Two artists with spectacular 2025 album releases; Hayden Pedigo (I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away) and Jens Kuross (Crooked Songs); joined forces this fall on a 33-date tour across the US and Canada. Their fourth stop on tour was at Parker Theater in Salt Lake City, an intimate theater with seating that wraps around the stage. Both Kuross and Pedigo operate on a no-frills stage set up with no backing band – it’s just the artists and their instruments: Kuross with his electric organ, and Pedigo with his guitars. This minimalism isn’t a limitation but a deliberate choice, allowing the emotional weight of their music to be at the focal point of their sets.
The most striking part about Jens Kuross’ live show is how much it sounds exactly like it does on record. This is also a testament to how well Hayden Pedigo was able to execute translating the live show to record, which was as his intention when he set out to produce Kuross’ album. The two met after Kuross played the opening set for Pedigo at a basement show in Boise, one Pedigo later described as the best set he’d ever witnessed and was determined to replicate that energy to record.
Jens Kuross’ debut album Crooked Songs was one of our top albums of the year (read the view here) and hearing those songs played live really cemented their resonance. Kuross’ stage presence was grounded and sincere, and his show followed suit. With no bells or whistles, just his electric organ, you can feel that his music is a representation of who he is as a person. The stripped back nature of his music allows Kuross to engage with himself, thus ultimately engaging with the audience on a very real level. The room stayed still and quiet through the tender moments of the set, and many attendees left with the Crooked Songs vinyl under their arm which is always a great sign and likely one that will be repeated at subsequent shows on this tour.
Hayden Pedigo’s set was similar in that he also operates on a simplified stage set-up: a one-man-show where he is seated the entire time, letting his guitar work do the talking. Though without lyrics, Pedigo’s playing tells a story of its own, taking the crowd through a journey filled with a range of emotions. Again, the intimate crowd stayed captivated and engaged with Pedigo’s hour-long set. His playful banter between songs, telling stories, and even taking questions from the intimate crowd at Parker Theater made the show extremely personal and a night to remember.
Pedigo exceeds at being relatable and connecting with his crowd. The types of in-depth, thoughtful questions people asked showed how much his fans care about him and his story – like asking him questions about running for office, working on a record with Chat Pile (In The Earth Again), and his relationship with corpse paint (as seen on the cover of 2021’s Letting Go). The first time we saw Hayden Pedigo was in early 2024, where the crowd were unfortunately preoccupied with getting ready for Jenny Lewis and took his performance as background music. We were still impressed by the set then, and this go-around was exponentially more magical because the crowd were so engaged. Plus Hayden Pedigo seemed even more comfortable on stage interacting with the audience.
As Hayden Pedigo was closing out the night, it was clear that this tour is a shared meditation on sincerity, craftsmanship, and connection. Jens Kuross and Hayden Pedigo each brought their own emotionally-charged stillness, creating a space of communal vulnerability and appreciated artistry. This show highlighted the power of honesty and intention in live music, and how authenticity can bridge the barrier between artist and audience, making way for genuine connection. See the full tour dates at the bottom of this article to catch a gig near you – this is a rare pairing that you will definitely want to witness and experience.
Watch the full sets from both artists below:
Stay up to date with Jens Kuross through the following social links:
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Support Jens Kuross by purchasing and streaming their music via Bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Apple Music.
http://jenskuross.com
Stay up to date with Hayden Pedigo through the following social links:
Instagram
Support Hayden Pedigo by purchasing and streaming their music via Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
https://haydenpedigo.com
Hayden Pedigo – 2025 Tour dates
10/22/2025 – Albuquerque, NM – The Cell at FUSION
10/23/2025 – Colorado Springs, CO – Lulu’s Downtown
10/24/2025 – Denver, CO – Swallow Hill
10/26/2025 – Salt Lake City, UT – Parker Theatre
10/27/2025 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
10/29/2025 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
10/31/2025 – Seattle, WA – Ballard Homestead
11/01/2025 – Vancouver, BC – Wise Hall
11/04/2025 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Crepe Place (Outdoors)
11/05/2025 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
11/06/2025 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy and Harriets
11/07/2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Barnsdall Gallery Theatre
11/08/2025 – Ojai, CA – Ojai Valley Woman’s Club
11/10/2025 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
11/11/2025 – Tucson, AZ – Pidgin Palace Arts
11/13/2025 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
11/14/2025 – Marfa, TX – Ballroom Marfa
11/15/2025 – Austin, TX – Central Presbyterian Church
11/16/2025 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)
11/17/2025 – Dallas, TX – Sons of Hermann Hall
11/19/2025 – Kansas City, MO – The Ship
11/20/2025 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge
11/21/2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Icehouse
11/23/2025 – Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village
11/24/2025 – Indianapolis, ID – Turntable
11/26/2025 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall
11/27/2025 – Montreal, QC – L’Esco
11/29/2025 – Brooklyn, NY – St. John’s Lutheran Church
11/30/2025 – Philadelphia, PA – Black Squirrel Club
12/01/2025 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
12/03/2025 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Altar)
12/04/2025 – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room at Third Man Records
12/05/2025 – Memphis, TN – 1884 Lounge
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