Rick Alan Carpenter
Outside Of Nashville
© 2005 Bent Fork Music BMI (644167052023)
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Traditional Country and Honky Tonk more Bakersfield than Nashville
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In an age when country music is dominated by contest winners, fresh-scrubbed adolescents, and pre-packaged pop (read "new") country pretenders, Rick Alan Carpenter is the genuine article. "I've been dead drunk, dead broke, divorced and damn near dead more than a few times" he intones. "I've successfully avoided success for 20 years." Carpenter has played as a sideman in numerous country and rock bands in Los Angeles as well as Nashville, where he currently resides. He has opened for everyone "from Boy Howdy to Van Halen, playing huge auditoriums, closet-sized bars, and every type of roadhouse and honkytonk in between."
Born "in the east" and raised "out west," Carpenter started playing the guitar at thirteen. "My mother played the piano and always entertained when people came over, so I caught the bug early on." He started playing bass as well and found out he could get more work as a bass player, because "everyone wanted to play guitar."
After a few years playing bass in several rock bands, Rick Alan rediscovered the country music he heard as a kid. "I had a friend who had thousands of records, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard , Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, all the great Bakersfield stuff, I felt reborn."
The "cowpunk" scene in LA had spawned Dwight Yoakam, The Blasters and Lone Justice, and the neo-traditional country sound appealed to Carpenter. "I played the Palomino, but was getting tired of California, and headed for Nashville with my guitars and a suitcase full of sad songs in '93."
Carpenter soon found out, however, that Nashville wasn't interested in real, traditional country music. "Perry Howard (Harlan's son) said I was old school, which I took as a compliment, though I don't think he intended it that way." Undaunted, Rick Alan kept writing and performing in bands and on writer's nights all over town. "I met Scott McEwen, a great stand up bass player who has played with Hank III, and Rosie Flores, and he encouraged me to record some songs at his studio."
The resulting sessions became the new CD "Outside of Nashville" a 6 song EP that showcases Carpenter's love of real country music. "The production is raw, the songs cut through, nothing like the slick sound Nashville currently favors," he says, "I'm very pleased!" Carpenter wrote all the songs and plays all the guitars , with help from Mark Horn (Derailers ) on drums, Carco Clave (Asleep at the Wheel) on steel/dobro, Jeremy Garrett on fiddle, McEwen on bass, Bob Grant on mandolin, and Randy Finchum singing back up vocals. Stand - out songs include "Same Old Heartache" and "Nothing Left to Lose (But the Blues)."
The struggle for recognition goes on, but recent shows at the Bluebird Café and the Hall of Fame Lounge in Nashville are certainly encouraging. "I get the feeling that real country is coming back strong" Carpenter states, "audiences are very responsive and, to me, that's all that matters."
© 2005 Rick Alan Carpenter
reviews
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- author: Dixie
Best thing to come out of Nashville in awhile. Easy on the ears and the eyes!
Now THIS is Country!
author: JBI just found out about Rick and it's good to know there are guys like him still playing real country music. I'm sick and tired of all the garbage I hear on "country radio" and shows like Nashville Star. You want to know what country music should sound like, here it is!
Wonderful CD
author: Joy JoyWonderful CD ...listen to it often. Love the sound of his country voice and the selection of music he sings.
- author: Bernard Boyat, Country Music Attitude, March 2006
"The singer's look on the cover could let us fear another "hot new country" clone. But far from it and Rick stands true to the title of the CD : musically outside of Nashville even though he lives there. Furthermore, he is no tenderfoot : he's been avoiding success for 20 years as he confesses in self-derision. There are only (unfortunately) 6 tracks on the CD, but all are real medium or uptempo honky tonk, with the undispensable ballad (Not again) to cry in your bourbon."
- author: Kenita Vanderslice
A wonderful addition to any collection of music! I love it! It is fantastic!!! - Country Interviews Online (Nov 5, 2005)
Good songs, great melodies
author: SixstringRick Alan Carpenter writes songs that are the essence of REAL country, loss and regret mixed with humor and irony. He finds catchy melodies that are rootsy one minute, bluesy the next. Hope he releases a full length CD soon!
good old fiddle and steel tear in your beer honky tonk
author: JDWStraight-up traditional, honky tonk. This is real country music, with a twist of irony. Same Old Heartache bounces along, almost makes heartache sound like fun. Not Again is dark and desperate, but Nothing Left to Lose..., and When The Big Money Comes show Carpenter's wry humor. My only complaint, not enough songs!