Founded in 2018 by Nicholas Lefler in rural Calaveras County, California, Skull Country was born in agony, while extremely ill.

 

It was midnight, in a frost bitten storm, unable to sleep, and too weak to stoke the fire, Nicholas got inspiration watching old westerns coddled in a stack of fever soaked blankets.

 

Once able bodied, the first album "The Sound of the Goldrush" would be constructed and released in 2019, featuring Austin Broder on Fiddle.

 

The album would be a tribute to the sorrows, aspirations and legacies of the 1840's Gold Rush pioneers, for which the band shared immigrant roots and residing soil.

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By 2020, Nicholas began introducing storytelling and lyric driven folklore for  "The Widow," heavily featuring local legend Max DeLacy on Dobro, who would tragically pass in 2021.

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In classic Skull Country fashion, the second album spoke of the heartache caused by the American Civil War and the solace of lost love.

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After Max's passing and Austin Broder relocating to L.A., Skull Country was likely dead in the water just like the lyrics to their own song, "I'm laying in a pool of blood, down by the river side. Lord have mercy on my soul."

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But after many months of contemplation, Nicholas felt the band needed to live on in Max's honor. The story wasn't over just yet and so he recruited Singer/Guitarist Michael Stange and Bassist Caleb Galvan to carry on.

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What was next was a natural progression of time period concepts; Prohibition.

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By late 2022, "Bootleggers" was born. The third album now fully embracing catchy vocals,  heart driven lyrics, and upbeat songwriting.​

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By 2024, Skull Country was playing music festivals, wineries, weddings and dance clubs and were ready to take it to the next level; the 1970's.

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"Wild & Free," the songs of free love,  hitchhiking, and a golden era of freedom.

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Now infusing Classic Rock, Funk and Soul, while staying true to their Americana flavor, the band is an "Open Road," exploring storytelling, nostalgia, and "what's waiting around the bend."​​​​​

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