Welshly Arms

Emerging from Cleveland with a raw fusion of blues-rock steeped in vintage soul, pop, and classic rock flavors, Welshly Arms cultivated an independent following throughout the Midwest during the mid-2010s before inking a deal with Polydor in 2017. An initial EP and the later full-length No Place Is Home lifted their profile, alongside several prominent placements in films, television programs, and video games. As the decade turned, the quartet’s approach grew more polished, spotlighting additional pop sensibilities on tracks such as “Learn to Let Go” and “Trouble,” even as their retro sonic character persisted.

The group came together in 2013 with singer and guitarist Sam Getz, keyboardist and singer Brett Lindemann, bassist and singer Jimmy Weaver, and drummer Mikey Gould. Their debut EP Welcome, issued that same year, reflected deep ties to Cleveland’s rock lineage, nodding to outfits like the James Gang, the Black Keys, and the O’Jays. A covers collection the next year featured reinterpretations of songs by Deep Purple, the Chambers Brothers, and Golden Earring, expanding their regional reputation. Position Music released the band’s first album, Welshly Arms, in 2015. The 2016 singles “Bad Blood” and “Legendary” introduced a sleeker, R&B-leaning style enriched by new backing vocalists Bri and Jon Bryant.

Strategic placements in local advertising campaigns and shows including Empire and Sense8 widened their audience, culminating in the 2017 move to Polydor. The label introduced them with the four-track EP Legendary, followed in May 2018 by No Place Is Home. Their 2019 release “Learn to Let Go” leaned heavily pop, a direction they merged with edgier material on the 2020 cuts “Trouble” and “Stand.” In early 2021 the band opened the year with the inspirational single “I Will Overcome,” a call for national unity.