Water Tower: The Genre-Defying Outlaws of Punk Rock Bluegrass

"Water Tower is this wonderful band that is made up of "the lost boys"... its like a soup kitchen for those in need of belonging and family who have been through some of the experiences they have over come" -Grand Ole Country Bunker

Water Tower is a Los Angeles-based bluegrass, old-time, and punk rock band founded by multi-instrumentalist & vocalist Kenny Feinstein. Formerly known as The Water Tower Bucket Boys, the name was later changed to Water Tower.

While their lineup has evolved over time, Water Tower has maintained an ongoing reputation as a force to be reckoned with, with a viral social media presence & a growing horde of loyal fans known as "The Owls." Water Tower is fueled by their masterful song-crafting, a fiercely DIY approach, and a genre-bending sonic identity that fuses bluegrass/old-time revivalism with a distinctly punk rock edge. Their influences range from Bill Monroe & Foghorn Stringband to bands like Rancid & Black Flag.

The band's current lineup consists of Kenny Feinstein (lead vocals, guitar, fiddle), Tommy Drinkard (vocals, banjo, guitar), Jesse Blue Eads (vocals, banjo), Taylor Estes (vocals, bass), and John Seltzer (backing vocals, mandolin).

Their debut album as Water Tower, 'Fly Around' was released in 2020. It was co-produced by Don Bolles (The Germs, 45 Grave) & Ariel Pink and features guests including Willie Watson (Old Crow Medicine Show) & Ron Reyes (Black Flag). The band has released several singles ("Take Me Back", "Lose Everything") & bootleg albums ('For the Owls,' 'Live From Los Angeles') since then, with a second studio album due to come out next year.

In 2025 Water Tower performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Vans Warped Tour (DC & Long Beach). Most recently they finished a national tour supporting & backing up Nick Hexum (311) and performed on the main stage at DelFest with Sierra Ferrell.

Whether they’re lighting up a festival stage, busking on a street corner, or bringing the house down at a private event, Water Tower delivers a performance that’s equal parts raw energy, technical brilliance, and unbridled passion. Their music is a call to arms for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, a celebration of the wild, untamed spirit that lives in all of us.

So, if you’re ready to experience a band that’s rewriting the rules of bluegrass and punk, look no further than Water Tower.

Learn more about their wild journey on Wikipedia.

The Family

Kenny Feinstein

Kenny (lead vocals, guitar, fiddle) is the founder of Water Tower. He is a multi-instrumentalist, trained vocalist, & songwriter with over 25 years of experience in the music industry as a touring musician, busker, producer, music teacher, session & support musician, festival booker, and marketing expert. He has a degree in Jazz from the University of Oregon.

Tommy Drinkard

Tommy (lead vocals, banjo, guitar, dobro) joined Water Tower in 2020. He is a full-time musician, songwriter, and producer. He won first place for bluegrass banjo at the 2021 Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest when he had only been playing for six months. He also releases music as a solo artist and with Tommy Drinkard & the Remedy. He has a degree in Guitar Performance from Los Angeles College of Music.

Taylor Estes

Taylor (bass, backing vocals) joined Water Tower in 2021. He is a full-time musician, music teacher, and skilled multi-instrumentalist. In addition to bass, he is also a talented flat picker & mandolin player. Taylor has extensive musical knowledge & a background in jazz.

Jesse Blue Eads

Jesse (banjo, backing vocals) joined Water Tower in 2021, briefly on bass before moving to banjo. He met the band by chance when they showed up at his regular busking spot in Hermosa Beach. Now most widely known as east Tennessee’s up-and-coming innovator of jazz and progressive music on the five-string banjo, most of Jesse’s career was spent as a versatile and charismatic bassist and guitarist in Los Angeles before moving to Tennessee in 2021.

Jesse’s reputation for marrying complex and diverse musical ideas with a strong sense of soul, spontaneity, and intuition has led him to play multiple instruments on stage with titans such as Joe Craven (Jerry Garcia, David Grisman), Kory Caudill (Tyler Childers, Justin Moore), and Chris Blue (The Voice). He has also worked extensively as a mandolinist, vocalist, producer, and keyboardist.

Eads has been known among his peers as a passionate listener and jack of all trades with a uniquely diverse range of influences beyond his years. From the jazz, funk, R&B, and soul that characterized his Los Angeles upbringing to the bluegrass, old-time, and folk colors of his banjo career, Jesse seamlessly bridges cultural boundaries with grace.

John Seltzer

John Seltzer (mandolin) is Water Tower's newest member, joining on full-time in 2025. Originally from Upstate New York, John spent his early years playing in blues and rock bands while developing a deep passion for bluegrass. This diverse musical background led him to a career providing multi-instrumental support for artists across genres, eventually bringing him to Los Angeles, where he quickly became known in the folk-bluegrass scene as an inventive and energetic mandolinist.

John’s influences range from bluegrass legends Tim O’Brien and Tony Rice, to soul and R&B, to the emo and hardcore bands of the 2000s, shaping a unique sound that blends tradition with modern edge. Beyond performing, he has a strong background in event production, having co-produced hundreds of events in Upstate New York and assisting with California Bluegrass Association events. He has supported a variety of artists, including Caity Gallagher, Elliot Lurie, Hayley Orrantia, The Doohickeys, Matt Axton, Jay Maloney, and Dennis Witcher.