In August, Hayley Dailey had told me how she and Josh were planning to close out October with a show/CD Release party with their bandmates for their most recent record, The Hayley and Josh Album. The 11 tracks had been released during Covid and did not get near the amount of traction they deserved. Having already heard some of the songs, I immediately decided I would go. Not just to support my friend and local musician but also because I knew that the show would be magical. I have been friends with Hayley for a few years but never actually had the chance to see them perform live. I was excited to be attending. With Hayley crushing lead singer, Josh strumming as lead guitar, and their bandmates Chris Belin on drums and Jacob Horwat on bass, the show was sure to be magical.
When my friend and I arrived on October 28th at the Club Cafe in Southside, Pittsburgh, the opening act, Gary Antol of Jakob Ferry Stragglers, had already started. Gary’s set was full of stories and homey folk music. One song that genuinely caught my attention was “Get Along, Get Gone”. The artist conveyed that it was a song he finished of an original from a friend’s band. It was made to be cheesy but is also very catchy and has feel-good energy. After his set, I visited with the artists where they had set up a table selling CDs as well as their other merch. During the intermission, I spoke with Hayley, who expressed how happy she was to see friendly faces at the event. She stated that the tracks “were written through trials and tribulations” they faced, including some that happened during the Global Pandemic. The new album consists of 9 jazzy, indie songs, a Prelude, and a Reprise.
The Hayley and Josh Album
The group began their set with a warmly, refreshing cover of “Love on the Brain” by Rhianna. Before continuing to massage the audience’s brains with a set that consisted of songs from The Hayley and Josh Album, sprinkled with a couple of other covers, like a stunning cover of “Dreams” by Stevie Nicks, and tracks from the band’s first album, Hummingbird. Between the performance and the way you could feel the emotion and passion flowing, that night, a lot of those songs made an impact on me, and I find myself singing the lyrics over and over a month later.
One of the songs that stuck with me was “Stand Up (A Song for Our Revolution)“. Maybe it’s the activist in me, but this track is iconic. The power in this song is immeasurable. “Lose Your Cool” is a jazzy track that now lives rent-free in my mind. I’m a firm believer in how beautiful things grow from the pain in our lives; the way she sings the lyrics, allowing you to feel the pain that Hayley endured to write them, is the perfect example of this. When I heard them play “Be Strong“, a slower, folky-indie track, I had chills all over. This song and the track “Just Believe“, have become tools in processing and healing a few personal traumas. Both tracks regularly bring me to tears. Another track that is a total tear-jerker for me was “Autumn”. Nostalgic and intimate, the lyrics remind us that even unexpected, inevitable changes can be beautiful. Before performing “Angel“, Hayley sweetly informed everyone that it was the first love song they had ever written together. The song is a low jazz experience of harmonization which included the windchime that dangled from the singer’s mic, an important delicate detail that added to the magic. It hypnotizes you with a glance into their love story. “Good Times”, a song I didn’t recognize, was played. Despite not hearing it before, the beat somehow sounded familiar, and instantly I had the urge to toss my chair aside and dance. The funky, upbeat but slow-rock jam, “Brand New With You“, was especially a treat for me. I spied two wooden flutes at the beginning of the set and having been a flute player myself, I was anticipating when I would hear one. I ate up every beat and note like it was vegan grilled cheese. With bandmates Chris and Jacob pulling it all together, this show was a beautiful step in all of the progress they’ve made, together and apart.
Hayley, Josh, and the band have a music video already up for “My Angel” and are working hard on more projects with plans to soon release more content that will surely, empower and provide. Hayley currently has two albums in the works. One is titled Lovely by Hayley Dailey and the other, I am Heartica. The artist released the album titled single, “Lovely” in October and another, “Trust Yourself” in late November. I am Heartica is planned to explode into the scene sometime next year. Josh, who also plays for the Derek Woods Band, has an album named Flamingo by Joshua Carns that will soon be released. The album titled single, “Flamingo” dropped in November of this year. These musicians that I call friends, stay busy with projects while still managing to keep the magic alive. If you’ve been sleeping on their music, I suggest giving it a chance. There is so much more here than just great rhymes and good times.