The Arkansas duo The Gothic Rangers formed in early 2008. Vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter Tim Buck reunited with lead guitarist, bassist, and impelling force Robin Willhite to work up some of Tim's songs. They had played together 20 years ago in the Little Rock band The Actuals. The original intention had been to make a demo CD of four of Tim's songs and then to shop it around the music industry, hoping an established band or artist might be interested in recording one or more of the selections.

It quickly became apparent, after laying down the first few tracks, that the results exceeded expectations and deserved a better presentation than a mere homemade production of CD-Rs. They decided to form a professional duo and to call themselves The Gothic Rangers, an appellation that would resonate with the song styles, both now and in the future. To further this mission, they set up an indie label – Ditch Bank Records – and sent their song collection Omen to press.

So, what's their sound? -- Let's just call it rockin' Americana.

Mosey on over to Store for purchase!

The Gothic Rangers Manifesto

We declare openly and vigorously the following Principles (Section A) and Intentions (Section B), in order that the music-loving public at large should have its curiosity satiated or its suspicion confirmed about the recent, sudden, inexplicable, and uncalled-for eruption of our new song-conjuring duo -- The Gothic Rangers.

Section A: Principles

1. That the history of America is a rich taproot of inspiration for song material.

2. That the War Between the States was an awful and awesome event (no young person should graduate from elementary school without an enhanced familiarity with the dates 1861 – 1865).

3. That Johnny Horton was very cool.

4. That the 1960s was a wonderfully strange decade, with the music it birthed being incomparable, iconic, and shaming everything since.

5. That present-day America is coarse, uncouth, and mind-numbingly shallow, with the only saving grace being its aspect as grist for radical contrariness and poetic alienation.

Section B: Intentions

1. To bring forth songs with a least a modicum of quality and more than a modicum of earnestness (naïve, in the spirit of Gomer Pyle).

2. To bring forth songs tinged with at least an eccentric or at most a macabre hue.

3. To bring forth songs that, for the most part, avoid a pathetic self-absorption.

4. To bring forth songs with lyrics that avoid, for the most part, an aloof, ambiguous "cool," which seems to be the current and pervasive measure for critical acclaim.

5. To bring forth songs that, for the most part, rock.