The Band Memo, though relatively new to New York’s jam rock scene, are already well on their way to securing their niche in the genre. The five-member group has been releasing music since 2025, and they recently embarked on their first headline tour. Through it all, the band’s ethos centers collaboration, experimentation, and pure enjoyment.
The band formed in Brooklyn in March 2025 and consists of Quinn Tuff and James Crafford on guitar, Martin Schmid on keys, Andrew Trautmann on bass, and Miles Clyatt on drums. Crafford and Trautmann played music together in high school, but the other members of the band met by chance, brought together through New York’s Grateful Dead scene.
The Band Memo’s first single, “Rainbows,” came out in June 2025, and by the end of the year, the group released their debut album, Feed the Machine. Since then, their releases have included several singles, their EP Treading Water, and an album of live recordings. Now, the band has more music in the works.
With a fundamentally collaborative approach to music, the band’s composition process allows each of its five members to shine as writers. Each one of them brings a slightly different perspective and style to the mix, allowing the band to lean into a wider variety of themes and sounds. Though they begin writing separately, the band finishes each song together, maintaining a sense of cohesion across their discography.
Energetic, jam-heavy songs such as “Feed the Machine” and “Love on Time” make up the majority of The Band Memo’s catalog. With energetic rhythm lines and catchy melodies, the band gives their all to every song. Even slower tracks such as “Hurricane,” which features gentle guitar and piano behind soft vocals, hold their own and play a key role in rounding out the band’s discography.
From the studio to the stage, the group makes sure to keep their music fresh. In true jam-band fashion, they play a different set at every show, with new spins on each song every time. Their approach to music as “a living, breathing thing” keeps them experimenting and trying to surprise one another. No matter where they are performing, the entire band’s love of their craft shines through.
In October, The Band Memo began their first headline tour. With a total of 20 performances, the Treading Water Tour began in State College, PA on Oct. 9 and will conclude with a Dec. 4 performance at Manhattan’s Irving Plaza. This final show, one of the band’s largest venues yet, will serve as an opening act for Dogs In A Pile.
This tour, the group’s first experience on the road for an extended period of time, has already begun to strengthen their musical instincts and their connection as a band. Nonverbal communication through music only becomes easier for them as they play together night after night and come to know each other’s unique musical styles more closely.
The Treading Water Tour is also the band’s first chance to perform songs they have not yet recorded. Though bringing songs to the stage before they are fully complete can be nerve-wracking, the group is excited for this opportunity to hone their approach to each song before taking the music to the studio. This period of experimentation, they hope, will result in stronger, more carefully refined tracks once they begin recording.
Already, their tour has afforded many opportunities to try out new songs and connect with audiences. The band cited their Oct. 17 performance at The Bug Jar in Rochester as a standout show with a particularly energetic and engaged crowd. Audience engagement is key for them; they see every performance as a conversation, not just among the band members, but with the audience as well.
The Band Memo recently released a large selection of live show recordings on Nugs.net, giving fans the chance to stream their live concerts. Given the band’s love of experimenting on stage, studio tracks are only a fraction of the Band Memo experience; these recordings now bring the richness of the band’s live performances to a wider audience.
The band has been recording every show on their current tour. In addition to posting full shows on Nugs.net, they plan to continue releasing albums (like their September release Live Memo, Vol. 1) that compile selected highlights of these live tracks.
The Band Memo is just getting started. The five members of the band eagerly anticipate much more performing, writing, and recording in their future. Though their music is available for streaming on all platforms, the best way to experience their music is in concert. For information on the band’s upcoming live shows, see their website.
The Band Memo Fall Tour Dates:
Oct. 9 – State Theatre – State College, PA
Oct. 15 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
Oct. 17 – Bug Jar – Rochester
Oct. 18 – Empire Underground – Albany
Oct. 20 – Rumba Cafe – Columbus, OH
Oct. 22 – Parts & Labor – Detroit, MI
Oct. 23 – The Argo – Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 24 – Subterranean – Chicago, IL
Oct. 26 – Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA
Oct. 28 – Lost Lake Lounge – Denver, CO
Oct. 29 – Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, CO
Oct. 30 – Lulu’s Downtown – Colorado Springs, CO
Nov. 1 – The Velvet Elk Lounge – Boulder, CO
Nov. 3 – Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS
Nov. 5 – The Old Rock House – St Louis, MO
Nov. 7 – 1884 Lounge – Memphis, TN
Nov. 8 – Capitol Hall – Erwin, TN
Nov. 11 – The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC
Nov. 12 – Stanczyks – Durham, NC
Dec. 4 – Irving Plaza – New York
Bluesky Discussion
View on BlueskyNo replies yet. Be the first to comment on Bluesky!
Comments are closed.