Brent Amaker and the Rodeo

Overview

The band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2005. Their image recalls Johnny Cash, as they dress head-to-toe in black with matching Stetson hats and cowboy boots. They are billed as influenced by art rock performers Devo and glam rock's David Bowie. Much emphasis is put into their image, evidenced by a large collection of photos and music videos.

The Rodeo have a cinematic quality often put in context of Spaghetti Western films by Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone. Their concerts feature a dancing girl from local burlesque troupes and a phenomenon called the "Whiskey Baptism," where Amaker pours shots of liquor into new fans' mouths. They have gained notoriety from their cover of "Pocket Calculator" by Kraftwerk. They performed in the indie slasher film "Punch" directed by Jay Cynik, who also wrote a comic book based on the band's exploits called "Mescal de la Muerte." Illustrated by Simon Young, the graphic adult novel was included in their 2010 release "Please Stand By."

Film/TV/Other Appearances

The band's song "Doomed" was featured on the season 7 finale of the Showtime series Weeds. "You Call Me the Devil" appeared on Californication season 2 episode 6. They appeared in Jay Cynik's indie slasher film "Punch" and contributed music to its soundtrack. "Man In Charge" was used in episode 2 of HBO's Big Little Lies. "Country Sky" was featured in episode 6 of HBO's Sharp Objects.