I thought I was in a polyamorous relationship, and there was a... misunderstanding.

June 6, 2010 1:49 PM

Last night, I attended Roll Out, Cowboy (trailer) with friends. The film, a documentary currently on the festival circuit, follows musician Chris Sand, aka Sandman, the rappin' cowboy, a trucker and performer who is based in his hometown of Dunn Center, North Dakota. He's been recording for years and has longtime ties to the Olympia, Washington music scene. Of course, he's on Twitter, Facebook and Blogspot (since 2003). Why not listen to some of his songs, or watch some videos. Also, in February, Chris asked you to host a house concert!
posted by mwhybark (11 comments total)

Why not listen to some of his songs, or watch some videos.

Because it's hard to imagine that a "rappin' cowboy" would make sounds anything I might consider even remotely worth listening to.

You got rap in my country!

You got country in my rap!

Two awful tastes that would only be awfuller together.
posted by Doohickie at 2:07 PM on June 6, 2010 [4 favorites]

Yesssss. He hasn't been in Olympia for awhile, though. At least, the last time I knew that he was in town was during the filming of that documentary.
posted by 200burritos at 2:30 PM on June 6, 2010

This all started back in 1992 when the fabulous Geezinslaw Brothers released "Help, I'm White And I Can't Get Down."

Country rap has been all downhill since then.
posted by fourcheesemac at 2:57 PM on June 6, 2010 [2 favorites]

Because it's hard to imagine that a "rappin' cowboy" would make sounds anything I might consider even remotely worth listening to.

That's what I thought too, Doohickie. Then I listened to a few tracks, and watched a few videos... I think he's doing himself a disservice by holding onto "The Rapping Cowboy" as a sobriquet... at one point maybe that was descriptive, but he's much broader than that. I don't think you'll detect a lot of rap in this video (Damascus), for example, or this track (Corpse) from his latest album.

Thanks for this, mwhybark.
posted by mumkin at 3:10 PM on June 6, 2010

I think I saw that documentary before. Wasn't it called Dill Scallion?
posted by stevil at 3:50 PM on June 6, 2010

He once helped me dig a hole ten foot deep, and I can testify that he is a stand-up fellow. Though he didn't talk with that accent back then.
posted by idiopath at 4:23 PM on June 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

I actually really like this guy, but he doesn't seem to know what "rapping" means. If he's rapping, then Dylan and Buck Owens were rapping too.
posted by cmoj at 4:25 PM on June 6, 2010

Wow. I saw him play at some dive bar/pizza joint/some other restaurant? in Lincoln, ND about 6 years ago. I can't remember being too impressed with his music, but everything else about him was pretty alright.
posted by x_3mta3 at 4:50 PM on June 6, 2010

mumkin: "I think he's doing himself a disservice by holding onto "The Rapping Cowboy" as a sobriquet..."

I came to this conclusion too.

The documentary was great. He comes off as a guy stumbling blinking into the light of adulthood at 40 while remaining really committed to both pursing his music and alt-culture values. I also think his non-rap stuff shows evidence of on the cusp of maturity as a craftsman. I was totally expecting some bizarre novelty act, and you know, that's in there too, but he comes across in the film as a pretty durn earnest fellow. He's pretty far removed from the Legendary Stardust Cowboy, for example, and in some ways closer to Wylie and the Wild West. Although Wylie seems to have his dual careers a bit more in control.

Turns out, I learned as I worked on this post, we have mutual pals. I imagine I'll check him out next time he's up here.

The documentary, considered on its' own, is totally worth seeing. The filmmakers are obviously fond of the guy but they don't really go easy on him.
posted by mwhybark at 7:55 PM on June 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

...evidence of a songwriter on the cusp of maturity as a craftsman...
posted by mwhybark at 7:56 PM on June 6, 2010

Country and rap. "We call it C-Rap for short!"
posted by Twang at 1:53 AM on June 7, 2010 [1 favorite]