Those Poor Bastards, regarded as forerunners of the gothic country genre, are an American duo known for their dark and foreboding musical style that merges outlaw country with elements of doom, folk, and punk. Formed in Wisconsin in 2004, the group consists of Lonesome Wyatt (vocals, guitar) and The Minister (banjo, violin), whose real names have largely remained out of the public eye, adding an air of mystery to their ghostly personas. Their music is characterized by morbid, existential themes and a lo-fi aesthetic that harkens back to the early days of country music, but with a uniquely eerie twist.

The band’s discography is an exploration of despair and darkness, often touching on themes of death, religion, and the human condition with a lyrical depth that is both thought-provoking and hauntingly poetic. Albums like "Old Time Suffering" (2021) and "Inhuman Nature" (2018) showcase their ability to craft songs that feel both comfortingly familiar and unsettlingly strange, a testament to their niche within the broader spectrum of country music. Those Poor Bastards’ raw and unpolished sound, combined with their relentless output of material including "God Awful" (2022) and "Evil Seeds" (2019), has garnered them a dedicated following among fans who crave the darker side of Americana.

Genres

Gothabilly

Gothic Americana

Lo-fi

Alternative Country

Outlaw Country

Psychobilly

Folk Punk

Neofolk

Dark Folk

Related Artists

16 Horsepower

The Builders and The Butchers

The Handsome Family

Slim Cessna's Auto Club

Dropkick Murphys

Wovenhand

O'Death

The Heavy

The Dead South

The Gaslight Anthem

Flogging Molly

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Latest Release

Back to the Primitive

Those Poor Bastards

Album - 10 Tracks - Released February 27, 2024