and later joined by violinist Matt Herron and drummer Jason Baggett. The sextet will play their debut show at the Silver Dollar Showroom tonight.
A talented group of musicians, Coyote Queen concentrates their vintage-heavy repertoire on material from the late 60s to early 70s, which was a turning point for country away from the traditional. Willie Nelson brought hippies and cowboys together in a way that would launch the progressive country scene in Austin. Gram Parsons was central to the Southern California country rock sound as a member of The Byrds, International Submarine Band, Flying Burrito Brothers, and then released his seminal debut album GP in 1973 — the same year he passed away at age twenty-six. Parsons’ friendship with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones can be heard as a significant influence on the Stones’ ragged masterpiece Exile on Main Street (1972). The circular influences happened relatively quickly, and even Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline (1969) borrowed from the Byrds’ landmark album Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
Twang was being created in ways that weren’t necessarily Southern based or accent-influenced. Pedal steel guitar and Fender Telecaster guitars modeling pedal steel sounds was signature to the cosmic tones. For Mike Swanson, some of his attraction to the subgenre can be tied to single guitarist with a modified instrument.
“I think I started down this path with me being a bluegrass musician and having some idols in that space, like Clarence White, with his B-Bender Telecaster as a part of The Byrds,” said Mike, who was also a member of local bluegrass band Wood Smoke Rising. “Then really looking into how folk rock, hippy rock started using country sounds but were not commercial successes at the time.”
For those that are wondering what a “B-Bender” is as related to the twangy country sound, Wikipedia states: “a B-Bender is a guitar accessory that enables a player to mechanically bend the B-string up by as much as a minor third (three frets). There are several different designs, but all use levers or pulleys inside or outside the guitar body that are activated by a pull or push of the guitar neck, body, or bridge.”
As for other members, Degroot has played in several roots groups over the years including Steam Powered Airplane and currently, bluegrass trio PTO, which Benjamin is also a member of, picking the banjo in that group. Baggett is a current member of One Ton Pig, Aaron Davis & the Mystery Machine, and Tasha & the Goodfellows, among others. Herron is also in One Ton Pig, plays often with Canyon Kids, and performs with the Swanson’s in a trio setting.
As for Kate Swanson, she grew up in Vermont with a background in piano and choir, winning a couple of Maple Sugar Festival Talent Shows as a kid. Music was a big part of her upbringing, and shared the taste for roots music with Mike when they first met. The two have performed as a Duo at the Hootenanny for the last several years, honing their folk harmonies.
Coyote Queen will also be covering contemporary Americana and folk artists that have been in the Swanson’s wheelhouse over the last several years in their duo and trio sets, such as Tyler Childers, John Prine, Gillian Welch, and Mandolin Orange.
“I have some original material that I’ve been sitting on as well that would fit it pretty well, and the guys are open to it,” Mike added. “I haven’t stopped writing. It’s always an effort getting a band together and establishing the repertoire, so once we get past this little milestone, I hope to get back to that.”
Coyote Queen, 7:30 to 11 p.m. Thursday, January 23 at the Silver Dollar Showroom. Free.
