Music: Proud to be an Okie from Minnesota

One couldn't help but wonder about Shane Wyatt's credentials as a cowboy after he offered to meet for an interview following his haircut appointment in that most uncowboy-like area of Minneapolis, Uptown. Then came the news that, before becoming a full-time country singer, he worked as a computer programmer.

"I know. I probably defy a few stereotypes," he said with a smirk.

Still, Wyatt's redneck side proudly shone through during our chat. Turns out, he's the son of a truck driver and grew up in a small town in southern Oklahoma where he worked on ranches, learned to play the fiddle and married his high school sweetheart, all at a young age (too young in the latter case; he has since remarried). All of this and a lot more plays a role in Wyatt's first CD, "The Last Cowboy," which he made in Nashville, but is doing well with just by promoting it around Minnesota.

In a metro area that's supposedly the fifth-biggest market for Nashville country acts -- but whose local country scene is mostly dominated by alt-country and/or old-school bands -- Wyatt could fill a gaping hole.

His polished but brawny brand of country fits in among currently hot Music Row studs such as Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Tim McGraw -- all acts that he and his band cover at shows. Since his CD's release over the summer, he has racked up more and more weekend gigs at suburban sports and rock bars such as Povlitzki's (Pov's), where he performs Saturday to celebrate his 35th birthday.

"Most of these clubs don't care what kind of music it is, so long as it brings in people," said Wyatt, who now lives in Eden Prairie. "Since I put the band together, it's been go, go, go. We haven't even had much time to promote our album to radio and all that, because the shows are keeping us busy."

Wyatt landed in the Twin Cities a decade ago to take a computer job. Needing to support his son, Spencer, now 11, he more or less cast aside his musical aspirations, even though he had been playing in country bands since high school.

With a deep, wallowing voice that falls between Alan Jackson and Randy Travis, he credits two people for finally bringing him back to music: His new wife, Dawn, who pushed him to work with a vocal coach and get out and sing, and his late cousin, Justin, who died in a small plane crash in 2006 and was like a brother.

"He was the kind of guy who always took chances and tried new things, a real entrepreneur, which was always the complete opposite to me," he said. "I was a very shy kid. I had been writing songs for a long time, but was always too scared to play them for anyone."

After the funeral, Wyatt took inspiration from his cousin to go for it. He schooled himself in coffeehouses and then went looking to record an album. Somewhat blindly, he solicited help in Nashville from associates of one of his favorite singers, Jason Aldean, including producer Mike Noble. The studio they used was in the former home of late country legend Jim Reeves.

"I'd heard plenty of horror stories about working in Nashville -- and I believe them -- but this was a completely organic and comfortable recording experience," he said.

One hazard of working there is producers who force you to record other people's songs, but all 11 tracks on Wyatt's album are his. They range from the sweet romantic rocker "Whole Lotta Love" to the downbeat ballad "Just Married" to several rowdy, yee-haw-worthy twang-rockers. The latter bunch includes the CD closer, "Big Bad Dog," about his uncle's mighty semi truck (the Interstate 35 references are based in Oklahoma, not Minnesota). The title track is also a rabble-rouser, written about his late grandfather -- who was more a cowboy than Wyatt could ever pretend to be.

"I remember going into a bank or wherever with him, and he'd still have his gun holster strapped around his waist," Wyatt said, smiling broadly. "I'd be embarrassed, but, of course, I thought it was kinda cool, too."

With his Oklahoma roots and his new Nashville connections, Wyatt might seem like a fool for staying in Minnesota to try to become a country music star. He sees it the other way around, though.

"Me and all the guys in my band all want to make it to Nashville eventually," he admitted. "But right now, we're focusing on our live show, which is something you can't do locally in Nashville. The guys I know down there would love to make the kind of money someone like G.B. Leighton makes on gigs up here."

And anyway, as Wyatt pointed out, "up here, I think I stand out a little more."

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LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy was recently quoted on the BBC's music site raving about a new band started by locals Scott Wells and Paul Sprangers, whose old band Hockey Night signed with Murphy's label DFA before its untimely breakup. Murphy likes it so much, he's even playing bass. The new group is apparently recording, but doesn't have a name yet. Must be a lot of pressure coming up with a good moniker after Hockey Night.

chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658