Joe Pug

Critics praise singer songwriter Joe Pug for his achingly honest literary lyrics. Armed with a guitar, harmonica and voice, his signature techniques in allusion rise from the pen of great novelists, short story writers and poets such as Walt Whitman, John Steinbeck, Raymond Carver and Cormac McCarthy. His narrative songwriting draws comparisons to John Prine and Bob Dylan, while he attributes his melodic sense and narrative structure to John Hiatt. As a resident of Austin, Joe’s musical folk poetry now also pulls from fellow Texas songwriters’ contributions to the American songbook. Joe’s songs can range from declarative to introspective, leading Paste Magazine to state, “Unless your surname is Dylan, Waits, Ritter or Prine, you could face-palm yourself to death trying to pen songs half as inspired as the 10 tracks on Joe Pug’s debut full-length.” He toured nationally and internationally with Steve Earle, patterning much of his live show deliverance on this experience. Joe has played Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and The Newport Folk Festival and been spotlighted on NPR. 8:00 p.m. Early Bird through 8/12: $15. Regular: $20