Grievous Angels

The Grievous Angels formed as an alternative country outfit in Tempe, Arizona, and issued several releases through Bloodshot Records. Comparable to the Old 97's, the group fuses country, rock, and bluegrass into an aggressive, high-velocity style; at live shows the musicians have been known to cover the Sex Pistols' "Bodies," while a separate acoustic configuration called Ned Beatty and the Inbreds focuses exclusively on bluegrass and folk material.

The ensemble took its name from Gram Parsons' influential 1973 country-rock album Grievous Angel. Frontman Earl C. Whitehead, also known as Russell Sepulveda, handles lead vocals, acoustic guitar, and the majority of the songwriting. Guitarist and vocalist Dan Henzerling co-produced the 1998 album Miles on the Rail and briefly collaborated with Robin Wilson during the 1980s in several projects, among them a short 1988 stint with the Gin Blossoms. Bassist Micky Ferrell spent years performing in Los Angeles prior to joining the band, while Jesus H. Navarro handles drums. The most recent addition, Jon Rauhouse, contributes steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, and Hawaiian guitar.

Bloodshot Records put out the band's first album, Angels and Inbreds, in 1995; New City of Sin followed in 1997, and Miles on the Rail appeared the next year.