Lady luck had introduced singer songwriter Jay Nash and singer and drummer Josh Day in Los Angeles over a decade ago when they bonded over a shared love of The Band, roots music and a sacred admiration for the great American songbook. As their paths continued to cross over the years, collaboration, they concluded, would be inevitable. Together as Americana/folk rock band The Contenders, the pair make the sort of music found in the intricate and varied tapestry that is real Americana - full of grit, with a steady heartbeat and a hint of honky-tonk – writing songs that speak of wanderers and highways, lovers and losers, good times and missed chances, all of it with a ferocity born of hard work and honed skill. Country Weekly have said “The duo’s sound paints a picture of open stretches of road as well as lazy days at home – sonic comfort food constructed on a bed of groove and storytelling.” The Contenders’ raucous foundation of rhythm and harmony is finding unmistakable resonance with audiences. ‘Laughing with the Reckless’ is very much about the perseverance of hope in dark times along with the powerful connection of music, old friends and loved ones, all delivered with a wry and wistful narrative. So, sit back, pour yourself a glass of something good and meet The Contenders.