Some band names come out of a marketing meeting. This one came out of a toast to a grandfather.
Eli Alger is an Iowa kid who told people he was going to be a country singer before he could play guitar. University of Iowa. Graduated into the shutdown. Packed for Nashville because there was nothing left to lose. Farm kids and PRCA rodeo cowboys in a six-piece that still sings like they mean the harmony. He puts it simpler than that: they play both kinds of music — country and western.
The Faster Horses is Larry Elmo Alger’s line, raised in a glass after a honky-tonk in northern Iowa. “Rednexico” is the one the hometown crowd made them play five times in one night at Sauerkraut Days while cars sat a mile down the highway. “Hey Nashville.” “Dollars On The Wall.” “Blue Bell Bottoms.” “The Flood,” written for Spencer after the water came through — then a benefit that put real money into Habitat houses. Opens for Randall King, Lorrie Morgan, Jesse Keith Whitley, Tyler Booth, Lady A, Josh Turner. Fair circuit that actually fills.
This Spotlight Series sit-down is Eli with the story still on him. Iowa first. The band name second. The rooms after that.
Interviewed by Chris Ramos of Sons of Lions for The Country Note.
Find them at fasterhorsesmusic.com and on the socials as @thefasterhorsesmusic and @elialgermusic.
This is TCN Spotlight Series. A different artist every day. Pour something, watch the video, then come read the story.
Eli Alger / The Faster Horses socials
- Website: fasterhorsesmusic.com
- Eli Instagram: @elialgermusic
- Band Instagram: @thefasterhorsesmusic
- Band Facebook: TheFasterHorses
- Facebook: Eli Alger Music
- Spotify: The Faster Horses