5:30 • No cover
Dean Schlabowske's music career spans 30+ years, most notably as a co-founder (along with Jon Langford), songwriter, singer, and guitarist for the Waco Brothers. Formed in 1994, the Wacos' "Cash Meets Clash" style has become something of an alt-country touchstone, played out on more than a dozen releases for Chicago's Bloodshot records. The live shows are legendary, and the records have received plaudits from the likes of Robert Christgau, Greil Marcus, and many more.
The 2023 release, "Deano & Jo" is a collaboration with his wife Jo Walston, the former singer of Austin bluegrass punks The Meat Purveyors. The album explores their passion for honky-tonk and bluegrass with guest spots from Robbie Fulks, Mark Rubin (Bad Livers), Beth Chrisman (Carper Family, James Hand), Chas Justus (Revelers) and Chris Stafford (Feufollet). Other projects include solo and group recordings of folk/protest songs, as "Ramblin' Deano", including a collaboration with a rowdy group of Austin, Texas notables, Ice Cold Singles. In 2004 and 2007, Bloodshot released two albums from another side-project, Dollar Store. Dean continues to write, record, and tour with the Waco Brothers and musician friends from across the US and in Canada.