Biography
Known for the combustible blend of classic country ethos and vintage punk attitude that earned them the tag "Half Cash, half Clash," the Waco Brothers stand as Jon Langford’s most prominent venture beyond his foundational role in the Mekons. Their sound fused combative, politically charged material with mandolin, steel guitar, and classic honky-tonk phrasing, a combination showcased on 1997’s Cowboy in Flames. Although the project never targeted traditionalists, the conviction behind the performances left little doubt about the band’s authentic regard for the style. A tougher rock accent surfaced on 2000’s Electric Waco Chair; 2012’s Great Chicago Fire paired the group with Paul Burch, and they inaugurated Plenty Tuff Records with 2023’s The Men That God Forgot.
During the 1980s the Mekons began absorbing American country influences encountered on U.S. tours, an evolution documented on Fear and Whiskey (1985) and Honky Tonkin’ (1987). Langford developed a particular fascination with Johnny Cash, co-assembling the 1988 U.K. tribute compilation ’Til Things Are Brighter: A Tribute to Johnny Cash and issuing the 1994 covers set Misery Loves Company: The World of Johnny Cash under the name Johnny Langford & the Pine Valley Cosmonauts.
After moving to Chicago, Illinois, Langford sought a local club band largely for enjoyment and complimentary drinks. He gathered fellow British expatriates—himself on guitar and vocals, Alan Doughty on bass, Tracey Dear on mandolin and vocals, Mark Durante on steel guitar, and Steve Goulding on drums—alongside Chicago native Dean Schlabowske on guitar and vocals. Around the same time he connected with Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw, who were founding Bloodshot Records; in 1994 Langford placed two tracks on the label’s debut compilation For a Life of Sin and supplied its cover art.
Although the Waco Brothers formed without recording plans, growing local support and Bloodshot’s backing led to 1995’s To the Last Dead Cowboy. Strong sales and reviews prompted 1997’s Cowboy in Flames, whose stronger commercial performance positioned the band among Chicago’s leading alt-country acts. Despite members’ outside commitments, the group maintained regular hometown appearances, occasional tours, and a steady release schedule that included Wacoworld, Electric Waco Chair, New Deal, and Freedom and Weep between 1999 and 2005. Also in 2005 came the Dave Herndon collaboration Nine Slices of My Mid-Life Crisis, followed in 2008 by the live document Waco Express: Live & Kickin’ at Schuba’s Tavern.
Great Chicago Fire marked the next studio effort, teaming the Wacos with Paul Burch and reflecting lineup shifts after Mark Durante’s departure and Steve Goulding’s return to Graham Parker & the Rumour; Joe Camarillo assumed the drum chair. The 2016 album Going Down in History presented the first new band material in more than a decade, delivered in lean, high-energy fashion and supported by a brief tour that reached South by Southwest and several Illinois venues. February 2020 brought Resist!, a vinyl-only Bloodshot collection spotlighting the group’s most overtly political songs.
Drummer Joe Camarillo’s death in January 2021 prompted Dan Massey’s elevation to full-time status and the addition of violinist Jean Cook. In 2023 the Waco Brothers issued The Men That God Forgot, their first new songs since 2016 and the inaugural release on Plenty Tuff Records.
During the 1980s the Mekons began absorbing American country influences encountered on U.S. tours, an evolution documented on Fear and Whiskey (1985) and Honky Tonkin’ (1987). Langford developed a particular fascination with Johnny Cash, co-assembling the 1988 U.K. tribute compilation ’Til Things Are Brighter: A Tribute to Johnny Cash and issuing the 1994 covers set Misery Loves Company: The World of Johnny Cash under the name Johnny Langford & the Pine Valley Cosmonauts.
After moving to Chicago, Illinois, Langford sought a local club band largely for enjoyment and complimentary drinks. He gathered fellow British expatriates—himself on guitar and vocals, Alan Doughty on bass, Tracey Dear on mandolin and vocals, Mark Durante on steel guitar, and Steve Goulding on drums—alongside Chicago native Dean Schlabowske on guitar and vocals. Around the same time he connected with Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw, who were founding Bloodshot Records; in 1994 Langford placed two tracks on the label’s debut compilation For a Life of Sin and supplied its cover art.
Although the Waco Brothers formed without recording plans, growing local support and Bloodshot’s backing led to 1995’s To the Last Dead Cowboy. Strong sales and reviews prompted 1997’s Cowboy in Flames, whose stronger commercial performance positioned the band among Chicago’s leading alt-country acts. Despite members’ outside commitments, the group maintained regular hometown appearances, occasional tours, and a steady release schedule that included Wacoworld, Electric Waco Chair, New Deal, and Freedom and Weep between 1999 and 2005. Also in 2005 came the Dave Herndon collaboration Nine Slices of My Mid-Life Crisis, followed in 2008 by the live document Waco Express: Live & Kickin’ at Schuba’s Tavern.
Great Chicago Fire marked the next studio effort, teaming the Wacos with Paul Burch and reflecting lineup shifts after Mark Durante’s departure and Steve Goulding’s return to Graham Parker & the Rumour; Joe Camarillo assumed the drum chair. The 2016 album Going Down in History presented the first new band material in more than a decade, delivered in lean, high-energy fashion and supported by a brief tour that reached South by Southwest and several Illinois venues. February 2020 brought Resist!, a vinyl-only Bloodshot collection spotlighting the group’s most overtly political songs.
Drummer Joe Camarillo’s death in January 2021 prompted Dan Massey’s elevation to full-time status and the addition of violinist Jean Cook. In 2023 the Waco Brothers issued The Men That God Forgot, their first new songs since 2016 and the inaugural release on Plenty Tuff Records.
Albums
