The White Buffalo in Los Angeles

About The White Buffalo

The White Buffalo is Jake Smith, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who makes the kind of Americana that doesn't announce itself. His music sits somewhere between folk, country, and blues—all delivered with the kind of gravelly, weathered voice that sounds like it's been through something. Smith's songs tend toward the narrative, built on fingerpicked guitars and the occasional fiddle, exploring themes of loss, redemption, and just getting by. Come Join the Murder became something of a breakthrough moment, showing up in shows like Yellowstone and True Detective, which introduced him to people who probably didn't know they were looking for exactly this kind of music. His catalog has that careful, unhurried quality—nothing feels rushed or polished in a way that matters. He's the kind of artist who builds a following one person at a time, playing smaller venues and festivals where people actually pay attention rather than scroll.

The White Buffalo's shows are quiet conversations with a room. He plays unplugged or sparse arrangements, so people actually listen instead of use the show as background. Crowds lean in. The energy is reflective, sometimes heavy, rarely loud. He's known for long stretches between songs—just talking, being present.

Known for Come Join the Murder, The Woods, Better Days, Once, Baton Rouge

The White Buffalo + Los Angeles

The White Buffalo has maintained a steady presence in Los Angeles, building a following among fans who appreciate his stripped-down folk-rock approach. Most recently, they played The Fonda Theatre in August 2024, delivering a setlist that moved between introspective character studies and driving Americana. Early on, "Problem Solution" set the tone before diving into deeper cuts like "Come Join the Murder" and "The Bowery," which showcased the narrative weight his songwriting carries. By the time they reached "How the West Was Won" as the closer, the show had traced a particular arc—from personal reckoning to something more expansive. These aren't songs designed for passive listening.

The White Buffalo in Los Angeles News

• The White Buffalo inewsource · Feb 12, 2026
• The White Buffalo is coming to Glasgow in August 2025 The Scotsman · May 30, 2025
• The White Buffalo describes ‘Year of the Dark Horse’ ahead of Southern California shows Los Angeles Daily News · Nov 21, 2022
• The White Buffalo Gives Fans an Escape with Live-Streamed Set, New Songs The Bluegrass Situation · Apr 2, 2020
• The White Buffalo, from ‘Sons of Anarchy’ to ‘Darkest Darks’ to Aspen AspenTimes.com · Nov 16, 2017

Live Music in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has long been hospitable to Americana and folk-inflected rock, from its country-rock heritage through to contemporary singer-songwriters working in that vein. The city's venues, from smaller clubs to mid-sized theaters like The Fonda, provide consistent ground for artists who traffic in narrative-driven material and guitar-based arrangements. There's an audience here for musicians who reject polish in favor of directness, and The White Buffalo fits naturally into that lineage.

Los Angeles road trip to see The White Buffalo?

Stay in Los Feliz, where you can walk tree-lined streets and catch views from Griffith Observatory. Dinner at Republique in the Arts District—refined French-inspired food in a restored factory space that feels more Paris than LA. Spend an afternoon at the Huntington Library in San Marino, a world-class art collection that justifies the drive. The city's recording studio history is everywhere; walk through Hollywood and you're literally surrounded by the spaces where hits were made. End the night at a jazz bar like The Fonda Theatre or catch live music on Sunset Boulevard.