Captain Buckle

Biography

Captain Buckles is a New Orleans-based band formed by a collective of veteran sidemen who have spent decades backing major national and international acts across the American music scene. The group coalesced into a distinctive unit around 2023, bringing together musicians with deep roots in the Crescent City’s funk, blues, and soul traditions. Their debut full-length album, Hurry Up, was released in November 2025 and showcases their signature blend of funky, rockin’ instrumentals and soulful vocal tracks, all steeped in the groove-heavy legacy of New Orleans. The band’s sound is marked by dynamic subtlety, musical exploration, and a punk-tinged irreverence, drawing inspiration from icons like The Meters, Allman Brothers, and The Band, while forging a style uniquely their own. Captain Buckles’ music is a celebration of their collective experience, community support, and the joy of creating original music on their own terms.

Fun Facts

• Captain Buckles’ debut album Hurry Up was made possible by a grant from the Threadhead Cultural Foundation, a rare opportunity for unsigned bands.
• The band recorded at the legendary Dockside Studio, where artists like Dr. John and B.B. King have also recorded.
• Before forming Captain Buckles, the members had played together in various lineups for years, backing artists such as Eric Lindell, Samantha Fish, and Glen David Andrews.
• The group’s first major festival performance was at the Wild Things Family Reunion in 2023, thanks to support from Marc Paradis of Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• The Meters - Stylistic influence and inspiration for funk and groove (Various funk recordings) [1970s-present]
• Allman Brothers - Inspiration for musical exploration and jamming (Live at the Fillmore East) [1970s-present]
• The Band - Inspiration for ensemble chemistry and Americana style (Music from Big Pink) [1960s-present]
• Booker T & the MGs - Influence on instrumental approach and bass playing (Green Onions) [1960s-present]
• King Curtis - Inspiration for instrumental versions of vocal songs (Live at Fillmore West) [1960s-1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Rob Davis - Keyboards, vocals, mixing/mastering (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]
• Ezell Smith Jr. - Drums (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]
• Smitti Supab - Bass, vocals, bandleader (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]
• Alexander Mallet - Guitar, background vocals (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]
• Phil Breen - Keyboards (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]
• Michael Darby - Songwriter (This Time (Captain Buckles)) [2023-present]
• Tyler Clements - Drums (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]
• Gio Blackmon - Engineering (Captain Buckles, Hurry Up) [2023-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Baby's Gone (Baby's Gone)
2. Bucket of Fish (Bucket of Fish)
3. Hurry Up (Hurry Up)
4. Bus Station Blues (Hurry Up)
5. Itis (Hurry Up)
6. Cringe (Hurry Up)
7. This Time (Hurry Up)
8. Acting Up (Hurry Up)
9. Raindrops on Mardi Gras (Hurry Up)

External Links

• Spotify