Dale Watson & His Lonestars
Dale Watson was doing alt-country back before the phrase had been coined for a genre then mainly peopled with moonlighting rockers seeking a new fan base by swapping out cowboy boots for Dr. Martens and bolo ties for tats. The Austin troubadour calls his own music Ameripolitan, transforming gen-you-wine hillbilly sounds with a punk rock approach that has been honed over the course of nearly three dozen albums since 1995. If you’re unfamiliar with Watson and his longtime backing band the Lonestars, you can get a fair idea of the sound, content, and vibe just from browsing album titles like The Truckin’ Sessions, Cheatin’ Heart Attack, Christmas in Texas, Preachin’ to the Choir, Whiskey or God, Under the Influence, Heeah!!, and the newest from last December, Blackjack. His October 2 Casbah appearance will be preceded by a performance from juke joint swinger Wayne “the Train” Hancock, now fully recovered from a serious 2014 motorcycle accident and back on the road in support of his newest record, Slingin’ Rhythm.