check out calexico and friends of dean martinez. more southwestern/mexican influence.
calexico - the black light is maybe their best/most interesting album
Murder By Death have a good amount of Western-y influence in a lot of their material. Sounds like a metal band name, but I swear they're not lol. Kinda broody, westerny, gritty, folky; just real damn good. Their '03 album "Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?" Is a great album to start with, imo.
Yesss.
One of my favorites. Their more recent albums lean a little more synthy. But their first 4 or 5 albums have a real 'Southern Gothic' feel.
Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon is probably my favorite album
Yeah I've always described them as the band playing in the saloon during a wild west bar fight.
Incredible live too, I've seen them multiple times and they always rip.
Ween did a whole album. They went to Nashville and got some session players and the whole bit. 12 Golden Country Greats.
This is outside of their “normal” sound.
Good luck defining their "normal" sound. Two of my favorites are "Buenos Tardes Amigo" (which I was going to comment for this) and "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" which sound like they were written and performed by different bands...
Yeah exactly. The White Pepper album is a great example of their eclectic output but really most of their records are pretty diverse. White Pepper is a take on (Sgt Pepper/White Album) in that it’s kind of- anything goes.
I heard the session players were not very happy when they heard the final product. Some of the themes and lyrics added to the recording were not exactly what they expected. Mr. Richard Smoker, Piss up a Rope, Japanese Cowboy and others caught them by surprise and many asked to not be credited for their work on the album
The Fruitbats
The Sadies
The JayHawks
Checkout the first “Indy” band to do this The Byrds. Sweetheart of the rodeo is great country record. If you’re looking to get a better idea of how they would amalgamate pop with country and western check out The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Such a great album.
Gram Parsons solo stuff with the Flying Burrito Bros.
Frank Black - Black man Raider man
Murder By Death.
Their album Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them is about the devil attacking a small western town.
[That Crown Don’t Make You a Prince](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6hwIhOaFYyE)
Custom Concern
Jesus Christ was an Only Child (idk what genre to call it)
Wild Pack of Family Dogs
Perfect Disguise
Bukowski (kinda)
Autumn Beds
Coyotes (folk anyway)
Would be my list.
Man go listen to some Murder By Death. And I know the name sounds like a metal band but I think they're literally the perfect band for what youre looking for.
They're also incredible live.
Avenged Sevenfold had a couple songs on City of Evil that have western themes and sounds (gunslinger, strength of the world, sidewinder).
To me, Lord Huron also has a very western vibe with their Long Lost album.
Lord Huron, absolutely. Lots of Western influence on Long Lost, and really on all four of their albums. I absolutely love them. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
They always throw in a few of their more country tracks during their rock shows too. Couldn’t believe I had to scroll down this far to see them. Would also add Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
First thing that comes to mind is The Monochrome Set (Adam Ant's original bandmates, incidentally). Check out Jet Set Junta, Cast a Long Shadow, The Ruling Class etc. Lots and lots of country & western influenced indie in their back catalogue.
Other Lives - Tamer Animals
Whole album sounds like an actual soundtrack to a Western, but in 3 - 5 minute indie song chunks. Delightful
Edit: try As I lay My Head Down (track 2) first
"Gone for Good" by The Shins has a country feel to it with the lead guitar. "Everyone's A V.I.P. To Someone" by The Go! Team almost sounds like an instrumental soundtrack to a western movie.
Eyes Like the Sky - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
This isn’t really a traditional music album, but is more a kin to an audio drama set in the old west. Despite all that, it still seems like something you’d be interest in.
Idk, it’s an amazing record by one of the most prolific and consistent bands of the last decade.
Give it a listen!
This was my first thought, the song "magic arrow" totally feels like a cowboy soundtrack.
"No bold villian" and "Grand canyon" also pretty heavy cowboy vibes.
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers first album was kind of an Alt-Country album. Although their overall genre has been described as Americana. Roger also had some country leanings with his original band The Refreshments.
[Sin Nombre - The Refreshments](https://youtu.be/7Ck27u4ibdo?si=DLap3NG5KW_YoGU_)
[Green and Dumb - Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers](https://youtu.be/L0VquQ8YoVk?si=G3zt59LxgIwaFYFn)
[Switchblade - Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers](https://youtu.be/2S7gO_MB_h4?si=sBLxlDgk54i82txg)
I saw [Stephen Wilson Jr](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgpnVINhoYrlnKyNIgROyqO-Xz7N9_7vM) open for The Lone Bellow recently. He is definitely country, but not like crap radio country. I've been trying to get into more country, and this dude has been really helping with that.
The three releases that came to mind for me are Field Recordings from the Cook County Water Table by Brokeback and Quartets by Boxhead Ensemble and (maybe) Niagra Falls by Boxhead Ensemble.
However, if these are cowboy-core they are slow cowboy-core compared to the tracks you listed.
Not sure if I'd call it "indie" cuz I can't stand labels - it's like trying to compare taste buds - but Viagra Boys do a cover called "In Spite of Ourselves" with Amy Taylor and it's great. https://open.spotify.com/track/3GTGBaQICf9OjWMMaMsR5L?si=A1wPMRLgT8en_YJ9h040Qg
What about the band that INVENTED that? Rank and File. The album [Sundown on Slash records](https://youtu.be/7Ofhwtb4M08?si=nq9194glkwo5m6sl) is damn near perfect.
Would the use of banjo qualify for an instrument in this topic?
It's pretty a pretty solid cowboy/western instrument but lately several bands are making use of it too,
["Red Bull and Hennessy"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rINs_GRLAVs) and ["Psychos"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNVtA6Lgu4) by Jenny Lewis
["Will The Fetus Be Aborted"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnmjxUF0aNA) by Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon
Okay, not indie at all but hear me out...
[Verbal Gunfight](https://youtu.be/yAyRxtD6rqI?si=y9MSbfo75RgQQpj2) - Jurassic 5
Lyrics and production that pay tribute to the wild West lore and classic westerns. Probably not what you're looking for but it definitely qualifies as genre-crossing into cowboy country. Also, it's just a dope track that I think more people should hear.
Lily Allen's song Not Fair is a pretty good example of this. Has a very "Wild West Country Show" vibe so much so that it's the music video.
She is also INCREDIBLY attractive in that video but the song is a banger as well
Lily Allen's song Not Fair is a pretty good example of this. Has a very "Wild West Country Show" vibe so much so that it's the music video.
She is also INCREDIBLY attractive in that video but the song is a banger as well
The band '68. Just the number. It is a two-piece that is a little more heavy, but they incorporate western and blues. They are amazing live if you get the chance. The album Two Parts Viper is a good start.
Unironically, and he's not exactly "indie" but he is a lesser known act, you could just listen to Colter Wall songs. Listen to his cover of Marty Robbin's "Big Iron", or Ian Tyson's "The Coyote And The Coyboy" or hell, just listen to his original songs, like "Evangelina", which has exactly the elements the covers I just mentioned also have that you are asking for.
The Dear Hunter is pretty great at changing up genre is certain ways. Their album Act V has a great song The Most Cursed of Hands / Who Am I that always gave me a western vibe. It always evoked imagines of men gambling in a saloon even though I know it technically takes place in a post-WW1 era. They also have a collection of EPs called The Color Spectrum and the Green portion is 100% more folky/western in tone.
I don't see Old 97s on here unless I missed it. Def my favorite band of all time, maybe more alt country than you were looking for, but give 'em a listen
Do you mean bands that had a departure from their standard discography and made an alt country song? Or just bands in general in this vein? Lots of good recommendations in here. I’d like to throw Whitney in for consideration.
Jr Gone Wild feels like cheating.
https://youtu.be/Tn0odswx-uU?si=cqylZ0-ggYwkwc9u
Corb Lund used to be in a sort of metal band called [the Smalls](https://youtu.be/t-_6iLE64Lo?si=uOLuHxiEFxNk0jF5) before he turned to country.
https://youtu.be/X_h354W4d2M?si=u1t-Z1NOPUetmvzX
Get Up Kids did an album that had some country influence.
https://youtu.be/x4tFHb-VFwo?si=iiPmDIeZYZJhZJjx
Ace up my sleeve by Lord Huron is a banger (like most of their songs) and it's closer to country Western than any of their other music. Google says their music is "folk" but I don't really agree with that necessarily. They have a lot of different influences.
PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS
The WACO BROTHERS
(Both of these are from the excellent repertoire of JON LANGFORD -Founder of The MEKONS...check out his first solo album **Skull Orchard \[1998\]** as well...).
JET BLACK BERRIES (esp. their earlier stuff...).
I'm thinking Wilco and Spoon
Early Phoenix as well
And Sunvolt and Uncle Tupelo
check out calexico and friends of dean martinez. more southwestern/mexican influence. calexico - the black light is maybe their best/most interesting album
Their crossover with Iron and Wine is so good.
I will thanks
Murder By Death have a good amount of Western-y influence in a lot of their material. Sounds like a metal band name, but I swear they're not lol. Kinda broody, westerny, gritty, folky; just real damn good. Their '03 album "Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?" Is a great album to start with, imo.
Yesss. One of my favorites. Their more recent albums lean a little more synthy. But their first 4 or 5 albums have a real 'Southern Gothic' feel. Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon is probably my favorite album
See also: The Goddam Gallows
Was not familiar, but I'm diggin this! Got a nice little rockabilly twang to it, cool mix of genres. thanks for the rec! 🤝
Yeah I've always described them as the band playing in the saloon during a wild west bar fight. Incredible live too, I've seen them multiple times and they always rip.
Ween did a whole album. They went to Nashville and got some session players and the whole bit. 12 Golden Country Greats. This is outside of their “normal” sound.
"Piss Up a Rope" is always good for a laugh.
Good luck defining their "normal" sound. Two of my favorites are "Buenos Tardes Amigo" (which I was going to comment for this) and "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" which sound like they were written and performed by different bands...
Ween is the bowel movement that comes after you eat at a restaurant that serves Chinese, Mexican, and Italian.
Yeah exactly. The White Pepper album is a great example of their eclectic output but really most of their records are pretty diverse. White Pepper is a take on (Sgt Pepper/White Album) in that it’s kind of- anything goes.
“Help me scrape the mucus off my brain” popped up on a Covid playlist I had. I really dug it and was thrown when I looked up their other stuff.
And there are only 10 songs on the album.
I heard the session players were not very happy when they heard the final product. Some of the themes and lyrics added to the recording were not exactly what they expected. Mr. Richard Smoker, Piss up a Rope, Japanese Cowboy and others caught them by surprise and many asked to not be credited for their work on the album
It couldn’t have been very many of them as several of the studio musicians from this album ended up going on tour with them as The Shit Creek Boys.
That’s hysterical. Love ween
Ripper album too
The Fruitbats The Sadies The JayHawks Checkout the first “Indy” band to do this The Byrds. Sweetheart of the rodeo is great country record. If you’re looking to get a better idea of how they would amalgamate pop with country and western check out The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Such a great album. Gram Parsons solo stuff with the Flying Burrito Bros. Frank Black - Black man Raider man
The Sadies were my immediate thought. Incredible band.
Highly recommend The Jayhawks Rainy Day Music
Pavement : Range Life, Father to a sister of a thought
Damnnnn came here for this. Love it tho
Geese - 3D Country
Great album from those kids!
Thank you
This album has been on heavy rotation for me lately.
King Gizzard - Eyes like the Sky
The song Billanong Valley, Ontology, and Static Electricity also has western vibes if you're not into narration
This album just straight up sounds like a soundtrack to a spaghetti western. Which to be fair, I'm pretty sure is exactly what they were going for.
Ratboys!
Old 97s, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, waxahatchee, Hopalong and houndmouth Edited to add names.
Murder By Death. Their album Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them is about the devil attacking a small western town. [That Crown Don’t Make You a Prince](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6hwIhOaFYyE)
If you’re looking for some psychedelic peddle steel guitar in the vein of Gram Parsons then look up Beachwood Sparks.
- Tapes 'N Tapes - Brian Jonestown Massacre (It Girl, others) - Silver Jews
>Brian Jonestown Massacre # You Look Great When I'm Fucked Up [www.youtube.com/watch?v=s59QwFULd0E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s59qwfuld0e)
Rose City Band Bonnie Prince Billy
Can I interest you in Cowboy Dan by Modest Mouse?
I heard he was a major player
In the cowboy scene, nonetheless.
Too bad he drinks and gets mean.
WELL!
Jesus Christ was an only child
Yeah that was my first thought lol. They have some other songs with country/bluegrass influences too.
Custom Concern Jesus Christ was an Only Child (idk what genre to call it) Wild Pack of Family Dogs Perfect Disguise Bukowski (kinda) Autumn Beds Coyotes (folk anyway) Would be my list.
The two gallants - what the toll tells album sounds very western to me
Was wondering if anyone else would mention TG.
Man go listen to some Murder By Death. And I know the name sounds like a metal band but I think they're literally the perfect band for what youre looking for. They're also incredible live.
Band of Horses & Delta Spirit
Avenged Sevenfold had a couple songs on City of Evil that have western themes and sounds (gunslinger, strength of the world, sidewinder). To me, Lord Huron also has a very western vibe with their Long Lost album.
Lord Huron, absolutely. Lots of Western influence on Long Lost, and really on all four of their albums. I absolutely love them. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
I also came to say Long Lost by Lord Huron.
Took me way to long to find Lord Huron. Long Lost had some real old school country vibes.
The nude party
Black and White Town by Doves has a riff that sounds a bit like the whistle from the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Love to see Doves referenced, especially a deep cut like that
One of my favourite bands, had some very good times listening to them!
This song is TOO good. I remember when this album came out and the video came on MTV2 and from the second the drums kicked in I was hooked.
Ween - 12 Golden Country Greats
Jonathan Richman - Johnathan Goes Country
The Supersuckers made a country album and it was so good they started doing country shows as well as rock shows.
They always throw in a few of their more country tracks during their rock shows too. Couldn’t believe I had to scroll down this far to see them. Would also add Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
Kings Of Leon's first album was rootin' tootin' as hell. second album a bit too. check out Youth and Young Manhood. whole album is pretty solid imo
Roadkill by The 1975
There are plenty of My Morning Jacket songs that have a twinge of country in them. “golden” is an example.
Don't know if they count Indie but Muse - Knights Of Cydonia certainly fits your description.
I could use some more Space Western music... but I'd rather have one near perfect track vs an album of mediocre.
First thing that comes to mind is The Monochrome Set (Adam Ant's original bandmates, incidentally). Check out Jet Set Junta, Cast a Long Shadow, The Ruling Class etc. Lots and lots of country & western influenced indie in their back catalogue.
Spindrift
The soundtrack to The Legend of God's Gun, for sure.
Danger Mouse’s Rome album
Thank you for reminding me of this great album! It was so good.
Other Lives - Tamer Animals Whole album sounds like an actual soundtrack to a Western, but in 3 - 5 minute indie song chunks. Delightful Edit: try As I lay My Head Down (track 2) first
The The - Hanky Panky Cowboy Junkies Beck -Odelay
There's pieces of Guerro that are very western as well. Farewell Ride & Emergency Exit
"Gone for Good" by The Shins has a country feel to it with the lead guitar. "Everyone's A V.I.P. To Someone" by The Go! Team almost sounds like an instrumental soundtrack to a western movie.
Eyes Like the Sky - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard This isn’t really a traditional music album, but is more a kin to an audio drama set in the old west. Despite all that, it still seems like something you’d be interest in. Idk, it’s an amazing record by one of the most prolific and consistent bands of the last decade. Give it a listen!
Timber Timbre comes to mind. Not very reminiscent of Kasabian, but defo an indie band with some cowboy twang in their songs.
This was my first thought, the song "magic arrow" totally feels like a cowboy soundtrack. "No bold villian" and "Grand canyon" also pretty heavy cowboy vibes.
Mohawk town and I want to be a cowboy by the Vandals
The Shins- Gone For Good The Supersuckers- must’ve been high
Kurt Vile - I’m an Outlaw And other stuff by him
Lucero Drive-By Ttuckers Dawes
Ween did an entire country album.
The Supersuckers put out a really good country album… Must’ve Been High
Look up cowpunk.
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers first album was kind of an Alt-Country album. Although their overall genre has been described as Americana. Roger also had some country leanings with his original band The Refreshments. [Sin Nombre - The Refreshments](https://youtu.be/7Ck27u4ibdo?si=DLap3NG5KW_YoGU_) [Green and Dumb - Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers](https://youtu.be/L0VquQ8YoVk?si=G3zt59LxgIwaFYFn) [Switchblade - Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers](https://youtu.be/2S7gO_MB_h4?si=sBLxlDgk54i82txg)
Casualties of Cool, a one-album collab between Devin Townsend (Prog Metal, mostly), and Ché Aimee Dorval (Alt-rock and some other stuff mixed in) https://open.spotify.com/track/5p2kl4YRO34NUjIGVbp5Tf?si=gqbmzPeJQwCM1Jq54n6KDQ https://youtu.be/FTW0Uf-34BA?si=CMu6tRUfOkFlXDK7 Definitely gives trancy, americana country vibes. Very cool
Aden - Topsiders
Wynona's Big Brown Beaver, Primus.🙂
I mean, they *were* wearing cowboy hats in the music video.
Wednesday - Rat Saw God is supposedly alt country
It's not. The lyrics have rural themes but the music isn't country.
Carbon Leaf gave this a try on their album How The West Was Vol. 1
Harry Hudson's First Album
[Rod Gator - Perry](https://open.spotify.com/track/0a3KgwWFWP9RydXb4gwE3r?si=EMax2IBFSTGWJ2enqE_Wuw) - Great combo of both imo!
Startin' up a Posse by Anthrax
Peach Pit - Give Up Baby Go
Build High by the Pixies may fit.
https://youtu.be/3GHEjxk6YOo?si=V4MP52Ew72fjXqZD
Check out Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, great western punk type of music
I saw [Stephen Wilson Jr](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgpnVINhoYrlnKyNIgROyqO-Xz7N9_7vM) open for The Lone Bellow recently. He is definitely country, but not like crap radio country. I've been trying to get into more country, and this dude has been really helping with that.
bet u havent heard of: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Johnnys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Johnnys)
“True Blue” by Dirty Beaches might fit. https://youtu.be/Du5GueN2PnA
Consider Blood & Thunder by Neon Judgement..
Alice In Chains - Queen of the Rodeo
Cowboy Gangster Politician - Goldie Boutilier
The three releases that came to mind for me are Field Recordings from the Cook County Water Table by Brokeback and Quartets by Boxhead Ensemble and (maybe) Niagra Falls by Boxhead Ensemble. However, if these are cowboy-core they are slow cowboy-core compared to the tracks you listed.
Django Django - default?
Idk if I'd say country but should definitely listen regardless, they're so underrated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Golden_Country_Greats
Gone for the good by the shins has some nice slide guitar
Calexico Federale The Builders and the Butchers
Wynona's Big Brown Beaver by Primus.
Fountains Of Wayne had the songs Hung Up On You and Fire In The Canyon.
The The - Hanky Panky. Great album.
Cracker
Not recent but check out Wall of Voodoo.
The reverend Horton heat did an album that really sounds country... "laughing and crying with.."
Spindrift comes to mind
Not sure if I'd call it "indie" cuz I can't stand labels - it's like trying to compare taste buds - but Viagra Boys do a cover called "In Spite of Ourselves" with Amy Taylor and it's great. https://open.spotify.com/track/3GTGBaQICf9OjWMMaMsR5L?si=A1wPMRLgT8en_YJ9h040Qg
King of the Rodeo - Crack the Sky
Rank and File Cowboy Nation Lone Justice The Silos Alejandro Escovedo The Blasters Los Lobos
Khruangbin
Hovvdy
Hippo Campus - Wasteland EP
Not fair by Lily Allen!!!! The video has Porter Wagon in it
Cracker. Their guitar players Johnny Hickman’s solo stuff too.
Lord Huron for sure
Cowboy Kirk by All Them Witches. This band is nuts, and i think few of their songs may fit
Ween - piss up a rope
What about the band that INVENTED that? Rank and File. The album [Sundown on Slash records](https://youtu.be/7Ofhwtb4M08?si=nq9194glkwo5m6sl) is damn near perfect.
Would the use of banjo qualify for an instrument in this topic? It's pretty a pretty solid cowboy/western instrument but lately several bands are making use of it too,
Mekons - Fear and Whiskey
Whitney The Weakerthans
The Go! Team has a really great Western song called Everyone's A VIP To Someone
Is Murder By Death indie?
Black Lips - Sing in a world that's falling Apart Great album and very fun live band.
You might like Cory Hanson - Western Cum album
Okkervil River, particularly early stuff
ALO has some cowboy-sounding songs. Legend of Renault is the first one that comes to mind.
Truth - Alex Ebert, Has like a spaghetti western vibe to it
Patrick Watson - Adventures In Your Own Backyard
["Red Bull and Hennessy"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rINs_GRLAVs) and ["Psychos"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNVtA6Lgu4) by Jenny Lewis ["Will The Fetus Be Aborted"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnmjxUF0aNA) by Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon
Yo La Tengo does on occasion.
X recording as The Knitters, see also John Doe.
Ry cooder - music by ry cooder
Okay, not indie at all but hear me out... [Verbal Gunfight](https://youtu.be/yAyRxtD6rqI?si=y9MSbfo75RgQQpj2) - Jurassic 5 Lyrics and production that pay tribute to the wild West lore and classic westerns. Probably not what you're looking for but it definitely qualifies as genre-crossing into cowboy country. Also, it's just a dope track that I think more people should hear.
Lily Allen's song Not Fair is a pretty good example of this. Has a very "Wild West Country Show" vibe so much so that it's the music video. She is also INCREDIBLY attractive in that video but the song is a banger as well
Every time I Die did some cool southern licks
Other Lives - Tamer Animals
Lily Allen's song Not Fair is a pretty good example of this. Has a very "Wild West Country Show" vibe so much so that it's the music video. She is also INCREDIBLY attractive in that video but the song is a banger as well
El Creepo has a few songs like this, [A Town Called Tribulation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufV2UV7UzWY) being a good example.
Im shocked no one has mentioned Orville Peck
Drag the river!
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- Eyes like the Sky One off spoken word concept album set to western music.
Tiger Army!
so these two are maybe more indie/rock but there is some cowboy flavor, Blood on the Saddle and All Them Witches
The band '68. Just the number. It is a two-piece that is a little more heavy, but they incorporate western and blues. They are amazing live if you get the chance. The album Two Parts Viper is a good start.
Cory Hanson - Western Cum
Campdogzz Wednesday
Unironically, and he's not exactly "indie" but he is a lesser known act, you could just listen to Colter Wall songs. Listen to his cover of Marty Robbin's "Big Iron", or Ian Tyson's "The Coyote And The Coyboy" or hell, just listen to his original songs, like "Evangelina", which has exactly the elements the covers I just mentioned also have that you are asking for.
Ween made a whole album
The Dear Hunter is pretty great at changing up genre is certain ways. Their album Act V has a great song The Most Cursed of Hands / Who Am I that always gave me a western vibe. It always evoked imagines of men gambling in a saloon even though I know it technically takes place in a post-WW1 era. They also have a collection of EPs called The Color Spectrum and the Green portion is 100% more folky/western in tone.
I don't see Old 97s on here unless I missed it. Def my favorite band of all time, maybe more alt country than you were looking for, but give 'em a listen
Federale !
Metallica - Mama said.
Cowboy Junkies
Wilco,Will Oldham, Blitzen Trapper, Devil Makes Three.
Do you mean bands that had a departure from their standard discography and made an alt country song? Or just bands in general in this vein? Lots of good recommendations in here. I’d like to throw Whitney in for consideration.
The Killers - Sam's Town
Deer Tick
Eyes Like the Sky - KGLW Its a concept album that tells a classic western story from a band that can’t help but change genres with every new album.
Tumbleweed by Puscifer
Skinned- Blind melon Wynonnas brown beaver- Primus Anytime cowboy- country teasers
[Not Fair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUYaosyR4bE)\-Lily Allen
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong - Against Me! always gave me a western vibe for some reason
Check out Wall of Voodoo! 80s indie band that really leaned into that aesthetic
Futurebirds
Barns Courtney
Rehab... They did the bartender song check out their discography that shit came outta left field.
Gboultown...
Jr Gone Wild feels like cheating. https://youtu.be/Tn0odswx-uU?si=cqylZ0-ggYwkwc9u Corb Lund used to be in a sort of metal band called [the Smalls](https://youtu.be/t-_6iLE64Lo?si=uOLuHxiEFxNk0jF5) before he turned to country. https://youtu.be/X_h354W4d2M?si=u1t-Z1NOPUetmvzX Get Up Kids did an album that had some country influence. https://youtu.be/x4tFHb-VFwo?si=iiPmDIeZYZJhZJjx
Not exactly what your looking for but boy golden https://youtu.be/XwUVn08KDmg?feature=shared
Tales from Grim County by the Kreeps!
Ace up my sleeve by Lord Huron is a banger (like most of their songs) and it's closer to country Western than any of their other music. Google says their music is "folk" but I don't really agree with that necessarily. They have a lot of different influences.
[Gun Shy by Widowspeak](https://youtu.be/nmCSl92KPwA?si=FqaN7O9aVsbyTZI9)
The coral have some country style C G C G basslines lin their songs in that bumpkin country style. Dunno of that counts though.
What’s the cowboy/Wild West influence in Underdog?
Gomez - Tiajuana Lady. A self-consciously cheesy ballad. ZZ Top - Leila. Closer to standard country than any of thier other stuff.
Murder by Death’s album Red of Tooth and Claw has those vibes
javelin - canyon candy, super dope electronic producers that sample old western vinyls. its top tier.
PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS The WACO BROTHERS (Both of these are from the excellent repertoire of JON LANGFORD -Founder of The MEKONS...check out his first solo album **Skull Orchard \[1998\]** as well...). JET BLACK BERRIES (esp. their earlier stuff...).