The Far West: L.A.'s Best Country Band

The Far West is an alternative-country band from Los Angeles, California, comprised of musicians Lee Briante, Robert Black, Erik Kristiansen and Tony Sanborn.

The band's 2011 debut album, The Far West, has made an impact on the L.A. country charts and is garnering the attention of music critics in America and overseas with its straight-forward Americana appeal.

Californiality is categorically labeling The Far West as "the best L.A. country music act of 2011," and here's why:

The Far West takes country music where it should be by now in 2011 - technically pure, slightly jaded, no-nonsense and honest with stellar storytelling for the every-man.

The songwriting, musicianship and production quality on The Far West album is superb, so nothing more needs to be said.  It simply must be heard.

The four band members have grafted their backgrounds together well - from the East Coast, the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, and even the coast of Sweden - and listeners can hear their collective experience in their sound.

The Far West album's eclectic blend is deliciously difficult to define.

Looking at track titles like "Bitter, Drunk & Cold," "The Best Company Misery Ever Had," "Tears On The Pillowcase," "Bound To Lose," "Not Far To Fall," "Where I Get Off," "I'll Never Drink Again," "A Town Called Lonesome" and "What's Done Is Done," one might think this is a new Amy Winehouse album. 

Many describe it as "Waylon Jennings meets Wilco," which is great but rather limiting.  Perhaps The Far West sound is better described this way:

Imagine a younger, better-sounding, better-looking, Bob Dylan singing more cynical lyrics with the vibe of Johnny Cash and the detached post-punk attitude of New Wave after surviving 9/11, the Great Recession and insensitive lovers who don't give a damn.

Make the lead vocal breathless, whining, forceful, detached, wistful, vulnerable, bitter and sensitive - all at the same time.

Now back that voice with an authentic country-western-folk ensemble, throw in some Americana flavor, and produce it to sound dusty, gritty and well-worn but still commercially slick - ala The Eagles - but more bar-friendly.

That, my friends, is The Far West.  Cool, indeed, and surprisingly industry-ready for being so newly-formed.

The Far West formed last year, each member having left other bands to pursue a new sound - and a new sound is what The Far West has conjured-up amid L.A's rather blase' recording industry scene.

Gigs?  Yes.  Repeat gigs?  Yes.  Hot album?  Yes.  5-star rating on Amazon?  Yes.  Fan base in several states?  Yes.  Marketable?  Yes.  Major label deal?  No, shockingly.

Somebody smart will sign The Far West quickly and take the band out of Indie-Land forever.

The feedback from the band's appearance at the 2011 SXSW festival in Austin includes expressions like "Revolutionary," "Classic," "Phenomenal" and "Wow!" so, obviously, fans are not deaf - and they still have money to purchase albums.

The music industry, gun-shy as it is these days in an insecure economy, can benefit by listening a little more closely to what's exploding today on L.A.'s Indie scene.

The Far West is a rare gem in the world's biggest pile.

THE FAR WEST MUSIC VIDEOS