Brent Amaker has this cowboy shit down.

Boots and hat? Check. Swagger? Check. Penchant for whiskey, woman and song?
Triple check.

Coming to the new Hell’s Kitchen in downtown Tacoma this Saturday, Seattle’s Brent Amaker and the Rodeo will soon find out if Tacoma shares this passion. And we’re not talking about countrified cheese here, either. I’m not talking about the chick in your apartment complex that’s always blasting that damn “Skoal Ring” song out of her Honda Civic on the way to tanning appointments, and I’m certainly not talking about Big or that d-bag Rich. No, Amaker, originally from Oklahoma, and his backing band the Rodeo are as legitimately saddle sore and dusty as a nearly full time touring band from the Pacific Northwest can be.

Turns out that’s pretty gosh darn legitimate, partner.

Believe it or not, this is only our third show in Tacoma,” says Amaker, noting he and his band have toured extensively and stopped in destinations all over the world like Berlin, London, Brussels, Toronto, and most of the U.S. 

“Nearly four years of tour dates now, and we’ve only been down to Tacoma twice.  We’re really excited to play the new Hell’s Kitchen.  It’s a long established venue with a rich history,” continues Amaker. “What am I expecting?  I’m expecting a damn good time.  I’m pretty sure Tacoma folk do just fine with cowboys.”

But can we handle our whiskey better than Seattleites?

“Well, I live in Seattle so I’d hate to make that wager,” answers Amaker. “But I’m guessing people in Tacoma can handle themselves.”

There’s more to this man than simple, old-school country machismo; and there’s more to Amaker’s music than the obligatory, alt-country nods to the likes of Cash, Williams, Haggard and so on. Amaker is a cowboy, and together with the Rodeo he belts out real, rawhide cowboy songs — but there’s a 21st century sensibility at play that makes the whole package work outside of conventional circles of chew spit and spurs. Amaker’s cowboy swagger transcends the pavement covered, hip, indie streets just as well as a cattle trail — if not better. It’s this cross-pollinated appeal, above everything else, that makes Amaker’s cowboy songs so dangerous and alluring.

Naturally, Amaker wears a black hat. It fits him — and his music.

“I just try to write honest songs with traditional cowboy themes,” says Amaker. “I hope the cowboy ethic comes through.  I try to write about things I know.”

“I was born and raised in Oklahoma, so I’m sure some of it came from my upbringing.  I had a cowboy hat and boots when I was young, but spent most of my youth as a punk rocker,” continues Amaker about where it all started. “When we formed, everyone agreed we wanted to respect the history of real country music.”

Since the history of country music doesn’t feature many MP3s, Amaker and the Rodeo make a conscious effort to provide fans with real, tangible records — it’s all part of making a connection. In 2009 the band released the well-received Howdy Do!, and already Amaker and Co. are on the way to a follow up, which has been mixed and mastered in Portland with producers Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Stephen Malkmus, the Joggers, Dolorean) and Tony Lash (drummer for Heatmiser, Sunset Vallery).  According to Amaker, the new record will be called Please Stand By, and it’s the best material his band has produced yet. Set to be released mid-year, on vinyl, Please Stand By will be accompanied by a cowboy comic book written by Los Angles filmmaker Jay Cynik.

“Yes, we think about our image.  I grew up buying records and pouring over every detail of the packaging while I listened to the music,” says Amaker. “The whole MP3 culture bums me out, so I work extra hard to give our fans something real to follow.”

Feel free to start Saturday night at Hell’s Kitchen.

[Hell’s Kitchen, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo with Aces Up, Hard Money Saints, Mama Tried, Saturday, Jan. 9, 9 p.m., $5, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]