The Lucky Hustle & the Side Show Shuffle [LP]

Born from basement echoes and carnival ghosts, Billy Brandt's The Lucky Hustle & The Side Show Shuffle spins post-pandemic strangeness into gritty jazz folk-noir. With a rusty pump organ, second-line grooves, R&B, and cinematic flair, Brandt leads you through a world of barkers, ballads, and side show saints. Recorded with an ear toward the analog warmth of vinyl at Seattle's vaunted Studio X (home to sessions from the likes of Soundgarden, R.E.M., Van Morrison, and countless others), the record's aesthetic was informed by the discovery of a long-forgotten pump organ hidden away in the basement. Swirling with carnival clickety-clack tones, the world of The Lucky Hustle & The Side Show Shuffle took on the energy of a strange, darkly surrealist amusement park. To Brandt, it seems to be a carnival ride, a hustle spun on chance, a hip-sway lounge side show ride that never truly ends. And now, The Barker extends to you a golden ticket to the greatest of shows. Bring your turntable to the fairgrounds. Perfect for vinyl listening, this is a soundtrack for the hustlers, dreamers, and anyone still dancing at the end of the ride.