Hipster Country in Jackson Hole

There has always been a little place in my heart that loves country music. I was able to spend the last week in Jackson Hole Wyoming with Ben's family. One of the favorite traditions we maintain is a night at the Bar J Ranch. If you've never been there it is a working ranch that provides dinner and entertainment every night during the summer. The entertainment is a 5 piece string band that plays classic western tunes. People . . . it is steak and a banjo. They fly a Texas flag. My son dances and claps in the aisle. They play the songs that my Grandma LaRue played while I was growing up. It's heaven on a cattle ranch.

However, while i love country music and i have a special place in my heart of Western music, I have a confession. I love "Hipster Country". Maybe it is because I live in Austin or maybe it is just that there are so many fantastic artists out there right now. But I really really LOVE "Hipster Country".

I'm not sure if this is really a genre but that is what Ben calls is. I like to think of it as a blend of folk, country and southern rock. Since I think we might have made up the genre, I get to decide who falls into this category, right?

So here are a couple of bands that I would definitely include:

• The Avett Brothers - "Pretty Girl from Michigan" is one of my favorites. It is super chill and lilting and full of country heart break. I also like "The Tin Man".


• The Court Yard Hounds - Made up of the two sisters from The Dixie Chicks. They have a fantastic album. I particularly love "See You in The Spring" that features Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers. Love the harmonies and the emotion of the chorus. Plus, I love the Dixie Chicks, so there ya go.


• Green River Ordinance - A Texan band. Listen to "Dancing Shoes" and try not to think of that fabulous time when you are just falling in love. Also they funded an album on Kickstarter. Love that.


• Band of Horses - I think they totally qualify as Hipster Country. However, Ben does not. He says they ate rock/folk. Since it is my post, I'm including them. Ben loves "No One's Gonna Love You" which means I also absolutely love it because I like to think that he is thinking of me when he listens to it.


• The Gabe Dixon Band - The band itself is fantastic but to make it even better, Gabe released a solo album that features Alison Krauss, the queen of hipster country .


• The Decemberists - "All Arise". There's a banjo. Need I say more? Ben always says, "Those kids who learned to play the banjo in the late nineties are feeling pretty good about that choice these days."


• ABC's Nashville. Particularly Clarie Bown and Sam Palladio - I may be more than a little obsessed with this show. Next season there will be a weekly recap. Listen to "I Will Fall." Then go give your honey a kiss. If you don't have one, maybe just go kiss a cute stranger. However, I'm not responsible if you get slapped.

Obviously there are numerous others like,The Civil Wars and The Lumineers. My 4 year old says "Ho Hey" is our song. So in the interest of sharing my "Hipster Country" love with the world I've put together a Spotify playlist. Many of my picks have been around for a couple of years but they are totally worth a listen. I've also included some old-school country. Dolly, Patsy, Willie and Hank all make an appearance.

Let me know if you think I've missed anyone important! Especially if it involves a banjo.

http://open.spotify.com/user/128563159/playlist/0fkl35OnWCzjkFoOD068M9