Americana singer/songwriter Riley Etheridge, Jr. honed his chops in Baton Rouge, Louisiana before he set up shop in New York City. After partnering with producer Wendell Tilley, he delivered his independent debut, 2009's Things I Used to Know. He followed up in 2011 with Powder Keg, expanding on his easy blend of blues, R&B, country, and rock. The year 2012 marked a pair of new releases in the Better Days EP and his third full-length, The Arrogance of Youth, after which he shifted to a more guitar-heavy rock & roll sound. He crafted what he considered his party record, 2015's The Straight and Narrow Way, which included legendary drummer Jim Keltner and Nickel Creek singer/fiddler Sara Watkins. ~ Timothy Monger