What started in the early 2000s as a local duo with a deep love for Mississippi Hill Country blues has evolved into a seasoned outfit with a sound that hits like a live wire to the chest.
At the helm of Left Lane Cruiser is Fredrick “Joe” Evans IV, whose slide guitar and gravel-toned vocals have become the band’s signature. Alongside longtime drummer Brenn “Sausage Paw” Beck, the duo builds a sonic wall out of stomp, fuzz, and sweat. Their music draws as much from the ghosts of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough as it does from the rough edges of punk and proto-metal.
From Gettin’ Down On It (2006) to their latest recordings with Alive Naturalsound Records, Left Lane Cruiser has always kept things simple and loud—favoring feeling over polish. Their most recent album, Bayport BBQ Blues (order here), captures everything that’s made them a cult favorite. The record is dedicated to Chris Johnson, founder of the Deep Blues Festival.
After twenty years of full-throttle touring, Left Lane Cruiser has more than earned their scars and stripes. Premiering exclusively on American Blues Scene is their new single, “Broke Down Lines” — a love letter to the fans who’ve fueled the ride.
‘Broke Down Lines’ is a blues song dedicated to Left Lane Cruiser’s fans. The highway lines stretch endlessly before us, etched into our memories after two decades of touring. We’ve scattered pieces of ourselves along these endless ribbons of asphalt—tiny seeds of music planted in every town we’ve played.
Freddy J IV
Looking back, those seeds have bloomed into something beautiful: a family of fans spread across the country, their voices and faces as familiar as the road signs that guide us home. This song is a tribute to our fans who are always there at the finish line, ready to lift our spirits. Like old warriors, we keep coming back for more because that’s the life we live, because we live the blues.
