Twisted Teens Launch Blame the Clown Tour, Blending Punk, Country, and Steel Guitar in New Orleans Sound

From the humid streets of New Orleans to the stages of Kurt Vile’s tour, Twisted Teens are forging a raw, genre‑blending sound that keeps audiences on their feet. The city‑born duo—vocalist‑guitarist Caspian Hollywell and pedal‑steel wizard Ramon “RJ” Santos—have just released their sophomore record, Blame the Clown, and are heading into a packed 2026 with a nationwide tour and a high‑profile opening slot for Vile.

Blame the Clown arrived in February 2026 to enthusiastic reviews. Critics highlighted the band’s “country‑fried, steel‑guitar punk rock” that fuses garage‑rock urgency with back‑porch soul and a “cosmic outsider” feel. The album was recorded in a single session, with most vocal takes captured in one go, according to the band. Eschewing effects pedals and studio tricks, Twisted Teens plug straight into amps and tune by ear, a philosophy that keeps the music honest and immediate.

The new record is just the start of a creative surge. Hollywell and Santos have announced a third album for summer release, followed by a fourth in the fall. Their production style is intentionally fast and spontaneous: songs are written and recorded in the same room where they rehearse, a process that has earned them a reputation for “raw” and “fun” recordings that translate seamlessly to live shows.

Live performances are the lifeblood of Twisted Teens. Their touring lineup features bassist Sonya Badigian—an accomplished fiddle teacher—and guitarist Mel Billiard, who joined the group for the Blame the Clown tour. The band’s shows are described as “old‑school rock and roll” with a “no‑frills” aesthetic, a stark contrast to the layered studio sound. They have played cities across the United States and Canada, and the current tour schedule includes stops in Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Brattleboro, Cambridge, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and a series of November dates with Kurt Vile.

Promoted as the “KV’s Been Good To Me Tour,” the run began on May 1, 2026, and will wrap up in Memphis on November 18. In addition to the Vile dates, Twisted Teens are slated to perform at venues such as Sleeping Village (Chicago), Third Man Records (Detroit), The Garrison (Toronto), Les Foufounes Électriques (Montreal), The Stone Church (Brattleboro), The Sinclair (Cambridge), Crossroads (New Jersey), The Dell Music Center (Philadelphia), Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles), The Sound (Del Mar), Asbury Hall (Buffalo), Newport Music Hall (Columbus), The Sovereign (St. Louis), Turner Hall (Milwaukee), Wooly’s (Des Moines), Liberty Hall (Lawrence), The Waiting Room (Omaha), Washington’s (Fort Collins), Summit Music Hall (Denver), George’s Majestic Lounge (Fayetteville), Minglewood Hall (Memphis), Joy Theatre (New Orleans), 40 Watt Club (Athens), The Music Farm (Charleston), Neighborhood Theatre (Charlotte), The National (Richmond), and Ottobar (Baltimore).

Beyond touring, the band remains a fixture in the New Orleans music scene. They cite local acts such as Beau Cheval, The Holiday Playgirls, and Daiquiri Queens as influences and collaborators. Santos, a Yukon native who later settled in New Orleans, brings a steel‑guitar tradition that fuses country, blues, and Cajun styles. Hollywell, a songwriter with roots in folk‑punk projects, focuses on storytelling that tackles faith, obsession, and redemption.

Twisted Teens’ DIY ethos extends to their recording process. They record quickly, often in a single session, and avoid layering or heavy post‑production. Their live shows feature no effects pedals, no tuners, and a focus on raw musicianship. According to the band, this approach preserves the “craft” of playing and keeps the music grounded in the traditions of American roots music.

The group’s upcoming releases and extensive tour schedule position them as a significant voice in the contemporary indie‑punk scene. Their blend of punk energy, country roots, and steel‑guitar textures offers a fresh take on genre‑blending that resonates with audiences across the country.

At present, Twisted Teens are finishing their third album in the summer, preparing for a fall release, and touring extensively with Kurt Vile in November. Fans can expect new material, high‑energy live shows, and a continued commitment to a DIY, no‑effects approach to music creation.