New Release Rack: Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen’s “Sleep On the Way”

In addition to all of their other gigs around town Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen have been hosting the roots-music concert series at The Linda, as well as running the Americana Tuesday series at Valentine’s Music Hall for nearly two years now. And Expert Sideman Roger Noyes keeps himself uber-busy, also playing in Grainbelt, Diego and his jazz combo the Arch Stanton Quartet.

All of which helps to explain why it’s taken Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen nearly a year to wrap up the recording of their debut album, Sleep On the Way. But it’s finally here, and you can snag a copy for your very own when the band celebrates with a CD release party at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Saturday night.

They began recording the seven-song album back in December, 2011 at Sten Isachsen’s Bender Studios in Delmar. Isachsen engineered and mixed the disc, while Dan Archer handled the mastering chores.

Led by multi-instrumentalist-vocalist-songwriter Dan Johnson, the band features bassist Pete Murphy, accordionist Brian Elsenbeck and drummer Max Figarsky, in addition to Noyes, who plays electric guitar and pedal steel. And don’t be at all surprised if a couple of guest sidemen drop by on Saturday night to join in the festivities…

Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen hit the stage at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs to celebrate their brand-spankin’ new CD at 8pm on Saturday (October 6). Tix are $12 in advance; $14 at the door.