This Little Underground

LOCAL RELEASES

In the past several years, Jordan Foley has built a reputation on stage as one of the leading young lights in Orlando’s Americana scene. His biggest strides came with the solidification of his full band, Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse. Now, all that impressive stage mileage will finally coalesce on their first album as a unit.

This Friday (Jan. 13), Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse will launch the release campaign for their self-titled debut album with the drop of opening single “Loners.” The six-song, Thomas Wynn-produced collection will be rolled out on streaming services as a steady series of singles that’ll run through the summer, culminating in an Aug. 19 release concert at Will’s Pub. However, the full album will see a consolidated release on Bandcamp as early as April 21.

While “Loners” kicks things off with a strapping Southern-rock stomp, Foley’s rich and tender heart will take the wheel in follow-up single “Our Last Dance” (releasing Feb. 17), probably the album’s most moving song. From there on, it’ll be a drive that shifts back and forth between passion and muscle, the two poles that define Foley’s signature. All told, Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse is a lushly crafted country-rock batch that documents their crystallization as a band. As a work of both wide appeal and substance that could play for the modern country mainstream without selling its soul, this album will be worth the ride.

CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK

Little Lazy, Liquid Pennies, The

Bums, Sad Halen: This bill’s a nice sampler of under-the-radar indie talent from the I-4 corridor. Orlando will be repped by

BY BAO LE-HUU

Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse | photo by Matthew Fowler

Local Americana leading lights Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse are set to roll out their debut album as a series of singles, culminating in a big August album release and show

the excellent shoegaze rock of Sad Halen, the jaunty indie pop of the Bums and the celebratory blues rock of Little Lazy. St. Pete’s Liquid Pennies will bring some welcome freak and fuzz with their cloud-riding psych rock. (7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, Stardust Video & Coffee, $8-$10)

John Lee Wyatt, Patrick Hagerman,

Beartoe, Derek Engstrom: Foremost, this will be a single release for John Lee Wyatt of indie-folk act the Lamplight Shivers. But top to bottom, it’s a notable bill loaded with credentialed locals, from the deep Americana heart of Patrick Hagerman to the rootsy soul of Beartoe to the urbane pop sounds of former Leisure Chief leader Derek Engstrom. (8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, Will’s Pub, $10)

Sanford Punk Fest 5: Havoc Underground return with the fifth edition of their all-day punk-rock takeover. Involving two stages and 18 acts, this one will be a 12-hour mosh pit that brings punk bands from all over to mix it up with some of Florida’s best. Lineup includes the Bastard Suns, Antagonizers ATL, Dial Drive, WolfFace, Doc Rotten, Debt Neglector, Tired Radio, Pangolin, Flag on Fire, the Problem Addicts, Nothing Lost, Forsaken Profits, Noxious Profit, Secondself, Friendly Fire, Our Escape, Dearly Beloved and the Palmeranians. (Noon Saturday, Jan. 14, West End Trading Co., $20)

Southern Culture on the Skids, The

Tremolords: For all the academic praise heaped on artistic evolution, there’s something to be said for not fucking with a golden formula. So thank god for acts like Southern Culture on the Skids, who, through four decades of existence, are smart enough to know that their campy and rollicking take on American roots rock has been spot-on this whole damn time. Orlando garage-rock legends the Tremolords, too, know something about staying true. (7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, Will’s Pub, $20-$25)

Disco Iskandar Belly Dance: There is just so far that some dudes and guitars can take you. Belly dancers, however, are an entirely different matter. In fact, belly dancing is a grand and ancient form that melds body and music into an intoxicating singularity thaaat … sorry, just got mesmerized there with the mere thought of it. Anyway, Disco Iskandar is a nationally touring belly dance company based in L.A. and Austin. This, however, will be a special homecoming show for director and erstwhile Floridian Veronica Lynn. Go be entranced by a full-company production filled with costumes and, yes, them moves. (7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, Stardust Video & Coffee, $15)

baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com ● JAN. 11-17, 2023 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY 23