Left Lane Cruiser

Specializing in a raw hillbilly punk-blues style, Left Lane Cruiser is led by slide guitarist Freddie J. Evans IV. Their music draws on North Mississippi hill country blues à la Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside, with elements of garage punk. While the band sometimes expanded into a trio, they have recorded most of their work as a two-piece. Their 2006 debut Gettin' Down on It set the template. Left Lane Cruiser kept to their garage-infused blues even when they partnered with James Leg on 2012's Painkillers, added an electric skateboard on 2015's Dirty Spliff Blues, or brought in a keyboard player for 2017's Claw Machine Wizard. They returned to a two-man lineup for 2024's Bayport BBQ Blues. Left Lane Cruiser plays The Cluny on 26 May 2026 at 6:30 pm.

Left Lane Cruiser came out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, formed in 2004 by Freddie J. Evans IV on guitar and Brenn Beck on drums. A self-released album, Gettin' Down on It, appeared on the group's Hillgrass Bluebilly Records in 2006, and the following year they signed to Alive Naturalsound Records. Bring Yo' Ass to the Table followed in 2008, then All You Can Eat in 2009 and Junkyard Speed Ball in 2011; when not in the studio, the band toured regularly. Teaming with James Leg (keyboardist with Black Diamond Heavies), the band released Painkillers in 2012, which also featured guest spots from bassist Jim Diamond and blues harpist Harmonica Shah. Rock Them Back to Hell! followed in 2013.

The release of 2015's Dirty Spliff Blues saw Left Lane Cruiser going through lineup changes; Brenn Beck left the group and Pete Dio stepped in as their drummer, while the group also expanded into a trio with the addition of Joe Bent, who played bass and an electrified skateboard. In 2016, the band released the collection Beck in Black, which featured eight previously issued tracks along with six previously unreleased tracks from Brenn Beck's time with the group. Left Lane Cruiser were down to the duo of Evans and Dio when they released 2017's Claw Machine Wizard following the departure of Joe Bent, while guest keyboardist Jason Davis appeared on the album. Davis returned for 2019's Shake and Bake, a set centered on life on the road. The band returned to the duo of Freddie J. Evans IV and Brenn Beck for their tenth studio album, 2024's Bayport BBQ Blues. The duo dedicated the album to Chris Johnson, founder of the annual Deep Blues Festival, who supported the band and passed away in April 2023.