Last updated: 2 days ago
Formed in early 1991 in NYC, the Trailside Rangers were probably the most "alt" of the early Alt Country scene. Having all cut their teeth in punk/alternative/avant/noise bands, (both together and separately), three of the members came together just to help songwriter/guitarist Joe Wilford flesh out some new material.
A few months later the band started gigging in all the big clubs in NYC at the time: CBGB, Continental Divide, Brownies, Under Acme and the rest, as well as Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ and the Court Tavern in New Brunswick. Fans were drawn to Wilford and Bishop's Everly Brothers-like harmonies, guitars that alternately jangled and raged, and Wilford's earnest, haunting songwriting. "At the time Joe was really into the great american novelists like Faulkner and Steinbeck" says Bishop. "He often would read a book and write a song based on it."
1993 saw the release of their first cd, "Peacemaker". The disc contained tales of confusion and rebirth, ways lost and the lament of murder. Journalists from CMJ Music Report, The Noize and The Big Takeover all praised the cuts inside, drawing analogies to Dwight Yoakum, Husker Du, The Long Ryders, X and Neil Young.
A few months later the band started gigging in all the big clubs in NYC at the time: CBGB, Continental Divide, Brownies, Under Acme and the rest, as well as Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ and the Court Tavern in New Brunswick. Fans were drawn to Wilford and Bishop's Everly Brothers-like harmonies, guitars that alternately jangled and raged, and Wilford's earnest, haunting songwriting. "At the time Joe was really into the great american novelists like Faulkner and Steinbeck" says Bishop. "He often would read a book and write a song based on it."
1993 saw the release of their first cd, "Peacemaker". The disc contained tales of confusion and rebirth, ways lost and the lament of murder. Journalists from CMJ Music Report, The Noize and The Big Takeover all praised the cuts inside, drawing analogies to Dwight Yoakum, Husker Du, The Long Ryders, X and Neil Young.