Van Hayride is countrified, loud rock, honky tonk. A celebration of the music of Van Halen, Van Hayride was fronted by singer/songwriter Jack Grace. Known for raucous live shows throughout New York City, Van Hayride is a loveletter to one of Gen X's most treasured bands. 

Jack Grace and Jon Dryden first recorded together on the Jack Grace Band’s Martini Cowboy. Jon eventually approached Jack to collaborate on his new concept, a countrified Van Halen project he had dubbed Van Hayride. Jack joined as the frontman. The focal point was songs exclusively from the David Lee Roth era, offered up with a twangy twist. The band tackled songs ranging from early favorites like “Beautiful Girls,” “And the Cradle Will Rock,” and “Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love” to “Panama,” “Hot for Teacher,” and Van Hayride’s own “The Night They Fired David Lee Roth.”

Over the years, the band gigged around the NYC roots music scene and recorded a slew of musicians. Norah Jones occasionally shared the bill with one of her underground projects. 

It wasn’t long until David Lee Roth got wind of the project. Roth had left Van Halen and was working as an EMT in NYC. He had sent word that he heard good things and was planning to see the band. A few months later, Roth released the bizarre “Strummin' With The Devil,” doing his own country versions of Van Halen songs. Coincidence?

https://soundcloud.com/jackgraceband/sets/van-hayride