Neal Francis with Casper Allen

The Chicago-based singer/ songwriter/ pianist, Neal Francis, immersed himself in creating a beautifully strange entangling of timeless rock & roll and ’70s-era dance music, merging supremely heavy guitar riffs with lush and pulsating grooves all constructed sans digital programming, in keeping with his devotion to all things analog.
Hailing from the furthest reaches of Texas (every which side of the state--but mostly North & West), Casper Allen left home early in search of experience, and, years later, his search continues. Detailing his experiences in the Texas songwriting tradition of his heroes Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, with a raw and aggressive bluesy vocal styling reminiscent of the Texas bluesmen Freddie King and Albert Collins, Allen explores themes of addiction, life on the road, and the ups and downs of a life well-traveled with a style developed busking on street corners and playing in dirty bars across the greater U.S.