Chris Guenther & the Honky Tonk Drifters

Chris Guenther American Outlaw Vol.1 Blackboard
Washingtonian multi-instrumentalist and committed honky tonk artist Chris Guenther has been releasing albums for over twenty years and AMERICAN OUTLAW Vol.1 is his seventh studio recording. A stalwart of the Washington country music scene, Guenther divides his time between playing dancehalls with his backing band The Honky Tonk Drifters and weekly solo acoustic residencies.

You need to dig deep to source background information on Guenther, which is surprising given the quality of his recordings. He is heart and soul classic country and a trawl through his back catalogue reveals some quality records that somehow passed me by. THE CROSSING from 2010 and THE 5th, released three years later, are both packed with tear-stained country ballads, all presented with vocals that recall the stylings of George Jones and Buck Owens.

Guenther’s latest offering plays out like a soundtrack to a classic spaghetti western movie of the 60s. Featuring ten self-penned tracks, two of which are instrumentals, it’s very much a country and western project with emphasis on the ‘western’. The ‘Outlaw’ reference in the title relates more to the characters in the songs rather than Guenther paying tribute to Waylon and Willie. We hear of three amigos on the rampage on Sam Bass (Sam, Joe, and, I), robbing and looting and drawn to the desperado lifestyle, more inspired by the buzz of the challenge than the monetary gains. The predatory bank and train robbers The Dalton Brothers, of the late 19th century are recalled in The Dalton Raid, while the track Hangman’s Pole, not surprisingly, is a reminder of the inevitable consequences of the outlaw way of life. Trail Rage, complete with whistling intro, tells the tale of the folk icon and gunfighter John Wesley Harding and the final days of lawman ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok is recalled in Dime Novel Hero.

This is a hugely impressive album that will be lapped up by lovers of the classic country and western sound of yesteryear. More than that, the results are spectacular in places, no more so than on the Morricone-styled instrumentals Five Joaquins and The Shootist. Typifying an artist steeped in the sound of the celebrated country singers of the 60s, AMERICAN OUTLAW Vol.1 opens a door to a musical feast from start to finish. Here’s hoping there are more volumes to follow.

Review by Declan Culliton - Lonesome Highway

Chris Guenther – American Outlaw Vol. 1, has applied generous shakes from the Morricone dispenser to flavor this Big West-style collection. Fans of that effect should savor it.
The pleasant-voiced Washingtonian plays a staggering array of stringed and other instruments, and his strong arrangements and musicianship elevate this group of his originals to an upper tier. The CD’s two instrumentals are particularly Spaghetti Westernesque (“The Shootist” and Five Joaquins”). Other picks include “Trail Rage” (about John Wesley Hardin), “Sundance” (about the other ‘Kid’), “Dime Novel Hero” (Wild Bill’s demise which was doubtlessly covered in them), “Goodnight From The Goodnight Loving Trail” (featuring fiddler Kate McManus) and “Atcheson Topeka & Santa Fe” (nope, different song).
Only infrequently do we encounter the classic Big West sound these days in releases, but you will notice Chris Guenther has dubbed this “Volume One.” So it seems more is on the way! Ten tracks, highly recommended.
CD: $18 ppd through chrisguenthermusic.com or from Blackboard Records, PO Box 38, Salkum, WA 98582.
– by Rick Huff - When the Cowboy Sings

f you frequent Lewis County’s theaters, bars, or the many festivals that populate the area on weekends, chances are you’ve seen Chris Guenther. Whether playing solo, performing with his trio the Honky Tonk Drifters, or overseeing a tribute show to legendary country artists, Chris has been a notable presence in our growing community.

A native of Mossyrock, Chris grew up in a musical household. “My mom was a drummer and acoustic guitar player, and she gave me the basics to get started,” he says. “Then it was off to the races from there, going to grange hall jam sessions or any place you could play to cut your teeth.”

Growing up, Chris was influenced by the Bakersfield country sound and its most famous alum. “Merle Haggard is one of my favorites,” he says. “When I bought my first guitar, I wanted a Fender Telecaster so I could be like those Bakersfield artists.” Other musicians that helped shape his musical direction include George Strait, Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, and the Highwaymen.

While in high school, Chris formed the first incarnation of The Honky Tonk Drifters, his backup band that’s been accompanying him for nearly two decades. In addition to local performances, the Drifters hit the road with him whenever there’s an out-of-town show. “If we go over the mountains, economically a four-piece is all you can take with you,” Chris says.

At a recent show at The Chehalis Theater, Chris paid tribute to the outlaw country movement to an enthusiastic audience. In addition to excellent renditions of classic songs, the performance acted as an interactive music documentary, with Chris narrating the history of the outlaw country movement as photos of the artists were displayed behind the band. “It’s easier to tell the story when you can talk with pictures.”

The show was divided into three parts: first, the early influencers such as Hank Williams, George Jones, and Johnny Cash, as well as country-influenced rock and roll artists like Buddy Holly. Act II chronicled the peak outlaw country movement of the ‘70s, where country and western, the burgeoning southern rock movement, and various other musical styles coalesced into a rebellious and authentic new sound by artists who didn’t fit the Nashville mold. The final portion of the show was devoted to newer artists like Chris Stapleton who carry the outlaw torch in this age of outdoor festivals and streaming media.

From the familiar opening chords of the Man In Black’s “Folsom Prison Blues” onward, audience members of all ages left their seats to dance. The crowd’s reaction after each set proves that the honesty of outlaw country music still strikes a chord.

“There’s an authenticity to it,” says Chris. “Kind of like Hank Williams – they lived the life they sang, and that might have not always been the case, but they marketed it well, so it seemed like that was the case. [The songs are] about holding down a good job despite the fact that you can’t find one, or dealing with relationships and domestic struggles, and you just don’t see that maturity in current music anymore.”

In addition to mother Melody on the drums, Chris’s sons Isaac and Elias played keyboards at The Chehalis Theater show. “I call it a music apprenticeship program, because they’ve just started,” Chris says. “We’ll sit there and work out parts at the house. These shows have pushed them to work their chops.”

Another part of Isaac and Elias’s apprenticeship: backing Chris up at his RV park shows this summer. “We started doing those types of venues about five years ago, got in with the regional RV parks like Thousand Trails, and played a few of their parks around the I-5 corridor,” says Chris. “Then the locally-based private camps found out about us.”

At ChehalisFest 2019, Chris performed a solo acoustic set off of Market Street to passers-by and beer garden patrons. Chris’s powerful vocals, resonating over his stripped-down guitar, gave his versions of Eric Church and George Strait songs (among many others) an added emotional level. He also played his interpretations of well-known rock songs that have an underlying country influence, such as Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”

As far as future plans go, Chris is working on an album of non-fiction Western songs. “It’s in the demo process,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to get involved in the cowboy gathering scenes that include Western art and poetry, like the Spirit of the West in Ellensburg.” Always thinking forward, Chris mentions that another theater show based on Western music, history, and culture would have great potential in this area.

Increasingly, Lewis County bars, restaurants and theaters are adding live music to their calendars. Chris is grateful for the support and opportunities given to him by business owners and community organizers, and is optimistic that a distinct music scene will develop in the area. - Lewis Talk