Category: music

Ink & Dagger’s Complete Works Rise Again

Pivotal 90s hardcore/punks Ink & Dagger announces catalog reissue. Photo: Chris P., used with permission.

Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works — The Vampiric Legends of Philadelphia Rise Again

Philadelphia, PA — From 1996 to 1999, Philadelphia’s Ink & Dagger burned like a Roman candle, blurring the lines between punk, hardcore, and psychedelia. They were an enigma wrapped in rumors, vampire lore, and blood-spattered theatrics. Equal parts chaos and prank, their ever-shifting lineup fed on energy and spat it back as something entirely their own. (another side, 2025)

Controversial, influential, and long out of print, the band’s complete legacy has finally risen from the grave. Trust Records has announced a full reissue of Ink & Dagger’s discography across three standalone LPs:

  • Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart
  • The Fine Art of Original Sin
  • Ink & Dagger

All audio has been remastered by David Cooley (M83, Tame Impala, Jimmy Eat World). Each album will be available in stores and on digital platforms for the first time ever on October 31.

The Deluxe Box Set: Ink & Dagger — The Complete Works

A deluxe edition box set, Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works, has also been announced. This limited release (only 500 copies) includes:

  • All three remastered LPs
  • A fourth LP titled Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96–99
  • A book/insert titled “The Almighty” by writer Erik Bader
  • Box design by visual artist Jeremy Dean

Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works ships March 2026.

The Albums

LP 1 — Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart

Includes the band’s first two EPs and a bonus track. This marks the first time the collection is available on vinyl, it was originally CD-only in the ’90s.
Featuring blistering early cuts like:

  • “The Changeling”
  • “Frigid Shortcomings”
  • “The Road to Hell”
  • “Full Circle”

LP 2 — The Fine Art of Original Sin

Originally released in 1998, this was Ink & Dagger’s first full-length album, an unholy collision of punk, hardcore, electronica, and rock & roll. Fine Art captured the band at their creative and chaotic peak.

LP 3 — Ink & Dagger

Released posthumously in 2000 by Buddyhead, this album was the band’s final statement, a swirling, psychedelic soundscape that defied category. It offered a haunting glimpse of a future that never came.

LP 4 — Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96–99

Exclusive to the box set, this LP compiles B-sides, singles, and split releases, a sinister showcase of the band’s boundary-pushing sound experiments.

The Legacy

In 1996, Philadelphia hardcore veterans Sean McCabe (Crud Is a Cult, Mandela Strike Force) and Don Devore (Frail, The Icarus Line, The Lilys) set out to create a new kind of band, a century-ending statement that would explode underground music’s boundaries.

Their vision fused punk aggression with occult mystique and a heavy dose of theatrical mischief. They presented rock & roll as a psychic vampire, feeding on energy to achieve immortality.

Tragically, during what was meant to be a short hiatus, frontman Sean McCabe died in 2000 at the age of 27. His death, like much of Ink & Dagger’s story, remains wrapped in mystery, leaving behind a blazing but brief legacy that refused to die.

For decades, their long out-of-print recordings circulated only among collectors and diehards. Stories of blood-soaked performances and chaotic tours became modern myth.

The Resurrection

Now, decades later, Ink & Dagger’s shock and awe return in full force.
A caustic keystone of hardcore history, these reissues don’t just preserve the past, they resurrect it, fangs bared, to inspire a new generation of the wild and the fearless.

Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works
Available October 31 (LPs)
Deluxe Box Set Ships March 2026

Pre-order/Pre-save here.

The Spells’ 1997 Masterpiece The Night Has Eyes Finally Sees the Light

The Spells to release debut LP nearly 30 years later. Photo: Nick Zinner, used with permission.

The Spells Unearth Long-Lost 1997 Debut The Night Has Eyes

Long-lost NYC trio The Spells has announced the long-overdue release of their 1997 debut album The Night Has Eyes, arriving Halloween 2025 on vinyl and digital via Garganta Press. The deluxe LP package includes a 16-page booklet filled with never-before-seen photos and stories from the band’s brief but unforgettable run. (US/THEM Group, 2025)

Originally shelved after the band dissolved in 1998, The Night Has Eyes became the stuff of underground legend, whispered about among fans of ‘90s garage punk and NYC’s darker sonic corners. Now, nearly three decades later, it finally sees the light of day.

From Austin to NYC: A Short, Brilliant Flame

The Spells, made up of Nicole Barrick (guitar, vocals), Marisa Pool (bass, vocals), and Leni Zumas (drums) formed in Austin, TX in 1995, rising from the ashes of an earlier project called The Red Scare. They relocated to New York City, where they recorded their debut with producer Greg Talenfeld (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement, The Walkmen) at Waterworks Studio in November 1997.

A Hidden Treasure Resurfaces

The newly mastered LP, produced by Greg Talenfeld and The Spells and mastered for vinyl by Honza Kapak at Hellsound Studio in the Czech Republic, captures the raw energy and shadowy allure of the late-‘90s NYC underground.

The 16-page booklet features unseen photos from Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Iggy Pop) and Lilian Lee, taken during the band’s final years in 1997–98.

Read the full story and in-depth interview with The Spells today via It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine.

Pre-orders for The Night Has Eyes are available now HERE.

Artist: The Spells
Album: The Night Has Eyes
Record Label: Garganta Press
Release Date: October 31, 2025

The Night Has Eyes tracklist:

  1. Lilith
  2. Vanishing Act
  3. Strange
  4. Snow White’s Coffin
  5. The Night Has Eyes
  6. If The World Should End Tonight
  7. Isadora
  8. Yumiko

Photo: Nick Zinner, used with permission

Bill Scorzari’s Sidereal Days (Day 1) is a Soulful Journey Across Time and Truth

Bill Scorzari announces double album release. Photo: Dreamspider Publicity, used with permission.

Bill Scorzari Returns with Sidereal Days (Day 1) — The First of a Double Album Project

HUNTINGTON, NY — New York-based singer-songwriter, recording artist, and performer Bill Scorzari is set to release his fifth and sixth albums, Sidereal Days (Day 1) and Sidereal Days (Day 2). (Dreamspider Publicity, 2025)

The first installment, Sidereal Days (Day 1), arrives October 17, 2025, with Day 2 scheduled for release in 2026.

Scorzari has independently released four acclaimed studio albums to date:

  • Just the Same (2014)
  • Through These Waves (2017)
  • Now I’m Free (2019)
  • The Crosswinds of Kansas (2022)

A Writer’s Writer

Known for his poetic lyricism and emotional depth, Scorzari has often been described as a “writer’s writer.” His music has drawn comparisons to Sam Baker, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Chris Stapleton.

What sets Scorzari apart is his distinctive voice, one that can be both subtle and striking, as he examines the complexities of the human condition.

The Sound of Sidereal Days (Day 1)

The ten tracks on Sidereal Days (Day 1) are both wide-ranging and deeply personal. Listeners will find:

  • Songs of love and regret
  • Tracks that came together quickly, and others that took years to shape
  • Multi-layered arrangements balanced with short, sublime pieces

Scorzari’s music reflects a deep pursuit of clarity — his songs are as much about introspection as they are about connection. The result is a blend of the radio-ready and the contemplative, showcasing his gift for nuance and storytelling.

From Huntington to Nashville

Scorzari recorded his instrumentation and vocals for the double album himself at First Thunder Recording, his studio in Huntington, New York. Beginning in July 2022, he spent two years refining the compositions before heading to Skinny Elephant Recording in Nashville in August 2024 to collaborate with engineer Dylan Alldredge, with Scorzari and Neilson Hubbard co-producing.

Final mixes were completed by engineer Nic Coolidge at Dead Pop Studios in Providence, RI, in early 2025. Mastering was done by Hallie Melton in Nashville in April 2025, bringing the project to its polished conclusion.

Sidereal Days (Day 1) tracklist

  1. All This Time
  2. And Carries Me Away
  3. And So (Deep Into the Dark)
  4. Borrowed Hearts
  5. Can’t Break This Fall
  6. Did We Tie
  7. Endgame
  8. From Your Heart
  9. Grace
  10. Breathe

Paz Lenchantin Breaks Free with Triste, a Bold New Chapter in Her Career

Paz Lenchantin’s solo album Triste is set for an October 17 release. Photo: David Alvarado, used with permission.

Paz Lenchantin Steps Into the Spotlight with Debut Solo Album Triste

Paz Lenchantin, the Argentine-American musician best known for her nearly three-decade career as bassist, vocalist, and co-writer for iconic bands like Pixies (2014–2024), A Perfect Circle, Zwan, and The Entrance Band, is now stepping forward on her own. Her debut solo album, Triste, arrives October 17 via her own label, Hideous Human Records. (another side, 2025)

A First Glimpse: “Novela”

Lenchantin recently released Triste’s opening track and recent single, “Novela.”

“The track is a melodramatic story that resolves with accepting that you are the way you are—‘Sos como sos’,” explains Paz.

Drawing from the emotional tradition of Spanish balladry, “Novela” sets the tone for the album with raw, restless compositions. The accompanying video, directed by longtime friend and filmmaker Maximilla Lukacs, is available to watch now.

A Fusion of Roots and Reinvention

The 12-track Triste blends Latin folk textures with American rock structures, placing Paz at the piano and weaving her signature string arrangements around the rock foundations she helped shape in past projects. She performed all instruments before inviting collaborators, including former A Perfect Circle bandmates Josh Freese (drums) and Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar), to add depth to the record’s sonic landscape.

Each song unfolds with both editorial precision and mystical intuition, creating music that feels timeless while firmly rooted in the present.

Written in Mexico, Mixed with Vision

The seeds of Triste were planted in Petatlán, Mexico, where Paz spent much of 2024 writing about faith, doubt, and self-discovery in the wake of her departure from Pixies. The album was later mixed by Chris Coady (Beach House, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), giving the project a lush yet intimate finish.

A Statement of Independence

For Paz, Triste is more than an album—it’s a declaration of self.

“I had to make this record on my own—not to prove anything, but just to have faith that music can nurture me back. And it did.”

With Triste, Paz Lenchantin opens the first chapter of her solo career: deeply personal, sonically adventurous, and undeniably her own.

✨ Listen to “Novela” now and watch the video, then mark your calendar for the release of Triste on October 17, available for pre-order/pre-save.

Triste tracklist:

01 – Novela
02 – Lows & Highs
03 – Woman Of Nazareth
04 – Hang Tough
05 – Wish I Was There
06 – Si No!
07 – In The Garden With The Devil
08 – Adam
09 – Lucia
10 – Sin Dios
11 – Save It For Hell
12 – Triste

Triste Artwork By Camila Doring

1760694874

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Triste release date

Friday Nights Come Alive: St. Paul Square Launches Weekly Community Series

Buttercup at Sunset Music Festival. Photo: Isaiah Alonzo, used with permission.

Friday Night Live Launches at St. Paul Square This Fall

San Antonio, TX — St. Paul Square, San Antonio’s historic downtown district that’s fast becoming a world-class entertainment and cultural arts destination, is proud to announce Friday Night Live, a brand-new weekly series of community events produced in collaboration with The Espee. (Painting Pictures, 2025)

Running September through the holiday season, Friday Night Live brings together a highly curated mix of free and ticketed programming designed to light up the district every Friday night. From live music and markets to Spurs watch parties and film nights, the series is set to create memorable experiences for both locals and visitors.

What to Expect

🎶 Outdoor Concerts at The Espee’s Plaza Stage
Free live music from San Antonio favorites like Daisy Killers (Sept. 26) and Buttercup (Oct. 17), with more acts to come.

🛍️ Markets & Makers
Rotating editions of the Beauty + Zen Haus Night Market, including a special Holiday Market and Santa at the Square celebration.

📺 Community Watch Parties & Film Nights

  • Spurs Watch Parties (Oct. 10) on a massive outdoor LED screen
  • A spooky-season pop-up screening of Hocus Pocus 2 (Oct. 24)

“Friday Night Live is about creating momentum for downtown every week and showing how dynamic St. Paul Square can be when the community gathers here,” said Tatanka Guerrero, Director of Curation and Development at St. Paul Square.

“We want people to know that no matter the Friday, there’s always a reason to come down to the Square – whether you’re discovering a new band, shopping the market, cheering on the Spurs, or just grabbing a bite.”

Building on Momentum

Friday Night Live follows a wave of exciting changes at St. Paul Square. With the openings of El Tigre Coffee, Atlee’s Rally, and Neko Pilates earlier this year—plus the successful launch of the Sundays at The Square event series—the district is transforming into one of San Antonio’s most vibrant destinations for food, drink, music, and culture.

By adding Friday Night Live to the lineup, St. Paul Square is keeping energy flowing into the district, boosting foot traffic, and strengthening its role as a hub for community connection.

Friday Night Live: Fall 2025 Schedule

📅 Friday, September 26
Daisy Killers at The Espee’s Plaza Stage
Free outdoor concert with San Antonio indie-punk favorites.
⏰ 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | 🎟 Free Admission

📅 Friday, October 3
First Fridays: DJ Sets at St. Paul Square Courtyard
Local DJs soundtrack the city’s favorite art night.
⏰ 9:00 p.m. – Late | 🎟 Free Admission

📅 Friday, October 10
Spurs Watch Party at St. Paul Square Courtyard
Game on the big screen + food & drink specials.
⏰ Game tipoff | 🎟 Free Admission

📅 Friday, October 17
Beauty + Zen Haus Night Market + Buttercup at The Espee
Shop the market and enjoy live music from San Antonio legends Buttercup.
⏰ Market: 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Concert: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | 🎟 Free Admission

📅 Friday, October 24
Spooky Season Movie Pop-Up: Hocus Pocus 2
A Halloween-themed outdoor movie night under the stars.
⏰ 7:00 p.m. Screening | 🎟 Free Admission

✨ Friday Night Live at St. Paul Square is your new weekly reason to head downtown. Whether you’re catching a concert, cheering for the Spurs, or enjoying a seasonal market, every Friday brings something fresh to San Antonio’s historic heart.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Canadian Death Metal Newcomers Dying Remains Drops Debut Album

Merciless Suffering is the new album by Canadian band Dying Remains. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Maggot Stomp Announces Debut Album from Dying Remains: Merciless Suffering

Maggot Stomp is proud to unveil the debut full-length album from Canadian death metal upstarts Dying Remains. Titled Merciless Suffering, the record cements the band as a skull-cracking force blending unrelenting brutality with infectious riffs and grooves. Fans of Obituary, Frozen Soul, Tribal Gaze, and Jungle Rot will feel right at home. (Haulix, 2025)

New Video: Hung and Drawn

Alongside the album announcement, Dying Remains has unleashed a chilling new music video for the track “Hung and Drawn” — a must-watch for fans of the genre.

The video isn’t just a performance clip; it’s a short horror film. Drawing heavy inspiration from ‘70s and ‘80s B-grade gore flicks, the visual depicts one gruesome chapter in the album’s overarching narrative of a sprawling torture chamber. Directed by Aron Diaz, the film perfectly complements the band’s dark lyrical themes, bringing their macabre vision vividly (and violently) to life.

About the Album: Merciless Suffering

Merciless Suffering is a towering slab of modern death metal rooted in the genre’s classic traditions. The record delivers:

  • Crushing brutality paired with catchy, well-crafted grooves
  • A sound that echoes the seminal work of Morta Skuld, Jungle Rot, and Obituary
  • A fresh, uncompromising edge designed for today’s generation of death metal fans

This is death metal at its most relentless and primal — a monolithic force that honors the past while pushing the genre forward.

On Tour Now

Dying Remains are currently tearing across the U.S. on their first-ever tour, bringing the ferocity of Merciless Suffering to the stage night after night.

🔥 Whether you’re a fan of old-school brutality or hungry for the next wave of death metal devastation, Dying Remains’ Merciless Suffering is an album that demands to be heard.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Finnr’s Cane Explores Nature and Spirit in Their Fourth Album

Finnr’s Cane unveils self-titled debut with Nordvis Produktion. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Finnr’s Cane Returns with Their Self-Titled Fourth Album

The mystic Canadians Finnr’s Cane return with their self-titled fourth album — a haunting and introspective journey through the frozen landscapes of the mind. Marking their debut with renowned Swedish label Nordvis Produktion, this release continues the band’s unique blend of atmospheric black metal, doom, and ambient soundscapes. (Nordvis Produktion, 2025)

A Band Forged in the North

Formed in 2008, Finnr’s Cane consists of The Peasant and The Bard—pseudonyms chosen to maintain anonymity. Hailing from the icy expanse of Sudbury, Ontario, the band has always thrived on the fringes, letting the music speak for itself.

One of their most distinctive traits is the absence of a traditional bass guitar, replaced instead with the deep, melancholic resonance of a cello. Paired with an improvisational songwriting style, this approach gives their music an organic, almost ritualistic quality.

The New Album

Arriving as summer fades into autumn, the self-titled album delves deep into themes of nature, introspection, and spiritual connection to the land. Listeners are guided through passages that shift from somber acoustic meditations to powerful, distorted crescendos, with the cello remaining a central pillar throughout.

For fans of Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Fen, this record offers a compelling exploration of liminal spaces and the sacred elements of the wilderness.

Since their 2010 debut Wanderlust and subsequent critically acclaimed releases on Prophecy Productions and Frostscald Records, Finnr’s Cane have carved out a singular voice. This latest work— their first collaboration with Nordvis—feels like a natural continuation of their vision.

From the Band

“The final form of this album emerged slowly and instinctively, informed by our experiences and emotions over a long period of time. We carefully distilled it into what we’re certain is our absolute best work to date.”
— The Bard

Album Details

  • Artwork: Mark Seydewitz
  • Layout: Thomas Väänänen
  • Format: CD / LP / Digital

Singles Release Timeline

  • June 20, 2025 — Twilight Glow
  • July 25, 2025 — Awaken the Sleeping Forest

Availability

  • Worldwide: Streaming on all major platforms + Bandcamp
  • Europe: Available now via Silent Future Distribution
  • Rest of the World: Physical release begins September 19, 2025 with the launch of Nordvis’ new U.S.-based store
Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Infinity Dream Announces New Album Silver Lining, Out This October

Infinity Dream’s Silver Lining promises dark atmosphere and soaring vocals. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Infinity Dream Signs with Nameless Grave Records for New Album Silver Lining

The underground metal scene is about to get a powerful new chapter. Rising melodic heavy metal band Infinity Dream is set to return this fall with their most ambitious release yet. Blending dark atmosphere, soaring vocals, and timeless heavy riffs, their upcoming album promises to captivate both long-time metal fans and newcomers alike. (Nameless Grave Records, 2025)

Nameless Grave Records is proud to announce the signing of melodic heavy metal visionaries Infinity Dream for the release of their highly anticipated second full-length album, Silver Lining.

Arriving October 17, 2025, the record expands upon the band’s acclaimed 2022 debut, Memories, with greater atmosphere, soaring harmonies, and the seamless interplay of male and female vocals. Pre-orders for Silver Lining are now available.

A Band Forged in Darkness and Melody

Formed in 2019, Infinity Dream draws influence from the dark grandeur of Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath, the drama of Dio, and the mysticism of Warlord and Rainbow—while forging a sound that is uniquely their own.

Their music blends doom’s heaviness with the melodic spirit of classic rock, making Silver Lining a compelling listen for both underground devotees and the new wave of fans drawn to bands like Ghost and Witchcraft.

Behind the Album

  • Recorded at Wootensound Studios
  • Drums tracked at Sonark Studios
  • Produced by John Wooten III & Chris Bennett
  • Mixed by Steven Raets (Sonark Media)
  • Artwork & design by Chris Harris

Band Lineup

  • Chris Bennett – guitars, vocals
  • Dina Altum – keys, vocals
  • John Wooten III – bass
  • Anthony Bowden – drums

🎶 For fans of Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath, Witchcraft, Ghost, Dio, Savatage, and Ozzy.

Silver Lining tracklist:

1. Blood Moon

2. Silver Lining

3. Lost Embrace

4. The Ones That Remain

5. Freeze

6. Rewinding Time

7. Sins of the Past

8. The Will to Survive

1760697012

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Silver Lining release date

Ty Herndon & Ashley McBryde Breathe New Life into A Man Holdin’ On

The country music icons teamed up for a powerful take of the 1998 classic. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

✨ Country music fans are in for a treat — Ty Herndon has teamed up with Ashley McBryde to reimagine one of his most beloved hits, “A Man Holdin’ On (To a Woman Lettin’ Go).” The powerful duet bridges past and present, honoring Herndon’s legacy while showcasing McBryde’s fearless edge.

Ty Herndon and Ashley McBryde Reimagine Classic Hit “A Man Holdin’ On (To a Woman Lettin’ Go)”

NASHVILLE, TN — GRAMMY®-nominated country music icon Ty Herndon has joined forces with Ashley McBryde, Grand Ole Opry member and GRAMMY® Award-winning powerhouse, to reimagine his 1998 hit “A Man Holdin’ On (To a Woman Lettin’ Go).” (Aristo PR, 2025)

The haunting ballad of love, loss, and heartbreak is the second single from Herndon’s upcoming double album, THIRTY—a landmark project celebrating his three decades in country music. The album will be released in two volumes, with Volume One arriving this fall and featuring reimagined versions of Herndon’s greatest hits, each performed as collaborations with some of the genre’s most dynamic voices.

A Classic Reborn

Originally penned by Gene Dobbins, John Ramey, and Bobby Taylor, “A Man Holdin’ On” became one of Herndon’s signature songs in the late ’90s. With McBryde’s raw vocal edge paired with Herndon’s heartfelt delivery, the new rendition digs even deeper into the song’s emotional core—capturing the pain, poetry, and power of letting go.

“This song has always been one of the most emotional songs in my catalog,” said Herndon. “To revisit it with someone as fearless and gifted as Ashley was both humbling and electric. We didn’t just sing the song — we lived it.”

A New Chapter with Club44 Records

Released through Club44 Records, the track also marks Herndon’s next step in an exciting partnership with the Nashville-based label, known for championing bold vocalists and genre-defying artistry. The release is part of a newly announced three-album deal.

More than just an anniversary record, THIRTY is a declaration of endurance, artistry, and authenticity from one of country music’s most enduring voices.

About Ty Herndon

In 2025, Herndon will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his breakout single “What Mattered Most.” Between 1995 and 2002, he charted 17 singles, including three No. 1 hits, with fan favorites such as “I Want My Goodbye Back,” “Loved Too Much,” and “A Man Holdin’ On.”

Herndon has also broken barriers in country music. In 2015, he made history as the first major male country artist to publicly come out as gay. His artistry continued to evolve with albums like Journey On and Right About Now. His 2022 album JACOB produced the No. 1 independent country hit “Dents on a Chevy” with Terri Clark, which spent seven weeks at the top of the charts.

About Ashley McBryde

Ashley McBryde is a GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM award-winning artist celebrated for her unapologetic, raw country sound. Her 2018 debut album Girl Going Nowhere earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, while her collaboration with Carly Pearce on “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” won a GRAMMY and CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year.

Currently, McBryde is on tour supporting her latest album The Devil I Know, with sold-out shows across the UK and North America.

Dynamic Guitar Duo: Keel & Stickley’s Self-Titled EP Drops September 5

Two master guitarists with distinct, complementary personalities join together for bold music full of depth, energy, and inspiration. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Larry Keel & Jon Stickley Release Debut Duo EP

ASHEVILLE, NC — Larry Keel and Jon Stickley have long been recognized as two of the finest flatpicking guitarists of this generation. Now, they’ve joined forces to celebrate the pure joy of acoustic guitar music with their new duo project. Their chemistry is undeniable—effortlessly weaving rhythm and lead, creating an intimate conversation between two guitars and two voices, while maintaining their own distinct musical personalities. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2025)

Their self-titled debut EP, Larry Keel and Jon Stickley, will be independently released on September 5. Pre-save/Pre-order here.

A Duo Years in the Making

“I’ve wanted this project to happen for so long!” Keel says. “Jon and I have been on many of the same bills all over the place for so many years, teaming up in jams, sit-ins, and campfire pickings, and yet we’ve never gotten our fill of playing together as guitar players—which we both seem to crave. So, now we’ve put this guitar duo act in motion, playing shows and making a record, and it feels great getting to scratch that itch.”

About the EP

The five-track collection blends lyrical songwriting with adventurous instrumentals:

  • “Future Ghost” – A shredding, dynamic instrumental that highlights the duo’s contrasting styles. Stickley describes the interplay as “very freeing and exhilarating.”
  • “Sailor Suit” – A cover of Steve McMurry’s 1990s Acoustic Syndicate tune, with Stickley on lead vocals.
  • “Pioneers” – Written by Keel during a 1990s tour along the Oregon Trail, this track reflects on the journeys of early settlers in the American West.
  • “Take the Air” – A Stickley original, inspired by David Grisman and Tony Rice, written in 7/4 time during the pandemic as a meditative, uplifting riff.
  • “Starborn” – Classic Keel: upbeat yet tinged with melancholy, closing with a spacey outro that serves as a tribute to a released soul.

Together, these songs push the boundaries of two-guitar arrangements, resulting in a progressive and compelling acoustic collection.

“Pioneers” is out as an early single. Stream/buy here.

Festival Favorites

Keel and Stickley are no strangers to the stage. Both have been staples on the bluegrass, Americana, and jam band circuits for years, sharing late-night jams and festival stages at Strings and Sol, Jam Cruise, DelFest, Hulaween, Suwannee Spring Reunion, Roots Revival, Hoxeyville, The Bender Jamboree, WinterWonderGrass, and Billy Strings’ Renewal, among many others.

✨ The Keel Stickley Duo brings raw virtuosity, creative spirit, and late-night jam energy to every note. Their debut EP is just the beginning of an inspired new chapter in their musical journey.

Larry Keel and Jon Stickley track listing
1.) Future Ghost (2:34)
2.) Sailor Suit (4:07)
3.) Pioneers (3:24)
4.) Take the Air (2:56)
5.) Starborn (4:03)

Produced by Larry Keel and Jon Stickley
Recorded/Engineered by James McLaughlin
Mastered by Crystal Mastering
Artwork/Design by Luther Blevins