The leader of Australia's raucous country-rockers
Wagons,
Henry Wagons also explored the dark side of Americana as a solo artist. While his band released several critically acclaimed albums in Australia and made their U.S. debut with 2011's
Rumble, Shake and Tumble,
Henry Wagons started his solo career almost by accident. When the band completed its
Rumble, Shake and Tumble tour,
Henry fell ill upon returning to Melbourne. Instead of resting up, he wrote songs. After recording most of the music in his own studio, he recruited a who's who of guest vocalists -- including
the Go-Betweens'
Robert Forster and
the Kills'
Alison Mosshart -- to sing
Lee Hazlewood-inspired duets with him. The results became 2013's mini-album
Expecting Company? The live EP Upstairs at United 9 -- which was recorded at Nashville's United vinyl pressing plant -- also arrived that year. The
Wagons band returned in 2014 with Acid Rain and Sugar Cane, a set of songs featuring the Bad Seeds'
Mick Harvey as co-producer. For 2016's full-length solo debut
After What I Did Last Night...,
Henry Wagons traveled to Nashville to work with producer
Skylar Wilson and some of the city's most respected Americana musicians. ~ Heather Phares