Joseph Huber, MK Ultra, and Driveway Thriftdwellers

Joseph Huber

Joseph Huber hails from the state of Wisconsin, and seems to bring forth the varied voices of whatever it may be that lies dormant within either the fertile soil or the callous concrete of that world. It has been said, “You don’t just like Joseph Huber’s music. You feel it’s something that the rest of the world needs to hear, and how criminal it is that it isn’t spreading far and wide.” That sentiment could be related to the fact that the voices which Huber unearths are subtle and take more than a hurried listen to truly absorb. A person who appears reserved and matter-of-fact in everyday speech brings forth songs that are anything but that.

As the singer, songwriter, performer, recorder and producer of all of his own material, Huber has his hands full, but never seems to miss a beat. And his own ‘solo’ material has now certainly surpassed the output of his past efforts, both in volume and substance. As one of the founding member of the .357 String Band–a group that would probably fit better in today’s ‘Americana-saturated’ environment than in the early to middle aughts–he’s gradually honed a sound that seems to fill a very real gap within the still-emerging genre. Having progressed, Huber continues moving onward and upward captivating folks with his sincere and well-crafted songs under his own name along with the impeccable musicianship of his fellow touring partners. Whether it’s irresistible, fiddle-driven, dancing tunes or honest, heart-wrenching “songwriter” songs, Huber’s songs and shows spans the spectrum of ‘Roots’ music while preferring not to stay within the boundaries of any strict genre classification.

His lyricism and introspective writing style has received high acclaim from music enthusiasts looking for a more substantive substitute to much of today’s music. Maintaining a solid touring schedule, playing all throughout both the U.S. and all around Europe, Huber continues to gain positive press, including being listed on L.A. Weekly’s ’10 More Country Artists To Listen To.’ Blue Ridge Outdoor writes, “Songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Chris Smither, and John Prine can marvel listeners in the simplest of acoustic settings,…From time to time, I stumble upon a new singer/songwriter whose work warrants comparison to the luminaries on this list. …Huber’s songwriting has me comparing him to my favorites above.” He’s had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many artists including Tyler Childers; Hackensaw Boys; Scott H Biram; The Tillers; Possessed By Paul James; Dave Simonett; Robert Earl Keen; Ben Nichols; The Tossers; Charlie Parr; Amy Lavere; Horseshoes & Hand Grenades; Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band; Henhouse Prowlers; Keller Williams, and more…

As of now, Huber has delivered five solo records: ‘Bury Me Where I Fall’ (2010); ‘Tongues Of Fire’ (2012), ‘The Hanging Road’ (2014); and ‘The Suffering Stage’ (2017), ‘Moondog’ (2019) and now 2021 give us ‘The Downtowner’–Huber’s latest effort which rollicks between social and personal spheres while mixing elements of rock and folk music that fans will immediately see as maintaining a solid continuity of sound and attitude with his previous two albums–rollicking between the feelings of freedom and severity, with both wit and earnestness.

MK Ultra

MK Ultra (est. 2021) is a unique collaboration of Ben Miller (Ben Miller Band) and Pat Kay (The Kay Brothers) born out of the great pandemic. You see…here’s what happens when two fellas like this spend too much time in their shops and start playing “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” Miller & Kay, both renowned torchbearers for Ozark mountain music tradition heretofore, have basically built themselves some kind of jangle-stomp-time machine. And in it, together, have embarked on a journey exploring hillbilly music from a distant future. Banjos meet Synthesizers… Dulcimers meet Wobble… Strange flashing lights… Unexplained phenomena… These industrious builders of cobbled homemade instruments showcase some of their most bizarre implements & soundscapes. The future of the past is here, and it’s only weird the first time.

Driveway Thriftdwellers

“Emotionally ripe, old school country.” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“Like a vintage yard sale that Merle Haggard might have thrown.” Isthmus.

“Rugged, straightforward country songwriting.” Tone Madison.

Vocals, Guitar / Jon Knudson
Pedal Steel, Vocals / Ryan Knudson
Lead Guitar, Vocals / Kyle Rightley
Bass, Vocals / Aaron Collins
Drums, Vocals / Jon Storey