Joe Hysell is a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter quickly emerging as one of the Midwest's most compelling voices in alt-country and Americana. Rooted in South Minneapolis, his music blends outlaw grit, heartland rock drive, and deeply personal storytelling.

The band’s new double-sided release drops Friday, September 25, featuring the studio single "Stranger" - recorded with acclaimed Minneapolis producer Kevin Bowe - and a raw, high-energy live B-side, "Shotgun (Live at Aster Cafe)." Channeling the raw edge of Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings with the melodic punch of Tom Petty and Dave Matthews, the release captures both the precision of the studio and the untamed energy of their live stage show.

Hysell first gained broader regional attention with his 2025 EP Still Gonna Try, which debuted on 89.3 The Current. The EP's lead single, "Burn It Down," earned spins from Bill DeVille and support from the station's team, helping establish Hysell as a rising voice in the Twin Cities music scene.

His powerful follow-up single, "Push On Thru the Pain," also tracked with Kevin Bowe, captured the urgency and spirit of the Twin Cities. Hysell rewrote the lyrics with recent local events - and the names of Alex Pretti and Renée Good - in mind. Tracked in just two days on January 31, what would have been his brother Brian's 47th birthday (fuck cancer), the song added a deeply personal layer to a track about resilience, grief, and defiant hope.

Since then, "Push On Thru the Pain" has received repeated airplay on Bill DeVille's United States of Americana, Hysell appeared on BOB FM's Homegrown Show, headlined Aster Café in Minneapolis, and made his international debut with a solo performance at Crowley's Bar in Kenmare, Ireland.

Backed by The Ramblin' Mercenaries—Dan Neale (co-lead guitar), Metal Joe Anderson (co-lead guitar), Jeremy Johnson (bass), and Jake Anderson (drums) - Hysell delivers high-energy live shows that move seamlessly between intimate acoustic storytelling and full-throttle Americana rock.

An upcoming EP, Born Again, is currently in production.

This is music for anyone carrying something heavy and still choosing to move forward.

Let's Go, Sota!