Stemming in part from Chicago's beloved alt-country sextet
the Waco Brothers,
Dollar Store comfortably fit into the country genre, but are truly a rock band through and through.
Dollar Store are comprised of
the Waco Brothers' rhythm section (bassist
Alan Doughty and drummer
Joe Camarillo) as well as co-
Waco Brothers frontman
Dean Schlabowske, guitarist
Dave Alvin from
the Blasters, and pedal steel big-shot
Jon Rauhouse.
Dollar Store gained acclaim after pleasing performances at Austin's South by Southwest festival and the 2003 CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. In 2004, the group released its self-titled debut, which was met with some criticism in comparison to
Schlabowske's work with
the Waco Brothers, on Bloodshot Records. A second effort,
Money Music, appeared from the same label in 2007. ~ Megan Frye, All Music Guide