The Ramblin' Kind at Rodeo Bar and Grill

Historically, New York has not been able to sustain a country music radio station, although attempts have been made for decades. Many if not most touring country acts skip New York City and perform upstate. A country music scene is blossoming in a most unlikely place, however -- Brooklyn! The Ramblin’ Kind, led by music journalist Jim Allen, is part of the new breed of straight-up country bands being spawned in that borough.

At Rodeo Bar & Grill tonight, the Ramblin’ Kind impressed by its simple authenticity. Unlike many contemporary country bands, the band showed that it was not striving to land a rotation on the tourist circuit by not incorporating corny “shtick” banter or matching suits that would endure itself to a more cabaret-seeking audience. The band also was not performing the modern alt-country, country-rock or disco-country that might win it a commercial recording contract. The performance was simply about loving and living country in the big city. The band showcased original songs but also acknowledged its roots by performing songs originally recorded by the genre’s giants. The show was a breath of freshness, but it still feels odd to hear songs about freight trains when our reality is our subway system.