The White Buffalo, 10 December 2024

The White Buffalo is the stage name for Jake Smith, an American singer-songwriter who creates waves in the world of Americana and folk rock. A deep, soulful voice that evokes wrenching emotion and powerful storytelling have procured him a loyal following for years; country, folk, and rock influences mix effortlessly in this hauntingly uplifting sound. His music has variously been described as one that tracks the darker side of life and has lyrics that dwell on love, loss, and redemption, the struggles of the human condition.
Jake Smith, though born in Oregon, was raised in Southern California and adopted the stage name The White Buffalo-a clear reference to the mythic symbolism behind the white buffalo in Native American culture, a harbinger of hope, renewal, and the sacred. His music represents that: immense personal introspection, tempered with greater scrutiny of the world around him. Successive releases since his first EP, The White Buffalo has continued to push the boundaries of Americana, infusing his songs with raw emotion and a strong, gritty sound.

Early Beginnings and "Hogtied Revisited"

The White Buffalo's musical odyssey began in the early 2000s with Jake Smith making rounds through small clubs and recording independently. A rich baritone voice and the ability to weave compelling narratives through song quickly set him apart from other artists within the Americana scene. In 2002, he issued his first EP independently, a raw-and-hearted collection of songs titled "Hogtied Like a Rodeo", introducing listeners to his signature blend of folk, country, and rock.
In 2008, Smith re-recorded and re-released the EP under the title "Hogtied Revisited", which served to broaden his audience base as well as set him indelibly in the minds of fans everywhere as one of this genre's peculiar voices. Songs like "The Matador" and "The Highwayman" expose just how good Smith is at telling a story and how he can paint cinematic, vivid landscapes with his music. The acoustic arrangements on "Hogtied Revisited" are stark and allow his voice and lyrics to take center stage. The intimacy of this listening experience would become a hallmark of his work.

"Once Upon a Time in the West" and Critical Acclaim

The White Buffalo's breakthrough full-length "Once Upon a Time in the West" was released in 2012 and proved to be his turning point. The album reached critical acclaim with its powerful storytelling and gritty, rootsy sound. Merging elements from outlaw country, folk, and blues, "Once Upon a Time in the West" is an ambitious exploration of the American landscape, both physical and emotional.
Songs like "The Pilot" and "Wish It Was True" are standout tracks that speak to the complicated times we find ourselves living in, with their lyrics touching on various disillusions, personal strife, and longing for less complicated times. "Wish It Was True" went on to become one of White Buffalo's iconic songs, with his melancholy melody and heart-wrenching lyrics about lost innocence and broken American Dream promises.
This album came to cement The White Buffalo's status as a master storyteller, and with vivid, emotional pictures painted through his music, he drew frequent comparisons to legends like Johnny Cash and Townes Van Zandt. "Once Upon a Time in the West" was critically acclaimed due to its genuineness and refusal to be pigeonholed into the mainstream trends then. Positioning him as one of the leading figures in the resurgence of Americana and folk rock.

Soundtrack Success and "Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways"

Aside from his success as a solo artist, The White Buffalo also benefited from his soundtrack to the runaway television success of "Sons of Anarchy". His music, such as "Come Join the Murder" and "The Whistler", became synonymous with the show's dark, gritty atmosphere, and his music played a crucial role in shaping its tone. Success with "Sons of Anarchy" helped him reach a more extensive audience and finally nailed his status as one of the most notable figures of modern Americana.
In 2013, The White Buffalo released his third studio album, entitled "Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways", which was a concept album dealing with the story of one guy named Joe, who falls into darkness, war, and redemption. It is an impactful listen for the human condition-like love, violence, and moral ambiguity. Smith's deep voice, with its rasp, lends weight to the darker themes on this album, and the storytelling herein is truly vivid and visceral.
Songs like "The Getaway" and "Joey White" find a way to entwine the personal and universal through The White Buffalo's writing, often yielding songs that are as intimate as they are epic. Critics and fans alike favored the album for its scope in terms of narrative structure and emotional depth of songs. "Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways" is really one of the most cohesive and strong works of The White Buffalo, which furthers his reputation as a great storyteller.

Discovering New Sounds: "Love and the Death of Damnation"

The 2015 release of "Love and the Death of Damnation" marked another slight veer from the darker themes of The White Buffalo. Of course, it was still deeply rooted in that gritty, raw Americana sound that so had defined his career thus far. It was "Love and the Death of Damnation", however, that found Smith exploring more varied sonic landscapes and lyrical themes.
The album plays host to a variety of soulful ballads, uptempo rockers, and even a touch of gospel influence; take the song "I Got You", a duet with singer Audra Mae. "I Got You" is a love song with a twist, touting classic country melodies with modern-day rebelliousness. The other standout tracks are "Modern Times", which attacks today's frenetic, shut-off world, and "Last Call to Heaven", a poignant moment of mortality and salvation.
"Love and the Death of Damnation" was critically acclaimed for its eclecticism and Smith's boundary-pushing spirit. The album was emotionally heavy, as with his other records, yet introduced new elements to keep the music sounding new and exciting.

"On the Widow's Walk" and Continuing Legacy

His newest album, "On the Widow's Walk" by The White Buffalo, is just a continuation of his discography, which came out in 2020. It was produced by Shooter Jennings and features a more polished sound while keeping the raw emotion and storytelling fans have come to expect. Thematically, "On the Widow's Walk" is a contemplation on the passing of time, the power of nature, and the fragility of life.
Cuts like "Problem Solution" and "The Drifter" are proof that Smith knows full well how to come up with a song that feels timeless; tracks that have both rock, folk, and blues combined into one single merge. The title track, "On the Widow's Walk", is a haunting ballad of loneliness and despair for a husband that waits upon the sea.
Critical reception for "On the Widow's Walk" was widely positive upon release, as most writers praised the reflective and mature tone of the album, with the richness in Smith's songwriting. The album further secured for The White Buffalo a reputation as one of the most interesting voices in today's Americana.

The White Buffalo Influence on Americana

What makes this music of The White Buffalo so unique is not just the emotional intensity but rather a storytelling woven into a musical tapestry that crosses genres. His music is mostly filed under Americana or folk rock, sometimes a combination of the two, but The White Buffalo draws from an eclectic mix of influences: classic country and blues, punk rock, and outlaw country. This has kept him at variety and has gained him fans from the oldest country fan to those who favor the darker and more introspective side of rock.
The White Buffalo-that is to say, the singer-songwriter Jake Smith-is a popular figure in the Americana scene thanks to his talent for writing songs that strike deep into the emotional psyche. His themes are often of a moral, often redemptionist bent, and even often, perhaps, an ongoing tussle to find meaning within a mad, bad world. Imagine a sound that is born from a mighty voice, husky with timbre, and the latent power of telling stories. With this, White Buffalo managed to create an opus at the same time both timeless and topical, offering listeners in equal measure a distant mirror and a reflective window into the labyrinthine complexities of human experience.
White Buffalo earned his place as one of the most respected and influential artists in contemporary Americana. A career musician of nearly two decades, Jake Smith has continued to push his own boundaries within the genre, weaving together elements of folk, country, and rock into a sound thoroughly his own. From his humble beginnings with "Hogtied Revisited" to the critically acclaimed albums "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "On the Widow's Walk", the music of The White Buffalo has endured through raw emotion and dynamic storytelling.
Still growing an artist, The White Buffalo is straight-ahead Americana, still stirring souls with his love and loss, redemption songs. With each release, Jake Smith has proven this musical odyssey is anything but complete and that fans will have more powerful and thought-provoking music in years to come from him.