Water Tower (band)

Water Tower, previously called The Water Tower Bucket Boys and Water Tower String Band, is a band from Los Angeles, California, that plays a mix of bluegrass, old-time music, and punk. The group started in Portland, Oregon, in 2005 when Kenny Feinstein (guitar, lead vocals) and his neighbor Josh Rabie (fiddle) got together. They released one album as Water Tower String Band and two as The Water Tower Bucket Boys, with different lineups, before switching to the name Water Tower in 2012. Rabie left in 2013, and Feinstein spent a year recording a solo album: an acoustic cover of My Bloody Valentine’s *Loveless*, titled *Loveless: Hurts to Love*.

Later in 2013, guitarist Peter Daggatt, bassist Pat Norris, and drummer Harry Selick joined Feinstein, and the four-piece began work on Water Tower’s first album. In 2014 the whole band moved to Los Angeles, supporting themselves by busking on the streets while continuing the album. *Fly Around* (2020) took seven years to finish and featured guest vocals from Willie Watson (formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show), Gene Louis (Bullets & Octane), and Ron Reyes (ex-Black Flag). The album was co-produced by Don Bolles (former drummer of the Germs and 45 Grave) and solo artist Ariel Pink.

By 2020, the main lineup with Feinstein included Tommy Drinkard (banjo, guitar), Jesse Blue Eads (banjo), and Joe “Juice” Berglund (fiddle, bass). Berglund was later replaced by Taylor Estes (bass, mandolin). The band also has many auxiliary members who play with them occasionally. In 2021 they put out a limited-edition bootleg of new songs called *For the Owls*, and another bootleg, *Live From Los Angeles*, in 2023.

Water Tower is known for blending modern bluegrass with old-time and punk rock. They have opened for and played festivals with a wide range of acts, including Against Me!, T.S.O.L., Molly Tuttle, and John Craigie. The band keeps a DIY approach, self-releasing most of their albums, booking their own shows and tours, and often playing for cars at freeway off-ramps around Los Angeles. They are active in the local bluegrass scene and function as a collective, with members involved in various side projects. Feinstein’s other work includes co-producing and playing on Rosy Nolan’s EP *Footprints and Broken Branches* with Tim Armstrong from Rancid, playing fiddle in Coffey Anderson’s band and appearing on Anderson’s Netflix show *Countr