Colter Wall

From the Canadian prairie, the Steve Earle endorsed new voice of outlaw country.

- Gianluca Tramontana

Halfway into a show in Brooklyn late last year, Colter Wall takes a sip of bourbon from a plastic water bottle and introduces a new song. “It’s a bummer,” he says dryly, “you’ve been warned.” The crowd is used to it by now. His set’s filled with drifters, grifters and killers – all at a tempo that barely breaks a sweat, delivered in a low baritone with phrasing that can sound like Nico imitating Waylon Jennings imitating Johnny Cash. During a post-show cigarette, MOJO jokes that country music has a higher body count than gangster rap. “Body counts are good, man,” he offers.