Brent Amaker & The Rodeo - Doomed

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo is an American Country Western band from Seattle, Washington consisting of Brent Amaker, Tiny Dancer, Sugar McGuinn, Ben Strehle, and Bryan Crawford.

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2005. The band’s image recalls influential country musician Johnny Cash, ‘The Man in Black’, 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 the band’s image as evidenced by a large collection of photos and music videos done by the band, fans, and photographers and videographers. The Rodeo have a cinematic quality and are often put in context of spaghetti western films made by Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone.

Their concerts often feature a dancing girl from local burlesque troupes and a phenomenon only known as the “Whiskey Baptism” where Amaker welcomes new fans into the “Church of the Rodeo” by pouring shots of liquor into their mouths.

Recently, they have been gaining notoriety from their cover of “Pocket Calculator” by German electro-pioneers Kraftwerk.

They also performed in the indie slasher film “Punch” directed by Jay Cynik. Cynik also wrote a comic book based on the exploits of the band on tour called “Mescal de la Muerte.” Illustrated by Portland, Oregon artist, Simon Young, the graphic adult novel was included in their 2010 release “Please Stand By.
Doomed

The best country music expresses profound things in the commonest of terms, and these postmodern cowpokes do a decent job approaching that. “In the end/ We’re all doomed/ Even if you’re living/ On the moon” on “Doomed” comes off as just careless rather than an endearingly glib take on mortality. But based on the hooting and hollering from the band during the interlude before the last chorus, that’s not their main concern. If country music really is for the everyman, why shouldn’t songs about the apocalypse two-step in on nursery-rhyme couplets? – J. Arthur Bloom – Tiny Mix Tapes

Doomed was featured in the closing song of Showtime’s series finale of Weeds on September 26, 2011.

In the end We’re all doomed

Even if your livin’ on the moon

We’re all doomed.

Super volcano near

Even if we get out of here

We’re all doomed.

We’re doomed.

Enjoy your stay while you’re here

We’re Doomed.

So take this time to pass some love around

And tell your friends before they’re dead

Love is the only legacy you leave behind

Love is the only legacy you leave behind

And we’re all doomed

In the end We’re all doomed (yee haw)

Even if your livin’ on the moon

We’re all doomed.

How ’bout the big line across the sky

If it’s here we’re gonna die

Everyone dies

So take this time to pass some love around

And tell your friends before they’re dead

Love is the only legacy you leave behind

Love is the only legacy you leave behind (yes it is)

Love is the only legacy you leave behind

And we’re all doomed

Audio from the 2010 album, Please Stand By:

 The best country music expresses profound things in the commonest of terms, and these postmodern cowpokes do a decent job approaching that. "In the end/ We're all doomed/ Even if you're living/ On the moon" on "Doomed" comes off as just careless rather than an endearingly glib take on mortality. But based on the hooting and hollering from the band during the interlude before the last chorus, that's not their main concern. If country music really is for the everyman, why shouldn't songs about the apocalypse two-step in on nursery-rhyme couplets?