Eddie 9V & Paul McDonald

Eddie 9V has powered up. The Georgia-born bandleader has rapidly grown from a local blues scene favorite to an internationally recognized artist with a fresh, fiery take on Southern soul, blues, rock, and funk. His 2022 album Capricorn hit #1 on the charts, earning praise from Classic Rock and The Guardian for its instinctive, golden-era American roots sound.

Now, Eddie returns with Saratoga, out November 22, 2024, on Ruf Records. Written with his brother Lane Kelly, the album showcases his evolving songwriting, blending vintage soul, rapid-fire lyricism, and infectious grooves. From the disco-tinged harmonies of the title track to the alt-folk trip of Truckee and the brass-blasting take on Mac DeMarco’s Chamber of Reflection, Saratoga proves Eddie 9V’s creative arc is just getting started. “Capricorn was a big jump for us,” he says. “But I’m already writing new songs, y’know?”

Paul McDonald’s voice is immediately recognizable and impossible to ignore. Often compared to legends like Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan, the poetic story-driven narratives and deeply catchy hooks in his music are delivered by a raspy yet refined voice reminiscent of another era that demands to be heard right now. He pulls off the rare feat of being a poet, visual artist, songwriter, adamant performer, and a powerful vocalist. Paul’s hope is to spread peace, love, and unity through his music. His first album in more than six years, “So Long To the Dark Side,” drops on July 11, 2025, with the electric single, “Dark Side,” leading a string of releases in the build up.