JOE KAPLOW W/ SLEEPING JESUS | Lamplight Sessions | Mosinee WI

Joe Kaplow has made a name for himself over the years, playing shows across the country. "Before I started my career I had a choice: to take over my parent's thoroughbred farm in New Jersey or pursue music full time in California and relinquish the farm to sale. I still wonder what life would have looked like had I stayed, but who can resist the gold rush? Besides, I plan to get back there one day on another farm with some other red barn".

As a songwriter, Kaplow says the song comes first. “I see myself as being influenced by Paul Simon or Neil Young,” he explains. “They started with folk music, then got into rock and jazz and jam bands and eventually blended them together. I like to explore and challenge myself, but the song needs to stand on its own.”

As a graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Joe has a strong background in music theory and performance, and on stage, he comes off as polished and confident. Still, he admits that a songwriter can never truly know what is going to resonate with an audience until it’s been played. “There’s a fourth wall when you’re a musician between you and the audience,” he says. “There’s a plane where there’s no real rhyme or reason as to what makes it through to the other side. The goal is to connect with people, and you’re never going to be sure what’s going to do that.”

Kaplow recently released his third album- Posh, Poodle, Krystal, and Toe on Fluff and Gravy records. "This is a special record to me. Unlike the past few, this one sounds like a more cohesive 'band' statement. Most of it was cut together live, in a room over five days."

Sleeping Jesus is a rock and roll band started by Nick Elstad in Winona, MN. The now five-piece band recently released their new album Hollywood Smile. The new album sees the band ditching the hazy dream-pop stylings of their debut album and dipping their toes into the waters of rock and roll and Americana. Their live shows consist of jangly dueling guitars, three part harmonies, tightly locked rhythm, and intense moments of controlled chaos all tied togehter by raspy croon of lead singer, Nick Elstad.

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