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 that was founded in 2005 by multi-instrumentalist & vocalist Kenny Feinstein. Formerly known as The Water Tower Bucket Boys, the name was changed to Water Tower in 2012.

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 tour supporting & backing up Nick Hexum (311).

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 is the founder of the band. His reimagined band vision was born in 2020 with the release of their first album, "Fly Around". Kenny loves to play fiddle and has a degree in jazz guitar.

Tommy Drinkard

Tommy plays banjo and produces music from his studio. His banjo playing got him a first place award from the 2021 Topanga banjo fiddle festival and contest, when Tommy had only been playing for six months.

Taylor Estes

The California Wiz Kid with the Golden locks of hair. His extensive musical knowledge allows for killer bass solos with the band. He is an amazing flatpicker and can sing.

Jesse Blue Eads

Twenty-three-year-old multi-instrumentalist Jesse Blue Eads has forged his own career path as an artist in the truest sense. While 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), Chris Blue (The Voice), and bluegrass band Water Tower. 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.

Some of the countless acts with whom Jesse has performed or recorded include: Wyatt Ellis, Warren Wolf, Water Tower, Tim Janis, Bar Jay Bar, Tommy Drinkard & the Remedy, Chris Blue & Crockett, Ikes Creek, Max Huggins, Casey Freedom, Brad Brownfield, Kaleb Baize, Olivia Pucci, Ben Eaton, and Carson Moore.

The Sizzler

John Seltzer....he's just happy to be here. 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.