Country music has never really been a popular music genere in Southern California.
It's as if country music were restricted to specific areas, mainly for the South and Mid-West.
As a Southern Californian resident, I enjoy country music.
I accept that today's Country music is not as good as it once was, I mean let's be honest, after 2012, Country music has really gone down hill and has become more Pop than anything else (which is a shame because there were some great Country musician that produced amazing music).
Here in SoCal, country music is not main stream, but quite the opposite. If you like country music, there is a high probability that you will get looked down on and lectured on how Country music is no good.
You may find a few brave people that openly admit to liking country music, and it is with them that you can bond with and/or complain about how there is not enough country concerts nearby.
It's rare to find younger folk that genuinely enjoy country music in SoCal, mainly because they are not really exposed to it. You either listen to it because your family likes it or, if you are like me, you stumble upon it one day when you are flipping though the stations looking for a good song and get hooked.
Both of these are rare occurrences, mainly because even if your family likes country music, it doesn't necessarily mean you do. Not only that, but the chances of stopping on a country station in SoCal is probably less than 25% since the radio is overwhelmingly Pop and Hip Hop.
I think it is important to show an appreciation towards country music, mainly because it is slowly disappearing. Not only that, but it is a fundamental part of American history and culture.
If you were to look back on the roots of Country music, you will find a blend of different elements such as Folk, Jazz, Blues, and Rock. It is also one of the last forms of story telling.
Country music started off as a way to tell a story or an event, like the Blues and Folk music. It is a musical form that has slowly disappeared, and with time, will only be part of the past alongside cave drawings.
Country music is one of the oldest genres still around and we owe it to ourselves to find an appreciation for it and what it has to offer.
I'm not saying you have to love it, but at least recognize that it has character, like most things in the past. We don't have to like it, but it's important to learn about it.
So give it a chance and listen to some of the classics, or really any country before 2012.
You might find yourself pleasantly surprised.
