Texas-based singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ryan Sambol will always be remembered as one of The Strange Boys, but he also knows his way around as a skilled dude solo. His latest full-lengther, Friend of the Show, is everything fans could hope for—a rich tapestry of blues, jazz, folk and rock, woven into a kind of late-night barroom boogie where wonderful piano and guitar melodies set the stage for the artist’s unmistakable vocals.

The album’s twelve self-penned tracks, some of them instrumental, were recorded in a matter of hours on a sweltering summer day last year. The raw, four-musicians-live-in-the-room approach lends the record an intimate, spontaneous quality that feels both immediate and personal, yet with a remarkable richness that extends beyond its instrumentation to its evocative lyrics.

All that’s missing is the sound of applause, a few cheers, and admiring nods—you’ll have to supply those yourself.

Friend Of The Show, recorded by Jimmy Wildcat and Ryan Lee, is out now digitally via Double Alligator / Abrahamic Music BMI. Featuring Ryan Sambol (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica), Joe Roddy (piano, guitar, trumpet, accordion), Jack Montesinos (upright bass, guitar) and Jon Alderson (drums).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp