The Stranger, Seattle WA Nov. 16, 2006 Kurt B. Reighley "I am so tired of seeing bands who don't know what they are," says Brent Amaker. That's hardly an accusation one can level at Amaker and his band, the Rodeo. They have a distinct, straightforward sound and a consistent look. Until recently, the quartet.who play Cafe Venus and the MarsBar on Thursday, November 16.even had a signature mode of transportation: They all rode motorcycles. Their eponymous debut CD (available now at shows) is single-minded in its musical vision. The Rodeo play old-time country, with clip-clop rhythms underpinning Amaker's low-register growl. Think "Tennessee Flattop Box" and you're right on the money. "If you listen to any old Johnny Cash, that sound is consistent on those records," observes Amaker. "And that is the type of country music we like. When we set out to do this project, we put specific limitations on ourselves. "It's been fun using more of a Ramones formula: This is who we are, this is what we do, and we're going to write confined within the context of what we do." They even write most of their songs in the same key, G, because it suits Amaker's range best. But simplifying the modus operandi throws up other challenges. Drummer Curtis Andreen faced a particularly hard task. "Curtis was a rock drummer. He was all over the place. And we only gave him two drums: a kick and a snare. He asked, 'Can't I have a high hat?' No. This is what you get. It took him a little while to adjust to that, but now he's fantastic." The Rodeo keep their lyrical subject matter focused, too. Songs including "Give Me the Whiskey," "Get the Hell Out," and "I Guess You Want to Die" are about exactly what you'd imagine. But, honestly, Amaker would rather sing about kicking ass than do it. "I like the whole mean-cowboy act," admits the Oklahoma native. But it is a put-on... at least, partially. "As with many musicians and actors, I get to let out a dark side that is buried deep within." Speaking of dark, the guys also have a band uniform: black. Black jeans, black shirts, black cowboy hats. Again, this is part of a specific scheme. "One of my biggest influences for this project, even though we play country music, is the Briefs," the singer/guitarist reveals. "When I first moved to Seattle, I went to some of their shows, and thought, 'Goddamn, these guys are doing it right!' They knew what they were, and they dressed and looked the part." But as they gear up to tour the West Coast next year, one of their trademarks is being phased out. "In the beginning, this was about motorcycles." The guys traveled to gigs as far away as Bozeman and Reno on their hogs. Today, it seems more gimmicky and less practical. "We have become a real band and defined our sound more," he concludes. "Now it's all about the music." Spoken like a man who knows who he is. kurt@thestranger.com