Hometown: Phoenix, AZ US

While we here at Bloodshot firmly believe that God did not intend for human beings to live in the desert, we still are quite fond of these boys -- just as long as they keep their dusty mitts off our Great Lakes water -- we’ll fight for it, so WATCH IT!! We first saw them when we were unable to get into a sold-out Johnny Cash show in Austin, so we walked across the street, and voila!! We were hooked on their country-inflected rock hybrid. Big, fuzzy, indie rock guitars filtered through an unashamed love of Gram Parsons and the Man in Black.

Beyond his singing and songwriting talents, Earl's greatest gift is his ability to piss off soundmen and club owners. He also does the best impersonation of Nan we've ever heard. Among the finest moments we’ve ever witnessed involved times when guitarist Dandy Dan Henzerling and pedal steel player Jon Rauhouse (the hunched over, mad genius of the steel who has gone on to record with Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Sally Timms, and Calexico) played in perfect sync, creating one of the most rapturous dins ever. As the Inbreds, they can also whip out some of the best back porch bluegrass you'll ever hear. Sadly, the band broke up in 2000 due to overall lack of interest on the part of the music buying public. Yet Sting continues to make a living -- there is no justice. Compilation Tracks: "Get it While its Hot" and "Don't Die While I'm Alive" (as the Inbreds) on Hell-Bent "In the Jailhouse Now" on Straight Outta Boone County "Hang Your Head in Shame" on Down to the Promised Land