The Randy Bandits

The Randy Bandits, a Brooklyn outfit, fuse soul, jazz, and country touches into their pop/rock approach by layering multiple instruments with rich vocal harmonies, an approach that has invited comparisons to Barenaked Ladies, Guster, and Wilco. Their debut EP, The Woman or the Blues, appeared in 2005 and showcased playwright and lyricist Jim Knable on lead vocals, guitar, and saxophone alongside Stephen Aleman on vocals and percussion, Spiff Wiegand on vocals, trumpet, banjo, guitar, and accordion, and Chris Murphey on vocals, bass, and guitar. Drummer Adam Farrell came aboard later that same year, after which the band issued its first full-length album, Redbeard, in 2006 on the independent Soul Kebab Records imprint.