Michigan Rattlers

Young and Reed began playing music together during high school,^[6] performing at local venues in their hometown. After graduation, they pursued separate paths but eventually reunited in Los Angeles to form the Michigan Rattlers.^[7] Their self-titled debut EP, released in 2016, garnered critical acclaim and was featured in Rolling Stone's "Ten New Country Artists You Need to Know" that same year.^[8]

Michigan Rattlers’ music is often characterized as folk-rock or Americana, with strong influences from country and classic rock. The band initially gained notice in the alt-country scene – their 2016 debut was rooted in acoustic Americana and earned them a Rolling Stone country accolade^[8] – but the members have stated they never set out to be a traditional country band.^[3] Bassist Adam Reed noted that the group “stripped down” their early sound and landed in the country/Americana genre almost by happenstance, thanks in part to the pairing of upright bass and acoustic guitar.^[3]

In 2018, the band released their first full-length album, Evergreen,^[5] following performances at notable festivals such as Bonnaroo, Firefly, and Electric Forest. The album was described as rock and roll rather than country.^[9] During the COVID-19 pandemic, they collaborated with Kalamazoo State Theater for a virtual concert.^[10] Their second album, That Kind of Life, was released in 2021.

The band's third album, Waving From A Sea, was released on August 9, 2024. Produced by Dominic John Davis,^[11] bassist for Jack White's backing band The Buzzards, the album marks a shift in musical style away from acoustic arrangements to a synth rock musical aesthetic.