Seattle's David von Beck formed the Straw Dogs as an outlet for his shimmering, mellow country rock. After touring the United States as a full band in support of the group's debut, Legends & Lies, von Beck pared Straw Dogs down to a simple duo, initiating the help of his old friend Darren Smith from the Colorado-based Stranger Neighbor. The songs on the band's 2001 record, Any Place At All earned von Beck and Smith a Billboard songwriting award and the opening slot on the Crash Test Dummies final tour. Hum of the Motor, a tribute to the open road and Americana followed in 2003, this time with a full band dishing out the poignant "No Depression" tunes. ~ Charles Spano