Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country

Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country: “Ouray”

Between Elon Musk centering his SpaceX escapades in the Lone Star State and wearing a ten-gallon hat backwards…the dude is trying way too hard to be a “space cowboy”. But for those of us who’ve spent enough time here in Texas, at least those who’ve made acquaintances with a few certified cosmic countrymen, we know that’s bogus. Because from what we’ve witnessed, you don’t need an aeronautics degree nor be the world’s richest man to make a name for yourself as an intergalactic vaquero.

Case in point: Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country. For the better part of the past decade, the namesake chief commander of this San Antonio coalition’s shown an impressive flexibility across the nexus of Tex-Mex, but with NASA Country, it ain’t the “cosmic Americana” sound that so many city-slickin’ hipsters relish in; instead it’s what NASA Country calls “cowboy kraut” – a bit of that bold kraut rock mixed in with high octane southern rocket fuel with thrust support from far out grooves and homegrown folk.

The latest update from GTC mission control? Everyone is Everyone, out October 4th (appropriately on Spaceflight Records). Here we thought we’d heard the full “Shadows Trilogy” saga when People Are Beautiful dropped last September, but turns out the “prequel” has just been waiting for the pod bay doors to rotate and open. On Everyone is Everyone, Garrett T. Capps and NASA Country hurdles past any lingering star child infancy and climbs through the synth-acoustic constellations to new heights with the most adventurous route of “cowboy kraut” we’ve heard to date. And while Everyone is Everyone‘s lead single doesn’t formally launch until this Friday, most of us (particularly that poor pair of astronauts stuck in orbit right now) would kill for some of that Colorado climate right about now (maybe save for the hot springs). So if your dogs are already barking this early in the week, take a load off with “Ouray” – because at just over five minutes it makes for one hell of a smoke break soundtrack, whether you’re on a tour pit stop, taking a much-needed respite from work, baying at the moon, strumming a six-string, or gazing into a loved one’s eyes. Not much more needs to be said about this one other than “awoooooo”.

Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country: “People Are Beautiful”

Steve Miller Band. Jamiroquai. Kacey Musgraves. They’ve all written songs called “Space Cowboy”. And considering the continued popularity of those tunes, it’s safe to say that “space cowboy” is no longer a derogatory term for a shameless stoner. No, it’s something musicians want to wear on their sleeve. Which brings us to Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country.

Garrett T. Capps has been going strong since 2016 and only recently enlisted NASA Country as his backing band. And although “Houston” might’ve been the historic first word transmitted back to Earth from the moon, NASA Country has no plans of relocating their musical mission control center from San Antonio. These unapologetic psychonauts are set to launch their mind-bending style of cosmic country on October 21st with their group debut, People Are Beautiful. This eight-track constellation bridges the brightest bits of retro-synth, jangly two-step, swamp blues, and NASA Country’s beloved “krautrock fiesta” sound. In true celestial fashion, People Are Beautiful‘s two lead singles are the LP’s bookends, the album opener and closer, like the meeting of Elder Bowman and Starchild at the climax of 2001: A Space Odyssey. No shame in starting at the end, right? So lift off with People Are Beautiful‘s title track in T-minus 5…4…3…2…