Andrew Weiss and Friends

Music is a tie that binds us. In these trying modern times, real, honest music and art can draw people of vast backgrounds and cultures together for understanding and empathy. Long Island's Andrew Weiss and Friends have made a name for themselves since their debut LP arrived in 2018 with their unique blend of Laurel Canyon folk rock and the sonic flourishes of late-70s power pop. Singer-songwriter Andrew Weiss clings to and cherishes moments of intimacy, difficult conversations, and emotional currency through his songwriting. A classic glow silhouettes Weiss’s storytelling, fusing a smart, throwback warmth and charm right into the work. Weiss’ songs show off his chops for character-driven stories, with an attention to detail on par with celebrated works from the likes of Dawes or Tom Petty.

Self-taught on the many instruments he knows how to play, Weiss’s journey sprouted from early exposure to The Beatles, which recently came full circle after a spontaneous run-in and 20 minute conversation with Paul McCartney. He began picking guitar and writing songs at only seven years old, and he would later play in various bands throughout his youth. In 2009, he formed a solo endeavor called High Fascination and wrote, recorded and mixed three pop/rock-leaning albums alone in his bedroom.

During his time at NYU, where he studied Music Theory & Composition, Weiss wrote music for films and various ensembles. His High Fascination work also continued there, and he eventually discovered a group of musicians to join him. Four more albums were released during Weiss’s time in college, before the musical style soon shifted to a more Americana-driven approach, or “Power Pop-icana” as Weiss likes to call it. High Fascination ultimately folded to make way for a new project, as a brand new circle of friends and musicians emerged — Andrew Weiss and Friends was born.

The band has stayed busy since The Honeymoon Suite was released in 2018 with four more LPs, three EPs, and a handful of standalone singles. They have sold out multiple shows at famed Long Island venue My Father's Place and have performed alongside Counting Crows and Rob Thomas at The Outlaw Roadshow Festival. In recent years, Andrew Weiss and Friends were highlights at the 2021 Mondo Festival, the 2022 Underwater Sunshine Festival, and in 2023 they headlined the MLB Washington Nationals’ Grateful Dead Night to a sold out crowd of thousands.

The band's moniker honors music’s essential pairing with camaraderie (something we could all use more of these days). Shindig! Magazine observed, “It’s clear that Weiss doesn’t do anything by halves. Big, clever tunes. There’s poetic tilted Americana, booming pop and anthemic road rock. Sometimes it tilts towards the psychedelic. It’s all rather impressive.” Weiss’s astute observations on love, life, and happiness — and how those things may have shifted in recent years — are vital reminders that music is, at the end of the day, a healing agent for us all.