November 22, 2026 - Josh Rouse

This is a special show for me. In 1996, my brother Jim gifted me a subscription to CMJ New Music Monthly for Christmas. I kept the subscription current for another ten years and discovered hundreds of emerging artists via the monthly magazines and accompanying disks. One such artist was Josh Rouse who, in 1998 released his debut album “Dressed Up Like Nebraska,” the title track of which appeared on the monthly CMJ disk. I loved the song and bought the album. About a year or two later, Josh released his second album, “Home,” the single from which, “Directions,” was also included on a CMJ compilation disk. I loved that song (apparently, so did screenwriter/director Cameron Crowe, who included it on the soundtrack to his film “Vanilla Sky,” starring Tom Cruise) and bought the album. I no longer needed CMJ to alert me to new Josh Rouse music - I own almost every one of his 15 full-length albums and a few of his EPs.  I jumped (almost literally) at the opportunity to host him here at Theater 5150.

With Brill Building wit and a Midwestern sense of melancholy, Josh Rouse has built an almost 30-year career as a singer-songwriter turning out well-crafted and hook-laden folk-pop, alt-country, and Americana gems. Rolling Stone Magazine has described his music as displaying “a sharp wit, slightly obscured by the moody earnestness of folk and new wave, but with a better groove and bouncier beats.” It proclaimed his “Nashville” album “a landmark album that mixed the rootsy stomp of Music City with string arrangements, brass and other orchestral flourishes.” You don’t have to work hard to enjoy his music. His songs present themselves to you with an open heart, an innate intelligence and an absolute lack of pretension. They are clear-eyed, empathetic and penetrating. Without pandering, they seek to satisfy both your ear and your understanding. He has performed worldwide and his music has been featured in television and movies (“Eat Pray Love,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Roswell,” “Ed,” “Brothers and Sisters,” to name a few). He has a brand new album, “Museums and Women,” that’ll be released in time for his West Coast tour, which starts in early October and ends with our show at the end of November.

This will be an early Sunday evening show. Doors open at 6 pm and the music starts at 7. 100% of proceeds from ticket sales go to the performers. We'll have some complimentary food and drinks while they last and we always love it when guests bring food and drinks for all to share. We ask that you get here with plenty of time to spare so you have time to get something to eat and drink and we won't have to seat anyone during the set. We can't wait! Tickets are $35 per person and you can get them right here. See you then! 

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Please join us December 4th, when we welcome for the first time local jazz-hip hop wizards LabRats, who create some of the most interesting and technically challenging music you'll hear anywhere. I think Jennifer Reason of CapRadio describes them best, as “an extremely versatile jazz/hip hop fusion band that is both a stand-alone act and a favored companion to vocalists and instrumentalists of all genres." They've been on our radar for quite some time and I'm delighted to finally bring them here!

Check back here for further details and ticket information.