Ray Wylie Hubbard

When F. Scott Fitzgerald issued his classic conclusion that ‘There are no second acts in American lives,’ he failed to envision the career of legendary Texas troubadour Ray Wylie Hubbard. A willing conspirator in the late seventies Cosmic Cowboy revolt that ushered in the mythical Outlaw era, Hubbard was a catalyst in the cultural upheaval that led to the peaceful coexistence of Lone Star music enthusiasts who comprised each end of the social and political spectrum of that troubled time. In the stellar company of iconic colleagues like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Doug Sahm and Jerry Jeff Walker, Ray Wylie Hubbard was an architect of the musical legacy that continues to inspire subsequent generations of up-and-coming Texas talent.   Yes, Hubbard is a Texas singer-songwriter, complete with the classic trifurcated handle, fundamental chapter of the canon in his song catalog ("Redneck Mother"), and enough wild hairs in his past to qualify him as a legend. But along the way, his attention began to leave matters extraneous to his art and soul by the wayside and focus on the beauty and potential to be found in the blank canvas of, in his case, the yet to be written and recorded song. The result has been one of the most satisfying musical and lyrical journeys to witness over the last two decades. In the years that followed he evolved into a writer of uncommonly honest portraits of life, alternately mixing deep personal sagas with poignant character studies of those traveling on the dark side of the road.    If one wanted to describe the sound of Ray Wylie Hubbard, one could call it American music, born from the time­ honored traditions of folk, country, and roots rock.

Ben Kweller

The past year has been filled with “Meet me in the Bathroom” celebrations and nostalgia for early 2000’s NYC. One of the great gems of that era was Ben Kweller’s cult-classic debut, Sha Sha. As 2023 comes to a close, New Yorkers will have the chance to celebrate the double-decade milestone as BK returns to his old stomping grounds on Saturday, November 18th and Sunday, November 19th.Kweller has built a reputable catalog in the years since his Anti-folk beginnings roaming the lower east side with Adam Green (Moldy Peaches) and the Strokes. He was a live show staple in those days and BK fans have always loved his nostalgic tendencies. That’s why it makes perfect sense that Sha Sha recently received the royal reboot with a triple-vinyl reissue full of B-sides and rarities out now on the NoiseCo label. November 11th also marks Kweller’s first NYC show since the pandemic and more poignantly since the tragic death of his 16-year old son. In March of ‘23, Kweller publicly vowed to carry on with his touring plans in honor of his son, a talented artist by the name of ZEV. Whether you’re a lifelong Kweller fan or someone who remembers that magical time in NYC music history, this is guaranteed to be an evening of great music, one that’ll be emotionally charged on many levels.

Take a Dance on Me: ABBA Disco Night

7Horse ft. The Music of Dada

Phil Leavitt and Joie Calio, the multi-instrumentalists behind 7Horse's self-described "postpunk dystopian blues," have been exploring unfenced territory together for 30 years. Kickstarting their partnership as members of dada — the platinum-selling alt-rockers behind '90s hits like "Dizz Knee Land" — they now pack a different punch with 7Horse, blurring the lines between '70s-sized rock & roll, Vegas showbiz glitz, and bluesy grit. It's a sound rooted in groove and Gretsch guitars, rhythm and riffs, desert-rock crunch and cinematic sweep. A sound that nods to the best parts of the past while still pushing forward. (http://www.7horsemusic.com/band )

Surprise Chef

From little things, instrumental juggernauts grow. The members of Surprise Chef first gathered in 2017 with the modest aim of recording to tape a couple of spontaneous funk jams. As planned, those analogue sessions gave rise to a series of collectable 45’s but the unexpected gold they uncovered was a chemistry and camaraderie that has come to define the lives of the band-members ever since. Three LP’s and countless international tours later, Surprise Chef is globally recognized and respected with their emotive brand of cinematic soul, a sound that has been informed equally by their isolation in Australia and their deep love for soul, funk and classic film-scores. Their first album, All News Is Good News, established the foundation for their distinctive sound, and each subsequent release has pushed their creative boundaries. Along the journey they've garnered praise from the likes of Questlove and Jurassic 5's DJ Nu-Mark and were sampled for a collaboration between 88 Rising's Rich Brian and Wu Tang's legendary Ghostface Killah. They also provided the soundtrack to a Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime advertisement. After spending the first half of 2024 immersed in their critically acclaimed re-score of the 1970s Australian cult classic Wake in Fright - performed live alongside a never-before-seen 4K screening of the movie - the band found themselves in an entirely new creative space. Fresh from the intensity of that project, the recording sessions for Superb were intended to be the opposite process-wise; lighter, less intense, more free and spontaneous. Guitarist and songwriter, Lachlan Stuckey says: “Superb was a real shift in process for us… we care a great deal about the music we make being purposeful and meaningful and that mentality has given birth to a bunch of records we’re really proud of, but also can leave little room for spontaneity. On this record we wanted to embrace a kind of unbridled joy that inspired us when we first started making music. Making Superb showed us that when we’re more relaxed during the process, we get a whole different kind of record out of it.” Superb is the type of record that could only be made by musicians who live and breathe this music. It’s adventurous, funky, experimental and free. Blending the cinematic soul of David Axelrod with the infectious grooves of Timbaland or The Neptunes. The psychedelic opener “Sleep Dreams” builds in intensity from first to last note, a two note motif abruptly ending as it gives way to lead single “Bully Ball”. Built upon a pounding drum beat, haunting glockenspiel, vibraphone and piano “Bully Ball” hits as hard as anything the band has ever produced. The band pushes boundaries with tunes like “Body Slam”, a song that starts sweet and soulful before turning subversively abstract and dark with wild synths and astounding bass tones. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on “Fare Evader” where the band pepper an air-tight rhythm track with sound effects straight out of a 70s sci-fi soundtrack; Funk meets pointillism. Up-tempo tunes like “Consulate Case” and “Tag Dag” nod to dance and jazz-funk influences while the ballad “Dreamers Disease” and the electro-tinged “Websites” count as the band’s most beguiling beautiful songs yet. Superb is a reflection of the bond and community shared by the members of the band. With this new album, the band show a versatility, virtuosity and creative spirit that make them one of the most exciting and intriguing instrumental artists touring the world.

Never Dull

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band has performed in 38 countries and 48 states. They have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, Living Blues, Elmore, donned the cover of Vintage Guitar Magazine, have been #1 on the Billboard, iTunes and Sirius XM Blues Charts and have been nominated for three Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. The Indianapolis Star listed Reverend Peyton as one of the top 25 Hoosier musicians of all time.   Maybe you found the band because of virtuosic guitar playing? Maybe you came for the tent revival style live show? The reasons that brought you here could be extensive, but the reasons that keep bringing people back are HEART. Real, from the heart, music made by people who love music. The Sacramento Bee said, “It’s a group with boundless stockpiles of heart to spare — it cascades throughout every slip-n-slide vintage blues/soul ditty they tear through and croon in every show they play, and they always leave a little behind. The front porch is the church, the church is the dance hall and the dance hall is the river bank — your knees will fail you by the time you figure it all out.”   Often called, "the greatest front-porch blues band in the world" the Big Damn Band is led by Reverend Peyton, who is considered to be the premier finger pickers playing today. Rev has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy, country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Accompanied by Rev’s wife, the washboard virtuoso, Washboard Breezy Peyton, and kept on time by the deep rhythms of Jacob “The Snakob” Powell, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will leave you clapping, stomping, and singing along every handmade show across the world.   Their new record “Honeysuckle” was produced and recorded by Reverend Peyton and mixed by six time Grammy winner Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White). The record features many special guests including gospel music group The McCrary Sisters on the song “Manger”, Blues Music Hall of Famer and Grammy nominated harmonica player Billy Branch who plays on the Blind Lemon Jefferson song “Nell (Prison Cell Blues)”, Grammy award winning and IBMA's 10-time Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland plays on "Freeborn Man" and Colton Crawford from The Dead South plays banjo on "The Good Die Young"    "This record is a bit of a return to my roots, a very personal mix of old and new songs that shaped me or that I’m currently shaping. It’s the most acoustic record we’ve made in years, vintage microphones, vintage guitars, vintage recording gear, and alot of me and my national guitar. There is a smattering of Big Damn Band thrown into the mix to spice things up, and a short list of legends that I’ve always dreamed of collaborating with", said Reverend Peyton.

Gilligan Moss & Bad Tuner

Gilligan Moss is Ben & Evan. Friends since meeting at Park West Preschool in Chicago age three. Their first musical collaboration was a spectacular performance at a summer camp in the northern woods of Wisconsin which has been widely bootlegged and shared amongst collectors though has yet to see an official release. Since reconnecting in 2015 they’ve written some songs, made some remixes and released their debut self titled album on Foreign Family Collective. They’ve appeared live touring with the likes of ODESZA, Glass Animals, Elderbrook, Tourist and Toro y Moi.   The music they make is jubilant and fun—drawing from a shared love of music both old and new spanning a wide swath of genres. Their music sounds best with a chilled glass of wine and close friends, but also sounds excellent while filling out excel spreadsheets, doing laundry and staying out way too late at the club with friends and enemies alike. They are currently working on new music and perfecting recipes for a cookbook. 

Savannah Dexter & Brabo Gator

Jonah Kagen

Singer and songwriter Jonah Kagen shares his new EP, ‘The Roads,’ out on Arista Records. The 6-track EP includes recent hit singles like “The Roads,” “Pollution,” “Made Up My Mind (ft. Lily Meola),” and “18,” as well as two brand new songs, “This Life Ain’t Easy” and “Save My Soul.” The EP’s title track, “The Roads,” has had recent momentum climbing at US Triple-A radio, with support across 15+ stations and counting, and received a stamp of approval from Zach Bryan.  Jonah continues to challenge the boundaries of folk, rock, and pop with his new EP. Pairing his signature acoustic-driven sound with heartfelt musings, Jonah captures the universally relatable feeling of trying to figure life out.  “‘The Roads’ is a story of decisions and consequences,” Jonah says. “Each song represents a distinct moment in my ongoing quest to ‘figure it out’ and what those moments did and continue to do to me. Each is a road that I’ve taken that has shaped and continues to shape who I am. I hope people can find a piece of themselves in these stories, and I encourage you to listen with an open heart and an open mind. I wrote these songs to land anywhere—take them as they are, or as they are to you.” Ironically, ’The Roads’ arrives as Jonah returns home from two months on the road. He started his US run in October with his first ever headline tour, which included sold-out shows in Charlotte and New York City, before joining Phillip Phillips as support on ‘The Drift Back’ tour.  Embodying contrast, Savannah GA native Jonah Kagen approaches the guitar with the instinctual know-how of a jazz virtuoso, but also pens the kinds of lyrics that turn into festival singalongs. At just 23 years old, Jonah Kagen has already cut impressive figures with over 200 million global streams and 2.6 monthly Spotify listeners. An exciting new voice bringing undeniable energy and sincerity through his multifaceted sound, Jonah Kagen is one to watch.