The Bottle Rockets

As ragged, rootsy Southern rockers, The Bottle Rockets strode against a tide of scowling grunge bands in the 1990s to build a loyal cult following and become part of an alternative country scene alongside the likes of Wilco and Drive-By Truckers that continues to thrive. Named after a bowling term, their heartland anthems came from their hometown of Festus, Missouri and borrowed from Neil Young's mix of earthy, folk and grizzly riffs, Springsteen's fist-pumping, blue collar storytelling, country's honky tonk twang and raucous bar-room blues hum. Front man Brian Henneman had been playing in local bands since the late 1970s before joining Jeff Tweedy's group Uncle Tupelo in the 1980s. As the cult indie favourites began to hit problems, Henneman and drummer Mark Ortmann formed The Bottle Rockets in 1992 and, after releasing their self-titled debut album, signed to Atlantic Records for follow-up 'The Brooklyn Side' in 1995. They toured with Lucinda Williams and Wilco (whose debut album Henneman played on) and released the alternative country classic '24 Hours a Day', but were hampered by contractual issues and hopped around different record labels before finding a home on Bloodshot Records in 2001. They celebrated their 15th anniversary with the 2008 'Live in Heilbronn, Germany' album but really returned to top form in 2015 with 'South Broadway Athletic Club', an emotional charged slice of dishevelled, dusty Americana rock and roll, delivered in oil-stained overalls and beaten up Telecaster guitars.

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