I've told this first story before, but...
When my wife and I started dating, she asked about the kinds of music I liked, and I replied in some way that indicated a clear disdain for "country" music.
The moment passed, and our life together proceeded, until one day, after we'd been living together for a while, she informed me, "You know, for a guy who doesn't like country music, you sure listen to alot of it."
I said, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, woman? I don't like country."
She laughed her laugh, and said, "Well, then, what do you call John Prine, Willie Nelson, Neil Young (acoustic,) Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Iris Dement, Uncle Tupelo, Red Meat, Son Volt, Colin Linden, Ricky Skags, Emmylou Harris, The Flatlanders, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, James McMurty (!), Johnny cash, Lucinda Williams, The Mavericks, Patty Griffin, Richmond Fontaine, Shelby Lynne, Townes Van Zandt, etc...?"
The best I could reckon was that the artists I like are "American Traditional." 
So, anyhow, I'm trying to decide who I think the founding father/mother/group of Alt Country would be.
In my life, it seems to have been somewhere in the 70's...Graham Parsons? Willie and The Outlaws (Waylon, Johnny, Merle, Willie?)
Who do you reckon to be the seminal figures of "Alt Country."
I guess if I had to narrow it down to one entity, I'd go with Willie, with a big assist from Mary Jane!
My wife teases me for being a country music fan, but the stuff on country radio is terrible. TERRIBLE! There's a difference, I swear! 
I've told this first story before, but...
When my wife and I started dating, she asked about the kinds of music I liked, and I replied in some way that indicated a clear disdain for "country" music.
The moment passed, and our life together proceeded, until one day, after we'd been living together for a while, she informed me, "You know, for a guy who doesn't like country music, you sure listen to alot of it."
I said, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, woman? I don't like country."
She laughed her laugh, and said, "Well, then, what do you call John Prine, Willie Nelson, Neil Young (acoustic,) Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Iris Dement, Uncle Tupelo, Red Meat, Son Volt, Colin Linden, Ricky Skags, Emmylou Harris, The Flatlanders, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, James McMurty (!), Johnny cash, Lucinda Williams, The Mavericks, Patty Griffin, Richmond Fontaine, Shelby Lynne, Townes Van Zandt, etc...?"
The best I could reckon was that the artists I like are "American Traditional."
So, anyhow, I'm trying to decide who I think the founding father/mother/group of Alt Country would be.
In my life, it seems to have been somewhere in the 70's...Graham Parsons? Willie and The Outlaws (Waylon, Johnny, Merle, Willie?)
Who do you reckon to be the seminal figures of "Alt Country."
I guess if I had to narrow it down to one entity, I'd go with Willie, with a big assist from Mary Jane!
My wife teases me for being a country music fan, but the stuff on country radio is terrible. TERRIBLE! There's a difference, I swear!