Before committing to music full time, Joe Kaplow had a choice: stay and run his family’s New Jersey horse farm or head west to California. He chose the gold rush. Now based in Bonny Doon, CA, Kaplow writes songs rooted in lived experience—farm mornings, wildfire nights, van tours, and the quiet rhythm of the studio he calls Hippie Cowboy. His third album, Posh, Poodle, Krystal and Toe, is a raw, band-centered statement tracked mostly live with engineer Bart Budwig. Released on Fluff & Gravy Records, it’s an honest snapshot of four musicians chasing real moments, together.
Jack Symes is a singer-songwriter from Pasadena, CA known for his intimate storytelling and reflective songwriting. He released his debut album Songs for Moms in February 2019, followed by Tompkins Park in 2021. His third record, Jack Symes & The River House, is a 16-track collection recorded in Guerneville, CA, at a friend’s cabin alongside his longtime band. His newest album arrived on July 25, accompanied by a summer tour with one stop here at HFOTU.
