Uncle DooDad: Face melting Americana

Photo: Dylan Priest

Tune the car radio to the local soft-rock station, pull off to the nearest truck stop, close your eyes and take a minute to daydream about your island vacation of choice, and you might get a sound close to uniquely chill self-described "face melting Americana" vibe of Seattle's own Uncle DooDad.

With a slightly different take on what it means to be Americana, Uncle DooDad bassist Joe Johnson puts it this way, "... if we were characters in the movie Vacation, and Chevy Chase was Uncle Tupelo, then Uncle DooDad would be Randy Quaid. We're just a little weirder and not what you might expect." Indeed. Joe continues, "We've been focusing on alot of odd tunings, lap steel and slide lately.  Being a trio the lap steel is much more in-your-face and not simply used to add flavor or tasty licks as is typical for many bands. There is nowhere for it to hide and it takes a lead role in this band." Perhaps adding to the undeniable island feel, the result is a haunted sort of Jimmy Buffett-suffering-insomnia-in-Seattle kind of sound.

Comparisons aside, the four tracks currently up on the bands's MySpace page create an atmosphere of "Ahhhhh," the perfect soundtrack to sitting down for an ice cold beer at the end of a long, hot work week.

Aiming to release an EP at their upcoming show at the High Dive July 14, there are a number of shows you can check out to get a taste of Uncle DooDad's unique Americana flavor beforehand: