Lariats of Fire

Shit-Kickin’ Honky-Tonk Music!

Lariats of Fire, steeped in the tradition of California country music, are giving the finger to modern pop-country. Born to raise hell (in the key of G), the Lariats serve up a full plate of cover tunes as well as their own cattle brand of honky-tonk, Western swing, and calliope country. In addition to the usual drinkin', gettin' lucky, quittin', and cryin' songs, the Lariats love to sing about food, foliage, and failure while tipping their hats to the likes of Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Bob Wills, and two out of three Hanks. The Lariats say "Dance, mother fuckers, dance!"

History

Lariats of Fire was born in October 2005 when East Bay music scene fixture and slide virtuoso Andrew Waegel (pedal steel), joined up with Sacramento country veteran and music scholar Jason Greenwald (guitar) and legendary film score composer Peter Marietta (bass). Deep in the subterranean caves of Iceland, they bled themselves into a goblet of pure silver and created Knuckle (often called Gonzo) to hold down the rhythm and to eat critics that wrote poor reviews.

After a year in the band, all four members found themselves out of prison at the same time, and decided to start playing music. They started as a Nordic metal band, but the audience wasn't receptive. They reinvented themselves as a 70's soft-rock cover band, and produced over a dozen gold records, touring throughout Asia and the Pacific Northwest to rave reviews. However, they were forced to go underground again when Gonzo (often called Knuckle by his friends) ate a small child who had asked for an autograph.

The third incarnation of the Lariats of Fire finds them twangin' and slidin' their way through the cultural morass of the Bay Area country music scene. Thus far, the sound of the pedal steel and Telecaster have tamed Knuckle (often known as Gonzo), and he has not eaten a single child since that horrible incident in Tokyo. Fans have been moderately receptive at best, and generally only come to shows when they are paid to do so.

The Lariats spend their days ropin' cattle, chawin' on baccy, and harassing unsuspecting passersby.