Midwestern singer/songwriter duo MATTHEW BUCKLEY & CARLY DAVIS announce debut EP, AMERICAN SONGS (LOS BUCKALOS MUSIC) 6/12/2026

Southern WI-based singer/songwriters Matthew Buckley & Carly Davis present American Songs (Cat# LSBM001), a collection of politically-inspired protest songs recorded in the wake of the 2024 election cycle and written over a decade of social unrest and political upheaval. The six-song set functions not only as the pair’s debut, but also as the inaugural release on the independent record label founded by the couple, Los Buckalos Music.

Born and raised in the city of Janesville, Buckley has been performing in area venues for over a decade, as well as more recently playing independent stages at Summerfest Music Festival 2025 and 2026 in Milwaukee. A native of the neighboring town of Milton, Davis teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has also done freelance graphic design in addition to work on Los Buckalos Music projects. Sharing a love for 1960s folk/rock, 1970s singer/songwriters, 1990s DIY indie rock, and bedroom pop of the new millennium, Buckley & Davis have crafted songs that blend these styles together with strong Americana sensibilities while boasting pointed and perceptive lyrics.

For production and mix engineering, Buckley enlisted fellow Janesville musician Justin Sundlin (Another Lost Year, Blacklite District, MIDSUMMER, SomaBrain, Torn Between…). This EP marks an evolution from Buckley’s previous self-produced digital releases, being collaborative at all levels: conception, recording, production, and presentation. This extends to exploring shared vocals, jointly fleshing out song arrangements, finding a balance between a more homespun aesthetic and a more professional sound with Sundlin’s production, as well as drafting art concepts with Davis. “It was so effective for me to untangle my feelings observing current events through art, music and poetry,” Davis reflects. “You could say it’s been cathartic.”

The 2024 election yielded bitter tensions and a staggering sense of division in America. Fighting the deflating sense of futility and dismay gripping many liberals in the face of flagrant pride and prejudice, Buckley & Davis resolved to follow the example of protest singers of the classic era before them such as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, John Lennon, and Joan Baez; writing songs that could be considered social commentary, described as tongue-in-cheek, or categorized as a call-to-action.

Buckley & Davis hope to reach the ears of fellow Americans fed up with the state of affairs in the current political landscape. “It’s tough to turn a blind eye to the blatant injustice and enablement surrounding the current administration. It feels wrong not to call them out…” Buckley surmises, quipping “We believe in our country… We just can’t believe where it’s going.”

With lyrical crosshairs targeted squarely on the Trump administration, Buckley & Davis make a point to provide equal time across the aisle: lampooning former President Joe Biden via sweet lullaby and cracking wise about narrow-minded progressive die-hards whilst castigating disingenuous right-wing extremists and Trump apologists.

Recommended listening for fans of the U.S. Constitution.

American Songs EP Release Party

The American Songs EP Release Party will be part of the 2026 Matthew Buckley Birthday Bash, held Friday, June 12 at Robot Fighter Records, the only independent record store in Janesville, WI, located at 500 N. Parker Dr. The festivities will feature live music (Delavan-Darien area singer-songwriter Simple and Janesville guitarist Jack Spangler, in addition to birthday boy Matthew Buckley with special guest Carly Davis), and party games. This year’s program has been expanded to include a stand-up comedy set (Janesville comedian Melvar Key). In addition to complimentary snacks and beverages, there will be Los Buckalos Music merchandise available for purchase, as well as Robot Fighter Records inventory. The event is free to the public and open invitation.

Matthew Buckley Birthday Bash 2026 Program
1:00PM – American Songs EP listening session
1:30PM – Party Game: Two Truths and a Trump
2:00PM – Simple
3:15PM – Melvar Key
3:35PM – Jack Spangler
4:10PM – Party Game: Pin the blunt on Buckley
4:30PM – Matthew Buckley (featuring special guest Carly Davis)

American Songs EP Pre-Order

The American Songs EP is available for purchase in digital formats and standard or deluxe CD packages at: http://losbuckalosmusic.bandcamp.com