Turn it Down: Left Lane Cruiser drives into town

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.

All ages, $15, $10 adv., 7 p.m.

Known for its gritty, primal blues-rock riffin’, Left Lane Cruiser has been a force in the underground scene since the duo formed in 2004. The Fort Wayne-based outfit signed to Alive Natural Sound records in 2007, toured Europe in 2008, and hasn’t slowed down a bit since then—even with a few lineup changes along the way. Joe Evans (guitarist/vocalist) is the only constant member, though drummer/backup vocalist Pete Dio has been behind the kit, poundin’ and shoutin’, for the last six years.

The band is on the road promoting its latest album, “Shake and Bake.” The slab of wax is the band’s 11th album since its 2006 debut, “Gettin’ Down On It.” In 2008, the band’s first album on Alive Records was issued, “Bring Yo’ Ass to the Table.” After that, 2009’s “All You Can Eat” featured the track “Waynedale,” a tune featured on season three of AMC’s “Breaking Bad.”

TV placements aside, the relentless road warriors tour endlessly, playing their vast songbook of blues and freestyle jams. In fact, the new record, “Shake and Bake,” was written mostly in the tour van, en route to their next gig. 

According to their label’s press release, its “a record about the juice that keeps the crowd dancing, the smoke that keeps the minds lifted … (it) has a heavy sound and big heart.” In keeping with its rootsy-an-real sound, the 10 tracks were cut at with producer Jason Davis at his analog studio in Fort Wayne. The striking cover art—an illustration of a zombie holding a marijuana birthday cake with joint candles—was done by the legendary William Stout, who’s worked for icons like the Ramones, Fred McDowell and Iggy Pop.

Friday, Left Lane Cruiser returns to Lansing for a headlining slot at Mac’s Bar, opening the all-ages show is Wormfoot, a Lansing-based doom band featuring local musician Uriah “Baby Jesus” Baker. Two weeks ago, a GoFundMe was started to help aid Baker in recent hospital bills and promptly surpassed its $2,000 goal. To donate, search “The Mr. Baby Genius Recovery Fund” on GoFundMe.com. Meanwhile, Baker’s other band, The Goddamn Gallows, once again hit the road for a lengthy American tour, this time with co-headliner Weedeater.

The tour kicks off Feb. 2 in Asheville and ends March 21 in Richmond, Virginia. This time around, a March 11 show at The Sanctuary in Detroit is the only Michigan date. For show updates, follow the Gallows at facebook.com/thegoddamngallowsofficial. The Goddamn Gallows’s latest release, 2018’s “The Trial,” infuses rockabilly and punk rock with bluegrass and metal.

To keep up with Left Lane Cruiser, follow their whiskey-fueled two-man frenzy at facebook.com/leftlanecruiserband or pick up their releases on vinyl at leftlanecruisermusic.com.