Nick Gusman & The Coyotes Release “Tokyo Hotel”

Again, St. Louis is giving us something more than just Blues hockey and toasted ravioli this season. And I am talking about Nick Gusman and The Coyotes. An Americana outfit that’s coming at you with Tokyo Hotel, the first single off their forthcoming album Lifting Heavy Things. This song it’s a dive into a well-worn musical past. A visceral time capsule, capturing the dusty roots of Americana while somehow sneaking in the fervour of ‘90s alt-country. Forget sanitized folk-pop. Tokyo Hotel takes us back to the grit, sweat, and life that made alt-country worth caring about.

The Backstory: A Chicago Winter and an Unlikely Muse

The story behind Tokyo Hotel sounds almost too cinematic to be true. Picture this. It’s the winter of 2005. Nick Gusman, just 20 years old and wandering through Chicago, gets led to a cheap downtown dive by a homeless man. He lands at the now-shuttered Tokyo Hotel, a place that apparently had rooms as draftee as the Midwest wind. That encounter, gritty and raw, simmered in Gusman’s mind until he spun it into a track. In the song, he channels the soul of Tom Waits, the storytelling grit of Steve Earle, and the authenticity of Wilco. You can almost smell the mildew and hear the creaky floorboards.

As Gusman puts it, it was a place where despair and hope dance an uneasy waltz, a line so heavy it could leave a dent. The song captures that singular moment in time. A blend of fleeting encounters and lingering memories, all scored by the sounds of Gusman’s Americana soundscape.

The Sound: Authentic Alt-Country, No Filter

Recorded live at Native Sound Recordings in St. Louis, Tokyo Hotel offers an unfiltered look into the band’s style. This is music that’s meant to be felt, not just heard. With Gusman on guitar and vocals, Sean Kamery on the fiddle, Justin Haltmar on bass, Tony Hall on keys, Garrett Rongey on guitar, and Jeremy Reidy behind the drums, this six-piece knows how to harness raw energy. The choice to record live adds another layer of authenticity, leaving room for spontaneity and intensity that’s rarely captured in polished studio tracks.

Listen to Tokyo Hotel by Nick Gusman & The Coyotes, a gritty blend of ‘90s alt-country and modern Americana:

Glide Magazine’s Take

It’s not just us who think there’s something special here. Glide Magazine, ever the discerning voice in Americana, premiered the track and lavished praise on its “pensive songwriting,” drawing comparisons to Jason Isbell and John Moreland. But they didn’t stop there. They nailed the band’s essence, noting that Gusman and The Coyotes are “keeping alt-country sounds alive in an era of mainstream folk-pop.” Absolutely true. That’s high praise, especially in a time when Americana can easily slide into overly produced, polished territory.

What Lifting Heavy Things Promises

If Tokyo Hotel is just a taste, Lifting Heavy Things is shaping up to be a full-course meal. Set for release on December 7, 2024, the album promises more of that live-recorded energy. That feels like a late-night jam session with friends who aren’t afraid to let loose. You can bet we’ll hear more of that roots-inspired sound. With Gusman’s songwriting digging into themes that’ll resonate with anyone who’s ever been chewed up and spit out by life.

Alt-Country Fans, Rejoice

Nick Gusman and The Coyotes are here to remind us what Americana was meant to be. Raw, heartfelt, and unapologetically gritty. Tokyo Hotel it’s a slice of alt-country history. A nod to an era when storytelling came first, and pretense was left at the door. From the time when musicians and storytellers were genuine and didn’t put on a false front. They focused on authenticity instead of trying to impress or appear a certain way. The single is available on all streaming platforms starting October 25, 2024. And trust me, you’ll want to tune in.

For those ready to take a detour off the folk-pop highway, mark your calendars for Lifting Heavy Things on December 7. Gusman and the band are lifting the torch for a sound that deserves its place in the spotlight.