Peacemaker

Formed in early 1991 in NYC, the Trailside Rangers were probably the most 'alt' of the early Alt Country scene. Having all cut their teeth in punk/alternative/avant/noise bands, (both together and separately), three of the members came together just to help songwriter/guitarist Joe Wilford flesh out some new material. After a few rehearsals, Wilford, Duane Larson (bass) and Rowan Bishop (really a guitar player, but at the time filling in on drums) were already thinking to make it a serious band. After a few months of writing, Bishop moved back to guitar and they advertised for a real drummer. Len Wexler of Queens NY auditioned and ultimately got the gig. A few months later the band started gigging in all the big clubs in NYC at the time: CBGB, Continental Divide, Brownies, Under Acme and the rest, as well as Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ and the Court Tavern in New Brunswick. Fans were drawn to Wilford and Bishop's Everly Brothers-like harmonies, guitars that alternately jangled and raged, and Wilford's earnest, haunting songwriting. 'At the time Joe was really into the great American novelists like Faulkner and Steinbeck' says Bishop. 'He often would read a book and write a song based on it.' Larson and Wexler provided stripped down, upbeat rhythms. Mostly, though, the band expanded people musical horizons: Many fans (and later music journalists) offered comments like 'I've never cared for country music, but i really like you guys.' 1993 saw the release of their first CD, 'Peacemaker'. The disc contained tales of confusion and rebirth, ways lost and the lament of murder. Journalists from CMJ Music Report, The Noize and The Big Takeover all praised the cuts inside, drawing analogies to Dwight Yoakum, Husker Du, The Long Ryders, X and Neil Young. The success of the disc set the stage for their next releases, 'The Great Divide' (out of print) and 'Promise and Prayer' (available here on CD Baby.)