Alt-country remembers classic country

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A few weeks ago, I challenged the typical, characteristic dismissal by music snobs of the eminently talented Kid Rock. This week, I would like to point out one admirable trait of people who love indie music.

The Americana or alt-country genre that started with bands such as Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and Son Volt in the early '90s seems to be even more popular today. These days, when I go see local or regional acts at various Charleston clubs, half the time the groups could be described as alt-country. While some groups are better than others, it is pleasing to so often hear country classics from many of these acts, where it is not uncommon for a Hank Williams, Johnny Cash or Loretta Lynn tune to be pulled out at any time.

These odes are not unlike what Kid Rock also does on a regular basis, as the rapper/rocker/country artist often pays tribute to his favorite country legends by covering their songs or even referencing their names in his own songs ("I like Johnny Cash and Grandmaster Flash!" goes one popular Rock tune).

I was reminded once again of alt-country artists' deep respect for their country forebears while attending the Old 97's show at the Music Farm last Saturday, a nearly two-decade-old group responsible for popularizing the genre as any other. When the Old 97's ripped into "Mama Tried" by the great Merle Haggard, the mostly 30-something crowd went wild, many singing the lyrics along with the band.

In full disclosure, Haggard is my favorite songwriter of any genre, period. The man writes like people talk, yet even in his stark simplicity he somehow makes it sound poetic. Needless to say, anytime Haggard gets props, it makes me happy. Much like Kid Rock, the alt-country scene continues to give country legends of Haggard's caliber their just due.

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If the alt-country crowd continues to show respect for its musical past, the mainstream country crowd seems to suffer from permanent amnesia. Case in point: When the Old 97's pulled out "Mama Tried" by Haggard, the crowd ate it up. But when the opener for Kid Rock, talented country newcomer Jamey Johnson, performed Haggard's 1983 hit, "That's the Way Love Goes," at the North Charleston Coliseum earlier this month, it was obvious the audience was not familiar with the song.

Granted, Rock's audience is not made up entirely of country fans, and while both Haggard songs were No. 1 hits, the Old 97's choice is certainly better-known. But it is telling that rock music, which some might perceive as being more rebellious and youth-oriented, regularly pays more tribute to its forebears than country music does, a genre some might perceive as being more conservative and reverential toward tradition.

It's probably safe to assume that Kid Rock's audience is far more familiar with rock songs such as 38 Special's "Hold on Loosely" or Foghat's "Slow Ride" than virtually any Haggard song. Yet 38 Special had only two No. 1 hits. Foghat had none. Haggard had 38 No. 1 hits, and his career has spanned a half-century.

That rock legends regularly get more props than country legends is undoubtedly due to the prevalence of classic rock radio, of which country music has no comparable format, in terms of popularity or interest.

And that's a shame.