Guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Brian Alan Hager first got noticed locally when he played lead guitar for Cleveland glam band Vanity Crash in the mid 2000s, and then gigged as guitarist for veteran Cleveland blues/soul artist Travis “Moonchild” Haddix.
Now he performs primarily as a solo artist at clubs, wineries and festivals around northern Ohio and nearby states, building a reputation as an accomplished guitarist as well as a songwriter.
He’s showcasing the latter skill with a new four-track album called Rock and Soul (Side A), which is out this week. It’s the first segment of a project that he’ll release in phases through the year. He calls it “a tribute to the rock and roll, blues rock, and soul music” that have influenced him over the years. He’ll be releasing four more songs as Side B this summer, and the full, 12-song version in the fall. He says that his fans will find it very different from his synth-based, mostly acoustic 2022 release The Condition of Things.
You can access the new tunes on mostly streaming platforms; the album will also be available on CD and vinyl. He has a ton of gigs coming up, starting in May, if you’d like to catch him live; he’s also planning to do some bands shows later this year. Go here for his schedule. For more information on Brian and his release go to brianalanahager.com/.