THE WISCONAUT IGNITES HIMSELF IN THE “CAN’T KILL A COWBOY”
Setting himself ablaze out of pure lust for validation, The Wisconaut today releases the official video for “Can’t Kill A Cowboy.” Directed by Sam Fisher (Lauv, Claire Rosinkranz) minutes from the American border with Mexico, the video features stunt coordination by Stuntworld Inc. A two-minute journey told in reverse, “Can’t Kill A Cowboy” is a striking balance of equal parts pyromania, self-deprecation and the unwillingness to die – Watch.
The Wisconaut, known to the government as Andrew Idarraga, added more context to today’s video in saying, “We blew all of our money on a few minutes of footage that capture the essence of what it means to be the cowboy.”
From Brooklyn byway of Milwaukee and later Syracuse, The Wisconaut is fueled by a classic case of Midwestern self-hatred and loathing. He and the video’s director, Sam Fisher, have known each other since their youth, first working together at a charity show in the basement of a Milwaukee Unitarian church. Remaining friends since, Andrew approached Sam about working together in late February of this year, landing us now at today’s video release.
Last Friday at New York’s Sundown Bar, The Wisconaut gave a sold-out crowd an early premiere screening of the “Can’t Kill A Cowboy” video, followed by a lawless performance, his first in New York since March 2021. The night also consisted of an opening set from Car Becomes Airplane, and a DJ set from GARBAGE to hold it all together.
After forming in the basements of Syracuse, building a cult-like following, and later pronouncing themselves dead as a band, The Wisconaut unintentionally sparked a wave of interest on TikTok in 2020. With everyone stuck at home during the pandemic, videos showing the lack of personal space at basement shows resurfaced, locked people in with the nostalgia for their temporarily defunct local scenes, and accidentally revived the band.
Earlier this year, The Wisconaut celebrated their single “Cherry Soda (and the happy medium)” cracking a million streams on Spotify with an official video. With this newfound momentum building, the band is starting to play more shows again, and God forbid, release more music.
ABOUT THE WISCONAUT
Too dumb for New York and too ugly for LA, The Wisconaut was born with a chip on their shoulder; battling feelings of resentment and slight like other Midwestern troubadours before them (Paul Westerburg, Iggy Pop, Bill Murray). Their debut record Fuck The Wisconaut is collection of the band’s early songs that were recorded, mixed, and mastered in one weekend. The songs had been played out for years in the basements of Syracuse, New York.
A full year after the band was pronounced dead in 2019, footage of their shows went viral on TikTok. From there, the band that wasn’t quite a band started to nurture a cult following of constituents that loyally sell out small shows around Brooklyn and limited runs of merchandise.
In 2022 The Wisconaut released “Can’t Kill A Cowboy.” Having already ripped off garage bands like the Black Lips and Twin Peaks, The Wisconaut turned to a more mature palette studying the stylings of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen.
In 2023, The Wisconaut was ablaze for the sake of music promotion. Unfortunately, the band survived. They are now looking to play shows, and God forbid, release more music.