Biography
Brokedown in Bakersfield is a short-lived but widely admired West Coast "supergroup" formed as a tribute to the classic Bakersfield sound of the 1950s–70s, the twangy, hard-edged California country associated with artists like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.[1][2][5] The band brings together prominent musicians from the Northern California roots and jam scenes—most notably vocalists Nicki and Tim Bluhm—who set out to celebrate and reinterpret this era of country music with rich vocal harmonies, Telecaster-driven riffs, and a loose, live-in-the-room feel.[2][5] Emerging in the early 2010s, they first appeared at festivals and select club dates rather than as a full-time touring act, quickly earning a reputation for high-energy, deeply musical performances that honored the originals while adding jam-informed improvisation.[1][4]
Rather than focusing on original songs, Brokedown in Bakersfield built its identity around carefully chosen covers from Merle Haggard, George Jones, Gram Parsons, Wynn Stewart, and other architects of the Bakersfield and classic country sound, culminating in the live release "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!" which documents their interpretations of this repertoire.[4][6] Their arrangements lean into pedal steel and electric guitar twang, shuffling rhythms, and call-and-response vocals, blending traditional country structures with the looser, exploratory sensibility of their members’ primary bands. Although the project has been intermittent—coming together for special shows and festival appearances rather than operating as a continuous touring band—it has left a distinct niche legacy as a modern roots collective that helped reintroduce Bakersfield country to jam-band and Americana audiences on the West Coast.[1][2][5]
The group’s core lineup is drawn from established Bay Area and West Coast acts: Nicki and Tim Bluhm (of Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers and The Mother Hips), guitarist Scott Law, guitarist Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (ALO), bassist Steve Adams (ALO), and drummer Dave Brogan (ALO).[2][5] Their credibility within the jam and Americana circuits helped the band secure high-profile festival spots, such as appearances at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, where they were billed explicitly as a collective of acclaimed West Coast artists paying spirited homage to Bakersfield country.[5] While Brokedown in Bakersfield is not a full-time band with a long discography, its carefully curated shows and one prominent live release have made it a cult favorite among fans of alt-country, classic honky-tonk, and improvisational roots rock.[2][4][6]
Fun Facts
- Brokedown in Bakersfield is explicitly billed not as a traditional band but as a "collective of acclaimed West Coast artists" who periodically convene to play Bakersfield country, emphasizing its project-like, all-star nature rather than a fixed, full-time lineup.[2][5]
- The group’s primary official release, "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!", is entirely composed of covers of classic country and Bakersfield-associated artists, making their recorded legacy a snapshot of a live tribute rather than a studio album of originals.[4][6]
- Members of Brokedown in Bakersfield—including Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz, Steve Adams, and Dave Brogan—are also known for their work in the jam band ALO, while Tim Bluhm is recognized from The Mother Hips, giving the project deep roots in the California jam and Americana scenes.[2][3][5]
- Producer Dan Prothero, who recorded and mixed "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!", is noted for capturing the band’s performances in a raw, onstage style, emphasizing the immediacy and energy of their live country tribute rather than a polished studio sound.[6]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Merle Haggard - Central stylistic and repertoire influence; the band cites and performs his Bakersfield-era songs as core material. (Covers such as "Workin' Man Blues" and other Merle Haggard classics featured on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!") [Influence from Haggard’s 1960s–1970s Bakersfield recordings, actively interpreted by the band in the 2010s.[2][4][6]]
- Buck Owens - Foundational influence as one of the primary architects of the Bakersfield sound the band was created to honor. (General influence of classic Buck Owens Bakersfield-era singles and albums; part of the stylistic template rather than specific documented covers.) [Owens’s 1950s–1960s Bakersfield output as an ongoing stylistic reference for the band’s sound.[1][2]]
- George Jones - Classic country influence whose songs are included in the band’s live repertoire. (Covers of George Jones material featured alongside Bakersfield-associated artists on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!") [Jones’s mid-20th-century country recordings, interpreted by the band in the 2010s.[4][6]]
- Gram Parsons - Influence representing the country-rock and cosmic American music side of their material. (Covers of Gram Parsons songs included on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!") [Parsons’s late 1960s–early 1970s work, revisited by the band in live performances and recordings in the 2010s.[4]]
- Wynn Stewart - Another key Bakersfield-era artist whose songs the band has adopted into its live set. (Bakersfield country songs by Wynn Stewart performed on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!") [Stewart’s 1950s–1960s Bakersfield recordings, covered by the band in the 2010s.[4]]
Key Collaborators
- Nicki Bluhm - Lead vocalist and front person in Brokedown in Bakersfield, bringing her background in West Coast Americana and soul-tinged country to the project. (Featured vocalist on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!" and live festival performances, including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass sets.[2][5][6]) [Early 2010s onward, in various live appearances and the live album.[1][2][5]]
- Tim Bluhm - Vocalist and guitarist, known from The Mother Hips, serving as a key musical director and singer within the group. (Performer on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!" and live shows; also documented as a member of Brokedown in Bakersfield in his individual biography.) [Early 2010s onward, as part of the band’s core lineup.[2][3][5]]
- Scott Law - Guitarist contributing electric and acoustic guitar work and country-inflected soloing to the band’s live sound. (Performer on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!" and featured in the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass artist listing.) [Early 2010s performances and recording with the group.[2][5][6]]
- Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz - Guitarist (known from ALO) providing twangy lead and rhythm guitar, central to the band’s Bakersfield sound. (Performer on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!"; named in festival lineups as a core member.) [Early 2010s shows and live album recording.[2][5][6]]
- Steve Adams - Bassist (ALO) anchoring the rhythm section with country and roots-rock grooves. (Performer on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!" and festival appearances.) [Early 2010s onward, as part of the band’s core lineup.[2][5][6]]
- Dave Brogan - Drummer (ALO) supplying shuffling Bakersfield rhythms and groove-based drumming. (Performer on "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!" and documented festival sets.) [Early 2010s performances and recording with the band.[2][5][6]]
- Dan Prothero - Producer and engineer responsible for capturing the band’s live sound on record. (Produced, recorded, and mixed the album "Brokedown in Bakersfield Live!") [Production work on the live album (early 2010s). [6]]
Artists Influenced
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Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Live! | 2014-11-24 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Workin' Man Blues (Live!)
- Squeaky Wheel (Live!)
- California Cotton Fields (Live!)
- Cash on the Barrelhead (Live!)
- You're Still On My Mind (Live!)
- My Baby's Gone (Live!)
- Where I Parked My Mind (Live!)
- Sing A Sad Song (Live!)
- Swinging Doors (Live!)
- Luxury Liner (Live!)
External Links
Heard on WWOZ
Brokedown in Bakersfield has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19, 2025 | 15:27 | Cash On The Barrelheadfrom Live | The Blues Breakdown |