Dale Watson: Ameripolitan Style

His band also has to know Watson’s whole catalog and be able to reproduce it live on demand. “We need to be able to do every song on all my records, in case somebody asks for it,” Watson says. “I want the audience to get what they came for.”

He also takes requests for material by other artists that fans call out during a show. “I’m a fan of that stuff,” Watson says. “People usually say do “Walk the Line,” or “Bottle Let Me Down.” It’s not like they’re asking for stuff that I’m not familiar with at least enough to do a little bit of it.”

In addition to his El Rancho Azul release, Watson has another recent delivery, Dalevis Sun Sessions 2. As the name implies, its Dale Watson’s take on Elvis, Watson-composed songs sung in the style of Elvis. Its a stunner, Watson’s incredible range peeling off the vintage soundproofing in the legendary Sun Studios as he warbles in the key of E. He likens it to “what Chris Issak is doing” and downplays it as “derivative and a vanity project, just something they can get on my website and at shows, but its not really a proper release,” it’s still an impressive display.

But for now, Watson is putting his energy behind El Rancho Azul and the promotion of Ameripolitan music. And although he’s rubbing shoulders on the Billboard charts with the same people who are disparaging his music, he’s not looking for a confrontation. “If I was in the same room with Blake Shelton, I wouldn’t need to say anything to him because my music speaks for itself,” Watson says. “I’ve been in a room with some bigger folks. I mean, huge, huge stars and they said, ‘Man, I wish I could do what you do.’ And I just turned to ’em and I said ‘You can. You could do it.’ But what they mean by that is radio wouldn’t play it if they did and they can’t do it and make the kind of money they’re making doing this other stuff, what the record company tells ’em to do. I’m very confident in my career where its at now. A lot of folks who are on the charts, they probably can’t say that, probably a little embarrassed next to me.”

Watson’s goal is to have an Ameripolitan format on radio stations world-wide, and he’s on the way toward achieving that with one in England, Belgium, Missouri, San Antonio as well as one in Austin that Watson presides over. “And that’s actually on a major so-called country station- they’re giving me an Ameripolitan hour,” Watson says. He’s also planning the first annual Ameripolitan Awards Feb. 18 in Austin. “But its not just gonna be in Austin every year. I’d like it to take it around to different cities. The more the term gets out there and the branding gets out there, it’ll make a difference.”

Despite his battles with Nashville musical establishment, Watson doesn’t want to be branded as a rebel, but a nurturer, “I would like to think I helped people remember the influences, the roots,” he says. “Music doesn’t have an expiration date. I want to be remembered as the guy that transplanted the roots of country music and kept it growing.”