Will Hoge has made a career of writing and singing powerful songs about life’s cruel and dark turns. Not long ago, he fell victim to one such turn. As Hoge rode his scooter home from the studio, he was struck by an oncoming van that had veered into his lane. There were no skid marks. Launched off his bike, Hoge ended up bloodied, broken-boned, temporarily blinded, and near death. “ It was like stopping a record as it spins,” says Hoge, who had been halfway through recording material for his new record before getting derailed. “It was like taking the needle and pushing it off the turntable.”

For ten months, the accident sidelined Hoge. For ten months, it made him do something he hadn’t done in 18 years: stop the music. Larger matters dominated his life, like physical recovery and the well-being of his family. “People would say, ‘I bet you’re ready to get back to playing and writing.’ I’m thinking, ‘Playing or singing is not the issue right now. I’m ready to get back to walking.’”

American Bang (formerly known as Bang Bang Bang) is a Nashville-based Southern rock band featuring Jaren Johnston (formerly of The Kicks) on vocals and guitar, Ben Brown and Neil Mason (both formerly of Llama) on lead guitar and drums respectively, Kelby Caldwell on bass. A hardworking band, Bang Bang Bang generally play 3-4 shows a week, year-round, in clubs and venues throughout the Southeast. Recently they opened for veterans Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Marshall Tucker Band at Nashville’s Starwood amphitheatre, and have toured with the likes of Shooter Jennings and The Who.

J. Roddy Walston and The Business is a Baltimore, Md.-based rock band playing melodic, often upbeat and catchy songs influenced by the Southern rock tradition and featuring accomplished lyrics and musicianship. Their songs are often piano-driven and also feature strong guitar solos. The band moved to Baltimore from Tennessee.